also for your leadership as president of the national association of attorney generals. like to recognize district attorney henry garza for his service as president of the national district attorneys association. i want to thank the leadership team, the professional staff and the dedicated members of both organizations for the really outstanding work that you perform everyday and for all that you done to bring us together for this really important symposium on the reduction of crime. as staunch volunteerings -- advocates for the rule of law, state authorities across america, you are two really remarkable organizations have for decades provided leadership and guidance in advancing our dialogue about criminal justice issue. through the work of the national attorneys general training and through gatherings like nad.

you routinely bring innovators, public servants leaders together to address what are the most pressing public safety challenges of our time. it's a privilege for me to help open this critical forum and to stand with all yet again as we share knowledge and expertise to speak frankly about the threats facing our respective jurisdictions and to discuss cutting end strategies for reducing crime and victimization throughout the nation. i know that you and your colleagues serve on the front lines of this fight everyday. you're working closely with u.s. attorneys, fbi acts and other justice departments to protect the citizens that we are all sworn to serve. together we are reminding policy makers here in washington. something that's very important that dialogue on the most difficult and divisive issues need not break down along partisan lines.

disagreements are inevitable whenever passionate people confront questions of real magnitude. we are showing that vigorous debate is not only healthy, it stands to make our work stronger and more effective. we're all responding to the same reality. we've come together in the pursuit of the same goals. these common names have led us to find common grounds and a take meaningful steps to recalibrate policies. new actions and initiatives have risen from innovative federal, state and local partnerships. these -- they are driven by the recognition and the broad based

consensus that we have both responsibility and the opportunity to make our criminal justice system more fair, more efficient and more effective. the importance of these efforts and the urgent need for action on the historic changes that we're working to bring about was really brought into sharp focus by a landmark study that was released just last week by the national academy of science national research council. this new report was funded by the national institute of justice as well as by the mcarthur foundation. its findings were based upon a comprehensive, nonpartisan and independence examination of incarceration rates in the united states over the past four decades. as this study makes clear, the rise in incarceration that we

witnessed over that period was, historically unprecedented. these conditions have been shown to contribute to family instabilities, to high unemployment as well as to low wage. they often corollate with high rate of profit and serious public health concerns. they not only feed, they exacerbate, the poverty of criminality of incarceration that traps too many individuals and devastates the entire community. the n.a.s. principle conclusion, u.s. policy makers must take steps by making targeted reforms to criminal justice policies.

in addition to broader social policy changes. these recommendations are entirely consistent with the work that's under way through the justice department's smart on crime initiative. which i launched last summer to improve the federal system. the study findings also catalog the realities that so many of us see everyday as we strive to reduce crime in the jurisdictions that we serve. to illustrate the cost our nation's over reliance on incarceration are far too high to bare. increase in incarceration rates, impose those cause without materially improving public safety, without significantly reducing crime and without concretely benefiting our nation in a meaningful way. fortunately, leaders in this room are not only uniquely qualified to guide our national

conversation on these issues, you're also empowered to make a lasting powerful difference by advocating for the proposals that you believe in. by calling for reforms to improve the lives of our fellow citizens. by implementing strong and tested policies that can move our country forward. with new reentry and diversion programs like drug, mental health and veterans court, we can keep people out of prison and help them successfully rejoin their communities. with new sentencing measures and careful and appropriate exercise of prosecutorial discretion. we can ensure punishments are

fair and proportional to the conducts in every case. with the support of broad new coalition of experts, and other stakeholders, we can conserve resources, we can improve public safety and bring our system in line with our society of interest and our nation's highest ideals. many of you all already showing, i think, tremendous leadership in this regard. in recent years, a total of 17 states supported by the justice department's reinvestment initiative and led by state officials from both parties have directed significant funding away from prison construction and towards evidence based programs and services like supervision and drug treatment are proven to reduce -- one report by the bureau of justice projects at least 17 state will save $4.6 billion over a event year period. although the full impact of these policies remains to be seen, it's evidence that they already show significant promise. they should be studied, they should be emulated. we must continue to support this

kind of notification on -- innovation to expand on proven strategies. at the federal level, our smart on crime initiative that is bringing about major shifts in charging, expensing and incarceration and executive clemency policies. last year, under this initiative i took steps to ensure minimum sentences for certain federal drug related crimes will now be reserved for the most serious criminals. defendants accused of low level, nonviolent drug offenses will face sentences fitting their individual conduct rather than penalties that are more appropriate for violent traffickers on drug kingpins. i also ordered a renewed focus of reentry of our 94 u.s. attorney's offices. i have been encouraged to see more and more leaders from both parties step forward to take up this cause to help ensure our criminal justice system is used

to pitch, deter and rehabilitate and not to warehouse and to forget. earlier this year i was proud to be joined by senator rand paul to restore voting rights to those who have served their prison term, completed their probation and have paid their fines. i urge each of you to take up this fight when you return home. because the free exercise of our most fundamental right should never be subject to politics or geography or the lingering effects of fraud policy. i also ask you to join me in working with congress to advance common sense legislation. the bipartisan smarter sentencing acts which would give judges additional discretion in determining sentences for people

convicted of certain central -- federal drug crimes. as a nation, we pay far too high a price in terms of human, economic and moral. whenever our system fails to deliver the just outcomes that are necessary to deter and punishment crimes t keep -- to keep us safe. the justice department is doing important work to restore, justice and fairness and proportionatety with those involved with the criminal justice system. to expanded approach to the executive clemency process. two weeks ago the deputy attorney general announced new criteria. that will allow the department and the white house to consider additional applications from deserving individual who not pose threat to public safety. we anticipate receiving an influx of really thousands of clemency applications as a result of these changes. we are committed to devoting the time, the resources and the

personnel necessary to ensure that each one receives the full attention and the rigorous scrutiny that it deserves. at the same time, as the national academy of science report makes crystal-clear, we must increase our efforts to identify and to confront despairty at every stage of the criminal justice process. with this goal in mind at my direction, a team of more than a dozen u.s. attorneys known as the racial disparities working group, is currently examining sentencing disparities and developing recommendations on how we can address them. the department also launching a new national center for building community trust. going forward, this center will enable us to explore, advance and assess and disseminate information about strategies for procedural justice. my colleagues and i will never stand oddly by as isolated acts of discrimination tarnish the

outstanding work that is performed by the overwhelming majority of american law enforcement officers everyday in this country. i have been registered to -- encouraged to see organizations take step to make good on this commitment by strengthening community outreach. by broadening engagement and bringing citizens and law enforcement officials together to end the era of suspicion and distrust. going forward this work must continue to grow. we need to keep extending the reach and impact of these other efforts across the board. finding new savings and efficiency the will allow us to invest in crime reduction strategies. it will forge stronger families

and communities. including sentencing policies, expanding justice reinvestment and confronting racial disparities. it will save taxpayer money and it will build trust in law enforcement and taking a comprehensive view of crime challenge. rather than just responding to individual symptoms. now, we convene this morning in a unique unprecedented moment of promise. at a time of innovation and potentially broad consensus when our national debate, our professional experiences and the latest in cutting edge research have cast the challenges we face in various relief.

this is a time for thoughtful discussion, to give way to principle action. this the time for 21st century problems to be met with 21st century solutions. this is a time when policy makers from opposite ends of the political spectrum have laid aside their differences and resolve to stand together in the recognition that crime reduction is a goal that knows no ideology. countless lives, in promising futures hang in the balance. the need for robust collaboration and series of reform is as urgent as ever. as we seize this important moment, as we accept the opportunities before us as we renew our determination to move aggressively in combating violence and reducing crime, i'm proud to count you as allies and friends. i'm confident in the hyperbole of -- i want to thank you once again for the chance to take part in this important symposium.

thank you very much. [applause] tomorrow the much segment from the cable show in los angeles. there will be a discussion of how consumers view tv. a conversation with the creator of "mad men." >> you can take c-span with you, wherever you go, with our free radio and for your smartphone tablet will stop and listen to all c-span tv channels or c-span radio. each of a schedule of

our networks, so you can tune in when you want. you can click podcast of recent shows. take c-span with you wherever you go all stop download the free cap online. >> a look at the tea party's influence. this is from washington journal stop >> thank you for joining us. >> always a pleasure. >> we have seen headlines stemming out of the primaries. this is one from the hell. it says that the tea party takes a hit. what do you think? >> they are completely false. karl rove and the chamber of commerce think that it is dead. otherwise they would not be spending tens of millions of dollars in the republican

primaries. in north carolina, they spend a few hundred thousand dollars. they came in with $2.5 million. what ted cruz got in texas in 2012 will stop it was a 50% requirement in the runoff. he would have one. it is interesting. the establishment candidates are moving to the right. the entire party is moving to the right. we have gridlock in congress. we have gridlock because of the tea party. the grassroots conservatives are making their voice heard through things like c-span and the internet and talk radio will stop the establishment knows that the tea party is alive and well all stop they are afraid that they will get involved.

>> who are the establishment candidates? what are your hopes? >> two things. the republican party is becoming more conservative. john boehner appointed a special counsel committee to investigate benghazi. they have been resisting that for a long time. there is some conservative pressure on him that he can no longer resist stop the republican party needs to get more principle. if tea party candidates win, that is great stop establishment candidates act like to party candidates, we are happy with that too. it is very difficult. we all know that. victories have come in open races. they are in georgia and oklahoma. it is for senate and governor. i am optimistic that these candidates will do well. >> another headline.

tea party power wanes. what do you think? they go back to the initial fervor of 2010? >> they are looking for rallies in the streets. the tea party people are smart. are in meetings. they are organizing and planning. they are training will stop they are getting candidate selected. in indiana, there were several establishment numbers. they were beaten by tea party candidates. artwork of working in the precinct and getting candidate selected -- most of them are written by the tea party opponents. the mainstream media is promoting big government. they like were spending all stop

more control. these are the enemies that are you canthe headlines. see the country moved to the right. >> he talked about the influence of the tea party. of tea partyence members making government smaller? >> we do not have a majority yet. they do not have a majority in the senate will stop in the house, there is not a clear majority. we are working in that direction. in my book, i outline a plan. in 2014 andtives 2016 can take over the republican party. paraphrase that

well-known liberals -- james in 1992, you will remember what he said. "it's the economy, stupid." now it's the primary, you but. we have to focus on the primaries and i think we can take over the party. house, speaker john boehner. how would you describe his relationship with the tea party? >> it is difficult. politicians, he came to washington with the best of intentions. many politicians at the local level described washington as a theft will. -- cesspool.

they say that they will clean it up. after a few years, they send a message that that they made a mistake. not a cesspool. it is a hot tub. they love the power. there is a foolproof test of whether you are a conservative were not. it is whether you are talking of bob dole, romney, mitch mcconnell. look around them. look at who they walk with. i saw the friends of conservatives all around reagan. conservatives moved with him. conservatives moved into. boehner, and you don't see any conservatives around him. i do not see any conservatives around mitch mcconnell or mccain. they may say they are conservatives, but they don't walk with conservatives.

on the next "washington journal, political news of the week. a huffington post reporter. iraq tom tarantino from veterans of america. he talks about why members of congress are calling for the resignation of top ba officials. we will take your calls and you can join the conversation on facebook and twitter. washington journal, live at 7:00 a.m. c-span's newest book. a collection of interviews with some of the top storytellers. >> it is people who have come and immigrated to this country. some of them legally and some of them illegally. i came with no documentation and no ability to get a job or an education.

when i first came to the united states in the late 1980's at across the border between mexico i came united states, into the san joaquin valley. it was no challenge to find a job. there were not a lot of people trying to get jobs in farming. i was pulling we. wheat. published by public affairs books. >> in place of president obama, first lady michelle obama gave the weekly address. she condemned the kidnapping of nigerian schoolgirls and stressed the importance of education. a group of republicans give their weekly address. they talked about their efforts to create jobs and called on the

president to take action. >> hello everyone. i michelle obama. on mother's day weekend, i want to honor all of the mothers out there and wish you a happy mother's day. you about anak to issue of great significance to me as first lady, and as the mother of two young daughters. like millions of people across the globe, my husband and i are outraged and heartbroken over the kidnapping of more than 200 nigerian girls from their school or majority in the middle of the night. this unconscionable act was committed by a terrorist group determined to keep these girls from getting an education. attempting to snuff out the aspirations of young girls. i want you to know that barack

has directed our government to do everything possible to support the nigerian government's efforts to find these girls and bring them home. in these girls, barack and i see our own daughters. ,e see their hopes and dreams and we can only imagine the english their parents are feeling right now. many of them may have been hesitant to send their daughters to school, fearing that harm might come their way. they took that risk because they believed in their daughters promise and wanted to give them every opportunity to succeed. no -- knewhemselves full well the dangers they might encounter. their school had recently been closed due to terrorism threats. these girls insisted on returning to school. they were so determined to move to the next level of their education. so determined to one day build careers of their own

and make their families and communities proud. what happened in nigeria was not an isolated incident. it is a story we see everyday. girls around the world risk their lives to pursue their ambitions. it is the story of girls like malala yousafzai. she spoke out for girls' education in her community. as a result, she was shot in the head while on a school bus with her classmates. fortunately, she survived. when i met her last year, i could feel her passion and determination. she told me that girls' education is still her life mission. as malala said in her dress to the united nations, the terrorists thought that they would change our aim and stop our ambition. nothing changed in my life except this. weakness, fear, hopelessness

died. strength, power, and kurds was born. the current and hope embodied by malala and girls like her around the world should serve as a call to action. right now, more than 65 million girls worldwide are not in school. educatedhat girls were make higher wages. they lead healthier lives and that healthier families. when more girls attend secondary school, that lose their country's entire economy. education is truly a girls best chance for a bright future. not just for herself, but for her family and her nation. that is true right here in the united states. i hope that this story of these nigerian girls will serve as an

inspiration for every girl and boy in this country. i hope that any young people in america who take school for granted, any young people who are slacking off or thinking about dropping out, i hope they will learn the story of these girls and recommit themselves to their education. these girls embody the best hope for the future of our world. to standing upd for them, not just in times of tragedy, but for the long-haul. we are committed to giving them the opportunities you deserve to the fill their god-given potential. today, let's pray for their safe return. let us hold their families in our heart during this difficult time. fraction ofjust a

their courage in fighting to give every girl on this planet the education that is her birthright. thank you. >> nothing is more important than preserving the american dream. we have relentlessly focused on building a strong economy that produces good jobs. the trouble is that the task is getting harder and harder when the towers in washington do not act on good ideas. i am from michigan. 14 months ago, the house passed a bill. help thousands of welfare recipients find jobs and lift their families out of poverty. americans are waiting for president obama and the democrats to act. >> i'm virginia foxx from north carolina. my bill would help more american workers gained gills and education necessary to compete

for in demand jobs. americans are still waiting for president obama and the senate democrats to act. >> i'm lee terry from nebraska. house passed, the my bill. it would support more than 32,000 jobs. americans are still waiting for the president and the senate democrats to act. it is time to build the key sign -- keystone pipeline. >> i'm from alabama. well months ago, the house passed my bill. it would allow private sector workers to take advantage of benefits that public employees enjoy it. americans are still waiting for president obama to act. >> i'm from the data. the house passed my bill. it facilitates the development of strategic and critical minerals to support american manufacturing jobs.

americans are still waiting for president obama and the democrats to act. >> i'm from texas. several months ago, the house passed a bill that would provide our service members with the tools that will help them find good jobs when they return home. americans are still waiting for president obama and the senate democrats to act. >> i'm from colorado. the house passed my bill. towould make it easier develop our resources so we can lower energy costs and decrease our dependence on foreign oil. americans are waiting for president obama to act. >> i'm from virginia. five months ago, the house passed my bill. creation bymote job helping businesses defend themselves against abusive patent litigation. americans are still waiting for president obama and the democrats to act falls

>> i'm from north carolina. the house that my bill. it would increase the transparency of regulations. small businesses can better plan ahead. americans are still waiting for president obama and the democrats to act. >> i'm rodney davis from illinois. the house passed my bill. it would incentivize small businesses to hire more of our veterans. americans are still waiting for president obama and senate democrats to act. >> i'm from ohio. six weeks ago, the house passed my bill. it would fight back against the administration that is destroying jobs and causing electricity prices to skyrocket. americans are still waiting for president obama and senate democrats to act. >> i'm todd young from indiana.

five weeks ago, the house passed my bill. it would restore the working hours and wages of millions of part-time in ways. they have been lost because of obamacare. americans are waiting for senate democrats to act. back i'm from texas. the house passed my bill. a would permanently extend tax credit so that we could keep good ideas and good jobs here at home. >> i'm from minnesota. yesterday the house passed my bill. it will strengthen charter schools and encourage more choice and opportunity in our education system. these are only some of the many bills we have passed to provide new hope to families, workers, and units. more are in the works. our focus day in and day out is on building a stronger economy and a better america.

it is time for president obama and senate democrats to about an make that their priority. thank you for listening. of course, happy mother's day. >> on newsmakers, harold rogers is our guest. he is the chair of the house appropriations committee. he talked about the current appropriations process in congress. you can watch the interview on sunday. it is on c-span. >> everyone is coming to the new york world prosperity. they are coming from five corners i know. they come down to remain. they are coming from tokyo. they come from frisco and detroit. from hamburg and illinois.

trip to 95 from the bronx. and the traveling teachers from kansas. andy wilson's got here at last. it is a symbol of the fair. the great units year. they find a machine that playfully demonstrate the law of averages. by chance, the wilsons and the chunks join up for sightseeing. >> this weekend on railamerica,

see the fair with a variety of people and experiences in the 1954 new york world/-- world-class there. >> coming up next, "the communicators." then a supreme court oral argument. later, marco rubio. he is speaking at a gop dinner in new hampshire. >> c-span, created by america's cable companies 35 years ago and brought to you public service by your local cable or biter. o'rielly is the new director.