that's why we need national laws and i look forward to senator feinstein's re-introduction of some form of her assault weapon ban. sensible gun laws work and we have proven it in california. if you look at the great fights over decades on major social issues, on major, you know anti-pollution years. they take 10, 20 years, you don't give up. reporter: republicans when they had in the minority had some successes with their pet projects trying to dismantle abortion rights. i do you have anything to learn from republicans to pursue your gun agenda?

senator schumer: i don't see that they have -- reporter: c.r.'s. senator schumer: well, look, the bottom line here is, the n.r.a. is a powerful opponent. the gun lobby is a powerful all opponent and the best weapon we have on our side is the outrage from the american people. it is growing. if we keep at it. we will win. we don't control the house. we don't control the senate, but we have the people of america on our side and if we continue to have votes and force people to vote, we will win. let me tell you something today. there are a good number, not all, but a good number of our republican colleagues dreading these two votes. next. reporter: if you are serious doing something about guns, why are you trying to attach this to a bill that the president has said he is going to veto?

senator schumer: our proposals rescind the underlying bill and just have this so the president will sign them should they pass. reporter: will you fight this in the omnibus? senator schumer: in every place where we can make a difference and succeed. senator: this is such a huge, hard issue, because it is driven by gun manufacturers who support the lobbying groups, who raise the fear of gun owners. when i began this way back in 1993, it was, oh, they are going to take away our hunting

weapons. we exempted from the assault weapons bill 375 specific types of hunting weapons so when the n.r.a. said that, we could say what is your weapon? and you could say it is a winchester and look in the bill, it's exempted. you have such a push to buy gun magazines in open stores. guns on display everywhere. and it's a society that has kind of bought into the kool-aid that the more guns there are, the better protected you are. let me tell you one story, this was the "washington post" dated october 6. it was in tennessee, white pine and there were two families and lived next door to each other. the boy in one house was 11, the

girl was eight. they both got puppies. the boy showed the girl the puppy. the girl didn't want to show the boy the puppy. he went into his house and pulled out a 12-gauge shotgun and came and shot and killed the eight-year-old. that's what this is leading to. i'm not saying this is every day, but this is the culture that is being built th >> at 10:00 a.m. eastern, a look

at how airline passengers are screened. also, a discussion about the future of islamic extremism and the threats by isis and al qaeda. a panel will discuss the issue in an event hosted by new america. live coverage begins at 12:15 p.m. eastern time. my strongre to voice support for the courageous people of afghanistan. women and men who have suffered for years under the taliban regime. each and every one of us has the responsibility to stop the suffering caused by malaria. every life in every land matters. all of us can do something to help. after studying the first lady and knowing some of them very

well, like my mother anin benefit, our country benefits, from whatever our first lady's interest are. laura bush is the second wife in history to be the wife of one president, and the daughter-in-law of another. she became first lady after a controversial election brought her husband, george w. bush, to office. after nine months in office, the 9/11 attacks occurred and the first lady lady continue to support the nation. she pursued education, literacy, and women's help. night onh, this sunday the c-span original series, "first ladies, examining the private and public lives of those who fill the position of first ladiy." on american history tv on

c-span3. >> abigail fillmore was the first first lady to work outside the home, teaching in a private school. she's successfully lobbied congress for funds to create the library. sessionted sensations. jacqueline kennedy was responsible for the creation of the white house historical association. nephi reagan as a young actress, nancy reagan, as a young actress, saw her name on the list as communists. presidential historians from the lives of 45 iconic american women. the book makes a great gift for the holidays, giving readers a look into the personal lives of every history of each

first lady. the book is based on interviews from the c-span series and has reviews,numerous including this one from the presidential historian and author who said, "c-span is a itsonal treasure and pathbreaking series on american first ladies is another reason why." "cspan has performed that other valuable public service with its series on the first ladies. no or else can one find such a useful and insightful look into the lives and influence of these women who plays a crucial role in the history of our country." an invaluable collection of rare insight on our nations of first ladies and the important role they played in shaping america during their husband's presidency. share the stories of american first ladies for the holidays.

"first ladies" is available in hardcover and as an e-book. he sure to order your copy today. night, attorney general loretta lynch spoke at the annual dinner for the civil group for muslim advocates. she spoke about hate crimes in the united states. we also heard from the executive director from muslim advocates and congressman andre carson. this is one hour and 15 minutes. [applause]

>> i received this message from a mother fro. we are counting on muslim advocates to help us in this very scary and difficult time. that is why we do what we do. good evening, thank you all so much for joining us. this is a very special evening. is the 10tioned, this year anniversary of muslim advocates. started 10 years ago, right here in washington dc on a snowy january weekend in a law firm downtown. american muslim lawyers and policy experts from privaternment, practice, and of the civil rights world came together with an urgent task at hand. discuss the founding values

of our country. that we can launched muslim advocates, a national and legal organization dedicated to promoting freedom, justice, and equality for all. a long way and have made progress in the last 10 years. because of many people in this room and others like you. some of you have given generously financially. others have contributed their time and their talent. important and crucial allies in our work. and several law firms have donated thousands of hours of their legal time pro bono. i want to take a moment to recognize someone very special with me this evening. he is one of our founding board members and at the end of this year and her service on the board of muslim advocates.

she has provided crucial leadership and guidance, strategic communications, governance issues. we will miss her, but she will not be far away. on behalf of everyone, we give our deep thanks for her leadership. [applause] together we are protecting the right of americans of all faith in the highest levels of government. i am excited to share with you the congress we are making. we told you about one of our very exciting legal victories we had this year. we had another exciting legal victory in january. the muslim advocates and our cocounsel, the center for constitutional rights, were said to present oral arguments the for the u.s. court of appeals for the third circuit, in philadelphia. this is going to be the first

time that a federal appeals court would be hearing and deciding on the legality of the new york police department discriminatory surveillance program. a program that was run to basically collect information and spy on american muslims, not based on evidence of wrongdoing, but simply based on their faith. this was in new york, new jersey, pennsylvania, and connecticut. as that day in january was approaching, i was starting to get a knot in my stomach. a few days before the hearing was set to take place, the terrible attacks in paris against the offices in the magazine had taken place. i was sure that world events were going to doom our case. in fact, it was the second question from the judges. "well, in light of paris, should

of the police have the authority to surveillance american muslims? it is an argument we continue to hear today. the hearing began, my anxiety and 40'd worries eased. there were so many community members that came from new york, newark, and philadelphia. so many people showed up that the court house had opened an overflow room. the people who came included some of our plaintiffs. iraqi war veterans. mothers that had been surveilled. plaintiffs had shown amazing courage to take on the discriminatory policing practices of the largest police

department in the country, if not the world. and they were now getting their chance to have their grievances heard by a court of law. as the hearing began, i happen to glance up at the ceiling in the courtroom. these words were etched in the ceiling. liberty."guardians of on october 13 justice was served. the court issued its decision, againstous decision the city of new york, in favor of our plaintiffs. [applause] in fact, the court's opinion was so decisive it contained some of the most powerful language we have seen from a federal court. standing up for the rights of

american muslims 11. one of those passages was this. we have been down similar roads before. jewish americans during the red scare, african americans during the civil rights movement and japanese-americans during world war ii. those are examples of that readily spring to mind. the case also got ample media and attention by legal analysts. one analyst said, this lesson about discrimination is one of the nation needs to learn over and over. back to the goes trial courts. we are preparing for trial. with your support, we will end and religious profiling by law enforcement once and for all. [applause]

every american has the right to , in safe in their home their houses of worship and in their communities. year, we were all forward struck me -- we were all horror struck when we heard the devastating news of the death of three muslim students in chattanooga. this has been the deadliest year to be a muslim in america. not long after those attacks, the muslim community in upstate new york, islam berg, received just horrifying news that a

group, a network of antigovernment militia folks were plotting an attack to come up to their community, attack their schools, attack their community, and kill their children. that was the intent expressed by those folks. perpetrators were arrested, thankfully. the threat still remained. in the face of this hate violence, and even death, the barakat, the community of islam berg has shown amazing courage, determination, and grace. we are honored to have with us this evening faras. roommate, and members

of the islam berg community. i want to take a moment to thank them for their commitment to pursuing freedom and justice. not just for their families, but to their commitment to pursuing freedom and justice for all of our families. for that, we think them. [applause] we also note this. the federal government has an important and crucial role to play to ensure the public's safety. since the beginning of this year, at muslim advocates, we have been in a series of

intensive negotiation with the department of justice. i have been in regular contact with the active attorney general for the team of civil rights. i would like to thank her and her team for hurt responsiveness. she has been available anytime of day, any day of the week to talk about these issues as they have effected our community. so, thank you. [applause] and later this evening, you will hear dreadfully from the attorney general herself from these and other issues. it is our hope that with the attorney general's leadership, the federal government will set a powerful message that hate, violence, and intimidation based on anti-muslim hate will meet the full force of the law. time of great challenge

and pain for our community, we have also been a very fortunate to have with us the support of our allies and partners. muslim advocates has called for federal hate crimes investigations. we have called out public officials for engaging in divisive anti-muslim rhetoric. , civicr of civil groups organizations from across racial and ethnic lines have that stood with us in support of our community. we are very honored to have with a representative of several of these allies, including the anti-defamation league, the interface alliance, the southern poverty law's center, the human rights campaign, media matters for america, and the national campaign against torture. they have stood up for american

values. they have stood with muslim advocates in the american muslim community. now, i think it is our turn to stand up and express our appreciation for their support and friendship. i ask you to join me in standing up and expressing our support and thanks to our allies. [applause] we are thankful for our friends and allies. we know they are not alone. we know we need to do more to make it easier for fair-minded americans to stand up for what just.ht and what is

that is why in the coming months, muslim advocates will be launching a new advocacy campaign to counter anti-muslim bigotry and i look forward to sharing more details about that very soon. forward support of thinking donors, we have been making progress. we are stronger together. donors ind looking clude the proud father of these three adorable young kids. like many of you, his hopes and dreams for his future is inextricably tied to his children. he emigrated to the united states from syria as a teenager, leeing dictatorship and seeking freedom. climate ofsees this

hate violence and anti-muslim rhetoric and he is concerned about his kids. he does not want his kids to be raised in this kind of situation. protecting his part to our nation's shared values that bring us together as americans. that is why he supports muslim advocates, but he is not alone. there are many people like him in our country, including here in this room this evening. he is on your left. he is on your right. and he is you. i know you have your own hopes and dreams for your family, friends. that your children, your family, your neighbors will be treated with respect and dignity

together we can make that dream come true. we can make progress if we move forward together. we are truly stronger together. thank you all again so much for joining us this evening. [applause] >> she will be back with the attorney general. [applause] i hope her words inspired you. i want to say briefly, the stakes we are talking about in america for muslims is life and death. i am not exaggerating or being hyperbolic. hate has been a spike in crimes and attacks on mosques. who has heard of brenda and scott crawford. he was convicted in august apply

to go to new york state to slaughter muslims up there. he was convicted. he got 25 years to life. to islamiced to go berg with a machete to cut the muslims to shreds and killed them. how do you tell your children people are coming to kill you because of your face? those are the stakes we are dealing with. i hope you will keep that in mind. the our cards on your table. make a pledge. i am an optimist. muslim advocates are on the front lines to make life better for young people. but right now, especially for muslims. hurricanesgive muslim names, that wouldn't help us. hurricane mohammed is coming. [laughter] that wouldn't help us.

sometimes people look away. let themvocates won't do that. tonight we will continue on. we have the opportunity to honor an outstanding ally who has been crucial to muslim advocates in the fight for freedom for americans of all faiths. the former head of the alliance and a formidable leader. i would like to introduce somebody you know, she is a deputy director that brings a deep experience in public policy. we have worked together on her campaign. she was in the ocaclu. her,e welcome the heave everyone. [applause] >> good evening.

ofight i have the honor presenting the voice of courage gaddy.to the reverend dr. he recently finished his time as executive director of the interface alliance. for 16 years he flew back and forth between munro, louisiana and washington dc so he could remain the pastor at north minister baptist church. gaddy who work with dr. often say he is the first person in any room to speak truth. loud and proud they say. if he says something wrong, he will call it out. you have likely heard him passionately fight against bigotry on many of his media appearances. whether it is msnbc or his radio show, state of relief. dr. gaddy used his platform to

challenge conceptions and promote understanding about the american muslim community. he certainly does not accept the idea that we have to choose between national security and civil rights. we became close with dr. gaddy airing the hysteria surrounding the community center in new york city. all of us remember the inflammatory rhetoric coming from hate groups that provoked hate crimes, protests, and intimidation of muslims in mosques all of the country. the community was terrified. notas unfortunately, a time unlike that which we are experiencing today. gaddy immediately understood the importance of building public alliances with muslims. he worked with us to set up a meeting with the attorney general. during that meeting, he did not

pull any punches. he called on the attorney general and the president to do more and to do better. organized theking first ever hearing targeting a religious group, american muslims, dr. gaddy and his team helps us form a coalition of over 60 groups to fight back. since then, we have worked together to respond to kerry koranand ro burning. in fact, his team single-handedly coordinated one of the most powerful advocates for our case. even now, he is one of the first people we hear from in a time of crisis from the community. he always asks, "what can i do to help?"

he said about leaving the alliance, i don't have the sense that either jefferson or god is wringing their hands because i am leaving. i don't know about jefferson or god, but i can tell you that the ging at muslim advocates started the day you said you are moving on. [applause] thank you so much for everything you have done for the american muslim community. please join me in recognizing reverend dr. c welton gaddy. [applause]

dr. gaddy: thank you so much. to be perfectly honest with you cept thising, i ac award from muslim advocates with mixed emotions. is most powerful of which profound gratitude. i am thankful beyond measure that the boards of the interfaith alliance if me an opportunity to spend every day at the intersection of religion government and politics. i advocated for our first freedom and encouraged interreligious cooperation. at the good fortune of making my passion my work and my work my passion. officeence in that

allowed me the privilege of regularly learning from and cooperatively interacting with muslim advocates. me shared values afforded ample opportunities to express my patriotism through efforts to move our nation closer to full compliance with our constitution and conviction that religion can , healing, and compassionate and its relationship to all people. working alongside individuals who also understand the importance of religious freedom and the necessity of equal whoice or all, individuals alare my conviction that re

religion pulsates with mutual respect and personal passion, my colleagues in muslim advocates became my friends. she is not only a strong and wise national leader, she is also a smart and courageous women who i consider a sister. gratitude for this honor this evening comes easiloy. but negative emotions also disturb my heart and mind tonight. nation,is well with our or our world. understatement. the most fundamental values of both religion and democracy, so prominent in our work together, are under siege to an extent that the meaning, integrity, and

and religiousedom freedom for all americans are seriously threatened. the candidates for highest office in our land sound gots, something is bad wrong. one any persons'religious identity can be considered a justification for hate and discrimination, the health of the soul of our republic needs to be re-examined. having spent most of my adult life promoting, protecting, and defending religious freedom, i must tell you that i do not think we could pass the first

amendment to the constitution today. extremely shortsighted people are seeking to change the derinition of liberty in or to claim a freedom for themselves that they refuse to extend to others. [applause] i hurt with you, as well as stand beside you in support, knowing that muslims are under a includestack that despicable violence by people who don't understand either the constitution or islam. reminded of the dark days of the civil rights movement

went under threats of danger, basic constitutional rights had to seek protection through ws, orng for new la insisting on the enforcement of laws already on our books. while at the same time, they tried to change the hearts and minds of the american people. we want to change those minds. we have to have those laws. thankfully, muslim advocates is aware of that strategy. legal initiatives or imperative. no office in our nation is superior to the guarantee of the freedom and justice for all people. when it comes to issues of the heart, and i am speaking now to the muslim community, when it comes to issues of the heart,

you should do have to go it alone. it is far past time for all , majorityin this land religions and minority religions, to position themselves alongside you as muslims and to remain alongside you tirelessly, advocating for eradicating hate and practicing injustice as you are having to experience. [applause] i had the honor of doing this colleagues,o sitting at the table of the attorney general of the united states, seeking wisdom that would move us through crises with no of support for the

constitution, testifying in congress to expose the lies being told about muslims, and clarifying the difference between a religion of peace and a sick organization perpetrating violence and encouraging the white house to highlight the plight as well. was fulfilling and fun for us. it is work that needs to be done. it is work that has to be done. media, copy houses, humanist gatherings, board tables, atheistties, organizations, and houses of worship all across this nation. if muslims are not free in this nation, none of us are free in

this nation. [applause] i am very grateful for muslim advocates and for this honor you have given to me. i hope that our time of celebration this evening can serve as an inspiration and a time for all of us to recommit ourselves to doing the work of freedom together for the integrity of a religion and the vitality of our democracy and , for the possibility of peace. thank you. [applause]

>> give it up again for dr. gaddy. [applause] continue on our next speaker. he is a friend from new jersey as well. he is a councilmember, but was the first mayor who was muslim i -- oh, hethe history is going at the end. sorry, buddy you are stuck. i don't really know the guy. i just met him. the one i actually know. a great guy. i know them both. he is a member of congress in his fourth term of the great state of indiana. he protects the rights of americans from all walks of life

and is an advocate for everyone. we are lucky to have him as an ally in congress. that? remember five years ago? has spoken carson out to public officials about the issue. he is brought the rising anti-muslim the country and hate to the attention of his colleagues. he can a briefing with members withngress this year congressman keith ellison about anti-muslim bigotry and why it is important. he is a great guy and a friend of mine. congressman andre carson. congressman carson: thank you, dean for that kind and generous introduction. sorry, mayor. i would like to think the muslim advocate staff.

rehana for her excellence and brilliance and her tenacity and just her leadership. also, her partner in righteousness, thank you. [applause] so nice to be here to celebrate the 10th anniversary of muslim advocates. an organization that i have worked very closely with the route my term in congress -- throughout my term in congress. we can speak openly, very honestly, about this great community. something that is increasingly important due to the circumstances unfolding in our world today. we are all familiar with what this great organization stands

for, what it is all about. but what many people are probably unfamiliar with is that this group is able to get greath dcings done in washington each and every year. muslim advocates as a presence and has held a presence on capitol hill, like very few other muslim organizations. great work in your own right. muslim advocates is special in their own right by excelling to draw members of congress together to support important causes, leading the charge to call for tremendous policy changes in the administration, or even consideration of legislation in both the house and senate. they bring together muslim leaders to ensure that decision-makers understand stereotypes and bigotry facing

american muslims each and every day. members of congress accountable for doing what is right, even when it is not politically expedient. i often refer to muslim ears ones as my eyes and the ground across the country. and i know i rely on them, to deliver me with the utmost, the purest information, the most reliable information, nd of information i think will help those of us in congress make sound decisions regardless of our school of thought. i trust and look up to their staff, knowing they are experts on law and policy matters. has touched many lives and a look forward to working with them in the future. i think about muslim advocates and i think about throughout

history, how the kind of advocacy they represent has sparked change in our society. think about those advocates who are on the ground, like frederick douglass, working with brothers and sisters in the abolitionist movement to do what congress refused to do and push the then president abraham lincoln. i think about the advocates who are on the ground one congress refused to do what needed to be done to push the then president truman to desegregate the military. i think about those numerous advocates in the form of dr. martin luther king and a philip others who were on the ground doing what needed to

be done to push congress and president johnson to sign the voting rights act and the civil rights act. i think about the great work you are doing today. i think about the importance of having our top law enforcement officer in the country to be an advocate on behalf of of the american people. that is why it is a tremendous honor to introduce the attorney general loretta lynch. [applause] this is her first public event with the american muslim community. met her in new york when she was the u.s. attorney at the event with the muslim community. you have to understand that as a child, she and her father would

literally visit the courthouse in north carolina to watch the court proceedings. her interest in the courts grew out of stories she shared with her grandfather. he was a sharecropper who helped african americans in the south moved to the north to flee persecution based upon racist jim crow laws. becomingbefore the chief law enforcement officer, she used the courts in the fight for justice, liberty, and the quality notably. role ined a critical prosecuting those new york city police officers who physically and sexually assaulted the haitian immigrant living in new york. attorney general lynch began her career in public service as a

federal prosecutor with the u.s. attorney's office for the eastern district of new york, working against narcotics, crime, public corruption, and civil rights cases. she was appointed as the u.s. attorney by both president clinton and president obama. in private practice, she performed extensive pro bono work protecting human rights. attorney general lynch made history as the first african-american woman to serve in this great role. [applause] i had a chance to get to know her and one thing i can say for certain, our community and our country, we have an attorney general that deeply cares for justice and for fairness.

muslim americans are held back by discrimination. they are threatened by hatred. we have an advocate at the department of justice. we should feel confident that she will not only stand with muslims in our most difficult times, but she will stand with all americans to make sure they have the quality under the law. and sisters, friends and family, please welcome our attorney general, get on your .eet, for loretta lynch [applause]

>> madam attorney general, welcome. it is an honor to have you join us with your first public event with the muslim community. it could not come at a more important time for our community. so, thank you for joining us. loretta lynch: thank you for this invitation. let me make sure my microphone is on. if you cannot hear me, let me know. muted. i am still ok. how is that? no? i will tell you that rarely have i had trouble being heard. [laughter] usually it is the opposite reaction. is it coming up? alright.

yeah. let's get this repositioned and see. thank you so much. just so you know, my stunt director here is extremely talented. as you can see, she has saved me on a daily basis from many issues. she offers to read his work in many areas. let me make sure we have this in the right spot. ok, great. [applause] are we wired? are we ready? outstanding. despite that technical issue, le t me thank you and the entire board and group for this invitation. i am so excited to be here. also say i truly appreciate this invitation on what i understand is your 10th

anniversary. very special one groups as dedicated and focused as yours invite me to sharei in an important event. it means a lot to me personally and as the attorney general. i thank you for this invitation. [applause] dr. gaddy: thank you for accepting. >> maybe just to kick things off byuld you start telling us what you see as your highest priority as attorney general? loretta lynch: absolutely. there are a number of issues to challenge the department of justice. many of which the muslim advocates are deeply involved in. i also thank you for your partnership on many of those issues as well. the work of the department is buried, wide, and multifaceted. i am focusing on four main areas. it no way diminishes issues in other areas.

i am focusing on national security and terrorism. the threats are ever evolving and are widespread. they affect us and our partners. i think frankly, they affect us in deep and fundamental ways. they make us look at how we evacuate certain crimes and the language we use to describe them and force us, and i think, in a very positive way, to really grapple with the issue of protecting ourselves and protecting our rights. issuesre very important to me. i am also focusing on the issue of cyber security. if anyone has been near a computer lately, you know you need a 12-year-old to interpret. but we see however, is with the explosion of the ease and simplicity and frankly, the credibility's of the cyber world living in the cloud, how frankly

it leaves us open to exportation. especially when it comes to the economic and intellectual property rights. we have an extremely entrepreneurial community in the united states. muslim americans are an important part of that. it is not just the established companies that deal with this issue. oh, this is great. thank you very much. i will tell you, i promise not to sing, despite having this snazzy mic. respect toying, with cyber security, as we expand areas inand other business, particularly when it comes to the entrepreneurial spirit and our country, so much work nowadays with the young designers and developers is being done online. intellectual property is a multibillion dollar issue and we are working on important ways, including the china.

isther main priority of mine human trafficking. it is because of a lot of the work i did in brooklyn as a u.s. attorney and the cases i saw with young people, primarily amen and girls, lured from host of countries with promises of a better life, with promises of an american life. these promises were turned into nightmares. the more i look into the issue the more i realized what a widespread and largely invisible crime this is. and how so many of our young women and girls are at risk and once they fall into this, how hard it is to get out. and even when they can be rescued, how difficult it can be for them to reintegrate into society. i frankly think there is too much value in the power of women and girls to allow a single one of them to be thrown away. that is why that is a priority. [applause]

other main priority has been focusing on the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve, particularly communities of color. it is an issue i have been looking at since my earliest new york prosecutor in city. the congress meant mention one of the cases i did. it highlighted that for me in significant ways. i did some work with the asian american and chinese community. that is another priority of mine as well. he married of other things the department does -- the myriad of other things the department does. >> lets stick down to the other issues. says the tragic attack in paris three weeks ago, there has been inecidedly disturbing uptick

muslim rhetoric. many feel the rhetoric is the worst it has ever been and we are very concerned about the environment created. a very toxic environment that may even give life to ask of violence. of these attacks, what message does the federal government have for the american muslim community. loretta lynch: i think you could not have touched on a more timely issue, certainly, in the wake of paris. as a country, as a part of europe, has been grappling with anti-muslim rhetoric for some time now. that is because of smaller incidents. this large one is the equivalent 9/11.ir there is a disturbing rise in anti-muslim rhetoric. the fear you just mentioned is my greatest fear as a prosecutor, as someone who is sworn to the protection of all american people. i fear the rhetoric will be accompanied by acts of violence.

the incidents in paris were a tragedy. we'll all sympathize with them there and the tremendous loss of life. what i think is important to note is the department of justice's view is we will not give in to fear. my message to the entire american community is, we cannot give in to the fear that these backlashes are really based on. i understand. from 9/11.mber we feel that fear, that sense of lack of control and the inability to do something about it. try andtart to spin and find ways you think would be the easy fix, the simple way to corral an issue or two contained a concern. becomes-muslim rhetoric that path.

what is greatly concerning to us is the rise you mentioned. i remember 9/11 and those were very difficult days. i heard disturbing things from people i never thought i would hear. rise of theink the internet, the ability of people to issue hateful speeches of all now, obviously, this is a country based on free speech. when it edges towards violence, when we see the potential for someone to lift that mantle of anti-muslim rhetoric, or as we saw after 9/11, violence directed at individuals may be perceived to be muslim, they will suffer just as well, as much. when we see that, we will take action. my view is that we cannot be ruled by fear. when we do that, we are not

making ourselves say. we are not thinking things through. we are not looking at what works. now, sadly, a lot of experience in this area. a lot of experience in this field, this is what we do 24-7. i know people are saying that if we stop the refugees and a sign the bill, make them sign the guarantee, this is not the way. considering and will anything to keep the american people say. rushing to judgment, as a friend of mine said, you take -- you do not take has impasse tetous action. ie of the reasons, particularly appreciate the invitation, muslim advocates understand the power of language. le power ofble pai

educate,to incredibly and the power of organization. and focusing that voice. i think it is so tremendously important in this time to let your voices be heard. and as you do that, no, please know, that the attorney general be your partner in that effort. [applause] >> thank you for the kind words, and the clarity. i think that is needed. now more than ever in our country. thank you very much. we have been noticing an uptick and hate crime incidents affecting individuals and institutions.

in the wake of the paris attacks, we have been noticing a disturbing, even greater rate of attack. i was wondering if you could tell us what the justice department is doing to hold perpetrators accountable. loretta: my very important partner in the leadership of civil rights is here. because for us, it has been an important issue since 911. the last several years, and as you mentioned recently, we have also seen an uptick. it is incredibly disturbing. had i known she was going to be here, i would've brought my crib sheet. the only notes i brought -- i wanted to make sure i had the information on this issue, if it came up. i am incredibly proud of the work that our civil rights division does. in terms of cases, but also investigation and counseling in areas where we do see anti-muslim rhetoric in action

turned to violence, we do take action. criminal prosecutions, the matthew shepard hate crime act has been effective. note, i think,to yes, we have charged 225 defendants with hate crimes over the last six years. most of those in the last three years. since 9/11 there have been investigations, including rhetoric with over 45 prosecutions arising out of that. i think, sadly, that number will continue. i think it is important however that as we again talk about the importance of free speech, we make it clear, action predicated on violent talk are not america. they're not who we are, they are not what we do. and they will be prosecuted. i want that to be clear also. >> great, thank you. [applause]

>> another area of concern that our community has been facing in recent years is when the community is trying to build mosques or expand, they essentially encounter opposition at a local level that sometimes is with the veneer of being a zoning issue. but under the surface, it is motivated by anti-muslim attitude. obviously, the country has a robust first amendment coming guaranteeing freedom of worship, that includes building houses and mosques. i was wondering what your advice do you have for community efforts trying to go about first amendment rights to practice faith and build a house of worship? loretta: with my own background, i think that is important. i mean, houses of worship can be the heart of a community. they can be the cradle of a family, they can be places where our children go to learn, not

just faith, but to make friends. they build connections. they are essential to a healthy america. and every community deserves the right to have those houses of worship operate in safety and peace. as the muslim community expands, which is wonderful, they have been in this country as long as any group. we have some of the most oldest and beautiful mosques in this hemisphere. we have seen, frankly, a disturbing increase the rhetoric against them. i think what you will see as people continue down this path -- which i think frankly, is an unfortunate one, it is driven by fear. people will try to use things such as you mentioned, zoning aws to make them become bludgeon against a peaceful religion at a house of worship. frankly, wouldn't you rather have a house of worship in your midst, as opposed to a strip mall? or some other thing.

maybe not. but in terms of the value of it. the value has been. seen for years, until we get these backlashes we have a very, very active practice in the residential -- essentially it protects the freedom to build a mosque, and the freedom to practice religion. most of the cases under that particular statute that get the most attention tend to involve institutionalized persons. it also focuses on the right to build a house of worship in an appropriately zoned area. so, we have a number of matters in which we have successfully defended the rights of mosques to either expand, as often is the case, or to build. one of the most known and was

the murfreesboro oh case. i think the law was bent and twisted in a way that shows how strong the backlash can be how strong is backlash to me. when you have concerns like that, please reach out to the department of justice. that is what we are here for. we are honored to take his cases. [applause] i should also add, in respect to not just houses of worship, but other areas we are seeing growing areas of concern, and for some time now specifically , involved children, and the issue of bullying in schools. we have partnered with the department of education to provide guidance to schools on how to handle situations where students come to them and feel they bullied. we have seen this for a number of years. he saw it a lot in the new york area, unfortunately, where there

would be a backlash against the muslim community, we as parents often feel we can withstand these issues, and we can argue back or talkback. but our children go to school, they do not have those tools yet. they do not know. kids are very good at finding a spot and pushing. we are active in that front as well. i would urge people if you are aware of situations where children are involved, please contact the department of justice and department of education. we can provide guidance and have conversation. everything need not result in a lawsuit. but some things do have to go to that area. we have, as you may know, opened an investigation into the case in irving, texas. we will see where that goes. you have extreme situations like that, but also the everyday things. we have an important role to play. please, please think of us

, there, as well. >> thank you. [applause] let me first say, it is great to hear that the department has opened an investigation into the irving, texas high school. that case of the treatment of mohammed, the kid with the homemade clock, was an issue of great concern. it really struck a chord with many parents. we appreciate the department's leadership on that. as well as the murfreesboro oh case. defending the right of the community is crucial. i don't know if you know this, madam attorney general, but the government prevailed on the side of the community. the community was able to proceed, build a mosque, and it opened a little over a year ago. they are supported by interfaith allies in the community. so, thank you for that important work. i want to turn now to a different issue, something you touched on in your opening remarks, the issue of law enforcement and community relations.

and as congressman carson mentioned, in the early part of your career as a federal prosecutor, you were part of a high-profile case of this brutal assault. around that time there was also the case that was also a high-profile case of police brutality. that was in the late 90's. there was a public outcry that, we need to do something about excessive use of force by law enforcement. today, it seems like we are having that conversation all over again. from michael brown to eric bland to tamara rice. recently, of course, jamar clark. to sum it up, it seems like not much has changed. why has not much changed in the last 15 years? loretta: i think a lot about the parallels. i will say i think we had, as

difficult and as highly charged as the environment is now when it comes to police community relations, and these specific cases that we are talking about. in a sense, the environment has changed. it has become more difficult because we are seeing these things that are very, very vivid and hard to watch. and frankly, they are painful to watch. when we did a case in 1988, it went to trial in 1999. you know, we did not have the videotapes people have now. even though most of the altercation occurred on the street, some of the initial beatings and the sexual assault was in a bathroom. we did not have videotapes. we had to pull it out of police witnesses, and also civilian witnesses who did not want to come forward. and if you have ever thought about a difficult witness, imagine a police officer testifying in that kind of case.

we did have officers who came forward and said, this is so wrong. but the atmosphere at the time was that this crime is so horrific, and this action as described is so unbelievable, a lot of people have trouble believing it occurred. they were not unreasonable in that. because who would think that uniformed new york city police officers went in addition to beating someone in the back of a car would also sodomized someone -- sodomize someone. we had medical records. without those records i do not think we would have been able to carry the day ultimately to trial. now, because of technology frankly, we have visual evidence of things that occur. not just of witness cell phones, but surveillance cameras, security cameras, and police body cameras and dashboard cameras. as i mentioned before, they are

hard to watch. but they are so important to watch. because they have given us the ability to open up this dialogue. and it has really meant that not only law enforcement, but other members of the community who for a variety of reasons, never really accepted that this kind of misconduct went on. now, they have to see what so many groups have been saying for so many years. when i go out i do a lot of , talking to police groups, and minority groups and different groups, as well. the refrain among the police is, oh gee, that would not happen. i understand that. no one wants to thank your group of people that you support and know about would do some like that. and the majority do not. and one case we had a tremendous amount of support from nypd officers. they viewed the action as so not only disgraceful, but they knew what it would bring upon the entire department.

you have community groups saying, this does happen a lot. this happens all of the time. and when people will stop and talk about stop and frisk, or actual abuse, they would say, well, it is not that bad. or they say, i cannot believe that what happened. . and that in some ways was the result. people in the community understood completely what people were talking about. people outside of the community managed to move away from that. people move away from painful things. these videos mean we cannot do that. and frankly, it has in many ways forced a discussion within law enforcement that has been long overdue. it has in many ways been very productive. it has been painful, it is not an easy thing to change. now when i go out, i talked to police chiefs, and i talked to the rank and file.

they say this is not who we want to be. they come to the department, and they will request assistance. they will request that we come in and help them with training and issues. not every department, easily. ; active practice going on. i am sure that will continue. the number of officers i have talked to, particularly the younger, minority officers say, i became a police officer because i want to stop kids from going on the wrong path. you know, give me the tools and training to do that. they can look at the videos and say that is not what i want to be. and the community deals with that and says, this is the example of what we have to stop. so it is a different environment in that sense, in many ways it is a more painful conversation. but i think we can use it to get to a better place. we can really use it to come up with consistent standards, training, and possibly consistent standards on collection of data of these

incidents of use of force. we need national data on these incidents. i talked to police departments also, they say, we agree, we agree, but it is burdensome. but when you do it with the consent decrees, they say, it really is useful and helpful. that is why we are talking with police groups now and doing national standards for the data of collections and use of force. this is vital to the discussion. >> we have time for one more question. maybe something to have the audience get to know your little bit. what has been the most rewarding part of your career? loretta: being attorney general is pretty good. [laughter] [applause] i have to say, you talk to most people with that question may

probably look back at a point that at the time the situation they were in, they did not realize was so impactful, but looking back it was. i mean, the work that i was able to do while i was in practice at a firm you know well. >> yes. loretta: i spent a significant amount of time over years doing pro bono work at the international tribunal for rwanda. i taught a trial advocacy clinic with other lawyers for several years. from 2001-2207. then, in the summer of 2005, the tribunal needed assistance with a witness tampering investigation. they asked me to do a special investigation for them. i spent most of the summer of 2005, 10 years ago, and rwanda interviewing genocide survivors in order to deal with the witness tampering investigation. i had to go back and reinvestigate the original massacre that was the topic of

some testimony that possibly had been tainted. it was a tremendous experience. i spent a lot of time delving into the history of friendly one -- frankly one of the most horrific acts i think civilization has seen. where one group tried to wipe another from the face of the earth. and it was rewarding as a prosecutor, moving as a person, and in many ways shook me. it made me think a lot about the basis for why we have the situation in so many instances and so many ways of man 's inhumanity to man. racism,it is tribalism, backlasha, anti-muslim we're talking about. we spend so much time and energy fighting ways to divide ourselves from others.

then we think, now that i have found a difference, i can act. and it has really been an eye-opening experience. i don't know the reason why. i do not pretend to understand the human condition enough to know why we fall victim to this. time and time again. i do not know that. what i did see as a result of the tribunal, is what happens when people of the will and good faith come together and decide to stop it. when we descend into that, the heart of that darkness -- be it a genocide, racism, what we're talking about tonight -- we pull together. and we come together. and for me, i turned to the law. other people turn to other types of organizations. but we find a way to say, this

is not who we are. and we find a way to try and get justice to victims of that kind of hatred. and so, it made me tremendously sad to talk to survivors and hear their stories. it also made me hear their stories. it also made me proud that they trusted me with their stories. i was part of a system that has as its goal, justice for them. i have kept that with me ever since. i was fortunate enough to be back in rwanda a few weeks ago to revisit some of the locations. and i think about that when i is am sitting in the attorney general's office. when someone asks me about my bad day. i am happy for being alive. no one has chased me with machete. i'm good. [applause]

when i think about is that throughout this world, and country, there are people who cannot say that. they cannot say that. i have the ability to do something about that. i have the ability and i have the team, and dedicated people who work all day and well into the night to stop that. and to do something about that and define justice for people. what i have realized is i cannot guarantee the absence of discrimination, or hatred or prejudice, but i can guarantee the presence of justice. so that is why that was rewarding. [applause] i cannot think of a better word to end on. attorney general, again, thank you so much for joining us. hearing your reassuring words of this challenging time for our country and the american muslim unity is so meaningful to us. thank you again. everyone please join me in thanking the attorney general. [applause]

[captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2015] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] announcer: on the next washington journal, we discussed the decision to send special operations force into iraq and syria to fight isis. our guest is linda robinson of the rand corporation. and a roll call reporter talks about e-mail privacy. and in america by the number segment, a look at crime in schools. we talked to thomas snyder for the national center for education statistics and the leader of threat associates. live every morning at 7 a.m.

eastern with your phone calls, tweets, and facebook comments. announcer: every weekend on american history tv on c-span3, 48 hours of programs and events that tell our nation's story. from historic colonial williamsburg, bringing you scenes from the 1770's -- the eve of the american revolution. with reenactments of the streets, we will tour the governor's palace and the virginia capitol building. throughout the day, we take your calls and a tweets about the colonial era with experts. sunday morning at 10:00 on road to the white house rewind, we hear the aspirations of presidential hopefuls -- from 1987, former defense secretary donald rumsfeld shares his thoughts about running from manchester, new hampshire. explores, dick cheney

his role in the presidential race. dick cheney: issa think about it in a political -- i used to think about it in a political terms. the more i think about it, the more the comes personal than political. announcer: on lectures in history, southern illinois university professor on the caribbean sugar trade, the role in the development of britain's atlantic colonies, and the impact on slavery in the 1600s. >> sugar was one of the main modes of the slave trade in america. 75% of all africans brought to the americas in the 1600s were brought to areas where they were growing and making sugar. it was a huge business. there were some scholars to argue it was the first industrial enterprise in the western world. announcer: american history tv, all weekend and every weekend, only on c-span3.

persons having business before the supreme court of united states of america should give their attention. >> monday on c-span's landmark cases, we will look at the case of baker versus carr. the962 decision that said supreme court could intervene in the drawing of election events. most justice warren: the important case of his tenure. here's a portion of the oral argument. live in fivevoters of the largest cities in tennessee. they are the intended an actual victims of a statutory scheme the right toues vote to about one 20th of the vote given to certain rural residents.

shifts in population states like tennessee had rural districts moving to the city. but the rural districts held a voting power equal to the larger urban districts. so a group of voters from nashville, memphis, and not felt challenged the disparity and to their case on the way to spend court. case became a milestone, and has continuing relevance today -- as a term one person, one vote is still being debated. joining us in the discussion, theodore olson and douglas smith, the author of a story on how the supreme court brought one person, one vote to the u.s. that is live monday night at 9:00 eastern on c-span, c-span3, and c-span radio. for background on each case while you watch, order your companion book -- available for $18 and five cents on c-span.org.

>> today, defense secretary ashton carter announced the military will be opening all combat roles for women. he discussed the new policy at a news briefing at the pentagon. this is 35 minutes. secretary carter: good afternoon, or good morning. no, it's good afternoon. thanks for being here. appreciate it. now, before i turn to my statement on the subject about which i'd like to speak to you, i'd first like to offer my condolences to the families of those who were killed yesterday in san bernardino, california. president obama just spoke about this tragedy. we're monitoring the situation closely in coordination with the rest of the president's national security team. this tragedy. we're monitoring the situation closely in coordination with the rest of the president's national security team. our highest priority, of course, is the protection of our people.

the law enforcement community is taking the lead on this, and they'll be able to provide more information as it becomes available. i'm confident they'll have more answers in the days ahead. let me now turn to my statement. when i became secretary of defense, i made a commitment to building america's force of the future. the all-volunteer military that will defend our nation for generations to come. like our outstanding force of today, our force of the future must continue to benefit from the best people america has to offer. in the 21st century, that requires drawing strength from the broadest possible pool of talent. this includes women. because they make up over 50% of the american population. to succeed in our mission of national defense, we cannot afford to cut ourselves off from

half the country's talents and skills. we have to take full advantage of every individual who can meet our standards. the defense department has increasingly done this in recent decades. in 1975, for example, opening up the military service academies to women. and in 1993, allowing women to fly fighter jets and serve on combat ships at sea. about the same time, though, d.o.d. also issued the direct ground combat definition and assignment rule. which still prohibited women from being assigned to units whose primary mission was engaging in direct ground combat. that rule was in turn rescinded in january, 2013, when then secretary panetta directed that all positions be opened to qualified women by january 1, 2016.

that is less than one month from today. while also giving the secretary of the army, the secretary of the navy, the secretary of the air force, and the commander of u.s. special operations command three years to request any exceptions. which would have to be reviewed first by the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and then approved by the secretary of defense. as many of you know, i was deputy secretary of defense at the time. that decision reflected, among other things, the fact that by that time the issue of women in combat per se was no longer a question. it was a reality. because women had seen combat throughout the wars in iraq and afghanistan. serving, fighting and in some cases making the ultimate sacrifice alongside their fellow comrades in arms. we've made important strides over the last three years since then. we've seen women soldiers

graduate from the army's ranger school. we have women serving on submarines, and we've opened up over 111,000 positions to women across the services. while that represents real progress, it also means that approximately 10% of positions in the military, that is nearly 220,000, currently remain closed to women. including infantry, armor, reconnaissance and some special operations units. over the last three years the senior, civilian, and military leaders across the army, navy, air force, marine corps and special operations command have been studying the integration of women into these positions. last month i received the recommendations. as well as the data, studies and surveys on which they were based. regarding whether any of those remaining positions warrant a continued exemption from being

opened to women. i reviewed these inputs carefully, and today i'm announcing my decision not to make continued exceptions. that is, to proceed with opening all remaining occupations and positions to women. there will be no exceptions. this means, as long as they qualify and meet the standards, and will now be able to contribute to our mission in ways they could not before. they will be allowed to drive tanks, and lead infantry soldiers into combat. they will be able to service army rangers, green berets, navy seals, marine corps infantry, air force para-jumpers, and everything else that was previously open only to men. even more importantly, our military will be better able to harness the skills and perspectives that talented women have to offer.

no exceptions was the recommendation of the secretary secretary ofthe the air force, and the secretary of the navy, as well as the chief of staff of the army, chief of staff of the air force, chief of naval operations, and the commander of u.s. special operations command. asked formarine corps a partial exception in some areas such as infantry, machine gunner, fires the work, reconnaissance, and others, we are a joint horse. -- force. i have decided to make a decision which applies to the entire fourth. let me explain how i came to this to such -- decision. first, i have been mindful of several key principles throughout the process. one is, is the mission of effective, is most important. defending the country is the primary is possibly, and it cannot be colonized. -- compromise. d.

that means everyone that there is in uniform has to meet high standards. to be sure, fairness is also important because everyone who is able and willing to serve the country who can meet those standards should have the full and equal opportunity to -- do so. the important factor in making my decision was to have access to every american who could add strength to the joint force. now, more than ever we cannot afford to have barriers limiting our access to talent. three years of extensive studies and reviews leading up to this decision, all of which we will post online, by the way. have led to genuine insights and real progress. we found that some standards previously were either outdated, or did not reflect the tasks actually required in combat. important work has been done to ensure each position has standards that are grounded in real-world operational requirements both physical and otherwise.

we are positioned to be better at finding the most qualified women and men for military specialties. another principle is that the careful and limitation of women in combat would be a key to success. also any decision to do so come or not would have to be based on rigorous analysis of factual data. that is exactly how we have conducted this review. it has been evidence-based, i am confident we can implement it successfully. throughout history, we have consistently proved ourselves to be a learning organization. look at the last decade and a half, we have seen this in war. we adapted to counter insurgency and counterterrorism missions in the wake of 9/11 and in the wars of iraq and afghanistan.

we have seen it technically in -- capability. we also have seen it in the institution where we repealed don'tasked, don't tell -- ask, don't tell. we always to the mission and the people first. we will do same today. as we integrate women into the remaining combat positions, we must keep in mind the welfare and total units of our entire force. as we focus on the individual contributions that each service never makes, we also have to remember that in military operations, team matters. that is why it is important that the service has chosen to study both individual and team performance. they also worked with our

international partners to examine how they have integrated women into ground combat roles. again, how we implement this is key. as chairman noted, simply declaring all career field open is not successful integration. we must not only implement change thoughtfully, but also track, and monitor the progress to ensure we are doing it right, leveraging the skills and strengths of our entire population. all of us have a role to play. as we proceed with full integration of women into combat roles in a deliberate and methodical manner, i'm directing that seven guidelines be used to steer this implementation. first, implementation must be pursued with the clear objective of improved force effectiveness. leaders must emphasize that objective to all service members, men and women alike.

second, leaders must assign tasks and jobs throughout the force based on ability, not gender. advancement must be based on objective and validated standards. a good example of this is socom selection processes which combine objective and subjective criteria in, i quote, "a whole person concept." that includes rigorous physical standards and also strong moral character, leadership skills, mental agility, problem solving skills, selflessness, maturity and humility. , the third guideline is that for a variety of reasons, equal opportunity likely will not mean equal participation by men and women in all specialties. there must be no quotas or perception thereof. so we will work as a joint force to expertly manage the impacts

of what the studies that have been done may suggest, it may be smaller numbers of women in these fields, the fields previously closed. fourth, the studies conducted by the services and socomm indicate there are physical and other differences on average between men and women. while this cannot be applied to every man or woman it is real and must be taken into account in implementation. thus far, we've only seen small numbers of women qualify to meet our high physical standards in some of our most physically demanding combat occupational specialties, and going forward we shouldn't be surprised if these small numbers are also reflected in areas like recruitment, voluntary assignment, retention and advancement in some of these specific specialties. fifth, we will have to address the fact that some surveys suggest that some service members, both men and women,

have a perception that integration would be pursued at the cost of combat effectiveness. survey data also suggests that women service members emphatically do not want integration to be based on any considerations other than the ability to perform and combat effectiveness. in both cases, based on these surveys, leaders have to be clear that mission effectiveness comes first. i'm confident that given the strength of our leaders throughout the ranks, over time these concerns will no longer be an issue. sixth, as i noted, both survey data and the judgment of the services leadership strongly indicate that particularly in the specialties that will be opened, the performance of small teams is important. even as individual performance is important. the seventh guideline has to do with international realities. while we know the united states as a nation committed to using

our entire population to the fullest, as are some of our closest friends and allies, we also know that not all nations share this perspective. our military has long dealt with this reality. notably over the last 15 years, in iraq and also afghanistan and we need to be prepared to do so going forward as it bears on the specialties that will be opened by this decision. with all these factors in mind, chairman dunford recommended that if we were to integrate women into combat positions, implementation should be done in a combined manner by all the services working together. i agree. and that will be my direction. accordingly, i'm directing all the military services to proceed to open all military occupational specialties to women 30 days from today. that is, after a 30-day waiting period required by law and to provide their updated implementation plans for integrating women into these

positions by that date. deputy secretary of defense bob work and general paul salva will work with the services to oversee the short-term implementation of this decision, ensure there are no unintended consequences on the joint force and periodically update me and , chairman dunford. before i conclude, it's important to keep all this in perspective. implementation won't happen overnight. while at the end of the day this will make us a better and stronger force, there still will be problems to fix and challenges to overcome. we shouldn't diminish that. at the same time, we should also remember that the military has long prided itself on being a meritocracy, where those who serve are judged based on their abilities. that's why we have the finest

fighting force ever known. it's one other way we will strive to ensure that the best force will remain so long into the the future. today we take another step toward that continued excellence. thank you. now i'll take your questions. bob? >> you mentioned the marine corps asked for a partial exception. the marine corps made a vigorous and detailed case for keeping some combat positions open to men only. in what ways did you find their argument unpersuasive? secretary carter: i did review the marine corps data, surveys, studies, and also the recommendations, the commandant of the marine corps, general dunford, now our chairman, that certain marine corps specialties remain closed to women. i reviewed that information and

i looked at it carefully. i also heard from other leaders of other services who had studied similar issues in their own force. the recommendations of the other service secretaries and service chiefs and i came to a different conclusion in respect of those specialties of the marine corps where i strongly agree with now-chairman dunford is two very important points. i noted them here. the first is that the key here is going to be implementation. and i viewed the issues that were raised by all the services, by the way, in varying degrees and obviously by the marine , corps, that we need to take those seriously and address them in implementation. i believe the issues raised including by the marine corps could be addressed successfully in implementation.

second, that there was great value in having a joint or combined approach to implementation. that's why i decided to have no exceptions in any service and to have them all working together on implementation. >> just a quick followup. you said you came to a different conclusion, obviously. i was asking what about the argument you found lacking. secretary carter: i believe we could in implementation address the issues that were raised. >> since you opened up referencing san bernardino and said you're monitoring it closely, can you share with the american people, and the troops, your concerns, what are you monitoring, what concerns you about the incident, what's your assessment of the potential growing issue of seeing acts of

potentially terrorist inspired violence in this country? what does that raise for you? and on this issue that you're discussing here today, can you tell us why general dunford is not here with you? secretary carter: on the question of san bernardino, the law enforcement community is investigating what happened there, again, i'm not going to speculate on what happened. to your general question, protecting our people is our most important mission. but we don't know what the causes are of the san bernardino tragedy and law enforcement i'm sure will get to the bottom of that, but i cannot tell you what that is. >> the broader issue we have seen so many times, though. you the other day on capitol hill i believe referenced chattanooga, and you have raised this issue of concern in the past. so i'm just wondering what your latest assessment is of how much it worries you?

secretary carter: we don't know the reasons behind this particular shooting, but the protection of our people, including our service people, and concern about radicalization including of american citizens living in america in the manner that we saw in chattanooga is a huge concern. yet another reason why isil needs to be fought and defeated in its heartland, syria and iraq, about which i have spoken a great deal. but it's a global campaign. including one that involves law enforcement, homeland security, intelligence, and other elements right here at home. that's the world we are in. and we need to protect our people in that world. >> and why is general dunford not here? secretary carter: i'm announcing my decision. i was the one who took this decision. i'm announcing my decision. i should say about general dunford, you'll have an opportunity to talk to him. i've talked to him extensively about this subject.

he's very knowledgeable about it. he will be with me as we proceed with implementation. i have taken parts of his, the conclusions he drew. others drew different conclusions, including myself. and that's the decision i've taken, and that's the direction we're going to go. >> does this decision now lead to a greater debate about whether women need to register for selective service? secretary carter: it may do that. that's a matter of legal dispute right now, and in fact litigation. , i don't know how that will turn out. by the way, the -- the legal -- that legal determination won't affect what i announce today, that is, our timetable for the implementation of the decisions

i've announced today. it is an issue that's out there, unfortunately it's subject to litigation. >> the three women who made it through the ranger school, will they now be welcomed into the ranger regiment? will they become a part of the regiment because they weren't until now. secretary carter: those positions will now be available to women. once again, just to remind you, people have to qualify for positions, positions have to be open, and so forth. so there's a lot that goes into that. those positions will be open to them, yes. >> secondly, can we assume you found the marine corps study which concluded that mixed gender units aren't as capable as male units to be flawed? secretary carter: it's not definitive, not determinative. there are other issues, other than -- those studies are reflective of something i spoke

of, which is teams do matter. and we need to take that into account. at the same time, the individuals' capabilities, the capabilities of the individual to contribute are extremely important. on average, and i said this very directly, men and women will have different physical capabilities. the data show that clearly. that's on average. so there will be women who can meet the physical requirements of these even as there are men who cannot meet those requirements. and so averages tell you something about the need to pay attention to numbers, team dynamics and so forth. but they do not determine whether an individual is qualified to participate in a given unit.

>> the general that led this marine corps study said in a memo to then commandant joe dunford that opening up ground combat jobs would increase the risk, meaning more casualties for marines. i wonder what you think about that, is that statement overblown? also i understand one of general dunford's concerns was, since women in the experimental unit suffer more injuries than men, he was concerned that you would lose some hard charging women marines. what did you think about that? secretary carter: no, both of those -- first of all, to the first point, combat effectiveness is the critical criterion in implementation. so the issue you raise, that your first quote dealt with, is something that must be dealt with and i believe can be dealt with in implementation. it needs to be taken into account. that's a serious issue. combat effectiveness is why you -- we are here.

i'm sorry, your second point was? >> the concern that some of the women in the experimental battalion, the fear is you would lose hard-charging women marines due to injuries. secretary carter: there are a number of studies that doesn't suggest to me that women shouldn't be admitted to those specialties if they're qualified but it's something that needs -- that is going to need to be taken into account in implementation. so these are real phenomena that affect gender, that are affected by gender and need to be taken into account. >> the marine corps concluded it would harm combat effectiveness, that's something secretary panetta mentioned. secretary carter: combat effectiveness is the criterion. this change will be implemented and i'm confident can be implemented in a way that will

enhance combat effectiveness, not detract from combat effectiveness. >> mr. secretary, will the women's desire to enter combat roles or missions be entirely voluntary or will there be a time where they could, like many of their male counterparts, be required to go into combat missions? secretary carter: absolutely. if you're a service member you have some choices, but you don't have absolute choice. people are assigned to missions, tasks, and functions according to need as well as their capabilities and women will be subject to the same standards and rules that men will. >> are you concerned as you alluded to in your opening remarks that that could actually cause women not to want to enlist in the military, if they thought there was a possibility they would be required to go into a combat role?

secretary carter: i presume there are people, men and women who don't join the military because they don't want to live by the military's rules and standards. but if you do decide to join you're subject to our rules and standards, period. >> mr. secretary, back to the absence of general dunford because given that he was the only service chief that asked for an exemption of all of them, and given that he's now the senior military advisor, wouldn't it be important for him to be here to send the message that the u.s. military is ready to salute smartly and carry out your orders. his absence may be sending an unintended message that he's not fully on board. secretary carter: general dunford and i have discussed this many, many times. i met with him and the other chiefs and service secretaries today.

he will be a full part of implementation. as i said i came to a different , judgment on a part of the conclusions of the studies conducted by the marine corps when he was commandant, but agreed with the great bulk of them and they will be reflected in implementation. the issues that were raised by those studies, i believe, can be addressed in implementation and will be, that's my judgment, and he understands that's my judgment, and he will be at my side as we do the implementation. that's the idea. >> he's on board with your decision? secretary carter: you'll have to speak to him about that, but he understands what my decision is, and my decision is my decision an we'll implement it. >> i wanted to move on to a different subject -- the shooting down of the russian jet. wonder if you can give us an assessment of how that complicates the issue and if turkey overreached on that

shooting down of the jet. secretary carter: first of all, we said repeatedly, the president said the turks are entitled to defend their own air space. we have urged both sides not to allow this to lead to further escalation. it has not had any effect on our prosecution of our own air campaign. as you know we have a memorandum of understanding with the russian military which is being adhered to and which provides procedures that guarantee the operations of our own air campaign. with respect with relations , weeen turkey and russia obviously have our differences of perspective with russia about what is going on in syria.

that doesn't translate in our judgment into any desired of the conflict of any kind between russia and syria and turkey. they are working with us in some record -- regards. obviously we want some to do more. >> what do you think it would take, the u.s. is pressing turkey to do more, particularly this force to help eliminate foreign fighters what do you think it would take for turkey to agree to that. secretary carter: in my view they have ample evidence of the threat isil poses to their own people and their own country.

we also understand the other dangers they face. they need to join in the fight against isil. i think there is more that they could do. it involves their military, it involves their intelligence services. it involve their border and homeland security forces. so we would like to see turkey do more. it's essential. >> i want to tie together the fight against isil with your decision today. the fact that socomm did not press for any exemptions, does that necessarily mean women over the next year could become part of the specialized counterterrorism commando units that you want to accelerate in the fight against isil, like the specialized targeting expeditionary task force you announced? secretary carter: yes, that is reflected in my decision, and was also reflected in the recommendation of the commander of special operations command.

and i saw it the same way and therefore my decision is the same as the decision of general hotel -- votel in this case. as far as the time scale goes, remember that the -- from the time a service member joins to the time they're assigned to a specialty undergo training and , so forth, people will be going through the pipeline including women who are admitted pursuant to my decision today. >> another question. in the same vein, were there any jobs that were in need of women? did they say, we could use more here, there. the military is at capacity, shrinking the size of the force,

and the second question, on the targeting expeditionary forces, could you explain to us when those get started? or they're already started? you mentioned one of the job specifically was to capture isis leaders. when they do that, what happens to them? secretary carter: ok. two things. well, there are, kevin, specialties and i don't want to go into this too much, but that are designed specifically for women. these are women who are part of the female engagement teams and so forth in places where it is sensitive for an american male service member to interact with local females. and i was alluding to that in my statement. there are situations like that. i suppose it's also fair to say

that as a statistical thing, doesn't apply to individuals, but there are specialties in which women have historically excelled. you have to be careful about that because it's sometimes a matter of where they felt they could advance rather than anything else. but some women are represented differently across specialties that have long been open. and that's why i think that we need to focus on standards as we go into implementation. and we're going to learn a lot, we already have learned in this service studies and surveys suggests this, about standards and about how to think about standards in the course of considering this matter of gender. the expeditionary targeting force and capture, we'll deal with that on a case-by-case basis, it's going to depend on

the circumstances, and that is of course just one of the purposes of the expeditionary targeting force but it is one, capture. we will be doing such operations as you know both in syria and also in iraq and just to repeat what i said the other day, when we do it in iraq, it will be with the knowledge and approval of the iraqi government and prime minister abbadi to make that once again quite clear. >> is it possible that an isis fighter could be the full range either military -- secretary carter: full range, all the way. and other law enforcement of other nations. so the full range. it really has to be considered on a case-by-case basis. thank you all. thank you very much. appreciate you being here.

areures a look quote we covering friday at c-span. 10:00 a.m., a look at how are screen.engers live coverage from the center for strategic and international studies. also, a discussion about the future of islamic extremism. anel will discuss the issue. live coverage begins at 12:15 eastern time. she was such an authentic person. i was that there was more to the story of a ladybird then anybody had covered.

she became the first modern first lady. a big staff. an important project. she wrote the book as soon as she left the white house. she invented the modern first lady. >> sunday night, a historian discusses her book "ladybird and lyndon." marriage look at the and political partnership of ladybird and political john -- lyndon johnson. those women saw something in those men. ambition, the opportunity to climb. ofy married them in spite parental objection. she is a good example. that is why i had to find out more about her. 8:00.day night at

>> today, a bust of dick cheney was unveiled at the u.s. capitol visitor center. he spoke at the ceremony along with former president george w. bush, joe biden, mitch mcconnell, and paul ryan. this is one hour. >> ladies and gentlemen, please , orrin hatch,unt , paul ryan,ell george w. bush, and dick cheney.

[applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please and stand for the presentation of the colors by the u.s. armed forces colorguard, the singing of the national anthem, and the

retiring of the colors. ♪ >> present arms.

♪

♪ pleasees and gentlemen, stand as the chaplain of the u.s. senate, barry black, gives the invocation. >> let us pray.

refuge and, our strength. this unveiling ceremony of the marble bust of , whopresident dick cheney we think you for his service to you, and country. remembering the many years he arena, in the political we are grateful for your gifts of people who are passionate about keeping this nation strong. bless and keep vice president cheney and his loved inspirationeceive

from his contributions, remind power, we areour to overcome the difficulties that trouble our nation and world. lord, strengthen our commitment to you and country by turning our thoughts toward hope, our hearts toward justice, and our works of peace. ,e pray in your sovereign name amen. >> please be seated. ladies and gentlemen, the

chairman of the senate committee on rules and administration, roy blunt. . blunt: it is great to be part of this presentation, inviting vice president cheney to the capital as part of the collection of the senate started in 1885. 130 years ago, the senate decided it would be appropriate to recognize the vice president, principally to recognize the vice president in his job as president of the senate and certainly to get to recognize a person who spent a lot of time in both the house and senate as the president and before 46th vice president of the united states, dick cheney. the story of the five presidents and their impact on the country is an important part of our history and as we celebrate this event today, we get a chance to both current and former

members of the house and senate, some of whom you'll hear from. former members of the cabinet, -- justice scalia, and president bush before we are done, we are joined by vice president biden. we are particularly pleased to be here with his family, such an important part of his life, and his great partner, mrs. cheney. inne cheney is a partner this project like she has been a partner in so many other things. the vice president has done -- she has a deep appreciation for the history of the country. she has written great children's history and adult history. and the vice president wrote a wonderful book on speakers of serving inhen he was the house and we were lucky to have her come and visit with senators about her groundbreaking book on james madison.

member ofcheney was a the house, he told me that he and others founded the dennis thatcher society because mrs. cheney was the chairman of the national endowment for humanities and in the tradition of dennis thatcher, they thought they would band together to see what it was i to have a spouse of the more powerful job than they had but they have been great partners and so, when mrs. cheney said that she thought the had trulyhrens captured the character of the vice president when she and the vice president got to see the bust for the first time, that was probably the most important indication that everything was going to work out all right. we are also pleased to have william behrens and his wife and members of their family here with us today. this will be the second bust that he has done that will be part of the vice presidential collection. he is now working on the third, thatpresident gore's bust

he is doing as we are talking today -- he is planning that. so, vice president cheney, welcome back to the capital. will rogers said the man with the easiest job in the country was the vice president because all he had to do was get up every day and say, how is the president doing? [laughter] vicet presidents and presidents have changed this job a lot. every vice president starting with john adams has done a lot to make their own impact on the country and uniquely had the opportunity to make an impact on the congress. dick cheney brought the vice presidency the preparation of a lifetime of service. has a no-nonsense approach and a willingness to solve problems.

he was his first job in washington, to be a fellowship .t the capital sixers later, he is the chief of staff for the president of the united states. one of the quicker moves from inter-to chief that ever happen. he 10 years in the house, was chairman of the republican conference, the republican whip. i was the majority whip and never lost a job -- never lost a vote has when i was majority whip it i also was the minority whip and i lost some votes there. dick cheney is the only minority whip never lost a vote. him to be. bush asked secretary of defense before he could ever whip about it. [laughter] he holds lots of distinction in the history of the country. it is an honor to be part of this presentation today and it

will be a great honor to see him recognized and remembered in the capital with this bust. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the majority leader of the senate, the honorable mitch mcconnell. mcconnel: richard cheney. he has had one of the most interesting careers in one of the most fascinating lives of anybody you would ever want to meet. as roy indicated, chief of staff, secretary of defense, member of congress from wyoming, house minority whip, vice

president to president george w. bush, and master fisherman. many have spent their lives in pursuit of just one of these offices and many have failed in the pursuit. saysthis son succeeded quite a lot about him. when dick cheney sets his mind to something, he is absolutely determined to achieve it. a trait he is well known for. here is another one. dick cheney loves his family. enjoyedo say how much i the biography of james madison. one thing we agree on is we henk he is our favorite

loves his daughters, obviously. scholar, public servant, a strong woman who is never afraid to share her opinion on an issue. but cheney might be tough lynn is tougher. i think the vice president is fine with that. here is what is interesting to me. dick cheney wasn't just the vice president of the finance states, he was president of the senate. that is why we dedicate a bust to him in every vice president. many view that role as ceremonial. not the one we are honoring today. was vice president, he

was up at our policy lunch. he was an active member of the senate. he sat there like a sponge and soaked up all the information and we could rarely get him to say anything. it wasn't that we didn't think he had strong opinions but he knew he was there for president bush to figure out what we are up to. remember quite well relates to the vice president's on the opportunity to vote, to break a tie. here is the setting. had a rather modest deficit reduction package which we could do through what we call, reconciliation. we could do it with 51 votes. i was the whip. i counted and i recounted and i recounted -- remember, we had 55 republicans at the time.

i could only get to 50. q was the complication. take was in pakistan. dick was in pakistan. i had to call him a .5 times on the way. i was right in my count. presidentd with us a and a vice president who have taken different paths in their post-presidency.

and post-vice presidency. one continues to engage passionately in the debates of today. he writes, he speaks, he lets his opinion be known in no uncertain terms. the other views his role in a different way. he has an important work but has stayed in the background purity has done humanitarian work. he does something else, too. he paints. who can say which role is the correct one? both of these important offices, it is a matter of personal opinion. i know we are all looking forward to seeing more of president bush's masterpieces. thank you for gathering today here thank you, president bush, vice president cheney, for all of the remarkable service to what our country over many, many years.

thank you so much. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, this beaker at the house, the honorable paul ryan. ryan: thank you very much. i want to welcome all of you to the capitol visitor's center. i see it, nobody could accuse dick cheney of living and inconsequential life. he was working in the white house on 9/11. he oversaw operation desert storm. he worked at the side of gerald ford as that man restore the presidency. he dedicated his life to public service. this is a man who witnessed the

very first drawing of the laffer curve. given my position, i am especially interested in his career as a congressman. he was elected in 1978. he served in the house for 10 years. he literally wrote the book on this place with his wife. he vigorously supported ronald reagan in those times. over that time, he rose in the ranks. the list of people he knew and people he befriended is like a who's who of the conservative movement. he succeeded jack kemp. newt gingrich seceded him as the house republican whip. he moved among giants in american politics. he is one himself. he left the house to become our

defense secretary. he went on to serve as the president of the upper chamber which we and has prefer to call, that other chamber. then he was never heard from again. think one thing people forget about vice president cheney is that he is a funny guy. i study the debates because i had my on presidential debate and if you remember, the 2000 vice presidential debate, he is up against joe lieberman peerage joe lieberman is talking over the boom times under president clinton and he says, i am pleased to see dick that you are better off than you were eight years ago you canada january's, i can tell you that the government had absolutely nothing to do with it. continues, i can see my wife and i think she is thinking, g, i wish we could go

into the private sector without missing a beat -- dick cheney says, i'm going to try to help you do that, joe. runs in the family. years later, when the vice critics, had his he asked his wife, does it bug you when people refer to me as darth vader? and she said, no, it humanizes you. [laughter] [applause] and that is what i am always going to remember about the cheney family. that calm determination, the fierce love of country. through all of the years, through war and peace, he did all he could to keep this country safe. him a tremendous debt of gratitude.

thank you, vice president cheney. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the 43rd president of the united states, george w. bush. [applause] george w. bush: thank you for the warm welcome. lynn and family, i am delighted to be here. i must confess, i am somewhat reluctant to come back to washington. the last time i showed appear, i was hanged in the white house. findtime, i return only to my vice president getting busted in the capital.

i really appreciate you being here, thank you for coming. i want to thank paul ryan for his leadership. he is trying out for the abraham lincoln look-alike contest. mitch, when dick cheney was the leader, mitch was the minority leader appeared as majority leader, mitch is in charge now. as a matter of fact, he assured wouldt dick cheney's bust in anminently displayed undisclosed location. thank you roy blunt and for organizing this event. william behrens is the sculptor pete i can't wait to see what it looks like peter meissner had a time somebody did with me and i looked like alfred a newman.

years, i have a chance to meet a number of his predecessors. i have known one my whole life. lastly, i told mom and dad i was coming here for the bust unveiling. , send myd up and said best regards to old ironass. [laughter] [applause] dick, that is indeed a badge of honor or the 43rd vice president, and the 41st president asked me to give you his heartfelt congratulations. he and mom join us in thanking you for your selfless service. dick is a man of the west and i find it interesting he was the

son of a soil conservation service employee, that he laid powerlines for a living before he got his degree from the university of wyoming after he got kicked out of the al. he first came to this town in the late 1960's as a phd student working on his dissertation. which probably explains the special affection he has always attracted from the world of academia. mentioned, his experience mattered. head ofsked him to the the vice presidential search committee, as he likes to tell you ever get asked to chair such a committee, do it. the truth is, i knew that dick cheney had the character and judgment that i needed as a running mate.

he had the experience to step in as commander-in-chief if i were to get hit by a bus or choke on a pretzel. unfortunately -- and fortunately, he agreed to serve. for eight years, i benefited from his wise counsel. he was a principal and trusted advisor on the most difficult questions. he is an effective advocate on capitol hill. he did an exceptional job discharging his two days as the president of the senate. every time he cast a vote, we won. [laughter] [applause] spend much did not time speaking on the floor, he managed to convey a lot in a few words. leahy.k senator

people ask, do i miss washington? the answer is, not really weird i loved our time here but i'm happy to be home. i miss some things i miss saluting those who wear the uniform and i miss my friends. and dick cheney is one of those friends. i always look forward to our weekly lunches. i could always count on him to take on any tough assignment and i could always trust that the advice he offered was given with our country's best interest at heart. he became acting president for two hours and five minutes in july, 2007. while i was undergoing an undisclosed medical exam. he wrote the only document ever signed by an acting president, a letter to his grandchildren. in classic dick cheney fashion, he offered them could vice, to

always strive to do what is right. for eight years, dick cheney stood by my side and always did what was we cannot of asked for the better vice president than dick cheney. he is a man country and really loves his family. call and i are proud to him and his wonderful daughters friends. i'm glad his likeness will be an everlasting presence in these halls of democracy. thank you. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the vice president of the united states, joe biden. biden: thank you.

, ii look around this room want to say thank you for letting me crash a family reunion. [laughter] i'm afraid i said to dicus i walked by that i'm afraid i have blown his cover. i actually like dick cheney. [laughter] i'm on the other family. inordinate but respect for you, and i mean that sincerely. we started about the same time. your little bit earlier, and the late 60's. i got elected and 72, president nixon was president. when gerald ford took on that awesome responsibility at a difficult time he turned to strong, guiding hand. he picked the right guy. said that noyou one would challenge the

statement he then went on to make. that anyone who is thinking about challenging dick cheney should think twice before they set about doing it. when we changed houses, there change going on. he showed me the bottom of the white house with a were manacles on the wall and there were dake in thend cartoon looked at me and said you may want to renovate a little bit. [laughter] in theas no such thing white house. the only thing we ever received from the cheney's was there good wishes. and the way tried to help us out. i say to your daughters, and all myr family, the thing that

family has cared deeply. i hope we communicated that about his health and i'm glad to see him in such a great health. your wholehank family for the kindness you have shown when i lost my son. showed generosity you contributing to a memorial. .t means a lot it's a part of washington people don't see enough of a. we have seldom had direct conflict, but we have gone at each other's ideas. i can say, without fear of contradiction, there was never one single time a harsh word. not one single time in our entire relationship. butonly to one another,

about one another. that is what i think is most desperately missing today in washington, d.c. their judgment, but not the motive. i learned that lesson a long who was then the leader of the senate mike mansfield. i came in and our friend orrin , there was a guy from south carolina who got elected -- jesse helms. . kept in touch with his wife i will member walking on the floor when i would show up. i did not particularly wants to be in the senate and that time. i would you up once a week at the office of the majority leader.

he would give me, every tuesday, and assignments. i had just turned 30. i thought that is what happened. leaders give assignments for real. i realized after the fact he was just taking my pulse. through, i said i would only stay six months. a lot of people wish i had kept that commitment. in and the mend later became my friend jesse -- i had to go to my meeting with the leader. i guess i looked upset. , i went on toter really go after jesse. why would he not help, i went on

and on. i never forget what he said to me. he said joe, what would you say in 1969d you that sitting in the living room in raleigh before christmas there was an advertisement in the observer. said all hean wanted for christmas with someone to love him and adopt him. what would you say if i told you they went down and adopted that young man, which they did. i said i would feel like a fool. he said to joe, it is always appropriate to question of the , but not their motive because you don't know the motive. motive it istion virtually impossible to reach consensus. dick and i could argue like hell about everything from domestic to foreign policy, but if we went at each other in personal

ways there would be no possibility to reach a resolution. frankly, mr. president, that is why i enjoyed working with you. of ae more than any democrat, i spend time with you. we disagree, but it really never was disagreeable. i might add that if my dad were here he would look at you and say he had, you got the good blood. -- why the bushes chose the cheney's. when a phone call saying we would like to meet with you. he said he wanted to come to my hotel. thought that was inappropriate, it is the president of the united states i should visit him. but your dad insisted, he came in on a wheelchair.

me toenda was welcoming houston. he thought it was appropriate. career, as i look back on it because it was teh same time frame, i don't think that there are many vice presidents -- or presidents -- who have been in the eye of the storm on so many critical events. from the transition of a presidency in the wake of an wars, tont, to several that threatens the

social fabric of the world. the thing about you that i have admired most is that you are absolutely steady. absolutely steady and thoughtful. we disagree a lot. but i really mean it. it is amazing. there is one other thing that i would like to mention. at i was riding up i was the truth ofknow, the matter is that they should unveil a family bust. because with your incredibly he did notughters, do this on his own. he really didn't. that sound like hyperbole. but it isn't. is, you have the same

intellect and backbone that he has, so do your daughters. i want to thank them personally for the phone calls. this is a family affair. this doesn't just happen. one man cannot take on as many critical roles at critical moments without the overwhelming support of their family. it is not easy. propose now on i will that it be a family bust. because i know, speaking for myself, i've no doubt -- i and neverak for dick presume to -- but this recognition today goes to you as much as it does to him. i mean that sincerely. know, i consider it a .rivilege to know you

to have known you, watched you work, i just wished i could've changed her your mind on a half a dozen things. [laughter] beenidding aside, you have a great asset to this country. the way you will personally conducted yourself as a model for anyone in high public office in this country. thank you all very much. [applause] >> mr. cheney and the cheney grandchildren are the does it presidentse 220 vice

and his him and almost nobody gets to do. ,f you would join your family we will see what this looks like. collects all right, are you ready?

[no audio] [applause] [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the 46 the vice president of the united states, dick cheney. [applause]

vice president cheney: thank you all very much. i appreciate you posting this event today. i'm grateful to the friends and former colleagues that are with us. i'm especially proud to note one friend in particular, mr. president thank you very much for being here for all the years we shared together. all of youy that could join us on this particular occasion. being cast in marble is something that every vice president looks forward to. not only a high honor, it is our one shot at being remembered. [laughter] see, joe, the was much to look forward to. [laughter] in the case of vice president biden, he will be remembered for 44 years of faithful service in the senate, and the white house, and we appreciate you being with us this morning. [applause]

i also want to note the presence of my good friend, and one of the great justices of the supreme court come also a hunting buddy, and next year sca lia will mark his 30th year of the supreme court. [applause] i'm pleased as well does it the highest ranking member of congress here, my friend paul ryan. he has lately become a reminder to me that we don't always get exactly what we want in the world politics. once aspired to be speaker of the house and wound up as vice president. you ran for president and wound up as speaker.

you got the job for the actual power and authority and i got a very nice marble bust. [laughter] you, mr. can tell speaker, the position you are now in suit you very well. i'm glad you are here and i think the country is much better off that we have now been able to persuade you to take on this assignment. i want to thank our senate ,ajority leader mitch mcconnell any chairman of the rnc for their presence. i've known mitch many years, we did a great deal of work together. it was always a pleasure to deal with the issues. i want to thank many of the cheney staff and alumni in the room were colleagues on the hill, or the pentagon, and the white house. men like scooter libb e, mary matalin, don edmonds, people i was pleased to share many years with.

i especially want to mention and thank the members who served on my secret service detail. some of them are here, like a jimmy scott who pulled me out of the office on 9/11 and brought me to a secure location. they took great care of us during those years. me and myd out for family and will always have our gratitude and our respect. close observers of portico will note this morning that the cheney bust arrived a little ahead of turn to as the honors at not yet been done to the 45th vice president, my predecessor al gore. someently, there have been delays on his likeness and it may be that i am somehow easier to carve into stone. [laughter]

the senate rules committee was kind enough to schedule this event anyway and i appreciate their kindness. the rules committee staff, i thank it's all the architect of the capital and everyone on the senate curator's office for arranging my place in our diverse pantheon of the vice presidents. a special thanks to barbara will have to retire releasably as the curator of the capital. as the sculptor's work, i guess i'm not the most objective judge, i would not be the first politician to went into the sculpting process thinking that no peace from the quarry could ever do justice to that face. but you can decide for yourself, personally i think it is excellent. i think he is on a superb job as a true master. thank you very much. [applause]

as a young man unlike john adams theater was about. i would've been amazed. any such an area would've seemed like a real stretch for the man in my early 20's. the short version a few breaks came my way. one job always led to another. it is taken me to far more places than i ever expected. it took me to this capital for the first time in 1968 with the hopes of working for donald rumsfeld. during that first interview he made it clear to me that i was not what he was looking for and threw me out. if you months later he saw the error of his ways. hisecruited me to be

assistant during that first term of the nixon administration when gerald ford became president. and made me white house chief of staff. donald rumsfeld and gerald ford fundamentally changed my life. decades later, i returned to the capital as a member of the house of representatives. i want to thank the wyoming delegation for being here today. i had the fortune of when i arrived to begin a lifelong friendship with bob michaels was with us today. was them illinois, republican leader. he taught me everything i needed to know to speak to the people of wyoming. i'm glad you're here. i fully intend to spend my career in the congress, but bloodless be grateful to president george h.w. bush for asking me to join his administration as secretary of defense. it was a special privilege to serve the men and women of the 90's dates military and to work

with the president through operation desert storm. the collapse of the soviet union, and the end of the cold war. you had to design an individual to serve as commander-in-chief during those times, it would've been a lot like a george h.w. bush and i was proud and honored to serve. i don't recall exactly when i was first introduced to his eldest son, but i must admit a half decent impression. when the time came, governor bush needed a running mate and got the notion that i could help him find one. that search committee was a diligent enterprise and before long we found our man. [laughter] in political history, the names of the running mates are always bound up together, all the more thing and up winning. the bush cheney ticket managed and not without a little suspense. all through those 2900 days we

served together, handling serious matters in serious ways. i worked for someone who i respected and liked without reservation. he is a man of great strength, and great gentleness. sense oftegrity, a humor, and in other lack of pretense. all of these are what we share and will remember. i have been granted a few distinctions along the way in politics, and there is not a prize more than two have my name there in the story of those years aside the name of our president, george w. bush. [applause] you will understand, i think, if today i think of another richard cheney, my dad. anyone who knew him can tell you that the name was plenty good by the time he was given to me.

know my sister, sue, and brother bob would take the same. only more in the season of life i remember and appreciate both my dad and my mom, marjorie. kind, upright people they were and how enormously lucky i am to be their son. how could i conclude an occasion like this without mentioning my historian wife? is not a woman easily impressed, but i thought surely this final honor would do it. a bust of me in marble here in the capital building. however, i'm reminded at this familythat if the cheney had not moved to casper, wyoming in the early 50's we never would have met. and she would married someone else. today, we would be dedicating his marble bust. [applause]

that is not to say that i'm glad that fate worked as a did placing me in proximity to her, keeping a close by those 50 years and more. a gracious walk through the years and such a joy for our daughters liz, and mary, and their families. now with the seven grandchildren i've lived in no and cherish. i want to thank this morning my medical team, some of whom are here today. they saved my life on a number of occasions and made all of this possible. over the years, they not only kept me alive but made it possible for me to lead a full and active life. i am very thankful for what they have done for me over the years. a tremendous honor to think this will reside here in the u.s. capitol. every now and then, even in the distant future, someone will surely wonder by the old cheney bust. orbe even stop for a moment two, trying to recollect something of the man here. whatever else that name might

evoke, i want them to know this much at least -- here was a believer in america, so fortunate in his life experiences, so blessed and his to have and so grateful served as vice president of the united state of america. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please as barry black gives the

benediction. >> let us pray. rules theal god, who raging of the seas. of viceu for the gift president richard cheney, and for his many contributions to this great nation. us.inue to bless and keep sustain us as we seek to take a stand on the side of love, peace, and justice. cause, justice to roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream. continue to keep us without stumbling, or slipping.

present --before the presence of your glory one day with exceeding great joy. god, andhe only wise to your name we ascribe glory, majesty, and might. dominion, and power, now and amen., >> ladies and gentlemen, please remain seated for the departure of the official party. ticketed guests are invited to a reception and statuary hall. please see in usher for guidance.

>> next washington journal we

will discuss pending special operations forces into iraq and syria to help the fight against isis. then that rollcall reporter alicia grain on the debate in congress over e-mail privacy in our america by the number segment look at violent trends marissals will talk to and gaza of the sigma threat management associates. washington journal, alive every morning at 7:00 a.m. et. >> every weekend on american history tv on c-span 3, 48 hours of programs and events that tell our nations story saturday .orning beginning 11 a.m. et we're live from colonial williamsburg on the eve of the american revolution with

reenactments of revolutionaries and loyalists mingling on the streets. throughout the day we will take your calls and tweets about the colonial era with historians and experts. sunday morning at 10:00, we will hear the aspirations of presidential hopefuls from 1987, donald rumsfeld shares his thoughts about running from manchester, new hampshire. 1994, dick cheney explores his possible run. >> i used to think it is a political calculation. you look at the landscape to figure out who would run with the prospects were. >> later 11:30, southern illinois university history professor on the caribbean sugar trade and its role in the development of blood -- britain's atlantic colonies.

sugar was one of the main motors of the slave trade. 75% of all african-americans were brought to areas where they were growing sugar. some scholars argue it was the first industrial enterprise in the western world. >> american history tv, all weekend every weekend on c-span3 . c-span presents landmark cases. a guide to or landmark cases series which explores 12 historic supreme court decisions including marbury versus madison, korematsu versus united states and brown versus the board of education, miranda versus arizona and wrote versus wade.

it features introductions, backgrounds, highlights and the impact of each case. written by tony mauro and published by c-span in cooperation with cq press, landmark cases is available for eight dollars and five cents plus shipping. .et your copy today >> monday, world leaders met in paris to discuss how to respond to paris and reduce climate emissions. we will listen to president french president francois hollande, angela merkel and vladimir putin. this is one hour 30 minutes.

>> the president of paraguay has the floor. [applause] >> president of the republic of france francois hollande, secretary-general of the united

nations mr. ban ki-moon, president of top 21, ladies and gentlemen, heads of state and government, excellencies. i would like to reiterate that president hollande, his government and the french people the most heartfelt condolences and our utmost solidarity. in light of the horrendous crimes committed in paris on the 13th of this month. generation are living at the critical juncture. we have enormous and pressing responsibility and we are tackling the environmental challenge that we are living through. is anonference

opportunity for nations to adopt curbt measures in order to the causes and consequences of climate change. his holiness pope francis provides a stark warning, in order to face this crisis and protect it. he states that never have we so hurt and mistreated our common home as we have in the last 200 years. us tow today, it is up to change history. to reverse the failure of past climate conferences. paraguay has great potential for sustainable development,

abundant fresh water, fertile soil and wide-ranging biodiversity of global significance. paraguay is the greatest per capita producer in the greatest exporter of clean renewable power in the world. andave hydroelectric dams paraguay is one of the few countries in the whole world that consumes almost 100% electric energy of a clean and renewable source. it has proved the world record of cumulative production of 2.3 billion megawatts for our which avoids the use of 440,000 barrels of oil per day and with oft, it avoids the emission 88 million tons of carbon dioxide.

protects moret than 100,000 actors of forest over 20uce oxygen for million people. dam protects 22,000 of forest andares mitigates carbon dioxide emissions to the tune of 20 million tons per year. paraguay has 18.5 million hectares of forest, representing 1/12 of our territory.

15% of our nation corresponds to protected wildlife areas. and paraguay, we are renewing newtransport, investing in technologies that are multimodal and efficient for reducing the use of fossil fuel. we are carrying out historic investments in infrastructure to improve the quality of water resources and the quality of life of our people. we are undertaking a national refer station program to reduce the pressure, developing a sustainable energy framework. although paraguay does not make significant contributions to global emissions, we do suffer from the consequences of climate

change. ,ndertaking the commitment paraguay has presented its proposal for contributions and actions for low carbon growth. know that the we agreement that will be adopted is very and is a challenge. it is nothing less and nothing more than the protection of our planet in the face of the devastating effect of unbridled consumerism. it will pave the way for countries to improve the quality of life of their most honorable sector. today am a we have not only the opportunity, but also the responsibility to draft objectives for a new agreement of the climate to preserve our natural heritage for generations. i will conclude my brief again,nt quoting, once pope francis who says, as often

occurs in periods of state crisis that require old decisions we're tented to think that what is happening is not entirely clear. apart from a few obvious signs of pollution and deterioration, things do not look that serious. the planet could continue for some time. serves as aness license for carrying on with our present lifestyle. excellencies, let's wake up and hear the urgent call to look after our sources of life despite the fact that our final goal is the well-being of our peoples with deep respect for human dignity. presidents.

his majesty is a great deal of work to combat climate change, but as he lost his voice he will not be able to deliver his bytement which will be read .is royal highness >> mr. president, secretary-general of the united nations -- united nations, majesty bahamais

the sixth has given me the honor of making the royal statement at this meeting of the parties and the convention on climate change. praise be to god. ladies and gentlemen, distinguished heads of state and government, excellencies, ladies todayntlemen, our meeting in paris is not and can no longer be one of the summit said conferences that they regularly put on the agenda of international relations. allow me to say frankly that it will no longer be the case because the paris conference in the one my country has promised to host in a year in marrakesh will be instrumental in shaping

the future which we are duty-bound to bequeath to our children. our children whom we do not want to see deprived of oceans coastlines and all the natural resources which are the hallmarks of mankind's most valuable heritage. heritage which is threatens today because the international community has been unable or unwilling to come together in time and muster the means needed to control its own destiny. today we are aware of the devastating effect of global and theon the planet urgent need to match words with deeds. what is at stake in our discussion is neither ideological, diplomatic, nor economic in the traditional sense of our previous

discussions and meetings. we all now realize that the threat is global. is not a single country, region or confident that will be stick -- spared the consequent of climate change. to will it be possible continue using the alibi of wrong priorities. the community of nations has for far too long turned its back on our children's destiny and future. chose tog time, we turn a blind eye. for far too long we've chosen to put off awareness. we have been blamed for hypocrisies that a proven to be a way of avoiding the issue, but the facts speak for themselves. sees aren are melting,

rising and water resources are becoming scarce. agricultural output is threatened increasingly deadly floods. why i have deliberately chosen to avoid technical analysis or academic discourse. instead, i what to pay tribute to the scientists or specialists were experts in the field. we have to make sure that unanimity does not become a dealbreaker that would justify in theagging by some illusions rising from the interaction of others. in this respect we must patiently resolutely and determinedly build what is possible and the tape -- obtainable. practicalthrough

results that we can overcome reluctance and assistance. in keeping with this perspective that of realism, anticipation mentioned theu strategy that the kingdom of morocco has been implement in for more than half a century. to begin with water, the source of life and the crucial daily concern for every moroccan. what would become of water in this respect had it not been for the policy initiated in the 1960's by king hassan the second. recognizing the importance of this key structural compliment we have socked to strengthen it which has allowed the kingdom to have 140 large dams, nearly one third of which have been built

during the last 15 years. thanks to this policy, morocco is effectively dealing with there is a warning that a drought is feared. the kings commitment to action is illustrated by watersheds which make it possible to channel water without disrupting ecosystems. developed, also without some difficulty when negotiating with its partners are responsible fisheries policy. these and gentlemen, since the world became aware of the urgent need to address climate change in rio, the kingdom of morocco has resolutely suck to ensure is in line with

the global effort of the international community. list to a series of institutional and regulatory reforms. the green investment plan, the ban on gmo's and the recent law on plastic waste, all clearly commitment and consistency. more recently, and in line with the same approach, the kingdom major actors in the transition around the world and especially on the african continent. 42%objective of securing set for the country's energy mix to be tron from renewable energy sources by 2020 has recently been increased to 52% by 2013.

ambitious, substantial contribution under the united nations framework on climate kingdoms ofrms the en garde approach -- avante garde approach. i made the appeal on september this reflects our commitment to work hand-in-hand for the success of the events crucial. important that one state leads to the nest. priorities will have to be changed and new technology invented and regular assessments will be accepted.

excellencies, the climate change predicament, the consequences of developingnge affect nations as my if not more than developed countries, especially the south african and south american and a small island states. alarm bells have been heard even by the death. -- by the deaf. there is brought awareness. developing countries are progressing, moving forward and charting their own course, amid constraints which can no longer be on the -- ignored. sure is the need to make the population enjoys decent living conditions. is it fair to advocate for gallery when one already has everything? when one has little, is a crime against the planet to want more?

is it sustainable if it leaves the majority of people living in poverty? is it appropriate that projections for climate projections be dictated by those who bear this greatest responsibility for global warming? the african continent deserves special attention. the whole of africa is waking up. africa is discovering itself and getting confidence. context promoting the chancellor of technology and raising funds for the benefit of developing countries is fundamental. the careful. we need to guard against compelling these countries to choose between economic development and the environment. the commitment to combat the effects of climate change must also take into account the

respective development models and their customs. in the countries of the north consumers produce large amount of nondegree double waste, likewise, in developing countries, the fight against plastic bags is a genuine challenge. sleep -- people do not think of getting rid of these bags but rather filling them to meet their needs. this is a question of education. that's why, in both cases, binding regulations are needed. the fight against waste should not be for non--- synonymous with technophobia or a rejection of progress and return to the stone age. on the contrary, advances should be used effectively so as to reduce the

impact of global warming. excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. a genuine inclusive international consensus is imperative. it requires that we support developing countries and that we fully embrace the climate action agenda. the paris conference gives us the opportunity to consolidate a comprehensive operational balance the universal legal instrument that will make it possible to keep global warming below two degrees celsius. and move toward a low carbon economy. conclude that i wish this conference every success. i would also like to think president hollande for the dedication they have shared to make this a successful meeting that enforces hope.

maintaining its success is the most eloquent tribute we can pay to the french people. who have recently been affected .y despicable terror attacks this is the best response to security is him and the enemies of humanity. [applause] thank you. think his majesty and a colic on barack obama to approach the rostrum.

>> we've come to paris to show our result -- resolved. we offer our condolences to paris after the attacks on this beautiful city we stand united, not only to deliver justice to the terrorist network responsible for those attacks, but protect our people and uphold the enduring values that keep a strong and free. we salute the people of paris for insisting in this crucial conference go on. an act of defiance that proves nothing will deter us from building the future we want for our children.

what greater rejection of those who would tear down our world than marshaling our best efforts to save it? nearly 200 nations have assembled here this week. a declaration that for all of the challenges we face, the growing threat of climate change could define the contours of the century more dramatically than any other. what should give us hope, that this is a turning point, that this is the moment that we finally determine we would save our planet, is the fact that our nations share a sense of urgency about this challenge and a growing realization that it is within our power to do something about it. our understanding of the ways human beings disrupt the climate, advances by the day. 14 of the 15 warmest years of record have occurred since the year 2000.

2015 is on pace to be the warmest year of all. no nation, large or small, wealthy or poor, is immune to what this means. this summer i saw the effects of climate change firsthand and our northernmost state, alaska. where the sea is already swallowing villages and eroding shorelines. where permafrost falls and the tundra burns. where glaciers are melting at a pace unprecedented in modern times. it was a preview of one possible future, a glimpse of our children's fate of the climate -- it children's fate if the keeps changing faster

than our efforts to address it. some countries, abandoned cities, fields that no longer grow. political disruptions that trigger new conflict. even more floods and desperate peoples seeking sanctuary of nations not their own. that future is not one of strong economies, nor is it one where fragile states can find their footing. that future is one that we have the power to change. right here. right now. but only if we rise to this moment. as one of america's governors has said, we are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change and the last generation that can do something about it. i have come here personally as leader of the world's largest economy and the second-largest emitter. to say that the united states of

america not only recognizes our role in creating this problem, we embrace our responsibility to do something about it. over the last seven years, we have made ambitious investments in clean energy. and ambitious reductions in our carbon emissions. we have multiplied wind power threefold. solar power more than 20 fold. helping create parts of america where these clean power forces -- clean power sources are finally cheaper than dirtier, conventional power. we have invested in energy efficiency in every way imaginable. we have said no to infrastructure that would pull high carbon fossil fuels in the ground and we said yes to the first ever set of national standards limiting the amount of carbon pollution that our power plants can release into the sky. the advances that we have made have helped drive our economic

output to all-time highs. and drive our carbon pollution to its lowest levels. this is not an american trend alone. the global economy grew while global carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels stayed flat. what this means cannot be overstated. we have broken the old arguments for an action and we have proved that strong economic growth and a safer environment no longer has to conflict with one another. they can work in concert with one another. that should give us hope. one of the enemies that we will

be fighting at this conference is cynicism, the notion that we cannot do anything about climate change. our progress should give us help during these two weeks. hope that is rooted. earlier this month and the by, after years of delays, the world agreed to work together to cut the super pollutants known as hfc's. that is progress. paris, morer to than 180 countries have put forward their own climate targets. that is progress. for our part, america is on track to reach the emissions targets that we set six years ago in copenhagen. -- lastuce our carbon year i set a new target, america

will reduce emissions 26%-28% below 2005 levels. our task here in paris is to turn these achievements into an enduring framework for human progress. not a stopgap solution. a long-term strategy that gives the world confidence in a low carbon future. here in paris, let's secure an agreement that builds in ambition. where progress paves the way for regularly updated targets. targets that are not set for each of us but by each of us. taking into account the differences that each nation is facing. here in paris, let us agree to a

strong system of transparency that gives each of us the confidence that all of us are meeting our commitments. let us make sure that those who don't have the capacity to report on their targets get the support that they need. here in paris, let's reaffirm our commitment that resources will be there to get through the dirty phase of development. this will not be easy. it will take innovation. and the capital to drive down the cost of clean energy. i'll announce an effort for clean energy on a global scale. here in paris, let us make sure that these resources will flow to those countries that need

help preparing for impacts of climate ange we can no longer avoid. we know the truth that many nations have contributed little to climate change but will be the first to feel its most destructive effects. for some, particularly islands nations, whose leaders i will meet with tomorrow, climate change is a threat to their existence. today, in concert with other nations, we can affirm our commitment to the least developed countries. we will pledge new contributions for initiatives that help vulnerable populations rebuild after climate related disasters. here in paris, let's show businesses and investors that the global economy is on a firm path to a low carbon future. if we put the right rules and incentives in place, we will

unleash the powers of our scientists and our engineers. new jobs and new opportunities will be created all around the world. there are hundreds of billions of dollars ready to deploy to countries around the world if they get the signal that we mean business. let's send that signal. that is what we seek in these next two weeks. not simply an agreement to roll back the pollution, but an agreement that helps people move up from poverty without condemning the next generation to a planet that is beyond its capacity to repair. we can show the world what is possible when we come together , united in common effort and common purpose. let there be no doubt, the next generation is watching what we do.

just over a week ago i was in malaysia, where i held a town hall with young people. the first question i got was from a young indonesian woman. it wasn't about terrorism. it wasn't about the economy or human rights. it was about climate change. she asked if i was optimistic about what we can achieve in paris. and what young people can do to help. i want our actions to show her that we are listening. i want our actions to be big enough to draw on the talents of all our people. i want to show her passionate idealistic young generation that we care about their future. i believe in the words of martin luther king, there is such a thing as being too late. when it comes to climate change, that hour is almost upon us. if we act here, if we act now, if we put our own short-term

interests behind the air that our young people will breathe and the food they will eat and the water they will drink and the hopes and dreams that sustain their lives, we will not be too late for them. the moments of victory will not clear or quick. our progress will be measured differently. the suffering is averted and a planet that is preserved, that is what has always made this so hard. our generation may not live to see the full realization of what we do here. but the knowledge that the next generation will be better off, can we imagine a more worthy reward than that? passing that on to our children and our grandchildren. when they look back, they see what we did here in paris, they

can take pride. let that be the common purpose here in paris. a world that is worthy of our children. a world that is marked not by conflict but human progress. a world that is safer and more prosperous and more secure and more free than the one that we inherited. let us get to work. thank you very much. [applause] >> thank you. i give the floor to the president of djibouti, mr. ismail omar guelleh.

president guelleh: mr. president, ladies and gentlemen, heads of state and governments, mr. secretary of the u.n., madame secretary of the convention on climate change, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to once again present to you and the french nation our most sincere condolences for the cowardly attack in paris. i would like to reiterate our tireless support in jointly , sustainably combating

terrorism in all its forms. 53 years ago, the world was emerging from the worst humanitarian disaster in our modern history. out of this rubble, the international community, driven by urgency, built its salvation through a consensus in the form of the universal declaration of human rights in paris on the 10th of december, 1948. today it is the same consensus that we have to create. the same courage that we have to draw upon. the same sense of responsibility, the same duty to protect our planet. to leave to future generations a livable planet. for these reasons, we must impose constraints upon

posterity, for humanity here in paris as was the case for the universal declaration of human rights. mr. president, ladies and gentlemen, since the rio summit of 1992 in brazil, the threat of climate change has only worsened. and yet it is clear to everybody that the international community certainly has not lived up to the immense challenge represented by the global environmental crisis we find ourselves faced with. this is even though we now understand its theoretical underpinnings. we have increasingly effective tools that can guide us in our growth in ways that are more respectful of the environment.

this is the paradox. a paradox which our fellow citizens find hard to understand. and which is unacceptable for the many countries which experience climate change as a countdown towards a hostile and uncertain future. it is certain that if nothing is done, in less than half a century in east africa and the middle east, it will be impossible for human beings to survive due to extreme temperatures caused by greenhouse gases. desertification, soil degradation, wells running dry, floods. these climate phenomena are already regular hazards that our populations are combating as best they can with their often meager resources.

ladies and gentlemen, we will not be able to win the fight against climate change unless we take drastic steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibility, developed countries which, we have to recall, have historic responsibility for climate change and which have the necessary financial and technological capacities, these countries must set an example by substantially reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. equally, developing countries must take their share of responsibility. no economic argument can justify

the jeopardizing of our planet. because growth and material wealth that we are currently amassing will be worth nothing compared with the terrific costs of climate change. namely, human lives which will be lost. adaptation mechanisms have been developed in recent years. i believe that we are only at the beginning of projects that will allow us to protect a most honorable populations against climate hazards. our country's needs are such that it is vital to further develop them. in this sense, i fully endorse the statement made by the president of south africa on behalf of the group of 77 and china. and by the president of sudan on behalf of africa. africa is faced with climate

challenges. it will they chiefly dependent on the ability of countries of the north to provide more consistent responses to two issues that africa has raised. on the one hand, that of adaptation to the effects of climate change and its financing and on the other hand, that of technology transfer. mr. president, like other african countries, adaptation remains the priority of the government of djibouti. indeed, we already find ourselves faced with a lack of water and low agricultural output, devastating floods, frequent droughts, rising sea levels, health problems due to climate change, among others. all actions taken to address

these extreme climate phenomena must be financed. for this reason, we ask that the international financing mobilized to combat climate change be equitably shared between mitigation actions and adaptation actions. here, we are worried by the current trend, as revealed by the oecd report resented lima, shows that only 17% of financing is devoted to adaptation. -- adaptation which is far from enough. neglecting adaptation would be to forget that climate change already affects many countries and that its negative impact will only increase. this, regardless of the mitigation measures taken.

today we've met to adopt a new universal agreement, one that i hope will be legally binding. we have learned from the experience of the kyoto protocol and from the failure of the copenhagen summit. we must make the necessary decisions to find an agreement which on the one hand does not exclude any country and which on the other is just and equitable. to do this, we will undoubtedly need to agree before it is too late to address the issue of national sovereignty. to embed the framework for an effective response to the most global threat that humanity has ever known. hope is once again there. it is strong and powerful enough to help us to understand the most important thing. we need to act once and for all

for the planet. thank you. [applause] >> thank you. i give the floor to the president of china, president xi jinping. followed by the president of lithuania. [applause] president xi: president hollande, ban ki-moon, dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen. today, we are gathering here in paris for the opening ceremony of the united nations conference on climate change. our presence shows that

terrorism cannot hold back mankind's efforts to address climate change and pursuit a -- and pursue a better future. let me take this opportunity to express sincere sympathy to the french people and my gratitude to president hollande for the french government's meticulous preparation for this conference. this paris conference is convened to strengthen the implementation of the u.n. framework -- the you in the u.n. framework convention on climate change. and bring about a comprehensive, balanced, ambitious and binding agreement on climate change. the french writer victor hugo once observed that "strange resources spring from extreme resolutions." i believe that with all parties making joint efforts with sincerity and confidence, the

paris conference will yield satisfying results. dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, the paris agreement should focus on strengthening post 2020 global actions on climate change and boost global efforts to pursue sustainable development. the paris agreement should help meet the goals of the united fccc and chart a course for green development. in the principles set out in the unfccc and contribute to its full and effective implementation.

the agreement should put effective control on the increase of atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases and encourage countries to pursue green and low carbon development. the paris agreement should galvanize global efforts and encourage broad participation. the agreement should provide institutional arrangements that propel countries to make concerted efforts. besides governments, it should also mobilize businesses, nongovernment organizations, and all players in society to participate. raising public awareness of climate change, the paris agreement should have increased input of resources to ensure action on climate change. developed countries should honor their commitment of mobilizing 100 billion u.s. dollars each year before 2020 and provide stronger financial support to developing countries afterwards. it is important that climate

friendly technology be transferred to developing countries. the paris agreement should accommodate the national conditions of various countries and lay emphasis on practical results. it is imperative to respect differences among countries, especially developing countries, in domestic policy, capacity building and economic structure. addressing climate change should not deny the legitimate needs of developing countries to reduce poverty and improve their people's living standards. dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, the paris conference is not the finishing line but a new starting point as an important part of global governance, the global effort on climate change can be taken as a

mirror to reflect on what motives to have for future global governance and how to build a community of shared future for mankind. much valuable inspiration may thus be joined. we should create a future of win-win cooperation with each country making contributions to the best of its ability. the paris conference should reject the narrowminded mentality of the zero-sum game. and, on all countries, developed countries in particular, to assume shared responsibilities for win-win outcomes. we should create a future of the rule of law fairness and justice. it is imperative to ensure effective observance and implementation of international

ruse, uphold democracy, equity and justice and build international rule of law. at the same time, the principle of common but differentiated responsibility must continue to be adhered to. we must create a future of inclusiveness and common development. countries need to increase dialogue, exchange best practices, and achieve common development through mutual learning. at the same time, countries should be allowed to seek their own solutions that best suit their respective national conditions. dear colleagues, china has been actively engaged in a global campaign on climate change. china now tops the world in terms of energy conservation and utilization of new and renewable energy. going forward, ecological endeavors will feature prominently in china's 13th

five-year plan. china will work hard to implement the vision of innovative, coordinated and inclusive development. china will, on the basis of technological and institutional innovation, adopt new policy measures to improve industrial mix, developed low carbon transportation and develop a nationwide carbon emission trading market so as to foster a new pattern of modernization featuring harmony between man and nature. in its intended, nationally determined contributions, china pledges to peak co2 emissions by around 2030 and strive to achieve it as soon as possible. and by 2030, reduce carbon tax a emissions per unit of gdp by

60%-60 5% over the 2005 level. raise the share of nonfossil uels in primary energy consumption to about 20%. an increase forest stock by around 4.5 billion cubic meters over 2005. this requires strenuous efforts, but we have confidence and resolve to fulfill our commitments. the chinese government will earnestly implement its policy commitment of cooperation on climate change. in a show of greater support, china announced the support of a fund for climate in september. ext year, china will set up 10 pilot low carbon industrial

parks and start 400 mitigation and annotation projects in other countries and provide them with 1000 training opportunities for tackling climate change. china will continue to advance international cooperation and clean energy, disaster response, climate smart agriculture and smart cities. china will also help developing countries enhance their financing capabilities. dear colleagues, tackling climate change is a shared mission for mankind. all eyes are now on paris. let us join hands to contribute to the establishment of an equitable and effective global

mechanism on climate change. work for global sustainable development at a high level. and bring about new international relations featuring win-win cooperation. >> i would like to thank president xi jinping for his statements. i give the floor to the president of lithuania, ms. dalia grybauskaite. followed by the president of egypt. president grybauskaite: today, for all of us, it is important to be in paris. to be together with the french people side-by-side and say that we support, we are with you, and we will challenge together the challenges we face.

today, we are talking about climate change. can climate change be more challenging, and more dangerous challenge than terrorism? partly yes, because changes of climate influences that people are starting to move, people are starving and people are in conflict even worse. why today? no country can insulate itself from the global challenge and no country is immune from climate change. this climate change is real and ts impact is felt across the world. the expansion of deserts, the shortage of drinking water, increase in famine are among the reasons for the largest movement of people in the world. and even military conflicts. our failure to act now will result in irreversible consequences which will affect all of us. what do we need to succeed

in paris? political will. understanding we already have. countries big and small, developing and developed, should commit to ambitious and legally binding targets to reduce greenhouse emissions. we as the european union will cut emissions by at least 40%. by 2030 compared to the 1990 level. our biggest emitters should show responsibility to achieve our goals, global warming imited to 2 degrees. even that is already a concession. the lithuanian experience proves there's no contradiction between economic growth and being green. environmental protection. our emissions levels last year and in 25 years fell by

56%. our gdp growth increased by 20%. there's no contradiction, anybody can do it. let's try. good, understanding and responsibility matters. secondly, we need to guarantee that climate change commitments are fully respected. robust accountability and transparent rules should build trust, fairness and incentives to implement our decisions. regular review of our targets will also help in responding to changing dynamics and emissions and technological developments. thirdly, financial support will reduce emissions in developing countries. and should be results-oriented. the european union and its member states are major providers of

climate financing, delivering about 14.5 billion euros every year. quality, not only quantity of financial spending will be decisive tackling climate hange. finally, agreement will increase our security. dependence on fossil fuels and lack of alternative energy sources makes us vulnerable from all points of view, social security, military security, human security. we witness the situation or sometimes our energy demands finance terrorist networks. oil and gas money. that is unacceptable. the time has come to make global decisions. we are globally here, we are all participating here.

the only way to guarantee our safe future is to approve universally binding agreements in paris, that is our responsibility and i wish all of us to take it in our hands. thank you. >> thank you, the president of lithuania. the floor now goes to the president of egypt. to be followed by ms. angela erkel. president el-sisi: in the name of god the compassionate, the merciful, his excellency the president of the french republic, the heads of state and government, mr. secretary general of the united nations, mrs. secretary-general of the u.n. convention. at the outset, i would like to

thank his excellency the french president for the kind invitation, hospitality and the organization of this conference. i also wish to express my condolences to the leadership and the people of france for the victims of the vicious terrorist attack in paris. we reiterate our strong condemnation of these attacks and the full solidarity of egypt with france in our common fight against all kinds of terrorism. we are facing a crucial juncture in our international endeavor as all of our peoples are watching and hoping that this conference will prove to be a turning point in achieving our common goals to secure a better future for humanity and protect the rights of the next generations by reaching an ambitious, sustainable,

balanced and international agreement to faced in the increasingly dangerous climate change related challenges. a few months ago, we all participated in adopting an international ambitious developmental agenda on sustainable development and poverty eradication. the effort has been exerted, it could fail of this agenda is not supported by an international agreement that strongly addresses climate change challenges and achieves the balance between economic development, social development and environmental protection. ladies and gentlemen, egypt has and will continue to play a constructive role in all of the climate change negotiations leading to this conference. in view of its responsibility to

represent the african continent and defend african interests, our position has been based on the necessity that any new international agreement should not harm the african countries. the right to development or its efforts to eradicate poverty. africa is the least contributor to harmful emissions yet it is the most affected by climate change repercussions. therefore, it is imperative that any flexibility arrangements in the agreement should include the african countries, together with the least developed countries and small island developing countries. africa also calls for an international agreement that is based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities between developed and developing countries. facing climate change

challenges in accordance with the principles of the united nations convention and to achieve balance among the various components of this agreement. it is unacceptable that we get most of our attention to mitigation without attaching equal importance to the other components of the agreement, especially those related to developing the adaptation capabilities of the developing countries. it is also important that the agreement includes a global target on adaptation. the agreement should also be legally binding as long as it encompasses a clearly defined commitment for developed countries to provide the developing world with adequate support in terms of financing, capacity building and advanced technology in order to enable the african and other developing countries to adapt and transform our economies to achieve sustainable

development in addition to a clear commitment in the agreement that the increase in temperature does not exceed 1.5 degrees and to avoid shifting the burden of medication from developed to developing countries. the issues of financing, capacity building and technology should not be viewed as merely negotiating positions but as a strong necessity. nd a main indicator of the seriousness of the international community to face climate change challenges. recent reports by the united nations environment program indicate that africa needs between $7 billion and $20 billion annually until 2024 adaptation and between 50 dollars and $100 billion annually until 050. the financing which are continent can provide would not exceed $3 billion annually. that means there will be a

financing gap not less than $12 billion annually. and we keep increasing after 2020 by higher rates. therefore, if the agreement does not effectively and transparently address the financing issue it would be too weak and unsustainable. it is imperative that the agreement reflects a commitment to provide $100 billion annually to the developing countries by 2020. to be doubled beyond 2020. this is the framework in which the african states took the lead by developing initiatives. the first initiative aims at promoting renewable energy. i, on international community and governments, the private sector and international organizations to lend full support to the two african initiatives which

contribute to our international efforts on addressing climate change challenges. despite the difficulty and severity of the challenges, i am confident that we have enough determination, wisdom and solidarity to overcome these challenges. >> thank you very much. angela merkel of germany to be followed by vladimir putin of the russian federation. chancellor merkel: president hollande, secretary-general, colleagues, we are meeting here in paris in turbulent times. times that fill us with great concern. ot far away from here, are meeting here in paris in turbulent times. times that fill us with great concern. not far away from here, terrorists, only a few days ago, attacked the people of paris and

in so doing attacked us all. we strongly condemn terror no matter where it goes on. our presence here today shows that we are stronger than the terrorists. today heads and state and governments of almost 150 countries to have the possibility to surmount controversies and differences of opinion and uphold one very strong message, a message that will be crucial for the survival of our planet. this is about creating the basis, the foundation of a possible existence and a possible life for future generations. we are more than aware of the need to act today. this has to be the ambition of this conference and characteristic of the result we need to come to an a few days' time. i would like to thank all of the present here, particularly the french government and also the united nations, preparing for this conference for a very long time.

this is the first time that we have an opportunity to attain this goal of an agreement. to put it in a more sober and businesslike manner, this means nothing less than reducing and keeping within the limits of global warming below two degree increase. compared to the beginning of industrialization. it is a necessary target. we are more than aware of the fact that small island nations will feel this is not a sufficient goal. so we need a united nations framework agreement that is ambitious, competences, fair and binding. first, what does ambitious mean? for the first time, more than 170 countries, industrialized countries, emerging economies and developing countries have submitted indc's that will hopefully enable us to attain

this two degree goal. the good message is that is 95% of global emissions. the bad news is we will not be able yet to attain the goal. with all of these indc's. this message has to go out from this meeting here today. how we can credibly attain this goal in the next 10 years. this means nothing less than in the course of the 21st century, we have to achieve a far-reaching de-carbonization of our economies. secondly, what is comprehensive mean? what we are talking about here is a profound transformation of the way we do business. cutting across the board to all different areas of production, generating energy, energy efficiency, and heating and

efficiency. we have set a clear target for the european union. we are going to reduce our until 2020 emissions by 40%. we have an ambitious limate protection program already. with more than 100 measures. renewable energies are already one of the main pillars of our energy mix this year. we will have more than 27% of renewables in our energy mix. what does fair mean? industrialized countries, particularly as regards to development of technologies for decarbonization, will have to take the lead. the emissions of the past have been generated by us. we have to be in the vanguard of technological advances in order to reduce emissions in the future and make it possible for developing countries to attain

these targets. germany will participate in a number of targets. we will promote our research on clean energy. we want double the funding for this. the most vulnerable countries, the poorest countries have to be given possibilities to attain a sustainable development by giving them the necessary funds, financing. this is the day here in paris where we have to show that what we have promised in copenhagen will be delivered. as of 2020, $100 billion annually in a sustainable manner so others are also able to achieve. germany compared to 2014 will until 2020 double its public funding. fourth, what does binding mean? we need to establish a framework for a u.n. convention that is binding. we also need a binding review

mechanism. germany wishes that this would take place every five years starting in 2020. we know that the indc's of countries are voluntary contributions but it is most important first to live up to our commitments. none of these contributions can be reduced over the years. they have to be enhanced and strengthened. we need a clear transparency as to the measuring mechanism and methodologies so that we create credibility for all of us. ambitious, comprehensive, fair and binding. this is how a global climate agreement must be. this is a question of environmental necessity but it is also a question of economic common sense. it has something to do with generational fairness. it has something to do with a human spirit and are very future of humankind hinges on this.

germany is going to give its contribution so we may all have a good future. billions of people are pinning their hopes on what we do here in paris during the next few days. let us do everything we can in order not to dash those hopes. thank you very much. >> thank you, ms. angela merkel. before i get the floor to vladimir putin, i would like to advise you that we are going to suspend our meeting at 1:45 p.m. and we will resume at 14:45 after lunch. mr. putin: thank you very much, your excellency secretary-general, president hollande.

heads of state and ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honor to address such a representative conference. climate change has become one of the greatest challenges that humanity is facing. global warming, hurricanes, floods and other anomalies are a source of ever more tangible economic damage. they destroy well-established habitats of humanity. our ability to address this problem will determine the quality of life for all people on the planet, economic growth and sustainable development. russia has been contributing actively to addressing the global warming problem. our country is taking the lead in terms of reducing energy

intensive reduction of our economy. we've reduced it up to 2012. after the implementation of the state program of energy and the creation of the energy sector, we are going to reduce it by another 13.5% by 2020. we have gone beyond our commitments under the kyoto protocol. n the period from 1991-2012, russia not only has prevented the increase of greenhouse gas emissions, it has significantly reduced these emissions. as a result of that, it prevented the emission of 4 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalents into the atmosphere. as a matter of comparison, the emissions of greenhouse gases of all the countries in 2012 amounted to 46 illion tons.

russia's efforts have helped us slow down global warming. we have significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions. at the same time, we have managed to double our gdp. we have demonstrated that we can ensure economic development and take care of our environment at the same time. it is of principal importance for the new climate agreement to build upon the principles of the climate change convention. it should be a legally binding agreement. in its implementation, there should be participation of developed and developing countries. this agreement should be comprehensive, effective and marketable. we fully uphold the long-term goal of the new agreement to limit the growth of the global temperature by the end

of the 21st century to 2 degrees. pressure will continue contributing to joint efforts preventing global warming. by 2030, we are planning to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70% from 1990 levels. we're going to achieve that with the use of breakthrough energy conservation technologies. and through the use of new nanotechnology. for example, russia has developed the technology of using carbon nanotube-based additives. according to some experts, these technologies could reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide by 2030 by 160-180 million tons only in russia. we are standing ready to exchange this technology solutions.

the new agreement should reflect the important role as a source of absorption for greenhouse gases. russia produces enormous forests, it is of utmost importance. of importance is to provide support to developing nations. russia's going to provide financial assistance to these countries through various u.n. echanisms. in my speech at the session of the general assembly, i mentioned that we should develop a comprehensive approach to fighting climate change. in this forum let me reiterate our proposal to create a platform to discuss these problems, not just climate change but also depletion of

natural resources and degradation of the human habitat. ladies and gentlemen, we hope that through concerted efforts, we will be able to develop a new climate agreement that would replace the kyoto protocol and serve the interests of all states and people after 2020. thank you for your attention. >> thank you very much, president of the russian ederation. i can now give the floor to the resident of hungary.

president ader: mr. president, secretary-general, esteemed ladies and gentlemen. i have this recurring dream. in this dream, i talk with my yet unborn grandchild. we are 20 years ahead in time. in human terms, that is significant. but from historic perspective it is insignificant. my grandchild says the following to me, "grandpa, i grew up to be an adult in a period where the impacts of climate change are posing direct threats to human civilization. i have this nagging question. could you, 25 years ago, have stopped everything that has happened?

what is it you listen to scientists? why did you disregard scientific evidence? you were aware that the quantity of greenhouse gases already in 2015 was much higher than it ever was in the 800,000 years before that. you also knew that a similar amount of carbon dioxide had already accumulated in earth's atmosphere and you also knew the dire consequences this would have. an increase of three degrees in temperature resulted in 90 meters of a sea level rise. why did you disregard the forecast of all those who at the end of

the 20th century had predicted that if humanity refused to change its irresponsible behavior, it would have serious consequent is. there would be droughts, floods, desertification, devastating natural disasters, famines, migration, and wars. after the millennium, you were already feeling the signals that nature was sending you firsthand. how come with all the scientific evidence, even this was not enough to convince you? why didn't you read all of the analysis, or if you read them, these provided that climate change would have dire consequences. why did you not draw the necessary conclusions? why didn't you introduce climate friendly technologies? why didn't you provide more

support for research into such technologies? why didn't you hear the warnings of the world's religious leaders who reminded you about your responsibilities for future generations? why did you sit idle and wait to see what would happen, what we are now all suffering from? grandpa, why did you let this happen? why didn't you act in time?" esteemed ladies and gentlemen, it is up to us to decide in the next coming days how we will answer these questions. as the head of state of hungary, but also as the father of four children, my objective and i hope yours, is to ensure that 25 years from now my

grandchildren, or your grandchildren, should not be forced to ask questions like this. thank you for listening to e. >> thank you, mr. president, for speaking on behalf of your children and grandchildren. we will now suspend work for one hour for lunch and then we will resume. respecting the speakers list and the order of the speakers list, i would ask that you would try to limit the time for your speeches so that all heads of state will have the time to take the floor this afternoon. thank you. national cable satellite corp. 2015] the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org]

the difference is that monterey bay got better. >> on american history tv we will visit the custom house and influence e historic this building had. then the missions founded by fran sis can priest. the missions were designed primarily to bring the catholic faith to the native people. then on to california's first

constitutional convention was held in 1849. >> we have some original documents from the constitutional convention on display. this is one of them. this is the registration sheet for all of the delegates. it is a great source of information this list every delegate where they are from, what state or country, how old they are and what district in california do they represent. so this is quite an amazing piece. bviously unique.

>> president obama met with his national security team including the vice president attorney general and f.b.i. direct for a briefing on the sbern california shootings. after the meeting the president spoke briefly to reporters at the white house. this is 5 minutes. president obama: yesterday, a tragedy occurred in san bernardino. as i said in the immediate aftermath, our first order of business is to send our thoughts and prayers to the families of those who've been killed and to pray for the speedy recovery for those who were injured during this terrible attack. i had a chance to speak with mayor davis of san bernardino and i thanked law enforcement in that city for their timely and professional response. i indicated to mayor davis that the entire country is thinking about that community and thanked him and his office for

the way that they've been able to manage extraordinarily difficult situation with calm and clarity and very much appreciated the coordination that's been taking place between local law enforcement and the f.b.i. investigators. at this stage, we do not yet know why this terrible event occurred. we do know the two individuals who were killed were equipped with weapons and appeared to have access to additional weaponry at their homes. but we don't know why they did it. we don't know at this point the extent of their plans. we do not know their

motivations. and i just received a briefing from f.b.i. director comey as well as attorney general lynch indicating the course of their investigation. at this point, it's now an f.b.i. investigation. that's been done in cooperation and consultation with local law enforcement. it is possible that this was terrorist related but we don't know. it's also possible that this was workplace related, and until the f.b.i.'s been able to conduct what are going to be a large number of interviews, until we understand the nature of the workplace relationship between the individual and his superiors -- because he worked

with the organization where this terrible shooting took place -- until all the social media and electronic information has been exploited, we are not able to answer those questions. but what i can assure the american people is we're going to get to the bottom of this and that we are going to be vigilant as we always are in getting the facts before we issue any decisive judgments in erms of how this occurred. more broadly, like i said yesterday, we see the prevalence of these kinds of ass shootings in this country, and i think so many americans sometimes feel as if there's nothing we can do about it.

we are fortunate to have an extraordinary combination of law enforcement and intelligence and military that ork every single day to keep us safe, but we can't just leave it to our professionals to deal with the problem of these kinds of global killings. we all have a part to play, and i do think as the investigation oves forward, it's going to be important for all of us, including our legislatures, to see what we can do to make sure that when individuals decide they want to do somebody harm, we're making it a little harder for them to do it, because right now it's just too easy. you know, we're going to have to, i think, search ourselves as a society to make sure we can take basic steps that would

make it harder, not impossible, but harder for individuals to get access to weapons. so there will be, i think, a press conference later today led by the attorney general. director comey will continue to brief not only the press but also members of congress about the course of the investigation. our expectation is that this may take some time before we're able to sort it all through. there may be mixed motives involved in this, which makes the investigation more complicated. but rest assured that we will get to the bottom of this and in the meantime once again i want to offer our deepest condolences to those who have been affected by this terrible tragedy. for those that have been injured, we hope they get well

quickly and they're able to be back together with their families. thank you very much, everybody.

i think is a perfect example of the conclusion i came to which was those women saw something in those men, the ambition, the opportunity to really climb and make a mark in the world, and hey married them in spite of parent al objections. that's why i decided i had to find out more about her. >> house republicans have

proposed legislation that would overhaul the visa waiver program as a response to the terror attacks in paris. under current law visitors from 38 countries can enter the u.s. for 90 days without a visa. house leaders talked about the bill at a capitol hill briefing for about 15 minutes.

mr. mccarthy: so you did come in. that's a good sign. well, thank you, all, for coming. as you know, we put together the task force on counterterrorism and homeland security just a couple weeks ago. within that task force you have found a number of chairmen. we took the committees of jurisdiction, brought them together to look and analyze from a short-term and long-term basis for the security of this country and what we see before us, especially after what transpired in paris. and in those we found one was a challenge before us was when it came to refugees. we were able to craft work that had already been done in a number of these committees together, bring it to the floor and in a bipartisan vote, a veto-proof passed a few short weeks ago. one of the -- one of the highest concerns of security we had was the visa waiver program. many know there's 38 countries

participating. but in the homeland security, they have worked on this with the candice miller bill. we looked at those recommendations for making sure that everybody has an e-passport, making sure that every country, if they have a lost or stolen passport that they report it into interpol. we also looked, what about travel? if you look at the mastermind behind paris he bragged about the freedom of travel throughout europe and the easiness of it. we have a real concern of that ability to come to america without having a check. so within this bill, we take those aspects to make america safer. i'm proud to say this is going to be a very strong bipartisan support and this bill will become law. the process of work from all these committees, the work

the work they have done testif'' done through the years and we worked on the other side of the aisle as well. i think this is an example of the way congress sees a problem and should solve it, because this becomes a solution, not a political talking point. and i want to bring up the author of the bill that had worked very hard on this long before these incidents taking place, candice miller. mrs. miller: thank you very much, mr. leader. first of all, what is a visa waiver program? very quickly as the leader said, he said something -- it had its origin, its genesis back in the 1980's in our country because we wanted to expedite tourism and travel to the united states. economically it's been a tremendous success. however, things have changed. we're in a different world today than we were back in the 1980's -- than we were back in the 1980's, so we identified this visa waiver program something that leaves our country vulnerable. there are 38 participating country, and if you're a citizen in one of those 38 participating countries you don't have the necessity to go to the u.s. embassy or consulate to get your visa. you can travel visa-free.

they still do a background, check your passport, but you don't have to get a visa for up to 90 days. there's reciprocity within the united states with that. that is obviously a huge vulnerability. so what our bill essentially does, and was mentioned, this is a bipartisan bill. we are -- we need to talk about regular order. this is a bill that's had a number of hearings in the homeland security committee and the subcommittee that i chair there, borders and maritime, judiciary also had some hearings on this bill -- on this issue. and it passed out of the homeland security committee unanimously, which doesn't always happen on this hill. so every democrat, every republican and so we are looking for a very, very big vote next week and essentially what it does. if you are one of these participating countries and you do not share the information rather through the travel manifest or terrorist watch lists they might be maintaining in the various countries with us

and the department of homeland security secretary does not have the confidence level, the high comfort level that we need to be able to ensure that our homeland is safe, he can suspend or eliminate you from the program. and as well, there are a number of other components but that really is a big thing. information sharing and also using e-passports which we have. most of these participating countries do not have. so that will be another requirement as well. you know the 9/11 commission said a couple very interesting things in their recommendations. first of all, they said we need to move from the need-to-know information to the need-to-share information, not just in the united states but certainly in a program like this and as well they said, for terrorists, travel documents are as good as weapons. we need to think in those terms, i think. we're very excited about having this bill come to the floor tomorrow. i certainly want to thank all the chairmen, all the various committee members that worked on it and the leadership as well for bringing this along. thank you.

mr. goodlatte: well, i'm bob goodlatte, chairman of the house judiciary committee. i want to thank the leader and the committee chairmen and especially chairman miller, not in her role as chairman of the administration committee, but an advocate, working together for producing this very important information. -- legislation. it's important to understand that the visa waiver program is a very important program but it's also a privilege. it's a privilege that we bestow on citizens of 38 countries, more than 160 countries do not get to participate in this and security concerns have been raised because various countries have had various levels of participation in the protocols that are necessary to make a program like this work, making sure you have biometric passports, making sure you're giving interpol the information they need. what this legislation is going to do is to make it very clear that if you are one of the -- a citizen or passport holder from

one of those countries and you travel to the four countries designated here or any of the four countries designated by the secretary of d.h.s., since 2011, or a duo citizen, you will not be able to utilize the visa waiver program. you have to go and apply for a visa, but it's important to understand, no one specifically by this bill is barred from entering the united states. it simply adds an additional security precaution of going to get a visa to come to the country rather than bypassing that process which contains additional scrutiny. this does not solve all the problems we have with making sure our borders are secure and that the interior of our country is secure from those who would come in and commit mayhem. there are other provisions that

we've taken with the refugee program. there are many other bills that the judiciary committee has worked on, the homeland security committee has worked on that would address additional concerns regarding the access of people who have terrorist intent to the united states, and we look forward to working together on all those measures as well. thank you. mr. mccarthy: chairman mccaul. mr. mccaul: thank you, leader. i want to thank you for bringing this legislation so quickly to the floor. it's a response in many ways to what happened in paris. i want to thank the judiciary for working well with us. i think it's important to state why we need this legislation. when abu bakr al baghdadi was released out of prison in iraq what he said is, i'll see you in new york. isis has an intent to hit the west. they openly declared their intent to washington and new york. we came up with a bipartisan

foreign fighter task force report with 50 key findings and recommendations and legislative recommendations as well. visa waiver being one of the top recommendations that we needed to fix. what we found in the report is disturbing. 30,000 foreign fighters from 100 different countries, 5,000 of those foreign fighters have western passports. so what does that mean? that means 5,000 foreign fighters with western passports can enter the united states without a visa. and when you look at paris, several of the paris attackers carried western passports. that means that the paris attackers, the ones that had the western passports, could have entered the united states without a visa. that's why this legislation is so important. it will strengthen the visa waiver program, not abolish it, but strengthen it to keep

terrorists from reaching our shores and entering into our homeland and as was mentioned, there are specific designated countries, particularly those with terrorist concerns that you will have to -- you'll be required to get a visa before you enter the united states. you will not receive a waiver. that is the importance -- i think that's the immediacy. that's the emergency concern that we have and that's why we're pushing this -- be on the floor next tuesday and i want to commend the leader for bringing this forward but also the bipartisan nature that candice miller cultivated on the committee to pass it unanimously but also for this thing to pass in a bipartisan manner on both sides of the aisle of the house, which is why we -- how we should conduct business on matters of national security. thank you. mr. mccarthy: chairman of foreign affairs, ed royce. mr. royce: thank you. our main objective here, obviously, is to keep the

american people safe. and the challenge that we have -- and i recently had an opportunity to speak to a number of authorities in europe about this problem. the challenge we have is that over 5,000 foreign fighters with passports have traveled to syria but then traveled back into europe. and so the question for the european government, they're frankly in a conundrum here because they don't have the personnel to be able to monitor and follow all of those suspected of terrorism and many of those who've traveled to syria and traveled back. so the point of this legislation is to make certain we don't end up fast tracking the ability of people who have that european passport to come in the united states, to fly into new york or some other capital or some other major american city and carry out the same types of attacks here that they're planning right now in europe.

and this will give us the capacity, also, through this system to discover those stolen passports and also those forged passports that are often being used as we put these new controls into effect. so i think it frankly strengthens the visa waiver system. that system is important for our economy, but right now in terms of security, the europeans have made it clear to us, the conundrum they face and it's incumbent, i think, upon us to make sure we don't have the same difficulty here. thank you. mr. mccarthy: and chairman of financial services, jeb hensarling. mr. hensarling: well, clearly as a congress we have no more important or sacred responsibility than to protect the american people from all enemies, foreign and domestic. under the leadership of speaker ryan and leader mccarthy, the house has moved quickly and deliberately to first deal with the challenge of the syrian refugee situation and now with

the great leadership of chairman miller, we will soon deal obviously with the even greater challenge of the visa waiver program. as chairman of the house financial services committee, we have already held a half a dozen different hearings on the subject of terrorist financing, and at the appropriate time we look forward to working with our leadership in bringing legislation to help crimp the financial fuel line to terrorism. mr. mccarthy: i want to thank everybody part of the task force. i know we've been in a short time but this is the second piece of legislation coming forward, both of them bipartisan. this will be put on suspension with the support it has on both sides. want part i want to emphasize. 5,000 western passport holders have traveled to iraq or syria. this is why this is needed now to be able to combat this. i know conference went long. i can only take a few questions.

>> is this will end up in the omnibus bill or will this be separate? mr. mccarthy: i want this to become law. any avenue for it to become law whatever it takes. >> do you expect the white house to support it? mr. mccarthy: yes. >> i wonder why there weren't democrats present with you. and if you have a comment on what happened in california? mr. mccarthy: first, i'll take california, of course. what we watched, unbelievable. our prayers, our thoughts, we would not want that to happen anyplace in america. i don't know, yet, of why it took place. i don't think it may be, from what it's trending to, the information we're getting, i want to make sure we get all the information out. maybe that's something that this

task force has to look at as well, but as of right now, our hearts and prayers go to the families and the lost victims and also to those first responders, putting their lives on the line too in the videos we see coming out. we want to make sure we get all the information. as the speaker talked about earlier this week, we have been working with and we had a markup on tim murphy's bill dealing with mental health. there had been a theme through a lot of the other shootings. i don't know yet if that theme's coming out of this one. it could be motivated in a different manner to have the go pro, to have the flack jacket. that seems very well planned. we just worked with murphy before. there needs to be an overhaul of our mental health program. yes. >> one of the things the democrats talked a lot about in the wake of the paris attacks is folks on watch list are still able to buy firearms. is that something this task force is going to take up? mr. mccarthy: we will look at all items when it comes to -- and the uniqueness of why this task force was put together and you see so much expertise from so many committees and the work,

we have to think differently knowing the way the terrorists think and the way they look at. looking at any gaps or any vulnerabilities that we have out there. you asked another part of your question. i apologize. we have worked with steny hoyer and his staff throughout. we had had this scheduled prior, just the task force, but in is bipartisan work. >> you talked about addressing mental health issues. democrats also want to lift the ban on medical research on gun violence. it's been in spending bills. is that something you'll consider? mr. mccarthy: you know, it hasn't been brought up to me yet. >> trying to put it in the omnibus? mr. mccarthy: hal is not here. he's working on the omni. we will have the committee do the majority of that work. last question. >> the economic impact of the visa waiver program, changes. i'm sure a lot of tourists come to california. are you concerned about this at all? mr. mccarthy: not with this bill.

correct me if i'm wrong, u.s. travel supports this bill. we wanted to make sure we found common ground, protect the united states and have people come to america because we want them to. we want them to enjoy the freedoms, go to the attractions. we want to make sure that terrorists do not come to the united states and i think this bill is the first step in the right direction. thank you, all, very much. iraq, syria, iran and sudan.

>> this weekend, this c-span cities tour hosted by our

comcast cablee partners takes us to monterey, california, to explore the history. home to canry row monterey served as inspiration for author john steinbeck known for its spanish missions and heritage and was the capital of ata, california, under both spain and mexico before becoming part of the united states. we will tour the national steinbeck center which houses a collection of books and art facts from the noble prize winning author john steinbeck. next, howard hughes experimental helicopters and other aviation first. then we will join steven plum be. a story of revival, as he shows us the bay and talks about its recovery from a polluted body of water. >> 80 years ago this was a

place you wouldn't want to be standing right on this beach doing anything. because the water was polluted, the air was foul. the seals were gone, the whales were gone, the otters, were gone. fishing was bad. the sardines eventually were taken as well. all that was happening 80 years ago. the difference is that monterey ay got better. >> we have some original

documents from the constitutional convention in colten hall on display. this is one of them. this is the registration sheet for all of the delegates. and it is a great source of information. this lists every delegate, where they are from, what state or country. how old they are. and what can what district of california do they represent. so this is quite an amazing piece. obviously unique. >> watch c-span cities tour beginning saturday at noon eastern. >> i'm here to voice my strong support for the courageous people of afghanistan.

women and men who have suffered for years under the taliban regime. each and every one of us has the responsibility to stop the suffering caused by malaria. because every life in every land matters. and all of us can do something to help. after studying first ladies and knowing some of them very well like my own mother in-law or one that i admired very much, a fellow texan, lady bird johnson, is that we benefit our country benefits by whatever our interests are. >> laura bush, the second woman to be the wife of one president and the daughter in-law of another. she became first lady after a controversial election brought her husband to the white house. with less than nine months in office the 9/11 attacks occurred and first lady laura ush helped comfort the nation.

laura bush. this sunday night at 8:00 p.m. eastern. on c-span's original series. first ladies, influence and image, examining the public and private lives of women who filled the role of first adies. on capitol hill senate democrats reacted to the shootings in sbern, california, and discussed their plans for legislation to address gun violence. this is half an hour. it begins with senator chuck schumer of new york.

senator schumer: before we begin today, i would like us all to pause for a brief moment to honor the victims of the tragedy in san bernandino. well, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and families, but as senator murphy pointed out yesterday, our thoughts and prayers are not even close to enough. the time for prayers, thoughts and sympathies is now. it is also a time to act. this country is dangerously close to falling into a new normal where mass shootings of children, of health care workers, of moms and dads, brothers and sisters is

commonplace. is this the kind of country we want to be? is that the kind of country we want our children to grow up in? mothers should not have to bury their daughters because congress doesn't have the courage to act. a husband shouldn't get a call that his wife was killed in the classroom because republicans in congress don't have the courage to challenge the n.r.a. enough is enough. and senate democrats are not waiting one more day. today's the day we act. later today, we will be filing several amendments to the pending reconciliation bill that would strip out this political charade of a bill and replace it with meaningful gun safety legislation that the president

would actually sign. we will have votes later today on these amendments and the entire country will know where every member of the senate stands on tightening background checks on keeping guns out of the hands of terrorists and on strengthening and improving mental health in this country. the scourge of gun violence that has swept through this country in recent years has snuffed thousands upon thousands of lives. it is an epidemic that must be addressed head on and that means keeping guns out of the hands of people who should not have guns. that's what almost everyone in america believes. but a few who happen to be senators vowing to the power of

the gun lobby have stopped the will of the american people from being enacted. enough. enough. enough. i saw yesterday in california, the people were being led out of the room by a police officer who said, don't worry, they were afraid bullets were coming and the police officer said, don't worry, i'll take the bullet for you. we shouldn't have a scene like that anymore. we just shouldn't. so, that's what these votes later today are about. it's time for republican colleagues to summon the courage to stare down the n.r.a. and side with an overwhelming majority of americans and gun owners and pass gun safety legislation today. now we'll hear from the members who have bills or amendments that we will bring up.

first is somebody who has been the leader on this issue for now over two decades, senator feinstein. fine fine -- senator: i want to say i spoke last night to the mayor of san bernandino and extend our deep sympathy and done dolens and i didn't extend anger, which i feel, because here we are again gathered to mourn the victims of yet another mass shooting. this time it's our home state, barbara, where at least 14 were killed and 21 now wounded. and again, we're talking about what congress can do or candidly what congress should have done years ago but refused to stand up to the gun lobby. so far in 2015, there had been 355 mass shootings.

we are currently in the 336th day of the year. that means on average there has been more than one mass shooting per day. that statistic should stun us all and what is shocking to see that it has become normal and that's a very sad statement about this country. the common denominator of this is easy access to guns and that's no surprise given how many firearms there are in this country. in fact, more guns than people. the day after thanksgiving, black friday, the federal background check system ran more than 185,000 background checks. that's in one day of people seeking to buy a weapon. so that's at least 185,000 potential gun purchases. and the figures don't include purchases at gun shows or

online. we sell many guns and so few checks. it's no surprise that guns fall into the wrong hands. the bill, i believe, that is going to be before the floor hopefully today is entitled denying firearms and explosives to dangerous terrorists. the bill is the definition of a no-brainer. if someone is too dangerous to board an aircraft, they are too dangerous to buy a gun. i introduced the bill in february the same day that republican peter king introduced the bill in the house and the bill itself was developed by george bush's justice department. simply put, this shouldn't be a partisan issue. today, under federal law, an individual is blocked from buying a gun if that person falls into one of nine categories on the national instant background check system. i had it here and i wanted to

show you the nine categories. this is it. and these are the categories. i have some -- i have been convicted by a crime, fugitive from justice, unlawful user or addicted to any controlled substance, has been adjudicated as a mental defecttive or committed to mental institutions. one thing that is left out of this, suspected of an act of terrorism or a terrorist. and that's what this bill would remedy. the bill would add a new category that allows the attorney general to prevent a person from buying a gun or explosives if two requirements are met. first, that the individual is a known or suspected terrorist and second if the attorney general has reasonable belief that the recipient would use a firearm in connection with a terrorist

attack. there are any number of gun safety bills that congress should pass, but keeping the guns out of the hands of terrorists should be number one on the list. and the huge soft loophole is that somebody can fly into this country and go and purchase a weapon, be a terrorist and not be held attributable to it. that's the precision. it doesn't count as a reason to deny a sale. so giving the attorney general this authority, i think, is long overdue and hopefully we'll have a chance to vote on it today. let me get this out of the way. senator boxer.

senator: i just spoke with the mayor of san bernandino and he had after i expressed my grief, he said ask everyone to pray for san bernandino. and so, senator schumer, thank you. i also as the senator has offered the help of any federal agency. i know the f.b.i. has been there from the get-go. my heart's broken again. i remember so long ago, when john walked into 101 california. this was a disgruntled man who walked into a law office and killed a lot of people and one of them happened to be my son's best friend. and senator feinstein stepped up and said, what is happening with these assault weapons?

and she's been on the case ever since. i'm so proud to be her partner on this. my heart is broken again, whether it's connecticut, whether it's washington, whether it's oregon, new york -- name every state, they have all had this happen. we look at the pain, the trauma, the fear. we look at war zones in our own country. war zones? i want to thank the medical personnel, the first responders. they're heroes, they rushed to the scene and later stopped these killers. and we know that victims in this attack, they were county

employees at the san bernandino department of public health. i was a county supervisor in marin county and in california, i got to tell you, the county workers are so wonderful because they are giving back to their community, in this case, the complex was dedicated to people with developmental disabilities and the attack occurred in a room -- big room they rent out and this time it was for the department of health employees. so there's a holiday party. people gathered in friendship. and all of a sudden, the unspeakable happens and while the details have been noted before us are unfolding, they are unfolding and troubling. this is what we know for sure.

these suspects -- they are not suspects, they are killers, these killers used military-style weapons, 14 people died, at least 17 were wounded in just a few short minutes. and left the scene like a war zone. the weapons, the weapons of war were used. i know a lot of people on the other side of the gun issue and i have never heard anyone give me a reason as to why military-style weapons should be used by anyone other than a military person or law enforcement officer. weapons of war don't belong in our communities and again, senator feinstein, i know she is going to have more information for you on her efforts. but we are going to move again to make sure that these weapons stay in the hands of the military and the police.

i'm so glad, senator schumer, and i say to patty murray and our leadership, senator reid and the rest, so grateful that we will be voting today and you outlined, you mentioned the background check expansion, the no terrorists can get a gun and mental health. senator murray has this very important amendment that i was proud to speak about at length on the floor that would increase the funding to make our health care clinics safe, increase security. that is also part of this package. i'm going to close with this. after 10 years the vietnam, vietnam war got me involved in politics. we lost nearly 60,000 americans in the vietnam war over 10 years. we lose more than that to gun violence in less than 10 years.

10 years we mourn the loss of these soldiers. 10 years, even more die from gun violence. you know everybody would be on the floor tonight of the senate. but there is a lack of courage, a lack of courage and that's why we are here to say step up to the plate today, stand with us. people deserve to be safe in their communities, going to a holiday party, going to school, going to a mall, going to a restaurant. they deserve to be safe and that's why we're here. senator murray: lawmakers in this building have offered their thoughts and prayers of yet to another heinous mass shooting in this country. my colleagues stand here once again to say we need something more.

we need action. we stand here today because we know and the majority of americans agree it is far past time for this congress to adopt commonsense reforms. we don't have all the details of an what happened yesterday in california, but we already have far too many examples from every corner of this country, including my home state of washington, to know we must act. we must act so children at school, young adults on campus,

women in abusive relationships, patients at planned parenthood clinics and co-workers at a holiday party know their government is doing something, anything to keep guns out of the hands of the most dangerous criminals and terrorists. that action needs to start right here in this building. senator sanders: this is difficult for the american people to keep up with the mass shootings that we see almost every day. yesterday, san bernandino, few days ago, colorado springs. before that, oregon, before that, tennessee and on and on it goes. the san bernandino shooting was the 355th mass shooting this year. 2,000 americans have been killed by guns. let me paraphrase what president obama said recently. and what he said is that this is not an easy problem to solve but just because it is not an easy

problem to solve does not mean that we should not do everything that we can. now the bad news is, in fact, that this nation is divided over gun legislation. that's a simple fact and political reality. but the good news is, there is a broad consensus perhaps 60% to 70% of the american people who agree on commonsense gun safety legislation and here is what that consensus is about, supported by a strong majority of the american people. we need to significantly expand and improve background checks. who is arguing that people who should not have guns because of a criminal background or mental problems should not be able to purchase those guns. very few americans disagree with

that. we need to renew the assault weapons ban. we need to end the sale of high capacity magazines and make gun trafficking a federal crime and give law enforcement. we need to close the gun show loophole and allow gun purchasers to buy a gun without a completed background check. we need to close loopholes that allow domestic abusers to buy guns. and straw purchasers who buy it from licensed dealers prohibited from purchasing a gun. and very significantly, we need to greatly expand and improve our mental health capabilities. the sad reality is in america today there are many thousands of people who are walking our streets who are suicidal or homicidal and these people need treatment when they need treatment regardless of their income, regardless of their

insurance status. when they are in crisis, they should be able to get treatment today, not two months from now. these are just some of the ideas that, in fact, are supported by the vast majority of the american people and it's time that congress moves forward in response. thanks. mr. blum: we are three days away from the newtown massacre and once again unspeble -- unspeakable carnage in america. senator: evil in the horrendous brutality of

massacres and good in the emergency responders and police who faced down danger to save people. once again, prayers. prayers are not enough. the most common question in america today is what will it take -- what will it take to face down this evil? will it become the new normal? will the finality of evil, a term used in reference to another time of mass killing, what will it take for real safety and security in america, not just for us, but for our children, for innocent people in churches and schools and clinics around america. all i've heard today in this

building so far is pretty much business as usual. we are going to take another vote on the affordable care act. congress is complicit in these mass murders when it fails to act. inaction makes congress complicit. and for anybody who says connecticut now has a strong measure on gun violence and so does california, so does new york, this simple stark fact is that the strongest state laws are at the mercy of the weakest because our borders are pourest. guns flow across state lines and they victimize innocent people as a result. so state laws are not the solution. nor is slugging our shoulders. that's the most common reaction. can't be done.

there has to be a tipping point. what will it take? 30,000 deaths every year ought to be enough. a mass shooting every day on average ought to be enough. not just san bernandino but the constant flow of death and blood as a result of gun violence and it cannot be business as usual anymore. as senator schumer said so well, enough is enough. enough is enough.

senator: prayers and sympathies were important to us in sandy hook. i know thoughts and prayers are important to the people of california today. but members of congress don't get elected in order to send out sympathy tweets. members of congress get paid to change policy to make people safer. and what is so offensive to those of us particularly who lived through sandy hook and watch communities live through similar episodes is that it's not bad enough that we haven't passed any legislation to try to address these epidemic rates of gun violence, but in this congress we aren't even trying. we aren't making an attempt. it's offensive. we are going to try. there is a group of sane people in washington who realize that the status quo isn't acceptable. maybe these measures will pass, maybe they won't but at least the american people will see we

are plugged to this disbelief over the inaction of this congress. i want to say one word about the intersection of mental health and gun laws. there is probably nobody over the course of the last year who has worked harder than i have and i hope we have a chance to bring our bill before the united states congress. but the united states doesn't have a rate of mental illness than that is greater than other first world countries. we don't spend less money. but we have a rate of gun violence that is 20 times that of first world nations. we have more illegal guns than any other country. we have the loosest gun laws. what is different about america, we allow for military-style of

assault weapons to populate the streets. let's be honest what differentiates america. what differentiates america is the fact that we refuse to get serious about keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and military-style assault weapons off the streets. we are going to try today. i don't know whether we'll succeed but at least we will show the people of california, connecticut, south carolina and oregon that somebody, that somebody is listening and reacting to the pain that millions of people are feeling across the country. senator schumer: questions. reporter: you have argued in the past what produces these shootings. why haven't you introduced these bills? senator schumer: when we put together our principles, we talked about the number one thing we could do is close the gun show loophole stop selling guns online and universal background checks.

and that's what we are introducing today. because there is such an increase from violence from isis and it is absurd to leave the law as such that if you are on a terrorist watch list -- these are the two that does the most good now. next question. \[inaudible question] reporter: this building never moves on it. you keep having these press conferences over and over. senator schumer: we are reaching a tipping point. i was the author of the brady law. there was crame wave in america that forced people to act and the brady law which saved tens of thousands of lives and many other things we did on crime

reduced crime and the american people said ok, they agreed with us on gun control but it wasn't a high-ranking issue. the mass shootings week after week, different types of people all being killed is arousing the american conscience and we will win these fights. if we don't win today, we'll win next month, month after that or the month after that. the worst thing we can do is do nothing. and let those who are hiding out of fear of the n.r.a. stay under the covers. we are going to keep at this. we talked about this a month ago. we talked about doing a major bill on our three principles in the early winter. we are going to keep at this and believe me, we will win. america is changing. reporter: excuse me.

senator: when you ask such a question, you are basically saying, why bother. you have had all these other problems. that's not what leaders do. they just don't hide because you may not win the vote. you keep doing it. i'll give you one statistic. in california since the 1990's, we have passed a number of important gun safety laws and over that period of time, we have had a reduction in gun violence of 56%. now clearly what we see is, this is not enough. that's why we need national laws and i look forward to senator feinstein's re-introduction of some form of her assault weapon ban. sensible gun laws work and we have proven it in california. if you look at the great fights over decades on major social

issues, on major, you know anti-pollution years. they take 10, 20 years, you don't give up. reporter: republicans when they had in the minority had some successes with their pet projects trying to dismantle abortion rights. i do you have anything to learn from republicans to pursue your gun agenda? senator schumer: i don't see that they have -- reporter: c.r.'s. senator schumer: well, look, the bottom line here is, the n.r.a. is a powerful opponent. the gun lobby is a powerful all opponent and the best weapon we have on our side is the outrage from the american people. it is growing. if we keep at it. we will win. we don't control the house. we don't control the senate, but we have the people of america on

our side and if we continue to have votes and force people to vote, we will win. let me tell you something today. there are a good number, not all, but a good number of our republican colleagues dreading these two votes. next. reporter: if you are serious doing something about guns, why are you trying to attach this to a bill that the president has said he is going to veto? senator schumer: our proposals rescind the underlying bill and just have this so the president will sign them should they pass. reporter: will you fight this in the omnibus? senator schumer: in every place where we can make a difference and succeed. senator: this is such a huge, hard issue, because it is driven by gun manufacturers who support the lobbying groups, who raise the fear of gun owners.

when i began this way back in 1993, it was, oh, they are going to take away our hunting weapons. we exempted from the assault weapons bill 375 specific types of hunting weapons so when the n.r.a. said that, we could say what is your weapon? and you could say it is a winchester and look in the bill, it's exempted. you have such a push to buy gun magazines in open stores. guns on display everywhere. and it's a society that has kind of bought into the kool-aid that the more guns there are, the better protected you are. let me tell you one story, this was the

"washington post" dated october 6. it was in tennessee, white pine and there were two families and lived next door to each other. the boy in one house was 11, the girl was eight. they both got puppies. the boy showed the girl the puppy. the girl didn't want to show the boy the puppy. he went into his house and pulled out a 12-gauge shotgun and came and shot and killed the eight-year-old. that's what this is leading to. i'm not saying this is every day, but this is the culture that is being built that problems get solved this way. and we've got to stop it,

because it has the ability to destroy the fabric of this

joining the conversation is tom mcmillan former u.s. representative from maryland and president and ceo of the division 1 a another letic directedors association. sunday at noon a live discussion with cokie roberts. he has authored several books. join the conversation as we take your phone calls, e-mails, facebook comments and tweets.

brought her husband george w. bush to the white house. with less than nine months in office the 9/11 attacks occurred and first lady laura bush helped comfort the nation while continuing to pursue interests long important to her including education, literacy and women's health. this sunday night at 8:00 p.m. eastern on c-span original series first ladies. influence and image. examining the public and private lives of women who filled the position of first lady.

from martha washington to ichelle obama. >> thursday night attorney general loretta lynch spoke at the annual dinner muslim advocates. we also heard from the executive director of muslim advocates andre carson. this is an hour and 15 minutes. >> i am truly frightened. that was a text message i received of a muslim mother. but i also received this

message of another mother of two young children. we are counting on muslim a vod cats to help us in this very scary and difficult time. it is why we do what we do at uslim advocates. good evening. thank you all so much for joining us. this is actually the ten-year anniversary of muslim advocates. it all started ten years ago right here in washington, d.c. on a snowy january weekend in a conference room in a law firm downtown. see, a group of american muslim lawyers and policy experts from the government, private practice, from civil rights world, we came together with an urgent task at hand to defend the founding valuus of our

country. and that weekend launched muslim advocates, a national legal organization dedicated to promoting freedom, justice and equality for all. we have come a long way and have made progress in these last ten years because of many people in this room and others like you. some of you have given generously financially. others have contributed their time and their talents. some have been important and crucial allies in our work. and several law firms have donated thousands of hours of their legal time probono in support of our work. i want to take a moment to recognize someone very special whose with us this evening. um ber is one of our founding board members. and at the end of this year service she is provided crucial

leadership and guidance, strategic communication, governance issues. we are going to miss her but i know he is not going to be far away. our deep thanks for her leadership. [applause] together we are protecting the rights of americans of all faith in the courts and in the highest levels of government. i am excited to share with you the progress we are making. dean just told you about one of our very exciting legal victories that we had this year. we had another exciting legal victory. in january, muslim advocates and our cocounsel the center for constitutional rights were set to present oral arguments before the u.s. court of appeals for the third circuit which sits in philadelphia.

this was going to be the first time that a federal appeals court will be hear and deciding on the legality of the new york police department discriminatory surveillance program. a program that was run to basically collect information and spy on american muzz limbs, not based on evidence of wrong doing but simply based on their faith in new york, new jersey, pennsylvania, and connecticut. and as that day in january was approaching, i was starting to get a knot in my stomach. you see, a few days before the hearing was set to take place the terrible attacks in paris against the offices of the charlie hebbedo magazine had taken place. and i was sure that world events were going to doom our case. in fact, it was the second question from the judges. in light of paris, shouldn't

the police have the authority to blanketly surveil american muslims? it's an argument we continue to hear today from some pundits and politicians. but as the hearing began, my anxieties and my worries eased. you see, there were so community members who packed the courtroom, who came from new york, new jersey, philadelphia. and in fact, there were so many community members that showed up the court house had to open an overflow room. the people who came included some of our plaintiffs. iraq war vets. imams of mosques in new jersey, new jersey that had been surveilled. these plaintiffs had shown amazing courage to take on the discriminatory policing practices of the largest police

department in the country if not the world. and they were now getting their chance to have their grievances heard by a court of law. as the hearing began, i happened to glance up at the ceiling in the courtroom. these words were etched in the ceiling. justice. guardians of liberty. on october 13, justice was served. the court issued its decision, a unanimous decision against the city of new york and in favor of our plaintiffs. [applause] in fact, the court's opinion was so decisive it contained some of the most powerful language we have seen from a federal court standing up for the rights of american muslims

since 9/11. one of those spadges was this. e have been down similar roads before. jewish americans during the red scare, african americans during the civil rights movement. and japanese mernings during world war ii are examples that readily spring to mind. the case also got ample media attention and attention by legal analysts. one analyst said this lesson about discrimination is one the nation needs to learn over and over. our case now goes back to the trial court and we are preparing for trial. and with your support, we will end racial and religious profiling by law enforcement once and for all. [applause]

every american has the right to feel safe in their homes, in their houses of worship, and in their communities. earlier this year we were all horror struck when we heard the devastating news of the brutal murders of three muslim students in chapel hill, north arolina. this has been the deadliest ear to be a muslim in america. not long after those attacks the muslim community in upstate w york received just

horrifying views that a group, a network of anti-government militia folks were basically plotting an attack to come up to their community, attack their school, attack their community, and kill their children. that was the intent expressed y those folks. most of those perpetrators were arrested, thankfully. but the threat still remains. in the face of this hate the ce and even death, families, the community of islamberg has shown amazing courage, determination, and grace. we are honored to have with us this evening her brother. his former roommate.

and members of the islamberg community. i want to take a moment to thank them for their commitment to pursuing freedom and justice. not just for their families, committed to pursuing freedom and justice for all of our families. or that we thank them. [applause] we also know that the federal government has an important crucial role to play to ensure the public safety. so since the beginning of this year at muslim advocates we have been in a series of intensive communication with

senior officials at the department of justice. i have been in regular contact with the acting assistant journal for civil rights. and i just want to take a moment to thank her and her team for their responsiveness. she literally has been available almost at any time of day any day of the week to talk about these issues as they have been affect ourg community. so thank you. [applause] later this evening you are going to hear directly from the attorney general herself on these and other issues. it is our hope that with the attorney general's leadership the federal government will send a powerful message that hate, violence, intimidation, based on anti-muslim hated will eet the full force of the law.

at this time of great challenge and pain for our community we have also been very fortunate to have with our allies and partners. as muslim advocates have called for federal hate crime investigations, as we have called out public officials for engaging in devices, anti-muslim rhetoric, a number of face groups, civil rights groups, civic organizations from across racial and ethnic lines have stood with us and in support of our community and we are very honored to have with us this evening representative several of these allies including the anti-defamation league the interfaith alliance the law center the human rights campaign media matters for america and the national religious campaign against torture. they have stood up for american

values. they have stood with muslim advocates and the american muslim community. and now i think it is our turn to stand up and express our appreciation for their support and friendship. i ask you to join me in standing up and expressing our support and thanks to our allies for this difficult time. [applause] we are thankful for our friends and allies. but we know they are not alone. we know we need to do more to make it easier for fair-minded americans to stand up for what

is right and what is just. that is why in the coming months muslim advocates will be lauving a new campaign to counter anti-muslim bigotry. and i look forward to sharing ore details of that. so with the support of forward-thinking donors, we have been making progress. because we are stronger together. these forward-looking donors include people like the proud father of these three adorable young kids. and like many of you, his hopes and dreams for his future is inextricably tied to his children. he emigrated to the united states from syria as a teenager fleeing dictatorship and seeking freedom. climate of ees this

hate violence and anti-muslim rhetoric and he is concerned about his kids. he doesn't want his kids to be raised in this kind of situation. he is doing his part to protect our nation's founding values our shared values that bring us together as americans. that is why he supports muslim advocates. but he is not alone there many people like him in this country including here in this room this evening. he is on your left. he is on your left and he is you. i know you have your own hopes and dreams for your family, for , that yours children, your family, your neighbors will be treated with respect and dignity.

together, we can make that dream come true. progress if we move forward together because we are truly stronger together. thank you all again so much for joining us this evening. [applause] >> another round of applause. she will be back later this evening. [applause] i hope her words inspired you. i want to say briefly that the stakes we are talking about in america right now is life and death. i am not exaggerating. i am not being hyperbolic. we have seen attacks on mosques. lindene heard of the scott crawford? he was convicted in august

applying to slaughter muslims up there. he was convicted not because of mental issues but got 25 years to life. islamaburg go to with a machete to cut muslims to shreds and kill them. how do you kill your children? people are coming to kill you because of your faith. that's the stakes we are dealing with. i hope you will keep that in mind. make a pledge on the on cards your table. the work here is on the front line of any faith but right now especially muslims. give hurricane muslims names, that would not help us. [laughter] muslim advocates work has been great and they work with local

law enforcement to prosecute hate crimes. sometimes look away. the muslim advocates won't let them do that. tonight, we will continue and we have the opportunity to honor an outstanding ally who has been crucial to muslim advocates in their fight for freedom and americans of all faith. c. wilton getty. i would like to introduce the deepy erector who brings a experience in public policy. she has worked with the aclu and is a powerhouse and a firestarter. kersey,elcome nahid everyone. [applause] >> good evening.

i have the honor tonight of presenting the voice of courage award to the reverend dr. c welton getty. hisget he recently finished time as executive director of the interfaith alliance, our close ally and partner. years, he flew back-and-forth between monroe, louisiana and washington, d.c. so he can remain the pastor at north minster baptist church. people who work with dr. getty often say he is the first person in any room to speak truth to power. loud and proud, they say. if he sees something wrong, he will call it out. you likely heard him passionately fight against bigotry on many of his media appearances whether it is msnbc or his radio show, state of belief area at the interfaith alliance, dr. getty uses

platform to challenge misconceptions and promote understanding about the american muslim community. he certainly does not accept the idea that we have to choose between national security and civil rights. dr. gettyclose with during the hysteria surrounding the park 51 community center in new york city. all of us remember the inflammatory rhetoric coming from hate groups that promote hate crimes, protests, and intimidation of muslims in mosques all over the country. the committee was terrified. it was a time not unlike that which we are experiencing today. dr. getty immediately understood the importance of building public alliances with muslims. he worked with us to set up a meeting with then attorney general eric holder. during that meeting, he

certainly did not pull any punches. he called on the attorney general and the president to do more and to do better. when peter king organize the first ever hearing targeting a religious group, american muslims, dr. getty and his team helpless form a coalition of over 60 groups to fight back. since then, we have worked together to respond to terry jones and burnings and bigoted fbi training and there was certainly no bigger supporter of our advocacy to stop surveillance and harassment of arguments by the nypd. he supported one of the biggest amicus reason our case. even now, he is one of the first people we hear from in a time of rice is for the community. he always asks what can i do to help.

he said i don't have the sense that either jefferson or god is wringing their hands because i am leaving. i don't know about jefferson or god, but i can tell you that the handwringing at muslim advocates started the day he said he was moving on. [applause] thank you so much for everything you have done for the american muslim community. please join me in recognizing wilton getty.. [applause]

[applause] >> thank you so much. to be perfectly honest with you this evening, i accept this award from muslim advocates with mixed emotions. which ispowerful of profound gratitude. measurenkful beyond that the boards of interfaith lives give me an opportunity to spend every day at the intersection of religion, government, and politics. freedom andor our encouraging interreligious cooperation. making my passion my work and my work my passion.

my presence in that office allowed me the privilege of regularly learning from and cooperatively interacting with muslim advocates. afforded mealues ample opportunities to express my patriotism through efforts to move our nation closer to full compliance with our constitution. religion cann that be inclusive, healing, and compassionate in his relationship to all people. working alongside individuals who also understand the importance of religious freedom and the necessity of equal justice for all, individuals who share my conviction that real

religion pulsates with mutual respect and personal compassion, my colleagues in muslim advocates became my friends. farada is not only a strong national leader but she is also a smart, courageous woman whom i consider a sister. gratitude for this honor this evening comes easily. negative emotions also disturb my heart and mind tonight. nation is well with our or our world. understatement. the most fundamental values of both religion and democracy so prominent in our work together are under siege. meaning, that the

quality ofand freedom in religious freedom for all americans are seriously threatened. when candidates for the highest office in our land sound like who favor anarchy over democracy, something is bad wrong. person's religious identity can be a justification for hate and discrimination, the health and the soul of our republic needs to be re-examined. most of my adult protecting, and defending religious freedom, i must tell you that i do not think we could pass the first

amendment to the constitution today. peoplely shortsighted are seeking to change the definition of liberty in order to claim a freedom for themselves that they refused to extend to others. [applause] i heard -- i hurt with you as well as stand beside you in , knowing that muslims are under a severe attack that includes despicable violence by people who don't understand either the constitution or islam. of the dark days of the civil rights movement

when under threats of danger, the basic constitutional rights had to seek protection through lobbying for new laws or insisting on the enforcement of whilelready on our books at the same time trying to change the hearts and minds of the american people. we want to change those mines. we have to have those laws. muslim advocates is aware of that strategy. you have heard it. legal initiatives are imperative. isoffice in our nation superior to the guarantee of the issues of freedom and justice for all people. when it comes to issues of the heart, and i'm speaking now to the muslim community, when it

comes to issues of the heart, you should not have to go it alone. it is far past time for all religions in this land, majority religions and minority religions, to position themselves alongside you as muslims and to remain alongside you tirelessly advocating for eradicating hate and practicing in justice as you have to experience. [applause] we have the honor of doing together with other colleagues, sitting at a table with the attorney general of the united wisdom thating would move us through crises with no advocation of support for the constitution, testifying

in congress to expose the lies being told about muslims, and clarifying the difference between a religion of peace and a sick organization perpetrating violence and encouraging the white house to highlight the plight as well as the benefits of all minority religions in our nation. work was fulfilling and fun for us. it is work that needs to be done . it is work that has to be done. in the media, coffeehouses, humanist gatherings, universities, atheist organizations, and houses of worship all across this nation. if muslims are not free in this

nation, none of us are free in this nation. [applause] i am very grateful for muslim advocates and this honor that you have given to me. i hope that our time of celebration this evening can serve as an inspiration and a time for all of us to recommit ourselves to doing the work of freedom together for the integrity of religion and the andlity of our democracy please, god, for the possibility of peace. thank you. [applause]

[applause] >> we will continue on. our next speaker is a friend of mine from new jersey as well. in teaneckncilmember but was a mayor, the first mayor who was muslim in the history, i think -- oh he's going at the end, sorry buddy. i'm not really know the guy. i just met him. [laughter] is my buddy. let's introduce dr. carson. write not, here is someone i actually know, a great guy. he is a member of congress and and is and -- and is in his fourth full-term and comes in indiana. congressman carson's work protects people from all walks

of life. anare lucky to have him as ally in congress who stands for freedom, justice and equality for all. he was in the peter king hearings five years ago. out to public officials about the issue. he has brought the rising anti-muslim country and hatred to the attention of his colleagues. he convened a briefing with members of congress this year and representative judy chu keith ellison and why it's important. he's a great guy and a friend of mine, congressman carson. [applause] >> thank you, dean, for that kind and generous introduction. sorry, mayor. also, i want to thank the muslim advocates staff, of course for

, for herannah brilliance and tenacity and your leadership. partner in righteousness, mahid, thank you. [applause] absolutely. you are so nice to be here. to celebrate the 10th anniversary of muslim advocates. it's an organization that i worked very closely with throughout my term in congress. i have many great friends in muslim advocates. we can speak openly, honestly about this great community. it's something that is increasingly important due to the circumstances unfolding in our world today. familiar with what this great organization stands for, what it's all about.

but what many people are probably not familiar with is to getis group is able great things done in washington, d.c. each and every year. muslim advocates has a presence and has held a presence on capitol hill like very few other muslim organizations represented here who do wonderful work. you all do great work in your own right. i think muslim advocates is special in their own right. to draw members of congress together to support important causes. toy are leading the charge call for tremendous policy changes in the administration or even consideration of legislation in both the house and the senate. they bring together muslim leaders to ensure that decision-makers understand stereotypes and bigotry facing

american muslims each and every day. they hold members of congress accountable for doing what is right even when it is not politically expedient. to muslimfer advocates as my eyes and ears on the ground. across this country. i appreciate and i know i rely on them to deliver me with the -- the purest information, most reliable information, and the kind of information i think will help those of us in congress make sound decisions regardless of our school of thought. i trust and look up to their staff, knowing they are experts on law and policy matters. i know their work has touched many lives. i look forward to working with them in the future. i think about muslim advocates and i think about throughout

history, how the kind of advocacy they represent has sparked change in our society. i think about those advocates who are on the ground like frederick douglass, working with brothers and sisters in the abolitionist movement to do what congress refused to do and push then president abraham lincoln to emancipate the slaves. i think about the advocates who on the ground when congress refused to do what needed to be done to push then president truman to desegregate the military. think about those advocates in the form of dr. martin luther king and benjamin randolph. and others who were on the ground. along with the faith community.

doing what needed to be done to push congress and president johnson to sign the voting rights act, the civil rights act. i think about the great work you are doing today. i think about the importance of having our top law enforcement officer in the country to be an advocate on behalf of the american people. that's why it is a tremendous honor i introduce attorney general loretta lynch. [applause] >> this is her first public event with the american muslim community. i met her in new york when she was u.s. attorney. at any event for the muslim community. you have to understand that as a child she and her father would literally visit the courthouse to watch the court proceedings.

in durham, north carolina. her interest in the court room grew out of memories she shared with her grandfather. helpeda sharecropper who african-americans in the south moved to the north to flee persecution. based on racist jim crow laws. even before becoming the chief law enforcement officers she used the courts to fight for justice liberty and equality. notably she played a critical , role in prosecuting those new york city police officers who assaulted a haitian immigrant. attorney general lynch began her

career in public service as a federal prosecutor with the u.s. attorney's office. for the eastern district of new york working on narcotics and civil rights area she was appointed u.s. attorney by both president and to then president obama. performs her own work rejecting human rights. after a career in public service made history as the first african-american woman to serve in this great role area . [applause] since she was first nominated, i had a chance to get to know her and one thing i can say, we have an attorney general that deeply cares for just this and

justice and fairness. americans are held back by discrimination and hatred. we have an advocate at the department of justice and we should feel confident that she will not only stand with us you -- muslims, she will stand with all americans and make sure they have equality under the law. brothers and sisters, friends and family please welcome our , attorney general it on your desk get on your feet for loretta lynch. [applause] [applause]

>> madam attorney general, welcome. it is an honor to have you join us here. i must say it could not come at a more important time for community. -- our community. thank you for joining us. attorney general lynch: thank you for having me. you cannot hear me let me know. let me make sure my microphone is on. i think i'm still muted. attorney general lynch: ok how is that? i will tell you that rarely have i have trouble being heard usually it's the opposite. [laughter] is it coming up? let me scrooge down a bit.

-- moved outooge of it. thank you so much. just so you know, my son -- stunt director here is the extremely talented head of my civil rights division. as you can see she saves me on a , daily basis from any number of issues. also does tremendous work in important areas so i am glad she is here. make sure we have this in the right spot. ok, great. [applause] are we wired? are we ready? outstanding. despite the technical issue let me thank the entire board for this invitation. i'm so excited to be here. let me say i appreciated this invitation on what i understand is your 10th anniversary area is

. it is very special when groups of dedicated and focused as yours invite me to share an important event. it truly means a lot to me personally and as the attorney general. i thank you for the invitation. [applause] >> thank you for accepting. maybe to kick things off the do -- could you start us off by telling us what you guys your highest priorities is attorney general? attorney general lynch: obviously there are a number of issues that concern the department of justice. many of which the muslim advocates are deeply involved in and i thank you for your partnership. on many of those issues. the departments is multifaceted. i'm focusing in the time that i have on four main areas. it in no way diminishes issues

we discover in certain areas. i'm focusing on national security and terrorism which -- we have seen that threats are ever evolving and white bread. developing. i think frankly they were expecting us fundamental ways. to look at how we evaluate crimes. language that we use to describe them and using us into myspace i -- and forcing us in i think will be a positive way to grapple with the protecting ourselves and also protecting our right. those are very important issues to me area also focus on the issue cyber security. if anyone has been near a computer lately you know you , need to have a 12-year-old to help you with the computer. that with the explosion of the simplicity and frankly durability of the cyber world moving in the cloud.

it makes us [like tatian particularly the business community. and the economic and intellectual property rights of so many corporations. we have an extremely strong entrepreneurial community here in the united states. most americans are very important part of that. -- muslim americans are very important part of that. this is great. thank you. i will tell you that i've heard -- i promise not to sing. with respect to cyber security as we expand into new and other areas is this, particularly when -- of business particularly when it comes the entrepreneurial spirit of our country, some of -- so much work is done these days with designers and developers online. intellectual property is a multibillion dollar issue insert we're working on important ways including with china another

main priority is human trafficking. it's because they grew out of work that i did in new york. in brooklyn. the cases i so with young people the cases i so with young people primarily women lured from , countries with false promises of a better life and in american life in this promises returned into nightmares. -- were turned into nightmares. the more i look into that issue the more i realize what a widespread and largely invisible crime this is in how so many of -- and how so many of our young women and girls are at risk and once they fall into this how hard it is to get out even when they can be rescued have difficulty it can be for them to reintegrate into society. and i think there's too much value in the power of women and girls are single one of them to -- to allow a single one of them to be thrown away. that's why it's a priority of mine.

[applause] my other main priority has been focusing on the relationship between law enforcement and the communities we serve. particularly communities of color and communities involving ethnic minorities. i think it's an issue that i've been looking for frankly since my earliest days as a prosecutor in new york city. the congressman mentioned one of the cases that i did only highlighted that me some very significant and meaningful ways. i did some cases with the asian american/chinese community and had occasion to work on those issues. that's been a priority of mine as well. the myriad other things the department does. >> let's maybe start to dig down into some specific issues. i think on the mind of many american muslims is the tragic attacks in paris three weeks ago area there's been a decidedly disturbing uptake in anti-muslim rhetoric. it's been very divisive. many of his frankly feel that

the rhetoric the worst that it ever been we are very concerned about the environment to create. very toxic one that might even give light to some violence. in light of these attacks this toxic climate, what message does the federal government have for the american muslim immunity to -- community. attorney general lynch: could not touch the more timely issue areas certainly in the wake of has been grappling with anti-muslim rhetoric or some time now after small incidents. this large one is really the equivalent of their 9/11. we saw that in the u.s., the rise of anti-muslim rhetoric to the fear that you just mentioned is my greatest fear is a prosecutor and as someone who is sworn to protect all the american. people. the rhetoric will be accompanied by act of violence. obviously the incidence of paris were a tragedy and i know that

everyone sympathizes with the victims there. and the tremendous loss of life and we continue to support that investigation. what i think is important to know is that the doj view is we will not give in to fear. my message to not just the muslim community with the entire american community is cannot -- we cannot give in to the year that these backlashes are really based on. we all remember whether it's 9/11 or when a neighbor of yours that inlted, we feel the village do something about it you do start to spin and try , to find ways that you think will be the easy fix. the simple way to corral an issue or containing concern. in many eyes anti-muslim rhetoric becomes that path.

what's greatly concerning to us is the rise. i remember 9/11 and those were very very difficult days. i heard some disturbing things from people i never thought i would hear. now i think the rise of the internet and the ability of people to issue hate speech of all types on the internet -- on the anonymity of the screen is something that increases that rhetoric. obviously, this is a country based on free speech. but when it edges towards violence and we see the potential for someone lifting the mantle of anti-muslim rhetoric or as we saw after 9/11 violence directed at individuals who may not even the muslim they will suffer just as much. -- who may not even be muslim but are perceived to be muslim and they will suffer just as much. when we see that we see that we , will take action. we cannot be ruled by fear because when we are ruled that

by fear, we are not making we are not thinking things through ourselves they are , effective. we're not thinking things through or looking at one works, we have now a lot of it arians -- and what works. in this area. this is what we do 24/7. and if people will simply stop the refugees and sign a make -- sign a bill and make people sign to guarantee them, this is not the way i will look at anything and consider anything that keep the american people say that simply rushing to judgment on something is -- the -- as a friend of mine once said, you take aggressive action not impetuous action. my message to the muslim community is its we stand with you in this i think one of the reasons why i particularly appreciate this imitation is -- invitation is that you understand the power of language. the power for harm but also for good.

the power to educate inform and illustrate. we also understand the power of organization and focusing on that voice. think it's so tremendously and important in this time to let your voices be heard. as you do that know the department of justice in this and this attorney general will be your partner in that effort applause] >> thank you for those kind words and clarity. i think that is needed now more than ever. thank you very much. we have also been noticing an uptick on hate crime incidents affecting individuals or institutions. in the wake of the harris

attacks, we have been noticing a disturbing and greater rate of attacks. i was wondering if you could tell us what the justice department is doing to hold perpetrators of hate crimes accountable. is an incredibly important area for us. rights decision and we important partners here. for us, this has been an important issue since 9/11 but in the last several years come and as you mentioned most recently, we have seen this uptick. it's incredibly disturbing. brought was i i want to make sure i have the information on this issue if it came up. i am incredibly proud of the work our civil rights division does in terms of cases but also investigations and counseling in areas. where we see anti-muslim

rhetoric and actions turning to violence, we do take action. criminal prosecutions, the matthew shepard hate crimes act has been incredibly effective for us. i want you to know that i think 225 people with hate crimes over the last six years. most of those in the last three years. since 9/11, we have had over 1000 investigations into acts of anti-muslim hatred including rhetoric and bigoted actions with over 45 prosecutions arising out of that. sadly, that number will continue. that asit's important we talk about the importance of free speech, we make it clear that actions predicated on violent talk are not america. they are not who we are. they are not what we do and they will be prosecuted. i want the message to be clear, also. [applause] >> thank you.

another area of concern that our community has been facing in recent years is when our community is trying to build and theyr expand essentially encounter opposition at the local level. sometimes it's with the veneer of being a zoning issue but under the surface, it's motivated by anti-muslim attitudes. our country has a robust first amendment. it has freedom of worship which includes telling a mosque. what advice you have for community members were simply trying to go about their first amendment rights to practice their faith and build a house of worship? nch: i think that's an important area because of my background. houses of worship can be the heart of the community. they can be the cradle of a family, they can be places where children go to learn not just

our faith but to make friends and build their own connections. they are essential to a healthy america and every committee deserves the right to have those houses of worship operate in safety and in peace. as the muslim community expands which is a wonderful thing -- muslims have been in this country as long as any of the group and we have some of the oldest and most beautiful weques in this hemisphere -- have seen, frankly, a disturbing increase in the rhetoric against them. i think what you will see, as people continue down this half, which i think frankly, is unfortunate but it is one driven by fear. people try to use things like zoning laws to try to make them become a bludgeon against a peaceful religion. and houses of worship. frankly, wouldn't you rather have a house of worship in your midst as opposed to another

stripmall or some other thing? maybe not. of it,s of the value it's something where the value has been seen for years until we get these backlashes. we have a very active practice in litigation which is the residential litigation that protects the freedom to build a mosque and protect who practices religion. most of the cases under that statute that get the most attention tend to involve institutionalized persons, the rights of prisoners to practice their faith but also, it focuses on the right to build a house of worship inappropriately zoned areas so we have a number of matters in which we have successfully defended the rights of mosques to either expand, as is often the case, or to build. probably one of the ones that was most known what the -- was the murfreesboro case. twisted -- bent and

the law was bent and twisted in a way that showed how strong the backlash can be. when you see efforts like that and you have concerns like that, please reach out to the department of justice. that is what we are here for. we are honored to take those cases. [applause] i should also add that with respect to not just houses of worship but other areas where we see growing areas of concern also, specifically involved her children and the issues of bullying in the schools. that is an area in which we have partnered with the department of education to provide guidance to schools on how to handle situations where students come to them and they feel bullied. we have seen this for a number of years and we saw a lot in new york are you there would be a backlash against the muslim community in general.

we as parents, often feel can withstand these issues and we can argue back or talkback. our children go to school and they don't have those tools yet. they don't know. kids are very good at finding that spot and pushing. we are very active in that front as well. ,hat i would urge people to do if you're aware of situations where children are involved, please contact the department of justice and the department of education. we can provide guidance and have conversations. everything does not need to result in a lawsuit with some things do have to go to that area. we have opened an investigation man the case of the young in irving, texas and we will see the rack goes. -- we will see where that goes. you also have every day things that happen. we have an important role to play so please, think of is there as well. >> thank you. [applause]

let me first say that it's great hasear that the department open investigation into the irving, texas high school, the case of the treatment of the kid with the homemade clock. of great concern and struck a chord with many parents. we appreciate the department's leadership on that as well is the murfreesboro case. the department's role in defending the right of the community was absolutely crucial. i don't know of you know this, but the community after the department prevailed, the community was able to build a mosque and it opened a little over a year ago and they are a flourishing part of the committee supported by the interfaith allies in that community. thank you for that. important work. i want to turn to a different issue, something you touched on briefly in your opening remarks

which is the issue of law enforcement and community relations. as congressman carson mentioned, in the early part of your career as a federal prosecutor, you're part of the high-profile case of in new yorkssault of the haitian immigrant. this is a high-profile case of police brutality and that was my late 1990's where there was a public outcry. it was reprinted need to do something about excessive use of force by law enforcement. today, it seems like we are having that conversation all over again from michael brown to eric garner and others. jamarecently, of course, laquan mcdonald and it seems like not much has changed. why has not much changed in the last 15 years? : i spend a lot of time thinking about the parallels

between the cases we see today. as difficult and highly charged as the environment is now when -communityo police relations in these specific cases, in a sense, the environment has changed. it has become more difficult because we are seeing these things that are very vivid and hard to watch and frankly, painful to watch. lima case inhe 1999, we did not have the videotapes people have now even though most of the altercation occurred on the street, some of the initial beatings. the sexual assault in the police station was in a bathroom. we do not have videotapes. we had to pull it out of police witnesses and also civilian witnesses who did not want to come forward. if you've ever thought about a difficult witness, imagine a

police officer testifying and that kind of case. we had officers who came forward and said this is so wrong but the atmosphere at the time was that this crime is so horrified and this action as described is so unbelievable that a lot of people have trouble believing it had occurred. that uniformed new york city police officers would, in addition to beating someone in the back of a car, use a broomstick and sodomize him as punishment? we had medical records. without those medical records, i don't think we would have been able to carry the day ultimately . the defendant pled guilty. because of technology now, we have visual evidence of things that occur, not just the witness cell phones, but the surveillance cameras and security cameras and police buddy cameras and desperate cameras.

dachshund dashboard cameras. they are hard to watch but they are important to watch. they have given us the ability and it up this dialogue has really meant that not only law enforcement but other members of the community who never really accepted that this kind of misconduct went on now have to see what so many groups have been saying for so many years. when i go out and i do a lot of talking to police groups and minority groups in different immunities, -- different the police say that would not happen and i understand that because no one wants to think that your group of people you support would do something like that. the majority of them don't. case, weid the louima had a tremendous amount of support from new york city police officers are viewed as is

you haveul -- committed to groups saying this does happen a lot. this happens all the time. when people would talk about whether it's stop and frisk or discourteous treatment or actual abuse, people would say it's probably not that bad. they just can't believe that would happen. that helps the result and people have the dialogue and people in the trinity understood completely what people were talking about. people outside the community managed to move away from it. people move away from painful things. these videos mean we cannot do that. it has in many ways, forced a discussion in law enforcement that has been long overdue. it has been very productive in many ways. it has been painful. it's not an easy thing to change. now i go out, i talked to police

chiefs and the rank-and-file. they say this is not who we want to be. they come to the department and will request assistance and request that we come in and help them with training and issues. not every department, obviously. we still have a very active pattern of practice going on. i'm sure that will continue. the number of officers i've talked to, particularly the younger officers, the minority officers, who say i became a police officer because i want to stop kids going down the wrong path, give me the tools and ready to do that. they can look these videos and say that is not what i want to be. the community deals with that and says this is the example of what we had to stop. it's a different environment in that sense. in many ways, it's a more painful conversation. i think we can use it to get to a better place. we can really use it to come up with consistent standards with training, with possibly

consistent standards on collection of data. of these incidents of use of force. we need national data on these incidents. i talked to police departments and they say we agree but it is burdensome. when they do it through our consent degrees, they say it is really helpful. are talking with police groups and getting national standards for the data and collection of use of force and other incidents as well. this is vital to the discussion also. >> wonderful, we have one time for one more question. to have the audience gets know you, what has been the most rewarding part of your career? nch: being attorney general's pretty good. [laughter] [applause] i have to say that you talk to

most people and they will probably look back at a point in her life where they did not realize it was so impactful but -- the work that i was able to do while i was in private practice at a firm you know well. a good amount of time over several years doing pro bono work of the international criminal tribunal for rwanda. i taught a trial advocacy clinic with a group of other lawyers for several years from 2001-2007. in the summer of 2005, the tribunal needed assistance with a witness tampering investigation. they asked me to come in and do a special investigation for them so i spent most of the summer of 2005, which was 10 years ago, in rwanda interviewing genocide survivors in order to deal with the witness tampering investigation.

i had to go back and reinvestigate the original massacre that was the topic of some testimony to possibly have been tainted. experienceemendous area i spent a lot of time delving into the history of frankly, one of the most horrific acts that civilization has seen when one tribe tried to wipe out another one from the face of the earth. it was rewarding as a prosecutor. .t was moving as a person in many ways it shook me but it made me think a lot about the basis for why we have the situation in some instances in so many ways of man's inhumanity to man. whether it is tribalism or racism or xenophobia or the anti-muslim backlash and violence we are talking about, we spend so much time and energy finding ways to define ourselves

and has been an eye-opening experience to see this. why, i know the reason don't pretend to understand the human condition enough to know why we fall victim to this time and time again. i don't know that. tribunal andf the as attorney general, i can see what happens when people of goodwill and good faith come together and decide to stop it. , thewe descend into that heart of the darkness, whether it be genocide or racism or what we are talking about tonight, we pull together. we come together. for me, i turn to the law for that. other people turn to other types of organizations.

we find a way to say that this is not who we are and we find a to to try and give justice victims of that kind of hatred. tomade me tremendously sad talk to the survivors and hear their stories but it also made me tremendously proud of the fact that they trusted me with their stories and i was part of the system that had, as its goal, and at its heart, justice for them. i have kept that with me ever since. i was fortunate enough to be weeks agoanda a few to revisit some of the locations and i think about that when sitting in the attorney general's office. i think someone as me how my doing. i am alive. no one is chasing me with a machete. [laughter] i'm good. [applause] what i think about is that

throughout this world and even more throughout this country, there are people who cannot say that. they cannot say that. i have the ability to do something about that. teame the ability and the and i have dedicated people who work all day and well into the night to stop that and do something about that and find justice for people. what i realized is that i cannot err into the absence of discrimination or hatred or prejudice but i can guarantee the presence of justice. that's why that was rewarding. [applause] >> i cannot think of a better word to end on. thank you so much for joining us in hearing your reassuring words is so meaningful to us, thank you again and please join me in thanking the attorney general.

[applause] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2015] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] " is next.gton journal hour, we will discuss the decision to send special operations forces into iraq and syria to help in the fight against isis. roll call reporter alicia green on e-mail privacy and later, look at trends in