down the plants that use this waste coal and stopping the progress on cleaning up places like what you see right here. this will cost middle class jobs. it will raise energy prices for many americans and put an end to the positive work that these plants do to clean up our environment. i introduced h.r. 3138, satisfying environmental needs -- the sense act. it recognizes the benefits they provide. the sense act offers a reasonable balance that keeps plants open, saves local middle class jobs, and helps to continue cleaning up the environment. i would urge my colleagues to take a look at this legislation and help us get it through.

but again, we need to boom. we need to boom again. when america is booming again, that's when the jobs come in. when we get people back to work, every person we get back to work, that person is paying social security tax. that person is paying medicare tax. that person is paying income tax. that allows taos pay for the critical social service programs that we need, like social security, medicare, veterans' benefits. a booming economy is going to do that. a key to the booming economy is the booming energy sector. i again thank my colleague from south carolina for highlighting the important role that the energy economy is going to play in relighting america and i yield back. >> i thank the gentleman from pennsylvania who has been a lead for the congress on energy issues because he's gets what's going on in his home state. mr. duncan: i keep returning to the state of texas, because texas, they've been developing

energy resources for a very, very long time. when you think about texas and oklahoma, that's where it began in this country. the immense resources they may have. i'd like to yield some time to the gentleman from texas, mr. poe, one of my heroes and good friends who wants to talk about what's going on in his home state. mr. poe: i thank the gentleman from south carolina, mr. duncan, for sponsoring this leadership hour and bringing the issue of energy to the attention of the house and the american public. yes, mr. speaker, we consider where i live, houston, texas, the energy capital of the world because it is. the energy capital of the world. and it's because of our location that houston -- our location, the houston ship channel exports -- 50% of its exports are energy related, not just energy itself but everything that's used in the development of energy throughout the world. 50% of the economy of houston is based upon the houston ship

channel. we are experience a phenomena in this country that nobody thought would happen five or six years ago and that is the abundance and surplus of natural gas and what we call texas sweet crude, or light crude. we have an abundance of it in this nation. there is so much natural gas being produced in this country that in south texas, in the dakotas, they are flaring gas wells. they're capping wells in west texas. what does that mean? that means that when they flare wells, there's over 1,500 wells being flared. that's enough energy to take care of a million homes. we're talking about a lot of energy. we're talking about a lot of natural gas. so what do we do with that? well, we should sell it. there is a -- an ice cream

company down in texas, the little creamery in brenham, texas, a german community, called blue bell ice cream. the best ice cream in the world, mr. speaker, by the way. their motto is simple, about their ice cream. we eat all we can, and we sell the rest. that should be the american motto for our natural gas. use all we can b then sell the rest. -- use all we can, then sell the rest. throughout the world, there are a lot of buyers who want to buy american energy, new hampshire ral gas. when i was in india, i talked to the prime minister and all the prime minister wanted to talk about was getting natural gas from the united states to india. mr. speaker, there are a billion more people in india than there are in the united states. they can take it all. they will buy it all, if we will just make it happen. when i was in the ukraine, right before the russians invaded the

place, that's all that the ukrainians wanted to talk about, getting natural gas from the united states, maybe even from texas, to offset the hostage that they are being held under by the russians, where they get gas from. the russians turn off the gas in the ukraine when they don't like the politics in ukraine. give them an alternative. give them a remarket -- a free market alternative. sell them american natural gas. same with other eastern european countries. same with western europe. give them an alternative to russia. it's not only an energy independence thing for those countries, but it takes them, politically, away from the stanglehold of russia. that's one thing we can -- stranglehold of russia. hat's one thing we can do to offset russia, sell american natural gas. why aren't we doing it? we are. but it's slow. it takes forever to get the department of energy, now to

grant the permits. here's the way it works. since we're not permitting to sell natural gas or exporting that product, not only takes ferc to have a permit but then the company has to get the department of energy to permit them as well. it takes too long system of we don't get to sell the gas. and we lose out on that opportunity to competitors throughout the world who will sell their natural gas and don't have to deal with the department of energy. we need to expedite them, expedite the sale of natural gas. that helps the united states with jobs, as the gentleman from south carolina has said, it helps us with american jobs. but it also makes us energy independence -- independent. we can make the middle east irrelevant. not just their energy and all the turmoil, we can make them politically irrelevant. because we can take care of ourselves, not only exporting natural gas, but, of course,

exporting what we call texas sweet crude or light crude throughout the country, or throughout the world. that is what we should do. we should export. we should be willing to use all we can and then sell the rest. we should adopt the motto of the best ice cream company in the world. a couple other matters if i may. the keystone pipeline, how ridiculous is it that we haven't started building it. you know, you've got to get the crude oil to market some way. what do you want to do? put it on ships? we've found out that's not such a good idea. how about rail cars? we've had some problems with rail car transportation of crude oil. you want to use thousands and thousands of trucks to move the crude oil around? that's dangerous too. the safest way to move crude oil is through a pipeline. there's thousands of miles of pipeline. the x.l. pipeline, why it hasn't been done is political reasons, not because there's common sense involved in it. we ought to get through the

politics and build the keystone pipeline. it comes from canada down to texas where the remine -- refineries are. mr. weber represents that area, where they're waiting. how much crude oil are we talking about? we're talking about as much crude oil as we get from saudi arabia. now we're talking about a lot of crude oil. once again. make america energy independent, energy secure, and it is a national security issue as well. it's just sense. it's common sense. it also brings in revenue to america, to the american people. to be able to sell throughout the world natural gas and crude oil. i want to thank the gentleman for the -- for the time. and that's just the way it is. i yield back. >> i thank the -- mr. duncan: i thank the gentleman from texas, he's been a leader as long as i've known

him, representing houston. aye been to houston, i've seen the activity around the oil and gas industry. i can tell you, there's some states that want a little piece of that. south carolina is one of those. you're right on l.n.g. terminals. ukraine, western europe, eastern europe, they're all reliant on russian gas now and they're concerned about the posturing of russia and they're concerned about whether that spigot might be turned off that pipeline might be interrupted. that supplies the much-needed energy they enjoy currently. they're looking west. they're looking to the united states. how about exporting your natural gas. you've got a ton of it. give us some of it. we'll buy it. we'll pay you for it. india, as the gentleman said. it's a geopolitical advantage the united states has. i was mentioning earlier about the areas that are opened up for development. i wanted to show network there. i know it's small but you can see the orange, that's right around south america.

all that area in orange is open for energy development. but look at north america. there's a lot of blue water. there's a lot of areas outside of the gulf of mexico, outside of the area off of alaska, not available. for energy production. it should be. and it could be. we've got a letter. a dear colleague letter that we're sending to secretary joule. saying we need a new five-year plan for leasing the outer continental shelf area. we want to see areas like the mid and south atlantic included in that. want to continue opening up more and more of the gulf. we'd love to see the eyreas reflected in blue and not open on the map i just showed, the countries like canada and china and mexico, they're ramping up efforts to ramp up their offshore resources and will be directly competing with the united states. it's pastime, america, that we develop the resources that we've

been blessed with here in this country. this letter, i'm a leader on it. i'm asking my colleague, i'm asking americans, to contact your congressman and say, how about get on that letter to secretary jewell that congressman duncan has got and let's encourage her to open up more areas. five years out, let's open more areas for energy production. let's allow lease seals -- sales and exploration. i know the next gentleman, from virginia, will get -- he gets it as well. i've dealt with virginia for a long time, senator wagner from over in norfolk, i met early on in my delving into the whole energy spectrum and arena. went offshore, in the gulf of mexico, with the senator. he taught me about what virginia was doing. they were leading with an energy plan for the state of virginia. they were looking toward offshore areas. under the gentleman that represents that area in the united states congress, mr.

rigell, fully understands that. i'd like to recognize him for a few minutes. mr. rigell: i thank my friend for his leadership in this critical area and for having us out here tonight to talk about the tremendous opportunity to really shape the direction of our country in such a positive way by responsibly opening up our coastal regions for energy exploration, the potential is great in job creation. 25,000 local jobs in the hampton roads area, in virginia, some of those going to those who desperate ply need job opportunities, for veterans coming out of the military in norfolk and virginia beach and other areas in our district. let me frame the discussion with this quote, it was said in this very chamber this country needs an all of the above strategy that developing every available source of american energy. mr. speaker, that was shared by

president obama in 2012. so in words and in speeches, it surely looks like there's common ground. now there's a disconnect in what the president has been saying and what the truth is and what reality is. we'll get to that in a moment. let's look for a moment at the tremendous opportunity that coastal virginia energy represents and really across the country if we open up our shorelines in a responsible, environmentally responsible way, to improve the lives of americans, to set our country on a far better fiscal path ta gives us revenues we need to strengthen medicare, medicaid and social security. and our national security as well. i'm an entrepreneur and a seasoned public servant and i've had the incredible opportunity to look to people and say, you're hired. and i've been on the other end of that and have somebody say to me that i'm hired and go home and say i got the job.

we want to hear that more and more in our country. these are jobs we need in america. they're high paying jobs, skilled jobs, tradesmen's johns, jobs we need in our country. i've seen it firsthand, mr. speaker. i led a bipartisan delegation down to louisiana, they're proud of their economy, they're proud of how their young people are opportunity -- have opportunity. it's just a bustling place. i think of it as booming and growing and optimism and they're also proud of their schools and their roads and their bridges. why? because they've got the revenue that they need. this is how they're generating their revenue, through growth. they're also, mr. speaker, so proud of their environment, they're so proud of the fisheries that they have there, the gulf waters that are so part of their lives and have been for generations. some would present it to us as if we're faced with this choice,

either you're for the environment or you're for job creation and coastal energy. look, i reject the premise, mr. speaker. it's a false premise. we have a moral obligation to leave our children with clean air and clean water and clean soil. this is common ground. we also have an obligation and indeed, i think it's a moral one, to have a strong economy and to leave our children free from a heavy burden of debt and energy real ral -- really represents the principal way we can grow our economy. here are some, as i mentioned either we protect the environment or grow jobs through coastal economy. i'm ready for the debate, mr. speaker. i welcome the debate. and i went to the epicenter, the challenge that we face there. so much of what we have learned

there has been integrated into the safety policies. we can open up the coast and also create jobs like they are doing in norway and canada. not the either/or proposition. we have to make the words that were spoken by the president to go beyond the talking point and make it reality. and i thank my friend from south carolina. and i appreciate your leadership. and i yield back. mr. duncan: thanks for getting on the right letter and include that area. energy production in the united states means lower energy costs for americans. energy independence through production here at home keeps americans safe from the turmoil around the world, and the entire o.i.s. is a missed opportunity but not an opportunity we will continue missing but an

opportunity we will continue to support because when americans are free to innovate, they will find a way to produce energy and use energy. we need to make it happen. and i want to ask my colleague from oklahoma, who i believe will be the next senator from oklahoma and take a tremendous amount of experience over to the united states senate where i know he'll talk about what's going on in oklahoma now and what's going on in the past because they have been fracturing in oklahoma for 50 years. i remember the comments he made to us on the floor one day, he said come to oklahoma and drink our water. i give the gentleman from oklahoma, mr. lankford, as much time as he deserves. lambinglanching --

mr. lankford: we have been frarking since 1948 and i i want people to understand you can do that. oklahoma we do all of the above energy, solar, wind, coal. oil and gas. we understand all of the above energy and we understand all of that can work together. and for viewers on c-span and in lights in this room, we ups that energy drives our economy. interact don't interact with our economy, whatever it may be and however we operate, it operates because of energy. and if some point this administration's policies are fully implemented we will watch the price of energy, price of food, price of everything we do in america go up, not because of prempses but reality. we can do this. and also, build a strong economy.

you come to oklahoma, unemployment right now is 4.5%. one of the top energy producers in the country. go to north dakota, the unemployment is 2.7%. they have a negative unemployment rate. they have more job listings than they have unemployment there. why? because they are finding a way to tap american energy to produce an american economy that can grow and thrive and in those places where it is thriving, its economy is thriving. sector 012, private employment increased by one million jobs. in oil and gas, they added 16 ,000 of those jobs and increase of 40% in employment, just in that one sector, 40% increase in employment.

wall effect does that have on us? that is americans that have jobs, families that are better taken care of. from 2012-2013, just in saudi arabia, our trade deficit declined 13%. that's oil and gas produced here in the united states offsetting what we are purchasing from the middle east. the positive effects of that are overwhelming and we understand it full well. we understand in the 1990's, our economy had a huge boom from the web. the internet created entrepreneurial opportunities and expansion of our economy. that boom in the economy right now is solely around energy and energy development that is happening and evolution and the opportunity for people to get good-paying jobs is happening strongly in one sector in our economy, energy. let's not blow it, let's expand it. in the days ahead we should be

able to expand oil and gas. you can send grain all around the world like you can send fl omp ur. you can only send gasoline and diesel. you have to refine the oil before you send it out. if you send grain, you should send flour. it makes basic sense that you can send oil as well as gasoline. it would reduce the price of oil globally. that price would drop because of the competition of the united states estimated to be eight cents per gallon. same thing happens in lick question wide natural gas. enhanced production and export of oil and natural gas around one million additional jobs. now in a nation that's looking for jobs. we literally have the jobs under

our feet and it's time we stand up and provide the opportunity to be able to explore for additional oil and gas, continue to expand our use of coal to be able to export that worldwide and the united states will be the energy leader that she should be. and i yield back. mr. duncan: he is exactly right. supply and demand. put oil and american gas on the world market and you will see it furned on but others who don't want to see us become energy independent. i want to allow seismic happen off the atlantic coast. some say you are going to hurt marine mammals. the environmental statement came out to mitigate any damage to stop those activities. even with that, there hasn't

been a proven instance, we have been doing it off the coast of africa, mediterranean, red sea single an gulf, not a testing that it has caused damage to a mammal. that is the criticism we will take to see if there are recoverable resources. in the great state of wyoming, where they get energy. about $1 billion back to the state of revenue through the development of their natural resources and those oil and began and gas deposits. the gentlelady from wyoming, mrs. lummis, i would like to yield to her. mrs. lummis: i thank the gentleman from from south carolina to talk about american

energy. my state of wyoming has the first national park in the nation, first national forest. we had the first national monument, devil's tour. we have an abundance of scenery and smallest population in the nation. our state is pristine. texas production of energy is here. wyoming's is here and the next state catching up on us is far behind those two states. we know how to produce energy responsibly. mr. chairman, i'm here tonight because i want to talk about the people who are respected by the price of energy. i want to talk about a woman i met at a gas pump. she pulled up in a old car and had a baby in her back seat and went to her job.

her husband, young man, was also working at a very lower-middle-income job and she only put $5 worth of gas in her car. i said why? she said i can only get enough gas to get me to work and after work i will put more gas. that's how a lot of americans are living. that's how our seniors are living. they are living on an amount of money that squeezes them every time the price of gasoline goes up, the price of electricity goes up, the price of heat goes up, the price of air conditioning goes up. that is the price of energy to the american consumer. those are the people we need to be looking out for. those are people who need abundant, affordable, reliable electricity, gasoline, diesel

fuel, heating oil and other resources like natural gas so they can be warm and protected from the cold, so they can be cool and protected from the heat so they can get to work, gross wri store and the doctors. this is the american story. it is american jobs that pay american taxes that can help those people make ends meet. we need americans to work. we need american energy to put americans to work. if it wasn't for the energy economy, tpwhr would be no economic recovery at all in this country. i know it is an america neemic recovery, it would be zero without the energy industry. the importance cannot be overstated of energy in our economy, the importance of energy in our daily lives cannot

be overstated. i thank the gentleman who recognizes that we can have a clean environment and have affordable, abundant energy so our quality of life in america is second to none. thank you. i yield back. mr. duncan: i thank the gentlelady from wyoming. and that's one of the things i enjoy about serving the united states congress is meeting the congressmen from all the other states that can educate me and america about what's going on in their state and help me about america's energy needs and become energy independent to do all the things that we have talked about here this evening. you know, people back home may say what have you done in congress, what have you done in the house to address these issues? we have sent numerous bills over to the senate where they languish in harry reid's office.

the majority leader fails to bring the bills. even if you differ, bring them up and bring them in a committee hearing, let's have a markup and change those bills and change whatever meets your desires or lack delf in the senate and we will go to conference and work something else. we have a log jam. all these bills are behind the dam and we could unleash that energy independent potential that you have heard talked about here tonight. we passed an offshore lowering energy to fuel america's works act. i commend the chairman, doc hastings on his work to open up those federal areas where we talked about those resources. i would like to give a moment of praise to my senator tim scott,

jobs act that would address all of the above american resources and provide resources back to the state and revenue sharing and jobs. it works, america. energy is a gateway to america and putting americans to work, meeting our energy needs, using those geo political leaders that we have to influence our politics and help those in you crane and europe that want america's energy resources. as we wind down our time here tonight, energy production in the united states means lower energy costs for america. i started out with a very simple

question, americans, how much more is your regular travel costing you? how much more does it cost you to drive from your home to work and back and from your home to school and work and back from your home to church and back and how much less do you have in your walt because of the amount of money it is taking you to meet the energy needs, transportation and electricity costs. you heard the gentlelady from wyoming talk about it. we can solve it here today by meeting our energy production. that's why we are leading on this energy issue. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. mr. duncan: with that, mr. speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: jabblet. .

under the speaker's announced policy, the gentleman from texas, mr. gohmert, is cognized for half the time until 10:00 p.m. mr. gohmert: i would like to ask the gentleman if he has time to answer one question, mr. speaker , i'd like to ask my friend from south carolina what it would mean to the people of south carolina if we could get back to $2 a gallon gasoline or less? mr. duncan: i appreciate, i thought the gentleman from texas wanted to talk about energy because i've had the conversation with the gentleman from texas, i understand it's a passion of yours. mr. gohmert: it is. mr. duncan: but i know the issue you're going to talk about the issue tonight, the southern border, i know that's on the gentleman's mind because that southern border is porous and we have no idea who is coming into our country.

you're only seeing 1% to % of those crossing our border illegally, the children. the other 98% of the people are not children. they're not all hispanics. some are africans, some are middle eastern. just got a message from randy weber, he was with the border patrol, they had someone from asia, couldn't speak spanish, couldn't speak english. what's he coming to this country for? is it because of violence in guatemala or honduras? i don't think so. what's he coming here for. let's secure or border. god bless texas and rick perry for putting the national guard down there, taking matters into his own hands because the guy at 1600 pennsylvania avenue has failed america and failed us in securing our border. i thank the gentleman for his time and i want to encourage him to keep pounding that rock.

you crack a rock, a big rock, by hitting it in the same spot over and over and over. i thank the gentleman. mr. gohmert: i thank the gentleman from south carolina, mr. duncan. i do appreciate the her spent on talking about energy. you hit a big rock in the right way you may get oil or gas out of it. we bring the price down in no ime. i do wish to talk about our southern border, i was inspired by my friend mr. duncan, it brought back a history lesson from east texas, where i live. 1930, man named dad joyner, dad was his -- it was not his given name, his parents didn't give it to him but anyway, that's what he went by. dad joyner. he just knew there had to be oil in east texas he try and he tied and he tried and he ran out of money.

he had no more money and he had the men, he could drile one more well he thought he knew geology, he thought he had figured out there had to be an east texas since he knew he could only drill one more time, dad joyner set his sights on the one place there had to be oil because he knew if he didn't strike it there, he was broke, probably never have another chance to do anything, be broke the rest of his life. this big old rig was on wooden skids and they were dragging it toward the spot where he knew there had to be oil and you know, the people in my district, there in east texas, they're praying people. they were praying people back in the 1920's and 1930's. the depression had just begun. and here you had dad joyner just sure there had to be oil. well, one of the skids broke.

he didn't have money to fix it. he knew he couldn't get to the perfect spot there had to be oil for his last attempt so he didn't have any choice. he had to drill where the rig broke, where the skid broke, broke down. so he drilled there and he struck oil, he found the east texas oil field that until north kota and west texas got so productive, it was the, for a while, during world war i, it was the largest known oil field in the world. and then second largersest for a long time after that. but it turned out if he had got ton that spot he thought there was sure oil he, would have missed it, would have missed the big east texas oil field. it would have been american tanks and vehicles running out of gasoline in europe during the battle of the bulge instead of

german. but we had gasoline, we had the oil we needed, because east texas was producing. but if that skid hadn't broken where it did, none of that would have happened. so as it turned out, all through the 1930's, when people were looking for jobs, many people were told, well, they found oil down in east texas, got to be jobs there. people flooded down to east texas. -- east texas. and they got jobs. they didn't go to the government. hey didn't look for government to dictate what to do in their lives. many people went to east texas and found jobs. the sad thing is, there are areas all over the country that could be doing the same thing, including new york, upstate, where they've got some of the same gas formations in pennsylvania, where things are going much better than their area -- there are areas of new

york, because new york doesn't allow drilling and therefore they have condemned people to suffer a desperate economy instead of allowing it to thrive and flourish. in the meantime, you look across our border, our neighbor, mexico, mexico has tremendous natural resources. we import a good bit of their oil. canada has oil. we import oil from there. not as much as we would if the x.l. pipeline had been constructed. giving more people jobs, giving more in the world a chance to have north american oil. but the president stands in the way for political gain, it would appear, because what else is there? what else is he gaining from keeping people from having jobs and cheaper oil and gas? but in mexico, we also know they've got hardworking people.

we know because i'm told constantly, you want somebody that can really, willing to work hard, long hours, do whatever it takes to finish a job, you do well to hire hispanic. generally speaking, some people ay, you're a hispanic-phobe or whatever, i look at the hispanic culture, generally one that loves god, devoted to family, and hard work ethic. that's what america used to be. what america used to be is what i would love to see america doing again. back loving family, not saying that fathers are unneeded, unnecessary, unwanted. not saying that the village is a better family than the found

eagsal family of father, mother, children. that nature designs. and some of us believe nature is god-designed. but there in mexico, incredible natural resources, so why is mexico not one of the top economies in the world? ought to at least be top 10, if not top five, because they've got hardworking people and natural resources. the answer is pretty clear. it's because the law is not enforced fairly across the board. there's graft and corruption. capital, as it's said, that's money that's being invested, capital is a coward. it goes to where it feels safest. there's money being invested in mexico but because of drug ar tells, because of graft and corruption, because of the way people are seeing mistreatment even of police, capital is not

flowing like it should to mexico. the jobs are not in mexico as they should be. mexico ought to be one of those shining lights on a hill. where people are struggling all over the world, wanting to get. and of course if you try to get into mexico illegally, unless you're coming to the united states, you dent get treated well. if you try to buy land in your own name as a foreigner in mexico, you're not going to be treated very well. you've got to have someone from mexico buying with you. a lot of things in mexico -- mexican law that if we placed it in american law, many mexicans ould be insanely furious because we dared to put in our laws what mexico has in its laws. so mr. speaker, i pose the

question, who is the better governmental neighbor? a government that forces lawful un dealers to sell 2,000 or so guns, weapons, to people that they know will have them in criminal hands in no time, in mexico? who is the better neighbor? one that's a government neighbor who throws a little money here comesere but never really in and helps deal with the drug itsels that are a threat to own existence as well as mexico's? mr. speaker, i heard bill o'reilly, just before i came over here tonight, debating with an individual who was saying,

you know, we should let everyone in that wants to come, basically, and as bill o'reilly properly pointed out, there are children all over the world, south america, africa, asia, islands all over the world who are in poor conditions. even squalor. would love to come to this country. we had a rally just out here on the west side last week, by hundreds of north koreaen -- koreans. they didn't come over here and say, we demand that you allow us to come in to your country illegally because we have it so bad in north korea. no, what they were saying is, that america can bring great an evil to bear on government in a place like north korea. they are begging that since

there's not room in the united states for every child living in difficult circumstances to flood an america, they're asking appropriate thing. put pressure on north korea's government so that we can help them make a more free north korea. help them by putting pressure. but if you look at the record of this administration around the world, what's happened? it broke my heart to see in the in few days mosul, there iraq, where so many americans gave their lives fighting for the freedom of the iraqi people, fighting for freedom in that area. now, the last known christian

many mosul, after nearly 2,000 years, going back nearly to the time of jesus himself, had to leave. americans that we freed at the price of great treasure and american lives and imbs because of the poor foreign policy handling, the bungling of this administration the failure to reach a status of forces agreement which was basically teed up and handed to by the last administration, was fumbled and now as a result of this administration's ineptness, christians around the world are being persecuted in

greater numbers than ever before. it was once thought that that may be the u.s. legacy. mr. speaker, just down the hall, you've seen it many times, the massive mural, the painting, of the famous prayer meeting that the pilgrims had in holland before they went to england and then from england came to america. we see the words speedwell on the ship where the prayer meeting is being held and open bible and see the pages open to the new testament of our lord and safer jesus christ. it is exactly as that particular type of bible read, same print. and they were having this prayer

meeting, asking for god's deliver rans. they went to england. the speedwell didn't make the trip to america. it was a much smaller ship, the mayflower that took pilgrims to america. even back then, they were praying that this country to which the pilgrims were coming would be a country where christians would have the to worship without persecution. and they would be able to spled freedom, the freedom that our creator as the author of the declaration of independence says, the divine providence, as it says, that blessing that was

an n to us by god, as opportunity to spread freedom and with freedom, the chance to freely acknowledge god or reject him, not at the point of a sword, not at the end of a gun, but either freely accept or jesus. he promises of because in true christianity, it reflects the freedom that god has given each one of us, can't be forced on anyone. it's a free choice. but with free choice comes great responsibility. and that's why in george washington's resignation that he sent to the 13 governors, the

last part has a prayer, and the prayer ends with the words from washington, that he will -- he hopes we will follow the example of the divine author of our blessed religion without a humble imtation in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation. e signs it as the humble servant, but what an extraordinary man. this country has been so ricci blessed that a good neighbor would make sure that in mexico, el salvador, honduras, guatemala, south america, we would help any nation to help themselves, that we would help

them to have that freedom. that's what america used to be about. and although there are some that ould say, america has been about dismissive, look, america has been an exceptional country because of the freedom that people recognize came from the divine author of our blessed religion, that came from our creator, that came from divine providence, which is why our constitution itself was dated in 1787.ar of our lord this country is at a crossroads. and it's not a pretty one. i have spent a lot of time on our southern board in the last

couple of moments fment i have seen these beautiful children that break your heart and i wonder why this administration will no help us by helping our neighbor rather than throwing our borders open. and then this administration has the nerve to say, well, you know, the numbers are down in the recent weeks. well, gee, due think, mr. speaker, it might be because the people of texas realize they have to pick up the slack that this administration refuses to do. our border patrol is overwhelmed in some ways and yet we read an article from ryan loveless dated july 21, "national review" online that president obama is encouraging enforcement officers to slack off on the job, former

border cops. some i.c.e. say the administration has intentionally to give them orders to support tp fix the problem on the border. i.c.e. officials cool their heels. they are sitting still at their desk, playing video games on government computers because they are not being tasked with work and they feel it is coming down from the top. these are guys that do want to go out more -- do want to go out more but basically they're not. i can tell you, mr. speaker, down on the border, they need help, they still need help. the border patrol when a few weeks ago, diving in those --

driving on those dirt roads that i was honored to take glen back down with some of his staff, as i told his staff, unless you let me take him in the dark down these roads, you never really understand what's going on. but one night, some of us for an hour and a half and we didn't run into border control and we foundout why. the drug lords control different parts of the border and you don't cross without making sure that they get paid or they will seek out an american. you make sure you do things in accordance with what you are told and making sure that the drug cartels get their money. d it means as a border patrolman told me this weekend

spanish, we peak were getting away from gangs and i tell them, you may tell them to some people and have them buy it and you and i know taste not true. you and i know that it's the gangs that brought you up here and the gangs paid you to bring you to the united states don't ell me you told me to get away from the gangs when the gangs brought you here. the people acknowledge that's true but we were toiled to say we were fleeing gang violence. not everyone in this government is ig north of what is happening. there was not a spike in violence before a huge spike of

people coming to the united states. there was not a huge spike in violence in central america but they came because the president said you get to say if you come. the government should leave charity to the people. and in this country the people are the most charitable in the history of the world. government doesn't do charity very well. look at what is happening in our veterans administration hospitals. that's not charity. tcha is medical assistance that was earned. not even charity. this is what was promise todd our military. we were providing you good medical help if you need it and serve in this manner. and this government can't even keep our promise to those who

have earned good medical care. so how much worse do you think it gets if we are trying to keep promises that weren't actually made, but just one administration thinking they can turn texas blue and the country blue if they bring enough people in here, promise them that they are the party that likes to give away things and as a result get them voting their direction until they realize that is the kind of philosophy that wrecks a country. it is time americans woke ip. there is so much suffering in this world and central america and south america and a good neighbor would help them stop the violence where it is, help stop the violence in nigeria of radical islam and help stop the

violence of radical islam around the world. his president was willing to blow up an american citizen in yemen. they made him an american citizen and taught him to hate america and even though both the bush and obama administration ied to work with him, he was still radicalizing people, so they blew him up. they are going to destroy america. wouldn't it be just as well to blow up the nuclear technology that is being developed in iran by people who have promised there will be the new gas chambers, there will be an iran and delivered to a threeter near you? mr. speaker, it is time for americans to wake up.

we must secure our borders, never said i want them closed. they should be secured so people come legally. and this stuff we have to fix it or we else can't secure our borders, that is baloney. this administration can secure the border without any change. they have to provide additional hearings, but they can do that. but, mr. speaker, i want to finish tonight by directing your ttention to an estimate from a group i'm not always pleased with, but this administration generally is always pleased with them and that is the congressional budget office. i don't put a lot of stock in their estimates. however, and especially their

estimates of what things are going to cost over time, but when they tell you how much a bill allocates to be spent this year, that is something you can trust. and so with all the talk about how important it is, we've got tom have the house and the snalts pass our bill, it's an nerg, we've got to get this bill, passed. mr. speaker, you have to help fix our problem at our border. you know why it's all lies? it's right here in the c.b.o. study, the estimate. it tells you exactly what this administration is saying, it needs to spend between now and september 30, the end of the fiscal year. it says the budget allocation already done, already been , butpriated, $1. 3 billion

what it wants additionally to be spent this year by the independent of this fiscal year s not the $3.7, not the $4.3 billion it is asking for, this incredible administration, it has to have to get this big bill that will save our border, it's sking for for $25 million with an m, that's it, and it doesn't go to the border, but goes to health and human services. mr. speaker, it's clear that all of this is a ruse. they don't need this bill and health and on for human services. they don't need all of the money

that they're asking for in 2015-, 2016, 2017 that will be corners in the fute ever. so homeland security, they got all they need. mr. speaker, this is a ruse. this administration can secure the border without this ridiculous claim for money. and if the splation needs help, we'll get it. but in the meantime, they need to secure the border. i yield back. i move that we now adjourn. the speaker pro tempore: the question is on the motion to adjourn. the those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. the ayes have it. the motion is adopted. the house is adjourned until 10:00 tomorrow for morning hour debate. they will be making that case

before the d c circuit. clear the intent of congress was to ensure every eligible american will have access to health care. >> there was one written by justice scalia on the right and one written by justice kagan. given that, why are you so confident your legal basis is sound?

ruled --legal justice they would anticipate the government would implement the law in line with congress's intent. said there was no evidence in the statute or the legislative extreme. of any intent by congress to support the claims made by the plaintiff. thisthe view of administration to maximize benefits across the country. millions of americans are benefiting from this. with theleanly in line intent of the united states government. >> for over 45 years he spent brings current of -- c-span brings current events directly

to you and offering complete gavel-to-gavel coverage of the house all at the service of credit industry. there c-span, created by cable industry 35 years ago. on facebook,e us and follow us on twitter. >> the united nations accurately council debated the ongoing israeli-palestinian conflict. security council debated the ongoing israeli-palestinian conflict. ben robert mcdonald ask questions at a senate hearing. later jeh johnson discusses u.s. -- order security and humansecurity smuggling. >> i thought it would be compelling to tell the story of a white family and a black wholy with the same name

come from the same place and follow them. contrast.e and >> the columnist on his family slaveowning history in texas and how the legacy of avery's affect society. -- legacy of slavery still affect society. saturday night at 10:00 eastern. >> the palestinian authority's envoy to the united nations appealed to the you in to intervene in the israeli-palestinian conflict as continues tol rise. israel's deputy advisor also spoke. this is 50 minutes.

>> the security council will now begin discussion of item two. ki-moonllency mr. ban us viaing videoconference from ramallah. you have the floor. >> thank you for this honor. i deeply apologize.

[indiscernible] i want to thank the security council for it strong support of my efforts. [indiscernible] i have held discussions with the in your countries. i and alsothe privilege the secretary of state and the secretary of general.

i also have the opportunity [indiscernible] i had a conversation with his excellent new. many countries have been engaging in this diplomatic efforts. i am sure you can understand it is highly sensitive. suffice it to say it is my hope these talks will lead to an end in the fighting in the near future.

this is a mission of solidarity and peace. with the newsed of terrible fighting. stop the fighting. [indiscernible] problem never solve the . continue,ng will hatredthe bitterness and

will become that much worse. this comes in the form of the initiative performed right each of. gathered support. unfortunately hamas has yet to risk on. -- respond. i have also discussed security concerns.

i want to continue my meetings with the president and ministers. would also like to strongly condemn indiscriminate rapidfire into israel.amas there is high civilian death toll. yet again many including children have paid the price for this escalation. once again i collect of effort to end the fighting.

i want to stress how deeply [indiscernible] they are providing crucial -- imminent danger. four other countries. have been damaged.

today about 100 thousand people more than five percent of the .opulation with seriousn hit loss of life. exercise --rael to [indiscernible] respond.l of you to the most pressing humanitarian of the people in gaza. countries --any

including the $47 million an u.s. secretary of state john kerry. -- thankink the staff the staff for effort to respond to humanitarian needs. insured forn has citizens. responsibilityme for advancement of a solution. we cannot return to -- to the status

quo. [indiscernible] [indiscernible] working in gaza, i am not getting paid.

without performing essential government functions in gaza. united nations is prepared to parties. all concerned mr. president, this is the third time as secretary general i have had to come on an emergency crisis. o help end the [indiscernible]

[indiscernible] must respond in order to find an end to this conflict for a two state solution. palestinians need to see. lawrnational humanitarian and that is justice for all. for theseour part people. inc. you, mr. president. [indiscernible]

i call for your continuing support and leadership. thank you, mr. president. >> after the statement, i now give the floor to the observer. >> thank you, mr. president. the efforts to address the crisis we face are the palestinian people -- by the , particularlyople in the gaza strip. i think von kee moon for his briefing and -- i think ban

ki-moon for his briefing. also, i want to welcome the foreign minister of luxembourg, who is with us. recognize the efforts of this is schalke ordinate are on the ground, toluding with regards humanitarian calls and efforts agents on thef un ground.

and under the leadership of ,ther humanitarian organization including those providing emergency assistance to palestinian people at the time of crisis. regrettably,, despite all of these efforts, hundreds more palestinians have been killed. thousands have been injured, and tens of thousands have been displaced i is really military aggression -- by israeli military aggression. israeli bombardment including s in denselybomb populated areas have also ofulted in the destruction

more than 100,000 homes and damaged to more than 18,000 other homes. fear and panic have grip the population, leading to displacement of more than ,00,000 people now sheltering already doubling the number of palestinian to sought refuge in war in in the israeli here we urge2009. he in efforts to address humanitarian needs over palestinian civilians in gaza, including through donor supports. no regard for human life, israel continues to slaughter families. a family of 26 people, a family of eight people in northern.doc.

people. of 10 people. af seven a family six people. of five people. and the family of four people in the attacks with children and women can't do tutoring the majority of the ofd -- constituting majority the dead. 95 palestinians were brutally killed with at least 72 people

including children, 40 women, and those massacred the occupying forces who left the street littered with bodies and with many trapped under the rubble of homes. declared, there are no injured. only dead. it is nearly impossible to keep killing andprice of injury. and, in just two hours following my letter to the security council yesterday another 23 pallet and he and work -- 23

palestinians were killed. her names the numbers were not crimes,d in the war which we continue to insist be .ecorded by the united nations the death toll now stands at more than 600 palestinian and more than dirty 500 people injured. -- 3500 people injured. ofare haunted by the images a bees, boys, girls, women murdered by forces in their homes in the reefs and in refugee -- street and in refugee camps. ever marked.ere they are fleeing in this endless

attack against our people. let me show you some of the pictures of these victims. these are the human faces of our big is.

-- victims. we are not numbers. we are human beings. when hospital floors are drowning in the blood of innocents, core doors are filled areore doors -- corridors filled with screams, and doctors with barely any supplies struggle courageously to save despite being

an attack, we know the international community has commitment to protect civilians in armed thelict, failed to enforce rule of law and failed its promise to humanity. we are wearing these black allon today to honor of our children, women, men, and all of our palace any and the billions tilden this den aside i civiliansany of the age 5,in this genocide.

89, age one. age eight. 14, age 17. age 12. age five, age 13, age four. age six.

age 15. age 11. age three. h two. -- age two. age 4. age 15. age 11. age 10. age 12.

age four. [reciting names] three, 12 months old. while council members may be fatigued by our repeated lists, we must bear witness to the despair of our people and insist on their dignity. these palestinian children whose lives have been so cruelly taken i the occupying power are not just figures. they have names. mothers, fathers, sisters come a

brothers, grandparents and friends who are grieving their deaths and the stated by this massive loss -- devastated by this massive loss of human life. mr. president, on behalf of the palestinian people, we ask, what is the international community israeli stop this atrocity? what is the security council doing to uphold its commitment to protect civilians in armed conflict and uphold the law? action,decisive statements ring hollow as defenseless civilians find no relief from the merciless is really war machine. city --aza

eciting cities] everywhere in gaza, the people are suffering gravely. collapseing to the under the impact of the israeli aggression, the blockade. thehe obligation to ensure safety and well-being of civilians under its occupation is breached by israel, we reiterate our appeal to the security council to uphold its duty to maintain international peace and security without conditions without exceptions and without delay. region toforts in the secure a cease-fire continue, the security council still has a responsibility to act, to stop the slaughter of innocent men, women and children.

israeli impunity must be halted and the pretext for its crimes rejected. the world can no longer deny that such crimes are being deliberately land and carried out. punishment against an occupied , colonization of the land, imprisonment, blockades of the people and leadership, this israel's verified by prime minister and other government officials regarding the price. they will make the palestinians .ay for demanding their rights it is a fact repeatedly proven by the violent, racist and illegal actions of the occupying power. reject the cynical

is really arguments labeling an entire people as terrorists. our children, women and men are not terrorists. family would allow their loved ones to be used as human shields. is that they have been held captive by israel in a prison called gaza which remains under israeli occupation. regardless of the false israeli narrative, we have never once feared the word occupation. ignoring the fact that israel is an occupier yet somehow claiming the right to defend itself from the people it is occupying. right,aeli fabricated certainly not ordained under international law, to resist

foreign occupation and the right to self-determination. we reiterate that it is no coincidence that this latest aggression was launched amid increased international pressure on israel in the peace process, international acceptance of the palestinian unity government, and condemnation of the settlements, provocations, the gaza blockade, the crisis of palestinian prisoners and is really destruction of the two and growing calls for boycotts, divestment and sanctions against israel. mr. president, the council must live up to the demands of the charter as well as the expectations of the international community. with the injustice being endured by the people under this , itaved israeli occupation

has rallied millions of people of every race, color and creed in the streets of capitals all over the world demanding an end to the israeli aggression, colonization and punishment in occupied palestine, and demanding accountability for israeli war crimes including at the international criminal court. the council must lay its rightful role and contribute to the urgent efforts to secure a cease-fire. or over, it must exert force to ensure that the cease-fire is sustainable, to prevent the reoccurrence of such crises and addressing issues including the need to end the israeli blockade sustainedd ensure the movement of persons and goods. protection ensure

for the palestinian people. president, all of the odds and the immeasurable loss and grief, the palestinian people hold firm to their convictions in the united nations and the promises and tomitment to bring an end their oppression and achieve justice. we continue to strive for a peaceful political solution to this conflict for which there is no military solution. we appeal again to the international community to lend all support possible to the efforts to achieve a just, lasting and peaceful settlement, and the long overdue realization by the palestinian people of their right and national aspirations including to freedom and independence in their state of palestine with east jerusalem as its capital. , fornclusion, i reiterate

the adoption of a resolution by the security council to condemn this is really aggression against the state of palestine, to stop this aggression immediately, to lift the blockade against the gaza strip, and to provide the palestinian people with international protection. i thank you very much, mr. president. the preeminent observer of the state of palestine for his statement. i know give the floor to the representative of israel. sir, you have the floor. >> thank you, mr. president. i would like to thank the secretary general for the briefing and for his efforts in the region. forell as of course to you presiding over this debate. esther president, two centuries the said the hardest

thing to see is what is in front of your eyes. look around the world today and you will see that the primary threat to global peace and security is staring this council right in the face. boston, onei to -- no nation is immune to the threat of islamist terrorism. armed with dangerous ideologies and deadly weapons, violent radicals are waging war to destroy lives and a way of life. we unfortunately became too familiar with their names. isis,, al qaeda, boko haram and hamas. these violent factions show disdain for democracies, contempt for modernity and a willingness to target innocent civilians. it is no accident that most of these extremist groups operate in the middle east. the region plagued by

instability and intolerance, dictators, disorder, tyranny and terrorism. one nation stands apart, the state of israel the only liberal democracy between the red sea and the caspian sea. we are the frontline fighting radical islamist terrorism. the struggle we face is the struggle that the rest of the world will likely face tomorrow. mr. president, as we speak, the israeli defense forces are fighting to rid gaza of the hamas military infrastructure that has terrorized israeli people and devastated the palestinian people. gaza me when i tell you, is the very last place that we want our soldiers to be. the very last place. this is not a road we chose.

it was our last resort. hamas has sent suicide bombers onto our buses. it has sent armed terrorists through tunnels into our homes and schools. it has launched over 12,000 missiles and rockets toward our towns and cities in the last 10 years. israel is a small country. every single person has been affected by terrorism. grown up withave the threat in our backyard but we will never grow used to it. we will never grow used to the sound of sirens or the roar of rockets overhead. we will never grow used to seeing our children in army weforms and we will never -- refuse to become accustomed to burying our sons and daughters as too many israelis have had to do since hamas dragged us into this conflict.

israel did not want this war. three times, israel agreed to accept a cease-fire. every single time, hamas refused. they launched even more rockets. each of these rockets sent a message loud and clear area, us is that -- and clear. hamas is determined to wage war. the united nations asked, us to cease-fire so they could assist palestinian civilians. hamas refused. hamas truth that it has no -- no regard for has the palestinian people. the prime minister stated that mas accepted the proposal, it could have saved the lives of palestinians. let me make the picture very clear. civilians andn casualties are a direct result of hamas' decision to continue

sending rockets and their wrists toward israel -- terrorists toward israel while putting their civilians upfront to protect their leaders. delegation and their refuse to stand up and say to hamas, stop. past monthnt, in the alone, israel has been attacked on four fronts. rockets have been fired at us from lebanon, from syria, from sinai. --hamaslaunched an has launched an all-out assault from gaza. cities, ahere are two city above ground and a city below ground. street,s below the there are kilometers of dense tunnels crisscrossing the a giant web.

reinforced with thousands of tons of concrete and supported by massive beams, hamas has built a vast underground error network. the leader recently declared that they had opened a new strategy in confronting the enemy from underground. idea --tering gaza, the many of which are under homes and schools. no site is off-limits for hamas. one of the targets exposed over the weekend began under a family home and was packed with explosives. hamas is using these tunnel systems to carry out a series of attacks. in the past week, dozens of havely armed terrorists used these exact tunnels to infiltrate israel. dot do you expect israel to

--n terrorists imagine what it is like for israelis living next to gaza to know that there are dozens of hidden tunnels leading to the doorstep of their communities. imagine what it is like to fall asleep wondering if a terrorist is tunneling under your home or to wake up and wonder if your children will be safe on the way to school. heavily armed, us terrorists emerged from a tunnel only 200 meters from a kindergarten. -- hamas terrorists emerged from a tunnel only 200 meters from a kindergarten. terrorists emerged with weapons and wearing is really military uniforms. they fired a rocket propelled grenade at israeli military jeeps come a killing two

soldiers before retreating back underground. a few hours later, more terrorists entered israel. they were carrying tranquilizers and handcuffs and were on a mission to kidnap israelis. for years, the international community criticized israel for restricting the entry of construction to real into gaza. now you know what those building materials are being used for. all this time, the international community thought it had been sending money to develop social services or political institutions or economic structures. in truth, the dollars you send amas toly aiding h build its stronghold. directs itst hamas budget underground proves that it is more interested in warfare than the welfare of the palestinian people. hamas violates international law

and abuses the people of gaza. it sends innocents to stand on the roof of their homes. they build bunkers for leaders but refuse to build bomb shelters for civilians. tofires rockets from schools densely populated neighborhoods and it has set up headquarters inside a gaza hospital where hamas can be seen walking through the hallways. rather than taking steps to avoid civilian casualties, hamas has stepped up its attacks. hamas' strategy is clear. it uses every victim as fuel for the propaganda machine. the purpose of this machine is to push the international community into pressuring israel.

sadly, many people have fallen or their cynical campaign those who argue that both sides are equally to blame. i would like to remind you that this terror organization said to the palestinian government, the president has a choice to make. he can continue to remain silent and stand in support of hamas or he can assume leadership by dissolving the unity government. the choice is his. be part of the problem or part of the solution. mr. president, israel is doing its utmost to avoid harming civilians because we believe every innocent life lost in the tragedy. we deeply regret the losses. but the blame lies with hamas for hiding signed -- hiding behind civilians and using them as human shields.

we are committed to upholding the rule of law. steps that no other nation at any time in history is taking. suppliesr nation humanitarian aid or set up a field hospital to treat the wounded on the other side even as the enemy fired on it indiscriminately? what other nation sends messages toward exactly where it strikes, giving the enemy time to set booby-traps and deploy snipers? israel spent four days warning palestinians in northern gaza that the military would soon enter their neighborhood to uproot hamas. that gave hamas for days to prepare an assault on our troops. every time we make a phone call or send a text message warning of an imminent attack, we are endangering our children so that we may keep their children safe.

hasave said before, israel no interest in being in gaza. we are fighting in gaza but we are not fighting the people of gaza. the equation is simple. when it is quiet in israel, it will be quiet in gaza. the goal of our operation is to eliminate the rockets, shut down the tunnels and demilitarized gaza in order to restore safety to the people of israel. members of the international community have said that israel has a right to defend its citizens but when we exercise that right we are criticized. what do you expect us to do when terrorists are tunneling into our communities? what do you expect us to do when our children are being kidnapped and murdered? what do you expect us to do when rockets are fired and our citizens can't pass a single day without running to a bomb

shelter? iran is exerting influence to attack israel from the land, sea and air. it is supplying hamas with rockets in gaza. it is standing by assad in syria . it is supplying hezbollah with resources in lebanon. some of these terrorist groups are teaming up to form the dream team of terror. intent on making lives a nightmare for billions of israelis -- millions of israelis. "hezbollah and the lebanese resistance support hamas' strategy to end the conflict. for years, we warned the international community that hezbollah was amassing thousands of rockets and missiles. will you continue to remain silent? for years, we told you that hamas was building a terror

stronghold in gaza and we call on the international community to condemn the rocket fire. we were met with silence. for years, we warned of the impending escalation and you ignored us. see is whatthing to is in front of your eyes. israel is on the frontline of global war against radical islamist terrorism. the entire civilized world is at stake in the outcome and so it must support israel's right to defend its citizens. to do nothing and to say nothing, to support efforts to invite tyranny and terror is to invite tyranny and terror into our own backyard. the international community must speak together so that all people everywhere can live in freedom. thank you, mr. president. >> i thank the representative of

israel for his statement. to hisgive the floor excellency, the minister for foreign affairs. >> on our next washington journal, we talk with a house intelligence committee member about challenges facing the u.s. in foreign conflicts. then, a congressman who serves on the veterans affairs v.a.ttee will discuss reform. contributoranics bucky recently wrote an article about the science and technology being used to disarm syria's chemical weapons program. that is part of our spotlight on magazines series. we will also take your calls and get the latest on conflicting federal appeals court rulings

relating to the health care law. you can also join the conversation on facebook and twitter. eachngton journal is like morning at 7:00 a.m. eastern on c-span. >> next, president obama's choice to head the veterans affairs department takes questions at a senate confirmation hearing. if confirmed, robert mcdonald would replace eric shinseki who stepped down in may after reports of long wait times at facilities around the country. senator bernie sanders chairs the committee.

[gavel] ok. i want to welcome everyone here for a very important hearing that we are going to be considering the nomination of robert mcdonald to be secretary of the department of veterans affairs. we are pleased to welcome mr. mcdonald and his wife as well.

thank you very much. learning moreo be about mr. mcdonald's many qualifications during his introduction and throughout the course of his hearing. i won't spend time repeating what we are going to be discussing are re-shortly. what i do want to say is that i acceptingmcdonald for the president's nomination. when he and i chatted, he said something to me that i thought was extremely important and revelatory. i asked why he wanted to come into this job in this very difficult moment with so much partisanship in congress and problems in the v.a. what he said was, the president asked me to serve and i want to do well i my country.

i thank him very much for that. know that the veterans administration runs the largest integrated health care system in the united states of america. just today, you can see the scope of it. over 200,000 veterans are walking into the doors of the v.a. to get health care. the vast majority of those veterans feel good about the health care they are getting, the staff they are interacting with, but we all understand there are problems in health care. there are problems in the claims backlog. there are other problems. esther mcdonald's job is to start addressing those problems. i don't want to get mr. mcdonald too nervous by mentioning some of these problems.

he may walk out of here. what he does know that some 640,000 veterans have an appointment that is more than 30 days from the date that the appointment was initially requested or desired by the patient. one of the challenges that you face is to make sure that all of our veterans get high-quality care in a timely manner. not so easy, but that is one of your challenges. of themore, in terms challenges that you face, it is not only providing quality timely care, but many of these veterans are coming into the v.a. with very difficult problems. i am going to get this book from my colleague. finkel, it is called "i do for your service." what he talks about, he was with

the troops in iraq and he followed them after they came home. pdi book is about ptsd and and it is a hard read, a very painful read to see what not only the soldiers are going through, but what their wives and kids are going through. how do we deal with the reality that some 500,000 people who served in iraq and afghanistan come home with ptsd? if you had unlimited amounts of money, that would be a very difficult challenge. it is unprecedented. furthermore, it is my strong opinion that if the v.a. is going to do the quality health care it needs to do, we are going to simply need more doctors, more nurses, more medical personnel, more productivity. at a time when we have a shortage of primary care doctors,