bring our troops home to clean our country up. host: respect to the troops, he thinks that may be a contributing factor to the suicide rate. guest: those returning now know how different the reception is now compared to those from earlier generations, especially vietnam. the veterans to return now are well-received in their communities. the problem is not the civilian community is not supportive of veterans. it is that they do not really understand them. 99% of the population does not understand what those who serve have contributed and sacrificed. host: our next call is from joyce, a democrat from florida. caller: i am a mental health therapist. i have a master's degree. my son camel from desert storm. he was very depressed.

-- my son came home from desert storm. he was very depressed. his friend had been killed by friendly fire. he asked why children were getting killed in war. they changed him to chemical warfare. he got upset because he did not want the chemicals to kill more people. in the interim, he committed suicide. he was a straight a student, a good conduct medal. i worked with him. he was 21 years old. how could i have gotten him as a mental health therapist to have gotten help? host: let's leave your question there. thank you for sharing the story. that is a very sad personal story. guest: thank you for your call.

i am very sorry for the sacrifice that your family has made. each suicide story illustrates what a terrible tragedy this is for our nation in general and for individual families and service members. the health benefits is available for service members or families who believe their service member is challenge. one of the best resources is the national suicide line. it does have a special feature for veterans, current service members, and family members. host: we have two ways to get help. the veteran affairs crisis line and the website. we will put both of those on the screen for families who might be needing more information about this. there is the number if you need to call. those are the two resources for you.

how do suicide rates compared to past wars? the numbers seems so unbelievably high. enough is not being done. guest: we do not know lot about how they compared to past wars. unfortunately, we do not have full data on the veterans we are losing. i would be concerned about say we should slow down the effort -- saying we should slow down the effort. we need to apply full power regardless of how it compares to the past. host: let's put up the suicide number again on the screen for people joining us, to get an idea of the size and scope of the problem. this is the number of service members who took their lives. tooke their lives at the rate of one every 36 hours.

a veteran dies by suicide every 80 minutes. looking at some of the reading about the obstacles to suicide prevention, we have talked about some of them. the mental health screening process needs improvement. insufficient mental health providers within the military and veterans' departments themselves. our last best says they are trying to deploy more mental health personnel. how is that going? guest: it is a trade-off. it is a national problem. given the shortage of providers, every time you make a decision about where to allocate those, there are trade-offs involved. i was on the telephone recently with a service member in one of our war your transition units. part of the care she is receiving psychiatric care. they had just to play her provider to theater. his being there will help many

deployed soldiers and marines, but the trade-off is he leaves behind patients. it is very difficult decision on where to put the care you have. host: this sounds like something that could be fixed. too frequent personnel transfers contributing to a lack of stability when people are trying to adjust. is the military aware of this? are changes coming? guest: we talk about the post- deployment cohesion. the marines have recognized the importance of this. they recognize when marines come home from deployment, if they're having difficulty adjusting to life at home and need help, those most likely to recognize the warning signs are their buddies and leaders who have known them through deployment.

when you come home and immediately disband a unit, these service members are not around the people most likely to recognize the signs. the marine corps has instituted a 90-day stability. . units that deployed together stays together at home. we have recommended that the army institute a similar policy. host: the next call is from asheville, north carolina. robert is a veteran. caller: i am a combat veteran from the vietnam era. i think it would be very helpful if you had another wall for all of the veterans who have taken their lives, a suicide wall. the previous guest gave lip service to the programs the government offers. sometimes they do not deliver

when the veteran comes around on the merry go round, they do not have the ring that they are reaching for. some of these programs are just a facade and do not live up to their advertisement. that is my comment this morning. guest: i agree that all service members that are lost should be honored and commemorated. we need to recognize those that we lose to suicide are often lost to wounds from the war. host: the next call is from a veteran in florida. caller: i am a vietnam veteran as well. i was in a support unit. when you come out of the service and get into civilian life, the

military is structured where you have to qualify yourself to go up in the ranks of authority. in a normal civilian work force, sometimes people are less qualified and they get promoted above you. you may know more than the person being promoted. that can be very stressful. if you have a family, that can be extra stress. i wonder if that could be a contributing factor. guest: if i understand correctly, you are contrasting the military system meritocracy and promotion with the civilian society. you may be very proficient and capable at what you do but are not recognized for that. i think frustration in your

personal and professional life can certainly be contributing factors. each individual case is different. it is difficult to know what pushes an individual to such despair. host: omaha, neb., chad is a democrat. caller: for people who go into combat, in need to watch videos to see how bloody it is before they go do it. that would prepare them for battle. when i was in the military, i noticed the suicide rate in alaska was high. the reason for that is because there is no unit cohesion. the unit commanders are not forcing the soldiers to participate in sports to build camaraderie. that is all i have to say.

host: two topics, let's take them separately. the first is more information at the recruitment stage before people get into this profession. guest: a certainly agree there is a tremendous need for people to be fully prepared for when they go on the planet. that is traing and emotional. this. i think the services have taken on and recognize that. host: there used to be time for picnics, barbecues, things to get people together in a less stressful way. there is so much for military members to do now and that has declined. guest: i do not know if there's a clear consequence from having fewer picnics to the tragedy of suicide. i would recognize that all our

military units are under tremendous stress. host: i have another statistic. in the next segment, we will be graphics.t the democra more than seven soldiers survived compared to each one that dies. look at how that has gone up from other wars. in vietnam, it was almost a two to one ratio of those who died to those survived. what is the effect of that on suicide rates? guest: i think it does bring many more previously wounded home. it is not clear if carefully counting those with traumatic brain injuries and posttraumatic stress issues. host: becky is a republican from

tulsa. caller: my nephew came home from afghanistan. he was diagnosed with ptsd. he was released from the military for that. the only answer from the military doctors was to give him medication. there was nothing done to help him deal with the underlying issues, to give him tools. what can we do as the american public to do something to effect change and say we're not just going to medicate, we're going to do something better than that? guest: thank you for your call. that is an issue i hear frequently. the concern is that what individuals struggling really need is care in the form of counseling and extended care. medication is a quicker answer. it is not always the right answer. sometimes that is a reflection

of the shortage of care providers we have in the effort to treat so many who need care. there are so few opportunities for providers to help them. that will be a continuing issue. i would encourage you and other families to be aware of the struggles better service member may be having. if they are not willing to seek help, seek help for them. host: some centers offer counseling and outreach services, the national center for ptsd has information about trauma. the award-related illness and injury studies center has mental health available. i would like to put the phone number on the screen again for the veterans affairs crisis line. if you or members of your family would like more information about dealing with mental health issues, you could call.

we have a few minutes left. the next telephone call is from michigan, outside detroit. michael is a veteran. caller: i came out of the service in 1976. i went to work. i worked for years. the injuries i sustained in the military, up with me -- caught up with me. my only choice is the va and barbara -- an arbor health care system. you get an appointment three months from now. you get a new doctor every time. you have to start over again every time. it is a never ending merry-go- round. your issues never get solved. a lot of veterans get discouraged like i am right now.

if they cannot do better, we just stop going. it is such a hassle. what is going to be done about it? what are you doing to make it better for us who have to go to the doctor but we cannot get a doctor. it is like shuffling paper work. guest: thank you, michael. you raise the right issues. these are things the va should be addressing. i understand the va is aware of this issue. they are working on this. i think it is well within the rights of every citizen to be questioning and pushing the va for metrics on how well they're helping veterans. host: we will close with this comment from jim on twitter. on this veterans day, we say thank you to meg harrell to talk

about her report on military suicide. her report is available on the internet through "washington journal." our final segment is a look at who serves in the military today. we're going to ask people serving veterans why they serve. we will be right back. >> every weekend, the people and events that document the american story. this weekend, collaborators- conspirator or innocent, honor? the retry her on charges she was

involved in the assassination of lincoln. from lectures in history, the presidency and cold war policy. look for the complete schedule online. click the alert button to get complete schedules in your in box. >> are we still doing business with these people? >> the parts we have been purchasing are rare and obsolete parts still being utilized in major weapons systems. the internet purchasing of platforms demonstrate that contractors or subcontractors in need of these parts have an

outlet through these purchasing platforms to acquire the parts. a concern is that the intent to deceive certainly exists. >> are we still purchasing? i asked a very simple question. is the united states government still purchasing from these counterfeiters putting out inferior products? >> the internet trading platforms have 60 million line items and parts purchased on a regular basis. yes, sir. >> watch more of this hearing online at the c-span video library. it has ever program we've. since 1987. it is archived and searchable. it is washington, your way. "washington journal" continues. host: andrew tilghman is with us for a special friday segment we do.

we decided to focus on the demographics of our modern military. we will be looking at a lot of statistics that tell us more about the size of the military. andrew will tell us more about the meaning and issues associated with this. we would like to invite people who are active duty military members or their families, veterans or their families, to take special part in this. as we look at the demographics of the military, call and tell us why you chose to enter the military. were you looking for a good job or education? what motivated you to become a member of the armed forces. help us to understand more of the stories behind the numbers we are about to see. let me have you look at the overall size of the force. it has decreased since 1990 when it was a high of 2 million plus.

how large is the active duty force today? guest: today is about 1.4 million. it was a little higher at the end of the cold war. most of the drop down occurred in the 1990's. it was what they called a peace dividend, an effort to find some savings at the end of the collapse of the soviet union. host: along with that, more contractors and use of guard and reservists. guest: there has been a big movement over the last two decades to privatize various military missions. there has been a huge growth in military contractors. the growth of the guard and reserve is post-9/11. it was not very common in the 1990's. in the past 10 years, the guard

and reserve has shifted from a strategic, rarely used force, into a more operational force where they can expect to be mobilized every four or five years. host: there is a strategic review of the size of the military. that is recent. will there be additional drawdowns in the size of the overall active-duty military as a result of that? guest: there seems to be a quiet consensus at the pentagon that they will continue to reduce the size of the ground forces. those forces have grown significantly over the past 10 years. they're going to dial them back to lease pre-9/11 levels or more. they're talking about moving a lot of the active duty army into the reserve component. host: our question for those of you in the military -- there is

a line for those not involved in the military. active duty, please use this number. there is a number for veterans. all others who would like to ask questions or make comments about the size and demographics of the military, there is a number for you. 's're looking at america military by the numbers. why did you choose to serve and become part of our military services? the next statistic is the great increase in the number of people in the military who are married. it was a low in 1973 of 43%. today about 51% of those who are active duty are married. what are the implications of that? guest: in the 1970's, in the beginning of the volunteer force, the military was largely

young, single men. over the years, it has become a more close-knit community and more family-oriented. people are serving longer. it was more one-term enlistees who would leave in their early 20s. now you have more people staying in, getting married, having kids, having a full family life as part of their military career. host: the ratio of men to women in active duty, women now make up about 14%. guest: there is a growing number of women in the military. there is a big difference in the services in the number. the marines are largely all- male. the air force, the officer corps

is almost 50/50. there is a big variants in on the demographics breakdown. there are lot of women in the navy as well. there have been a lot of legal barriers lifted over the years. it used to be the women were not allowed to be fighter jet pilots. recently, the barrier was lifted. they used to not be able to serve on server -- submarines. women enlisted are beginning to come into this the marines. women are serving in pretty much every job in the military these days. host: how has the military had to change with the influx of women? guest: think there is a subtle cultural change. there is a certain political correctness that may have settled into the military. there are still issues with sexual harassment in some

pockets of the military. the naval aviation committee tends to be old school. there has been some controversy about how women have been treated in that community. slowly and surely, the military has adjusted. it has always seemed to be less of an issue after the fact compared to the warnings people have beforehand. there is always controversy in transition. host: this is the age breakdown in the active-duty military. the largest percentage, 45% are 18 to 25. the next largest rocket is 26 to 30. 41 years of age and older, 9%. that number is higher than i expected. guest: the military is getting older and a lot of ways.

in the 1970's, it was largely young man, one-term enlistees. the military has gotten smaller and more professionalized. a lot of the jobs require a higher level of education and training. the force has gone a little older. it is still a pretty young force. i remember the first time i went to embed the troops in iraq. it is a really young crowd. host: the first call is from lee, a veteran in utica, new york. caller: there was a caller who said if you go to the hospital, you have to go 80 miles and wait four hours.

i do not want to go through all of what he said. the system changed so we can go anywhere we want? that way we do not have to travel hundreds of miles. host: is there a debate about opening up the medical system for veterans to be treated anywhere? guest: think there is an effort to do that. a lot of that stems from the decisions from the past couple of decades. during the cold war drawdown, they closed a lot of military bases. it used to be that a veteran would be close to a military base or medical facility. that is not the case anymore. that is something the pentagon and help affairs department is struggling with to get people access and not be anywhere near a military base.

host: chris is active duty military. caller: my reasons for joining, my father was in the navy. i did not want to do something that could be considered a conventional job. i did not want to work at a desk. i wanted to see the world. therefore, i am in the navy. i have been in five years. host: do you have plans to make a career? caller: i am obligated for another six years. we will see where i am at the end of that. host: how has your life changed as a result of being in the navy? caller: i am more organized and aware of things that happen. i work with a lot of civilians now in college. it is amazing to compare them with people in the military. i am a surface warfare officer.

i am responsible for grinding and fighting the navy ships. guest: in some ways, is more common than ever before. recruiters no that having a. in the military is one of the biggest indicators -- recruiters know that having a. in the military is one of the biggest indicators of future service. there are fewer young people in america who have a father who served in the military. that is still a prime target for recruiters. increasingly, the all-volunteer military has become very family- oriented. a lot of people enter into the same service their parents did. there guided by the family connections. host: i want to go back to the numbers about married in listed people. 53.1% is the statistic.

below that is the statistic on the employment status of military spouses. 38% of them are employed. i put this back on the screen to ask how many husbands and wives both serve? how many leave children at s home while they are serving? how much of that is an issue in the modern military? guest: to put those statistics in context, you do have a lot of people coming to the military when they are young. they get married. by the time they begin to have children, one of them will leave the military and let the other spouse continue on to a full career. the other spouse will step aside into an alternative career. it is extremely difficult.

there are a lot of stories about two parents who have deployed at the same time. the children in the with a grandparent or other family members. -- end up with a grandparent or other family members. there have been single parents who refuse to deploy because they're not happy about the arrangements made for their children. it is not extremely common, but it is a contentious issue when it does come up. host: we have this story from twitter. he says he grew up as an army brat and joined out of respect to his dad, family tradition, and country. why did you sign up? caller: i joined because i wanted to see the world. i grew up in a small town with nothing but service industries. i wanted to get away from that and see what was out there.

boca raton, fla., is my home town. i am a med tech. i have been to 32 countries. i haven't been deployed -- i have been deployed to iraq and afghanistan twice. i was able to get a bachelor's degree along the way. i have been in 19.5 years. host: is this your career as far as you can see out? caller: i plan to retire to florida and work in emergency management. i will do that in june. host: you are leaving after 20 years? caller: yes. when you reach a certain rank, if you do not get to e7 after

20 years, you have to retire. i am little leary on the economy right now. i know they have veteran's preference programs and all that, but i am still nervous. i know people who have retired before me. not all of them are finding jobs right now. i will see how that goes. host: good luck to you. thank you for your service. we have shown the number to draw the morning that the an infinitely among veterans is 12% compared to the national average of 9%. the senate just passed the president's plan for jobs for veterans including tax credits. give us a sense of how effective these programs tend to be and whether this will address any meaningful way veteran of unemployment. guest: i think the programs are well-intentioned, but there are deep structural problems underlying the veterans the unemployment issue. one is the economy.

the economy in this recession has hit in a new and much more severely than other demographic groups. young men are most commonly the demographic of people leaving the military. that is a big challenge to surmount. i also think there is an element of the military that is increasingly isolated from other parts of america these days. some veterans have a tough time reintegrateing back into their home towns. the social network in the military committee, the language is full of acronyms. it can be hard for prospective employers to even understand what they are saying. there are cultural barriers as well as economic. host: 1% of the current population serves in the

military. here is a chart that illustrates the effect that has on society. it is from a different perspective. back in world war ii, 16 million americans served on active duty during that era. today, post-9/11, about 4 million people have served in the military in a nation with about 300 million people in it. the next call is from middletown, new jersey. david is also a veteran. caller: did morning, c-span, the best television channel we have. in ww ii, everybody served the country, whether you work in the military or on the home front. everybody worked together to defeat the axis. the one word that describes the

american people during world war ii was "we." we worked together, everybody. 16 million served in the military in world war ii. right now, there are less than 2 million left. we're losing world war ii veterans at the rate of over 1100 a day. our current veterans, bless them, served honorably just like every veteran who has ever served. i would like to say that our country today is divided, unfortunately. "we" is not what describes our current generation, etc. the word that describes the current generation unfortunately is "me." our armed forces wear a patch on

the right shoulder. it does not as a democrat, republican, liberal, conservative. the patch is the american flag. they are fighting as americans. we the people have to come together and do what is best for the country. host: david, i am going to stop you right there. thank you for your call this morning. guest: david has articulated some of the same things robert gates has said as well as mike mullen. they repeated the concern of the military seems to be isolated and separate from the civilian population. it places an extraordinary strain on the people that do serve in the military. it renders a lot of the civilian community with a lack of understanding of what the

military community goes through, particularly over the past 10 years when it has been a real strain. host: here is a comment from joe, a regular part of our twitter community. you have spent a lot of time to run the military. what is your reaction? guest: that is a common sentiment. general maddox made an interesting remark. he said that he hates minefields but he loves spending time with people willing to go into minefields. that is a common theme when you get past the patriotism and seeking of educational benefits. when you ask people why they stay in the military, they like

to serve alongside the people in their unit. host: former secretary bob gates spent a lot of time bringing up the theme about this connection -- disconnection between those who served in the general public. >> when it comes to office a recruitment and training, one study showed the state of alabama with a population of less than 5 million people has 10 army rotc host programs. by contrast, the los angeles metro area with a population of over 12 million has four. the chicago metro area with a population of 9 million has three. it makes sense to focus on places where space is inexpensive, where the candidates are most inclined to sign up and pursue a career in uniform.

however, there is a real risk over time of developing an officer cadre that is politically, culturally, and geographically having less and less in common with the majority of the people they have sworn to defend. host: former defense secretary robert gates. we're talking with andrew tilghman who covers the pentagon for his publication. he is helping us understand the demographics of today's military. we're asking those of you are veterans or active duty to call. josh, you are on. what do you do in the military? caller: i am an infantry officer. i worked up from private through officers' school. i made it to the rank of captain.

i have served three times, all three times in iraq. in the most current trip to iraq, i was injured. and the wounded warrior as well. -- a ibm a wounded warriors as well. i was originally at walter reed. walter reed closed. we moved. host: how are the facilities? can you compare walter reed to the new quarters in bellmawr? caller: i think all of those who were at walter reed have an affinity for it. it was historic. there was a common theme. it was very weird-centric -- warrior-centric.

this is an army base. it is a different experience than being wounded-warrior- centric as it was at walter reed. i signed a pinellas 18 in 1995. -- i signed up when i was 18 in 1995. i would do it again. the reason i am calling is because this past thursday, and we were supposed to go up to the white house. i was really excited to go visit the white house facilities. i received a message that due to the background check, i was not able to attend the white house. i did not receive any type of reasoning behind that.

i was really concerned about whether there was something i could do to look into that. i could serve the country and get winded for our country, but i could not visit the white house. i have a question about whether there is something i could do to change that. i would love to visit the white house. i think the white house is a symbol of our country. host: how are you doing on your rehabilitation? caller: i had a second surgery on my hand. i was in a vehicle rollover in iraq. recovery is going good. my spirits are high. i hope i can get back to functional so i can go out there and leave my forces. host: good luck in your

recovery. we appreciate your participating this morning. do you know about any recourse an individual soldier would have if they have gotten the message like that? guest: know, that surprises me. he indicated he has top secret clearance. i do not understand why they would give someone top-secret clearance and not let them unthis amy winehouse -- and not let them visit the white house. i understand the frustration. host: there is a paragraph in here. he writes that it is clear we're not only outsourcing hours security -- our security to citizens, we are outsourcing it to non-citizens.

on twitter, sasha asks -- this answers the question, but can you talk about this in perspective? guest: adapting could there are "illegals" becoming citizens. they are non-citizens here illegally whether it is through a green card or expediting the process to full citizenship through military service. the military is not taking in illegal immigrants in as recruit but they are certainly relying more and more on non-citizens. in iraq, i have seen citizenship ceremonies that have occurring -- been occuring at

camp fallujah. a guy can go from being a high schooler in texas whose parents are here on a green card to a citizen in one year. host: here is the racial background of today's military. how much to these numbers look like america? guest: in many ways, they do. the african-american community is over represented and the hispanic community is under represented. recruiting among african- americans really nosedived during the last decade or so. as a result, their interest in

joining the military really decrease a lot. i think that has begun to go back up again. also, the white service members are disproportionately from the south. still to this day, the old confederacy really does carry on a military tradition that does not exist in other parts of the country. recruiting in new england is far lower. host: as we heard it in robert gates's remarks. next up, we talk about the military budget numbers. caller: i appreciate you taking my call. the reason i called this because i married into and became a military wife. i have two sections where i can look at this and on the

posttraumatic stress syndrome, my father came home from vietnam and we just had to deal with it. there was not anything available. we just had to deal with. if a firecracker went off, he ran under the bed. his anger was extreme. one of the things they need to do with posttraumatic stress is bring the families in and asked if their fathers have changed. is there something going on you have noticed that is different? a child can talk for the mother can talk. we lived through that. my father served in vietnam, korea, and he served in japan tribunals. he is now 83 years old. we have been fighting for three months where we are supposed to have these veterans programs available for people 75 and older or he can get in house

care. i recently found out that the program is available in tennessee, but my father lives in kentucky. it has not been opened there. i was wondering if we have these things that we announced that veterans can use -- host: concerned about getting access to benefits. guest: that is something that department of veterans affairs is continuing to work on. there are a lot of problems and they have been overwhelmed over the past 10 years, in particular, with claims and a lot of the problems extending from the wars in the past 10 years. the caller also makes a point about how her family reacted after the vietnam war era. the army in the marine corps, in particular, have vastly expanded their services for active-duty troops and their family members.

there has been a real recognition that the whole family is affected by and should be involved in reacting to the stresses of combat. host: off of twitter -- back to the numbers about education in the military. 81% of current military have high school or some college. 18% are college graduates or higher. how does that compare to the population as a whole? i think the high school number is higher. guest: absolutely. for the enlisted crowd, the vast majority of those enlisted have a high-school degree compared to 80-something percent of the

general population. the college degrees, most officers do have a college degree in, and i'm not sure how that compares to the population at large. one thing that appears study found that the percentage of the officer corps without a graduate degree has increased and i think that is because the officer corps is increasingly polling officers out of the enlisted ranks more so than they used to. host: there are 1.4 million men and women on active duty and we will look at this chart that shows the breakdown of which services they served in. indianapolis, george, a veteran. good morning. you are on the air. caller: good morning. i called because i wanted to speak in praise of the va hospital system. i am a korean war veteran and i have been going to the va for a long, long time. the va hospital here in

indianapolis has got to be one of the finest hospitals in the country. i never have to wait on an appointment. the doctor's eyes see, the same all the time. they really monitor what is going on with me as far as my health is concerned. and in fact, they provided this for my telephone system and every morning, i take my weight, blood pressure readings, and it is all transmitted to the v.a. hospital here and there is someone monitoring that, because they will call me if they find something that does not look right. so, anyway. i have heard a lot of complaints about the va, but i am one that never has a complaint about it. host: thank you for making that call. i want to add some advice off of twitter.

i want to go back to the numbers. andrew tilghman, you talked about this earlier. in 1973, officers had an average age of 32 years old, now 34.5. but unless man has risen from an average age of 25 up to 27. of and there are longer serving. officer average years haven't risen from 9.7 up until 10. what are the pluses and minuses? guest: it is more expensive to have a longer serving force, people reaching higher pay grades, people with higher levels of education and training cost more. host: is a recruiting expensive?

guest: where the expense really comes in is behind those numbers, more people reaching retirement than they used to. military retirement benefits are extremely generous. that is something the pentagon is wrestling with. if that system will be able to continue in this age of austerity. host: michigan, james, active- duty, good morning. what is your story? caller: i actually have two questions for your guest. one is regarding civilian control over the military, one of the underlying tenants of society. how many presidents, vice presidents, secretaries of defense, and those in a position of influence have served in the military? we see that increasing or decreasing? secondly, since world war ii, korea, vietnam, are we seeing

people server for reasons other than so-called patriotism or serving the country? guest: sure, james. the number of presidents and higher level civilian leaders with military experience is really changing with the demographics of the country. bill clinton was the first president to not have military experience. president bush had some in the reserves. that is as much a reflection of their generation as it is their personal decision and the numbers we discussed earlier. the percentage of the country serving as far lower than it used to be. when you ask about the motivation that people have hope for serving come once again, a lot of people do site patriotism, but there are a lot of people who site education benefits as a key reason for joining the military, the

education benefits both while you are in active duty and gi benefits. they are a big recruiting tool. not only increases with time. also the economy is a big factor. recruiters know the biggest defining factor but a recruiting environment is the unemployment level, the options and pressures that young people feel when making that decision. host: in addition to the one. for active duty, there are 860,000 in the reserve and national guard. this pie chart shows how the guard and reserve services allocated. our last telephone call on veterans day for north carolina. caller: good morning. thank you for taking my call. the reason why i served is i am a first-generation american and i proudly joined the military to

serve my country because i am proud to be an american. a lot of people do not support our soldiers and it makes it harder to come home to have to, you know, here that things that people say or the disrespect. at the end of the day, it does not matter where you join the military care force, navy, whether it is college, to see the world, or you see this as another option. maybe one to follow in your family's footsteps. when you join, it does not matter why. you still have a job to do and it needs to get done. like of civilians would understand what we do and why we do it then we would get more respect that we deserve. host: what was your job? caller: in transition from going enlisted to becoming an officer

but i am and 88-november, a transportation specialist. host: what is your family's country of origin? caller: nigeria. i have been here in 2.5 years. hopefully i will get jag corps. i love the military and the army. host: 1 more story off of twitter -- andrew tilghman, we want to state thank you to the pure research people who gave the numbers we have been using -- the pew research numbers. to our veterans, the veterans day observance is 11:00 a.m. eastern from arlington national cemetery.

at the veterans day to all of the military, active-duty and veterans. thank you for your service and i think you for our callers participation-- thank you for your participation. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011] >> c-span2 will be live with a look at the life of former president reagan. transportation secretary james burnley and a number of other former administration officials. they will talk about domestic

policies and others. this is hosted by the university of notre dame and the reagan presidential foundation. live coverage shortly on c-span 2. >> extremism is -- [applause] let me remind you also that moderation is a pursuit of justice is no virtue. >> he lost the 1964 presidential election to lyndon johnson, but barry goldwater's ideas galvanize the conservative movement. the five-term senator is featured on "the contenders." from the goldwater institute, live at 8:00 p.m. eastern. his new autobiographical narrative, he finally comes to terms with his posttraumatic

stress disorder decades after vietnam. >> i started telling this guy about my symptoms, jumping up in the middle of the night, running outside, a car honking behind me and i would get out of my own car and would just attack. he said to me, "have you ever been in war? it hit me so hard. i was in the middle of a room with 80 people. i started bawling, snot coming out of my nose. it was that simple. when he finally got me back under control he said, "you have a ptsd. ever heard of it?" >> pictures of arlington national cemetery in virginia where president obama will visit today and observe veterans day in. he will take part in the laying

of the wreath come the tomb of the unknown. there will also speak about the importance of the holiday. we will have live coverage beginning at 11:00 a.m. eastern here on c-span. right now, a look to the status of the u.s. troops in iraq. "washington journal" this morning talked with one of the leaders live off from baghdad. host: as we continue our program on this veterans day, let me introduce you to our next guest, who joins us live from baghdad this morning. major-general jeffrey buchanan. he serves as the chief spokesperson. our goal is to get a bird's-eye view from your position about the troop withdrawal to areas where do things stand right now? guest: thank you for having me on your show today and veterans

day -- and happy veterans day. things are going very well. we're on track to honor our commitment to the iraqi and american people by living out article 24, the security agreement signed in 2008. that mandates that all of our troops are withdrawn by the end of the year. as far as base transitions, redeployment, and personnel redeployment, we are on track what are some of the security issues -- on track. host: what are some of the security issues? guest: iraq is still a dangerous place. we still see threats from al- qaeda, as well as some of the iranian backed military groups. they want to continue to try to attack our troops, either on our bases or during our movements. we approach every one of the movements as a deliberate operation. we use intelligence.

we coordinate our surveillance and reconnaissance. we provide support with -- aviation support. we work with iraqi security to clear the routes and provide security for our troops. host: there's a story in "the new york times" this morning. it describes the decisions about what goes and what stays in the country. will you tell us about those decisions? guest: sure. we have redeployed a significant amount of equipment. if you look at where we were on the first of september this year, just a couple of months ago, we had about 20,000 truckloads of equipment to move out. we are down to around 10,000 now. that continues to move. with the equipment itself, the military equipment, the military hardware, are tanks and military trucks, artillery pieces, those are all being redeployed, dumb and only through -- redeployed, dominant

lead through kuwait. we have a certain amount of equipment and a small percentage of that military that gets transferred to the department of state. we do have some special vehicles we are transferring to the state department for the embassy's use, as well as systems to detect incoming mortars or rockets. then we have nonmilitary equipment, some of which will get transferred to the state department, like our armored suburban street a lot of the equipment gets transferred to the iraqi government. these are mostly things we do not need in the united states and would not be worth the cost it would take to ship them back

to the u.s. i'm talking about things like old trailers, container housing units, the air conditioners that cool those down. some of those have been in operation over the last seven years. those kinds of things, we inventory and catalog. we transfer that to the iraqi government. we have saved about $680 million so far in not shipping that unnecessary equipment back to the u.s. host: let's talk about the personnel. the president has said the troops will be home by christmas. in fact, are all the troops leaving iraq coming home right away? guest: we're on track completely to honor our commitment to the security agreement that all our troops have to be out of the country by december 31 of this year.

at the height of the surge, we have about 165,000 troops in the country and we have drawn down a significant amount since the summer of 2010, when we shifted from a focus on security operations to stability operations. we changed our operational name to new dawn. for the bulk of the past year, we've kept between 45,000 to 49,000 troops in the country. we had a lot of work to do under stability obligations. in the last several months, we started to withdraw more significantly our numbers. our priorities have changed from advising training and assisting and equipping the iraqi security forces to praepostor in our troops. we are down to about 27,000 troops in the country and on track to go to zero by the end of the year. host: people are reading in the newspapers that there's

discussion by the president and the defense department that more regional bases will be established. in lieu of those decisions being finalized, will the troops becoming back to the u.s. and then redeployed to the region? we heard from mark thompson of "time" magazine that a good number of them may go to kuwait. guest: the united states central command maintains a number of troops in a number of countries. we have a number of allies in the region. some of these troops are conducting security operations. for example, our fifth fleet that operates based out thatbahrain but spends most of this time patrolling the waters

of the arabian gulf. some of them are involved in missions of various security forces. that's a very important part of our engagement throughout the world. the troops that amount of iraq, the majority of them, will deploy to their home states in the united states or elsewhere. some of them could be re- missioned. that's fairly common. ouor combatant commanders around the world have requirements. the troops that are available to meet those requirements, those are decided by the president and the secretary of defense in terms of priority. some of the troops that are here could be re-missioned elsewhere. host: we want to get to your

calls. before i do that, the question, the u.s. commitment of treasure and lives there. the casualties over all in the two phases of the operation, about 4500 dead, 32,000 wounded. that's just the u.s. military personnel, not including contractors or iraqi civilians. some of the cost estimates of the war since 2001, approximately $802 billion. that's from the christian science monitor. you have been giving interviews recently. i will show one of them to our viewers. you have also been talking to american newspapers about your concerns on the rise of al- qaeda in the region after we leave. with those two thoughts in mind, what have accomplished and what are we leaving behind? guest: first of all, i think veterans day is a good

opportunity for us all to reflect on the sacrifices of so many iraqis, americans, as well as our coalition partners over the years. as someone who has seen a lot of what has gone on over the years, this is my fifth veterans day spent in iraq since 2003. i've seen a lot of crisis. -- a lot of sacrifices. my son has done a tour here. i've seen the effect on my family. i've lost friends, both iraqi and american. the cost of our involvement here has certainly been high. i've seen the tremendous opportunities the iraqi people

have now. i've seen the development of the iraqi security forces. from a force that served a brutal dictator to one that now serves to protect all the people. the opportunities iraqi people have now, not only to choose their own form of government, but to choose who is running the government, the opportunity to develop economically so the nation's wealth benefits all the people rather than just a corrupt regime. and the opportunity for this country, iraq, to rejoing the league of responsible nations. it can be a positive role model for other democracies as they

tried to achieve their own future or achieve their own potential. i think the iraqi people deserve a country that is stable, sovereign, and self- reliant. they are not there yet. they have not reached it. i think they've made progress on each of these areas. i think they have tremendous opportunities to continue to move forward. we have committed to a long-term partnership with the rock in a country -- with iraq. a country that is stable and sovereign is good for our interest. this continues to be a work in progress. i think they're headed on the right road. they have not yet reached their potential. host: there are news reports that the president of the united states, barack obama, and the prime minister have a november 12 meeting. let's get to your phone calls. lots for you to follow up on. we begin with virginia, an independent. caller: hello. yes, bless this day.

let's pray for the veterans. thank you for your service, general. pray for the country. pray for peace in the 21st century. the world needs love today, as much love as you can give. thank you, c-span. host: thank you. moving on to a call from robert, who is a veteran. go ahead. caller: the most outstanding thing i remember is the fact that we have been lied to so much. in vietnam, we were lied to every day. i in iraq, we went into that war with a bunch of lies. that is what is paramount right now, the fact that so many people remember that there are so many lies about these wars. i think that's why they are so

unpopular. guest: robert, if i can just take a moment to say one thing. that is this. on veterans day, first of all, i want to thank you for your past service. as a son of a veteran, it means a lot to me. for all the american people, this is one thing i think is very different for us in the military today compared to what the people of your generation went through. regardless of people's politics, regardless of what they thought about the u.s. commitment in afghanistan and iraq, our service members have enjoyed 100% of their support. that very thankful for support. i cannot tell you how much that

means and what kind of differences means in our morale every day. the troops are doing a lot. i know they are doing a lot on your behalf and they make you proud. host: after the military leaves in large numbers, the state department will bolster its presence, according to news reports in "the federal times." the military will also have a role in protecting the embassy. can you talk about that, general began in? guest: the role is similar to every single embassy around the world. we have in exceptionable marines unit here.

yesterday was the birthday of the united states marine corps. 236 years old. a lot to be proud of. the marine security guards protect the embassy. there will be about 157 personnel. some military and some department of defense civilians will be working under the leadership of embassador jeffrey to provide what we call the final end. they assist with technical training and the fielding of equipment the rockies -- the iraqis have bought from the united states, whether it is m- 1 tanks, f-16's. there's a small office of military personnel that will work to help deliver those goods. they do not actually perform a

security function. >> who will bear the responsibility for protecting the oil fields of iraq? guest: donnelly, the iraqi security forces. also, a lot of iraq's oil infrastructure is offshore. we've been working with the iraqi navy. they have a navy now that's about 60 vessels. the iraqi navy and marine corps are protecting the two offshore terminals and they patrol all of iraq's territorial waters. there's a strong relationship between navy forces and the iraqi navy. they will maintain that relationship well into the future. most of the oil infrastructure is protected by the oil police. they are responsible for protecting the iraq majority the's oil refineries, the wells, and the pipelines.

host: for our viewers, if you're interested in more, and general buchanan in a very recent "the new york times" article. we are talking. craig is a democrat in manhattan. good morning. caller: thank you for your service. i wish you and your men godspeed on this veterans day. the symbol behind you in a disk -- do you know what those symbols mean? i see some swords. there are some arabic words. what does that symbol represent to us and to you and to the american people? what does the iraqi word say? i thank you very much for your explanation, if you do know. guest: i do speak some arabic. this is the seal of the united states forces in iraq.

the symbol is self -- the symbol itself has its origin in iraq based on a combined unit from the british and americans that served in this part of the world in world war ii. this is an iconic symbol from mesopotamia, if i'm not mistaken. winged bull with the head of a man. it started with multinational forces, iraq, and then became the united states forces iraq. it started out with a large portion of the command was british back in 2003 and 2004. over time, the majority of the british troops have gone elsewhere and redeployed. it was a combined command in world war ii.

we took from that lynch to describe our current patch. host: major general jeffrey buchanan joining us from baghdad. plano, texas, a republican. good morning. caller: good morning. please allow me to echo the many who have said thank you for your service and for the service of all those who report to you. i and my family have always been fiercely pro-military. in my mother's brother died during the battle of the bulge, world war ii. i personally lost two of my best buddies in vietnam. the problem i'm having of late, however, is that the country that i would have been willing to fight and even die for does not exist anymore. our national sovereignty has been surrendered to mexico. i would not be willing to be

put in harm's way to protect 30 eight million illegal aliens in this country. there's just no way. i would absolutely refuse to serve. that's how i feel. host: thank you. general, we can leave that as a comment, or you can reply. guest: i do appreciate his support, just like i appreciate the support of all americans. one thing i do think is important is to recognize the sacrifices that our troops have made here. i personally have learned a lot more about democracy in my service in iraq than i ever did through various schools in the united states. just understanding that everybody in a democracy has a

right and a responsibility to voice their opinion. the people are responsible for the government. the government should be held accountable to the people. everybody, regardless of your opinion, has a right to voice that opinion. it should be heard. i do appreciate the support of stan. i understand where he is coming from. i personally do not agree with him. as far as what my oath is to uphold and protect the constitution of the united states. he has the right to have that opinion and speak up about it. host: here's a charge that looks at our troops commitment to iraq over the years, reaching a high point in october of 2007 at 166,000. this is where we are today. general buchanan, of this tweet

from jim, who is a veteran. guest: well, first of all, having served many tours with the iraqi security forces and even in the dark days of 2005 and 2006 when i was with the police commandos, i worked very close and personally with these guys. their patriotism was phenomenal. they are people. their troops have the same motivations as our troops. many times, i was protected by iraqi security forces. i do not agree the folks we have been helping to train and really change their professional

military culture over the last eight and a half years are suddenly going to flip a switch and see us as the enemy. also, when it comes to the equipment itself, the military hardware, the tanks, patrol boats, helicopters, the iraqi government is buying that from the united states. it's the purchase of an f-16 squadron that gives u.s. workers in the united states jobs. the things we are transferring to them are things like old airconditioner and old trailers. we have saved the country $685 million by not shipping them back to the united states. i understand the sentiment, but i disagree completely. host: here's a comment from a student, joseph ramirez.

next, a phone call from jack, an independent in minnesota. good morning. caller: good morning. general sir, you seem like a very nice fellow. i was an army captain only in vietnam when you were in kindergarten. i have to disagree with you on a couple of comments. i want to answer a question that susan proposed. your idea that iraq is sovereign -- frankly, iraq is about as sovereign as india was. we have are puppets in place. we have the so-called iraqi security forces and we have our boot firmly affixed on iraqis' neck. i would like to respond to the

question, what was the war about? i do not think there was any doubt what it was about at this time. alan greenspan said it's kind of a shame we cannot just admit the iraq war was about oil. do not cut me off, susan. i have a quote that will solidify that notion from john bolden himself. he said on fox news, "iran has made little secret of its desire for hegemony in the persian gulf. the critical oil and natural gas producing region that we fought so many wars to try to protect our economy from the adverse impact of losing that supply or having it available only at very high prices."

i do not think it can be any more clear than that what this war was about three it has made ray hunt rich. host: i'm going to stop you. you have made your point. we're going to run out of time with the general. general, would you like to respond to the policies he raises? guest: first of all, i am a military service and ouncei -- military servant and i have been serving in iraq for a number of years. i disagree with what you are saying. you are entitled to your opinion. host: these two articles you have been quoted about regional concerns. we've seen a lot of reporting about increased tensions between the united states, israel, and iran. is there any evidence on the ground of increased presence by

iran or influenced by iran? guest: i think iran is certainly a concern and it has been a concern of the rockies -- of the iraqis. iran and iraq share a long history and most of it is not for a positive. iraq has reached out to all of its neighbors and is trying to reach a positive relationship with all of them. shapedbehavior has been by the strategy that's meant to keep iraq weak and isolated. isolated, not just from the united states, but from all of its other neighbors. we see this through the economic policies of the run and through what they're doing by supporting militant groups that attack us and kill a number of iraqis. it is a concern. i think the iraqi security forces have the ability and they have shown the ability to defeat the military -- to defeat

the militant groups. in the long term, the long-term solution to those groups has got to be based on political dialogue between iraq and iran. iran should respect iraq and its right to be sovereign. they have not demonstrated that in the past. host: the last call is caller: the man who called up from wisconsin was completely write about hypocrisy in foreign policy. many people in america, civilians and serviceman think just like you, and as long as you people control the government through a military industrial process, we are not going to accomplish nothing. most of the people over there are in bad condition because we control their social and economic position. one other thing, who kill the

most iraqis, said of hussein, or the u.s. military forces since this illegal invasion? host: general jeffery buchanan? >guest: most have been killed by other iraqis or supporters to al qaeda, certainly not the united states. again, everyone is entitled see their opinion. host: general, thank you very much to take our viewers calls and on behalf of our c-span viewers happy veterans day. >> at 11:00 eastern a.m. this morning we will go live to arlington national cemetery with a wreath laying ceremony followed by comments by president obama, defense secretary leon panetta, and a number of others. live coverage from arlington national cemetery will get

underway in about a half-hour. we are looking now with the korean war veterans memorial located on the national mall here in washington off to the side of the lincoln memorial. it is one of the newest memorials dedicated in 1995. it contains a larger than life squad on patrol from each branch of the military. next to them is a 164-foot tall granite wall with images etched into it of others involved in the korean war effort. now, a portion from this morning's "washington journal."

discharge -- this chart is our question. and world war ii almost 9% of the population was in the armed forces. since 2000, about 1% of the total population has served in the armed forces. the consequences are discussed in a number of pieces. first of all, the cover of "time magazine." mark thompson, who wrote this, will cause a little later on. the cover story called and army apart, -- "and army apart." here's a little of what he wrote the company missed. in it, he writes military leaders now the gap is widening, which leads to an important question. is this a bad thing, and if it is, should we care, and what

could be done to reverse it? i have deep existential banks to -- and from mike mullen -- the subject is export and other places. there are other opportunities. first of all, the editorial page of "the washington post." this is a piece from an army

infantry officer he writes the 1%-offer to serve in the armed forces are about the only americans left that could follow events. most thoughtful events could is simply tell you who was pushing for a 9-9-9 plan, best in sioux name the commanding general of more than 100,000 troops and they would not have the truth of a clue. the public apathy is obvious and in large part the result of all voluntary force that is left the 99% on aware of the triumphs and tragedies that mark the life of their fellow citizens. he goes on to talk about policy perspective. should we not have some room for discussion of the war in which 13 coalition troops and civilians were added to the death toll in the course of one

bloody day? with no sense of urgency, both political parties are free to press ahead with a strategy that appears to settle for the least bad option in the absence of good ones. one more article, and then we will get to some of your calls. that is the front page of "usa today." it looks at this from the perspective of congressional service. today's congress has fewer veterans. military representation is that a post-world war two low. 22% of congress have surge in the military, the lowest number since world war two. the decline has been steady since the end of the draft when the world war two generation was at the height of political power. then, four and five members of congress had military service. he quotes the president of the

university of maine. he argues that it has political consequences in foreign policy and civilian relations. host: that is the backdrop for our question, is the military the forgotten one%. let's hear your comments, beginning with a libertarian and in oklahoma, gary. caller: by vietnam veteran, one of those young kids who thought i was doing the right thing. i found the bed was a dead, stupid thing to do. here is the topic. this was a subject that many americans on college campuses were intimately aware of.

the point now is have we lost that today when i feel very strongly about -- caller: when i feel strong about. they have no business being over there. we lost a young 19-year-old girl last week. i spend my 19th birthday in vietnam. a 19-year-old female lost in combat cannot be allowed to happen. i feel very strongly about our young people serving in the military need to take steps to have some sort of program, little coffeeshops, little businesses, where they feel they can go and sit down and talk. they literally are the 1% now. it's very hard to relate to other people at large.

the fact is, especially most vietnam veterans, those kids and young people who served during that area -- succored by our own peers. washed sure that can be away. i swear to god. i think that sentiment is still prevalent among a lot of people in this country. host: we're going to jump to another caller. "time" magazine reminds us, with the drawdown of troops in iraq, 45,000 troops will be coming back. their unemployment rate is already higher than the national average, 12% down. next is a call from dayton, ohio. kathleen is a democrat there. caller: hi, susan.

i've been going to the veterans administration for a long time with my father. i had the honor to talk to a lot of iraqi and afghanistan veterans. the other day i talked to a double amputee. we do not go in our discussions anywhere they do not want to go. it's incredibly sad what these young people have been through and that the american public are basically in the dark about what they have been through. for me, personally, i was against both innovations -- both invasions. at the same time, i do support our troops. i know young people get sent to wars often -- in this case, based on false allegations in regard to iraq. i do think the american public needs to have compassion, really needs to go out there and

find out what they've been through and really support them, if they can. host: kathleen, a question for you. if you believe americans do not pay attention, what are the consequences for us from a national debate or policy perspective? caller: in talking to these vets, it keeps the rest of the american public in a bubble about what really went on. and media, not c-span, also kept the american public in a bubble about the atrocities taking place. host: the question is, is there a remedy? caller: i have three daughters. when my youngest, who is 24, was at home and they invaded iraq, i stood by that there should be a draft.

i still stand by that. it's not going to come back. they are not going to let it come back. your reality of war would come back for the american public. i do not think our military wants that. i would have told my young person to be a conscientious objector. i know there are reasons for wars. iraq was not one of them. no, i firmly believe in the draft. i think it would really forced the american public into the reality of what goes on. i think it would make them take -- they would research and find out if what the president and the administrations were true. host: castling, thank you -- kathleen, thank you. a tweet from sal. next up, brentwood, california. cliff, a republican, good

morning. caller: good morning. if our troops are forgotten, it's because of "the new york times," "the washington post," cbs, and even c-span. americans are not reminded of those killed. apparently, all we need to do it to have our soldiers remembered is have a republican president. americans were witness to daily death counts. we have a world platoon over there. we've heard about joy killings and torture killings. none of you cover it.

i go to icasualties.com to find out the truth. i think it's really odd that you use the term 1%. i think you got it from "the washington post" -- some connection to occupy wall street. host: why is that odd? caller: clearly, the mention of the term 1% puts us in remembrances of what's going on in oakland, boston, which is a bunch of rapes, assaults, arrests. host: what's your point? caller: the term 1% is metaphorical, is symbolic of occupy wall street. host: it's also the exact

number of the population serving. we're going to be going back and forth on this. thank you for your call this morning. this is a tweet. "the washington post" and almost every paper has a veterans day photograph and many have stories. "the washington post" take is how arlington national cemetery, especially in one section, section 60, families are violating the rules there. here is what christian davenport writes.

host: next is a call from shreveport, louisiana. good morning, randy, independent there. caller: thank you. i have to sign up for the draft in vietnam. i missed that by the skin of my teeth. i did not know at the time, but i finally found out later in years that my father was going to send me to canada until he saw what was going on in vietnam, what a big farce it was. you go to war to win it, not to kill 50,000 people. all these wars are orchestrated.

they have been orchestrated ever since the civil war. britain is no friend of ours. these wars are orchestrated, supported by the banking system. they create these recessions and depressions, the good times, and everything else. j.p. morgan, goldman sachs, bank of america, wells fargo, a citibank, bank of england, the french banks and the german banks. these things are orchestrated. the people in the middle east, that did not happen by accident. it is crazy. we need a strong defense. sending them over there to help wealthy corporations and everything else, that's crazy. host: thank you. next is a call from oklahoma. victor is a veteran. good morning. caller: good afternoon.

i'm calling about -- as far as us been veterans. veterans are the true cosmetology of american society. jews, blacks, whites -- we're all in various cultures. once you put yourself within a military society, we're all one. we're all american military. host: what are the consequences of that? caller: the consequences are very positive. we are able to overcome a lot of the adversities that other societies are having problems with. host: a plus for people who are part of the military. caller: definitely a plus. it makes us americans.

that's what we are. we're over here and america trying to beat american. host: two stories in "the washington post" related to the military. first, an investigation into what's happening at dover air force base with the remains of service people. the air force told to review were sure reactions. "the testimony said, if you look how it is handled routinely in civilian life, there are procedures exactly that way."

below that, on fort hood. host: we are talking about whether or not -- is america's military the forgotten 1%? if so, are the consequences to that? don is a democrat. caller: good morning.

i'm not so sure "forgotten" is the right turn. i think the military gets more respect than in the 1970's, when i was overseas. the respect rainout is a lot better, but there are some consequences to the 1%. ironically, chris matthews' book kind of identifies some of its. once you're in the military, you get this sense of working together for something bigger than yourself, which relates back to civic duty back here. the greatest generation, which was at 10%, according to your statistics, came back and build highways and roads, and came back and felt like they belong

to and had a vested interest in america. now, with the military only being 1%, that civic duty, that responsibility to contribute and build the country for your children -- that is waning and that is reflected within the baby boomers who are so reluctant to give up taxes for infrastructure and things like that. it's not so much that the military is forgotten, but the consequences is a lack of civic duty for america and general. host: thank you, don, for engaging in the debate this morning. yesterday, the senate passed 94-0 the jobs for veterans portion of the president's plan. "usa today" has this story. yesterday, the head of the fed

went to fort bliss, texas to make a speech about the economy. here is coverage of it in "the washington post." >> i know the people in military service, like all americans, are facing lots of challenges. your home towns may be struggling with foreclosures. you may have had difficulty getting a loan to buy a car or house. you may have family members who are having trouble finding employment in a tough job market. you may be worried about your own job prospects when the time comes for you to leave the military. i appreciate these concerns very much and i thought i believe it little time telling you what the federal reserve is doing to help strengthen our economy and increase economic opportunity. host: fed chairman ben bernanke at fort bliss yesterday. we have the full coverage in the c-span video library.

"the new york times" about the soldiers who are on trial for killing -- for sport killing. "later on, we learned the soldiers were members of the fifth striker brigade second infantry division, which deployed to afghanistan from the space in 2009."

host: next is a call from memphis, tennessee. larry is a veteran. you are on the air. caller: good morning. i have been looking for a job. even though i am a military veteran, i cannot find a job anywhere. i do not even think people care about the military veterans, especially the republicans. every time a republican president gets in office, they cut the military benefits. republicans do not care about the military. then we have all these wars. i went in when i was 18.

i did not know any better. i see why they want young people. i found out the vietnam war was all a lie. afghanistan, iraq, anywhere. thank you. host: raymond kelly will be our wrecks we are live on this veterans day where president obama is observing this veterans day holiday. he is expected to lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknowns and then make -- than make remarks. we also expect remarks from leon panetta among others.

>> it is a gentleman, president obama has arrived and is being greeted by the host for today's observance, the secretary of veterans affairs, captain russell boy would go, u.s. navy retired, commander in chief military order of the world wars, and the commanding general of the united states army military district of washington.

>> address. >> forward, march. present.

>> present. plays]spangled banned pr"

>> order. >> order! >> present. >> present!

[camera shutters click] ["taps" plays]

>> order! >> order!

[camera shutters click]

[band plays]

["mine eyes have seen the coming of the lord" playing] his truth is marching on glory, glory hallelujah lory, lory, g hallelujah glory, glory

hallelujah his truth is marching on ♪ >> ♪ his truth is marching on

glory, glory hallelujah glory, glory hallelujah his truth is marching on ♪

♪ ♪ glory, glory hallelujah glory, glory hallelujah glory, glory hallelujah his truth is marching on glory, glory hallelujah

glory, glory hallelujah his truth is marching on ♪ [applause] [patriotic music plays]

["america" plays]

>> the united states army. the army national cemetery program, captain russell,

commander in chief, alter order of the world wars, the hon. eric shinseki, secretary of veterans affairs. [applause] [band plays] ladies and gentlemen, the president of the united states. ["hail to the chief" plays] [applause] >> please be seated.

ladies and gentlemen, as we begin today's ceremony, we will present a special tribute to americans veterans. is the 1700's, generations of our military men and women have established a legacy, it resolved, and determination that exist in our country today. ♪ following the attack on pearl harbor, america's greatest attack a step forward around the world. peace was short-lived as the world became polarized. there was communism. ♪

in korea, our veterans served in the fighting force in places like pork chop hill. after three years of intense combat, armistice was signed that is still in effect today. ♪ in vietnam, our next generation of veterans in engage the enemy wherever they found them in places such as the tet offensive. the military draft ended following a vietnam.

this forced the resolve of the united states in granada and panama rescuing thousands. the fall the berlin wall marked our victory in the cold war. history repeated itself in the middle east and europe. forces move swiftly in desert storm. the united states intervene in bosnia and cause a vote to protect the innocent -- kosovo. ♪ following the attacks of 9/11, americans took to the fight in southwest asia where continues to limit threats today.

americans veterans continue to be the bedrock of our nation, caring for families and neighbors and the united states of america. country" plays] our [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please rise as we present our national colors and those of our host veterans organization, the military order of the world wars. [patriotic music plays]

please remain standing for the prayer for all veterans deliver by the director of veterans affairs chaplain service. >> let us pray. holy god, we seek blessing as a return to this sacred ground to honor american veterans. we join with americans across our land in ceremonies around the world to thank our veterans for their love of country, their

dedication to excellence, and their commitment to service. we give thanks for families who have stood by other military men and women while they were deployed, and today stand by them as they invest that same love of country, dedication, and service in civilian life. we pause this morning to remember and pray for those who continue to grieve the loss of the service member, no matter the generation or time of service. in this hour, we pledge to care for veterans and their families as they adjust to living with the wounds of war. made a note that their sacrifices were not in vain, and that a grateful nation takes time today to honor them for the great gift of freedom. blessed are service members who continue to serve in harm's way

in afghanistan, iraq, and in locations around the world. hear our prayer for veterans. we pray with gratitude. amen. >> amen. >> i like to invite the commander in chief of the military order of the world wars, russell vowinkel, to lead us in the pledge of allegiance. >> i pledge allegiance to the flag and the united states of america, one nation under god indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> please be seated. it is my distinct privilege to introduce the leaders of the veterans service organizations

that comprise the veterans day national committee. the committee was formed by presidential order in 1954 to hold an annual observation for americans veterans and to encourage veteran's day occurrences the route the nation. please hold your applause until i have introduced all of these special guests. please stand if you're able when i call your name. russell vowinkel. arthur cooper. harold fritz. donald samuels. bill mulei. norbery ryan jr. terese robell.

william mcswain. gonzalez.mes sola albert fauk. caroe beaugard. -- carole beaugard. frederick iliad. richard denouier. garry frye. samuel hune. jeffrey gibson. h. jane overstreet.

david boyles. bill hutton. james scarborough. james tuey. edward t. brogan. bill lawson. donald l. marks. the social members of the committee are located in the boxes to my left. please hold your applause until the end. genjeanette early.

janet broussard. peter fords. s. samfort schlit. carl berritt. jeffrey ledeaux. mike lynch. gerald d. francisco. david fletcher. gloy s. montgomery -- glory s. montgomery. gerad yamada.

j. david bailey. darlene baker. charles able. alker williams. tim moon. latest installment, please drum in recognizing our veterans national leadership with your plots -- ladies and gentlemen please join me in recognizing our veterans national leadership with your applause. it is my pleasure to introduce our host. the military order of the world

wars was formed as a suggestion of john j. pershing. is comprised of members who work or are commissioned officers of the army, navy, marine corps, public health service, and the national oceanic and atmospheric administration. they represented by russell vowinkel. he served as a flight officer. ladies and gentlemen, russell vowinkel. [applause] >> mr. president, zero veterans and americans everywhere -- fellow veterans, thank you for celebrate the service of america's veterans.

terry shinseki reminds us that november 11 is a day to celebrate the selfless service of our veterans -- secretary shinseki. americans are willing to except hardships to preserve and protect our nation. america is blessed to up veterans service organizations to continue this tradition after the military active military service ends. this is one of many veterans service organizations contributing to america. the 92 years since our family, the order has sponsored youth leadership conference's a credit of the national association of secondary school principals throughout the united states. our order also serves america's youth by sponsoring awards, programs for junior and senior rotc programs, the boy scouts

and girl scouts of america. recognize those who excel in national security, homeland security, and law enforcement arena as. we serve america by sponsoring caller sore morris in conjunction with flag day, the fourth of july, a memorial day, and veterans day. we're not unique. veterans to which they belong support america every day in every way. we're grateful for the veterans abiding devotion to duty. we're humbled by their sacrifices. we almost have to pursue our respective dreams and aspirations. for that and for some much more, we are in their eternal debt. thank you. [applause]

>> please what the hon. secretary of veterans affairs, eric shinseki -- please welcome. >> welcome, everyone, to this hallowed place. purpose here today is to honor all of you, the veterans of our great country. mr. president, the first lady michele obama, a medal of honor recipients, distinguished members of the congress, secretary of defense panetta, as secretaries, members of your defense team, chairman and mr. and mrs. marty dempsey, deputy secretary and other v.a. leaders, my greetings to russell

vowinkel, arco is todour cohost another pearl harbor survivors who are standing with us as a service organization for the past 70 years. they have been reminders of the importance of national readiness. thank you for your service and godspeed. [applause] other veteran service organizations, fellow veterans, other distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, what a beautiful day for observing this 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in the 11th year of the century. just think warm. [laughter]

we gather as americans to celebrate those who have safeguarded this great nation both in peace and war, and to renew our commitment as a nation to those who have borne the battle, president lincoln's words. the veterans can take great comfort in knowing we have a commander in chief who has devoted to keeping lincoln's commitment. president obama's support for veterans has strong and unwavering. been transforming your va disserved veterans. the president's provided in 2010 the largest single year increased to the va it in over 30 years and he has steadily --

[applause] thank you. he has steadily grown that budget by 27% over the past two this clears. extraordinary support -- over these past two fiscal years. essential if we're going to increase veterans' access, back- to-back locked in disability claims and end veterans homelessness in 2015. we have added nearly 800,000 veterans to our health care rolls, build more than 50 york community-based clinics and building five new hospitals and have invested in mental health care and the technologies to link veterans wherever they live with the va server is that they need.

we have improved outreach to women's veterans. women's veterans' benefits coordinators' at our the 56 regional offices have been added and in rolled over 630,000 veterans and family members in college under the new g.i. bill. inouye claims process will start eliminating the backlog next year. permalloy house over 32,000 homeless veterans and assisted another 50,000 tour almost call system -san- , and a addressed longstanding issues from past wars, agent orange, call for illness, -- gulf war illness, and easy for veterans to receive the benefits they earned.

no president since franklin roosevelt has done more for the nation's veterans, who answered the call at pearl harbor and turned the tide at midway, who captured heather's eagles nest nest, ler's eagles las toppled saddam hussein, drove the tell back into hiding, and brought osama bin laden to justice -- of the taliban into hiding. [applause] we could not ask for a stronger -- and for the men and women who serve today in uniform who will be tomorrow's veterans. ladies and zalman, it is my great personal and honor to

present our commander in chief, the president of the united states of america, barack obama. [applause] >> thank you. please be seated. thank you order extraordinary service to our country and your taros commitment to our veterans, eric shinseki. leon panetta, chairman dempsey and mrs. dempsey, our wonderful veterans service organizations for the extraordinary work that you do for nation's heroes, to all who attend to and watch over this sacred cemetery, above all, to every active duty

member, guardsman, and veteran of the united states armed forces. there are many honors and responsibilities that come with this job. but none are more humbling then serving as your commander in chief. i am proud to be with some many of you here today. here, our heroes come to rest. we come to show our gratitude. you moments ago, and laid a wreath to pay tribute to all who love given their lives to our country. even though this is a day we really honor america's veterans, we gather today in sullom respect -- solemn respect,

mindful that we are guests here, mindful that many veterans not far from there are tracing their fingers over black granite for friends who never came home. they expect us to do all we can to bring every missing american service member home to their families. to all our nation's veterans, whether you fondant divided by now or samara, you are part of an unbroken chain of men and women who have served this country with honor and distinction. on behalf of a proud and grateful nation, we thank you. when i spoke here on the state two years ago, i said there would be a day before long one this generation of servicemen

and women would begin to step out of uniform, and i made them a promise. i said that when your tureour ends, you touched our soil, you'll be home in an america that is forever here for you, just as you have been there for us. [applause] for many, that day has come. over the past decade, more than 5 million americans have worn the uniform of the united states armed forces. of these, 3 million step forward after the attacks of september 11, knowing full well that they could be sent into harm's way. in that time, we have served in some of the world most dangerous places.

their service has been selfless, their accomplishments have been extraordinary. in iraq, they have battled april insurgency and given the rocky people the opportunity to forge a better future. in afghanistan, they have pushed back the taliban, and it al qaeda, delivered the ultimate justice to osama bin laden. concert with our allies, they have helped end gaddafi's dictatorship and returned libya to its people. because of their incredible efforts, we can stand here today and say with confidence that the tide of war is proceeding. just a few weeks, the long war in iraq will finally come to an end. [applause]

our transition in afghanistan is moving forward. our troops are coming home. [applause] for many military families, this holiday season will be a season of homecomings. over the next five years, more than 1 million americans in uniform will transition back to civilian life, joining the nearly 3 million who have done so over the past decade and embraced a proud new role, the role of veteran. this generation of service members, this 9/11 generation has borne the burden of our security direct a hard decade of sacrifice. our service men and women make up less than 1% of americans,

but also more than 1 million military spouses and two million children and millions more parents and relatives, all of whom have shared the strains of deployment and sacrifice on behalf of the country that we love. only 27 years old on average, is young men and women have shattered -- they came of age in an era when some institutions failed to live up to their responsibilities, but they chose to serve because > their cells. saw their country print -- they chose to serve a cause greater than their selves. they said, let's go. and they have earned their place among the greatest of generations. [applause]

that is something for america to be proud of. that's the spirit america needs now. a stronger, nor spirit of service and of sacrifice. that spirit says, what can i do to help? purposes when the country is challenged, i will do my part to meet that challenge. on this veterans day, let us commit ourselves to keep making sure that our veterans receiving the care and benefits that they have earned, the opportunity they defend and deserve, and let us welcome them home as what they are -- and interpol, the central part of our american family -- and intregral

and central park to our family. when our men and women signed up to become a soldier or sailor or marine corps coastguardsman, to not stop being a citizen. -- they do not stop being a citizen. like so many of their predecessors, today's veterans, looking to continue serving america however they can. a time when american needs all hands on deck, the skills and the strength to help lead the way. our government needs their sense of duty. of order the hiring of more veterans by the federal government -- that is what i have ordered the hiring of more veterans. [applause] our economy needs their

tremendous talents and specialized skills. i challenged our business leaders to hire 100,000 post-9- 11 veterans and their spouses and yesterday many of these leaders joined michele to announce they will meet that challenge. [applause] our communities have always drawn strength from our veterans' trichet. think of all who have come and sell bonds in a quiet life of service. the doctor or a police officer, an engineer or an entrepreneur, as a mom or dad. in the process changed countless lives. other veterans seek investors from taking on any business to building a team of globe- trotting veterans who use

skilled learned, not to halt after a natural disaster. are so many in this young generation who still feel that tug to serve but do not know quite where to turn. this veterans day, i ask every american to recruit our veterans. if you're a business owner, hire them. if you're a community leader, on them to join your efforts. brunei's your committee to make a difference in the life of a veteran. that veteran can make an incredible difference in the life of your community. if you're a veteran looking for new ways to serve, check out serve.gov. if you're a civilian looking for new ways to support our veterans and our troops, joint michelle and joe biden in joining

forces.gov. i know you can do -- find out where you can do. effort you make can have the biggest impact. i say this because recently i received a letter from a vietnam veteran. was writing to tell me about her own experience. she wanted to tell me about her son jeremy. now, jeremy is not deployed. army is not a veteran or in the military at all, as ballot as it was to follow in the footsteps of his family and in last. germany has down syndrome -- jeremy has down's syndrome. chooses to serve or rican bass, with his local the non veterans of america chapter in beaver,

pennsylvania. he calls them the soldiers. day last spring he spent the day with several of these veterans, cleaning up a local highway. he worked tirelessly, wrote his mother. he never asked to take a break. did not stop to talk about his beloved steelers. did not ask for anything to eat or drink. he only asked one thing, several times. "mom, will president obama be proud of me for helping the soldiers?" jeremy, allowing it to know, -- one you to know, yes yes i am proud of you, and your country is proud of you. why for serving your veterans --

thank you for serving your veterans. one young man's examples is one we must follow. after a decade of war, the nation we need to build is our own. just as our greatest generation left a country recovering from depression and returned home to build the largest middle class in history, so now the 9/11 generation will play a pivotal role in the 24th century. we know it will be hard. we have to overcome a new threats to our security and prosperity. we have to overcome the cynical voices warning that america's best days are behind us. there's anything our veterans teach us is that there is no threat we cannot meet, there's

no challenge we cannot overcome. america's best days are still ahead. are a people who defied those voices that insist otherwise. we are a country that does what is necessary for future generations to succeed. [applause] you are veterans fight so our children will not have to. we build an event and learn so that we will know greater opportunities. america leads to the next generation here and around the world will know a more hopeful life on this earth. so today, i thank you all for making that possible. god bless you. plus our veterans and our troops -- god bless our veterans

and our troops, and god bless america. >> please rise and join the young is states army band is singing "god bless america." bless america land that i love stand beside her and guide her from the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam god bless america

my home sweet home god bless america my home sweet home ♪ ♪ [applause] , remains and salogentlemen standing as we retire the colors. retire the colors. [patriotic music plays]

[patriotic music plays]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪ >> this concludes the 2011 veterans day observance.

please be seated for the departure of the president of the united states. thank you for joining us to honor all who served. [applause] c-span.or [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011]

[applause] [applause] ♪ >> this afternoon, president obama and the first lady will travel to san diego to speak to troops on the uss carl vinson, the aircraft that buried osama bin laden and see. the college basketball game will be on the active flat top. after the game, the president and first lady will travel to hawaii for eight days of

meetings with leaders from asian countries. "decorated veteran" finally recognizes and comes to terms with post-traumatic stress disorder decades after vietnam. >> started telling the sky about my symptoms -- telling this guy about my symptoms, jumping up in the middle of the night not knowing what was going on. angry, attacking the car behind me. he said to me, have you ever been in a war? that hit me so hard. i'm in the middle of this room for 80 people. i started balling. have you ever been in a war? that was that simple. >> more about his wife, sunday

night, on c-span's "q&a." >> extremism in the defense of liberty is no bias. let me remind you, also, that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue. >> he lost the 1964 presidential election to lyndon johnson, but barry goldwater's ideas galvanized the conservative movement. the five-term senator from arizona, this week on "the contenders." >> congress recently honored japanese american world war ii veterans with a congressional gold medal ceremony. representatives from the three units were present at the ceremony. the legislation to honor the veterans was co-sponsored by senator boxer and congressman

ship, both of california. the measure was signed by president obama on october 5 of last year. >> welcome to all of you. chairman hall from the house, and our friends from california. also want to welcome our good your family, and friends and everyone who worked to make today's ceremony possible.

aloha and welcome. [applause] it directed the creation of a congressional gold medal to be presented to the japanese american warriors who made our victory in world war ii possible. it states, in part, "the united states remains forever indebted to the bravery, valor, and dedication to countries that these men faced while fighting a two-front of discrimination at home and fascism abroad their sacrifice demonstrates a highly uncommon and commendable sense of patriotism and honor." it's my privilege to welcome all

the recipients on behalf of every american. we are humbled by your presence with us today. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the presentation of colors, the singing of our national anthem, and the retiring of the colors.

>> ♪ o say can you see by the dawn's early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming whose broad stripes and bright stars thro' the perilous fight o'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming

and the rockets' red glare the bombs bursting in air gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there o say does that star spangled banner yet wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing.

>> let us pray. internal god, -- eternal god, thank you for those of every age and generation, who by their courage and sacrifice, won freedom for humankind. overdues we give an honor to those who served in the u.s. 442nd combat team, endorsed our gratitude with your divine approval. we praise you, lord, for the

thousands of japanese-american veterans who more than self their country loved. sacrificing for liberty when their friends and families were experiencing discrimination at home. made their exemplary service inspire us to cultivate in our lives their courage and danger, of their steadfastness in trial, their perseverance in difficulty, their loyalty when loyalty is costly. their love, which nothing can change, and their joy, which nothing can take away. amen.

>> please be seated. ladies and gentlemen, the representative from the 29th district of california, the hon. adam schiff. >> for their dedication to our country during world war ii. these remarkable men left a segregated nation to fight and defend america with no guarantee that their own freedom would be returned. there are no words more eloquent than the legacy they left behind and then their own

words, words like these. "on february 19, 1942, president roosevelt signed executive order 9066. that was the blackest moment of my life, being treated as an enemy alien." "i wanted to prove that i was a loyal american and wanted to fight for my country during the time of war." "here i was a corporal in a u.s. army uniform, not allowed to visit my family in internment camp." "i feel we had to fight and go forward. i was scared going up to the lines and thought to myself, this is it. after we were hit, i became so engaged in what we were doing that despite the shells,

mortars, machine gun fire is coming in, i was no longer scared. i was too busy. in combat, you learn to obey orders and push forward."medic, 442nd. "this prisoner was brought in to us on a stretcher after he was wounded. he looked me in the eye and itor.''you are a tra you can see in an american soldier fighting for my country. you are a loyal japanese fighting for your country." "i told the others to watch out for the incoming fire. one of my buddies stood up and got shot. i crawled over and picked him

up. he died in my arms. i picked up the thompson and charged the hill." veteran of the 442nd, metal of honor recipient. 35 japanese-americans promoted to the rank of admiral and general since vietnam, a remarkable record when compared to world war ii when the highest rank held by a japanese american was that of major. this demonstrates the greatness of america, a nation that recognizes made mistakes, corrected them, and moved on to become a stronger country. we are proud to defend the freedoms and ideals that this country represents. these american heroes did defend our freedoms and ideals. their true heroism lies in how they fought for the values of america, equality, justice, opportunity, even when the values were denied them at home. it paves the way for millions of

other americans to proudly wear the uniform today. members of the 442nd, 100, and mis, it's an honor to be in the same room with you. thank you. god bless you. congratulations. [applause] >> the representative from the fourth district of texas. [applause] >> mr. chairman, and to all those you addressed initially, it's a privilege to me to take part in this ceremony offering the 442nd regimental combat team, and military intelligence service of the united states honor. it's an honor to be here.

as a veteran of world war ii, i flew for the navy and the pacific. sacrifices were great. they were required of all of us. so many men and women, as well as their families. the brave soldiers of the 442nd regiment had a motto. the model defined the way these men and women approached every battle of world war ii. they're very her road efforts are legendary and evidenced by the thousands of citations, 9000 thisrmancpurple hearts bestowen regiment. it's unheard of. the 442nd was the most decorated of any in the history of the united states army. the congressional gold medal we present to these american heroes today is fitting and long overdue. a tribute to their service, bravery, and dedication to the country.

the senator is one of those men in the 442nd who received a medal. had several opportunities to work together. i am fortunate to have him as a friend. he serves our country in the united states senate. we know that there can be no peace in the world without strength and no freedom. if it's not free, we have to work for it. it would not be possible without the willingness sacrifice of men and women. i had an opportunity to do technical assistance with the japanese. they needed technology. they were good to deal with. they were hon. to deal with.

they improved on all the technology that we would give them and before they leave the room almost. there that type of people. there that kind of friend to this country and i have worked with them as chairman of space and technology. as we honor these men, the 442nd regiment, who answered the call, and helped america prevail until victory was secured in world war ii, our nation owes them a debt of gratitude. i'm honored to be here today as we present to them collectively the congressional gold medal. thank you. [applause] >> ladies and gentleman, the hon. barbara boxer. [applause]

>> thank you. good morning, everyone. it was such a great privilege for me to carry the senate legislation that zero boards the congressional gold medal. i want to thank congressman schiff. thank you, adam. in this metal is long overdue. it recognizes and expresses our utmost appreciation for your dedicated service during world war ii. you fought world war ii on two fronts, as president harry truman said. "you fought not only the enemy. you fought prejudice and you won." you and listed even as many of

your family members and friends were sent to internment camp. you served your country despite being ejected too hurtful slurs and deep suspicion for many of your fellow citizens. your bravery lead your unit to become known as gopher broke because of your willingness to risk everything for america. you made a decision as my dear friend senator inouye said that "america was worth fighting for and worth dying for. we can never repay the debt we owe you do we can and we must recognize your valor and patriotism. that's what we're doing here today. thank you. thank you for everything. thank you for making sure we preserve the incredible story of the go for broke regiment for

future generations. we honor your service. may god bless you. may god bless our veterans, are men and women in uniform, and may god bless america. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the senior united states senator from the state of arizona, the hon. john mccain. [applause] >> let me thank this distinguished audience for joining us today to honor the heroes of the 100th infantry battalion, the 442nd regimental combat team, and the military intelligence service who served and sacrifice during world war ii. i know that my colleague is as moved as i am today by this ceremony. what began for us as a senate resolution two years ago has now become a reality.

today, at long last, we award the congressional gold medal to a group of americans who are as deserving of it as any i have ever known. i will leave it to my friends and colleagues today to recount the many distinctions that have earned these brave americans the gratitude of our country. suffice it to say, they did everything that was ever asked of them and more. what is most remarkable is that they did so despite the fact that our nation, at times, fell short of its responsibilities to them, and americans like them. it's not everyday that the leaders and members of congress have an opportunity to put aside our usual differences over the pending business of the day to join together with bipartisan

unanimity to pay tribute to belo citizens -- to pay tribute to fellow citizens who have served the just cause greater than their interest. our great democracy will always have plenty about which to disagree, but when it comes to honoring those among us who have given everything to protect our nation, americans have always and will always stand as one, just as we do today. to the men of 100th infantry battalion and the 442nd regimental combat team, and the military intelligence service, thank you. thank you for your service. god bless you. congratulations on an honor that is richly deserved. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the

united states army course will now seen the -- army shorus will now seen the 442nd song. infantry we're fighting for you the red, white, and blue go for broke ♪ [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the democratic leader of the united states house of representatives,

the honerable nancy pelosi. [applause] >> good morning. a great morning is when we gather today on this very special day for america. a day when the congressional gold medal is bestowed on american heroes. congratulations to each and every one of you and your family in accepting this gold medal. you bring luster to this award and you bring honor to this congress. as a member of congress, i am honored to join the house and senate leadership, our distinguished speaker, leader mcconnell, and also -- it is natural that we would have californians on the lead in the resolution.

proud and totally appropriate that senator mccain, co-sponsors of this legislation. you are bringing us all together. it's an honor to join them to pay tribute to 100th infantry battalion and the 442nd regimental combat team, and the military intelligence service. as a representative of san francisco, is a point of pride to me that so many of today's awardees have san francisco ties. the japanese-american community enriches our city and is a source of strength to us. as others have said, the model of the 442nd was go for broke. they were willing to go for broke in the fight against tyranny of broad and in doing so, fight discrimination at

home. as others have mentioned, despite the injustices and the internment of japanese- americans, today's awardees rose above and many felt empowered to prove loyalty and love of our country. some stories of heroism from my own district. before i do, i want with knowledge that general shinseki is with us. we are honored by your presence and patriotism. [applause] and our former colleague. we called him chairman when he was here. secretary on more than one occasion he led us in the repatriation fight in congress. [applause] from my own district, we had a

great ceremony in the rotunda of celebrating the liberation of the camps at the end of world war ii, and our japanese-american patriots are in that march. imagine all of that coming together. imagine frank, who helped negotiate the peaceful surrender of 600 japanese soldiers to american troops. imagine that. several in my district were part of the effort to rescue the lost battalion, an effort which has been tried and failed twice before. in that single campaign, the 442nd suffered over 800 casualties. the company that broke through went in with 185 men and only jured.walked out unint

simply put, 100th infantry battalion and the 442nd regimental combat team, and the military intelligence service saved american lives. they faced deadly combat in italy, france, and germany. they intercepted radio transmissions, transferred enemy documents, an integrated -- and interrogating prisoners of war. it's a source of pride for many of these accomplishments are memorialized in san francisco. thank you, senator boxer, for your involvement in that. it's right across from the field. it was the first headquarters of the mis. senator inouye was there the day we dedicated it. we are grateful to the national japanese-american historical society for their efforts to build a museum in san francisco to honor those who served in the mis.

consider that an invitation to visit. stories of heroism from their own district. we have stories of heroism within the congress itself. senator inouye's valor and service in the 442nd earned him the medal of honor and today, the congressional gold medal. [applause] >> byron bond here to serve even though his wife and children were behind barbed wire of the internment camp. we gather today knowing that this group is not complete. many congressional gold medals will be awarded posthumously. we remember those for whom today came too late. we particularly honor those who

never came home. they proved they were great fighters and they served and they proved they were great patriots. the end of discrimination, the american ideal of equality, which is our heritage and our hope. today you bring luster to the school metal. you bring honor to this congress. you have always brought honor to our country. thank you and congratulations. god bless you. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the republican leader of the united states senate, the hon. mitch mcconnell. [applause]

>> of all the stories of valor that have come down to us from world war ii, the story of 100th infantry battalion and the 442nd regimental combat team, and the military intelligence service is among the most powerful and hardest to explain. how did these men who had then first excluded from service by their own country take up arms so valiantly in her defense? how did men whose families had been rounded up and confined by their own government go on to become the most decorated military unit in u.s. history? president clinton put it well, i think, when he said of these men, "rarely has a nation been more well served by a people it had sold treated -- it had so

ill treated. among them was our friend and colleague senator inouye, who learned not only the highest military honor, but also its eternal gratitude. then there is the military intelligence service, drawn heavily from the the 442nd regiment -- from the 442nd regiment. in many ways, members of mis were the secret weapon in the war with japan. because of them, general macarthur could later say that never and military history did 80 army know so much about the enemy prior to an actual engagement. through their tireless efforts during the war, the ey hastened its end. through their tireless efforts

after the war, they laid the groundwork for the close relationship that the u.s. and japan has enjoyed against all odds ever since. if you ask those who remain, they will tell you, like any good soldier, they were not looking for glory. yet, taken together, the men of the 442nd and the mis, through their bravery and courage, have secured a place of the highest distinction in our country and in our hearts as americans. they volunteered to win a war. they defeated prejudice while they were at it. what a story. men of the mis and the 442nd, thank you. congress honors you today with this medal.

believe me, the honor is all ours. [applause] >> the majority leader of the united states senate, the hon. harry reid. [applause] >> in 1945, a few weeks before germany surrendered allied forces, a letter was written to unit commanders. the letter from the headquarters of a famous african-american buffalo soldiers was titled, 442nd concerning the infantry." here is what they wrote. "they are as thoroughly loyal as german-americans, italian-

americans, or any other -- a category which all the small." of course, that was true. not only were the men of the 442nd as loyal as the most distinguished american soldier as any background, they were also as sharp as i, through a vein, -- fighting for the only nation ever called home. although they were exempt from the draft, they volunteered to fight for our flag. many of them joined, despite having family living in american internment camps, along with 1 10,000 of the people of japanese ancestry removed from their homes. 650 willingly gave their lives to protect the freedom for which america stands, although they were denied that freedom at home. 4,000 more of these first-

generation americans were wounded or missing in combat. my dear friend, a medal of honor inouye, one ofor the finest men i have ever known, fought and was wounded in the battle. bravery like senator inouye's is there reason the 442nd regiment team is likely the most highly decorated unit in the united states military history. its soldiers earned thousands of purple hearts, more than 500 silver stars, 21 medals of honor, and nine presidential unit citation spree along side the military intelligence service, which is also honored indispensable translation services, the 442nd helped win the war. for that great commitment, we award to them the congressional

gold medal, the highest honor congress can bestow. some may say it was a desire to prove their loyalty and dedication to this country was reproach.uld really, they just shared the same patriotism that blaze in the heart of other young american soldiers. we owe them much gratitude for their service and great sacrifice. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the speaker of the united states house of representatives, the hon. john boehner. [applause] >> since our founding, americans have believed that our liberties, our constitution, and our way of life, even our flag,

were things worth fighting for and dying for. we also believed that these ideas are not limited to one race of people, that the struggle for these ideas can unite all people around the world. for japanese-american, the days and months after pearl harbor must have seemed like a giant and painful step backwards, removed from their homes and placed in camps. these loyal americans endured years of disgrace. out of this story of prejudice comes another story that worst andamerica's america as exceptional as some. today, we honor the thousands of japanese-americans who served in the united states army's three units. most of them were recruited during their internment. their baptism of fire began in

the mountains of italy when the 100th battalion was tasked to the fifth army. they overlooked the italian campaign that was brutal. it cost the allies 320,000 casualties between 1943 and 1945. in italy, the 100th fought in the bitter cold. they fought sickness. all while fighting the germans uphill. the 100th joined the attack on germans. the soldiers quickly established a reputation as some of the best combat soldiers on the front. this reputation was sealed early on when two of their members were attacked on november 29,

1943, and they were attacked by some 40 german soldiers. things turned out pretty badly for those germans. 38 killed, one wounded, one captured. the private gave his life later that day, but that two-man army earned medals of honor for their extraordinary heroism. their bravery and selfless dedication was reflected by all fighters, wherever they engaged the enemy. they fought hard for this nation and they held fast to their motto, go for broke. together, the 100th and the 442nd became the most decorated. they received more than 9000 purple hearts, thousands of bronze and purple stars, and the list goes on.

the group distinguished themselves in every operation, in every theater of world war ii. on behalf of my colleagues and the american people, thank you for fighting to make this the greatest nation on earth. god bless all of you for all of your work. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please remain seated for the unveiling of the gold medal by members of the united states congress and a representative from each unit.

[applause] [applause]

[applause] >> ladies and gentelmen, a proud member of the second battalion of the 442nd regimental combat team during world war ii, the senior senator of the state of hawaii, the hon. senator inouye. [applause]

[applause] >> mr. speaker, leaders of the congress of the united states, ladies and gentelmen, i thank you all for this extraordinary recognition. 70 years ago, pearl harbor was bombed by the japanese. as a result of the emotional upheaval that followed, japanese, whether citizens or immigrants, were declared by the government of this country as being enemy aliens, and as

such, unfit to put on the uniform of this land. we did not sit by and do nothing about it. we petitioned the government to give us an opportunity to demonstrate our love of country and our patriotism, which was granted to us, and then of the war, general macarthur said, as a result of the service of the mis, the war ended by at least one year sooner. then, the two units, the 442nd and the 100th, were declared to be the most decorated unit in the history of the united states. this has been a long journey, but a glorious one. we wish to thank you all, all

americans, for this resignation -- for this recognition. it is heartwarming. i'm sure i speak for all assembled here, but more importantly, i am speaking -- i am sure those resting in cemeteries are pleased with this day. god bless america. god bless you. [applause] >> ladies and gentelmen, please remain standing as the chaplain of the united states house of representatives, the rev. patrick conroy, gives the benediction.

>> lord, made the hands and hearts of this nation be raised and raise -- in prayer and praise with these groot members of the united states army, who served our nation and the hope of freedom for all the world. our nation was defending itself from the attack of dangerous foes, yet these veterans and chose to serve while they themselves and their families were under domestic attack because of their ancestral roots. though never able to be remembered without considerable embarrassment, we the people of this nation now rise to celebrate the units we offered -- we honor this day, who proved to be the most highly decorated unit in the history of the

united states army. may the breath of god uphold their noble and heroic story. make it carried to other generations and even to other nations a message to inspire citizens everywhere to serve the mine because of public service while ollie's seeking equal justice -- while always seeking equal justice. those who edged out her road victories, of those who earned medals of honor, and those who suffered personally the pain of rejection in those dark days of our world and our nation be rewarded with success and find peace. bless all women and men in military service, no matter their racial, cultural, or religious heritage, and their

families. god, bless america, and grant us peace, both in the present and with you forever. amen. >> ladies and gentelmen, please remain at your seats for the departure of the official party, followed by the departure of our honored veterans.

[captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011] ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ >> we are looking and at the vietnam veterans memorial on the national mall in washington. it has over 58,000 names of those who died in the vietnam war and those missing in action. it was completed in 1982. the stone came from india and it was chosen because its so reflective. some of the items left at the

memorial are collected by the national parks services, logged and stored. >> extremism in the defense of liberty is no bias. [applause] and let me remind you, also, that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue. >> he lost the 1964 presidential election to lyndon johnson, but barry goldwater's ideas that galvanized the conservative movement. the five-term senator from arizona is featured on the c- span series, "the contenders." >> president obama begins a eight day trip to the east, beginning this afternoon, as part of his participation in

the asian summit in honolulu. wednesday, the president will travel to australia and then to indonesia, as he lived as a child. he will return to hawaii next week and for leaders of canada and mexico, before coming back to the white house one week from saturday. the two meetings are the main focus of the trip. the president has built in time for separate leaders with most of the top asian leaders. >> house majority leader eric cantor traveled to houston to speak to students and faculty at the rice university baker institute for public policy. the virginia congressman has been visiting universities in recent months speaking about the economy, american discontent in washington politics, and the american dream. protests erupted as the republican leader was beginning his speech. this event is about one hour.

>> good morning. on behalf of rice university and the baker institute for public policy, we welcome you to this forum featuring the majority leader of the u.s. house of representatives, eric cantor. we're honored to welcome you to rise today. thank you for taking the time in what i know is a very busy schedule to share your thoughts with us today. at the institution of higher education, race welcomes free and open discussion of the important -- education, rice welcomes free and open discussion. the openness to various opinions reflect our values of community and respect, which are essential aspects of the fabric which draws us together as a university. an essential part of our mission is to foster what justice

william brennan called the marketplace of ideas, an open and vigorous yet simple exchange of ideas and information that we hope will lead to better solutions to the problems that face our country and our world. we welcome rep cantor's participation. let me also take a moment to recognize our own member of congress. thank you, a representative, for everything you do for rice and houston, and promoting the role of the university. we also have the privilege of visiting with one of rice's alums, representative pete all olsen. also want to i want to also thank the ambassador and his staff at the

baker institute and for making the baker institute a vibrant center of the university's public policy and debate. rep. cantor, you come to rice at a special time in our history. next october we celebrate our 100th anniversary. we have already begun to commemmorate the remarkable journey that has transformed rice from a small but bold institute on the edge of an undeveloped prairie to a prestigious international university close to the 4th largest city in the country. your visit is part of the longstanding and ongoing conversation that goes on on campus and especially here at the baker institute about national and international issues that face us as a country. in this, the beginning of our 100th year, we are especially pleased to welcome you as a leader to our campus and your participation in our centennial celebration.

eric cantor received his law degree from the college of william and mary and his master's in real estate from columbia in new york. following service in virginia state government, eric cantor was elected in 2001 to represent virginia's 7th congressional district. he quickly emerged as a leader and when republicans took over the majority after the 2010 elections, he was chosen to serve as the majority leader in the current 112th congress. he is the co-author of a "the new york times" best selling book, "young guns: a new generation of conservative leaders." this past summer, he was the lead republican negotiator during the summer long debt negotiations. through these efforts, he has earned a reputation as a strategic leader and an influential conservative within the republican party. please join me in welcoming majority leader eric cantor to rice univeristy.

[applause] >> good morning. >> crowd: mic check. mic check. mic check. mic check. united in outrage. united in outrage. we welcome eric cantor. we welcome eric cantor. who regularly votes -- who regularly votes -- against the interests of the people. against the interests of the people. >> ok. free speech does not include the right to interfere with the expressions and ideas with which you disagree. you will be escorted away from this forum for not respecting the fundamental principle of free speech within the government. [crowd chanting]

[laughter] he does not care about immigrants. or the gay community. he works for the 1%. [protestors chanting] >> go away. come on. >> on the backs of the 99%. >> eric cantor is not welcome here. >> contrary to the fundamental principle of free speech, to not interfere simply because you disagree with their views

interferes with the access of those who have come here to hear those views, whether or not we agree or disagree. congressman, i apologize and we welcome you once more back to the podium. [applause] >> thank you. thank you. you've got to say, "only in america." we are here for an exchange of ideas. i thank you for the kind introduction. ambassador, thank you as well. it is great to be here at rice university in houston, the energy capital of the world.

you'll be celebrating your 100 anniversary around the excellence to have built. i would like to thank my classmate, john, out for being here and all the excellent work he does for the residents of the houston area and all the leadership he does. james baker, iii, wrote a book called, "work hard, study, and stay out of politics." he may rewrite it today to say, "work hard, study, and keep politics out of it." government is becoming an obstacle to prosperity. one thing i hear over and over is the only thing that worries us about washington does to us is what washington will do to us and asked-- to us next.

no doubt, they are headed in a troubling direction. even so, it falls on all of us to identify the real problems and work toward common sense solutions. it is no badge of honor that politics, government, or washington have become our newest four-letter words. we must ask, "what has washington done wrong to make so many rightfully resent it?" today, i believe many people believe it has encroached on the american dream. that dream that was built from hard work, education is being challenged, so is the hope that has always set us apart and has made america a special place. so many people today are asking what the future holds for our country, and in a much bigger way, they are wondering what

kind of country we want to be. who are we? what is it to beat america, american it? just as important, what must we not come? -- what must we not become? when i think about the country i want to leave my children come i think about my grandmother's a story and how my family got to america in the first place. my grandmother and her family fled religious persecution to come here the last century. like so many of her generation in eastern europe, my grandmother faced a future of, that no matter how hard she worked on a matter how smart she was, there were limits. because of to her parents were, where she was born, there was but so far she could go. our country is not like that. it must never be.

america offered and still offers in men's and authentic opportunities. my grandmother eventually made her home in a working-class section of my hometown of richmond. as you can imagine, in the early 20th century, the south will not always the most except in place for a young jewish woman. the widowed by aged 30, she raised my father and uncle in a tiny apartment above a grocery store and that she and my grandfather had opened. she worked day and night and sacrificed tremendously to secure a better future for the suns. sure enough, this young woman who had the courage to travel to a distant land with help as her only possession lifted herself and her children into a more comfortable, secure, and opportunity-filled place.

to her, it was about building a better life to leave for children. she made her own american dream into reality. this made her an american, not middle class, not working class, not upper class, but american. period. through hard work, her face, and a thrift commissioner's even able to send her two sons to college. all she wanted was a chance, a fair chance to make a better life for her and her two sons. she got it and she made the most of it. now, this is not just the stuff of american dreams, but also something much more. it is the grand american promise. the promise that if you work hard and play by the rules, our

nation affords you any opportunity to make a better life for yourself our nation makes that promise to her people and in turn are people promised to each other that we will cherish this unique freedom and work to make the most of it. in deciding as a country who we are going to be, we need to be sure that the opportunity my grandmother sees this is still here for all of us. make no mistake -- that my grandmother seized is here for all us. it is not there unless our people pursue it, then it will weather and a potentially disappear. a must not let that happen. we must protect that fair shot. no matter who you are and where you are from, everyone has access to an opportunity to earn their success.

the basis upon which america was founded and thrives is providing people with equality of opportunity, not equality of outcome. this distinction is important. it is the tipping point between them what america always has been, and still is, the less and less come and what some want america to become. this is what i have come to speak to you about today. there is a ladder of success in america. however come it is a ladder not built by washington but by hard work, responsibility, and the initiative of the people in our country. my grandmother worked her fingers to the bones of her sons could have a better life than she did. her sons did not disappoint her. a respected her sacrifices to send him to college and she

celebrated with little more than the drive to succeed. emulating my grandmother's work ethic, he was able to provide a quality of life. why? for the very same reasons that inspired my grandmother, a better life for all boss. it is this foundation, hard work, faith, family, and opportunity that provides each of us and unlimited potential. each one of us is able to get a little further ahead the ladder of success. how quickly you move up, or down, should be up to you. much of the conversation in the current political debate today

has been focused on fairness in our society. republicans believe that what is fair is a hand up, not a hand out. we know that we do not begin from the same starting point. i was fortunate enough to be born into a stable family that afforded me the tools that i needed to get ahead. not everyone is so lucky. some are born into an extremely difficult circumstances facing severe obstacles. the fact is that many in america are coping with broken families, dealing with hunter and homelessness, can -- confronted by rampant crime or drug use. i was recently asked, "what is your party say to my 9-year-old kids scared to death growing up in a life of poverty? what can you do for that little girl? we know there are no easy answers, but i believe that

child needs a hand out to help her climb the ladder of success in our country. she also knew guarantees in life. she needs to know the rules are the same for everyone. even though she may have to work harder than many of us, she needs to know that she will have a fair shot at making it in this country. merck she also needs the advantages of a solid family around her and a community that encourages her to learn and work hard. she needs some semblance of stability. the question for us is how can we help provide it? stability starts in the home, but it can extend to places of learning as well. it is for the children facing the toughest of circumstances. we need to ensure access to the best schools available in her area. if that is a public school, great. some say charter schools provide greater stability, and i

wholeheartedly agree. in fact, president obama has also expressed support for charter schools. and earlier this year, the house passed a bipartisan empowering parents to quality to charter schools act that encourages states to support the development and expansion of charter schools. it also streamlines federal charter school funding to reduce administrative burdens. in california, parents have banded together to ensure that schools are being held accountable and can transfer their kids to better schools or even start a new one where needed. kids in many cities actually lineup for lotteries for open slots in better schools. no child should be forced to stay in a school that is failing them. every child in america deserves an excellent education. it does not matter where this failing school is, a city or suburb, wealthy or poor.

better schools benefit everyone. this little girl deserves a hand in attending a better school, a chance at greater stability and the opportunity for success and happiness. as a nation, we must make education a priority because if our schools fail, we fail. but parents also can use a helping hand. take the single mom living somewhere here in houston. after she put her kids to bed and dressed her head down at the end of each grueling day, she may be wondering if for jobless still be there in the morning. she has probably stopped dreaming about moving up the ladder. she is more likely just worrying, hoping, praying that she does not fall down or off of it. we need to find a way to restore her faith that moving a ladder

in america, even slowly, it is still possible in this country. that mom sacrifices most of her life to rich children. for her children. she lives paycheck to paycheck. maybe she works two or even three jobs. she has to worry about how she can take her sick child or parent to the doctor. maybe she would like to attend a school play her little girl is attending in but have to work. what is a working mother to do? how can we combine both her and her kids just a little more stability? many working moms say what they need most is just a little bit more time with their kids. we should find ways to encourage employers to provide working parents greater flexibility. everyone plays a role in educating children. if parents have the opportunity to be engaged with their children, it will only increase

their potential for success. one option is to allow private sector workers the ability to negotiate with their employers to choose between comp time and overtime, a benefit that government employees have enjoyed for years. does this solve all the problems? of course not. but maybe with a little help and a helping hand that makes life a little easier, that single mom can send her child to college. maybe one day, her children will be like you. as students here are at rice and at the baker institute, you will be much better position than most to land a job after graduation. but for the majority of young people, it is a small business that will give them their start. these employers are the restaurant owners, the health care providers, the small family

farms, the small high-tech start-ups. small-business men and women are the key formula to success and opportunity in america. each one of them took a risk and did whatever they needed to make it work. they dipped into their savings or borrowed from families to start their dream. they committed countless hours and determination, they committed themselves and their lives in pursuit of this dream. these small businessmen and women may just employed a few people, but each one of those people is able to start building a better life for their families just because one person took a risk. that is why we should make it easier for them to start their dream. last week, the u.s. house of representatives passed four bipartisan bills to reduce regulations on small business owners giving them a hand up to

achieve their dreams by easing access to capital. the bottom line is it is all about lowering the threshold for entry to the marketplace, leveling the playing field. we need to get government out of the way so investors are more freely able to invest in a startup for business. in america, happiness is defined as a pursuit. that definition of a curse from our founders in the declaration of independence. pursuing both happiness and independents derived from the continuity and grit of the american people -- the ingenuity and grit. america is a special place, different than any other on earth. here is an illustration. i received a letter last year from a student, a graduate of stanford, who happened to be

working in england. he was amazed how differently on japan yours were regarded in europe, how opportunity seemed limited and how hope was missing among his friends in the u.k. the friends he met said they could not even imagine an entrepreneurial hotbed like silicon valley existing in europe or how they would handle such an amazing chance to advance. he wrote, "starting a business, even if you fail in the process, is a badge of honor in the u.s. in europe, entrepreneurship is often frowned upon and, consequently, the best and brightest are afraid to take risks. even though they are very smart and educated, when i asked them about their career path, no one ever mentioned starting a business. think about that. in america, starting a business

is not something that is just possible, but something expected. however, today that is now being questioned. people have become afraid to take risks. many have lost their optimism about the future. people in america are frustrated. the core of this frustration stems from a belief that the same opportunities afforded to previous generations the longer exist today. at the core of this frustration is that the playing field is not equal. in a recent poll, 82% of americans think their children will be worse off than they are. now, what happened? what happened to the help of surpassing the success of your parents? what happened to the unyielding american exception allows them and the sense that in america and impossible dreams are possible?

instead, there are those who want to divide america by turning those with less against those with more of. they claim that these people have now made enough and have not paid their fair share. truth is that washington needs to stop taking the income of hard-working american taxpayers and instead start rewarding their success. think about it. how many of you really do think that washington spends taxpayer money well? even if you believe washington has the best of intentions, its track record is not good. are $14 plus trillion in debt shows that. -- our $14 + trillion debt shows that. , should force washington to do more with less for once.

why should we not create simple, clear, and fair rules that apply equally to all americans? and then we let you, the people, decide for yourself who will become, how much you can learn, what you will do with your life? instead, we see so many in the washington pitting us against one another. that tends to deflate the aspirational spirit of our people and faded the american dream. i believe it is time to regain that aspirational spirit. we need to double-down on the american dream. we should all dreamed to achieve. the most successful among us are positioned to use their talents to help grow our economy and give everyone a hand up the ladder and the dignity of a job. we should encourage them to extend their creativity and

generosity and to help build a community infrastructure that provides a hand up and a fair shot to those less fortunate, like that 9-year-old girl in the inner city. the successful people, this group of the innovators are the leaders of companies that create life-saving drugs for our sick parents and children. they are the people here at rice and a round this town that take risks to create companies that employ our families, our neighbors come and our friends. they are also the social entrepreneurs who support charter schools, the opportunities scholarships, the private jobs training programs, the community centers, and other elements of community life to provide stability and constructive at the values to children and their families were struggling. they are trailblazers, like steve jobs, a man who started with an idea in his garage and ended up providing an iphone and

ipad to millions and changed the world. job building and community building our what successful people can do. through his example, you can see that america needs more than a jobs plan. it needs a steve jobs plan. in a steve jobs plan, whether you are a republican or democrat, and does not matter. in a steve jobs plan, no american regardless of their condition believe they are unable to rise up. in a steve jobs plan, we do not believe that those who succeed somehow take away from those still working their way up the ladder. why? because those who earn their success not only create good jobs and services to make our lives better, but they give back and help everyone moved just a little bit further up the ladder and everyone can win.

so instead of talking about a fair share or spending time trying to push to those at the top down, but elected leaders in washington should be trying to insure that everyone has a fair shot and the opportunity to earn success up the ladder. the goal should not be for everyone to meet in the middle. we should want all people to keep moving up and no one to be pulled down. how'd we do that? it cannot simply be about wealth redistribution. you do not just take from the guy at the top and give it to the guy at the bottom and expect our problems to be solved. but does have to be about fairness, though. over the last few years, america has seen it too many favors for the politically connected. too many hands out for the most irresponsible and into large of

a bill for everyone else. this is a step backwards. it does injury to the american dream and it violates the american promise. it hurts in real lives and dollars, this country that we love. it punishes the exact behavior and we must reward if ever we are to grow our way out of this economic darkness. let me tell you what i am talking about rewarding. a recent survey of over 500 successful entrepreneurs found that 93% came from middle or lower class backgrounds. most of them with a burst in their families to launch a business. we should reward them. we should try to make moving up the ladder just a little bit easier for them. we can help do that by making sure there is fairness it in every level of the economic ladder. we must insure those who abuse the rules are held accountable

and those who work hard and play by the rules can get ahead. we must ensure that the solution to wealth disparities is wealth mobility. we must give everybody the chance to move up. stability + mobility equal agility. in an agile country and society, people were climbing and succeeding. perhaps the key to economic empowerment is insuring income mobility. to me, economic empowerment means you can make more and achieve more this year than you did last. for too long come indicators reflected the reverse, too many people were not moving up. our efforts should be geared toward figuring out how to accelerate income mobility.

encouraging the best and brightest to stay here in america. there are many solutions that will help people succeed and grow this economy. as americans, we care about everyone. we should want everyone to be successful. we want everyone to see the path forward. veterans day is tomorrow. as a nation, we will celebrate and honor those who have served. each of us should seize the opportunity to give rise to the american dream. we must honor those who have given their lives to that dream and those who were the cause of this country. most of all, let each and every one of us of the 9/11 generation work just a little bit harder to ensure that the america that our troops come home to is worthy of them, one worthy of their sacrifice. there is a book entitled, "

mann's search for meaning." it is one of the most influential books of the 20th- century written by a man named victor frankel who had a vision that i share. on the east coast of this great country stands the statue of liberty. on the west should stand a statue of a responsibility. in my vision, when these two statues join hands, and the american people create a bridge, but a bridge that spans the whole country, a bridge of opportunity. on the pillars of that bridge, we must direct our ladders. with those who are successful extending their hands and to those who wish to climb. it is students like you, the successful leaders of the future, who can be the designers and builders of these letters. it is you who can determine the

dimension, durability, and direction of america's ladder. who knows? some of you may forever change the world like steve jobs. as you move upward, do not forget that we want everyone to be moving up board alongside you. as you move upward, hold out your hand and help pull others just a little further up the ladder. help them move up in your school, community come and work place. that is who we are as americans. that is what we do. we should all be committed to america rising. thank you very much. mar[applause] >> a very appropriately, he

ended his remarks talking about our students come and that is how we felt we would begin. i asked people to respect the fine line between a question and a speech and make those questions as brief as possible. we are starting with four student leaders. neither of us know what their questions are. you may know what the answers are without knowing what the questions are, but i do not. we will begin with the >> we are excited to hear that education remains a top priority. considering the national economy and increasing global competitiveness, what can congress do to ensure that students remain in feel inspired and confidence now and in the

next 10 years? how are we putting american universities at the top? >> first of all, american universities, rice being in the premiere rankings come are some of the crown jewels of this country. if you think about where we are heading this century as a country and how we're going to continue to lead, we're going to be leading by being innovators. that stems from the kind of efforts and research that is ongoing at places like rice. we have to be committed as a country to allow for an environment for that research to continue. that means from a funding standpoint, creating an environment or public-private partnerships, creating an environment where we can take that research, those ideas, that innovation, and translate them

into the market. right now, what we are seeing is that the process has become too difficult in this country. as students, you will look for opportunity and jobs when you graduate. that same difficulties in translating that into commercialization exists for job creators in this country. it is too difficult. right now, the risk is too high. we need to think as america to be competitive, we have to be able to match the efforts of our competitors in the far east, south america, and the rest. we need to adopt a mentality of an economic developer and to adopt a competitive strategy so that we can win. we have a lot of work to do it as far as tax policy, regulatory policy, access to capital in our markets in. >> at rice university, we are

very excited that you are here and we have the opportunity to talk to you. many of our students are aspiring leaders and look to you. we are supportive of what you do, and thank you again for coming here today. >> our second question is from a representative of the graduate student association. >> hello. i am a fourth year graduate student in the ph.d. program. my question is a follow-up to the previous. in the last several years, we have seen several of the major science agencies, their budgets remain stagnant or declining. a new budget hopefully comes to an agreement in the next several

months, reducing the science budget for the next year for the major agencies, nsf, doe, etc. idc that affecting job opportunities for students entering the market. specifically for nsf who provides most of the research robert kennedy's running the gamut on a lot of these different fields, -- most of the research opportunities at running the gamut on these fields, how do you see that? >> we put a priority on research. it goes back to my comments earlier about the need for universities such as this one to be in the forefront to help our country lead with innovation.

that goal also occurred in the context of a very difficult fiscal outlook for the country. i think all of us know that we are generating deficits over $1 trillion and have done so for the last several years. we are then being forced to make priorities. research is a priority. there will also be the necessary decision making as to how those dollars flow? that is a decision that we are just about in the process of considering. what will be the structure of research grants going forward? what will that be? as we look to some of our competitors abroad, there is a mind-set of centralizing research grants and resources a libraries your prioritization. allowing for more, perhaps, focused research grants. we have seen a proliferation of

a lot of innovation. we have a much more entrepreneurial competitive research environment in this country. i think it has served us well, but we have to make sure that the efficiencies that we need are being achieved. as we continue to try and assess, are we competing well? is the research is still what we want? we also have to come as you know, consider how it is that we will take those ideas to market to create jobs and opportunities for phd students and the rest. much of that has to do with the environment or people in this country to take risks and the environment that this country offers to global investors to come here and take risks and build enterprise. right now, we see an alarming rate of decline in the startup world in this country. we see a decline in the number

of i.p.o.'s in this country versus elsewhere. we have to make sure that we get a regulatory system under control so that it is sensible in terms of regulation but that we also make sure that the government does not the one that determines who can and cannot succeed. we need an even playing field for everyone. we have to have jobs. we have to have the best and brightest coming here and staying here. if we have and continue to have people from round the world wanting to come to rice and other universities, we ought to provide incentives for them to stay. they can help create jobs. they can help us grow our economy. this is all a part of the discussion in maintaining a competitive america. >> we have two more student representatives and then we will open it up. the next is the young democrat

leader. we have a substitute. >> thank you for coming to rise, rep. cantor. i have a policy question. the temporary payroll tax cut is set to expire and this would result in $120 billion in higher taxes for working americans. my question is how will the house leadership's response to the president's call for the payroll tax could extension? >> the house leadership, and republicans in general, do not believe taxes should go up on anyone, especially in an economy like this. that provision is a priority for the white house and is part of the discussions on going about how we resolve the budget issues

by the end of the year. we will continue to sort of focus on that with the tenet that we do not believe taxes should go up on anybody. >> the last of the pre arranged questioners, the young conservative leader. >> congressman, like you, i worry about our nation's ballooning debt, but i am a little on convinced about the balanced budget amendment, which have been a proponent of. justice scalia said it would result in a lot of lawsuits because the balanced budget definition could be up to the courts. how do we resolve this a quick pass such amendment? >> if we have lawsuits, the court will have to resolve it. our thinking is a balanced budget amendment would be a check on unbridled spending in washington. we continue to spend money we do not have and we continue to rely on the confidence of global

investors as well as those domestic to buy our debt. if we do not demonstrate that we will be a viable ongoing concern fiscally, then we will no longer be able to be the country that we are. all we have to do is look to europe to see what we may become. we believe strongly that a balanced budget is something that we should have. now, the discussion about what a balance is or is not, that legal question can be determined in the courts. i think most americans have to live within their means, whether it is in their households are businesses. the states have a balanced budget amendment and exist in a way that has not been challenged in court. we're hopeful we can move towards that end. >> if you have a question, please line up behind one of the microphones and keep it as brief

as you can. we have very little time, frankly only time probably for four questions if everyone is really quick. >> i am a member of the debate team and i have one quick question about the republican platform on spending increases. i understand there is the ideology of maintaining or reducing spending. and for what causes is the republican party prepared to increase spending? for the status quo. what would justify a spending increase? >> again, right now we are all facing this incredible deficit in the debt that we will all pay for. not just you, the future generation, but it will come to roost on us now. what it should be about is asking what the priorities are. what are the priorities for this country?

obviously national defence comes first and foremost or we will not have a country. we have to make sure that we are adequately funding that. one of the real challenges for us is how we will continue to lead and be the world's superpower that we are at our economy is not strong. then, where are going to go in terms of either spending or reflecting reform to get our economy back on track? it is about defense, security, the economy. obviously, we care about health care. that is personal for everybody. that country spends a lot -- this country spends a lot of money on health care and there has been a lot of discussion and debate this year because we have to do something to deal with the spiralling costs. the president's bill that passed two years ago did not do that. the congressional budget office has now validated that the health care bill does not address the spiraling costs of this country. many of us are very fearful that

it will impact the quality of care that most americans get. we need to put some effort into designing a system, whether it is spending money or reflecting reform, to get to the outcome is that we want. >> i will be quick. you talk a lot about that inner- city girl, ensuring equality of opportunity. i was curious, currently with the economy the way it is, with the house pledging to not raise taxes, with our, i guess, the idea of doing more with less, how do you plan on paying for those educational project opportunities? he mentioned charter schools, and that is great, but for public schools, how do we ensure that they continue to exist, that teachers continue to be the most effective? how do we do that if we are not raising taxes with the economy

struggling? >> we need to get growth and booming again. under any scenario, we need this economy to get back on track. i spoke about the uncertainty that exists in holding up investors and capital back. we have to address that. as far as the public-school system is concerned, all three of my children grew up in the public schools. unfortunately, a lot of children today are not as fortunate and do not have good public schools. we have to look and see how you make them good. the evidence shows it is not just money. some of the highest costing school districts are the least performing. clearly, we have to effect reform. if you are looking at the suggestion of raising taxes, the problem is this. you have a budget situation that is disproportionately caused at the federal level by health care entitlements. it is because of the demographics of this country and

the promises that have been made. the facts are 10,000 people every day turns 65 and become eligible for medicare. the medicare program in this country is funded through premiums and taxes. the revenue derived from those premiums and taxes covers a little over half of that program. if you think about that, every day times 10,000 people, you are 50% in the hole. you cannot sustain that. you cannot tax or grow your way out of it. that is why we had proposed to reform the system. we need to maintain the safety net of our entitlement for those who need it. that is why we have to do that. if we do not and then we raise taxes, then you are, in essence, digging the hole deeper. you are asking those job

creators that we so desperately need to create jobs to get growth going, you are asking them to throw the good money out with the bad. raising taxes if we are not going to fix the problem, that is exacerbating the jobs and economic growth prices because it is counterintuitive to raise taxes on those we want to invest because they will not do it because it raises the price of that risk and lessens the likelihood of return. >> next question. >> congressman, you mentioned your grandmother came over from europe to escape discrimination and find equal opportunity in the united states. throughout the history of our country, we have enacted legislation to protect those who are not able to get equal opportunity due to discrimination. i wanted to know is why in 2007 did you vote against the employment nondiscrimination

act that would protect people based on sexual orientation from discrimination in the workplace. >> none of us on either side of the aisle or the political or philosophical spectrum wants discrimination for anybody. this country was built an equal opportunity and all people should be treated fairly. that bill was designed so that those employers who wanted, in particular those faith-based employers who wanted be able to hire individuals to further the mission of the private institute from a faith standpoint were making the case that they were not going to be able to do so the way that the bill was crafted. that was my vote. again, i understand your question. all of us should be driving toward equality of opportunity for everyone, no matter what your background, who you are, what you are pursuing.

>> thank you for coming to rice and thank you for your belief in rice. i appreciate your steadfast promotion of creating opportunities. my question concerns the american tax code. a week ago, the baker forum student members had a speaker and he mentioned his criticisms with the american payroll tax capping at $108,000. maybe neither progressive nor equal, but rather regressive as well as the sales tax for people earning the highest income bracket may spend 15% of their income on goods and those earning less will have to spend a higher percentage. they are therefore being taxed even more than those in the higher income-tax bracket. i would is like to hear your thoughts about what actions need to take place, if any, to reform

the american tax policy. >> most of us need -- believe we need to reform the tax code, and for a variety of reasons. we have a tax code that skews the allocation of capital in getting the way of our return to growth in this economy. you spoke about the fairness issue in the tax code, and i agree. the tax code does not breed fair results. we have to look and see to make sure if it is a balanced approach. right now it is 46% of the people in this country in that do not pay any income taxes. to me, i have to ask if that is fair. i think everyone should have some skin in the game, even if it is $1. we ought to have people willing to make sure that they are a part of what we're trying to do, not just those who receive benefits who do not pay on the income side, but we do need to

be careful. we do need to be mindful of those at the lower end of the spectrum. gone we do not want to disproportionately burden them, but we ought to be looking to see how we can bring down rates. we know from a competitive standpoint that our corporate tax system is extremely non- competitive. next to japan, we are the worst. going back to growing the economy, you will not provide an incentive for people to come but other corporations or businesses here with that kind of tax system. we also disadvantage american based multinationals, many of whom are headquartered in this city. when they look and other localities around the world that do not treat their counterparts or competitors like we treat them, they will begin to take a second look as to whether or not it makes sense to headquartered here in america. we have to bring down those rates. we have to fill in the loopholes of what has appeared

in the code over the last several decades. it tends to skew the allocation of capital. we want a simpler, fairer code that everyone can abide by that can help promote an environment for growth. >> we are over time and i will take two more questions. then you can choose which you can accommodate or like to answer. >> on a different topic, when abortions were illegal, women had in any way and thousands died or were physically maimed. if, according to your voting record, if you outlawed abortion, is it acceptable collateral damage to you? thank you. >> i do not know how we would combine that with another question. if you look at my voting record and what we do in congress, we

work to make sure that taxpayer dollars are not used to fund abortions. that is what my voting record would reflect. thank you. >> last question. >> dimension houston as a leader in the energy industry. with companies. solyndra -- with companies like solyndra showing how this can be a waste of money, or tax breaks given back in the great depression showing that the government can help industries become bedrocks of the industry, how does the united states called the emerging renewable energy market her role in the united states when other countries are offering these kinds of handouts that can give those companies an advantage? >> great question. we have to strive and drive towards sustainable growth. you are right. energy security for the future is of the upmost importance. i was here in houston yesterday

and visited some of the employers and businesses here who are trying to do that. in fact, right now, although we want a much more diverse energy future, this country has been very blessed with a lot of resources in the fossil fuel irina. many of the companies in houston are spending a lot of resources and time trying to pursue the production of energy here in a clean and responsible way. what i think would work for them would work for industry players in any sector which is certainty, environment in which the tax code and the regulatory policies do not impose greater costs and risks. again, we have to have a balance because we want to do it clean and responsibly. i think we could help compete in the clean energy world as well as any other industry in with an environment to innovate and

invest capital which involves certainly in the r&d tax credit, a tax code with marginal rates that are competitive globally. all things equal, if we can accomplish those things, i guarantee you that people will want to do business in america. we have plenty of work to do just addressing those basics, and i think we can compete in any sector. >> please join me in thanking eric cantor for joining us. [applause] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011]

>> both the house and senate are off today for the veterans day holiday. they will return to capitol hill monday at 2:00 p.m. eastern. the house will consider bills including a balanced budget and allowing concealed handguns permitting in one state to cross into another. the senate will finish federal spending legislation. they are preparing a number of amendments. you can see these live on c- span2 and the house live on c- span. president obama leaves today for a summit in hawaii and indonesia with a visit to australia in between. the first summit begins tomorrow with meetings with japan, asia, and other countries. wednesday, the president will travel to australia and then to

indonesia and and the back -- and the week back in hawaii with meetings with canada and mexico. >> extremism is a defense of liberty. [applause] let me remind you also that moderation is a pursuit of justice is no virtue. >> he lost the 1964 presidential election to lyndon johnson, but barry goldwater's ideas and galvanize the conservative movement. do the five-term senator is featured this week on "the contenders." from the goldwater institute in phoenix, live at 8:00 p.m. eastern. in his new autobiographical narrative, the best-selling author finally recognizes and comes to terms with his posttraumatic stress disorder decades after vietnam.