mr. bishop: mr. chrman, i also yield to the gentleman from michigan, mr. kildee. killed kill mr. speaker, i'd like to take this -- mr. kildee: mr. speaker, i'd like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all the pages for what they have done here in the 112th congress. to become a page, mr. speaker, these young people have proven themselves to be academically qualified. as we all know, the job of a congressional page is not an easy one. along with being away from home, the pages must possess the maturity to balance competing demands with their time and energy. you pages have witnessed the house debate, issues of war and peace, hunger and poverty, justice and civil rights. you have lived through history. and before yielding, mr. speaker, i would like to thank the members of the house page board who provided such

fantastic service to this institution. the chairman, congressman rob bishop, the vice chairman, congresswoman diana degette, congresswoman virginia foxx, clerof the house karen haas, sergeant at arms bill livinggood, and mrs. lynn silversmith kline. i want to thank them for their service on the house page board and i thank the departing pages and you' seen a wonderful bit of history take place today. mr. bishop: reclaiming the time, mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to include the page summer class in the official record and ask this body to recognize the pages for the services they have rendered us this year. mr. speaker, i yield back. the speaker: without objection, the gentlelady from california, ms. pelosi, is recognized.

ms. pelosi: thank you very much, mr. speaker. i too want to join our colleagues in recognizing the contribution of the pages to the conduct of the house of representatives. i thank them. and they have, as mr. kildee said, and others have mentioned, borne witness toany important historical occasions here. but i can't think of any that is more special and means so much to our country than to witness the return of our colleague who was the personification of courage, of sincerity, of admiration throughout the country. congresswoman gabrielle giffords brings us --

ms. pelosi: her presence today, to make sure that we honor the obligations of our country great country is important and symbolic. her presence here in the chamber as well as her service throughout her entire service in congress brings honor to this chamber. we are all privileged to call her colleagues, of us very privileged to call her friend. throughout america there isn't a name that stirs more love, more admiration, more respect, more wishing for our daughters to be like her than the name of congresswoman gabby giffords.

thank you, gabby, for joining us today. >> that figure is removing the veil of ignorance from him and understanding -- that is an american invention. that is not a classical statues but it is sort of classical for what this is all about. >> if you missed "a library of congress," there is a preview on youtube. be notified of all the latest videos we are putting and watch the entire library of congress documentary and hundreds of

other timely videos online at youtube.com/cspan. >> coming up, we will take your questions and comments on "washington journal." later a discussion on the safety of nuclear reactors. today, the senate health committee holds a hearing on how states are regulating health insurance costs since the passage of the 2010 health care law. starting september 1, state regulators will be required to review insurance rate increase of 10% or more. you cannot live coverage at 10:00 a.m. eastern on cspan 3. -- you can watch live coverage at 10:00 a.m. eastern on cspan 3. the house approved a plan to raise the federal debt ceiling. that book was to its 69-191. 174 republicans and 95 democrats voted in favor while 66

republicans and 95 democrats voted against. the measure now heads to the senate for a vote on the bill is scheduled for later today at noon eastern. you can watch the live on c-span 2. >> this morning, we will speak with several members of congress on raising the debt ceiling. later we will hear from bloomberg business week about a cover story on the debt crisis. >> the ayes are 269. the nays are 161. the motion is passed. ♪ ♪ host: last night's votes breaks down like this.

66 republicans voted for it. 95 democrats opposed it. eyes turn to the senate with a vote today at noon. 60 votes needed for final passage. our coverage begins around 9:30 a.m. eastern time today on c- span2. good morning, everyone. august 2 is here. it looks like the nation's debt ceiling will be raised. you will get a chance to talk directly to members of congress about this debate. if you are republicans, dial 202-624-1115. richard coe hand is joining us on the phone, the senior congressional correspondent. the house voted 269-161. what are you watching for in today's vote in the senate?

guest: from what i hear, it is supposed to be a done deal. this is august 2. we have been wondering what is going to happen. now it is not quite an afterthought, but we are beginning to do a post-mortem about three month exercise. what i am looking at is what was this all about, basically. host: there will be some opposition. opposition. who do you know right now, who are some names that will vote no? guest: that is a good question.

clearly there are some conservative republicans who oppose the bill, because they do not think it goes far enough. not think it goes far enough. a senator from pennsylvania, paul from kentucky, a freshman. a freshman from utah. david from louisiana. david from louisiana. the liberal democrats have said this bill has to much in the way of spending cuts. tax say they arre needs to be increases or a revenue

component. i think one person in iowa has made clear voice of his opposition. some democrats have been unhappy and will vote against it. host: the senate will go forward quickly to vote on this. how does it work out? given what has happened over the last few weeks, negotiations between the senator harry reid, the president, mitch mcconnell -- what does all of that say about their relationship: forward and negotiations going forward? forward? guest: you make an interesting point that this will happen quickly today. nothing has happened quickly at any point in this whole debate.

it is rare that anything happens quickly in the senate. it is happening quickly, because it is august 2. we want to avoid any possibility or any sense that there could be a failure of government or congress to take action. and number two, it may happen quickly because everyone has been going out for so long and everyone knows the debate is over. it is just a matter that there will be 60 votes. the senate will pass this. it is not a sense of an afterthought, but we know what the outcome will be. everyone is exhausted.

it is the beginning of august and congress is ready to go on recess. host: for how long? guest: just after labor day, for a month. host: take a look at the headline on your story this morning. what is going to be the impact of how the negotiations unfolded over the last month? guest: we will be waiting to see that. the question really is what does it all mean for house speaker john boehner of ohio. he defined the terms of the debate in ways that were unusual for in the house speaker. it was a rocky road along the way. the questions that remain --

what is the lingering effect? yesterday, 66 house republicans voted against this. we will be looking at whether we will be looking at whether the house republicans can move beyond this and there have been some differences in approach among republican leaders with speaker boehner. that is something that we will see how it moves forward. host: is the speaker vulnerable to the threat to that post? guest: no. last week, there were such questions about what would happen to boehner.

last week there were questions if whether the house would even pass the bill. for now, given that this is about to be enacted, and the healthy votes yesterday, i think this is pretty positive for him. the one question they will be looking at in august is the political impact of all of this. how it will play out at home for members of congress. the polls have shown that the negative. been host: how would you describe the relationship with democrats in congress into the president? guest: i think a lot of them -- i was at a press conference yesterday with progressive

democrats. they were very unhappy and openly sell about the president. they felt that he did not stand tough enough for democrats and express their views. we will see how that plays out. among the grass roots and rank- and-file democrats, voters -- of and-file democrats, voters -- of this is in some ways, the whole context of the debate is changing. a lot more to watch here. host: thanks, crichard cohen. let's hear from all of you. linda, on the air. i think we lost her. we will go to a democratic

caller in san diego. caller: i am very glad congress got the job done. this is the best deal that president obama wanted to get. is is as good as he could. this is done in behind us now. i know something is coming up in september for the continuing resolution. the republicans are holding the country hostage again. it is probably a good deal. the democrats are upset and the tea party are upset. it probably hit right in the middle, which is a good thing. host: there is a headline in the papers this morning.

the front page of the "washington journal." the tea party sees no triumph in compromise. orlando florida. caller: sorry we got cut off. i have a comment first for c- span. when people call in, have them turn their tv on mute or turn it off. please try and keep colors on topic. that is so important. on the debt, i am very disappointed. my main disappointment is the legislature has not had time to actually read the bill and read what is in it. one person was on msnbc.com the

other day. he is a reporter -- not far right or conservative. right or conservative. he said the white house had an intent was to pass this at the last moment, so that people would not have a chance to read it. they did not want people to go in and see what was there. i was in shock to hear him say that. this has happened in the past where the legislators have voted at the last minute on something and do not have time to read is. there are a lot of details in this bill that down the road, they will find out that they regretted having voted one way or the other on this.

host: we will continue to take your calls for the next 15 minutes and then we will be joined by four members of congress. we started this conversation during the debate last night on facebook. we will continue it this morning. some of the comments posted last night, about 11 hours ago. here is one. let me show you a tweet. send a us your tweets or an

email. new haven, ohio. mike, independent caller. are you with us? let me go on to ed, republican, cape cod, ma. cape cod, ma. caller: yesterday's vote along with today will produce the following. our friends on the left want to talk about how america has been taken hostage. but several times the debt ceiling has been increased since the mid 60's. let me straighten that out a little bit. they are only half right. in the mid-60's, we had a great society. several times since then, americans, taxpayers and hard- working people have had to pay a

ransom, 70 different times. today will mark the end of the beginning of america taking itself back. host: next is mike, new haven, independent. caller: the woman from florida in the last man that talk is right. i am outraged. has anybody read the bill? this administration has been as transparent as a brick wall. the old republican plan, they had two wars -- everything was off the books. now everything is on the books. we have been in trouble. they have been playing smoke and mirrors for the last six to eight years. it is evident that we the american people will have to pay attention.

we have not had a budget in almost two years. if any legal companies did not have a budget, they would be in jail. our lobbyists our representatives or congress? nobody has ever backs in washington. host: here is a comment posted on facebook. you can post your comments on facebook. maryland. caller: i am outraged about the whole mess. we should be talking about jobs. we should not be talking about cutting safety net for people, it was not their fault they lost

their jobs. to 30%-90%, jobs were outsourced during the bush years. it was a secret well-kept. filibusters in the senate have a lot of what this president would have liked to do about jobs -- apart from both houses for holding the american people hostage in one form or another. this was an egregious, what the republican party did in the house. i am sick of my tax dollars continuing to go to companies that will continue to outsource our jobs out sort -- outside of this country, not bringing revenue back. i am going to educate my family can't friends and my neighbors.

-- my family, my friends, and my neighbors. would you try to get a democrat in republican on and may be a mediator? and keep them in check when they start talking to the american people. host: if you were watching last night's vote in the house, you probably heard applause with the arrival of the congress woman get real difference. -- gabrielle giffords. she voted yes for the deal. she said in a statement later that issues had to be here for this vote.

the last time she voted was on january, seven, on a routine bill that attracted little notice. here is more about her return. here is the twitter message put out by her staff. she has returned to washington to support a bipartisan bill. turn on c-span and now. we heard the applause from many members in congress. she was following the debate even when it was clear that her vote would not be pivotal. here is the tweet from her friend.

republican, pomp and a beach, f. pompano beach, florida. caller: i have no problem making -- paying extra taxes. i have no problem paying 20%. there are people out on the streets. there is no way we should pay the same wage as middle class taxpayers. i am outraged at that. there should be tax increases by far. host: washington will set up a super committee. they need to act in november. caller: that is one thing i've but like to see. i want them to express their trade not free trade.

host: joe, philadelphia, independent scholar. -- caller. caller: i was democratic, but i will become an independent. we need to stop listening to all of the stuff that is already done. it is already water under the bridge. let's move on to the super committee. i have made a list. eliminate all loopholes in offshore tax havens, give territorial provisions, repeal all nasa loss, -- , repeal the bush obama tax cuts, term limits and benefits for government elected officials and employees, replace social security with interest for all of the money borrowed from the

account over the years that was giving -- given phony congressional ious. increase the age to 74 full but increase the age to 74 full but 70 for full the 70fo benefits. those that need medical attention the most are barred for two years under the government rules for social security. the supreme court should review the balanced budget amendment for equality, fairness, and follows the rule of law. the same rules should apply to the budget amendment that are not linked to congressional rules. 60 vote passage in the senate in minimum 218 votes for the house. host: williams, a democrat,

hallandale, florida. caller: america must remember that we are our brother's keeper. look around you and see how our nation is falling apart around us. if we do not do anything and try to help ourselves, we cannot blame who we put in office. when 2012 comes, think about that. are those names. to help or hinder you? we are not stupid people. if we let one part to get away with this stuff, we will have problems. that is why we have checks and balances. balances.