i had actually matt a lot of north carolinians here. the north carolinian diaspora stent everybody out. nobody was.com. some people write the beach and some people were at camp, so i was at home and you would think that be the perfect time so i would be incredibly organized. i was not. i pulled the folder where i'd put my speech and the schedule of what was going to happen in my bag and the speech was for an event in montana. [laughter] i write this beaches separately for each event so it was a problem. the opening of this wonderful cancer clinic in montana was something i wanted to talk about but not here. so this afternoon i got to rewrite the speech. so, i will probably look down a little more than i should but i am doing it because it is important for me to say something that was a particular to what ewald do. it is honestly and immense honor to be with you tonight to say that i admire you, i applaud how you decided to spend your lives would be a tremendous understatement. when the high school chorus often sings the angels ominous.

but starting in the middle of the summer of 1780, south carolinians began to resist the british invasion, as they called it. most of the people who live in the backcountry of south carolina were of scotch irish background. it didn't have much love for great britain. their ancestors, in fact, had fled the homeland to escape great britain. and many of them, most of them perhaps, were presbyterian, and they had little interest in britain's established church, the anglican church. and certainly didn't want to pay taxes to that church. so they looked on the british as innovators. invaders. they believe in the american revolution, an idea of changing that would be brought about by gaining independence. they believe in what thomas to inhabit and in commonsense. he spoke of the american revolution as of the birthday of a new world. that's pretty radical when you think about it. this was a revolution to bring about change. not every revolutionary agreed with that, but i think most of those people in the backcountry and the south did. and so a partisan war or what we might today call a guerrilla w

if i think about this process not only the beginning i family level but the family of south carolinian so that means me going one by one and town by town to talk to a lot of old friends across the state and what i have done her embarrassing for their forgiveness, that will take time and that i probably can't devote. questions? >> [inaudible] are you separated from the first lady? >> i don't know how you want to define that. i am here and she is there. i guess in a moral sense we are not, but what we are trying to do not is worked through something that we have been working through for a number of months. >> did your wife and family know about the affair before the trip to argentina? >> yes, we have been working through this thing for about the last five months. i have been to a lot of and -- c street one hours in washington believe it or not a christian and bible study, some folks s of members of congress part questions and i think there were very important. i have been working with them. in in the back of the room, i would consider him a spiritual giant. hang on in an incredibly dear

i think the two countries that i think are most responsible for propping the north carolinians up because it is a failed state -- the north koreans up, because it is a failed state. they don't produce anything besides things -- narcotics and ballistic missiles and w.m.d. that they sell on the market. but china has been i think number one in terms of investment and aid to north korea. south korea has been a big supporter of neek neck's economy. and sos -- so have we. we did it under president clinton. we did it under president bush in the latter part of his administration and right now what i think president obama and his administration are grappling with is whether we're going to continue or not. host: darius knot from woodlawn school in north carolina. go ahead. caller: i was wondering, do you think north korea is a n a position to launch a nuke hear tack? if so, will it happen closer than we think? guest: north korea is gaining the capability by testing its missiles and by conducting these nuclear tests to engage in a nuclear attack. and certainly in blackmail. think the key again here

since its creation in 1859, allegheny county has been called home by countless hardworking north carolinians from farmers to small business owners who know the value of a hard day's work. one of allegheny's most notable native sons, robert taughton, served here in the house of representatives for 42 years from 1911 to 1953. congressman taughton -- daughton was chairman of the house ways and means committee for 18 of his years in congress. he also played a decisive role in creating the blue ridge parkway which we all know is one of the most beautiful scenic roads in america. today allegheny hosts a 6,000 acre park named in his honor and known for its excellent wildlife viewing. the blue ridge parkway itself also cuts a scenic path in the county just a stone's throw from the county seat, sparta. it is a place of unique beauty and character right off the beaten path. from the pristine waters of the new river to the distinct sounds of its local bluegrass musical heritage, it is a one of a kind place found only in the great state of north carolina. the people here are friendly and welcoming, good

i'm heartened and encouraged by the show of sport which my fellow north carolinians. our small communities are enhanced by businesses like conagra which employed 900 people at this plant. i'm pleased to learn that they've set up a recovery fund for the victims and they have been distributing groceries to their employees in need. i know that conagra is working to rebuild the plant, and i look forward to the day when the employees can return to their work. there's a great demand for the products that conagra is producing in garner, and i'm pleased that these snacks and our food products are made in the second district in north carolina. mr. speaker, let us remember those who have -- we have lost and be thankful for those who were saved. i thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and the entire conagra community because they are suffering. on friday night i participated in a vigil in garner to remember and honor the victims. i was honored to attend and pleased with the tremendous outpouring of support. at 11:30 tomorrow, exactly one week after the accide

i came up from north carolina -- [laughter] i've actually met a lot of north carolinians here, the di as pa sent everybody out. and when i did, nobody was at home. some people were at the beach, some people were at camp, so i was at home, and you'd think that'd be the perfect time so i'd be incredibly organized. i was not. i pulled the folder where i'd put my speech and the schedule of what was going to happen in my bag, and the speech was for an event in montana. [laughter] i write the speeches separately for each event, so it was a problem. the opening of this wonderful cancer clinic in montana was something i wanted to talk about, but not here. [laughter] so this afternoon i got to rewrite the speech. so i'll probably look down a little more than i should, but i'm doing it because it was important for me to say something that was particular to what you all do. it's honestly, an immense honor for me to be with you tonight. to say that i admire you, that i applaud how you've decided to spend your lives would be a tremendous understatement. one of my favorite songs, angels among us, i

protects us all will be in good hands and i recommend her to this committee and on behalf of all south carolinians, thank you for holding this hearing so timely. and i look forward to having her confirmed should not >> thank you, senator graham. senator demint? >> thank you, mr. chairman. and i too thank you for expediting this hearing my only reservation in endorsing inez is that that endorsement might hurt her with this committee. [laughter] >> i hope that you'll overlook that. we are very proud that she is representing south carolina. and she has been an advocate for children. she's practiced environmental law and public interest law. she is a serious nominee for this position and she has dealt with all of the issues and a large controversial public agency in south carolina. and did that with a lot of professionalism and style. and as some of you know, that she and i were in a hard fought race for the senate in 2004. and i was very excited to hear about the nomination and my support means that i hope she won't run against me again. [laughter] >> but we are delighted and i know this committee ha

there are a series of other distinguished south carolinians who are here to show support for you. some of them it's tough to get them in the same room in the same common cause. i hope you're not paying all of them. some of them are pretty expensive, high-priced folks in town now. let me just put a marker out. i know when the chairman was initially talking as we came in, he had raised an issue that he's had played a leadership role on and senator martinez and senator nelson from louisiana and florida, and that's this chinese drywall issue. i know your agency or your new agency is working on this issue. i can tell you the stories that we had with some of the folks who have been victimized by this almost cough gasp tragedy was pretty remarkable when lee had been in recently. and the folks on your agency were saying they were starting the testing. i want to make sure virginia continues to be because we have been hit down in hampton roads on this issue. but it was amazing, they were saying we are doing the testing but we still don't have enough money or resources to do it in a timely m

he's truly an exceptional north carolinian and i want to praise him for his dedication to serving needy and suffering people. he's taken personal risks to do the hard work of providing water and clean water education in far-flung locations around the globe. thank you, doc, and all those who work with wine to water for your inspiring example during these difficult times. madam speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman yields. the chair recognizes the gentleman from florida, mr. klein, for five minutes. mr. klein: thank you, madam speaker. by the end of this year we hope to pass a comprehensive energy bill which will help this country move forward on clean renewable american energy and certainly will help fuel our economic recovery. as co-chair of the new democratic coalition on energy, i believe now is the time for a robust, mark-driven based approach to approach our energy's needs. we have to pass legislation that will make smart investments in alternative energy. i think every american understands the common sense behind that. these are the kinds ever things that