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 absolute the president and thank him for what -- salute the president and thank him for what he's doing and a i pray we get a fair hearing on h.r. 5407. god bless you, brother, and i hope you continue to do what you're doing on the floor of the house. mr. jeffries: thank you. it's now my honor and privilege to yield time, mr. chair, how much time do we have remaining? the speaker pro tempore: approximately 14 minutes are remaining. mr. jeffries: let me now yield to my good friend, the distinguished congresswoman who represents the neighboring district at home in brooklyn, she's a fighter for justice, a voice for the voiceless, and it's now my privilege to yield to congresswoman yvette clarke. ms. clarke: hands up, don't shoot. i thank my colleague and

friend, mr. jeffries of brooklyn new yorker for his tremendous leadership both -- from brooklyn, new york, for his tremendous leadership both here in washington, d.c., and in new york. i rise to join my colleagues in the congressional a black caucus to discuss being black in america and what the injustice in ferguson, missouri, says about where we are and where we need to go as a civil society. i first want to once again offer my condolences to the family of michael brown whose efforts to secure justice on behalf of their son were undermined by the decision of the grand jury. the killing of michael brown and aa tacks by the ferguson -- and attacks by the ferguson police department on protesters demonstrate an assumption that young women and men who are african-american are inherently suspicious, a false assumption with deadly consequences. so where do we go from here? we must not allow this false

assumption to prevail in our nation in our society. we cannot and will not accept the deval situation of african-american -- deval situation of after a can -- devaluation of after a can american lives. in my hometown in brooklyn, new york, where we are still reeling from the recent killing an unarm aed young man shot by a probation -- unarmed young man shot by a probation ary city police officer, this killing on the heels of the homicide by a choke-hold of eric garner on statin island, again in new york city. mr. speaker, it's deeply disappointing that as we observe the 50th anniversary of the civil rights act of 1964 we are still trying to fulfill the promise of the 14th amendment, of equal protection under the law, while the civil rights act

of 1964 transformed our nation by prohibiting discrimination based on race, religion, color, sex and national origin at work, in schools and in other public facilities, we still must transform the perceptions, vices and a prejudices -- biases and prejudices that some people still carry with them like luggage from generations past. the incidents in ferguson and cities across this nation reminds us that communities that have been disproportionately and unjustly targeted by police departments demand recognition of their humanity. young people of color refuse to live in a democratic society, in a state of fear, and we have an obligation as a nation to rid ourselves of the scourge of racially biased state-sanctioned terrorism.

i fully support the steps announced today by the obama administration to strengthen community policing and fortify the trust that must exist between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve. i've been a vocal advocate for better relations between the community and law enforcement community. given the police officer's sole mission is to serve and protect the people with dignity, integrity and respect, we must focus on achieving that mission. i pledge to work with my constituents, the obama administration, my colleagues and officials across this country, especially in new york city, to restore public trust and to establish a more enlightened policing strategy and to prevent surge incidents in the future. so again i'd like to thank mr. jeffries for his leadership. i want to thank the c.b.c., the

conscience of the congress, for holding this timely special order. to all americans who are disturbed by the demonstrations that are taking place across this nation, i want you to remember these four words. no justice, no peace. and i yield back. mr. jeffries: thank you, congresswoman clarke. mr. speaker, the man in brooklyn did not deserve to die. tamir rice in cleveland did not deserve to die. michael brown in ferguson did not deserve to die. the congressional black caucus is determined to make sure that these and many other deaths at the hands of law enforcement resulting from the use of excessive force will not be in vain. it's now my honor and my privilege to yield to one of the mighty voices of the hip-hop generation here in the united states, who powerfully represents his midwestern district, the distinguished gentleman from the great state of indiana, congressman andre

carson. mr. carson: thank you very much. i have to acknowledge my colleague, my friend, my rother and leader not only nationwide and internationally, but especially of brooklyn for his boldness, his tenacity, mr. speaker, his intestinal fortitude and his ability as a city member of congress to still speak truth to power, congressman jeff rills. mr. speaker, i rise tonight -- jeffries. mr. speaker, i rise today to -- tonight to express my deepest con domences to the brown if -- condolences to the brown family who lost their son far too soon. as a parent, i can only imagine their pain and grief, mr. speaker. no parent should have to go

through such an ordeal. as a young an african-american man, i can relate to the frustration being felt on the streets of ferguson and streets across our country. the history of this great nation, mr. speaker, past and with t is plagued incidents of bigotry and discrimination in our justice system. racial injustice continues to afflict our communities and with each incident like this ne, old wounds are reopened. he feeling felt in ferguson is real and cannot, should not be discounted.

mr. speaker, many right now feel abandoned by our justice singled out irly for suspicion. these are very legitimate concerns that cannot be ignored or overshadowed by those who have turned to violence. as a former police officer, mr. speaker, i want to say i do respect our system of justice, but i also recognize its shortcomings. we certainly have a long way to go to guarantee our country's children of color are protected equally under the law. every instance, every neighborhood all across this great nation, mr. speaker, no community should have to doubt whether justice has prevailed when a decision like this one has been handed down. we must not let michael brown's

death be in vain. that would be a disgrace. that would be a tragedy. is still our nation struggling to heal. but this cannot truly happen until we honestly assess how justice is provided across our country. this process starts with peaceful protests, yes. but it ends with lasting reforms that protect all americans equally, mr. speaker. this will not be easy or quick. but what is clear is that this march toward a better, more equitable country must begin with a unified front. through this tragedy we should bring about lasting change and so tonight on that note i want to ask, mr. speaker, all of my colleagues, my fellow

americans, to stand with the congressional black caucus to make this dream a reality. mr. speaker, i yield back. mr. jeffries: i thank the distinguished gentleman for his eloquent remarks. let me now yield to the distinguished gentleman from maryland, the great aline of scrimmagea cummings -- elijah cummings. mr. cummings: thank you very much. i want to thank mr. jeffries for calling this special order tonight. and let me say to america, whenever law enforcement officers -- a law enforcement officer shoots and kills an unarmed citizen in this great country, america has a problem. and i want us to be very careful that we don't become distracted and not address the issues. and i know that we in the congressional black caucus make sure that we don't get involved in motion, commotion, emotion and no results. and that's what this is all

about. because the things that we're talking about is trying to bring about change, not just for our young people today, but for generations yet unborn. and so let me just briefly state that i'm very pleased with what the president did today. i think it's a step this the right direction -- a step in the right direction. the effort to get body cameras, 50,000 of them, to establish a task force. ight i along with 100 other leaders wrote to the president and we just asked for certain things and i'll yame them and then yield back to the gentleman. we asked d.o.j. develop the training for law enforcement officers to counteract racial bias. and retention among law enforcement professionals. grants to support youth in the

communities that these officers serve. reduction of excessive republicry among community police departments. call for d.o.j. oversight of law enforcement practices. and increase accountability through national standards through investigation into cases of inappropriate behavior. we will continue this fight. and you know, to the brown mily, you have our condolences, but we know you want to make sure that change is brought about. and we promise you that we are going to do everything in our power to do that. and i yield back. mr. jeffries: let me now yield to one of my colleagues in the freshman class, soon to be a dynamic sophomore, the gentlelady from the great state

of ohio, congresswoman joyce beatty. mrs. beatty: mr. speaker, thank you. it is my honor to stand here not only with the congressional members of the black caucus. today, i have a heavy heart. if we stand here ases members of the congressional plaque caucus on the topic, being black in america, what ferguson says where we are and where we need to go. mr. speaker, i would like to express my condolences to the family of michael brown. the gentle giant will not be forgotten nor will what his loss represents. michael brown had a promising future before his life was cut short that saturday afternoon in august. and i realize my time is

probably up. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. mr. jeffries: thank you, mr. speaker. we have come a long way and we look forward to marching toward a more perfect union and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. under the speaker's announced policy of january 3, 2013, the gentleman from texas, mr. gohmert, is recognize dollars r 60 minutes as the designee f the majority leader. mr. gohmert: mr. speaker, there are some people that wanted to be heard and didn't have a chance and i would be glad to ield such time as they need.

be glad to yield. yield to my friend. mr. jeffries: i thank my good friend for yielding a few moments for us to close this very important special order. and let me just yield to congresswoman joyce beatty to finish her remarks as we prepare to conclude this c.b.c. special order. and let me thank congressman gohmert for yielding a few moments of his time. mrs. beatty: thank you to my colleague. let me continue and be very brief with saying, michael brown had a promising future before his life was cut short before his life was cut short. he was supposed to start technical college, planning to be a heating and cooling engineer one day, hoped to start

his own business. strove to set a an example, teaching them to stay in school. instead, another loss. michael brown fell victim to a criminal just tim system that too often fails people of color. unfortunately, he is another black male, whose full promise and potential will never be realized because his life was taken too early by the very department created to protect and serve his community, the ferguson police department. mr. speaker, i think it is appropriate that the congressional black caucus us is on the floor today discussing being plaque in america. and in many circumstances, the conscience of america on issues of race relations, struggles and

inequityies. e are or are our brother's keepers. and today, december 1, we are celebrating the 59th anniversary of rosa parks giving up her seat on a bus in month gentlewoman erie, alabama. her civil disobedience on this day should be celebrated. we see in the majority, a peaceful protest in refusing to give up her seat, she sparked a civil rights movement, a movement highlighted by incremental progress such as the civil rights act of 1964, the voting rights act of 1965. about where a nation came together with eliminating discrimination against blacks and providing equal rights under law. the civil rights movement is

ongoing. a great distrust between local residents and law enforcement remains today. too many young black men are left behind and are seen as objects of fear and we have a pipeline that tears our communities of color apart, leaving them forever incomplete, but as dr. king said, human progress is neither automatic or inevitable. every step towards the goal of justice requires suffering and struggle. the tireless ex ergses and compassionate concerns of dedicated individuals. lastly, mr. speaker, i'm hopeful that initiatives like the president's my brother's keeper, which is implementing cradle to college and programs will allow

us to continue the rosa progress that shell sparked 59 years ago. should we work harder to get people registered to vote? yes. but it takes more than that. this congress should work with the president. and i fully support his request to some 263 million in part equip police officers were cameras. mr. jeffries, mr. speaker. thank you. and i yield back. mr. jeffries: let me thank congressman gohmert for this act of bipartisan. et me yield two minutes to congresswoman robin kelly. mr. kelly: as we re-- >> i offer my prayers to the family of michael brown and the

entire ferguson community. we stand before the house as representatives of our communities and as concerned citizens. we stand here to say we mourn michael brown. we mourn his loss and what it represents. he very real fear. we are here to speak for those who are weary of another young black man killed by police. ferguson speaks to the broader challenges we face, race relations, but the fraught relationship between the black community and the police. members of my family have and do serve in law enforcement. and i'm fortunate that for most of my life, i have been able to have many positive experiences with that community. my grandparents, a grocery store in harlem had officers checking in. those who put their lives on the

line are good, but doesn't negate the fact that in america today, we still have too many in the plaque community who fear the police or feel disrespected by the police including my son and his friends. and we have too many police officers who fear the black community. this is a dynamic that colors every encounter and paves the way for tragic outcomes. regardless of your perspectives of the events in ferguson we can agree that no community should live in fear. we must hold our law enforcement officials to the highest professional standards and provide them with the training they need to police diverse communities. this training must address the stereotypes and create obstacles to mutual understanding. and we can and must strive twars a just system that treats all

americans fairly and values american lives equally. i'm encouraged by the peaceful protests calling for change in the way our country views and values young black men, but this is the beginning and not enough. a mother and wife and a member of congress, this change must begin today. we must look for ways they can prevent a similar tragedy from happening in your community. don't let this issue fade. get involved with your local government. go to your meetings, know who represents you and who is policing your streets. be a part of the change and lend your voice to the discussion of your community. vote. exercise your right. demand, expect accountability. that's how we work together

community. kind of thank you. mr. jeffries: we are here today to begin a conversation about a fair and equitable and color-blind criminal justice system. that should be something all americans embrace and that's what we are going to walk toward as we move towards the next congress in 2015. to close. i yield one minute to the distinguished congresswoman from texas. ms. jackson lee: i thank mr. jeffries and might i thank the speaker. i'm sorry we were racing across the floor. and we thank you for your clarification and to my good friend on the judiciary committee, judge gohmert, who has engaged in the criminal justice system. i want to leave two points

behind as we clarify how we can move forward and recognize crises but not yet be overcome by such. might i thank the former mayor of new york. i disagree with some of the interpretation of why officers are in the african-american community. a statistic does say in fact hat over 2005 and 2012 a white police officer used deadly force two times a week. there are broader ways of addressing these questions. let me say to you why there is such ire as what happened to michael brown. the grand jury system raises the fact question. why was his hands up and why was he shot these many times. it is a criminal justice system

o matter what, a body by the constitution, you can say a question has been raised and justice needs to answer that question. that is what we are asking for, a simple justice that allows everyone to stand at the table of opportunity, equality and rightness. i would make the argument tonight, we have laid out a road map, whether it is cameras, supporting the president's request for moneys, whether it is legislation dealing with the utilization of tickets and citations and stopping people from moving, whether or not it is my brother's keeper, the judiciary committee along with my colleagues, can raise the constitution and no matter who we are, we can look at those men, st. louis rams, applaud them for their work and law enforcement and make a purposeful commit mountain that

we will follow in the pathway and use the tools to make our criminal justice system work for all of us, whether we are poor, whether we are rich, in unique communities. we are going to say to mr. brown and say to mike's mother that justice is going to come not respecting whether or not we stand on one side or another. we are one ray or another. i have faith in the constitution and have faith in this congress and the very reason that judge gohmert yielded us, i know we will be engaged in a pathway forward to make america rise to hire angels and the constitution we love. i thank you, mr. jeffries, and i yield

>> on the next washington journal, congressman steve king. met -- hear from jim are mcdermott. "washington journal" is live every morning at 7:00 a.m. eastern. you can join the conversation on facebook and twitter. >> on november 20, president obama announced his immigration executive order. testifies today on president obama actions. later, the senate examines how professional sports organizations handle domestic violence.

>> the c-span cities tour takes a book tv and american history tv on the road. partnerednd, we have with time warner cable for a visit to waco, texas. we began turning over the besides -- b sides. first of all, gospel music was not widely heard in the white community. what we discovered quickly was how many of the b side songs were directly related to the civil rights movement. we didn't know that. we didn't know the sheer number of songs that had very over tones/ heaven no segregation in type songs.

singing those was a very dangerous thing in the deep south. song outhat sort of loud, well, that is a risk. the 175th anniversary of the rangers in 1976. 30 rangers made major contributions to the service. we have painted portraits of all of those rangers. they really begin with stephen austin. he was very successful with his rangers. they managed to make the area reasonably safe. when the texas war for independence roque out -- broke -- playedangers made a major role in helping texas gained its independence.

as a result, texas became its own independent nation, the republic of texas, for about 10 years. >> watch all of our events from waco on saturday and sunday. louisiana returned to the polls this saturday. , neithers in the race garnered 50% of the race. landrieu and bill cassidy faced off in a debate. this is one hour. >> in just five days, louisiana voters head to the polls. ♪ tonight, the two remaining candidates face-off in the final debate.

>> thanks for joining us in the final debate between senator mary landrieu and congressman bill cassidy. we have a panel of caption or's questioners. during the debate come we will take questions from twitter. join the conversation and tweet your questions. tweet andge you to give your commentary. occasionally, you will see tweets flash on the bottom of for tonight's format of the candidates have one minute to respond to questions at the moderator's discretion for academic way to do that there is a follow-up with no set time limit. we begin with the candidates specific question one for each of the candidates and by luck of the draw tonight that goes first

to senator landrieu. you made it pretty clear today that you would like to talk about congressman cassidy. but i must tell you that when i hear from the cassidy supporters, the feedback i get is make sure that you ask mary landrieu about her travel into the idea that you refer to the most $35,000 to the claims that were billed to the senate office going back to 2002 when the rules changed. why isn't there an inconsistency demanding the congressman does bring all 63 months of records for his work when we don't know how you traveled in the first six years of office? >> thank you for the question and for hosting this important debate. i brought the record tonight for the time that was not to give in -- given a few weeks ago. i turned over all of the wrecker

-- records. i've taken full responsibility for it and it has been completely repaid. the very big difference is that congressman cassidy has padded his own payroll for the last 60 -- six years entering into an agreement with one of our hospitals and it is absolutely no record of the work that he has done. that is a very serious matter. so, one was a bookkeeping error which i take full responsibility and have turned over a complete set of records which document tonight. the other situation is, a congressman has taken over $20,000 a year in addition to his congressional salary and may be even more than that if we pay for the malpractice without reporting it properly and turning over the new records and i don't think from what i can see that he brought the tonight and i think that is a shame. >> we don't allow cops, for one thing and fairness. let me ask a quick follow-up.

>> records are props? i guess i shouldn't have brought them to give to you. $5,500 for one charter flight from new orleans to wake oneake charles, that is that jumped out at people. if that had happened in the business world i think most , businesses people would have , been laughed out of the room if they suggested that a company. >> first of all every senator and every congressman gets the budget. we can allocate a budget within those guidelines as we see fit. they are legal expenses. the only difference is that with -- was a bookkeeping error. that is a far cry from the congressman who is patting his own payroll. >> has the scrutiny changed your view about how quickly you arrange for a charter? rethink of all, i will

it, of course, because of this. but also i want you to know that , nothing was illegal. it was a bookkeeping error, not allocating it. i fully reported it. i've taken full sensibility and i turned over all the records. i hope tonight we will get to a much more serious matter in this debate. the story just broke this week. i would have talked about if the story just broke this week of my opponent who has shown himself or told us that he was a doctor for the poor but he's not coming he's a doctor for himself. >> let's get to that. congressman cassidy, after your election as we have now well established, there was an arrangement where you were would continue working and teaching medical students, residents have $20,000 a year from seven and a half hours a week. lsu has produced timesheets for 63 months, 16 of the 63 months that you work there say they can find the almost other 50.

on more than a dozen locations -- occasions, that affects ours in the clinic on days when there were votes in washington. address if you were would questions this has raised about how you can be in two places at once. >> it is absolutely false and my direct supervisor and i have made multiple comments regarding this. note the camp whatever they can't take these comments and they twist them around, i'm proud of the work that i've done. during flying into dc and voting that evening that's it. the work that i've done teaching medical students there is an irony she justifies the vote for obamacare and it wouldn't have passed without her. she's for the poor into the uninsured even though demonstrably obamacare has hurt

the economic prospects of the poor. now, that said, there's also the issue of transparency. we get the record but actually it was illegal. what do senator had done. it actually violated the ethics law and then a question to follow up with is what i was doing benefited the poor and uninsured, when she used taxpayer dollars to pay for the private charter jets to the campaign, who did not benefit? >> i have to ask you to rep. >> please, let me respond. >> we can't respond at this time. we have questions you can ask one another later, but i think we better stick with the format here. let me follow follow-up, congressman. as i understand, this was supposed to be documented. did you personally find these -- sign these timesheets? and the other question i have is louisiana's colorful

political history, if you will, is there understandable that it would be some questions raised about some potential for abuse in some cases if there were no safeguards when a congressman was employed by an entity of state government? >> it's a understandable. they began to push the story out this last week. they did everything they can to keep the story alive. clearly, senator landrieu is granted try to make this a story, even though i'm sitting there and helping the poor and uninsured. my boss and i have made multiple statements about this in the public. talks let me interrupt. if you sign the timesheets? you signed the timesheets. it looked like there might have been people who there was conjecture that you didn't sign them. >> it is doctors handwriting. >> to speak directly to the question -- let me ask you this, actually. if you were elected to the senate, would you like to be

employed and would you like to go back to lsu? >> i loved treating patients and i loved teaching. i'm the only up until just in the lsu system. there are others but i'm the only one that has the particular subspecialty. i serve at the will of my employer. it are to get the opportunity to teach and treat the poor and uninsured like i have a less 25 years maturity hospital system, i would like to continue. >> i have a visit we will revisit. we have to go to our first question. >> let's talk about the incapable act. they protect the child, an unborn child at 20 weeks. her plymouth a at that point, the child begins to feel pain. feel the pain of an abortion from the procedure. supported the bill. are there any provisions or exceptions where you think that abortion should be considered and also at what point should

the government draw the line? >> one of the clear distinctions is i am pro-life and i get 100% right to life and she gets zero. she gets 100% on the groups and i get zero so this is the kind of choice in the campaign. i don't that child is born at week 20 can survive outside the womb. there is evidence that child at that week is able to feel pain at 20 weeks. at that point, we can all agree whether we are pro-choice or pro-life that that is a life and it should be saved. it shouldn't be aborted. i am pro-life. >> it would need to be aborted? >> if the mother's life is at risk, i am pro-life. that is one of the choices

senator leger gets a zero from my delight. >> you're quoted as saying 20 weeks isn't the norm for a child to be outside of the hospital. do you support abortion and 20 weeks? >> i do not support abortion. i think it is tragic and i don't think the government however should make those decisions. i think abortion in almost every case is immoral. i believe the government shouldn't make the choice. that is why i fall more to the level of pro-choice and pro-life. these labels are not very accurate because the person in consultation with their doctor or with their god should make that decision. my record has been misconstrued. i am the cochair of the adoption caucus. adopted children. we both have adopted children. the congressman knows this very well. we both have adopted children and i support that option and i

do not promote the abortion and never have. he should also know as a doctor, that 20 to 26 weeks is a very, very fragile time. but the answer is, i don't want bill cassidy in the hospital room. i don't want to governor in the hospital room, and i sure don't want congress in the hospital room. the mother, the father, and the priest should be in that hospital room. >> >> let's go to cynthia. >> we all witness to the events of ferguson, missouri before our very eyes. races brought the relations to center stage in america. what are your feelings on race relations and specifically, i would like you to answer, would you say things are better, worse, or the same yet go and what do you think needs to be done to bring about true healing?

senator landrieu, let's start with your response. >> that is a very important question because our country is built on multiethnic unity for us to be the strongest country. diversity is a strength, not a weakness. i actually think race relations have deteriorated a bit in this country. i think we have to continue to work on it decade after decade, generation after generation. what happened in ferguson was a tragedy for michael brown's family as well as for the officer and his family. i hope the ferguson community b thatontinue to review this country's strength is our diversity. it is not our weakness. i think we need to do a better job as a nation can't understand each other and work together. >> commerce may cassidy, are things better, worse, or the same? >> as compared to jim crow laws, it is better. donnellyns, which is

african-american, has a white mayor. so we have made strides in terms of acceptance and understanding of others. do yet thoughto of course. the purple of the good samaritan is about the good smidgen reaching across racial and regional -- religious divides to create unity with another person that is in need. that scripture should inspire us to attempt to reach across and make things better. senator landrieu made a statement, and somehow barack obama wasn't being viewed favorably because we have a history of racism in the south. i think just because you disagree with the president , doesn't make you a racist. and i would point out that when senator landrieu by the implication would say she has been elected to the public office since i was in college. so i think we've made great progress. we shouldn't and i said, but of course there's more to do.

>> one of the problems bill cassidy is, he makes things up as he goes along and he's made of the statements of anybody being a racist. you know what i said? i said the south has not always been the friendliest place for african-americans, and it's also been a region that has not quickly recognized the leadership of women. i will make no apology for something that is a historical fact. that is what i said. excuse me, bill, that is what i said. that was taken out of context and i also answered the question. i was asked, why is president obama so unpopular in the state? i said he was unpopular among some people in the state because of his energy policies. i went on to explain come he is for keystone, i am. he shut down oil and gas to link, we are for it. and then i said those words. he has spun them out of context for his own political benefit

and i'm not the only one that is tired of listening to his rhetoric. ati think people can look the videos themselves and make their own decision. said/'t have to have a he she said. you can look at the video and see what she said. >> let's go on to doug warner. >> this question deals with what you will bring back to dc whether reelected a senator or congressman. cassidy, will begin with you. with your tv and radio and newspaper ads you run a campaign , against president obama yet he will only be there for a fraction of your term if you are elected. it will be another four years after he is out of office. what do you want to do with this job if elected? >> with the keystone xl pipeline, i was able to get the cassidy belt through the house. the senateuch of

where unfortunately, senator landrieu could not get that past. i have been working with the uninsured and the poor, whatever saavedra landrieu said, you can talk to my patients, for the last 25 years. i would like to repeal and replace obamacare with something that actually works for people instead of working against them. i worked in a public institution as a physician. look at the v.a. system, bring in expertise as a physician, work in the public hospital system. how can we give power to the patient and not leave it with the bureaucrat or administrator is both obamacare does and as the v.a. system does? using my life experiences to benefit all americans. >> senator landrieu. >> it is interesting he would want to be on the veterans committee because he voted against the veterans hospital when he was a senator in louisiana. he voted no against the medical complex and now he has the merit -- nerve to say that he supports the veterans hospital?

let me say one more thing. he will beieve elected, but if he is, he will be doing a lot more than fighting president obama will stop he will be fighting subpoenas because he padded his payroll. he took money without accounting for it and he doesn't have a supervisor and he didn't find -- sign the sheets, because you have them. he does not have a signature, he does not have the account for his work and he will not turn over his records. this is a serious issue. and he will talk about everybody else's record and his own and so -- but his own. so whatever happens in this debate, the questions must be answered. >> if i could respond. be answered can with this. she said i voted against the va hospital in new orleans. i wasn't in congress -- >> [indiscernible] >> i'm speaking. i wasn't in louisiana when that was approved.

the va hospital was totally a different issue. so you can judge the truthfulness based upon that i won't affect affect of the questions i asked earlier if i'd been working to benefit the poor and the uninsured, we know the poor and the uninsured. when she was taking taxpayer pay for charter flights to campaign events, who benefited? >> address that point it was the vote not so much against the , veterans hospital as what they did for example fold is an overblown veterans hospital. >> he voted against the lsu complex. that is a part of the complex when he was a legislator. i didn't say when he was in congress. now he shows up to take credit for helping veterans. frome to lead the fight the western part of our state to build two new clinics in lafayette and lake charles. but john, i really want to get back to this issue of truthfulness.

>> we will have an opportunity for you to ask a question of what another. the me bring up a pie chart of how we spend our money in america. this is -- the numbers will change slightly in the proposed .udget the point is, when you get to what you think of as the rest of cdc,overnment, nasa, the the park service, it is 11% or so. there were times when the deficits were going crazy that this portion here did not equal the deficit. you could've wiped out what we think of as the governance and you would not have balanced the budget. entitlementsty and -- senator, you're talked a lot about social security, but if we don't cut benefits or raise taxes or do something, we are on a path where these entitlements will devour the economy in the budget, aren't we? >> first of

all, let me respond. my opponent and many of the republicans have decided they don't want to fix that because they want to continue to get the -- give tax cuts to those that make over they want to find the $19. space on the pie chart to cut out and run up the debt. they also brought us into the war they put on a credit card. so, the republican party is just as much at fault and we need to work together. what my opponent wants to do is give tax breaks to millionaires and raises social security age to 70. i'm not quite a do that. it will hurt people in this state. people cannot work until they are 70 years old laying concrete, paving over highways, building bridges, you know, lifting heavy objects even inside a hospital or restaurant. they cannot do it. he voted for four times. there are other ways to solve i'm not pointed to it.

this problem. and let me say, the deficit under president obama has been reduced by 50% -- because thet partly deficit ballooned so greatly in his first year? >> no, it has not. the stemless package lifted it up but it's still coming down over time because of the economy and the good budgeting. now we do have a debt problem , but raising the so security in to 70 wealthy his head his pocket from lsu is not the solution. >> congressman? >> i have many patients and the only thing they have is their medicare and social security. my mother is 92 and lives with me -- or 91. i understand the importance of the safety net programs. my commitment to you is to work to preserve and strengthen these programs. the problem is that obamacare, which senator landrieu wouldn't have passed without her, cut

$760 billion out of medicare to spend it on obamacare. we've got to do something or else medicare and social security will go bankrupt. now when that happens that the benefits that you are receiving were decreased by as much as 25%. there are things we can do. louisiana's own senator 20 some years ago came up with a plan for medicare, which on a bipartisan basis, has been brought forward again. if you were to keep medicare exactly as you have it now, you can, but if you go into this new itgram, the cbo estimates saves money for the beneficiary provides the -- >> i gave you the leeway that you said you wanted to respond. >> the 750 billion-dollar document or number that he suggested was supported by both republicans and democrats. the money was wasted and inefficiency.

it went back into the medicare program. as he knows for a fact, district or medicare. it still does not excuse his wanting to solve that problem and not on the backs of the coke koch brothers or the billionaires, but on the backs of the poor and the elderly raising the social security age to 70. it's wrong. there are other things that we can do. >> of the money wasn't taken to the medicare social security trust fund was spent on obamacare. my team will tweet it out right now. >> let me ask you this and maybe we can try to do this as quickly as possible. give me your view of tax reform, just a rough outline of what it might look like what they be revenue neutral and who would pay more and who would pay less? >> it can't be revenue neutral because we need more revenues

coming into the federal government. the revenues make up a percentage of the federal government at the lowest rate since world war ii. it was 50%. when our balanced budget was, it was 21% or 22%. that is the problem with republicans. they continue to cut, cut, cut programs for everyone -- or the low income, the middle class, and in turn around and give tax cuts to the wealthy. we have to do both. we have to add more money to the overall part and then we have to take out waste, fraud, and abuse and do it efficiently. >> the senator says we don't have enough money. >> she is for the with barack obama and supports the president 97% of the time. she has voted to raise taxes by $1.6 trillion. >> give me your vision of what tax reform would look like. >> senator landrieu said she plays with tax reform but only if it raises by a trillion. what did the president's bipartisan commission adjusted -- suggested is that we do away

with exemptions and loopholes broaden the amount of money that is being taxed between over the rate and so by doing legal work we will further press and create more revenue. that is in the presidents of bipartisan debt commission. that's a good idea. >> i didn't say by raising revenue. every independent group that says it has to be a combination of additional revenue by shutting down the offshore loopholes which you support and many people in the republican party. you can also take out the waste abuse and cut the , budget as well as raising revenue. i didn't say that we would solve that by adding money. >> what would you cut? >> we reduce some of the waste and fraud in medicare to strengthen it. that is something john that john mccain and your leaders in the republican party support and that is a bipartisan effort to try to take out the wasteful fraud and abuse and put it back

into the program and strengthen it. but i am not going to stand here and allow them to continue to give tax breaks after tax break after tax break for people that make over $19 a year and then put the burden on people in louisiana that have incomes of $50,000, 60,000 dollars, $70,000 or $80,000. >> senator landrieu voted for $1.6 trillion in taxes over the last six years supporting barack obama 97% of the type i suppose -- time. i have opposed all those taxes. you can decide for yourself who sticking up for them in the class. >> we have a twitter question. he asks, we support drug testing for welfare recipients? >> senator landrieu, first. >> i voted i think i have to go back and look at the welfare recipients but you might also

want to ask for drug testing for people to have special contracts or other people that get special get special benefits from the government. i don't think picking on welfare, the population of welfare, is appropriate. other people get special tax breaks from the government or other subsidies from the government went to also be drug tested, i think that would be fine. but beating up on the port isn't going to solve the problems of our country. educating people, giving them access to higher education. working for jobs for the middle class. in this beating up on the poor and blaming them to the problems of the world -- it's not right. i guess my catholic faith comes out. it's just not right. >> how would be beating up on the poor? was people have to get a drug test before they take a job, no would be basically the primary

source of income. >> look, i didn't say i would oppose it. i just think it has to be allocated fairly. if you're going to do that -- i'm not talking about jobs. you're talking about a government subsidy. >> which is basically the primary source of income. >> but you're comparing apples to apples. one is a job and the other is a government subsidy. there are many people that get government subsidies. many. the film industry gets government subsidies, millionaires get subsidies. so if you want to put everybody that gets a government subsidy and drug test them, fine, i don't have a problem with it. it comparing a program, a government program to a job are two different things. >> commerce and cassidy. >> in the house we voted to allow the states to begin pilot programs the state would be about to put in a pilot program which they would be able to drug testing. there is at least some evidence out there people that can hold a job go on public assistance and

do good on drugs, and because they never pass a drug test, they never get off public assistance. that is unfair to hard-working taxpayers. the doctoralso say has been working in the public hospital system for 25 years also say it is unfair to the person to enable them to continue in a self district lifestyle. at some point, the government becomes a problem. if you get a measure of accountability and you couple that with the opportunity for someone to move out of that lifestyle, you save their lives. to the personrous to allow them to continue not some destructive lifestyle. it is generous to allow them to move to another level. that requires accountability. to suggesttrageous that people that are receiving food supplements for their children are drug abusers. there is no evidence to suggest that that particular group of people use drugs anymore than

anyone else. it is outrageous rhetoric. it is not point to solve any problems. she people be responsible in their life? yes. should wealthy people be responsible in the life? yes. middle-class people and the poor. but they are beating up into meaning a person that is just in between work or a woman who went bankrupt because you cannot get health insurance, because he would not give it to her or person in a family that should he out insurance but because and bobby jindal said no, they have insurance for themselves and their children. 252,000 --o to >> i need to get a response. testphew wants to drug them? it is outrageous. >> i didn't give a response. >> yes, you did. >> senator landrieu says she believes she voted for drug testing for welfare's recipients. when i say the house voted to

allow the states to do a public program would able bodied adults -- able-bodied adults would have the opportunity to have this level of accountability, i think we begin to hear all these terrible things about republicans are about. protectry to hard-working taxpayers and also bring a measure of accountability. i'm all for caring for poor folks. i've been doing for 25 years maturity hospital system. i am aware of their struggles. >> we have to move on. >> continuing along that line with health care, commerce and cassidy, lester with you. i went to backtrack a little bit to the affordable care act. there are some parts of obamacare that are popular with many voters, including coverage for pre-existing condition and the ability to keep your student who is 26 were under on your health insurance. if the affordable care act is ever repealed, would you at least be willing to support those provisions that are so popular?

>> the provision for someone who is 26 and younger to stay on their appearance was actually a republican idea. there are portions of the health care bill that can be repurposed. the underlying premise of obamacare is the government knows best. the government should be able to tell us how to live our lives. i learned working in the public hospital system when the patient has the power, the system lines up to serve the patient. but when the bureaucratic politician has the power, serves the bureaucrat or politician. a good example is the phoenix, v.a., where a legislative -- they were cooking the books, allegedly. the simple premise of obamacare is the government can take what benefits to have come and therefore, how much to pay. i spoke to a family in hammond. the premium is gone from $12,000 to $21,000, and they have a 20% increase upon that.

they are insurance poor because obamacare says the government knows best. the government does not know best. >> cynthia has a slightly different version. topicis touching on the that congressman cassidy just started on. on the other side of that, there are a lot of people who feel they are forced into a situation where they are over insured and they're paying for coverage that they don't necessarily need or want. what do you say to those people whose premiums have gone through the roof? talks first of all, let me say this. no law is perfect. i have said i voted for this affordable care act because it was much better than the system that we had. which was government, including the federal government, having soaring, rising, never-ending costs and people dropping insurance because they cannot afford it.

i voted for the affordable care act. it should be approved. at the congressman misleads everyone when he says this is a government-run system. --is a private sector public-private partnership where people can choose the insurance in places that it has been put in place by republican governors and democratic governors, and health care has been expanded. it is working for the first time in our country. costs are coming down. helouisiana, cynthia, what doesn't say is, 80% of the people in our state qualified for a subsidy. they're paying an average of $89 a month. so it is a perfect log echo no, but it is much better than people taking medical bankruptcy or mothers having to choose between getting a mammogram and taking care of their breast cancer, or feeding their children are paying rent. it is an awful system that he supports, and we are knock when you go back to that.

-- we are not going back to that. obamacare, an of individual could have an adoptable -- the dockable of $6,000 that they found in this gallup poll that people are forgoing the needed care now more than before obamacare. get that. out today shows, and we can tweet that, gallup poll shows because presumably these , deductibles that are proposed in the article they cannot , afford it but it is a policy that if you don't take you are going to be fine. -- you are going to be fine. the government is going to tell you what you have to have it if you don't get the policy 1% of your income or a set amount of dollars will be taken from you, that is government run. >> we are up against the gun a little bit. i will give you 30 seconds to respond. >> i was in shreveport. a woman came up to me and literally said, senator, i want to thank you.

a the first time in my life, i have in my five children -- and for 12 orworking here 15 years, have insurance. we have never had a before. $159 a month. so for some people, it is working very well. do we have to fix it and can we tweak it? yes. all he has voted for its repeal 50 times. we need to fix it, not repeal it. i am proud to have tried to help everyone -- the poor, middle class, and the wealthy, get insurance, particularly, because he and bobby jindal -- >> let's move on. >> it is been whether reported america's infrastructure is crumbling and talking mainly how is and bridges -- in fact, i believe it is one out of every nine bridges is structurally deficient. i drove over one tonight. louisiana is $12 billion behind in bridge and roadway repairs. i get that from the senate transportation committee chair.

is therimary source gasoline tax. it is not been raised since 1993. do we need to raise this taxi echo if not, what does the money come from? of all, one of the bills that i have passed that will fix some of the problem, at least in louisiana, is go mesa, the gulf of mexico energy security act which for the first giving louisiana portion of offshore oil and gas revenues are used to secure our coast, to rebuild or marsh, and can be used for energy infrastructure. so i have thought about this a long time and tried to bring it and have been successful in bringing money to louisiana. we should look at the gasoline tax. i'm not prepared to say raise it tonight, but additional funding has to be brought in to fix this infrastructure. let me tell you where $809 is lying on the table right now, which my opponent won't vote for. that is the marketplace fairness act can't just collecting the sales tax on online purchases.

the chamber of commerce, the business council, the shopping centers, main street, small businesses are put at a definite disadvantage because of taxes not been collected. if you're looking for income, looking for income, which he is probably not to support any of because he just wants to talk about infrastructure to do nothing about it, if you're looking for income, i suggest we go -- -- expired.it >> republicans have proposed we would expand on the communal shell. mr. percentage of royalties we would put into -- a certain percentage of royalties would be put into that. the highway trust protection fund would create jobs. it would also increase the amount of drilling in the outer communal shelves estate's would be able to keep a portion of that money. the senate, the democrats in the senate oppose the bill.

they did not want drilling to happen off the atlantic coast, for example. unfortunately, some of those who led the charge of people who senator landrieu has given a substantial amount of campaign contributions towards. over the last six or seven years, senator landrieu has given $400,000 in campaign contributions to people like robert menendez who have led the charge against drilling in the after -- outer communal shell. we can create jobs and build highways. >> cannot respond to robert menendez and clear his name? support killing off the coast of new jersey. the coast of new jersey. you know what he did do? view that the fight for us to save 450,000 people from having their insurance rates go through the sky. you should thank senator menendez and not criticize him for doing something they grow leadership -- >> cannot respond?

passed in the senate the grim cassidy amendment. it is what fixed flood insurance so premiums would not go through the roof. i do think senator menendez. he used my bill to save you money. secondly, he is also trying to ban drilling off the entire atlantic coast, not just a jersey new york, but also virginia. virginia is one that drilling. it creates jobs and money to build roads. >> we've reached the point where we have come to a question from each of the candidates to one another. by luck of the draw, that comes first from commerce and cassidy to senator landrieu. >> senator landrieu. recently, he said before you would vote for obama carrigan tomorrow. jonathan gruber, described as the architect of obamacare, recently said on several videos that he consider the american thele stupid as they wrote law in such a way as to raise taxes on the middle class,

basilly, forcing people out of the policies that they were told they could keep if they wished. -- first, we did you know that mr. gruber and obama administration had written this so as to deceive the american people? and now that you do know it, would you still vote for obamacare tomorrow? dr. cassidy,y that she did not have this issue to talk about, he would not have any issue to talk about. that is all he is talked about this whole campaign. this law is not perfect. it needs to be fixed and improved, that it is better than the system we had. mr. gruber was not the first person -- mitt romney, the presidential candidate for the republican party instituted a version of the affordable care act in massachusetts. the affordable care act was modeled after the heritage foundation report and the full

of limitation of the massachusetts plan. it has proven to work. it to work. it is not working louisiana because bobby jindal and bill cassidy are standing in the way every step and every day, but it is working in arkansas in california and new york. and the saddest thing, our state, the people of our state who need it the most, have to pay for everybody else to be able to go see their doctor and get their care. >> your time has expired. >> my question was unanswered. wind you understand jonathan gruber to liberally wrote this so as to deceive congressional budget office and the american people and now that you know that, would you vote for it again tomorrow? >> i don't read what jonathan gruber says. i talked to my constituents. my constituents that i ever presented for 18 years were tired of not being able to afford insurance. eight hours ing emergency room. tired of having to choose between their rent, food, and

health care. tired of seeing people take the groep seek. as a doctor, you should know this. it is heartbreaking to me that he would claim to be a doctor for the poor the yet when they come to him begging for help, he closes the door in their face and says no. and then he says his own paychecks with their money. it is really, really outrageous. >> let me give him a chance to respond. senatorot sure the landrieu answer this because mr. gruber did say they wrote it to deliver early deceive the american people saying we were too stupid to catch it. i would like to know some point now that we know that was the intent that the writers, would you still vote for it again tomorrow? >> i think we've established we're not going to get -- >> i don't read what mr. gruber says. i listen to my constituents. >> you have a question for commerce and cassidy. -- congressman cassidy. i think this is dr. double-dip

or something. >> did you fill out records that you were supposed to fill out for the $20,000 that you received annually for five years, which is over $100,000 a year? did you fill out those records? >> first, it is not $100,000 he or. >> over five years. >> i filled out the records. you fill out the chart and find -- sign she's never everybody knows where you are. i've made multiple comments. whatever i've been said has been twisted into this construed -- i've been trying to help the uninsured and the poor for the last 25 years. never shutting the door on them, but going out of my way to help. now, senator landrieu they not care for that. obamacare stop in the answer for many people. me doing this summit is a privilege to do it. i hope to continue to do it. if not --

>> i need to respond to that. >> that said, i will go back. was senator landrieu once is transparency, then i will ask the question again. when i treat patients and the public hospital system, the patient's benefit. when she takes charter jets on taxpayer dime to campaign events, who benefits? >> i want to respond. i hate to use this word, but i have to. that is a blatant lie. if sheets that we have that given out to the public, your signature is not on them. there are 16 that have been released to the public. his signature is not on any of them, and the signature that is on some of them, is questionably not his. the records were not completed. they were not filed. i don't know anyone in the state that works on salaries for $20,000, $40,000, $100,000 that doesn't have to do the work to receive the check. there are no records. he said he would keep the

records. these e-mails have been given out. it's public knowledge. so i think you of the taxpayers an explanation. $174,000, which is your salary, plus $20,000, plus, we believe, and into we could all the records, they also paid for his medical malpractice. he's the only doctor in the congress to cut a sweetheart deal. the only one. >> i've been making multiple comments and my boss has as well. we have addressed those with senator landrieu has consistently turned around to to put it in the worst possible light. but again for 25 years i've been , caring for people in the hospital for the uninsured and poor. if we want transparency we will say who's benefited and in my case it is my patients. i will return to my question for senator landrieu. when she takes the charter jets that you and i pay for in the campaign events, who benefited from that? >> let's move on and we will go

to cynthia for our next question. >> let's talk straight to the hear people where they live. the average american is struggling to keep a roof over their heads and put their kids through college. what are you saying to the person sitting out there right now who perhaps is watching this debate and is really struggling with those issues? cassidy, let's begin with you. >> there are so many families struggling. we feel for that. i see that in my practice. in many times, there struggling because of the obama and landrieu agenda. for example, obamacare. senator landrieu says i bring it up often, because it is so pervasive in our society. parish no rouge longer allow substitute teacher to work more than 30 hours a week because they don't want the penalties and costs associated with obamacare. lincoln parish took service workers, reduced their hours from full-time to part-time, and

they say they cannot afford the cost and penalty of obamacare. lowest fifth, the of people earning wages have suffered under the president's health care law. but it's also his appointees. kill our oilng to and gas related jobs to bring prosperity to families. they have been struggling. the government has been the -- the obama-landrieu agenda has been part of the problem and we need to reverse that agenda. >> as chair of the energy committee and now is ranking spent a great deal of time helping to build energy jobs in this country. i believe americans are on the verge of being energy independent, which is why i fight so hard for the keystone pipeline. the republican leadership could not get that up for a vote. i did. i wish it would have passed, but we got it up for a vote in the senate and that is a leadership

that i bring. and when i get back to the senate, we will pass the keystone pipeline. that is important because it will signal energy jobs for america. in these jobs are not minimum-wage jobs. the people who are struggling at home, looking for work, many of these are labor unions that supported the keystone pipeline. in addition, i support full access to colleges and universities. my opponent will not support an increase -- >> your time has expired. >> 10 seconds. he will not support the pilgrim increase. he will not reduce loans to students. not only does he locked the he also hospitals, but stands in the way of colleges and university. $709ined governor jindal, reduction -- >> your time has expired. i'm going to get my producer a coronary. thestate department says keystone pipeline is 50 permanent jobs and 42,000

construction jobs. is it really that big of a deal? what is the fuss about because directly, no direct jobs in the study for louisiana. >> let me respond to that. >> i will give you both 30 seconds. >> it is a victim and it needs to be built because it is a symbol of america's commitment to build the infrastructure necessary. we can find all the oil and gas we want. that if we can't transport it, if we can't move it from where it is found to where it deems to be, then we not going to be energy independent. that's whether such a big fight about it. it is important. >> the keystone bill did pass one taper of commerce, the cassidy bill passed and senator landrieu could not get it through the senate. that said, my dad moved to louisiana in his late 40's and did not have a college education. he's a life insurance to people that worked at the petrochemical plant. the construction jobs are fantastic. they would be good jobs and when

he does, but it is not just the 50. someone like my dad -- it creates prosperous life for his family. i can tell you, it is more than me -- it is the 40,000 construction which is huge, it is more than a 50 permanent to someone at 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 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'm 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 type of guns that were used. what i have voted for, which is common sense, supported by 90% of the people even in our state,

is to close the loopholes for people with mental illness are criminals cannot get easy access. be the for what will ey-manchin amendment. i support gun ownership and the second amendment. >> first, sandy hook would not have been prevented by the mansion-toomey bill. that bill would a penalized the law-abiding trying to address the issue of the non-law-abiding ill.hose who are mentally the better way to address those issues are to address the issues of mental illness. and i've a passion for this. i must every family watching a someone connected to their family who is a problem with mental illness. we need to respond to that with compassion, but we have to also recognize that the way to

prevent sandy hook wasn't you addressey, but the underlying issue. what's a little change of pace. given the louisiana's colorful history, congressman, who is her favorite louisiana political figure or public figure louisiana from the past and why? did ahink mike foster great job. he created the community college system, which really gave opportunity for folks trying to move to the next level of their education. and is also a good to for the state. it saves money. he ran an awesome -- honest the administration. did i agree with everything? of course not. but if you look at the legacy that he did at the community, he is a great legacy. >> i would have to say lindy boggs, 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 missed her and she did a marvelous job. >> our final question. >> i asked both of you about a personal setback and what you do overcome it. what is been your greatest mistake in your professional career and what did you learn from it? >> i have given several speeches that did not turn out very well. one of particular that i can remember when i was a young legislator, and have never forgotten to be prepared. and to not take anything for prepared.d to be they stayed with me and i have tried in all of my public presentations to provide good information. it was a horrible experience. it was terribly embarrassing. and it served me well to learn

to be able to be prepared, know your material, and show up and debate. that would be it. >> i have to laugh. romansig proponent of 8:28. international conference speaking about vaccine research we did, i was supposed to speak for 20 minutes and finished my speech in four. i was so nervous, i started to speak like an auctioneer. i sat down and everybody thought, well. needless to say, never got back to give -- never got invited back to give a similar speech. but he created the possibility to serve my state and our country public office, so i do think there was maybe, as my career, that sort of lecturer ended, it perhaps open up the opportunity to serve in another means. it is been incredible privilege. >> thank you both for that.

mine was i am a stripped over the monitor when i walked back. we have reached the point where we come to a closing statement and congressman cassidy goes first. >> families are struggling and they are struggling because of because of the obama-landrieu agenda. obama is -- obamacare is one example. were told we could keep their interest if we wished. premiums have increased some things by 300% created now, you cannot keep the doctor even though we were told to cut. -- they could. people have had their full-time jobs decreased decreased part-time or even lost their job altogether. similar epa regulations are coming after the oil and gas industries in bringing prosperity to some many of us in the agenda -- it doesn't surprise us, senator landrieu supports barack obama 97% of the pond. if you want to senator who was

to work and repeal obama care with something that gives you the power, who will fight against destructive and regulations, create a culture of life and offender second amendment rights come at invoke bill cassidy. senator landrieu represents barack obama and i represent you. i ask for your vote is coming senator -- saturday. >> there's a clear contrast in this election. my opponent 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 own salary at taxpayer expense over he will not own up to that. $100,000. he is going to be fighting with the president obama if he gets reluctant -- which i doubt. he will be fighting subpoenas because this will be under investigation. the contrast is, a senator that has worked for 18 years honestly with integrity, delivering for every part of this state. he has been very disrespectful to the president and office of

the president. we need someone that will respect all views, go to washington, and work for the betterment of this state on energy, education, and on health care. i ask for your vote and i 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. >> on november 20, president obama announced his immigration executive order. home is a cutie secretary jeh johnson president obama's actions on immigration policy and border security. live coverage at 9:00 p.m. eastern on c-span3. later, the senate congress -- commerce committee, sports

organizations feeling domestic violence. that is live at 2:30 p.m. eastern also on c-span3. >> ann compton on her over 40 years covering the white house and the administrations of gerald ford through barack obama. >> we watched him, the center group of second graders go through their drill. they interrupted the president. i was stunned. i wrote down my reporter's notebook ,9:07. no one interrupts the president, even in front of second graders. the president stood and said he had to go. he went to a side room. two we heard that it was plane crashes in new york. ari fleischer came out to the parking lot outside the school

and said, stay right here. the president will come talk to stop i said, no, there are live cameras in the cafeteria. the president had to speak there. he did not want to scare the children. but he did go into the cafeteria. he said it is an apparent test attack and must return to washington. we were pushed aboard quickly in the door slammed in and the pentagon was hit. park sunday night at 8:00 eastern and pacific on c-span q&a. coming up like, "washington journal" is next. the house returns for general speeches at 10:00. at noon on it members take up several bills equity one the close is a loophole on former nazis who voluntarily left the was but continue to collect social security benefits -- let the u.s. to continue to collect social security benefits. cumbersome and steve king talks about his attempt to stop the president's executive order on immigration.

at 8:35, we are from commerce and jim mcdermott of washington state on efforts to negotiate federal funding to the end of the year. host: good morning, everyone. president obama on monday held a series of meetings to discuss possible reforms and it easing mistrust toward police. monday, eric holder announced his intention to put out new guidelines on racial profiling. wale washington