second one, you were saying about not being dominated by tactics. what i see is more of a campaign style. so how do you translate the message to the white house. you're doing really good on that. thank you. >> one of the good things about this for me, it's really very intense.

it's a very intense give and take. and we hear -- we get thank you notes. we get e get questions. we get kicks from time-to-time. i'm impressed by a stream of thank you notes. thank you notes saying thank you for doing this in less than 12 hours. this is an administration that seems to -- very receptive to intelligence. on ukraine, i haven't looked very hard at it. i don't think i have a tutored view on how well we did or didn't do. it depends a lot on what you think mr. putin's time horizon and decision-making was like. >> i think we'll make this the last question with one wrap-up question from me. and then i think you're all invited to a reception afterwards.

>> i want to follow up on the cyber security issue you mentioned a couple of times. you said it's one of the things you're looking at most in the long range. and i'm wondering how nick looks at an issue -- how nick looks like an issue at cyber, where you're looking at technological change over a series of 10 or 15 years as opposed to one nation's, you know, national interests.

>> let me pile onto that since this is a closing question. let's take that one and, also, you're expanding to -- this is not entirely cyber, but you're focusing on civil technology. maybe you can talk to us on whether that decision comes from and how well particularly in the spirit of your new book does he actually do following science and technology trends and how important is that, as well? >> on the celebration, v shrill, issue there's a lot of forward-looking work to be done. but there's a pretty steady stream of questions, as well. i'm in touch with the people in the cyber sector and there's a steady stream of current stuff happening there, too. but not a lot of policy-making meetings on it. it's not just trying to think more strategically, though i think that's more important in

the cyber realm. >> the reason we've done that, we've done reports on whether it's bio or data or human enhancement. there's a lot coming at us. he mostly does space. we're trying to have a focus mainly on science and technology. mostly uncivil but it is very hard to separate. is the community does a good job of following military technology, much less good job o at following civilian and dual use kind of technologies or onces not so much dualat not so use but are inherently on that

fuzzy line between civil and military and can be used for both. so that's trying to beef up that capacity for us. a lot of people are doing scans it isence and technology always interesting. been hearing about nanotechnology for very long time and i think the proposition there is that technological rakers and technological changes have more of that once they go to the social fabric and it may take longer to go to the social fabric than you think. years foret took 40 the technology developed and for the social arrangements to coolest around. i think it makes technology fun but one of my colleagues was a long-term planner says

thinking about the longer term doesn't affect what you do today it is only entertainment. entertainment but not in my current job so trying to make it useful to work today. relatively simple technologies and up having geopolitical consequences. >> absolutely am also impressed by the things that don't happen i had this conversation in 1950 were real said energy will be cheap and free because you would've thought nuclear energy would be great but did not turn out that way. am as intrigued as much. much, let meso just close this by quoting your boss one more time as the right man at the right time you can

see by the intellectual quality with which he handles these questions. thanks for doing this. [applause] coming up on c-span a head of aturday's runoff the debate between the louisiana candidates. enator and congressman bill cassidy. then congressional caucus members discuss the situation in ferguson, missouri and lighter obama announces a new commission to help improve law and the communities they serve. about his attempts to stop the executive order on immigration. from congressman jim mcdermott of washington

state on negotiations to fund government amid the tensions over immigration. "washington journal" is live every morning at 7:00 on c-span and you can join the facebook and n twitter. senate congress committee examines the policies f professional sports organizations on domestic 2:30 nce. that's live at eastern on c-span3. to retired at abc ews correspondent on her 40 years of covering the white administrations of jerold ford through barack

obama. >> we watched him and watched group of second graders. and they interrupted the president and whispered to him stunned.u was reporter's down in my notebook. the president stood and said he theyo go and then we heard discovered it was two planes plane crashes in new york. stay right herement the president will come to the pool and i said no. there are live cameras in the cafeteria. the president has to speak there. he didn't want to scare the in the but he did go cafeter cafeteria. he said an apparent terrorist attack and i must rush to washington. we were pushed aboard quickly slammed and then the pentagon was hit. eastern night at 8:00

and pacific on c-span's q & a. >> voters will return to the polls to vote in the eastern and pacific on state senate race. garnered in the race 50% of the vote on election day. onday night the candidates incumbent and republican challenger bill cassidy have a debate. cassidy.an

during the debate we'll take questions from twitter. oin the conversation and tweet your questions using the hashtag the final debate. tweet and e you to give your commentari. you'll see tweets flash on the bottom of the screen @ hashtag the final debate. the candidates have one minute to respond to questions. at the moderator's discretion there is follow-up with no set lit. e begin with a candidate specific question ask that goes ran drew.enator you wanted to talk about the lsu work. hear from cassidy supports the feedback i get is mary about hersk

travel and the idea that you had $35,000 in ost xpenses for air travel and private chartered plains that were billed to the senate office congressional campaign. in on't know how you trald the first six years of office. >> thank you very much for that question. panel for hosting us in this important debate. i brought the records tonight the time that was not given just a few weeks ago. i turned over all the records error was a bookkeeping and it's been completely repaid the big difference is that has padded cassidy payroll for the last six

years entering into an agreement hospitals and no record of the work that he has done. matter. a very serious so, one was a bookkeeping error which i took responsibility and over a complete set of records with this document tonight. the other situation is a ongressman that's taken over $20,000 a year in addition to is congressional salary and it may be even more than that if hey paid for his medical malpractice insurance without turning over any records and i don't think from what i can see he brought them tonight. i think that's a shame. >> we don't allow props in this fairness. ask a quick follow-up. >> are records props? >> i guess -- then i shouldn't have brought this to give to you. $5,500 for one charter lake from new orleans to

charles. that's one charter that jumped out at people. that had happened in the business world, i think in most people would have been laughed out of the room if they suggested having that kind charged to a company. >> first of all, every senator and every congressman gets a budget. we can allocated that within the guidelines as we see fit. these were legal exepbsz. the only difference it was a bookkeeping error of company. >> first of all, every senator and every congressman gets a misallocation. is a far cry from a is padding his own payroll. >> has the scrutiny -- we're going to get to the other issue. has the scrutiny this gained in the race changed your view at all about how quickly you charter?or a >> first of all, i will rethink it is padding his own payroll. of course because of this. but also i want to you know that nothing was illegal. it was a bookkeeping error and not allocating it. i've fully taken d it and

responsibility and turned over all the records. i hope tonight we'll get to a serious matter in this ebate, the story just broke this week i would of talked about it before but the story broke of my opponent who has shown himself or told us hat he was a doctor for the poor but he is not a doctor for the poor. himself. ctor for >> let's get to that. congressman cassidy there was an arrangement with lsu where you would continue working and eaching medical students, rest departments at 20,000 doll dollars a year, 7.5 hours a week. lsu has produced time sheets for months -- excuse me 16 of the 63 months and said it can't find 50.other the time sheets reflect hours in clinic on days when this were washington the camp

takes these comments and twists them around. i'm proud of the work i've done with lsu. during the liver biopsy in the d.c. and nd flying to voting that evening. now, with that said, the work lsu teaching h medical students benefits the poor and uninsured. an irony. she just identifies her vote for obamacare and it would not have her by saying she's for the poor and uninsured obamacare has hurt the economic prospects of the poor. issue of so this transparency. it was illegal what the senator and violated ethics

laws. if what i was doing benefited the uninsured who used those when show taxpayer dollars who did that benefit? ask you to wrap. >> may i please respond? >> we can't respond at this time. we do have questions that you can ask one another later. ut in fairness i think we better stick with the fore mat here. let me follow up congressman. was understand it this documented. be did you personally sign these give lulu's nd personal history would it be understandable that there were raised about some potential or abuse in some cases safe stkpwardz when an congressman was employed government. of

understandable. they've done whatever they could to keep the story alive. clearly she'll try to make this a story even though i'm sitting there and helping the poor and uninsured. boss and i have made multiple statements about this in the public. me interrupt. did you sign the time sheets? >> yes. sheets ign the time because it looked as though it might have been -- there are conjecture-- there's you didn't sign all of them. doctor's e a handwriting. to speak directly to the what -- let me ask you this, if you're elected to to benate, would you like employed by lsu? would you like to go back to lsu? i love treating patients and teaching. and i'm the only help total gist in the system. there are others who were gastrointo ologists so i bring

value. but i always serve at the will of my employer. but if i get the opportunity to teach and to continue to treat i haver and uninsured as for the last 25 years, i would like to continue to offer that. >> i have a feeling we'll but we have to go on o the first question from greg merriweather. > let's talk about the pain capable act. t protects the child as you understand an unborn child at 20 weeks. at that point child begins to feel pain at least proponents of the ill they would feel pain of an abortion from that procedure. you supported the bill are there any provisions or any exceptions where you think that an abortion be -- should be considered and also at what point should the line in t draw people's personal lives? one of the clear distinctions is i'm pro life and she's pro choice.

she gets 100% from the pro abortion groups and i get a zero. so this is a very -- this is a very kind of my gosh there's a this campaign. pain h regard to the capable act i'm a doc. canow that child at week 20 survive outside the womb and that child is able to feel at 20 weeks is able to feel pain. now at that point we can all or pro ether pro choice ife that that is a life and it be saved and shouldn't be aborted. i'm pro life. it re there any cases where would need to be apwortd? >> of course. if the mother's life is at risk and that is one of gets a s the senator zero. do you support abortion at 20 weeks? not support abortion,

period. i think it's tragic. not believe the government however should make those decisions. almost everyion in case is a moral. i believe that the government not make the choice that is why i fall more under the choice than pro life. these labelses are not very accurate because the person and family and the doctor in tulttation with doctor or their god some make that decision. my record has been misconstrued. the cochair of the adoption caucus. we both have adopted children and the congressman know this very well. and i support adoption. do not promote abortion and never have. he should also know as a doctor weeks is a very, very child.e time for a but the answer is i don't want

bill cassidy in the hospital room. the governor in the hospital room and i sure don't want congress in the hospital room. father and the priest should be in that hospital room. go to cynthia. what are your feelings on race relations and specifically i'd like for you to answer would you say things are better, worse, or he same and what do you think needs to be done to bring about true healing? let's start with your response. >> that's a very important is tion because our country multiethnic unity for

us to be the strongest country. us to be the strongest country. diversity is a strength and not a weakness and i think that race relations has deteriorated a bit country. and i think we have to continue to work on it decade after generation after den skwraeugs. what happened in ferguson was a brown's for michael family as well as the officer if his family. community ferguson will continue to talk and to of dialogue. but this country's strength is our diversity and not our weakness. and we need to do a better job trying to understand each other and work together. would ressman cassidy, you say things are better, worse or the same? to ell, if you compare it when we had jim crow laws clearly it's better. let's point out the progress. new orleans which is predominantly african-american a white mayor. so we have made strides in terms of acceptance and understanding of others.

the parable of the good amaritan is about reaching across raeurble and religious divides to create unity with who is in need. now that scripture should reach us to attempt to better.and make things he senator made a statement that barack obama was not viewed favorably. you disagree with the president doesn't make you racist. we're selfist and in st she's been elected public office since i was in college. this is more to do? there's more to do. things that bill has is he makes thing up as he goes along. he's padding his own payroll and the statement that i said that anyone with you a racist. you know what i said? said the south has not always

een the friendlyiest place for african-americans and it's also been a region that has not uickly recognized the leadership of women. i will make no apology for historical at is a fact. said.t is what i that was taken out of context and i also answered the asked, why is in ident obama so unpopular the state i said he was unpopular because of his energy on to s and i went explain. he's not for keystone and i am nd he shut down oil and gas drilling and we're all for it and then i said those words. of context them out for his political benefit and i'm not the only one tired of his rhetoric. >> i think people can look at and make themselves their own decision. we don't have to have a he said she said. look at the video

you and can see what she said. >> all right. on to doug warner. >> good to see you again. deals estion basically with what you will bring back to d.c. whether elected or reewhrebgtd. i'll begin with you. with your t.v. radio and ads you run a campaign against president obama. he'll only be there for a traction of your term if you are elected and another four years until he's out of office. what do you want to do with this elected. >> continue what i already done. i was able to get the cassidy bill through the house. senateed and went to the where unfortunately the snot passed. could not get it i'll be working again with the uninsured and the poor. you ver the senator says can talk to my patients for the ast 25 years and repeal and replace obamacare with something that works for people instead of

working against them. i like to be on the veterans look at the i can v.a. system bringing my in the public ng hospital system how can we get not with the patient and leave with the administration as va systemdoes and the does. using my life experience to americans. >> it's interesting he want to on the veteran's committee because he sroed against it when louisiana.enator in he voted no against the medical complex and now he has the nerve he supports the veteran's hospital. let me say one more thing. i don't believe he'll be elected but if he is, he'll be doing a lot more than fighting president obama. he'll be fighting subpoenas. payroll.he padded his he took money without accounting

or it. and he doesn't have a upervisor and he did not sign the sheets which you know because you have them. he does not have a signatures. he did not account for his work and will not turn over his records. real serious a issue. and he just will talk about hisybody else's records but own. and so you know whatever happens questions ate these answered. wasn't in cannoting when that was approved. what the senator is referring to is the hospital which i thought was too big. the v.aplt hospital is totally a different issue. o you can judge the truthfulness based upon that if benefit n working to the poor and insured, the

senator when he she was taking taxpayer paid for harter flights to campaign there? who benefited he voted against the complex when he was a legislature. say when he was in congress. and now he shows up to take veterans.r helping i helped to lead the fight with charles from the western part of two new to build clinics. but john i want to get back to the issue of truthfulness. have an opportunity to ask a question of one another. let me bring up a pie chart if how we spend our money in america. social security 20%,

defense 19. 21.care and medicaid are the point is that when you get to what we the of as the rest of government, nasa, the cdc, it's 11% or vice, so. here were times when the deficits were going crazy this equal the n't deficit. balanced the ave budget. social security and entitlements, but if we don't cut benefits or raise tax dz or do something we're on a path where these entitlements will devour the economy and entitlements, but if we don't cut benefits or raise tax dz or do somethingbudget. >> let me please respond that my opponent and many. to blicans they don't want fix that because they want to continue to give tax cuts for who make over million dollars. find a space to cut

brothers and ke their friends and continue to give them tax cuts. they also brought us into two put on the credit card. work together. y opponent wants to give tax breaks to millionaires and raise the age to 70. i don't want to do that. work until their 70 years old laying concrete, highways, building bridges, lifting heavy objects even inside a hospital or a restaurant. do it. he voted for it four times. the annual deficit under bama has been 50%. d by > isn't that because it

ballooned so greatly in the first year. >> not necessarily. it has gone done. the stimulus package lifted it up but it has gone down over time because of a revivaled good budgeting. we have a debt problem but age ng the social security pads his pocket from lsu is not the solution. >> only thing they had their medicare and pads his pocket from lsu social security. my mother's 92. 91.lives with me or i understand the importance of net programs. my commitment to you is to work to preserve and strengthen these programs. the problem is that obamacare voted for would without passed my commitment to you is to work. they spent it on obamacare. they have to do something or they'll go bankrupt much the that you are receiving as 25%.rease by as much

now there are things we can do. 20-somea's own senator, years ago came up with a plan for medicare which on a basis has been brought forward again. if were you to keep it exactly it now you can. but if you go into the new program, they estimate it saves honey for the beneficiary and the life. >> i give you both a little leeway. $750 billion document number that he suggested was supported by both republicans and democrats. the money was inefficiency and he back in the program as knows for a fact to strengthen medicare. excuse his wanting not one that problem too the backs of the coke brothers

but on the backs of the poor and early raising it to 70. it's wrong. we are other things that can do. >> it's a matter of fact that not put back into the medicare trust fund. he money was spent on obamacare. my team will tweet that out right there. tweet it out and you can see it just like that video. ask you this. and maybe we can try to do this as quickly as possible. me your view of what tax reform, just a rough outline of it would look like. who would pay more or less. it can't be revenue neutral because we more. he revenues make up a percentage at the lowest rate since world war ii. it's 15%. was balanced it was 21 or 22%. the last time we had a balanced with that's the problem republicans. they continue to cut, cut, cut

the ams for everyone for low income, the for the middle and then turn around and give wealthy.to the we have to do both. we have to add more money to the we have to and then ake out abuse and do it efficiently and not by sequester. she voted with barack obama $1.6 trillions by already. >> give mow if you would your wouldn of what tax reform look lick >> she favors tax reform but only if it raises taxes by trillion. what republicans propose and what the president's debt we do away uggested exemptions and loopholes nd by so doing you actually lower rates but create more revenue. by the own oh,he

> i didn't to only solve the problem by raising revenues. every independent group that this says it has to shut down loopholes and many in the republican party out waste and ke fraud and abuse as well as revenues. i did not say we'd solve it by adding it alone. what would you cut? >> there are a number of things we can reduce. e reduce some of the waste and fraud in immediate care and put it back to strengthen it. that john mc ng cain and your leaders in the supported. party that was a bipartisan effort to try to take out waste, fraud and abuse and put it back. but i'm not going to stand here to allow them to continue give tax break after tax break after tax break for people that million dollars a year and then put the burden on

who havee in louisiana $80,000.of 50, 60, 70, it's not fair. >> if i may respond. $1.6 trillion or in new taxes over the last six years supporting barack bow mamma. i opposed all those taxes. you can decide for yourself who up for the middle class. >> let's go to greg. kerry thomas asked a simple question. perhaps a complex answer. will you support drug recipients. elfare >> i have voted i think i have o go back and look for drug testing for welfare recipients but you want to ask for drug aoepl who have special contracts or for other people that get are special government.m the i just don't think that picking welfare, the population of

elfare is right and is appropriate. if other people who gets special government rom the or other subsidies from the government want to also be drug that would be fine. but beating up on the poor is not going to solve the problems country. educating people, giving them ccess to higher education, working for jobs for the middle class, and this beating up on blaming them for the problems of the world are really -- it's not right. i guess my catholic faith really comes out. it's just not right. it be exactly would beating up on the poor because before get a drug test taking a job and that would be their source of income. oppose n't say i would it did you i think if has to indicated fa -- be allocated f. ou're talking about a government subsidy.

but you're comparing apples to oranges. one is a job and the other is a government subsidy. there are many people who get subsidies. many. government y gets subsidies if you want to put everything that gets a subsidy and drug tests them fine. program, a ng a government program to a job are two different things. >> we need to get to congressman cassidy. >> the house we voted to begin pilot programs. an abel body adult the state would be able to put pilot program to do drug testing. there is some evidence people on can't hold a job do go public assistance and do get on because they never pass a drug test they never get off public assistance. to hard working taxpayers. has 'll is say the doc who been working in the system for

25 years i'll also say it's person to enable to continue in a self destructive lifestyle. at some point government becomes the problem. a measure of accountability you and couple that with the opportunity for someone to move out of that save their lives. it is not generous to the person to allow them to continue in the self destructive lifestyle. t is generous to move them to another level and requires accountability. >> it is outrageous, outrageous suggest that people that are supplements for abusers.ldren are drug there is no evidence to suggest that that particular group of people use drugs anymore than anyone else. it is outrageous rhetoric. and it is not going to solve any problems. should people be responsible in life? yes. should wealthy people be responsible in their life? yes. class and the poor.

but they're beating up and a person that is just who tween work or a woman went bankrupt because she couldn't get health insurance ecause he wouldn't give it to her or a person in the family who should get health insurance ut because he and bobbie said no they have insurance for themselves and their children. 252,000 working people. >> i need to get a response. stampshey go to get food now he wants to drug test them it's outrageous. --i didn't say >> yes, you did. >> i didn't say people on food stamps. senator first began by saying she thinks she voted for drug testing for welfare recipients. when i say that the house voted o allow states to do a pilot program in which able bodied adults would have the opportunity to have this level account act we begin to hear all these terrible things about represent caps are b we're

hard to protect hard working measure of act ability. to do ully will continue so. i'm aware of their struggles. >> we have to move on. continuing along that line with healthcare. i want to cassidy, back tack to the affordable care account. here are some parts of obamacare that are popular including coverage for preexisting conditions and also studentity to keep your who is 26 or under on your health insurance. affordable care act is ever repealed, would you at to support ling those provisions that are so popular? >> yeah. for someone who is 26 and younger to stay on their parents was originally a idea.ican so there are portions of the healthcare bill that can be underlying ut the premise of obamacare is that

government knows best. that government should be able tell us how to live our lives. now i learned working in the public hospital system that when the patient has the power the the patient. when the bureaucrat or the politician has the power, it lines up to serve the bureaucrat politician. a good example of that is the v.a. where administrators were cooking the acks so they would get their bonuses even though veterans were buying prematurely. overnment can tell you what benefits to have and therefore how much to pay. spoke to a family and their premium has gone from $12,000 to a 20% and now they have increase upon that they are obamacarepoor because says the government knows best. > >> cynthia has a slightly different version. >> i have a different version touching on the topic

the congressman just started on. on the other side of that there are a lot of people who feel forced into a situation where they're overinsured and paying for skof rapblg they don't necessarily need or want. do you say to those people whose premiums have gone through the roof? >> well first of all let me say this. no law is perfect. have said that i voted for this affordable care act because it was much better than the system that we had which was federalnt including the government having soaring, rising never ending costs and dropping insurance because they couldn't afford it. that was happening before the act.rdable care what i've said is i voted for the affordable care act and it improved. but congressman miss leads everyone when he says this is a system.nt run sector, public private partnership where people

can choose the insurance in has been put in place from republican and democratic governers. working for the first time in our country from independent are coming down in louisiana cynthia, when what he doesn't say is that 88% of the people in our state quality for subsidy. they're paying an average of $89 a month. it is the perfect law. no. much better than taking mothers ankruptcy and choosing between ma'am oh gram and taking care of the breast cancer or feeding their children paying rent. it was an awful system he supports and we won't go back to that. your time has expired. pole today.p had a an individual can have an did he stkubgtable of $6,000 that they found. people are fore going needed are more now than before

obamacare. get that. gallops poll out today hows that because presumably these deductibles they cannot afford it. but it's a policy if you'll be fined. the government is going to tell you what you have to have and pay and if have to you don't get that policy 1% of of income or a set amount dollars will be taken from you. that is government running your life. >> we're up against the gun a little bit. i'll give you 30 seconds to we'll move on. >> >> a woman came up to me and thank enator i want to you for the first time in my and my five children and i've been working here for 12 or insurance.ve we never had it before. $159 a month.

for some people it's working well. all these voted for is repeal 50 times. repeal to fix it and not it and i am proud that have tried to have help everyone, the middle class and the wealthy get insurance because he closed the hospital. infrastructure is crumbling talking mainly bridges.and one out of every nine bridges insufficient.ly say that because louisiana is $12 billion behind in bridge and roadway repairs. the primary source is the gasoline tax. since 't been raised 1993. do we need to raise it and if not where does the money come problem.ix the we begin with senator. i've already bills passed that will fix some of the

problem at least in louisiana is of mexico energy security act which for the first time gives louisiana a portion of offshore oil and gas revenues that are used to secure our rebuild our mexico energy security act marsh which used for and can be energy infrastructure. i tried to bring and have been money to in bringing louisiana. we should look at the gasoline tax. i'm not prepared to say raise it tonight. but additional funding has to be this t in to fix infrastructu infrastructure. let me tell you whore $800 million is laying on the opponent won't that is the marketplace fairness act just collecting the sales tax on online purchases. the chamber of commerce, the counsel, the shopping septemberers main street, small are put at a definite disadvantage because of taxes not being collected. looking for income, if you're looking for income which

he probably won't support any of just wants to talk about infrastructure but nothing about it if you're looking for we go to uggest marketplace -- >> let me go to the congressman. > republicans are already proposed we would expand the ing out on intercontinental shelf and hey'll be put into infrastructu infrastructure. now there's a twofold to this. dollars to put in the highway transportation fund and it would also increase of drilling in the outer continental shelves because states would be able to of that money. now the senate, the democrats in the bill and ose they didn't want drilling to happen off the atlantic coast. unfortunately some of those who led the charge are people whom given a ub has ubstantial amount of campaign contributions 0 for. she's given $400,000 in campaign

who haveions to people led the charge against drilling in the outer continental shelf. and dedicates that some of the royalties to building highways we can create build highways. >> can i respond to robert name.ez and clear his he does not support drilling and if he's waiting for some people and new jersey to drill to build our highways we'll be building for a long time. do? know what he did he led the fight for us to save people from having their insurance rates go through the sky. o you should thank senator menendez and not criticize him for doing something that your do. ership wouldn't >> i thank him because what he past in the senate the amendment.dy it fixed flood insurance. i do thank senator menendez. you ed my bill to save money.

secondly, i can say he's also drilling off the entire atlantic coast. just new jersey and new york but also virginians. creates money to build roads. we reached the point where we come to a question from each of candidates to one another and by luck of the draw it comes congressman cassidy. thatnator, you said before you would vote for obamacare again tomorrow. who has tkpwraouber been the architect of obamacare aid on several videos that he considered the american people stupid as they wrote the law in such a way as to raise taxes on middle class basically orcing people out of the policies that they were told wished.ld keep if they

he just sa first, when did you that he and the obama administration written this so as to deceive the american people. wished. you do know it would you still vote for obamacare tomorrow? >> i would say to dr. cassidy if he didn't have this issue to talk about he wouldn't have any issue to talk about. that's all he's talked about this whole campaign of the let e say again, this law is not perfect. it needs to be fixed and improved but it is better than we had and mr. tkpwraouber was not the first person. romney, the presidential candidate for the republican do know it would version of ou still the affordable care act in massachusetts. the affordable care act was modeled after a heritage oundation report and the full implementation of the massachusetts plan. and it is proven to work. not working in louisiana because bobbie and bill cas it i did are standing in the way every day.and but it is working in arkansas. it is working in california. is working in new york and the saddest thing is that our

state, the people of our state need it the most who are poorer than connecticut and new york have to pay for able to go se to be see their doctor and get their no. because he says >> my question was unanswered. hen did you understand that jonathaned a deliberately that you is and now know that would you vote for it again tomorrow? >> i don't read what he se. even talk to jonathan. talk to my constituent and my constituent that i represented for 18 years were tired of not insurance to afford and waiting eight hours in an emergency room. tired of having to choose between their rent and their food and their healthcare. ired of seeing people take bankruptcy as a doctor you should know this. it is heartbreaking to me that would claim to be a doctor for the poor but yet when they for help he egging closes the door in their face

and he says no. says his own paycheck with their money. it is really outrageous. and i hope that people will look into this record. i'm not sure the senator answered this he said he deceive us saying we were too stupid to catch it and i would like to know at some that we know it was the intent of the writers would tomorrow? vote for it >> let's move on. >> i don't read what mr. he says. listen to my constituent. question for congressman. the doctor.his is -- >> yes it is. did you fill out records twhrau upposed to fill out for the $20,000 that you reed annually is over years which

100,$000 a year. did you fill out those records? not over t it's 100,$000 >> it's $100,000 over five years. >> yeah, i filled out the records. whenever you go to clinic you assign charts and sheets and everybody knows where you are. hat said i made multiple statements regarding this. and whatever i has said is and misconstrued. help the tried to uninsured and poor for the last 25 years never shutting the door on them but going out of my way help. now the senator may not care for that. again, obamacare has not been answer for many people. so me doing this it's a to ilege to do it. i hope continue to did it. >> john, i need to respond to that. >> that said i will go back. f what the senator wants is transparency then i'll ask the question again. i treat patients clearly

they benefit. she takes charter jets on taxpayer dime who benefits? use this word, but i have to. lie.is a blatant the sheets that we have that public, n out to the your signature is not on them. there are 16 that have been public. to the his signature is on many of them the signature on some of them is questionably not his. the records were not completed. filed.re not i don't know anyone in this for that works on salary 20,000, 40,000, 100,000 that doesn't have to do the work to check. the there are no records. he said he would keep the records. these e-mails have been given out. it is public knowledge. o i think that you owe the explanation for why you took $174,000 plus $20,000

believe and until we get all the records they paid for his medical malpractice. he's the only doctor in the congress that has this sweetheart deal, the only one. again, i've been making multiple comments and my boss has as well. this with the senator consistently twisting it around to put it in the worst possible light. for the 25 years i've been caring for the people in uninsured l for the and the poor. if we want transparency. i'll return to my question for the senator. she takes a charter jet to campaign events who benefited from that? on and we'll go to question. r our next >> let's talk straight to the heart of the american people where they live. the average american is struggling to pay the bills to and a roof over their heads put their kids through college.

what are you saying to the right sitting out there now who perhaps is watching this debate and is really struggling those issues? congressman cas it i did let's begin with you. >> there are so many families struggling right now. we feel for that. again, i see that in my practice. nd many times they're struggling because of the obama and agenda. obamacare, now the senator says i bring it up often because it pervasive in our society. the parish would no longer allow substitute teacher to work 30 hours a week because they don't costs e penalties and associated with obamacare. workers and reduced their hours from ull-time to part-time and they say they cannot afford the cost of obamacare. the lowest fifth of people earning wages have uffered under the president's

healthcare law but also his to intees who are trying kill our oil and gas related jobs and bring pros pair toy families. they have been struggling. he agenda has been part of the problem. we need to reverse it. >> can i respond? energy committee and ranking member if i'm re-elected to the senate i have time a great deal of helping to build energy jobs in this country. america is on the verge of being energy which is were i voted so hard for the keystone pipeline. it would have passed. but we got it up for a vote in the senate and that is the leadership that i bring and when i get back to the senate we will keystone pipeline. that is important because it will signal energy jobs from and these jobs are not minimum wage jobs. people

in addition i support full access to the colleges and universities. my opponent not support the full pell grant increase. he will not reduce loans to students. not only has he brought the -- blocked health care at the hospitals which is reprehensible what he stands in the way of the colleges and universities he joined $700 million a reduction -- >> i'm going to get my producer a coronary. but me ask this question. -- let me ask this question. the keystone pipeline is 42,000 construction jobs and 50 permanent jobs. there will be an ciliary jobs in their. -- an ciliary jobs in theire. it's easier and cheaper to transport van got chemical corridor.

but isn't that big of a deal and what is the fuss about. let me respond to that. >> it's a big deal and it needs to be built because to build the infrastructure necessary. we can find all of the oil and gas we want but if we cannot transport it and move it from where it is found to where it needs to be, then we are going to be energy independent. that's why there's such a big fight about it. >> first i will say that a bill passed one chamber of the house. it has to be the past and senator landrieu couldn't get it. that said my dad moved to louisiana in his 40s and didn't have a college education. he he sold life insurance to people that work at the federal chemical plant. now those jobs are fantastic and seemed to be good jobs. we love those, but it's someone but it is not just the 50's like my dad who didn't serve those that have the job and in so doing he created prosperous life for his family. i can tell you it is more than

40,000 construction, which is huge, and it is more than the 50 permanent which is someone like my father. >> we have 45 seconds for the next question. >> dealing in the second amendment rights to the both of you in the week of the school shooting in newtown in connecticut where a semi automatic weapon was used to kill 26 students and teachers , tell me your stance on gun ownership beyond the basic handgun or shotgun to go hunting with. i am specifically talking about a semi automatic weapons. >> i support the second amendment and peoples rights to have guns to protect themselves and would support some of those were used.ns that what i voted for which is supported by 90% of the people even in our state is too close the loophole so people with mental illness or criminals cannot get easy access. to those guns. for what we call the to me mention amendment -- the toom

y mansion amendment to close the loophole that needs to be closed. i support gun ownership and the second amendment. >> i have a plus from the nra and senator landrieu has a d.. it wouldn't have been prevented by the bill. people do mentally ill or criminal aren't going to look at the wall book to see whether they should have a gun. that would have criminalized the law-abiding to address the issue of the non- law-abiding and those who were mentally. a better way to address those issues are to address the issues of mental illness. and i have a passion for this. families -- almost every family toching has a connection someone who has a mental illness. so we have to respond to that with compassion but we have to also recognize that it wouldn't have stopped it it has to address the underlying issue. >> before the final question, a change of pace. given the colorful history, who

is your favorite louisiana political figure or public figure in louisiana from the past and why? 30 seconds. >> i think mike foster did a great job. mike foster created the community college system that gave opportunity for folks trying to move to the next level of education and it's also a good deal for the state that save the money. in this administration was put into the good government initiatives. do i agree with everything, of course not but if you look at the legacy that he did at the community and technical colleges it is a great legacy. >> i would have to say of course. lindsay boggs. she was a great mentor and a wonderful friend. her grace and strength has inspired women and men in public office. she served with dignity and integrity and i just think our state has been blessed by her leadership. we miss her and she did a marvelous job.

>> the final question from mr. meriwether. >> i asked both of you about a personal setback in what you do to overcome its so let's talk about your professional career . senator landrieu, what has been your greatest mistake in your professional career and what did you learn from its? >> i've given several speeches that didn't turn out very well and one in particular that i can remember when i was a young legislature and i never forgot forgotten to be prepared and to not take anything for granted and to be prepared. and that has stayed with me and i've tried in all of my public presentations to provide good information. it was a horrible experience terribly embarrassing and it , served me well to be able to be prepared and know your material and show up and debate. and that would be at. one? congressman?

>> i'm a big belief or in those that love the lord says in retrospect maybe it wasn't a bad problem. i was at an international conference thinking about the vaccine research supposed to speak for 20 minutes i finished my speech in for. -- four. i was so nervous i began to speak like an auctioneer and i sat down and everybody looked at me and thought i never got invited back to give a similar type of speech. it was a total bomb. on the other hand it created a possibility to serve my state and our country in public office so i do think as that ended it perhaps opened up the opportunity to serve him and -- serve in another means and it has been a privilege to serve as a member of congress. >> mine was almost tripping over the monitor when i walked back but i avoided that. we have reached the point where we come to a closing statement from the candidates. again, by luck of the draw, this was chosen, congressman cassidy

goes first. >> families are struggling and they are struggling because of the obama-landrieu agenda. obamacare is one agenda. we were told we could keep their insurance if we wished. and we were not able to. premiums have increased sometimes by 300% created now, you cannot keep the doctor even though we were told to cut. people have had their full-time jobs decreased decreased part-time or even lost their job altogether. suddenly the epa regulations are coming after the oil and gas jobs that bringing prosperity to so many of us and then the agenda is beyond and has taken away the second amendment rights . senator landrieu supports barack obama 97% of the time. if you want a senator that will work to repeal and replace obamacare with something that gives you the power, that will fight against these job killing regulations, that will create a culture of life and defend your second amendment rights and vote bill cassidy because senator

landrieu represents barack obama and i represent you. i ask for your vote. >> there is a clear contrast in this election. my opponent that has spent 18 months hiding from the voters and now will not submit records of his double dipping in a public hospital where he has his -- he padded his own salary at taxpayer expense over $100,000 and willnot pass up fess up and not own up to that. he's good to be fighting more than president upon if he gets elected which i doubt. he will be fighting subpoenas because this is going to be under investigation. the contrast is for 18 years working with integrity, delivering for every part of the state. he's been very disrespectful to the president and to the office of the president. we need someone that will respect all views, go to washington and work for the betterment of the state on energy, education and on healthcare. i ask for your vote and thank you for your consideration.

>> thank you both for joining us this evening. remember the election is this saturday. thank you for watching and good night. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2014] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] on saturday. on our website you can see the debates between the candidates. here are look at some of the ads. >> i am mary landrieu and i approve the message. >> on the 31st, bill cassidy a speech that was nearly incoherent. >> senator landrieu may get -- flex but his record is crystal -- >> but his record is crystal clear voting to cut social security benefits, to pay for the tax breaks for millionaires like himself.

will it be for this quick >> before the end of the year we are going to >> the year, we're going to take ask before the end of the year, we are going to take whatever action we can legally take. >> that is president obama offering executive amnesty. remember, mary landrieu, barack obama, 97%. i am bill cassidy and i approve this message. >> every morning, i say prayer for my kids. i just want them to be happy and do their best. bill cassidy is a doctor but is still voted in congress to cut $86 million from louisiana schools to pay for a tax break for millionaires like himself. i do not know what kind of doctor would do that to my kids. >> i am mary landrieu and i approve this message because louisiana children should never

pay the price for millionaires tax cut. >> i am bill cassidy and approve this message. >> a few words from mary landrieu on obamacare. i had to go for the bill again, i would vote for it tomorrow. >> on voting with barack obama 97% of the time. >> i am very happy to see the president defend what i think is an extraordinary record. >> and if you dare disagree with her -- >> if they don't like it, they elect us because i am up for reelection right now. >> president obama announced his immigration order. jeh johnson spoke. later, the senate commerce committee examines how

professional sports organizations handle domestic violence. that is live at 2:30 p.m. eastern on c-span three. >> the c-span's cities tour takes book tv and american history tv on the road, traveling to a u.s. cities to learn about their history and literary life. we partnered with time warner cable for a visit to waco, texas. >> as we began to receive the vinyl to be digitized, we began turning over the be sides of the 45s that we received. first off, gospel music was not widely heard in the white community. and when it was it would only be the hits. the flipside would be heard even less. what we discovered very quickly was how many of the b side strong's were directly related to the civil rights movement. since there were very few databases and none of them were complete on gospel music, we did not know that.

we did not know the sheer number of songs that had very overt songs like there ain't no segregation in heaven songs. it was a very dangerous thing in the deep south. singing that sort of song out loud, that is a risk. >> the texas ranger hall of fame, set up in 1976 for the 175th anniversary of the rangers. rangerss at this .30 who made major contributions to the service or gave their lives under heroic circumstances -- at madepoint 30 rangers who major contributions to the service or gave their lives under heroic circumstances. it begins with austin, who was successful with his rangers. a not only managed to make the area safe from indian raids, but when the texas war

for independence broke out, the rangers played a major role in texas gaining its independence by stating off the mexican army g off the mexican army long enough to allow us to build an army of a strategy. as a result, texas became the republic of texas for about 10 years. >> what all of the events from waco saturday at noon eastern on 2:00.v and sunday at >> members of the congressional black caucus book monday about the situation in ferguson, missouri. and the relationship between a law enforcement and minority communities. to revise and extend their remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. jeffries: hands up, don't shoot. it's a rallying cry of people all across america who are fed

.p with police violence in community after community after community. fed up with police violence in rguson in brooklyn, in cleveland, in oakland, in cities and counties and rural communities all across america. and so tonight, the c.b.c. will stand on the floor of the house of representatives and for the next of minutes speak on the -- for the next 60 minutes, speak on the top exof black in america. what does ferguson say about where we are and where we need to go? people are fed up all across america because of the injustice involved in continuing to see young, unarmed african-american

of a lled as a result gunshot fired by a law enforcement officer. people in america are fed up with a broken criminal justice totem that continues to fail deliver accountability when law enforcement officers engage in the excessive use of police force. people are fed up with prosecutors who don't take seriously their obligation to deliver justice on behalf of the victims of police violence. instead, as we recently saw down in ferguson, missouri, choose to act as a defense attorney for the law enforcement officer who

pulled the trigger and killed michael brown. people are fed up. this is a problem that congress can't run away from and the c.b.c. stands here today to make sure that congress runs toward the problem. that we come up with constructive solutions to breaking this cycle, this epidemic, this scourge of police violence all across america. so i'm pleased today that we've been joined by several of our distinguished colleagues, including the chair of the congressional black caucus who for the last two years has led the charge on behalf of the c.b.c. in dealing with issues of social and racial and economic justice, i'm proud to serve under her, i'm proud that she's on the floor today, we're thankful for her service, and let me now yield to the distinguished gentlelady from

cleveland, congresswoman marcia fudge. ms. fudge: thank you very, very much. i thank you, congressman jeffries, for leading the congressional black caucus special order hour for the 113th congress, for your weekly advice, your weekly message, i thank you. we owe you a debt of gratitude. it is a pleasure to have worked with you for the last two years. mr. speaker, we are running out of patience. last week, the nation waited and hoped that justice would finally be served in the case of michael brown. we waited to hear our country say loud and clear, there are cons agains for taking the lives of others. we waited to hear some reassurance that black and brown boys' lives do matter. but again, we are terribly disappointed and discouraged.

the ferguson grand jury's decision not to indict officer wilson was another slap in our face. it was a painful reminder that just like with trayvon martin and so many others that law enforcement officers feel that our -- kill black and brown boys without repercussions. while some see it as the system working as it should, others see it as a blatant miscarriage of justice. where is the closure for michael brown's parents? for the he closure outrage of the black community? that we remain mired in racial issues in 2014 is an embarrassment. we should consider taking a long look in the mirror before we go to other countries lecturing them about the need for democracy in politics, when here at home we are unable to fully

address our own issues. mr. speaker, the house is not in order. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is correct. the house will be in order. please proceed. ms. fudge: if we are to learn anything from the tragic death of michael brown, we must first acknowledge that we have a race issue we are not addressing. we must have open, honest, transparent conversations about prejudice, racism and racial threats. we must also lead conversations with law enforcement about transparency, accountability and police and community -- and community policing. i want to thank the president today for once again putting a focus on the need for community policing in our country. mr. speaker, all lives have value. as members of congress it is our responsibility to clearly communicate this message to our voters, our constituents, and our neighbors. mr. speaker, enough is enough. i yield back. mr. jeffries: i thank the chair for her eloquent remarks. people have asked all over the

country, in some corners, perhaps in congress and this city, why are people upset? well, you had an unarmed dividual, michael brown, who had no criminal record, just graduated from high school, on his way to college, killed in what appears to be the excessive lieof police force, left to in the hot august sun for 4 1/2 hours. the immediate response by the police chief is to engage in character assassination of the deceased while refusing to release the name of the officer who pulled the trigger. the ferguson police department responds as if this was a military campaign on foreign soil, not in an american city. the prosecutor decides to get involved and does a document

dump. doesn't engage in responsible prosecutorial behavior, fails to ask for specific charge. allows the officer to testify unabated, doesn't point out inconsistencies between his initial telling of the events on that fateful day and what he said before the grand jury. and then announces all of this late at night and behaves as if he was the defense attorney for darren wilson. why are people upset? those are just a few of the reasons. it's my honor to yield time now to the distinguished delegate from the district of columbia, representative eleanor holmes norton. ms. norton: i want to thank my good friend for his leadership this evening, it's the kind of leadership he has provided since he has come to the congress and

for the critique he has just offered. but i come to the floor this afternoon to try to convert that critique into an understanding of the big picture. demonstrations have been going on even though we're days away from when the indictment did not come down. why in a country where you haven't seen demonstrations a-- you have been seeing demonstrations across the united states for some time, why have demonstrations of young people broken out all across america? there is a message here that comes from the demonstrations and from the words of the parents of michael brown. his father pleaded that michael brown not have died in vain.

people in the streets are there to see that michael brown has not died in vain. that proximate cause once again becomes color blind. to see that when a young black is os into the street, he not consistently and constantly profiled because of the color of his skin. that emonstrations show and issue, detention stopping of black men, especially black men, in the streets, has been simmering below the surface. until this tragedy became a way for it to find an outlet.

the provocative stop in the streets, eric holder, a former u.s. attorney, now the attorney general of the united states, has been stopped in the streets of the nation's capital and i say to my friends, this is a progressive city. i cannot imagine what it must be like across the united states. a young black man in st. louis held up a poster which is all about the big picture. it said, we are all mike brown. when my son go into the street, he is michael brown. we want america so that when he go into the street he's like everybody else until he does something wrong and there's proximate cause to show it. that does not occur in any city, in any small hamlet of the united states today, and so yes, this great tragedy has become a

vehicle to express that grievance. there are things that can be done, the president has just come forward with a request for n appropriation for cameras, $260 million. they work. we have found that when police have body cameras, they protect the police as well as protect members of the public. so as we come to grips with the fact that there was no bill new york indictment, i hope we will not lose our focus on the big picture that we are in essence sending a message to police departments all over the united states, even though you think you may not be doing it, what we're talking about is endemic throughout the united states. people are laying down in

peaceful protest, yes, they're blocking the streets, when i was a youngster in the civil rights movement, we tried not to inconvenience people but this is a whole different day and they never-before-seen draw the attention of the entire public nd yes, of police around the united states, to just how much of a festering sore this has been. so i thank my good friend from new york for leading this special order, i thank the chair of the congressional black caucus for leading us off tonight, and in the spirit of michael brown's father, who asked that his son not have died in vain, let us make sure that we support the president's request for pilot programs for body cameras, that you send that message back home to your police departments and we work together to make proximate cause color blind. i thank my good friend from new york.

mr. jeffries: we're here as a members of the congressional a black caucus to have an open, honest and direct dialogue with america. and in a democracy, there has to be a balance between effective law enforcement on the one hand and a healthy respect for the constitution and the civil rights of others, particularly african-americans, on the other. if we're honest, we haven't gotten that balance right. and as a result we see young, unarmed, innocent african-american men gunned down in city after city in america and we're here to say enough is enough. i'm pleased now to yield to someone who has served this institution incredibly well as a member of congress, served the country well as a member of

the military, the lion of lennox avenue, the distinguished gentleman from the great state of new york, and the village of harlem, representative charlie rangel. mr. rangel: i never felt more proud of my colleague from new york for the great leadership that he's provided since his arrival in this august body. this is such a great country and i love it so much. i was raised in the shadow of the statue of liberty and when i graduated from law school, having been the only one in my family having gone to college, i think my mother said, thank you, jesus, and i said something like thanks for the constitution and thanks for being born in america. like anything else you love, if

there's an illness, if there's a problem, you would want to know what can you do to cure it? how can you make it all that our country can be? how can we say that we have a cancer until we recognize that then we don't really love our country? how can we be able to say that white and black in this country are equal and that those who work hard and live by the rules have the same opportunities as each other when we know that we have this cancer that sometimes we're able to make the country do a lot better than it has since our people were the only ones that were actually brought here in chains, but i marched from selma to montgomery and

things that i never had the opportunity to dream because equality never was on the list in my community. but if as a result of this i've been able to live long enough to see african-american men and women be elected to local and state offices around this untry, to come here and join with nine african-american embers of congress in 1970 and to walk tall and know that in that short period of time we've grown to over 40, 45 members of congress, does that mean that we've rid ourselves of the cancer? i think not. and how can we do it? by admitting that we do have that problem. because whether we're talking bout ferguson or harlem or

somewhere else, until we admit that we have this illness and we have this problem, then singling out the success of ome of us in this country does not heal the wounds that have been left through the centuries f racial hatred and prejudice. we've been able to say we were freed by the emancipation proclamation, but the truth of the matter is, our people have been enslave -- in slavery more than we've been so-called free people. and the fact that they said that you were no longer a slave didn't mean that you were an american, with all the rights and the privileges of it. and it hasn't been that long that i can remember my grandfather from virginia talking about innocent people being lynched in virginia. and it hasn't been that long

that our people have been granted the constitutional right to what? to vote. and it hasn't been that long ago that -- even said that our schools should be desegregated or the military desegregated. d until we reach the point that african-american parents don't have to tell their kids to act differently just because of their color, that they have to succumb to the type of conduct that you teach on one hand be a man and stand up for your rights, but if he's in uniform, then beg and plead and don't move, don't say anything that might irritate him -- i think, i really believe that the people who unconsciously don't know and don't care about the heavy weight that black folks have carried in this country over the centuries that

they were brought here cannot possibly love the country as much as they would if they say it was not a ferguson problem. it's an american problem. and they should be able to ask, what is it that they could do? and i would humbly suggest the first thing you do is to acknowledge, acknowledge that you have that problem. me people may talk about payment for restitution for past crimes committed against human beings. but that restitution could be the ability to say that we're going to make certain that people of color in this country would be able to have access to the same type of education,

live where they want to live, compete against anybody for the job and not feeling that they're inferior because people have been taught that just because they have a different complexion that they are superior. and they take that because they were born on third base, that just being born means they can hit a home run. fact is that all of us collectively would know that whether you're black or brown or yellow, whatever the complexion is, that the greatest benefit and asset that we have as a nation is that we bring in all of these cultures together to build the greatest nation on earth. we have ferguson in another 10 or 20 years, it doesn't have to be. what has to be is that we cut

this poison out of the system of this great country and openly say that we have this problem and then, as the parents and mr. brown would want, that death would have been just another sacrifice that one of us has made to wake up this wonderful country to do what has to be done. so let me thank you for constantly reminding us that we've come a long, long way from how we got here, but we have a long way to go. thank you so much. mr. jeffries: i thank the distinguished gentleman from new york for his always eloquent and poignant observations. let me now yield to one of my dynamic colleagues on the judiciary committee, the distinguished gentleman from texas, representative sheila jackson lee. ms. jackson lee: allow me to add my appreciation for the

continued leadership of my friend and colleague from new york and to thank the previous speakers. we all associate ourselves with the passion, the commitment, the determination that has been expressed. but let me, as i stand, acknowledge that i am particularly pleased to be associated with distinguished legislators. many people in this nation have their particular roles as pastors and civil rights leaders. and in a meeting held right before the thanksgiving holiday, members of the congressional black caucus were reminded of the giant role that they have played over the years in combining passion with legislation. hearings with pain. as early as the 1990's we held hearings on the questions of excessive force, as well as the issues of racial profiling along the highways of america. the issue of excessive sentencing in the crack cocaine

disparities. the issue of dealing with the overincarceration of minorities and the overfilling of jails. today, mr. speaker, i rise to ead to my colleagues, we are legislators. we cannot legislate without the partnership of republicans. and so i stand as a democrat and a member of the congressional black caucus that has always been cited as the conscience of america to say hat we need to work in step on the conspicuous achilles heels of america. that is, the criminal justice system. as we stand here today, every one of us has applauded a police officer, has mourned at their passing in the line of duty, has given them awards, has stood alongside of them, every one of us and certainly i will not take a back seat to anyone on my respect for law enforcement across the gamut. i recognize that they are here to protect and serve. and i think it is very crucial

that our friends in law enforcement recognize the work that members of the congressional black caucus have done, if not individually but collectively. let me say that i also admire the young st. louis rams players who raised their hands, to be able to share in the dignity of those young peaceful protesters. if we don't affirm nonviolence, then who will? and i think everyone, law enforcement and others, who agree or disagree should recognize young people like the ones in houston, texas, don't shoot. that does not in any way denigrate or disrespect our law enforcement officers. so for just a few minutes i want to speak about that aspect and how we see the justice system. to my colleagues, this is 2,500 pages. those documents issued by the d.a. in st. louis county were 10,000 pages. i am continuing to grow this

stack. it is clear that what happened in the grand jury system for many who don't know that system, those individuals are appointed by a judge. a single judge says, who do i know in the community? let me see if i can appoint 12 of them. in st. louis county, it took nine to indict. and if you listen to new york state chief judge who famously remarked that a prosecutor could persuade a grand jury to indict a ham sand witch. when i served on the municipal court, there were many probable cause hear thags we held and many efforts by police officers to get a warrant to be able to go when they thought there was suspicion of a crime. we worked with law enforcement officers. in fact, data says according to the bureau of justice statistics, u.s. attorneys prosecuted 162,000 federal cases in 2010, the most recent

year for which we have data. grand juries declined to return an indictment in 11. that's federal, that's not the state of missouri, but i can assure you it is comparable. so what happened in missouri when it relates to the justice system, the criminal justice system? first of all, a grand jury system is not a jury of your peers. a grand jury indictment is not a conviction it. would not have meant, if there is an indictment, that the officer in question was convicted. it would simply mean that we would transition to the jury system and we'd be able to address the question of michael brown's rights. for michael brown was protected under the constitution, the first amendment not only talks about freedom of religion and speech, it talks about the rights of association and the right of movement. michael brown, an 18-year-old big boy, as his mom and dad lovingly called him, had a right to move, had a right to move on the streets of america. but he was denied that right.

he was denied that right with seven shots. and so there has to be a question, no one would deny that there is a reason to have a full trial and the question would be, why didn't the st. louis district attorney act like many other district attorneys? and i know there are some who were in that role here in this particular floor tonight, which is presenting a case and let the jury ultimately decide and the facts and the grand jury, evidence that a question remained. let me say these few points as i close. i am a supporter of the executive order of the president with body cams, but we need a broad view of what we're going to do in this situation. as i indicated to you a grand jury is something different from peers. by jury of your

i would say what happened in st. louis was not the way that the rocess usually goes. on a grand jury, you needed nine and unfortunately the configuration of that jury made it very unclear that there was not going to be an indictment. so today i think it is very important that we address federal question -- several questions. we need to look at the grand jury system across the nation. we need to look at it in the me of shawn bell, abadu, trayvon martin, a civilian, michael brown, and the 12-year-old boy. we need to look at it from the perspective of why isn't community-oriented policing used? why wasn't it used in ferguson? under the urban justice act this i introduced, communities that rely on fines and other means of

funding their government, their federal funding should be diminished accordingly. if their whole base of living and funding is just to stop people along the street. i said racial profiling, the expanding of civil review boards, the increasing of diversity which is being tried, unfortunately, a little late in ferguson, the use of conserve -- conservatorships, of taking over police departments until they get it right and educational reformation in teaching our young boys, our minority boys, along with things like my brother's keeper. to my colleagues today, this is only the beginning. i believe as martin king said, where do we go from here? it is imperative that legislation joined with ompassion. it should be not only democrats or members of the congressional black caucus, we want partners, realize that the justice system

as it penetrate into local communities must be enhanced or reformed. how long can we tolerate the shooting down of children in our streets? it has nothing to do with respect or lack of respect from law enforcement. from the levels of the f.b.i. to d.a. to a.t.f. to local constables and sheriffs. tonight my question is, where do we go from here. it's a reformation of the jury system. the special prosecutor should have been the roult in missouri and i would hope we would look to legislative fixes with our colleagues to make america better. the congressional black caucus will not be silenced. those of white house serve on the respective jurisdictional committees will not be silenced because america is better than this, a country that we love. where do we go from here? we must fix it and fix it now. i yield back to the gentleman. mr. jeffries: i thank the gentlelady from texas for lending her powerful voice to this issue. we want a fair, impartial, color

blind criminal justice system. but if we're honest with ourselves that doesn't exist for all americans today. and that undermines the integrity of our democracy. that's not just a black problem, or a white problem, or a democratic problem, or a republican problem. that's an american problem. and that's why the congressional black caucus stands on the house floor here today to jump start, not just a discussion, but a march toward making meaningful progress as we move forward perfecting this great union. it's my honor and privilege to now yield to my good friend and colleague from the great state of new york, someone who himself is a former prosecutor, and who has been involved in the fight for social and racial justice during his tremendous tenure here in the united states congress. let me yield to the distinguished gentleman from new york city, the borough of

queens, congressman gregory meeks. mr. meeks: thank you. i want to thank my friend and colleague, great attorney, great legislator, for leading this discussion this evening, for not only here on the floor of the house of representatives but what you do every day. in fact, it's an example of what we can follow, how you lead in your district, especially in brooklyn, rallying around, as i will talk about later, when you saw a prosecutor not do his job, you were one that led in brooklyn to say the people were getting people's -- will get a people's prosecutor and folks went to the polls, when someone said it couldn't be done, you led and helped make it happen where an incumbent forgot his way and was not representing the people, you helped people get together and go to the polls and have a new prosecutor in brooklyn to move forward. we thank you for that leadership.

today we talk about black in america. what ferguson says about where we are and where we need to go. now, as congressman jeffries has said, i'm a former prosecutor, i know about the grand jury system. and i know the failure of the grand jury process as directed or as some would argue, prosecutor to the indict officer wilson in the shooting ground of michael brown jr., an unarmed ferguson, missouri, teenager, undermines public confidence and the very notion of equal administration of justice. now, when you go before the grand jury, all you have to show is that there is proximate cause

, is probable cause, probable cause, the lowest standard there is, that a crime was committed. and when you see the process that this prosecutor went through, he tried to try a case. came in with a preconceived thought that he did not want an indictment here. for i don't know of any prosecutors that go into the grand jury and don't at least after it's all done ask for an indictment. he never asked for an indictment. in this case. so the tragic circumstances in ferguson and other unfortunate instances around the country have sparked a movement for justice, equality, and change

that i believe is critical to the communities affected by ms. carriages of justice. -- by miscarriages of justice. but this movement is not just for those communities. indeed, the united states of america needs this movement. this is as others have said an american problem. as dr. martin luther king jr. once said, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. racial disparities of any kind are troubling for our entire nation. and so though we've elected president barack obama here in the united states, i heard some say we were in a post-racial america. no. we are not. for racism is still alive and

well in the united states. of america. -- in the united states of america. we've got work to do. so where do we go? this movement with its courageous contingent of young activists is quickly learning, adapting, applying, and innovating on the most effective methods and models of the civil rights movements of previous generations. as this movement continues to grow and takes every opportunity to focus its demands, expand its outreach, develop its activists in the discipline of peaceful, direct action, and deepen its understanding of how to apply mass pressure on policymakers, it will cascade not simply to interrupt businesses as usual, but to generate electoral participation on levels unseen in generations. this movement has the potential

to transform the tragedy in ferguson into a historic turning point in the centuries-long struggle for freedom, justice, and equality. the congressional black caucus is part of this moment and part of this movement. tens of thousands of federal, state, and local elected officials, civic leaders, civil rights organizations, activists, clergies, lawyers, educators, artists, athletes, business owners, and hundreds of thousands if not millions of ordinary working people of all ages from all over america are part of this movement. so now is the time for america to come together to reform police practices, redress patterns of racial disparities in the justice system and hold police accountable for the use of excessive force, especially deadly force.

now is the time to match nonviolent direct action with meaningful legislative and administrative action. now is the time for the federal government to act, for congress to act, for courts to act, for state legislatetures to act. r country -- legislatures to act, for county and other governments to act. now is the time, my friends, to register to vote, because soon, very soon, it will be time to act at the ballot boxes. only then will these voices be truly heard and every -- in every corner of every county and throughout this country. and then the world would know that unwarranted violence and abuse of power has no home in america. injustice has no seat in our democratic institution and only then will we honor the sacrifice of those who have paid the

ultimate price and begin to heal a nation of men who -- of many who aspire to become one. yes, indeed, we have come a long way. but yes, indeed, we have a long, long, long way to go. thank you for your time. mr. jeffries: i thank my good friend, the distinguished gentleman from new york, for his very eloquent and thoughtful remarks, as always. now it's my honor and privilege to yield to the great civil rights leader, former judge, and distinguished gentleman from the great state of texas, representative al green. mr. green: thank you very much. i thank the speaker as well. i want to make mention of mr. horsford, he is not here tonight, but i always associate him with mr. jeffries. they have been a great dynamic duo and they have done outstanding work with these

special order hours. in his absence, i want to let him know we still greatly appreciate him and miss him. mr. speaker, i had a john carlos moment. for edification purposes, john carlos was the athlete at the 1968 olympics who went to the podium along with tommy smith and raised his hand in what was called at that time a black power salute. at that time, much was said about john carlos and tommy smith, many people criticized them for taking the podium and for making this gesture. they were said to be outside of the mainstream. but i believe that history has vindicated them. because they were a part of the avant-garde. they actually were cause manage people to understand that the black -- causing many people to understand that the black power

movement at that time was much bigger than many thought. i had a john carlos moment because i saw this clip where the rams players came into the arena, hands up, don't shoot. it was a john carlos moment because this has become the new symbol, a new statement, a statement wherein people around the country now are calling to the attention of those who don't quite understand that this is a movement that will not dissipate. it will not evaporate. it's a movement that is going to continue because young people, a new generation, has decided that they're going to engage themselves in the liberation movement, the freedom movement if you will, the continuation of what happened in 1968 with john carlos and tommy smith.

i want to make sure that those who participated on the rams team, that their names are chronicled in history. i want people who look back through the time to know who they were when they search the congressional record so i want to add their names to this record. . i want kenny brit to be recognized. tayvon austin to be recognized. steadyman bailey to be recognized. jared cook. craig gibbons. and tray mayson. these are persons who in the years to come will be acknowledged as a part of the avant-garde. and i want people to know also that i appreciate and support what the president is doing with his executive action. i support what he's doing with body cameras. and i support what he's doing with body cameras because i

believe that body cameras can exonerate and they can as well incountry -- incriminate. they can exonerate officers who are falsely accused. they can provide empirical evidence of what actually transpired. there won't be he said or she said. there will be the empirical evidence of what the camera actually saw. they can also incriminate those who would try to perpetrate a fraud upon the american people. body cameras can identify those who would engage in criminal conduct and then try to excuse their conduct with words that don't match what the camera will reveal. i believe in body cameras. this is why i have filed h.r. 5 407, the tip act, transparency in policing. the i.p. act would cause

justice department to examine the circumstance in this country, the cost for body cameras, and would then allow those jurisdictions that cannot afford to incorporate body cameras into their police departments, there would be an exemption for that. but would require those generally speaking who receive federal dollars to move to body cameras. i regret that we are getting to point now where we are getting it right after the fact. we shouldn't get it right after the fact. this is what's happening in ferguson. after the fact ferguson is moving to body cameras. but we don't need another ferguson. there are other communities around the country where after the fact they are moving to body cameras. we don't need to have an injustice take place before we move to a just circumstance and incorporate these body cameras.

my hope is that we will follow the president's lead, that we will incorporate body cameras into police departments across the length and breadth, the scope of this country, if you will. but i also pray that this bill, h.r. 5407, will get a hearing. it is overwhelmingly supported by members of the c.b.c., as well as others. it is not a c.b.c. initiative, but it is supported overwhelmingly by the c.b.c. my hope is that this bill will get a fair hearing, because we should not get it right after the fact. we should have an opportunity to get -- to eliminate a lot of what we see as a confusion and chaos. we need not continue to add fuel to the flame of confusion. that flame can be eliminated if we but only had these body cameras. they're not a cure-all, they're not a panacea. but they are a positive step in the right direction. i