now, the new administration came out with the news bulletin yesterday this was somehow a bold new step and that they're going to really attack and take on this deficit and this debt we have. of course, what they didn't tell you is that the sort of expression that we use in my part of the country is it's like closing the barn door after the horse is already out of the barn. because you've already got all this spending this year that wasn't covered by pay-go. the stimulus bill which was80

the area where most of our members would agree we've seen the greatest disappointment from the new administration because the new administration unfortunately has, in a number of cases, continued many of the policies, many of the arguments made by the justice department, indeed in one case there's an argument they've made things worse by arguing for sort of a sovereignty immunity claim with respect to some of the issues being raised. we had yet another hearing on this subject, fairly recently, both our committee and the senate judiciary committee are ready to mark up legislation that would reform this area. we are waited with bated breath for the results of a review by the justice department and policy recommendations. the president himself said in a nationally public press conference that there are serious problems with this doctrine but unfortunately, we've not yet seen real change in this area. we're very much hoping to see that. we're very much hoping to work with the administration as much as possible on that but congress will continue to monitor and potentially propose and pass legislation

i have seen in terms of the new administration coming in the interest of the president or national security council when it comes to addressing terrorism. under each administration, i firmly believe that person in charge has a deep understanding of responsibility to protect the american people. whether it be the previous president or this president, it is exactly the same. understanding that commitment, protecting the american people. >> if we are going to keep the

the ones i think a lot about with the election of a new president and the new administration is the fact that often -- the interesting thing about this new president, and a lot said about the first african-american president, which is unbelievably fantastic, i still find i've surreal every morning and wake up and wonder did it really happen and a generational shift, get the old people out of here, including me, and let some young people, but most important, here's a community organizer, here's a guy -- and you can't think of a president american history who would be comfortable knocking on the doctor of a public housing project on the south side and having a conversation. this person did that for years. more importantly, when he was asked who would martin martin lr king would support, he wouldn't support any of us. he would be building a move for justice and that put as press on us because it's one thing so say what should the obama administration to do. it's another thing to say what should you do? what what did you do for peace? and it reminds me that lincoln never belonged to an aboli

government, whether it was under the bush administration or under the new obama administration, there's a bipartisan agreement that we want to deepen relations with india. i think that's the view in india as well. but there will be constraints on india and decision-makers and i think the u.s. probably will be prepared to go as fast as the indian government wants to go. on specific issues, i mentioned the end use monitoring agreement which is very important from a united states perspective. it's a requirement of the u.s. statute, the arms export control act that we have an end use monitoring agreement in place. in order to permit verification of sales to india. i think it's also in india's interest to complete it because it enables transfers that otherwise might be difficult to occur. there is a reason for this rule and i think the two governments are getting very close. i wouldn't be surprised if there's a deal agreed before or at secretary clinton's visit in july, and i think that's due to the work of a lot of people in india and in the united states, in government, and industry, i see

during your tenure at tsa, are you largely pleased it has gone through largely unchanged in the new administrationuest: yes, i think this is not a policy issue that would change that i am aware of the year ended it is really basic, matched the watch list against those traveling, and the government accountability office, the gao participated all the way to the billing of this until it was finally approved so i think this is a very limited program that is due to get going and i don't think there are policy issues whatsoever, not with the new administration. >> host: texas on our independent line. >> caller: thank you

we are happy to have craig fugate with us who is the new administrative from the muck, and man that i supported and keep my wholehearted support for and many members of the senate. you are

council that we initiated together to the leadership of president bush will be continued with the new administration with the european union. i have great hopes in this counsel. we are spending so much money and having different ways of testing cars and biofuels in the future instead of developing, norms. of the money saved there can be reinvested enjoined in research projects so let me wish all of us on all of these different domains and these different areas the best pop pill cooperation. on behalf of the government end of the people back home in germany, we want this cooperation in all areas. we know how important it is two have an ally, we know that after the division of germany rescinded and is reunited germany has been accepted by all we know that we have more obligations, not only rights. we have come a long way and we know that we still have a long way to go. of like to thank all of those whom they have always believed in this partnership a word of thanks to you so thank you very much and the best to all of you. [applause] now the senate health committee continues lettuce and a markup of a c

to see where we are and have the opportunity to have on our first panel the new fema administrator who will be testifying today for the fird time since his confirmation, welcome mr. fugeade and major general crafted from missouri who will be testifying today as well smed led me say that this hearing is focused on hurricane response t because we started hurricane season this week smed but we will be examining regions of the country in this hearing today and we will be focusing on plans and prosesses that have applicability across the board from many threats. the ranking member and i both represent states that have seen large portions of our states major cities and very important rural areas devasted by recent hurricanes. 2004, 2005, and 2008 were particularly hard years for cities and commuentsd through youd the gulf coast from florida to texas smed but the last crendry has been difficult for many, many statesd and i would loik to put the first chart up. these are the number of hirks that have hit this particular region of the country which is the hurricane belt from 1955 to 2005. the b

traditionally it is a stand-up comedian so because this is the first dinner for the new administration our first dinner at the washington center, we went all out and have entertainment coming in from a variety of contributors. first will start off with several debut of the new video kalman, he is barack obama -- i can't give it away but it features the music of the musicians who play with jane's addiction appears in his rocking, can tell you that, it is hilarious and then we will have the awards. the first one is the award for outstanding coverage of progress in the david bloom of or for enterprise reporting. the actually do not know until the announcement at the podium and then will continue on with this special report from the onion news network, a special investigation in the association and members. am sure they have uncovered all kinds of good secrets for us. and that we will continue on with musical performance, this is an all women's ensemble that was started in washington d.c.. we really wanted to bring them here to showcase our traditions and talents of the city. and then we'l

back when it comes to key national security policy the obama administration is continuing along the path paved by the previous administration. the new administration has embraced or only superficially modified several policies held over from the bush era including the use of the state secrets plane that the justice department invoked to throw out the suit. this is not change, this is more of the same. mr. chairman, i am thankful that mr. obama has had some epiphanies lately. i hope that he accelerates them because national-security, the economic future and constitutional future is at stake. with that said, i am going to give mr. grossman an opportunity, they said this is not change, this is more of the same. will give you a chance to agree or disagree. >> i agree entirely and it is quite heartening. demonstrates that this is not a partisan matter. it is not a political matter. is about the safety of our nation, the tween presidential administrations, there has been no disagreement. >> i know i took the opportunity to express' some feelings that the administration has been hypocritical in some of the attacks it made on the previous a

very quickly you mentioned lincoln and our great leaders i think a lot about the election of a new president and administration is the fact that often, the interesting thing about this new president and a lot has been said about the first african-american president which is under believably fantastic i still wonder if it really happened. and the generational shift at the old people out of here, including me, but most important coming here is a community organizer, you cannot big of a president in american history that would be comfortable talking on the door of a public housing project on the south side and have a conversation. he did that for years but during the campaign to would m.l. case support he said not any of us he would be in the streets building a movement for justice. that puts it on us because that says what should the obama administration thing to? but what should we do? if you want peace what did you do? and it reminds me lincoln never belong to the abolitionist party. fdr was not part of the labor movement and johnson was not part of the movement but they did extraordinary things because the so

two people who obviously had tremendous power in the context of a new administration, and in we had another vice president who was an activist in the role of vice president. maybe we can take this conversation to the question from where you sat. how do you make the vice presidency relevant, and how you make it accountable? are there lessons that reflecting back through three administrations that you bring to bear on this set of problems? if you want to jump in with lisa and get into the substance of those questions, feel free. >> we did get rid of the man sized safe. [laughter] before i answer john's question, i have to say that personally, i want to take a second to say how exciting it is to be here. i had the great honor eight years ago in a small classroom of being the first outside speaker to what was then the madison society, and to see how for this group has come in eight years is really just spectacular and wonderful to be here and be part of it. it is also exciting to be here with my friend john podesta. for those of you who share anywhere near the level of pride and joy i do with w

one of the things i think a lot about with the election of a new president, new administration is the fact that often -- the interesting thing about this new president, incidentally, and there's been a lot said about the first african-american president which is unbelievably fantastic. i still find it kind of surreal every morning i wake up and wonder did it really happen, and the, you know, a generational shift, get the old people out of here including me, you know, and let some young people -- but most important, here's a community organizer. here's a guy, and you can't think of a president in american history who would be comfortable knocking on the door of a public housing project on the south side and going in and having a conversation. this person did that for years. but more importantly, when he was asked during the campaign who would martin luther king support and his response was king wouldn't support any of us, he'd be in the streets building a movement for justice. and it seems to me that pruts a press -- puts a press on us because it's one thing to say what should the obam

we're happy to have craig 85 with us the new administrator from fema and man who i gave my whole hearted support they give for the work to have done but we look forward to hearing from your administrator 35 because we have made progress there is a tremendous amount of work that has to be done we're looking to you for leadership and guidance and may i say migrate banks to nazi war who came in on the election of president obama and appointment of secretary janice napolitano step did in the interim and was immediately able to make a tremendous difference of improvement. i know you are happy with what she was able to do but i want to read knowledge that and thank you for being the formal an official director and look forward to your remarks. >> thank you, madam chairman, senator landrieu, there is always the first time to testify a lot of formalities i have submitted written testimony by walt try to keep the short because i would rather have the questions and have the dialogue. i am pleased to be here to represent homeland security and the federal emergency management agency for preparations

i'm pleased the chairman has done this and also that the new administration embraced this goal. for the national science foundation, the bill provides $6.9 billion, 6.9% above the current year for research that will set the groundwork for the development of new technologies and science education that will ensure we have a well-educated and skilled workforce to improve competitiveness. for nasa, the bill includes $18.2 billion. this includes the full request for aeronautics, the shuttle program and the international space station, as well as funding above the request for nasa science and education. however, the bill frees if -- freezes funding at the current lefrl for exploration activities pending the outcome of a blue ribbon panel review of future options. the result is a funding level not consistent to continue the funding level and will result in a severe disruption to the human space exploration program. i look forward to the results of the panel and to working with the chairman and other members to ensure the bill contains sufficient funds to continue human space flight. i w

just very quickly because i do want to hear from the witnesses and we are pleased to have the new administrator of the faa's and i see. people have confidence and experience and we need to look at the safety side people are anxious to go places they still crowder planes there are still huge chalets but the overriding concern is safety and i mini for holding that. >> let me make one final point* most consumers get on the airplane and all they see is the brand name of the carrier they do not know if it is a major, a commuter or a carrier and a question as we begin to hear the witnesses, should passengers expect that the same confidence -- competence and capability, experience and judgment exist in the cockpit no matter the size of the airplane? if they do not know if it is commuter or major carrier. does it exist today? a lot of evidence suggested the most recent crash that was not the case. let me commend the ntsb for the extraordinary work they're doing and i will begin with the honorable randolph babbitt administrator of the faa's we are pleased to have decided to serve your country but we wil

the dlc founds a new program with an eye towards the future. a quarter-century later, barack obama and joe biden's historic victory in 2008 proves that the party is ready. the new administration and congress have the chance to build a long lasting change and reform, and the opportunity to carry out a new democratic agenda. education reform, national service, health reform, energy, fiscal responsibility, and long- term growth. on the democratic leadership council, the organization that al built from the ground up is taking on a new challenge. under bruce's leadership, house legacy lives on. the power of a good idea can still inspire our party and to transform our nation. >> 25 years ago, he had the courage to see it was time for a different kind of democrat. today, our party is stronger, and our country is better off. he was right. ideas are worth fighting for. that is as true now as it was when the democrat met a hope. >> looking back at his two terms in office, it would be hard to think of a single american citizen who was a private citizen that has had a more positive impact on the progress of american life in the last 25 years than al from. [applause] >> ladies and gentlem

we have several members of the administration up here, and given the pace of the new administration, i think spending a friday evening doing anything but being in a catatonic state is really an heroic effort. i know that the panel will be lively, and it just by way of one housekeeping business, you will get to ask most of the questions tonight. you need to reach into your back in right -- pullout a card and write your question on the card. people will collect them and give them to me. if you do not have a card, just write it on a piece of paper. i just want to set the stage briefly for this panel. change is a word we have heard over and over again during the past few months. we heard a lot of it during the course of blasters campaign, and i think for a reason. -- the course of last year's campaign. in november, after eight years of conservative leadership -- i wanted to say it failed conservative leadership, but they told me to pull my fangs in. the american people went to the polls prepared to send a clear, decisive message that they were ready for a shakeup in washington. the electi

he said the role of the administrator is to stop attacks period. how much does this new system add? guest: it adds a great deal. one of the problems we are faced with is that the allied countries with our law enforcement, they are developing leads of terrorist plot and action -- the material is available to us, but if we have to send it around the world to all the airlines -- hey, these are the people the intelligence agencies are looking at -- that will leak out and disrupt. the ability to keep them confidential means that whenever there is plotzinting around the world, we can quietly put them on the list and be sure there will not fly. today the system as in 2006 in the liquid bomb plot in the u.k., we have to wait until the last minute before some of that confidential information could even be distributed. you have more time to plan with this, less disruption for passengers. it will have a tremendous impact on the ability to stop attacks early. host: let's hear from callers. good morning on the metric democrats line. caller: please into the first question. you ask how this will a

do you think the new administration will continue the goal? as opposed to promoting the modern arab man who goes beyond international boundaries? do you think this has given the people who drive for democracy there hope that someday their country might be part of the franchise of freedom? guest: it is a great question. i do not think the stated causes for the invasion of iraq in march 2003 had much to do with this idea of broader arab identity. the probable causes were the aftermath of 9/11, war against al qaeda, and the belief that saddam hussein had a wmd's. that said, the results, despite the carnage, the loss of a number of my friends, and a large number of iraqi civilians has resulted in a fledgling democratic government. one where the people have some choice. i believe that democracy in iraq has

the wall street journal." a bush administration spy satellite program at the department of homeland security is being cancelled by the new administration. democratic lawmakers said it would lead to domestic spying. the united states agreed today to more than triple the rent it pays for use of a key airbase in kazakhstan, to ship non- lethal military supplies to afghanistan k toyrgyzstan. and those are some of the latest headlines on c-span radio. >> the u.s. house comes and for general speeches, morning hour at 10:30 a.m. eastern, and legislative business at noon. several veterans bills on the agenda today. later this week, spending measures for the homeland security and interior departments and environmental agencies. also expected to debate the 2010 defense authorization bill. live house coverage is here on c-span. on c-span2, president obama holding a news conference at 12:30 p.m. eastern live from the rose garden. and we continue to bring in coverage of the senate health committee fifth day of marked up on the health care legislation. that will be live on c-span3 beginning at 10:00 a.m. eastern. >> july 4 weekend on

when i started this a few moments ago, i was talking a little bit about the new administration and the new president and matching his words with his actions. i'd like to go back a second, i have a transcript from the saddleback forum which was back in august of 2009, and i got this off cnn and i just want to read you a couple of paragraphs so that, madam speaker, you understand that i'm not taking what then-candidate obama, now president obama has said, i want to give you the full text. pastor warren after asking then candidate obama about his views on religion, pastor warren said, well, then-candidate obama said, i thought that was pretty tough. warren said, let's go through some tough questions, tough ones, now the most and then-candidate obama said that was pretty tough. pastor warren said, that was a freebie. that's a gim me. let's deal with abortion. 40 million abortions since roe v. wade. as a pastor i've had to deal with this all the time. all the pain and all the conflicts and i know this is a very complex issue. 40 million abortions, at what point does a baby get human rights

written when it comes to key national security policies, the obama administration discontinuing a path paved by the previous administration. the new administration has embraced or superficially

the next day. it takes a while to find new jobs. you look at the predictions of the new administration and those of the private economists. the administration expected 8.1% unemployment. we are up to 9.4%. private forecasters say 10%. that is near what the administration said would happen if the stimulus did not pass. private forecasters had predicted that we would have a recovery in the second half of this year. but after the stimulus has gone into effect this has of the growth they have expected during the second half has gone down. they expect a smaller improvement in the economy after the stimulus than beforehand. host: michael ettlinger, it is the stimulus working? guest: a little bit now and a lot in the future. i think john is really abusing those numbers. the fact is that from the beginning of this recession economists have failed to predict how bad it would be. the projections have gotten worse and worse. yes, the projections have gotten worse at the beginning of this year before the stimulus even had an effect, but whether or not you had a stimulus that would have happened. we got more information about how bad

the belief we have sen since last fall starting with secretary paulson transitioning into the new administrationwas secretary geithner is that restoring liquidity in the financial system will have the effect of helping the broader economy. i don't think there is much disagreement about that, but there is a fine line. how argue help the banks -- how part to help them? of the last few years we have seen regulatory capture were there's always this difference -- there is always this difference for the banks were they leverage up to 100 times and create all this risk. help the banks but help everyday folks for this legislation. host: when congress had just returned to from unifying much securities regulation under one regulator -- what can you tell us about that? guest: that will be really hard. politically, you have the securities exchange of one side and the commodities exchange on the other. you have derivatives, all these complicated financial products. you see the same things with banks. you have four or five different regulators, a patchwork of oversight, some good, some terrible. to unify them

which has sort of captured this city and the congress and the administration, and i think very soon will engage the american public over health care reform and the new taxes, the trillions of dollars of new revenues that are going to be necessary to finance the proposal that the new administration has for health care reform and how that takes us even further down a path of government intervention, a level of nationalization of our private economy -- in this case health care -- and that pattern that just seems to be continuing here which i think more and more are reacting to. more and more americans, i believe, are going to be engaged. and members of congress on both sides are going to be hearing from their constituents about what they perceive to be a real threat to the long-term viability, the long-term prosperity and the long-term protection of the taxpayers' interest. and so i hope that -- i hope they will become more engaged. and i certainly hope that we'll be able to defeat proposals that come before the united states senate that call for greater government ownership, greater governmental intervention, greater expansion of governmental powers i

office of legal policy in driving information policy in particular and how would you access the new administration's efforts -- assess the administration's efforts to open up the government for people? >> i have to say that it is good to be here and see so many old friends. i have been on some panels at past conventions and that has been an honor. what i have enjoyed is the time between sessions when we get to have a one-on-one conversations and there are so many friends who are here and the relationships that we have built over the short history of acs. as i have continued on, many of you have given me advice and insight and support and i certainly appreciate it. for if some of you are part of the administration. many of you will join it over the course of the next four or eight years. if there is something i would say, it would be please stay engaged. we need your ideas and talent. we need your energy. you really do sustain us. thank you all for being here and continuing to be engaged. olp is not as high-profile as these white house offices. i thought i would do one-on-one in terms of olp. when i

the new administration has not hesitated to point out the mistakes of the lasted ministration, yet when asked about reinstating the designation of a terrorist nation, the administration has appealed the decision that. made about this time last year, the bush administration, in an attempt to entice north korea back to the negotiating table, took north korea off the list of state sponsors of terrorism and that designation allowed us to freeze assets and pressure them in other ways. since then, it has been obvious the north koreans have not honored that in any way and they have expedited, expanded their development of nuclear weapons, they have tested large nuclear weapons, tested more missiles and promised to test a missile that could reach our shores. last week, 8 senators sent a letter to secretary clinton asking her to put north korea -- we have yet to receive an answer, one that we heard in the press, there's no evidence that there has been new terrorist activity since they were taken off of the list but the point is they never ceased their terrorist activities. the most recent congre

this many months into the new administration -- quite disappointed, quite frustrated with not seen those actions to rein in spending and slow down the growth of government. instead, it is the complete opposite. it is expanding at such a large degree. unfortunately, our country could evolve into something that we do not even recognize. that is so far from what the founders of our country had in mind for us. that is where we're headed. you have to be blunt about the candidate and honest with the americans to let them know. if we keep going down these roads, nationalizing many of our services and projects, yes, that is where we would head. that is why americans have to pay attention. we have to have our voices heard and it needs to be our will, the american people's will, imposed on washington instead of the other way around. host: the headline in "the washington times" -- also, a story called "reagan unveiled." "where are the leaders that will increase the power of eac behind mr. reagan's thoughts?" who speaks for your party? caller: ron paul. the other republicans are republicrats. they a

connelly mandated methodology which may not even be technically correct even before the new administration has had time to operationalize their new south asia strategy. our substitute, therefore, requires that as part of the comprehensive, interagency strategy and implementation plan, mandated by the legislation, that the administration put together a robust financial plan, a description of the resources of the programming, of the management of the united states foreign assistance to pakistan, including the criteria used to determine this pry ortyization. we believe -- prioritization. we believe this is the correct approach. and i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady reserves. the gentleman from california. mr. berman: mr. speaker, i have no further requests for time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentlewoman from florida. ms. ros-lehtinen: thank you. i'd like to take up our remainder time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognized for 30 seconds. ms. ros-lehtinen: thank you. mr. speaker, our republican substitute will a

and have you ever heard that rumsfeld or bush or cheney or someone else from the new administration went to the front line, sat together with them, asking the family or the iraq he family. that is something that never happened. >> i'm going to hasten now to make clear to the audience, here in the audience watching this broadcast, that you may think this man is anti-american or he is anti-semitic or something like that. it's very important to understand the scope of his career as someone who is really opposed adventures like these, regardless of who bounce them. 29 years ago he was in afghanistan helping the freedom fighters there against the soviet occupiers. >> financed by the americans. >> financed by the americans, and i was perfectly okay. but his activity was so intrusive and annoying to the soviets that they actually want to kill him. >> this is right. the spokesman of russia, officially if we get him we will flog him and we will kill him. this was big trouble between the german government and the russian government because he said this on the 10th anniversary of the russian german

first major situation where there were potentially a number of civilian casualties since the new administration came into office and since the development of the new afghan-pakistan strategy. what we have been trying to do is to give our colleagues in the other agency opportunity to become familiar with this report, and then go ahead and release it. we expect it to be released in the next day or two. >> i would only add that i thought this was important enough to review with the joint chiefs, which we just recently did it, at the beginning of this week. it is a report by it discussed with the combat commanders who are in town for one of our major conferences, and is as the secretary said a strategic vulnerability that we have to get right and we have to get the lessons from it, both understood and in bad debt -- and imbedded in our training and execution. it is also the whole area of civilian casualties' is something that we have made very clear we will review quickly. but again, there is support for releasing its, and will be out shortly. >> i made a point at the nato meeting last week that i

and the other one is trying to see what a new administration -- what they can extract from the new administration, basically. host: let me go back to the map to give our audience some geographical perspective. this is a google image that has been downloaded quite frequently over last couple of years. you can again see the lights on in south korea. and not on in north korea. what does this tell you? >> well it tells you that the character and the nature of the government in a placematters a whole lot. the korean people are very similar. they both emerged basically the same place, after world war ii. and the korean government -- the south korean government had a successful government, now a democratic, free market government and is just thriving. and the north korea still lives under this kind of stalinnist, totalitarian state where there is no economic activity whatsoever. host: this tweet. his name is dingo star, at least that's what he says. being that the u.s. is still technically at war with north korea, would congressional approval be needed for the u.s. to take military action? guest: that's

rogers: i thank the gentleman and i support it fully. the administration's new policy on work site enforcement, from my point of view, amounts to de facto amnesty. the raid that was made in seattle after this administration took office where the 24 or so illegal aliens who got their job by false papers were seized and arrested and then turned loose and on top of that given a work permit, that's the new policy of this administration. so that an illegal ilyen knows that if he or she -- an illegal alien knows that if he or she works in a place that is raided, they'll get a permit to go back to work which makes them legal. so as far as i'm concerned, the new policy of the administration is de facto amnesty. and the gentleman's amendment reaches a part of that answer and i absolute him for it -- salute him for it. but i hope and trust that the administration will come to their senses and give us a rational immigration policy that requires work site enforcement at a time when americans -- american citizens of the country are out of work, that will enforce the illegal

because they do want to hear, we all want to hear from witnesses and we are pleased to have the new administrative-- administrator of the faa and ig. people have confidence in the experience and that is just what we ought to be doing, is looking up the seat beside. people are anxious to go places. they still crowd airplanes. there are still huge delays, but the overriding concern is safety in mr. chairman i commend you for holding this hearing. >> as to recognize the witnesses let me make one final point. most consumers get on an airplane and all they see on the fuselage is the brand name of that carrier and they don't know whether it is a commuter or a major. bajis to the brand name and a question i think for all of us as we begin to hear the witnesses is, should passengers that the same confidence in the same capability, the same experience and the same judgment exists in that cockpit no matter the size of the airplane? because they don't know whether it is a commuter or a major carrier. does it exist today? that is what we are asking because a lot of that evidence suggested in the most recent c

editorial page, the obama administration's position on state secrets makes it hard to distinguish from its predecessor. anthony romero the executive director of the aclu has written that the new administration has embraced policies held over from the bush era including the use of the state secrets claim. last congress legislation essentially the same as h.r. 984 was cosponsored in the senate by senators joe biden and hillary clinton, who are now president obama's vice president and secretary of state. but this year president obama, vice president clinton and vice president biden and the secretary of state secretary have stood silent on the bill. the legislation goes exactly in the wrong direction. so much so that even president obama, vice president biden and secretary of state clinton are running away from it. so should we. and i yield back the balance of my time. >> i thank the gentleman. i now recognize the distinguished chairman of the full committee for an opening statement. >> thank you, chairman. thank you, ranking member emeritus -- i mean, chairman emeritus. the president is running away from a lot of things so this is just one more of them. that doesn't mean that th

the new administration and congress have a chance to build a broad lasting majority for change and reform and the opportunity to carry out a new agenda for a new era. education reform, national service, health reform, energy, fiscal responsibility and long-term growth. in the democratic leader council the organization that al from built from the ground up is taking on that new challenge. under bruce reed's leadership al's legacy lives on proofrpg once again how -- proving once again how the power of a good idea with build the party. >> 25 years ago al had the courage to see it was time for a different democrat. today our party stronger and our country is better off because he did. ideas are worth fighting for. that is as true now as it was when the new dreamt from south bend met a new democratic from a place called hope. >> as president clinton once said, looking back at his two terms in office, it would be hard to figure the single american citizen who has a private citizen had a more positive impact on the progress of american live in the last 25 years than al from. [applause] >> ladies