to thelives at less cost american taxpayer, which i think is the part -- is the point john and judith were making. said, --appropriately the question is, what is the reaction to that -- the questios -- is it appropriate to do that kind of analysis? is it important to say that it is too expensive and other efforts that may be more effective? >> the most cost effective is human intelligence. it is the cheapest, you get the more bang for the buck, you get intentions. but you need all of it together. you need the signal intelligence , you need all of these things from dod, you need it altogether. the least expensive is human. >> they don't know how many lives were saved by definition, we don't know what was the third, how many lives were saved by having more nuclear weapons than we needed presumably in a cold war? that is the trouble.

that is why -- we do have to do, if you are in government, you have to budget your resources and do some kind of cost-benefit analysis. the tricky thing about terrorism and foreign policy is you don't know what dangers and price and even catastrophes you have a verdict sometimes by spending a lot of money or by sacrificing american lives with some of these efforts. that is why the pure economic analysis is tougher to do then the consumer analysis. the fda -- this drug is going to have this side effect what will save this number of people. ofthe apa -- the epa value the human life this is when i million dollars, and they have no clue either. than just is more terrorism. overallis essential to defense as well. >> i would like to bring this to

a local level. a greatjudy has written deal about the nypd. we are facing an election in which may oral candidates on the democratic side have all committed to stopping the stop and frisk program. congressman king and judith particularly could comment on what they think the impacts of this is going to be on the safety and security of new york city. >> those allegations by the democratic candidates, by the "know your times," by the "associated press" are shameful and is grateful. it is a model to be higher country. it is absolutely necessary, it is needed, and if anybody would've told us on september 12, 2001 that the nypd could have stopped all these attacks over 12 years and the result of that would've been the next mayor wants to dismantle a program or cut back, they would think we are crazy. those problems are essential,

necessary, and ray kelly deserves everything he could get for what he has done. [applause] a wreath note on ray kelly, and that is if the mayoral candidates are to be believed, does not seem likely that he will be asked to stay on. i think everyone of them ought to be asked specifically whether or not they would keep ray kelly on as mayor -- he should've been mayor -- >> wishful thinking. >> as police commissioner. beyond that, kelly was a candidate for several high-level post in washington, and apparently it was his stop in for its activity in the endorsement of that program and also his surveillance, radical muslim surveillance program in new york which disqualifies him. i think that that's a great deal about the administration's mindset. it's most unfortunate.

question to my storingo who favor the of data records out of the nsa and allowing them to sandy phone companies. stay in the phone companies heard what weight do you give the factor we have such a litigious society that it is very easy for someone to go into judge,nd get a left-wing if you will, who will give a say , on injunction, and thus prevent the immediate availability of that information if it were allowed to be -- to remain in the phone company hands? there is a session court to up for that. you are dealing with just the fisa court, a judge -- >> you are talking while it is in the possession of the government, the nsa gecko what i'm talking about is -- the nsa?

what i'm talking about is the dy made, taking it out of the nsa possession, allowing it to remain in five years in a phone company's possession. you're taking it out of and putting it into the civil courts, where the phone company is a subject to an injunction. >> general alexander and others in the nsa have discussed this. they have no philosophical problem with the phone company holding onto the records. again, their concern is what they have that absolutely immediate access that they need? the issue you raises another question come in regards to a civil court, someone getting an injunction, whatever, delaying it, and once the nsa says they have that instantaneous access, they said they are written -- willing to work. with the absolute assurance of

that would have instantaneous access but i do not know if that can be done. won a turf, they just want to know they have instant access. >> just to correct the record, i did not endorse a proposal. it was another panelist. i have not made up my mind about this specific recommendation. i will be interested to see what the hearings produce, what various experts say about where the balance should be. right now, i am focusing a lot on transparency and the up women of judges as opposed to who keeps the records where. thank you. >> let's have one final question. maybe people of your make one final comment. >> i will try to make this quick -- there was a common myth that there are 5 million people in the united states with clearances, and why is that. i would like to clarify that is a need to know basis to have access to any classified information.

i have held a clearance since 1986 but i cannot tell you the last time i buy a top-secret document. it is based upon a fact that i am working in a cleared facility and i must be cleared to work there. my question is to gary and also to judith -- gary, do you know it's snowed in at a full scope polygraph done to work at nsa ? to work at nsa you have to go through a lifestyle polygraph to get in there. if he had that come i'm very surprised because i would've thought it would have detected his malice. and then also to judy, you state that you felt that there are too many contractors with clearances, and i would like you to live by why you trust a government employee more than a contractor. i don't know -- he must've had a least top-secret special, but i have no idea whether he had a lifestyle polygraph, which is a more sort of intrusive thing. i suspect he did not. quite i don't have any other comments.

>> snowden should never have gotten the clearance in the first place. he went from job to job. in several incidents, things were found out about him as he was leaving one job going to the next and the first of did not pass it onto the second. that is inexcusable. there are suspicions even the way he was able to get access to or hopefully that will be corrected in the future. it should never have happened in the first place. final, -- as we go forward, this all this agree is an enemy. i think it is so important and public life today. both parties thinking somehow the nsa's or business to spy on americans and find out where future presidential candidates are going. that is wrong. we need to find ways to protect it but not think that nsa is more dangerous than al qaeda. the nsa possibly finding our

future presidential candidates -- [laughter] >> i don't know why. i think the reason we should not have as many contractors is edward snowden. i don't think he would have gotten a government clearance, a top-secret clearance. my understanding is that is one million people who have top secret clearance, 5 million who figuresret, but these -- in general -- look, right now we were just told, i just read in the press that some people are being polygraphed at the cia once a month now over a leak investigation. it seems to me that our time and energy and money would have been a lot better served to have had the edward snowden's of the world who work for contractors or for the nsa given a kind of scrutiny rather than spend it on people who may be talking to the press. thank you. snowdenld like to say

did not get his clearance with the cia. >> i would just expressed that the system -- your point that the contractors are the problem. if one million people have access, and they are government employees, that means, as mitt romney -- >> half of them are not. >> all right, but mitt romney says i'm going to shrink the government, but by attrition. they are afraid to fire anybody, but you have deadwood, one million people knowing these secrets. the cia missed the collapse of the soviet union, the follow the shock, arab spring, almost none of these people -- i assume -- speak arabic. -- station chief, gary [indiscernible] [laughter] >> jungle disappear after that -- >> it was good knowing you, john. [laughter]

>> i would love to have a plan to me how this buying works. spying works. >> let me just say, this is been a very good discussion, an interesting one. these are very serious questions with effectiveness, civil liberties, trade-offs, it is not a crazy notion that the private sector could do things better. things have gotten out of control. when the nsa has a deal with a lot more data than they were used to. bradley manning, you know, that is crazy for a private with secret, maybe not even cs clearance was able to get access to all that stuff, but that was done because everyone decided that everything was to sideload ed before.silo these are tough choices of governance. we do need serious people.

itcongress, the media, elsewhere to really think through these questions. i personally think this is an interesting and thoughtful discussion. maybe it will be an inducement to others to think this through and not to settle on soundbites. thank you all for coming. i think pete wants to close is often a timely way. quite we did not keep it simple, but we did keep it on time. if you come in on 10, you would like it appeared i want to thank bill and the "weekly standard" for monitoring. i want to thank john for making the bus right in. is a great member of this discussion. i think judy asked one of the most important and right questions in this discussion which he turned and said hey, how do we know this metadata, we have heard reports that it is more accessible than people think, other agencies are using it, and the representatives -- and this is not to disparage -- i'm not sure the answer is to that. it is not because representative

king does not know, but it is because the fear among most conservatives or liberty minded folks -- sometimes as we should be a nation of laws or when people have the wrong assets -- access, people do things with data that they should not otherwise do, and a blake and check of trust it sometimes is difficult to give. we live in a world of incredible threat. if one city knows it and understand that, it is new york city, and that is what makes discussions like this so important. the veterans organization, what we hope to do and be able to do is come into the discussion with an understanding, a fundamental understanding of that threat. but also a believe in the liberty and freedom we fought for, and if you give it all away in securing yourself, you lost the country that you went to vie for any process. so we just appreciate this group, we appreciate the weekly standard, and most importantly formanhattan institute

facilitating this. we are honored to partner with them at this event and grateful that you took the time with us today. thank you very much. [applause] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2013] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] >> on today's "washington journal," a look at the jobs numbers. christopher hill joined the spirit is the former u.s. ambassador to iraq. he will be talking about the recent threats of al qaeda that led to the closure of u.s. embassies in the middle east and africa. and a look at the future of u.s. -russia relations following the announcement that president obama has canceled his meeting next month with russian president vladimir putin. also your calls in today's headlines on "washington journal ," live beginning at 7:00 a.m. eastern here on c-span. and with congress on its five- week summer recess, we are

following members that they hold a town hall meetings. today, republican congressman tom cole speaking to constituents and more, oklahoma at 10:35. he is followed by democratic senator sheldon whitehouse talking at a community dinner at 3:00 p.m. eastern right here on c-span. vacation tong for martha's vineyard, president obama traveled to orlando, florida, to does -- to discuss the disabled veterans national convention. talk about the priorities of his and administration, including any the backlog, incentive, and the creation of a initiative. he also called on congress to make tax credits permanent for businesses that hire veterans, and two passes veterans job or proposal. knowank you all, please, i you have been working hard, so rest yourselves. [laughter] i am beyond thrilled to be here

with all of you today, and i want to start by thanking larry for that very kind introduction, but more importantly for his tremendous leadership of the dav and for all of his outstanding service to this country. but most of all, i want to thank all of you here today. the men and women who have served and sacrificed so greatly on behalf of all americans. truly, one of my greatest joys over these past few years has been spending time with veterans and military families like all of you. i have laughed with your children at barbecues, i have gone to baby showers with spouses, i have learned so much during my many visits to military bases across the country. i have even smashed a champagne bottle to christian a -- christen a coast guard cutter.

youre been so inspired by stories. so transpired. i am reminded by one of those stories today, the story of a young man i met at walter reed. his name is sergeant perez, and he is 24 years old. a year and a half ago, sergeant perez was on a combat mission in afghanistan. he was hit by an rpg. the grenade, but stayed large -- lost in his left thigh. not go off. sergeant perez was the fellow marines ran to his aid, and together they chose to carry him off the battlefield to safety, even though they knew that any wrong move would mean certain disaster. moments later, four pilots and medics chose to load him onto a helicopter with a live explosives still in his leg, transporting him 65 miles to the nearest medical station.

and finally, when they arrived, it a nurse and explosive expert chose to rush to his aid, finally dislodging the rockets by hand and giving doctors the chance to save his leg, which they did. now, just that part of sergeant perez's story tells you everything you need to know about the men and women of our armed forces. verys all of you know well, stories like these do not and in the combat zone. since his injuries, sergeant perez has injured 30 or 31 surgeries, he does not remember the exact number he has survived , andrt attack, an aneurysm he fought through hundreds of hours of rigorous physical therapy to strengthen his leg. time and again, just when he has regained the strength to walk, his doctors have told him it is

time for another surgery. back in aant perez is wheelchair, starting all over again from square one. youhere's the thing -- don't hear about any of that when you talk to sergeant perez. what you do hear about is his mother, who he will tell you has stayed by his side every single day. you will hear about his gratitude to those who save his life, to the family and friends who come from new york to visit. and for the life he has in front of him. today, sergeant perez is walking again. he is three-month into an internship with the defense intelligence agency, and he plans to spend the rest of his career serving as country. when asked about everything he has been through, sergeant perez puts it all in perspective by i just think --

you got to get back up. that is all he said. you got to get back up. room, ik across this see a group of people who know how to get back up. [laughter] [applause] no matter what you have been through. [applause] no matter what he struggles you have face, you all get back up. and that is what inspires me. that is why every day i work to push myself harder to live up to your example. and that is why jill biden and i are working so hard on joining forces because we want to honor and serve you and your families to make sure that you and your families have the educational opportunities you need, the support you have earned, and the good jobs you deserve. and if there is one thing that i want all of you to know today is

you will never have to get back up all on your own. not why we are here. [applause] never. [applause] us, you have just got families who support you day and night, you have countless neighbors and pastors, business owners -- i have met them -- even strangers who will snap into action for you. -- one important force in person you have is a commander in chief -- [cheers and applause] understandt simply your service and sacrifice. he carries your stories with him every single day. i have seen it in his eyes when he comes home from a visit to a military hospital. i have noticed the extra energy he gets after a military commencement. and i've heard the emotion in his voice after he talks with

the families of our fallen. that is the well he draws from as commander in chief. you are that well. and that is why he has stood up for you again and again, and it is why he is going to keep fighting for you and your families every single day. so ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my husband, our president, barack obama. [cheers and applause] ♪

>> hello, dav. [applause] thank you so much, thank you. everybody, please have a seat. do we have an extraordinary first lady? we will be celebrated our 21st anniversary in october. [applause] the first time i saw her, i knew she was something special. she is a little more skeptical about me. [laughter] but persistence is the key. you just have to stay on it. eventually, you can marry up. to michele and jill biden joining forces, we are so proud of the work you've done to help rally america around military families and veterans. i'm inspired by what they're doing, so thank you, michelle, for your extraordinary work.

join at was proud to your convention three years ago. [applause] it is wonderful to be back. i want to thank your national much.der, thank you so teame entire leadership johnson, burgess, don adams, all the incredible spouses and spouses that the dav auxiliary. i want to thank barry janowski. i got it. [laughter] they used to mispronounce obama, too. [laughter] i want to thank barry and your grade team in washington. disabled american veterans, like all veterans, you carry in your hearts the story of brave service that took you to every

as young men earth , leftmen, you left home everyone you ever knew because clouds gathered far across the sea. you had your whole life ahead of you, but you were willing to risk all of it for this land that we love. because you know from hard experience what we must never our country and doors because in every generation there are americans like you who stand beside her and guide her and protect her. you fought across the pacific island by island. you fought into the heart of europe mile by mile to fill --

to free millions from fascists. that is your legacy from the second world war. you have the line of the pusan perimeter and survived the bitter cold of the chosen reservoir. on his 60th anniversary, all of our veterans of the korean war. [applause] to our vietnam veterans -- [applause] you served with valor not just in the thick of the gender but through -- of the jungle but through intense combat. you won every major battle that he fought in. [applause] since,in the decades whenever our country has need you, you said send me. from the sands of garrett the

storm to theesert mountains of the balkans to the villages of afghanistan and next year your profound sacrifice will be recognized in the heart of our nation's capital when our designates the veterans -- the disabled veterans for life memorial. [applause] that memorial will honor your courage in the war. pay tribute too your bravery and the other battles you have fought to fight for -- to fight to recover from the wounds of war. in this may be your greatest triumph at all because rather than being defined by what you lost, by what you can't do, you have inspired america with what you can do.

so maybe you lost your site, but you can still see the truth that our disabled veterans make extraordinary contributions to our country everything will day. an arm, but used the strength to pick up a friend or neighbor in need. but you stilleg, stand tall for the values and freedoms that make america the greatest nation on earth. [applause] the wondered warrior who spoke to many of you when he said your life will never be the same, but that does not mean you cannot go on to do amazing things with the second chance you were given. i think of wanted warriors across america and how they have used that second chance. volunteering in communities, building homes, being a mentor to local kids, showing up after

tornadoes, after hurricane sandy, to help folks rebuild. i think of the wounded warriors who reach out to the survivors of the boston marathon bombing with the example of their own experience and the simple message -- we stand with you. i think of all the inspiring wounded warriors that michelle and i have met, their resilience, their resolve, their determination to push through and carry on. that is the fighting spirit of our wounded warriors. that is the spirit of dav. dedicated -- [applause] dedicated not just to your own recovery, but to taking care of each other. you work to ensure that america is for filling its promises to its men and women who have served their debt is your mission.

and i want you to know it is my mission too. i believe that this work is more important than ever because this time of war at we have been and is coming to an end. applause]d for nearly 12 years, every since we were attack on a clear september morning, our nation has been at war. our fight in afghanistan is now america's longest war. at the same time our troops fought courageously in iraq for nine long years, and among us today are proud veterans of the wars in afghanistan and iraq. we have marked another milestone in afghanistan. as of this past june, afghan forces have taken the lead for security across their entire country. instead of leading the fight, our troops now have a different mission -- supporting afghan

forces. our war in afghanistan has entered the final chapter. more of our troops are coming home. this winter will be down to 34,000, by the end of next year, the transition will be complete. afghans will take full was luckily for their security, and our war in afghanistan will be over. [cheers and applause] for this progress, we thank all who have served in afghanistan, including dav members who are here today. there are a few i want to mention. we salute. timothy duke. where is timothy? right here. [applause] in the early days of the war, timothy's helicopter unit of service some of the more remote

parts of afghanistan third on another tour in iraq, his convoy was hit by an ied. ured three -- end spinal surgeries, then he went to school on a post-9/11 g.i. bill, now he is helping at the eav helping veterans and their families access their benefits. that is the kind of spirit the dav represents. thank you, timothy, for your outstanding service and work. [applause] sergeant jayff ari hogan.an -- jac ied'saq, she was hit by three times. surgeries,ured rehab, which continue to this day, but she refused to stop -- stop service or she deployed again to afghanistan

third as a logistic service, and -- getting shot a lot along the way. at those outlets, she was often the only woman on base. she proudly wears the combat action today. [cheers and applause] but her service has not stopped. so here it dav, she counsels others as they recover, helping troops is what i'm about, that is what she says, and we are grateful to you for your extraordinary service. [applause] and we salute to jason. where is jason? right here. [applause] when jason's unit was ambushed and pinned down, he was hit five

times in the chest. but he pushed on. men toed lead his safety, for which he earned the silver star. after months -- [applause] and rehab,s of care he returned to his unit, going out on patrol, gritting his teeth through the pain in his chest. helpsat the dav, jason vets access the benefits that they deserve. it is my job to help people heal --that is what jason says. thank you. [applause] jason, theyjacare, are just examples of all who have served in these years of war. the 9/11 generation. now, you are beginning the next chapter in your life. wearing a proud new title.

veteran of the united states armed forces. so this time of war may be coming to an end, but the job of caring for our veterans goes on. our work caring for our newest veterans has only just begun. lost theut it -- we last veteran at the first world -- we lost a ago veteran at the first war many years ago. today, we care for children of people who fought in the spanish-american war. even the daughter of a civil war veteran. [applause] so when we talk about fulfilling our promises to all who serve, we are not just talking about a few years. we are talking about decades. for as long as you and your

families want the service. with a new generation joining the ranks, i believe that now is the time to make sure our nation is truly ready. organized and structured to get this right, not just for this year, not just for next year, but for decades to come. not just for the veterans of today's wars, but for all wars. and i believe we need to focus on five key priorities. we need to make sure we have got the resources, the budgets our veterans deserve. [cheers and applause] since i took office, we have made historic investments in our veterans. even in these tough fiscal times, we have boosted the va budget by more than 40%. we know budget for veterans health care a year in advance. [cheers and applause]

proposed a further increase in veterans funding for next year. [applause] now, some of you maybe aware right now we have got these reckless across the board budget cuts called the sequester that is hurting our jobs, our military, slashing science and medical research. i made it clear that your veterans benefits are exempt from this year's sequester. i've made that clear. [applause] you -- to to tear tell you going forward the best way to protect the va care you have earned is to get rid of this sequester altogether. [cheers and applause] congress needs to come together and agree on a responsible plan that reduce our deficit and keeps our promises to our

veterans, and keeps our promises to future generations. that is what i'm fighting for, that is what you deserve. [cheers and applause] number two, we need to make sure you're getting the veterans health care you have been promised. we are already making record investments. more outreach, more clinical, more service for our vietnam vets, we made sure that you and your family finally got the discipline -- disability conversation you deserve because of your closure to agent orange. [applause] for our desert storm veterans, we made it easier to get the service you need for illnesses connected to your service. for veterans of ptsd, we made to get make it easier access to care regardless of the war that you served in. [applause] for our women's veterans, and there are more of you than ever,

we are offering more tailored just roman,linics more clinicians trained to treat you with respect and dignity. [applause] all told, we have made va healthcare available to more than 2 million veterans who did not have it before. for proposed more funding prophetic for our disabled vets to help you work and rock and -- and walk and run again. and for you, the caregivers and families, we are going to keep empowering you with the gilded support you need at the care for the veterans that you love. [applause] we also need to keep improving mental health services. we have to and this epidemic of suicide among our veterans and troops. [cheers and applause]

last year, i said this had to be in all hands on deck approach, not decide dod and the va, but across our government. i issued an executive order to step up our game, and we have. hiring more counselors, hiring more mental health providers, new awareness campaigns, so that those who are hurting know that asking for help is not a sign of weakness. it is a part of staying strong. it is a part of getting back up. [applause] hundreds of medical and nursing schools have committed to improving research and care for our veterans and their families. i propose more funding for middle -- for mental health. we can't just promise better care -- we have actually got to deliver better care. so today, i am proud to announce the next step in this fight. we're unveiling a new national action plan to guide mental health research across ,overnment, industry, academia so that we're going to focus on developing more effective ways

to prevent, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions like tbi and ptsd and to get it done, we are moving ahead with more than $100 million in new research. [cheers and applause] i'm not going to be satisfied until every veteran, every man and woman in uniform, get the support and the help they need to stay strong. [cheers] on the seventh of veterans health care, you may have noticed there is still a lot of misinformation out there about the new healthcare law, affordable care act. some folks are out there trying to scare people, including veterans. so let me say this as plainly as i can -- if you already have health insurance or health care from the va, you do not have to do a thing. your va healthcare does not change. it is safe. there are no new fees. [cheers and applause]

don't let them hoodwink you. the good news is if you are among one of the more than one million veterans who don't have health insurance, starting october 1, you will have a new option. online marketplaces will let you shop and compare and buy private health insurance plans just like you can go online to compare prices when you buy a tv or an airplane ticket or a car. and because of the affordable care act, insurance company's will no longer be able to discriminate you or deny you cover because of pre-existing conditions like ptsd. [cheers and applause] so you will have more security in being able to get health insurance. don't let them fully you. no one is taking away your benefits. your veterans health care is safe. we are not reducing veterans access to healthcare.

we are extending it. that is the truth. -- we are expanding it. and that is the truth. [applause] that leaves me to the third priority we have got to focus on. we have got to attack the claims act law. [cheers and applause] now, the last time i was with you, i pledged to slash does wait times, deliver your benefits sooner. i'm going to be honest with you, it has not moved as fast as i wanted. part of it is all these new veterans in the system. ptsd,me in, agent orange, it meant a lot more claims. despite additional resources, it has resulted in longer waits. that has been on accountable. i'm inseparable to me, unacceptable to secretary shin vai, sweep of more of our folks as claims processors. we hired more claims processors

as well. we have been working overtime, completing more than one million claims a year. we prioritize the oldest claims, veterans at the dav have pitched as well, helping get claims ready so that when they bring them there in better shape than they can move a little quicker. today i can report that we are not where we need to be, but we are making progress. we're making progress. [applause] so after years when the backlog kept growing, finally the backlog is shrinking. in the last five months alone, it is down nearly 20%. we are turning the tide. and we're not going to let up until we eliminate the backlog once and for all home and we will keep moving ahead with paperless systems for the backlog -- so the backlog does not come back and so your claims are processed right to be first time. on time. [applause] after years of military service,

you should not have to wait years for the benefits you have deserved. to preserveu fought our rights and freedoms, we need to uphold that for every veteran. we need to end homelessness among veterans. [cheers and applause] we are not just bringing our veterans off the streets -- we are doing more to reach at risk and low income vets so they do not become homeless in the first place. we're not going to rest until every veteran who has fought for america has a home in america. [applause] [cheers and applause] yesterday, i was proud to sign -- act, toe helping end those interested airport screenings so you, our wounded warriors and disabled vets, especially those of you with prosthetics, can travel with

dignity. i know how disappointing it was when the senate failed to prove the disabilities treaty, despite the fact that we had a former sender and -- senator and world war ii veteran, bob dole, in the senate chamber. but we're going to keep fighting to ratify that treaty. because the united states has always been a leader for the price of this fabled. -- of the disabled and we believe disabled veterans like you deserve the same opportunities to work and study and travel and other countries as any other american is -- as any other american. if the right thing to do. we need to get it done. [cheers and applause] which brings me to the final priority when he to stay focused on that is making sure that our veterans have the every opportunity to pursue the american dream. education andthe jobs worthy of your extraordinary talents. with our new transition

assistance program, we are doing partinghelp the services and spouses plan their careers and find that new job. we're going to keep helping our newest veterans and their families pursue their education under the post-9/11 g.i. bill. are building on executive order i issued last year to protect you as you go looking for schools. i said we're going to stand up against dishonest recruiting and predatory practices that target our veterans, so we set new standards. so far, more than 6000 schools across the country have signed on and pledged to do right by you and your families. we don't want our veterans and cheated. [applause] i also said that schools need to step up their support so we are doing more to help our veterans succeed on campus. today we are announcing what we call 8 keys to success, specific steps schools can take to truly welcome and encourage our

veterans. so far, more than 250 community colleges and universities have signed on, and today i'm calling on schools across america to join us in this effort. let's help our veterans get the degree, get a credential, and compete for the high skilled jobs of tomorrow. [applause] [cheers and applause] now, i am also going to make sure that the federal government keeps doing its part. fact thatroud of the some public office, federal department than a disease have hired nearly 300,000 veterans, including many disabled veterans. [applause] and i'm going to keep calling on congress to pass the veterans job corps, to put our veterans to work rebuilding america. we are also doing everything we can to help you get those private sector jobs. more help with job searches,

more tools like our online jobs bank to connect veterans to jobs that are open right now. make it easier for you to transfer your skills to the andnse is and -- licenses credentials you need for civilian jobs. and because tens of thousands of our veterans have already been helped, congress needs to make permanent tax credits for companies that hire our veterans and wounded warriors. the right thing to do. [applause] going to keep urging companies across america to do the smart thing -- hire some of the best workers he will ever find. hire a vet. jill have done great work on this, and responding to our challenge, working with joining forces, america's businesses have already hired or trained 290,000 veterans and military spouses, and they have committed to hiring over 400,000 more. more companies are signing up all the time. we are going to get companies to understand that you cannot get a

better deal than that -- then hiring a veteran. [applause] because of the efforts i described and a growing economy, veterans on the plummeted going down, more veterans are finding jobs, and we will keep at this because with your skills and drive, we do not just what you fighting for america overseas, we want you to be right here building a stronger america, fighting for a better future for our kids. so, ensuring the resources and budgets you deserve, delivering on health care that you have earned, making sure that you can count on it, continuing to reduce the backlog, standing up for your rights and dignity, creating jobs and opportunities so you can realize your dreams -- that is what i am focused on.

that is what i have told my entire administration to be focused on. that is what our country needs to stay focused for the many years to come. and nobody knows this better than you. our disabled veterans. oftenad of recovery is such a long haul. america needs to be there for you during that long haul. and that is the lesson of the extraordinary young man i told you about when i spoke to you three years ago. an army ranger, sergeant first class corey ramsburg. a massive ied in afghanistan nearly killed him. he was in a coma for months with severe dramatic brain injury. then how when i saw him in the hospital he had come

out of the,, but he still cannot speak. when i asked him how he was feeling, he slowly brought his hand up, and he pulled his fingers together and he gave a thumbs-up. his mom was sitting there with him. , i saw cory and his family again, this time in phoenix where they live. i wanted to give you an update on how he is doing. i suspect it won't surprise you , the yearst for cory since it surgeries have been heart, brain surgeries, half a dozen of them, surgeries to place part of his skull, i surgeries, -- eye surgeries, special surgeries on his lungs, all told dozens of surgeries and procedures. rehab has been grueling.

on a typical day, cory wakes up and spend hours in therapy. physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy. the progress has come slowly, but it has come. he had to learn the simple things all over again. how to speak, how to write his name, how to throw a ball. this past spring, he reached another milestone. after years in the hospital, he finally came home come a greeted by hundreds of neighbors and friends waiting american friend -- flags. ago i saw cory a few days -- he is so blind in one eye, he still struggles to move his left side. but the young man i have seen in a hospital bed unable to speak, barely able to move, this time he was in a chair, sitting up, alert, smiling, talking, and

then he went to show me something. ,nd he leaned out of his chair and he reached out and he grabbed his walker. and with the help of his parents, he pulled himself forward, and he stood up, and he looked at me, and he gave me a sharp salute. [applause] he said -- rangers lead the way. arm formom held one balance, and i held the other, and then cory took a step. and another one after that, all the way across the room. little by little, cory is learning to walk again. [applause]

and he is starting to get good on his bike. he hopes to bike in a race this fall, 42 miles. he is scheduled to move into his own home, adapted to his needs with the help of a caregiver. another step toward the greater independence he seeks. says -- my recovery has not been easy, nothing in life that is worth anything is easy. but he says -- i don't give up. i don't give up. afghanistan may be ending, but for cory and our disabled vets, the work has only just begun. cory is a 30 years old. his recovery, like so many of yours, will last a lifetime, but

he will not give up. the guys you have not given up. when it comes to our work to making sure that our nation is for filling its promises to the men and women who served and sacrificed, america cannot give up either. i will not give up. we cannot give up. so long as i am the united states president, i will make it my mission to make sure that america is right there beside you every step of the way, every step with cory, every step with the dav, god bless you. i bless our veterans. god bless the united states of america. [cheers and applause] ♪ [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2013] [captioning performed by national captioning institute]

>> coming up here on c-span, we will take your calls and take a look at the days headlines on "washington journal." they'll be followed by "new make -- newsmakers t." first republican congressman tom: talking to constituents in moore, oklahoma, and later sheldon whitehouse in a community dinner in rhode island. >> mayor and council chairman vincent gray face each other in

one of the most contentious and expensive elections in d.c. recent history. vincent gray won the public over as an affable and effective chairman. shortly after gray took office in 2011, brown, who had also run for mayor, told the "washington post" that he was paid and offered a job in exchange for disparaging information about fenty during the election. federal investigators soon discover that much of brown for the story was true. they also uncovered david even bigger secret -- the shadow campaign. basically you had a campaign that was going on, the regular campaign you see, and then you had another set of folks who were in an office right next to the gray campaign. during the campaign, there is so

much going on, you had several workers actually complaining, several official workers complaining about the other workers because they felt that they were getting paid more, and there was a lot of confusion as to who was paying them, etc. it was not until a year later that folks started putting things together when federal investigators began asking questions, and they realize wait a minute, the folks who were next door, we cannot find any record of them in the campaign- finance records that we see. so how did those folks get paid, and who was in charge of them? >> nikita stewart looks at corruption in d.c. politics. tonight at 8:00 on c-span's q and a. >> up next on "washington journal," we look at called and headlines. then we look at job neighbors -- job numbers with the former head of the bureaus of sids. then we will talk about al qaeda and the closers of u.s. industries -- closures of u.s.

embassies. and a look at u.s. russia relations after the announcement that president obama has canceled his meeting with russian president vladimir putin. that is all next on "washington journal." ♪ is sunday,orning, it august 11 come up 20 13. it is today, resident obama began his week long vacation at martha's vineyard. today we will be discussing the state of u.s. relations with dive intoking a deep u.s. job numbers, and talking about recent al qaeda threats. before we do that we want to hear about the state of news media from our viewers. the pew research center's -- you research center released its biannual data