wife of woodrow wilson tonight. three.an and c-span debateng up, senators the house continuing resolution involving the health care law. president obama speaks on civil societies. >> harry reid opened today senate session by criticizing here are hiscans comments. >> inside the house republican bubble republican bubble, the reaction is altogether different. tyrannical tea party plan to

shut down the government, past on friday has been called the dumbest idea ever by one republican senator. it has been called a box canyon from which the public will not escape unscathed by a second republican senator. has been called dishonest by one republican senator and a suicide memo by another republican center. the reviews are in, and they are universal. the plan is unworkable and unrealistic. president obama has been clear, and i have been clear. any bill that defines obama and the health care plan is dead on arrival in the senate. the affordable care act has been the law of the land for four years. democrats are willing to work with republicans to improve this law, but we will now understand

that there is an anarchy movement that is a foot. a lead editorial in the new york times wednesday of last week said that, but we are not going to bow to tea party anarchist who deny the mere fact that obama care is the law. we will not bow to tea party anarchist who refuse to accept the supreme court ruled that obama care is constitutional. we will not bow to tea party anarchists in the house or in the senate who ignore the fact that president obama was overwhelmingly reelected a few months ago. these fanatics .2 disapproval for obama care as justification for taking the federal government and our economy hostage to their demands. what they fail to mention to the american people and to the senate and to the house is that 59% of americans either support the law and was you was even more far-reaching and transformative, according to a cnn poll. the vast majority of americans, including those who disapprove

of of health care law, want congress to work to improve it, not to tear it down. according to a new cmbc poll, americans overwhelmingly oppose defunding obamacare specially could mean shutting down the government to do so. mr. president, the facts are that the vast the georgi of emergent people are satisfied with obamacare. the simple fact remains, obamacare is the law of the land and will remain aloft the land as long as barack obama is president of the united states, and so long as i am senate majority leader. the latest camel by republicans made with the backing of their radical allies in the senate only postpones the inevitable. this week, the u.s. senate will act as quickly as tea party republicans will allow. once the senate has acted, house republicans will face a choice, whether to pass a clean, continuing resolution or to shut down the federal government.

so the question, are are extremist republicans really ready to shut down the government? time will only tell. the world looks to america for leadership. is his lack of respect of the world's law, is a truly the example we want to set for others? republican campaign that they are willing to inflict severe damage to our economy in the process. america will know exactly who to blame, republicans, fanatics in the house and senate. that is why i urge those republicans to listen to the more reasonable republicans in the senate. i have read some of their commentary on what is contemplated now. i repeat, one republican senator said it is the dumbest idea he ever heard. two dozen senate republicans have spoken out against this foolhardy plan to drive the

economy off a cliff. two dozen. if democrats don't bow to every demand they have, they want to go right over the cliff. we're not going to go with them. i'm glad to see more and more of my moderate republican colleagues stepping up, speaking cents to an extremist element of their own party. from the new york times on saturday, "beaker boehner trapped under the thumb of tea party anarchists all friday's vote to defund obamacare and invite a government shutdown a victory for common sense. he said, more like a triumph of nonsense, not common sense." so a few reasonable republicans are wise enough to know that missing the nations economic recovery would be another step toward a decibel for the republican party.

mr. president, every one of these senators that i read their comments to everyone listening, plus the 20 or so others that i didn't mention, they are conservative people, conservative republicans. they are just not radical. so mr. president, i say the house and senate republicans will continue to deny reality and risk america's economy. listen all around you. listen to what they are saying. you're conservative senate colleagues have urged you off this reckless course. the nation's largest business group, the chamber of commerce, has urged you off this reckless course. american families are aware of these foolish partisan fights, and they urge you off this reckless course.

on behalf of democrats who long for the days when we legislated to cooperation, we did it instead of hostage taking. i personally urge you off this reckless course. what remains to be seen is whether my republican colleagues on both sides of the capital are >> tednough to listen. cruz made unanimous request that the senate pass funding for through december and harry reid rejected. he spoke for 15 minutes outlining his decisions. his remarks are followed by mike lee. i ask for unanimous consent. i ask unanimous consent that the senate agreed to motion to proceed. that no debate amendments or motions to the resolution be in order. orderny and all points of

be weighed in at the resolution is read a third time and passed. the motion to reconsider should be considered made and on the table. no further missions will be in order on any of the nominations and president obama will be immediately notified.>> reserving the right to object, i understand that the gentleman from texas asked for consent without any amendments. i understand that. i hope he gets to the point. resolution that we have would defund obamacare. it would defund all related benefits and that is on toward -- untoward. "hey chinaludes a first" policy.

everyone from veterans to small businesses, to federal employees, contractors, and medicare patients. mr. president, i would veto this resolution. it will not become law and i object. >> the objection is heard. >> i would put ford unanimous consent that the motion to all point of order be raised. that is during the consideration es. 59.a the resolution should be read a third time and passed. be considered made and laid upon the table without any debate. >> reserving the right to object. i understand the senator from

texas and his request. it would create a 60 vote hurdle where the senate rules do not require one at the present time. president, i try to follow the senate rules and they are obnoxious. i was there different. i try my best in leading the senate. i try to live up to all the rules. sometimes senators like these and sometimes they don't. most would say that senators have enough 60 vote hurdles. these reallyh of arbitrary hurdles as it is. we don't need to add more barriers to getting things done. be president, we should

careful about adding new barriers. the american people are fed up. country, travel the and it is rare that i go someplace that they know the rules. they know the rules and how difficult they are. that the vast majority of the senators would like them changed. we tried that recently. so, i think that most americans want us to work together rather than disagree. i'm not a betting man, i would bet that americans would want us to avoid shutting down the government. sincerity of the

senator from texas. i understand that and disagree with them. away from his sincerity. that, i'm in a position to object. >> the objection is heard. >> senator from texas. >> i've been asked for a unanimous consent request. i have one unanimous consent request. it has my approval. this request be granted and printed in the record. >> without objection. >> mr. president, at this point,

i ask unanimous consent for 20 minutes to speak. >> without objection. >> these two unanimous consent requests have the virtue of being clarifying. clarifying what this debate is that the senate faces. that the senate has not faced a more important debates in the short time that you and i have both served in this institution. no american wants a government shutdown. i don't want a government shutdown and nobody on the side of the aisle once a government shutdown. the house of representatives does not want a shutdown. the senates ago, could have prevented a government shutdown. i had was to pass the continuing resolution that the house of representatives passed. if that had happened, there would be no shutdown and the government shutdown is off the table.

the fear on the television screen every day, the countdown clock, it would disappear. unfortunately, the majority leader chose to object to say no. he would rather risk a government shutdown then asked to present it -- prevent it. he was candid. he supports obama care. isther component of that something that the house of representatives passed. a law called the default prevention action. the president has been raising the prospect of a default on our debt. the house acted boldly to thatde razz -- language said that the united states would never default on the debt. -- in debt that the get the event that the debt ceiling

is not raised, we pay our debts first. spokene that we've all about the calamity that would come from default on the debt. it is revealing that the majority leader reference and objected to, by name, taking a default off the table. it is unfortunate. there's a tendency in this town towards princeton ship and pointing towards events that create uncertainty. using them to get your way. i wish the majority leader had said differently. we should not have a government shutdown. we should never discuss a default on debts. if the majority leader had said i consent, a default on the debt would have been taken off the table. we all know why he did not.

because he embraces obamacare. bodyld suggest that this passed obamacare on a partyline vote. , america hasast learned it does not work. it is the single biggest job killer in america. we are seeing more evidence that obama care is killing jobs and hurting american workers were struggling. it is causing people to be forcibly put into part-time work. . it is jacking up health insurance premiums. it is causing people to lose their premiums. insurers are limiting the choices of doctors and hospitals. a new familyorted

glitch that could cause children to go without insurance coverage . a headline read, one week away, obamacare small business exchanges are not already for launch. unions, who once championed obamacare, are now publicly decrying this as a threat to the 40 hour workweek that is the backbone of the middle class. this law is hurting the american people. it is why there is bipartisan consensus outside of washington dc that we need to step up and stop that. that would be the responsible thing to do. to say that the same rules should apply to hard-working americans. president put

this in place. put in placely exemptions for corporations. families deserve that exemption. it is unfortunate that the majority leader chose to object to continuing preventing a shutdown and taking a default off the table. i think it is clarifying. i think it makes clear, as the majority leader just did, that he is willing to risk a government shutdown. he is going to risk a government shutdown to insist that obama care is funded. mr. president, that leads to the second unanimous consent. a simple request. mr. president, everybody knows that that is not an unusual request.

amendment in this body are subjected to 60 vote threshold. recall when this body was debating the issue of guns. a contentious issue. an emotional issue. the majority leader agreed with the minority leader. every single amendments will be subject to a 60 vote threshold. these the terms under which the gun debate was debated. amendmentte that one that was submitted during that thate was the amendment put real teeth into going after fugitives who try to illegally buy guns. forcingeal teeth into states to report mental health records. -- prevent those with mental illnesses from buying guns.

it received a majority vote in this institution. nine democrats voted for it. it was the most comprehensive, the most bipartisan, gun legislation voted on in this body. intoet, it did not pass law because the majority leader said a 60 vote threshold for every amendment. i would suggest that obama care is no less controversial. it should be subject to the same threshold. if he majority leader believes that obamacare is good for then i would encourage this body to debate. not in the artificial sense that we debate with one or two senators talking to an anti-all, of a case to the american people about whether or not this law is working.

, americansi travel come to me and raised the single , obamacare.lenge it is not working. we all know that obamacare was forced into law on a partyline vote. by straight and brute force. it should not be funded that way. that is not the way government should proceed. that is not the way this institution should proceed. a 60 vote threshold is not require a leader to get many republican votes. it requires that he gets a few. he cannot do it with only the democrats in this body. this country is better off if we work together to restore economic growth and stop the incredible job loss that is coming from obamacare.

fact, regarding a 60 vote threshold, here is what the majority leader had to say, for more than 200 years, the year -- the rules of the senate have protected the american people. the need to muster 60 votes to terminate senate debate frustrates the majority and the minority. i'm sure it will frustrate me when i assume the office of majority leader. i recognize that this requirement is a 12 it serves the long-term interest of the senate and the american people in our country. i agree. tes ensurest 60 vo that we behave and guilt the challenges from obamacare. i believe that nothing is hurting the american people more

. nothing hurts economy more. nothing is damaging jobs more. given the objections raised today, the path that the majority intends to go is clear. it is clear for democrats and republicans. it is clear for the world to see. the majority leader has stated that it is his intention to force a vote to fund obamacare. and, to do so using 51 votes. on what would be a partyline vote. in all likelihood, it would be. i would suggest that that is not responsible. it is not a course of action that i think republicans should acquiesce to. if it is the majority leader's intent to fund obamacare using submits, then, i would

that it is our obligation to our constituents to do everything that we can to prevent the majority leader from funding obamacare. any member of this body that votes for cloture on this bill will be voting for allowing the majority leader to fund obamacare on 51 votes and that is a mistake. this vote deserts our constituents and hurts the people of america. -- 200 32 members members of the house of representatives said that they would not fund obamacare. that included democrats will stop the came together with republicans to say that this law is not working. maybe we thought it would work. the facts and evidence have proven that it is not working.

senate should do likewise. the house acted last week because the house listen and to the american people. i would suggest that every member of this body should do exactly the same thing and listen to the american people also if we listen to the we will keeple, the government running. i wish the majority leader had then my request to take government shutdown off the table and pass the continuing resolution. if we listen to the american people, we take any default on the debts off the table. i was the majority leader had not objected to doing so. i wish the majority leader had not said that he intends to continue to use the threat of a to engage in bridgman ship to force obamacare on the american people. if we listen to the american people, we recognize this law is not working.

corporations got an exception. congresshy members of received an exception. that is why unions have just came forward and asked for an exception and have not been graded it. congressnture that voting to continue to fund obamacare will result in a union exemption. we will be in a world where the fall only obamacare on hard-working families and not on corporations or members of congress. i predict hard-working american , people and single moms trying to climb the ladder.

this body should not be granting special favors for the ruling class and those with power and privilege. we should be fighting for those who are struggling. those with people who are getting hurt the most by obamacare. this week will be a critical week for the united states senate and for everyone of us. i hope to see republicans and democrats stand together to say, setting aside partisan differences, we have an obligation to our state. obamacare is not working. we will step forward and recognize the simple reality. this is the biggest job killer in this country and we should not fund it. mr. president thomas i yield the floor. >> mr. president, a unified house republican congress sent a strong message to the american people.

keep the government open. let's protect the american andle from the harmful devastating effects of obamacare. it is now time for the senate to act. we know that the president's health care law is not ready to implement. the wall street journal reported that the government software insurancethe online marketplaces, known as exchanges, simply are not ready. they cannot determine how much people need to pay for coverage. this and thece of other aspects of the law that are not ready. many, by the president's own admission. we know that obamacare will be implemented in a way that is manifestly unfair and is likely to harm hard-working americans. they business, unions, and other

may receiverests, special treatment under obamacare and the rest of the country will be forced into obamacare's unfair and unworkable system. we know that the loss are important. we know that it will be bad for the economy. a time when you're running deficits that approach $1 trillion, this is going to cost $2 trillion of the next 10 years. the law forces employers to shed workers. to stop providing health insurance for employees. we know that it is not going to work. the congressional budget office confirmed that after 10 years of americans 31 million will still lack health insurance. these are a convenient fax the president and the members of this body.

these are the facts and liver spots ability to do something about them. how many more people will have to lose their jobs and wages before hungers ask? come in more states will have to announce premiums are going up act to president won't protect the american people from the law, congress should. house showed tremendous courage in enacting legislation, knowing full well what the president would say and what democrats on both sides of the capital would say. responded ands overwhelmingly backed a bill that would protect the country from obamacare.

fundone party has voted to the government. only one party has voted to avoid a government shutdown. right now the ball is in the senate score. court.te's the senate can respond in one of three ways. basically, i see three options, two of which are inappropriate, one of which is acceptable. the first would be to take up a .ote on this bill the house passed continuous regulation that defense of obama ase and to vote on that bill is without modification. the second approach would be to open it up for an open amendment process, to allow us to debate and discuss and consider

each senator might deem appropriate for this body to consider. both of these are appropriate. both of these objects are acceptable. some might lean toward the first option, moving quick into consideration of the house passed bill in as is condition. even the fact that we are t minus seven days and just a few hours until the resolution expires. on midnight, next monday night, we are just a little over seven days before that resolution expires. they might suggest the best option might be to take the first approach and for the senate to open this up for a vote on the house passed resolution in as is condition, but if this body does not want

to do that, it would still be appropriate for us to have an amendment process, but that needs to be an open process, one that is appropriate for this body. it is lucrative. if in fact we want to continue this tradition, then we need to have an open amendment process when amendments are considered. option i would consider unacceptable would be in which a majority leader would thea trick to allow majority party to duck the resolution, removing it single most significant revision without allowing consideration of one single and additional amendment. this is not ok. i am saying is we need to

either pass the bill as is or so all amendment process members are able to vote as they deem appropriate, and those are the only two acceptable options. it would not be acceptable if the majority leader were to decide to use a procedural trick to allow only one amendment that would duck the house passed resolution and effectively distinguishedt provision. withuestion that leaves us willce this bill comes up we be courageous? will we do the right wing for the american people, or will senate democrats button to shut down the government in order to andect an ill-conceived

fundamentally unfair law? there's no doubt many voices will say we cannot win this fight, but i'm not so sure. two months ago the same voices said we could not and would not get this far. they said this would amount to bad politics. they said this simply would not worked in the congress that exists in 2013, and they were wrong. because what the house passed on friday is what the american people have been demanding overwhelmingly. they have been demanding congress act to keep the government open and functioning while protecting american people from the potentially devastating effects of obama care, and that's why i believe we can win. the senate majority may have the but the american people will and always must have the last word.

>> senators began the first resolution onouse tuesday. harry reid filed cloture to proceed on monday with a vote on wednesday. it's expected majority leader reid will offer an amendment to strip out the part of the bill defunding the health care law. president obama is in new york city as he attends the general assembly. monday the president hosted a roundtable on supporting civil society around the world. these are marks are 10 minutes. -- these remarks are 10 minutes. >> thank you very much, everybody, for joining us here today. and i want to offer a few brief remarks in terms of the purpose of this meeting.

we've got a wonderful panel here and some extraordinary representatives -- both heads of states, members of civil society, people who have been working on these issues for a very long time. the focus today is on civil society, because it's my strong belief that the strength and success of all countries and all regions depends in part on protecting and supporting civil society. i want to thank deputy secretary general eliasson. i want to thank my good friend president elbegdorj of mongolia, representing the community of democracies. i want to thank alejandro gonzalez arreola of mexico, representing civil society members of the open government partnership. and i want to thank all of you for joining us here today.

the human progress has always been propelled at some level by what happens in civil society -- citizens coming together to insist that a better life is possible, pushing their leaders to protect the rights and the dignities of all people. and that's why the universal declaration of human rights states that everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. this is not a western value. this is a universal right. and civil society led the fight to end apartheid in south africa. it led the fight to bring freedom to eastern europe. it helped to heal places divided by conflict, whether in cambodia or colombia. here, in the united states, civil society has been the catalyst for virtually every major advance that we've made, from the abolition of slavery to women's rights, civil rights, the protections of workers and the protections of the

environment. and yet, still today, in every region, we see that the fight goes on. we have citizens who are leading the charge to expand opportunity, to correct injustices, to shape their countries' futures. and it's my belief that strong nations recognize the values of active citizens. they support and empower their citizens rather than stand in their way, even when it's inconvenient -- or perhaps especially when it's inconvenient -- for government leaders. strong civil societies help uphold human rights. they promote good governance by making governments more effective and holding leaders like me to account. and they're critical to economic development, because in our global economy, trade and investment flows to countries

that give citizens the freedom to create and develop new ideas and that are protected by rule of law. so, many countries, including those in this room, are working in partnership with civil societies. from mongolia to mexico, tunisia, tanzania, governments and citizens are working together to improve the rule of law, reduce wasteful spending, organize public campaigns to strengthen health and education. unfortunately, though, what we're also seeing is a growing number of countries that are passing laws designed specifically to stifle civil society. they're forcing groups to register with governments, eroding human rights protections, restricting ngo's from accessing foreign funding, cracking down on communications technologies that connect civil society groups around the globe. in more extreme cases, activists and journalists have been arrested on false charges, and some have been killed. we're also seeing new and fragile democracies cracking down on civil society, which i believe sets them back and sends a dangerous signal to other countries. so, in recent years, the

international community has stepped up our support. two years ago, some of you recall, we came together to launch the open government partnership to promote transparent, effective, and accountable institutions in partnership with civil society. sixty countries and a broad coalition of civil society and private sector partners have joined. the community of democracies is working to take aim at restrictive laws. the human rights council established the first special rapporteur on the rights of peaceful assembly and association. and several governments and foundations, including many in this room, contribute to a lifeline fund for emergency aid to civil society groups under threat. so i've made a point to meet with civil society worldwide.

virtually, every foreign trip that i take i carve out time to meet with citizens who are active on a whole range of issues. and in part, it's to lift up the good work they're doing and affirm that the united states stands behind their efforts. nevertheless, we have to recognize that the crackdown continues and we urgently need to do more to increase global attention and spur global action. so that's why we're here. i'm challenging all of us to use the next 12 months to make progress in three key areas. first, we have to identify specific steps that countries, including the united states, can take to make it easier for civil society to do its job and to encourage governments to embrace civil society groups as partners. number two, we need to do more to stand against restrictions on civil society and better coordinate our diplomacy when the government tries to stifle civil society. i think it's critical that the international community should be working together to ensure that there are actual consequences. and number three, we have to find new and better ways to

support civil society in difficult circumstances. governments that restrict civil society are sharing their worst practices. we've got to make sure that we're sharing our best practices and doing all we can to help civil society succeed. many of you know that i didn't begin my career in elective politics. i began working in low-income communities in chicago. i was elected as president through the active participation of citizens. and so i know what active citizens can do. and the united states, as one of i think our most precious gifts, has been trying to set an example of how active citizens can make a country stronger, that makes us deeply committed to protecting the rights of all people who are contributing to

our nation's progress or their nation's progress. and as other countries crack down, i believe we've got to step up together -- those of us in this room, but a whole lot of people outside this room as well. so i'm going to be looking for specific actions, specific follow-up steps. and with that, what i'd like to do is turn it over to the deputy secretary-general for his remarks, and then we'll make sure that this outstanding panel all has an opportunity to make their contributions. >> thank you very much, mr. president. dear panelists, guests, thank you, mr. president, for taking this initiative to support civil society. we know about your personal engagement with the relationship with civil society and community life, which is the basis of vitality for democracy. this initiative touches upon so

much of the work that brings all the leaders to new york this week and the message that i am delivering is on the half of the secretary-general ban ki-moon. his message is the following. we are living in turbulent times. the relationship between leaders and those they govern is changing. there are new demands, new expectations, new technologies. but one approach, one human phenomena has to be at the heart of this relationship. and that is listening, listening. if leaders did not listen to their people, they will hear from them in the streets, in the squares, or as we have seen far too often, on the battlefield. there is a better way. more participation, more democracy, more openness. this means maximum space for civil society. free and independent civil society is the foundation for healthy, or sponsored

governments. civil society is crucial for human right by raising awareness and raising the alarm about abuse and authoritarianism. civil society is central to it means in the work of the united nations against our whole agenda, for peace and security as well as for development. i would say that civil society has never been more in the center and more needed than it is today. that is why the growing pressures and restrictions facing civil society in country after country are so disturbing. legislation often targets civil society organizations, making it impossible for them to operate. we have seen a rise of laws that have restricted human rights offenders. they are sometimes reaching in

national security legislation, relating to public morals, laws requiring registration and funding of associations, and new rules restricting intimate access. the assault on human rights defenders in civil society groups is sometimes matched with outright attacks in different forms. smear campaigns, travel balance, harassment and intimidation, illegal detentions, sometimes torture and death. against people who operate with the united nations is unacceptable. not only because they help us as what i have seen myself all over the world to do the work that we are mandated to do by the u.n.'s charter and by the universal

declaration of human rights, but because this also discourages and scares others from working with us for us. we must take actions at every level to strengthen the voices of democracy. i would hope leaders and others in positions of influence publicly and systematically condemned acts of reprisal and intimidation. i welcome ongoing discussions to ensure a strong system and response to reprisals. there should be investigations to bring perpetrators to justice and remedies for victims. and we must reinforce the indispensable role of the united nations special rapporteurs, and we are monitoring that aspect of the human rights machinery. mr. president, ladies and gentlemen, in closing, people of civil society groups often risk

their lives to improve the lives of others. they speak out when they know they could be silenced forever. they highlight problems that others ignore and might not even think exist. they seek and they connect with like-minded people across the world, but we all know that far too often they are left at times to feel all alone. we must never, we must never desert or forget them. they protect our rights. they deserve our rights. all of us have a responsibility to respect fundamental human rights and protect those who advocate for them. when that does not happen, all of us have an obligation to stand up and speak out. you have provided with this opportunity for us to do that. ensured the government of >e

potential shutdown would not affect relief aid. about 10arks are minutes. [applause] >> i wish i were not here under i wantircumstances, but to start off by thanking the governor for the tour today and for the colorado national guard. i am joined by representatives and my good buddy michael bennet, and i just want to say to them, you have been andedibly responsive, thanks for letting me take a look. . i wantissioner is here to thank them for being incredibly responsive.

we were in the air about an hour touring the devastation. it is devastation. the stories i have heard about the sacrifices individuals have made, about a sense of community and how individuals have pulled together is pretty amazing but not at all surprising. group to thank the fema and the red cross, all the people here. one thing i was saying to the director of fema -- i have been doing this a long time and visited an awful lot of disaster site in my career, and the difference with today as opposed to 5, 6, 7 years ago, and they were good then, but the difference is you walk in here,

and it is one-stop shopping. peoplee a group of inside and and other centers around this state that they're looking to find an answer for you. you are not giving telephone number. they are not saying, call this number. they are saying, walked three end of the to the table, and we will get this done for you. governor, the way you have gotten this done at the offset was remarkable. as you know this required an additional assistance, everything from helping with housing costs to boots on the ground to helping with search- and-rescue. of good news is the number unaccountable folks is down to six. things are moving in the right direction.

fema is able to provide separate housing, home repair not covered by insurance, medical expenses, transportation needs, moving and storage, and other support for those direct lee impacted. you can talk to fema representatives at any of the 14 shelters, and they can help you figure out what type of assistance you are eligible for. the thing i find most often visiting disaster sites -- first of all, people are devastated. they cannot believe everything they have literally has been washed away, and the last may need is to be confronted -- the last thing they need is to be confronted by a group of agencies that says you can do a, b, or c. they are giving them comfort and putting them in the zone where they know everybody in this building and others are there to help them.

you can get a sense -- you can gov orsistance at fema. by calling the helpline. 3362.umber is800-621- there will be someone on the other end of the line who will walk you through your needs. your problem what is, tell them what you lost, and they will find a way through the maze for you. there is help. the department of transportation is here. the federal highway admin is are workingthey closely with federal, state, and local agencies to minimize further damages. mostf the things i found

fascinating and devastating is the helicopter rides. there are so many small communities isolated on one side of what is a raging river with no physical possibility of , and it isat stream not raging in a comparable sense, but it's a lot deeper and more rapid than it usually is. those folks cannot make it across on a road. the number of highways that have been washed away and the number of county and city roads have been washed away as well. there isa possibility money available to help the federal highway system as well as the local highway system. today there has been $35 million approved or repair and reconstruction of roads and bridges that is obviously not

going to be enough, but it is going to continue to coordinate these infrastructure needs. we will talk to the county commissioner about the need for bridges. though -- iaccurate were cultural materials to market. -- bridges yet agricultural materials to market. made thus far is remarkable, and we are going to keep working with the governor on long-term strategy to get people back into their homes. these cameras are gone, once all the news conferences are over, fema and the red cross are still going to be here till we make you whole, to we make it right for you, -- until we make it right for you. i want you to know a lot of you will hear on the national news

about the potential for a government shutdown, and it is probably going to scare the living devil out of you. the truth is there is reason to ofscared but not in terms disaster relief. none of the federal assistance is going to beg impacted, even if there is a government shutdown. i don't want folks here in shelters or watching on tv seeing the dysfunction of congress and taking all the relief efforts they are benefiting from our going to shut down -- are going to shut down. they will not shut down, even if congress does not fund the government and the continuing resolution, so i promise you the president and i and the men standing behind you are going to stay focused on this. help is going to remain. as tough as it is, and it is

tough -- i have never felt anything like what the people of these counties are going through, but just having my home struck by lightning and devastated, the sense of loss is when you lose your home. howffects everything about you feel, what you think, and what you do, but i promise you, there will be help. it will take time, but immediate help is available. as my grandfather with day, keep the faith. i promise you we are not going away. state, local, and federal government is not leaving. we are going to meet the needs as a consequence of this disaster. god bless you all, and may god keep you safe.

[applause] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2013] >> tuesday the senate health committee looked at the affect of health care on the economy and the health care system. see it live starting at 10 a.m. eastern on c-span 3. next, our first ladies series teachers alan wilson and edith and edithellen wilson

wilson, the wives of woodrow wilson. and then the resolution that d funds the health care law. -- defunds the health care law. >> this is the woodrow wilson house, the home of edith wilson after they left the white house in 1921. you will be seeing more over the next two hours as we tell the the two wilson first adies, ellen and edith. theirand woodrow met in 20 costs, and their love was reflected in passionate letters. she helped guide his career