today about one of the companies who has had a major effort to lower hospital-based infections, and has had significant success -- about a 30% decrease, which not only saved dollars, but saves lives. should that expense be part of the medical loss ratio? i would suggest that the factors that will help us continue to monitor -- we'll have a baseline data -- baseline data. we will closely watch what is happening with provider rates, over how costs, and data. we'll have the ability -- overhead costs, and data. we'll have the it has never been part of our jurisdiction before -- to look at what are unreasonable rates, to define that, and to have the opportunity to actually call out

companies who are moving in that direction. clearly, accelerating that are outside -- any cost trend or actuarial justification -- loading things up is something that we will look at very closely. what the law says is that you need to expand 80% to 85% of your premium dollar taking care of milk -- taking care of medical costs, and if you do not, that is rebated to consumers. that is something consumers have the right to expect. we will work with our state regulatory partners to make sure that happens. >> i have two small questions. during your conversation -- i am from the inside health policy -- in your discussion with the insurers, did you talk about fraud and abuse as part of the mlr? >> we did not. >> do you know when you are

planning on announcing who will be your four deputies? >> we have two now. steve larson is ahead of our office of oversight -- is the head of our office of oversight. do you want to stand up? we're very pleased to have them as the head of our office of oversight. he was chairman of the maryland public service commission. he ran an hmo. we're very pleased to have him. the head of our consumer office is karen, has been a consumer insurance advocate for at least 20 years. on monday, we will announce the head of our office of insurance programs. i cannot announce that today, but we will on monday or tuesday.

>> on the grandfather plans -- grandfathered plant, will they be able to retain their status? -- plan, will they be able to retain their status? >> that legislation is not finalized. the goal is to live up to the president's commitment that if you have a plan that you like, you will get to keep it. how that balances with some of the new consumer protections and how broadly to draw that regulation is currently what is being debated. we should have a final reg out in the not too distant future. that debate is very much underway. the goal is not to have the market disrupted because of the new law, but to actually have

the gradual implementation until we get to the new marketplace. thank you all very much. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2010] >> he was a rockstar. >> he will talk about the senator and five time presidential candidate, henry clay, on c-span's "q&a." >> tomorrow night, the state opening of british parliament. following the british election, the new prime minister, conservative leader david cameron, formed a coalition government between his party and liberal democrats. queen elizabeth delivered a speech drawn up by the new government. it outlines their priorities for the coming year. that is a night at 9:00 eastern on c-span -- that is sunday

night at 7 -- at 9:00 eastern on c-span. >> president obama talks about the sacrifices of u.s. troops and their families in recognition of memorial day. he is followed by republican congressman kevin mccarthy of california who talks about a new initiative launched by congressional republicans to get suggestions on policy from the american public. is about seven minutes. -- this is about seven minutes. >> this weekend, as we celebrate memorial day, families across america will gather in backyards and front porches, fire up the barbeque, kick back with friends, and spend time with people they care about. that is as it should be. but i also hope that, as you do so, you will take some time to reflect on what memorial day is all about -- on why we set this day aside as a time of national remembrance. it is fitting every day to pay tribute to the men and women who wear the uniform of the united states of america. still, there are certain days that have been set aside for all of us to do so.

veterans day is one such day, when we are called to honor americans who fought under our country's flag. our calling on memorial day is different. on this day, we honor not just those who have worn this country's uniform, but the men and women who have died in its service, who have laid down their lives in defense of their fellow citizens, who have given their last full measure of devotion to protect the united states of america. these are the men and women i will be honoring this weekend, and i know many of you are doing the same. there are any number of reasons america emerged from its humble beginnings as a cluster of colonies to become the most prosperous, most powerful nation on earth. there is the hard work, the resilience, and the character of our people. there is the ingenuity and enterprising spirit of our entrepreneurs and innovators. there are the ideals of opportunity, equality, and freedom that have not only inspired our people to perfect our own union, but inspired others to perfect theirs as well. but from the very start, there was also something more -- a steadfast commitment to serve,

to fight, and if necessary, to die, to preserve america and advance the ideals we cherish. it is a commitment witnessed at each defining moment along the journey of this country. it is what led a rag-tag militia to face british soldiers at lexington and concord. it is what led young men, in a country divided half slave and half free, to take up arms to save our union. it is what led patriots in each generation to sacrifice their own lives to secure the life of our nation, from the trenches of world war i to the battles of world war ii, from inchon and khe sanh, from mosul to marjah. that commitment -- that willingness to lay down their lives so we might inherit the blessings of this nation -- is what we honor today. but on this memorial day, as on every day, we are called to honor their ultimate sacrifice with more than words. we are called to honor them with deeds. we are called to honor them by doing our part for the loved ones our fallen heroes have left behind and looking after

our military families. by making sure the men and women serving this country around the world have the support they need to achieve their missions and come home safely. by making sure veterans have the care and assistance they need. in short, by serving all those who have ever worn the uniform of this country, and their families, as well as they have served us. on april 25, 1866, about a year after the civil war ended, a group of women visited a cemetery in columbus, mississippi, to place flowers by the graves of confederate soldiers who had fallen at shiloh. as they did, they noticed other graves nearby, belonging to union dead. but no one had come to visit those graves, or place a flower there. so they decided to lay a few stems for those men, too, in recognition not of a fallen confederate or a fallen union soldier, but a fallen american. a few years later, an organization of civil war veterans established what became memorial day, selecting a date that coincided with the

time when flowers were in bloom. so this weekend, as we commemorate memorial day, i ask you to hold all our fallen heroes in your hearts. and, if you can, lay a flower where they have come to rest. >> hi, i am congressman kevin mccarthy and i have the honor of representing the great people of california's 22nd congressional district. this week, house republicans launched a new effort to change the way washington governs by returning the voice of the american people to the process. you know, there is nothing more powerful and inspirational than the common voice of the common man. over the last year, we have all been reminded of this. in town halls and on public squares, in every corner of this country, people have gathered and spoken out -- in small groups and larger crowds, through phone calls and in letters. they acted individually and independently. they were not all driven by any one issue. but their message was the same -- washington needs to listen. over the last 18 months,

democrats running washington have failed to listen to the american people. instead, they have pursued a partisan agenda that does not reflect the priorities of the american people, who are fed up with the spending, the taxes, the bailouts, and the debt being piled on to our kids and grandkids. it is time for the american people to once again have a role in driving america's agenda. that is why we have launched america speaking out -- a new project to engage the american people and seek out their ideas for solving our nation's challenges. we recognize that americans do not want an agenda imposed on them from washington. they want to help set the agenda. instead of debates behind closed doors, which has happened far too often in the last 18 months, we are throwing open the doors and letting a little sunshine in. america speaking out will give americans back the voice in washington -- and house republicans are ready to listen. as republicans, we know our principles -- limited, and more accountable government, economic freedom, lower taxes, fiscal responsibility,

protecting life, american values, and the constitution, and providing for strong national security. and we have offered better solutions than the democrats in washington. so this is not a listening tour. but we appreciate that the american people ultimately control washington and any agenda must start with them. the initial phase of engagement that we launched this week is about soliciting ideas and will take place through the web, mobile apps, facebook and social media, as well as traditional town hall meetings across the nation over the coming weeks. central to america speaking out is an innovative new web forum, americaspeakingout.com, where all citizens can submit their ideas for a new agenda, regardless of party affiliation -- and whether we agree with them or not. here, all people can share their priorities from every corner of america and engage in a civil debate about our nation's challenges and how to solve them. and in just the first few days, hundreds of thousands of

americans have already visited americaspeakingout.com. going forward, we will focus in on the priorities of the american people and discuss how our principles of limited, more accountable government can be used to address them. finally, after this conversation and debate, we will begin to introduce solutions and fight for them right away. the american people have committed themselves to playing an active role in their future. and in return, we will commit to creating an agenda that reflects their vision for america. for too long, americans have felt their voice does not matter in washington. but that is about to change. we are ready to listen and start a real dialogue of ideas. so, log on to americaspeakingout.com, join the discussion, and make your voice heard. thank you. >> the treaty before you is an evolution of agreements echo back to the 1970's, and

particularly to the series of s.t.a.r.t. agreements that started in the reagan administration and continued in some form in every subsequent administration. >> watched the moments that make history right now -- watch the moment that made history right now available free online. supreme court justice anthony kennedy on the prospect of a new justice. >> it is stressful for us. weep so admire our colleagues, we wonder if it will -- we so admire our colleagues that we wonder if it will ever be the same. the system works. after the appointment and the confirmation process is finished, if there is a confirmation, the system will bring as a very good justice. >> with the confirmation hearings for elena kagan

starting june 28, learn more about the nation's highest court in disease and's latest book -- "the supreme court -- in c-span's latest book about the supreme court, available now in hardcover and also as an e book. ms. week on "the communicators," the discussion about expanding broadbent -- this week on "the communicators," the discussion about expanding broadbent in the united states with jonathan adelstein. >> he is now the administrator of the rural utilities service. he is joining us this week on "the communicators." also joining us are our guest reporters. mr. adelstein, what to the rural utilities service is do and what is their role? >> there were founded in 1935 -- >> there were founded in 1935 --