last night, he said that what would be looked at is how the u.s. handled the emergeance of this extraordinary new power. you spent time dealing with that issue. you spent a lot of time dealing with the currency issue. china as we know has been reluctant to review its currency. you came back from important meetings in asia. can you talk about what the federal reserve is doing and policies, can you tell whause we could expect in terms of what china is going to do? >> china is letting their currency rise. it is rising. it is moving gradually. they're adverse to a precipitous large move. which i understand. but -- they're letting it rise because fundamentally, if they don't let it rise then all of that pressure that is the reflection of the fact that

china is growing rapidly, that pressure is going to en up in inflation or in bubbles, things that could threaten the capacity to grow in the future. for that reason it is important to them and in their interest for it to let -- let it reflect market forces. they're having a debate how fast to let it rides you'll see that play out. sometimes it'll move to gradualism and inertia and sometimes in favor of people moving through the market. >> is it -- what are they telling you? is it realistic to expect the currency to continue. most economists would say that the currency is at least, 10, 20% undervalued. is that going to change under time? is it going to go to a level that seems more appropriate? >> i think it'll. it'll happen, the question is how. inflationor inflation pushing

up the real value of the currency or the nominal exchange rate moving. the last time they let it move, it moved 20% against the dollar. over a roughly two-year period of time. and then the crisis stopped it moving because -- they felt fundamentally that they wanted to pause and -- and provide a measure of stability. while they did that, this is important to recognize. while they did that and held it constant, st of the currency the rest of the world fell very sharply, not just against the dollar but it is because it is against the dollar, and tied the dollar against the r & b, now the world is coming back and some of the market currencies are to you stronger than they were pf the crisis. -- before the crisis and some are weaker. it is not just important for china, it is important for the emerging world. those currencies that are more

flexible have experienced huge upr pressure. they're above the precrisis levels. all of that market pressure is falling disproportionately on them. >> the u.s. has been criticized very heavily in the last few weeks, actions of the federal reserve in particular, the germans complained about quantitative easing and economic policies in u.s. and chinese have too, domestically. you had criticism and the u.s. had criticism about it. somebody said last week, any policy that unites sarah palin and the united states government against it isremarkable. has the united states lost moral authority because of this? >> i think it is american to recognize as a american that the crisis caused a huge amount of daniel to our credibility. peop looked at the united states and said, have we lost the capacity to manage our financial affairs prudentantly? and it is going to take a while to dig out of that loss of

credibility. that's partly why we worked so hard and so quickly to make sure that we were address -- this is our financial system, so the system was no longer a source of risk and threat to the global financial stability. it is why it is so important to keep working hard so make sure we're not digging out of the hole quickly but we start to address hong term goals. >> don't you think that they -- >> cure ying to get me to speak about with maltry -- monetary policy, which i won't do. i would like to but i won't about >> go on. >> it is the most important thing, the most important thing the u.s. can do for the world is to make sure we're a growing -- we're growg out of the mess. the we're cuing the damage caused as quickly as we can. that's overwhelmingly important to the global recovery and -- if you look back at financial

crises, they make two errors. the first is they're late to escalate. they underestimate it and slow to move because it is so politically difficult to make the actions to break the back of a financial panic. even when they adjust and catch up and correct, the policy is directed at solving the problem, the typical mistakes the governments make two or three years in, the policy turns indifferent. inertia takes hold and they shift to premature restraint. that ecked is type of mistake can be as damaging as the first. it could leave a economy confined. you saw this in japan, you saw e united states in the 30 rece confined to low levels of economic growth and that leaves the economy living with too much damage. that mistake is important to avoid. we're trying very hard. i'm only speaking of the executive branch but this is important for the ngress too. we got to make sure we don't have the second type of mistake

too. we want to -- even though we're gring for fi quarters, even though we seen private sector job growth come back and private investment froge rapidly in the early stage -- growing rapidly in the early stayed -- stage, we got to have demand that is se-sustaining and we want to make sure that the government of the united states is reinforcing that transition by providing strongly -- stronger incentives. this is important to long-term growth and the capacity to come out of the crisis quickly. >> one of the things that came out was business uncertainty about the climate. particularly abo policy. and -- we have obviously had a big election which -- argue my play increase the uncertainty. there's an area where business, where everybody is crying out, which is the tax cuts. the bush tax cuts that are due to expire on december -- expire on december 31st.

you have the administration has said that it is -- it doesn't want to see a permanent extension of the tax cuts for all -- for all taxpayers. i think that's right. >> we want to see a perm nebt extension, that go to 97, 98% of americans. we want to make sure we extend the classic mix of business extenders and -- incentives for business investment and -- we are -- we would not favor an extension of tax cuts because we don't believe it is the best way to provide support for the economy. we would be very much against a permanent extension becauseit is just very expensive. we think there are much better uses -- whether you care about the strength of the economy near term, whether you care about the capacity of the government to do things helpful to the long-term competitiveness and things that help support business investment or the long-term fiscal position, we don't think that's the best use of our cass to borrow. >> that newence is you uldn't

favor any tension of the tax cuts. that seems to suggest that the m., the wiggle room here is for a temporary extension of the tax cuts. that's what is talked about. >> i would love to resolve that here. we have smart people here, we could work this out. it is not rocket science, we could work it out. but i don't want to negotiate. >> give you two years. >> give me five years. >> should not be a complicated problem to solve. the way we're going to pproach this debate with the republican here and here in both houses is to say, what is going to be best for the econy? short-term, long-term. what is going to be fair to the middle class, what can we do to make sure we're solving problems, given the long-term fiscal deficits, those objectives will guide the approach we take to it. >> if you don't do something permanent, you're just increasing the uncertainty. >> you could resolve uncertainty

a lot of ways, by providing clarity about the direction of the extensions. that provides certainty too. i will say, it is not a sensible way to run a country to have -- this magnitude of tax issues left to annualuncertainty about extensions. on the business side, many of you live with this, economically quite significant shifts in business tax treatment are left to a -- an annual process of extension, it makes no sense. that's one reason the presidt proposed in september, that we make permanent a more simplified and larger credit for research and development in the united states. that's just one example. if you care about thelong-term competitiveness about the country, you should care not just about how we go about long-term deficits but providing can clarity in the tax code in way that is is good for business. >> is this going to be done before the end of the year? >> it has to be done. it is very important that

congress act on this before they leave town. again, it is not -- it is not rocket science, it is not complicated thing to solve. it has to be solved before they leave town. it would not be a responsible act of government to leave this uncertainty hanging over the economy going into next year. >> would that apply to the estate tax and a.m.t. -- >> yes. >> you think it is important before december 31st, we have a agreement, legislation on those pieces? >> i think it is self-evidently important. you're talking about what would be dramatic changes in tax treatment of individuals, at a time when it makes no sense for that to happen. >> the longer term fiscal questions. we had this very interesting kind of early report last week from the coach -- cochairs of the president's deficit commission asking -- bowles and simpson, which seems to offer a pretty plausible trajectory for the fiscal position towards a position of long-term fiscal

stability. you have had a chance to look at what they proposed. i know there's various other discussions and the commission have not weighed in completely. what they propose changes to social security and the retirement age and cuts to medicare, and significant broad reform of the tax system to -- to proden the base and reduce the manner nall rate. is that broad is that the kind of thing that you would favor? >> i should point out that alex reverend and dom men chi are coming out with a report later this week, with a set of what i suspect will be very sensible ambitious reforms for a long-term fiscal situation. the president -- the president set up this commission because he understands that our capacity to grow as a country depends significantly on our ability to rebuild some political consensus in the united states on reforms that provide gravity to our long-term fiscal situation. he recognized then as -- as has been recognized in the past if

you're going to do this right, you have to do it on bipartisan basis. he took a page out the reagan social security commission and brought a set of very distinguished republican democrats together to ask them to find a consensus. we're going to let that process play out. we have seen the first step in the proposal that the two chairman of the commission have made. they're beginning that process of trying to -- to build consensus among the members. we're going to let the process play out. again, it is encouraging, that -- that you're seeing people across the political spectrum now recognize and understand that our long-term growth will dend significantly on our capaty to solve it. think these ar certainly -- certainly are five to 10-year fiscal deficits are a manageable challenge for the country. we can solve those deficits without ticking i think any significant risks that are going to hurt our long-term growth potential. it is -- it is just a political challenge. but we're in a much better

position to manage those challenges than for any other major economies, wha -- what is more difficult of course is our long-term, the very long-term deficits driven and still by the combination of rapid health care costs and the aging of the population. >> the political challenge seems to be particularly acute for you. as why say president obama appointed the commission. the recommendation so far that commission cochairs cusm out with seem to be on the whole mildly favorably received by republicans and greeted with steaming hostility by democrats. they don't like the idea of increasing social security and the retirement age. they don't like the idea of medicare cuts. they think t reforms will favor the wealthy. given the president appointed this commission and the direction they have gone, what do you -- what are you going to recommend to the president about how you handle this? how are you going to handle this opposition from within your observe party? >> i don't think it is

surprising. you're hearing people quick out of the box with views and observations on the merits on those. that's not surprising. we're going to let the process pl out. out of respect for the people that lend their time to the commission and the complexity of the problem and recognition it is difficult, not going to be easy, we're going to let that process play out. >> i like to get some on. lots of people have questions in the audience. i like to come to -- anybody have questions in a minute. we talked about the impact. straight out, president obama maids his press confence and acknowledged he took a shell languaging as he called it. one of the most interesting part of the press conference is his relationship with business. he hadn't handled things, got the balance right, to insure that business plays by the rules and the rules are right and

insuring that people understand rblings what an important role the private sector plays here. and he committed himself in that press conference to try to get th balance better. what are you going to do to make sure that -- that there is a sense that business and this administration, business and government are working together and to repair what ppears to have been quite a fractured relationship in the last couple of years? >> i think it is important to point out -- jerry that, if you look at the profitability of american companies, look at what happened to -- to the market's confidence and the future earnings, if you lk at the strength of private investment growth in the early stage of recovery, if you look at the basic strength of corporate balance, the u.s. is in a strong position to profit from the extraordinary growth we're going to see in -- in the most populace economies of the world. that's partly because of the

basic underlying resilience and dynamism of the private sector and substantially as a result of the fact that the president working with congress and alongside the fed was able to break the back of this financial panic very quickly, very successfully and restart economic growth at a much earlier stage than any of us thought was possible. this perception, i think is very damaging. it is important that we work very hard repair it. and what we're going to try to do, as you're seeing us do is make sure we're laying out proposals for economic policy that are going to be good fo business incentives and good for the basic underhighing strength of the u.s., is this committee going forward. i'll give you three, four examples. stronger incentives for business investment, short-term, long term, have r-very important to the cometiveness. and substantial investment in public infrastructure, fully paid for, fiscally responsible

is important to the underlying strength of the economy and a sustained effort to make sure that exports are going rapidly, is going to be important to our capacity to grow in the future. now of course we're doing a range of other things too, to make sure the government is providing a lot of support for basic science, for basic research, things that have broad benefits over time. but i think the best thing we could do is make sure we're laying on the proposals that have had a hot of republican support in the past. and are unambiguously good for the capacity to grow. make sure we're working hard to spend political capital to get support for the proposals. >> could i open it up to any questions? i did want to ask, that we didn't discuss, very much in the news, europe. the debt death crisis tang hold there. there seems to be a division, there is a division among the europeans.

they're divided about whether the irih government should seek a bailout from the european union or the i.m.f. and the irish seem to resist that -- and what in terms of global financial stability, this has an affect, how should this e-be resolved? should there be an early move to resolve these, where the government in the periphery has huge debt problems or let the markets play out as th are now. >> out of defer rennes to the europeans, i don't want to speak to the details of ireland or port gal right now. i would say the following, europe put in place in the summer to -- took them a while to do it. they put this place in the summer a very strong set of financial instruments to help those countries manage through the very difficult challenges that they had on th fiscal side and finaial side. that gives european leaders the ability to do what you normally want to do in a crisis. you want to make sure you move very quickly and you have a

combination of policy reforms that help, help resolve the problem with temporary financial support to let countries manage through them. you want as a gem lessen, you saw this over the last spring and summer in europe, you want to move quickly on these things. both with policy reforms and with, if it is necessary, kind of contingent back stuff assistance to help countries manage through it. again i would say the lesens of the experience are that europe learned a little painfully last 134er, you want to do this quickly and decisively and not wait. >> do you think the -- the euro can survive? >> do i think so. i think it is in europe's power to manage. they have made that choice. >> okay. yes. at the back there. thank you. there's a motor vehicle phone coming, sorry.

ted craber. on the quantitative easing, do you envision sometime in the future that you would unwind the quantitative easing? if so, what type of future are we looking at there? at is the indication you would use to unwind the qe 2. >> i would love to talk about that, the executive branch doesn't talk about with monetary policy or the actions of the binds fed. i want to honor that tradition. you should direct that to my colleagues at the fed. >> there's decision, there's no movement on fiscal policy right now. there isn't much movement in any other areas -- >> isn't there a sense that the fed is the only game in town here? when you're abroad, you're defending fed policy. >> i don't think -- you do not want to be in a position where you leave the burden for solving these problems on the central bank. there's things they can do and can't do. you don't want to leave the

burden of these things on the central bank of any cotry. but let me come back to your premise on fiscal policy. i think it is quite likely that you're going to see an agreement on tax policy and i hope you're going to see that followed by -- for individuals. i hope you see that followed by a consensus on a set of sensible changes to the incentives for investment in the united states. that will make odds likely that the fiscal policy is more supportive of this transition to the private demand recovery. i think that's more likely now. >> there's a strong belief among economists, the i.m.f. said this. the case right now is for -- for some more fiscal stim husband for the u.s., given the weak state of demand in the u.s. but accompanied by long-term man, plausible long-term plan for fiscal consolidation. is that something, as the new congress arrives in january, is

that something you will try to get from them, if it is, one thing floated is a payroll tax holiday, that's talked about, you could to that. that would be a significant boost for short-term demand. a really sthisket boost and it would be a-- significant boost, and it would cause mabe deficit changes, is that somebody you would discuss. >> you're right. the ideal mix of policies for a country like the united states is to combine a credible set of reforms that bring the deficits down over the medium term to a sustainable level to -- with a carefully designed action that could provide catalyst to recovery now. absolutely is the right mix. that's why the president proposed in the fall these series of -- of investment focused tax changes and public investment plans that will help reinforce that argument. it is absolutely right. i think that as you look at all of these things, you have to make sure that you're not -- you're doing things that are

good for long-term growth, not just short-term growth. as many people observed looking back over this period of time, you want to make sure you're doing things that add to -- to long-term growth prospects. that's why over the last three months, we put so much emphasis on investment related incentives. we proposed in september a -- a one-year period, 100% expensing offer capital investment by any american business. now that's true, that does pull forward investment from the future. if you pull forward investment, rather than spending on houses for example or consumption, you're more likely to be left with something tht leaves the economy more productive in the future. that's where we still put the emphasis. there's other ideas out there. we don't have the monopoly wisdom on ideas. we want to come together with the new leadership and figure out what is the best thing we could do for the economy near term that is good for long-term growth.

how do we do that in a way that is physically responsible? >> yes. please wait for the microphone. it should be on. take it. >> nick from snap-on tools. you said some things that i think are very well rfed by the audience, i think. short-term focus on the economy, extension of the tax credits. the presidentproposing permanent extension f r & d and business proposals. if we went back a year ago, most people here would have said we heard very little of that. and i ask you what priorities sort of outnked those considerations and what could the business community have done to raise them in the mind of the administration. ward now, rather than looking back over that period of time.

i who say the fol. i -- let me speak from my perspective as secretary of the trishry, we did put an overwhelming focus in the first 18 months on the -- on the necessary essential challenges of making sure that we were -- we were fixing what was broken if the financial system, recapitalizing the american system and making sure the markets were healing and -- you know, restarting the process of owth globally and then -- then fixing the mt glaring flaws of our basic financial system. we put an overwhelng focus of those in the early stage of the administration, which i think we had to do. nothing is possible without making sure that the economy was growing again and credit markets wereunctioning. nothing possible in the long-term without that essential basic achievement. but, you know, the challenges in the recovery changes over -- change over time. after restarting the basic

growth dynac in the united states, the challenge shifts. to trying to figure out how you're sustaining it. you're transitioning more effectively to recover by private demand. that dynamic is under way now and it is very encouraging in its initial concept. it is important to get perspective on this. i want to go through it again. household savings increased significantly. private investment growing very rapidly. exports performing really quite well. by any mesure, productivity growth, very strong. profitability andalan sheets in the american corporate sector, very strong. underlying dynami in the corporate setor, across industries look healthy to us. that's fundamentally encouraging abouour broad place in the world but -- you know, we're still not growing fast enough coming out of this. where we have the capacity to provide an initial spark, an

initial spark to private investment that is a responsible use of government and our capacity to borrow now. that's a good focus for attention. as you said and i said earlier, you want to make sure you're doing a mix of short-term and long-term things at the same time, again that's why we think this mix of private investment incentives and investment in infrastructure and export support is a ood strategy. creating a more competitive america. what we're trying to do, part of that is about strengthening the incentives for investments -- investing the united states. we'll be a major part of the growth in the emerging world. we want to see as much of that as possible, supported by american imcongratulations.

>> please join me in thanking secretary depitener for being >> see what people are watching on the c-span video library. it is right on our homepage. you can also click on our special 2010 election analysis tab.

watch what you want when you want. president obama presented a sergeant with the medal of honor at a white house ceremony. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2010] ♪ ♪

>> ladies and gentlemen, the president of united states. ♪ ♪ >> but as prey. dear god, -- let us pray, dear god, our hearts forever resonate with the noble famous heroes proved. in mercy and more than live, may our remembrance of his work in afghanistan three years ago, inspire all americans with great

pride in ability that we have selfless warriors like him. may we also remember that all of of our armed forces and those that stand in harm's way across the border today. through his courageous actions against the enemy and his selfless devotion to his fallen comrades, may we all recommit ourselves to service for our families and our fellow citizens. we reflect on the whole union of soldiers between combat during crisis and conflict. as to celebrate this special day, along with his family, may we remember those other families that await the safe return of their loved ones. as we pause to remember the many freedoms we enjoy as a nation, let us remember to give thanks to those who paid the glorious

liberty to which we enjoy through blood, sweat, and tears. we pray this in your holy name. amen. >> good afternoon, everyone. please be seated. on behalf of michelle and myself and the white house, we thank for thatlain cartever beautiful invocation. of all the privileges as serving as united states, i have none greater than serving as commander in chief of the finest military that the world as ever known. of all of the military declarations of a president in a nation that can be bestowed, there is none higher than the medal of honor. today is particularly special. since the end of the vietnam war, the medal of honor has been

awarded nine times in an ongoing war recent conflict. sadly, our nation has been unable to present this declaration to the recipients themselves, because each gave his life, his last full measure of devotion for our country. s president, i have presented the medal of honor three times. each time, to the family of a fallen hero. today, therefore, marks a first time in nearly 40 years that the recipient of the medal of honor of an ongoing conflict has been able to come to the white house and except this recognition in person. -- accept this recognition in person. it is my pleasure to present this medal of honor to a soldier that is humble and heroic,

salvatore, the staff sgt. i will go off scrip for a second. i really like the sky. [laughter] [applause] we'll get a sense of people and who they are. when you meet him, and his family, you get a sense of what america is all about. it makes me proud. this is a joyous occasion. this is something i have been looking forward to. the medal of honor reflects the gratitude of an entire nation.

we are also joined here today by several members of congress, including senators and several representatives from his home state. we are also joined by leaders across my administration in the department of defense, including the secretary of defense, robert gates, chairman of the joint chiefs of sight, admiral mullen. there he is right there. the army secretary and the chief of staff of the army. we are especially honored to be joined by the staff sergeant fellow soldiers, teammates and brothers, second of the 573 airborne brigade, and several members of that fraternity who welcomes him into the ranks of the medal of honor society.

please give them a round of applause. [applause] we also welcome the friends and family that made the staff sergeant the man that he is, including his lovely wife, and his siblings that are here. it was his mother who taught him as a young boy in a small town of how to remove the screen from his bedroom window in case of fire. what she did not know is that by teaching him how to jump from his bedroom at night, she was unleashing a future paratrooper, who would one day fight in the rugged mountains of afghanistan 10,000 miles away. during the first of his tour in

afghanistan, he was forced early on to come to terms with the loss of comrades and friends. his team leader at the time gave him a piece of the fis. -- of advice. try to do everything you can win a sure time to do it. -- when it is your time to do it. his time came on october 25, 2007. he was a specialist then, just 22 years old. there were several days into a mission in a valley, one of the most dangerous valleys in northeast afghanistan. the moon was full, the light cast was enough to travel by without using night-vision

goggles. with heavy gear on their backs and air support overhead, they made their way down a rocky ridgecrest along a terrain so steep that flying was sometimes easier than walking. they had not travelled a quarter mile before the silence was shattered. in ambush so close that the bullets were simultaneous. there were hundreds of rounds per minute. more than the stars of the sky. he could not engage with the enemy so close to our soldiers. the next platoon heard the shooting, but was too far away to join the fight in time. the two lead men were hit by enemy fire in knocked down instantly. when the third was struck in the helmet and fell to the ground, he charged to pull him to

safety. as he did, he was hit twice. one shattered a weapon across his back and the other into his body. he was pinned down with two wounded americans up ead. he and his comrades regrouped a counter attack. they threw grenades using their explosions to run forward. then they did it again. and again. throwing grenades, charging ahead. finally, they reached one of them who had been shot twice in the leg. he had kept returning fire until his gun jammed. another soldier tended to his sprinted aheadtylsal shooting.

he had no cover. he sought a chilling sight. a silhouette of two insurgents carrying the wounded american away. it happened to be one of his best friends. he never broke a sweat. he went forward, took aim,, and killed one of the insurgents in wounded the other. he ran off. he found his friend alive but badly wounded. he saved him from the enemy. now he had to try to save his life. with bullets impacted all around him, he dragged his friend to cover. for nearly half an hour, he worked to stop the bleeding and help his friend breed until the medevac arrived -- breathe unti lthe medivac arrived. with the battle over, they picked up their here in resumed

their march through the valley. they continued their mission. it had been as intense and violent as a fire fight that any soldier will experience. every member of the first platoon had traveled for a bullet hole in their gear by the end. five were wounded and two gave their lives. his friend, and the platoon of medimedic. the parents of them are here today. i know there are no words that even a few words later can ease the ache in your hearts or repay the debt america goes to you. on behalf of a grateful nation, let me express profound thanks to your son's service and their sacrifice. would the parents please stand. [applause]

i already mentioned i like this guy. when i first spoke with him on the phone and when we met in the oval office today, he is a low- key guy. a humble guy. he does not seek the limelight. he will tell you that he did not do anything special. he was just doing his job. ask any of his brothers in the unit, they would do the same

thing. he lived up to what his team leader instructed him to do years before. do everything you can. the staff sergeant charged forward through extreme enemy fire. he says i will never leave a fallen comrade. your actions disrupted a devastating ambush that could have claimed more lives. your courage prevented to the capture of american soldiers and brought that soldier back to his family. you may believe the to do not deserve this honor, but it was your fellow soldiers that recommended you for it. your commander specifically said in his recommendation that you lived up to the standards of the most decorated american soldier of the second world war who famously repeled an overwhelming enemy attack by himself for one simple reason.

they were killing my friends. that is why the, salvatore, missed his life for his fellow surgeon -- soldiers. because they would risk their lives for him. that is what fuels his bravery. not just an urgent impulse to have their backs, but the confidence that they had in his. one of them, he said, of these young men that he was with, he said, they are just as much of me as i am. i would ask all of the battle companies that were with him that day to stand and be recognized as well. [applause]

gentlemen, thank you for your service. we are all in your debt. these are the soldiers of our on forces. they are highly trained, each have a specialized role and responsibility. all have one thing in common. they volunteered. in an error which it has been attempting to chase personal ambition or narrow self- interest, they chose the opposite.

they felt a tug, and answered the call and said i will go. they have in toward tour after tour in distant and difficult places and have kept us from danger. they have given others the opportunity to earn a better and more secure life. they are the courageous men and women serving in afghanistan even as we speak. they seek clear focus on their mission. try to break the back of the taliban and surgeons and teach others and theapacity to defend themselves. they are we solved to see their mission 3. they are made of strong stuff -- they are resolved to see their mission through. they are made of strong stuff. after all our brave servicemen

and women and their families have done everything they have been asked to do. they have been everything we have asked them to be. every man who stands around him, everyone in in the military, every person who defends this country is. he is right. this medal today is a testament to his uncommon valor and also to the parents in the community that raised him. all the men and women who served by his side. all of them deserve our enduring thanks and gratitude. to represent a small fraction of the american population. they and their families that a way to their safe return have done far more caring their fair share of our burden.

they do it in hopes that our children and grandchildren will not have to. they are the very best part of us. they are our friends, family, neighbors, classmates, co- workers. they are why our banner still waves. why our principles still shine. it is why we still stand as a force for good all over the world. please join us in welcoming salvatore for the tor reading of this. >> the president of the united states of america authorized by the in an act of congress has awarded in the name of congress

the medal of honor to salvatore guinta. he distinguished and self conspicuously at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy in the valley of a afghanistan on october 25, 2007. while conducting a patrol with his team leader, second battalion airborne, his team were navigated through harsh terrain when they were ambushed by a well-armed insurgents force. while under heavy fire, he ran an engaged the enemy. believing a comrade had been injured, he exposed himself to enemy fire and raced towards his squad leader to help him recover and administered medical aid. while doing this comic enemy

fire struck him and his secondary weapon. without regard for the ongoing fire, he engaged the enemy before prepping and throwing grenades, using the explosion as a cover to conceal his position. attempting to reach an additional wounded soldiers, he and his team encountered a barrage of enemy fire that forced them to the ground. the team continued forward and upon reaching the wounded soldier, he realized that another soldier was still separated from the element. he did advanced forward. as he crested the top of the hill, he saw two insurgents carrying away an american soldier. he immediately engage the enemy, killing one and wounding the other. upon reaching the wounded soldier, he provided medical aid as his squad caught up and provided security. his unwavering courage and

decisive leadership while under extreme enemy fire were integral to his team's ability to defeat in the ambush and recover a fellow american soldier from the enemy. his extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest position of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and his team.

[applause] >> let us pray. as we conclude the ceremony, keep as mindful of the call on each of us to devote ourselves and our lives on behalf of others.

through these courageous and compassionate actions, we should do the same for our fellow citizens forenerations to come. please give him a great wisdom and strength and their new responsibilities and roles that are before them. may continue to meet them all with dignity, honor, courage, and humility. lahood divine favor an eternal wisdom pressed upon us -- may your divine favor an eternal wisdom rest upon us. bless the members of the armed services and america, we pray in your holy name,amen. >> thank you so much, everybody. let us give him one last big round of applause. [applause] [cheering] [applause]

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it is washington your way. the c-span network. it is created by cable and provided as a public service. >> "washington journal" is next. the chamber will work on an interstate notary republican measure. there are concerns over how breaking foreclosure documents were notarized. live house coverage on c-span. >> and coming up this hour, oklahoma senator tom coburn gore -- will talk about the deficit commission's recommendations and congressional earmarks. after that, congressman earl blumenauer on whether the bush tax cuts should be extended. oklahoma led democratic representative dan boren