to there are post-9/11 veterans who do not have have a place to sleep or call home oh sto. some are still struggling to get the care that they need and to have their claims resolved expeditiously as well. we must continue to devote the time and energy to address these issues in particular. it was important to see that veterans administration's secretary emphasize on sunday his commitment to doing just that, a commitment he reiterated to me yesterday when i talked to him about coming to this event. also focus on improving the transition that veterans go through as they become civilians. this has to include ensuring that all veterans are able to take advantage of the programs available to them to help them be all they can be as civilians.

in support of our veterans are in truth sacred responsibilities. any other and usc initiatives to support veterans demonstrate that the leadership of trojan nation understands and is intent on meeting its share of these responsibilities. in view of that and for all once again, thank you and well done to all of you. thank you. [applause] as i close, i want to take this opportunity to say thank you as well to those who provided words of encouragement my family and me in recent months. that support meant a great deal as we stopped to look forward

rather than backward. this has been a very difficult episode for us. but perhaps my experience can be instructive to others who stumble or fall as far as i did. one learns after all that life does not stop was such a mistake. it can and must go on. the effort to move forward over the rocky path of one's own making is vital and ultimately worth it. i know that i can never fully eased the pain i inflicted on those closest to me and on a number of others. move, however, try to forward in a manner that is consistent to the values to which i subscribe and make amends to those i have hurt and let down. that is what i will strive to do. in the past when i received an

award, i would note that i did so only in as much as i was able to accept it on behalf of the men and women in uniform and on the intelligence and diplomatic services with whom i was privileged to serve in the battles of the post-9/11 period. any applause for me was therefore applause for them. tonight is an opportunity once again for me and for all of us to say thank you to those selfless americans who put it all on the line down the range, day after difficult day, under the toughest conditions, against the most challenging events to safeguard our fellow citizens and preserve our interests around the world. this room is full of such individuals. it was the greatest of privilege to serve with them and countless others in them during my time in uniform and at the cia. it has been a to honor to be

here this evening to help you andgnize your current future veteran service, as well as to discuss the nation obligations to veterans and their families. in so doing, it has been a privilege to apply the usc press of initiatives to help the rotc cadets and veterans in the trojan nation and applaud the leadership of a great institution that shows its appreciation for those in its ranks who have served and who do serve. may god bless each and everyone of you. and all those in harms way tonight. go, trojans. fight on. thank you very much. [applause] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2013] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] >> on the next "washington journal" our guests are stan

collender and peter morici. then a group of bipartisan members known as the gang of 8. he work on an immigration bill. we will discuss what should be in the immigration bill and what challenges they may face with rebecca tealtallent. live at 7n journal" a.m. eastern on c-span. >> in his weekly address, president obama talks about the celebration of easter. nebraska congressman delivers the republican address. because for the approval of the keystone xl pipeline. >> hi, everyone. for millions of americans, this is a special time of the year. families gather around the

table for the tribe of faith over oppression. this weekend, my family will join christians around the world to celebrate the resurrection of jesus christ in the hopeful promise of easter. in the midst of all of our busy and noisy lives, this holy day present opportunity to slow down and spend a moment in prayer and reflection. we recognize the incredible sacrifice jesus made for each and every one of us. he extended the gift of salvation. we try to follow his example here on earth for loving our savior and loving our neighbors and everyone as a child of god. those values are at the heart of all faiths, from judaism to islam, their echoes a powerful call to serve our brothers and sisters him a keep in our hearts deep and abiding compassion for all and to treat

others as we wish to be treated ourselves. that is the common humanity that finds us together. we are united by something else we have a shared responsibility to look out for our fellow citizens. this week and i hope we are to take a moment to pause and reflect, embrace our loved ones, give thanks for our blessings, rededicate ourselves to an interest larger than our own. to all the christian families celebrating the resurrection, michelle and i wish you a blessed easter. god bless you. i got continued to bless the united states america. >> hello. erry fromessman lee t nebraska. againstheld the line

tax increases and passed a balanced budget and force the democratic run senate to submit a budget for the first time in four years. there's something else we need to do -- take on the high energy bills many families and businesses are up against. this is important when the pain at the pump begins to take an even bigger toll on commuters and truckers. that is why i have led the effort in the house to support the keystone xl pipeline, a project that would bring more north american energy to the marketplace and put thousands to work. keystone would grade roughly 20,000 new jobs related to the construction of the pipeline and create another 118,000 jobs downstream. labor leaders in my hometown said it would create 2000 jobs here. keystone is primed to give our economy a shot in the arm and make energy more affordable. it will not cost tax payers

dime. despite that, the omabama administration tries to block it with every excuse in the book. it has now been more than 1600 days since the initial permits were filed to build the pipeline. it took the united states a little more than 1300 days to win world war ii. took lewis and clarke about 1100 days to walk the louisiana purchase. the keystone pipeline is a no- brainer. through several environmental reviews and picked up support from a broad, and grassroots coalition of unions and employers, public backing has risen to 70%. last week, the democratic run senate endorsed keystone with a filibuster proof of 62 votes, the bipartisan support of show rarely seen in washington.