senator barbara boxer is one of many senators mac that go push to the president. we are live in san francisco where the senator laid out her case today. david? >> reporter: barbara boxer and 26 other u.s. senators sent this letter to president obama. they said that the nation's goals in afghanistan have been met. she wants tens of thousands of troops station there had to return home by december 31st. >> this is the longest war in history. it's time to bring it to an end. >> today, senator boxer said that the war has killed more than 1600 u.s. troops and wounded thousands of others. intelligence reports estimate as few as 50,000 other al-qaeda members remain in afghanistan and it's time for the president to bring home 30,000 of the 100,000 troops there by year's end. >> we have a huge debt and deficit to deal with. ending the war in iraq and afghanistan would save $1 trillion over ten years. >> reporter: boxer suggests keeping 10,000 troops overseas to train afghan security forces, protect coalition personnel. >> i am not suggesting that we walk away from afghanist

we'll find if they are listening to barbara boxer and other voices calling for an end to the war. >> hat point we have seen lay makers weighing in. there is a peace gathering and same day barbara lee is with drawing 50,000 troops. there were letters signed and a mayor's conference issued a resolution on afghanistan. they are looking at the polls. >> why is the pentagon wanting the president to hold off. >> they want him to hald. and give a political advantage for going in the 2012 election. he could say we will bring the troops home. they are against the nato air strikes . and sound of gunfire being shot in the air is heard in tropily's main square. they say anyone who helps the west is destined to go to hell. the pro government rally is hours after nato intensified. >> climate smart environmental campaign paying extra to be green. our media partner and part of the nonprofit center for investigative reporting looked in the program. dan ashley explains that customers may not be getting what they pay for. it is a way of allowing the customers to off set the carbon foot prent. they can p

barbara boxer has a highway bill. there's an infrastructure bank, and helping green jobs. then we will also look at a payroll tax holiday for employers. that's one of the possible proposals. and what we would say is an employer who hires a new employee, an additional employee gets a payroll tax holiday for a year. that's bringing our republican colleagues along to do something. if they're against a business tax cut to help employment, they've always been for business tax cuts in the past, you have to wonder maybe they don't want the economy to grow. our overall guide post is this. we want to do deficit reduction and we have to. there's a $14 trillion deficit. we should have as a goal, as a guide post for every trillion we cut in the deficit, we should seek to create a million jobs in the short term. we could do both. economists will tell you we need to deal with deficit reduction over the next ten years but we need to deal with job creation now. >> schieffer: you're certainly talking.... >> do both. >> schieffer: you're talking about grandiose plans here when you're talkin

. >>> some strong word today from senator barbara boxer to an audience in bay area.u's david stevenson tells us what she is saying about our troops in afghanistan and when they should be brought home. >> reporter: senator barbara boxer today told a san francisco audience the 10-year- old war in afghanistan has killed more than 1,600 u.s. troops and wounded thousands of others. >> this is the longest war in history. it's time to bring it to an end. >> reporter: boxer said intelligence reports estimate as few as 50 al-qaeda members remain in afghanistan and that the time is right for the president to bring home at least 30,000 of the 100,000 u.s. troops there by year's end. >> we have a huge debt and deficit to deal with. ending the war in iraq and afghanistan would save $1 trillion over 10 years. >> reporter: bocker suggests keeping 10,000 troops overseas to train -- boxer suggests keeping 10,000 troops overseas to train coalition forces, protect personnel and run counterterrorism operations. >> i am not suggesting we walk away from afghanistan tomorrow. rather what i

. >>> some strong word today from senator barbara boxer to an audience in bay area.son tells us what she is saying about our troops in afghanistan and when they should be brought home. >> reporter: senator barbara boxer today told a san francisco audience the 10-year- old war in afghanistan has killed more than 1,600 u.s. troops and wounded thousands of others. >> this is the longest war in history. it's time to bring it to an end. >> reporter: boxer said intelligence reports estimate as few as 50 al-qaeda members remain in afghanistan and that the time is right for the president to bring home at least 30,000 of the 100,000 u.s. troops there by year's end. >> we have a huge debt and deficit to deal with. ending the war in iraq and afghanistan would save $1 trillion over 10 years. >> reporter: bocker suggests keeping 10,000 troops overseas to train -- boxer suggests keeping 10,000 troops overseas to train coalition forces, protect personnel and run counterterrorism operations. >> i am not suggesting we walk away from afghanistan tomorrow. rather what i am recommending

barbara boxer is calling for withdrawal of u.s. oops from afghanistan. in a speech to the world affairs council today, boxer asked president obama to withdraw 30,000 troops from afghanistan by the end of the year to return the number of troops on the ground to levels before the 2009 surge. boxer says it is time to shift the focus of u.s. involvement. >> targeted counter-terrorism operations, protection of american and coalition personnel, and the continued training of afghan security forces. so that would be the new military mission. >> boxer is a senior member of the senate foreign relation committee. military leaders are urging the president toward a more gradual exit strategy. >>> today marked the start of a joint effort by the united states and vietnam to clean up environmental damage left by agent orange is. it's going to start on 70 acres around the da nang airport where u.s. troops stored the chemical defoliant during the war. a recent study found the chemical level 400 times higher than allowable limits. the $30million proje

. >>> california senator barbara boxer testified today in support of cia director leon peneta. >> to be such a trusted advisor that two presidents have chosen him. >> president obama's choice to replace robert gates who is retiring at the end of the month. president obama said peneta would bring an intelligent perspective. >>> now as gasia just mentioned he's being tapped to lead the security department. californias two senators have nothing but praise for peneta. >> i served in the budget economy and i watched him very carefully, reach out across every kind of line that would divide us. >> barbara boxer said leon peneta would bring a new role. and feinstein said he would have a depth personal touch. he then fielded questions. >> frankly i think there are gains that have been made. we have seen the regime weaken significantly. we have seen the opposition made gains both in the east and the west. i think there are some signs that if we continue to pressure. if we stick with it that ultimately gadhafi will step down. >> reporter: on the war in afghanistan, panetta said u.s. forces have

barbara boxer and dianne feinstein should be pushing this legislation on the senate side of the congress. we cannot take this anymore. people will be held responsible for the deaths of people. we should help the people of our nation more, start becoming a productive nation again. thank you. >> supervisors. the overhead projector please. we have graffiti. . we took an aggressive action. this kind of falls into the broken window aspect of our neighborhood. this is a broken litter, it collects litter, it collects another broken window.

barbara boxer said what the united states needs to change its role in afghanistan. world events counted is where she on youd a plan to withdraw combat forces from the region. the senator said what the united states needs to reduce the number of military personnel in afghanistan and focus on counter terrorism efforts instead. flames and thick smoke have been tearing through the army base in arizona. the montana monday -- the fire has been burning through homes and brush. >>> funeral as much as held today for a detroit police officer killed in the line of dutiy. he was hit by a car on june the fifth while he was on street patrol in greek town. he died saturday. hundreds of police officers joined to remember the fallen office. the driver of the vehicle that struck him has been arrested and charged. >>> in florida, a sheriff's deputy escaped serious injury after being dragged by a motorcycle. the officer grabbed him by shoulder and the man took off dragging the deputy a few hundred feet. he was arrested and charged with aggravated assault among other crimes. we will be

barbara boxer served as the honorary master of the events. open conversation about hiv and aids helps stop the spread of disease. >> people are still afraid to talk about the -- talk about stigma, they're afraid to talk about hiv because it's taboo to talk about sex. i think that in this day and age, we need to be up front and we need to address this issue in order to stop people from dying from hiv and aids. i think it's important and we have to reduce stigma. we have to talk about this issue more and get it back in the forefront of discussions. >> 100% of the funds raised today goes directly to nonprofit organizations that participated in that event. >>> in marin this afternoon, more than 100 people attended a peace rally in downtown san rafael. the focused attention on u.s. policy toward afghanistan. a military draw down is expected to start in less than a month. today's event called for world peace and an end to permanent u.s. warfare. >> we are fed up with perpetual war. we want to bring our troops home. we want a world that's peaceful,

barbara boxer kicked off the festivities as the honorary chairperson of the event. organizers say open conversation about hiv and aids will help stop the spread of the disease. >> people are still afraid to talk about the stigma, and they're afraid to talk about hiv and it's taboo to talk about sex. i think in this day and age, we need to be upfront and we need to address this issue in order to stop people from dying from hiv and aids. i think it's important, and we have to reduce stigma. we have to talk about this issue more and get it back in the forefront of discussions. >> reporter: 100% of the funds raised will go directly to organizations involved in the event. >>> if you want to save on your next getaway, look at your closest national park. june 21st, national parks are free including john muir, muir woods, and yosemite national park. >>> harnessing the power of the ocean, researchers turning to scuba diving to help those request spinal cord injuries. >>> the new devices that will be as common as smoke detectors. people in the east bay helped in the fight aga

. >> senator barbara boxer came to san francisco today to make a big announcement about the war in afghanistan. the democrat called on president obama to withdraw troops by the end of this year. although she worthed the war after 9/11, she says that changes need to be made. >> the u.s. cannot sustain an indefinite commitment and did for the afghan what they must do for themselves. >> senator boxer said that the u.s. must focus on targeted counter terrorism operations protecting u.s. and coalition personnel and training afghan forces. >>> calling them a critical bridge, the president is extending the national guard border deployment. the white house is keeping troops on the u.s.-mexico border for at least another three months. the soldiers are there to help the border patrol. it will cost another 35 million- dollar, says the pentagon. >>> a rare sight bringing out a lot of curious folks. a pod of killer whales was found swimming in the area. >> janine de la vega is there. >> i want to give you just how close they came. you can see the restaurant apt boat. we are told that the killer whales came

they will be joined by bernie sanders and barbara boxer for a rally. >>> angela merkel and her husband will visit the white house. they are to discuss unrest in the middle east, the war in afghanistan and the economy. merkel will be awarded the presidential medal of freedom. this is the first official visit by a german khaupbs lore since 1995. >>> sully sullenberger's plane is on its way to a an aviation museum in charlotte, north carolina. it will head back out on the road later this morning. once it reaches baltimore area, it will head west on i-70 and i-68 into west virginia. it's traveling on a massive flatbed trailer and is ending up on a lot of back roads to avoid overpasses. until now the plane had been in a warehouse in new jersey. the plane ended up in the hudson river in 2009 after a flock of geese knocked out its engines. dramatic picture there. 4:37 is the time. ahead on news 4, police are trying to break down a language to warn people about a rapist on the loose. >>> and a lawmaker sticking up for dancing protesters. for dancing protesters. >>> the man: we need a sofa. som

barbara boxer and 25 other senators are calling on the president to withdraw 30,000 troops from afghanistanthe end of this year. >> the u.s. cannot sustain an indefinite commitment and do for the afghans what they must do for themselves. >> she reminded the audience today that the president had promised to begin drawing down the surge by july of this year. she's not calling for an immediate withdrawal, but believes forces should be shifted to counterterrorism operations in afghanistan. >>> another republican presidential candidate is the target of a glitter attack. >> where's your purse? >> the group provided us with this video. police escorted the two women out of the area but they were not arrested. a gay rights activist poured glitter on newt gingrich. president obama will be teeing off tomorrow with house speaker john boehner. they'll be joined by the ohio governor and joe biden. they're divided over how to deal with the growing debt. democrats want to increase tax revenues and republicans want to trim costs such as medicare. >>> san francisco may be green but one magazine is definitely

senate, barbara boxer and dianne feinstein, women, minority leader, former speaker of the house of representatives, nancy pelosi. go up and down the peninsula, sacramento -- women, women. we do not just enable women to lead in the bay area, we cherish their leadership. it is very special and important to us. having this in san francisco is going to be a big deal. we are not just going to welcome it, we are going to make it happen in a big way. we are going to count our on our friends here in city hall to do et like none other. when it comes to being on the world stage, i think that we are going to leave that to charlotte to figure it out. we will just help them make it happen, the way we think we can do. our belief is the success of women in world economies is going to be the success of the world economy. that is how important this is. lorraine provided some of the statistical background to indicate what happens to gdp when women play a role. as the leaders of a ceo organization like the bay area council, i think we can do more to make women ceo's and to support them, support them as often hours.

. >>> senator barbara boxer says the president should be scaling back operations in afghanistan. she's a senior member of the senate foreign relations committee and is calling on president obama to bring the 100,000 troops in afghanistan home. >> there's simply no justification, none, for the continued deployment of 100,000 american troops in afghanistan. >> boxer says the mission to defeat al qaeda and capture bin laden has been accomplished. she says the 300,000 police and soldiers that have been trained by the u.s. can now take over the fledgling democracy in afghanistan from now on. >>> while push literally came to shove, as spectators waited out the casey anthony trial in orlando in florida today. she's the mom accused of killing her own 2-year-old daughter. [ shouting ] >> the video shows punches being thrown and water bottles being used as weapons. now after authorities broke up the fight, other women argued over who was first in line. people have been staying up overnight for a shot at one of the seats inside the courtroom. this is not the first time spectators have come

a race that he lost to democrat barbara boxer. fong's mother served 20 years as california's secretary of state and was the first asian elected to a state-wide office. fong died at his home in pasadena. he had previously survived two other bouts with cancer. >>> the grandmother accused of kidnapping her infant granddaughter and then trying to pass the baby off as her own made her first court appearance today. 58-year-old erica giaga was formally charged with kidnapping and burglary. prosecutors say she snuck into her son's house -- her son and daughter-in-law's home -- and took a 4-month-old baby right out of her bassinet as the girl's parents slept. the baby's family says she has express the no remorse. they say they're glad to see that she's behind bars and hope the charges stick. her son did not attend today's hearing. giago will be back in court next week to enter a plea. >>> he is a convicted sex offender who served his sentence. now is he living in san jose and local cops want to make sure his neighbors know that he is there

sets two thousand and nine champion had her chances leading three one on the first set tie break barbara boxer in the back and to get seven for eleven saves broke presence of insight and set for a comfortable six four victory but only is the first french woman since mary pierce in two thousand and five to reach the seventies at roland garros. i was playing great but there just was there was or. was called the reason i was four. for him to come in. now the player won just about every youth title going to bring her korea on us this year probably a chunk of our founded last season in the big leagues and despite storming to first certainly doable francesca schiavone and then feinstein back from five one down in the decider she couldn't keep it going in the closing games losing one six seven five and seven five. one six one four one six one zero seed keep going keep going the key is compete for you four five six seven balls but arrive three four so i see keep going. the way to win or to try to do something otherwise for you to the scene was sure no way to we a much anticipated semifinal coming up i

attendance were high profile community leaders and lawmakers including senators bernie sanders barbara boxer if bill c.i.a.o. president richard trumka for more on this day of action and where we all go from here i'm joined by three members of progressive democrats of america norman solomon smith and tim carpenter welcome to all of you here we thank you for first of all what happened today tim you're the the the big cheese if you. hope you're not the swiss cheese you know today was the culmination of a week of activity and for many of us the letter that we sent to the u.s. senate regarding the number of troops that the president will be announcing in regards to afghanistan account that we wanted to make the connection today of what that number means in real terms and how we can take those numbers and have them work for us in other words taking the money that's being spent on those troops and moving them over to the message of the economy specifically on health care so today we we were outside and rallied and then we went into the lobby but before that we're at the chamber of commerce i'm talk

seeing that from either party anymore and i actually have a clip that i want to play you from barbara boxer this is something maybe you wouldn't expect her sights take a look. were you disappointed in the administration's response right now or position where should we go from here well i think then what you're doing. everything fine. and i think we have to make sure that we stay close to the. rebels because one of the sure they understand what you see is you can see. i mean from everything that. was highlight of the ground and i think that many analysts will tell you it's not working in libya it's not going anywhere but some if you think of this is true are people just sick of both parties telling the line whenever they have to because if it was a republican president it was waging a war in libya and obviously the democrats would be up in arms about it and the way we see many republicans up in arms about the moment but are they just sick of everybody going along with what the president what the party has to say certainly seems to be i mean libertarians have long been sort of political facti

this morning in san francisco senator barbara boxer is going to make an important speech about the war in afghanistan. she will address the world affairs council of northern california. next month the obama administration will announce plans to redeploy combat troops in afghanistan. >>> it's now 13 days and counting for governor jerry brown and state lawmakers come up with a new budget. the governor also has fence mending today. he made some of his party members angry. he wants lawmakers to authorize a special election that will allow voters to approve tax increases and tax extensions that are due to expire on june 30th. >> i don't want to see more billions billions in borrowing. >> the budget the governor vetoed included education cuts and a vehicle registration fee hike. republicans want to reform public employee pensions and put a cap on spending. the state of california is facing a $9.6 billion deficit. >>> the man accused of killing a san jose woman and dumping her body has confested to -- confessed to the crime. he admitted to the killing during a police interview. that is accord

. >>> california senator barbara boxer will give a major speech about america's role in afghanistan. she will be speaking before the world affairs council of northern california. her speech comes at a very critical time. the obama administration will announce plans to redeploy combat troops in afghanistan next month. >>> california's budget deadline is fast approaching for democrats, republicans, and governor jerry brown. >> for a decade the can has been kicked down the road and death has piled up. california is facing a very tough fiscal crisis. >> the governor has reshouted -- has shocked both lines. the governor wants a special election to allow voters to approve tax increases and tax extensions. the governor has to provide specific proposals far budget he will sign. >> he seems to want a confrontation. that is okay if you know what your detired plan is but you also have to know what your back up plan here is. >> the vetoed budget included education cuts and a vehicle registration fee hike. the current budget runs out at the end of the month. california is facing a $9.6 billion de

he challenged barbara boxer for her senate seat in 199 #. and she issued a statement saying he was a strong competitor with a long career in public service. >>> and raising the nation's debt ceiling. >> it would be extremely dangerous. and would have highly negative impact. >> today, they invited them to the white house, the meeting comes after the republicans defeated a move in the house to raise the debt ceiling. they called the meeting productive, but said if borrowing goes up, spending must come down. >> we'll raise the debt limit, the spending cuts should exceed the increase in the debt limit. otherwise it will serve -- cost us jobs. >> the spending cuts are being debated over plans to change medicaid and medicare. they are looking at an august 2 deadline to raise the debt ceiling. tomorrow, democrats have their turn at a white house meeting and vice president joe biden will resume his bipartisan talks on spending cuts. >>> so imagine filing your tax return and finding out somebody else has already received your refund. the irs says tax

barbara boxer's numbers were low, not as low as these are. >> give me a couple of quick names. gavin newsom nearby, names that could step in, whether it's next year or at some point. >> if she runs no, democrat will, but if she steps down, you expect newsom, expect the attorney general, very nice attractive candidate. you might also to see someone like john chung whose name is in the news and for the republicans, by the way, look to darrell issa, the recall king, the one who brought it all over and also maybe some like david drier who is about to lose his congressional seat because of redistricting. plenty of big names out there waiting for that cherry spot, you know. the question is will she or won't she? watch to see how she fund raises. >> john chung, the state controller who made an interesting decision. telling the lawmakers we won't give you the paychecks, passed the budget but it didn't come up to snuff, even though the veto. do you agree with what he did? pretty bold? >> the legislature is going back to work real fast. $400 a day, they are going to get inspired. that's

far too slow a pace, barbara boxer. david gergen has serious questions about the speech. in a nutshell, why is everyone so unhappy? >> well, it really is strange, isn't it? the president and his people felt they were splitting the difference. this will be the goldilocks speech. not too hot or too cold, just right. they are all piling on here. i'm not surprised by the republican side. particularly john mccain. what surprised me about the democrats, they normally try to swallow their differences and say, he got bin laden. he's been a great president. >> why did they do it? couldn't they see it coming? >> i think they must have seen it -- yeah, they briefed people, so they must have known it was coming. i think they feel it will play better in the long run. we have not heard public opinion. it may be stronger in favor of the president than people in washington. i will tell you i think the way the chem.s piled on this way is likely to lower the approval rating in the public. >> this looked for a lot of people like a political decision. seems it's one of the kegs of dynamite h

a similar bill by senator barbara boxer is making its way in the u.s. senate. >>> 5:06. get ready for that warm-up. heat wave, really. christina loren joins us with a look at your forecast. >> good morning to you. we've got some summertime weather finally to look forward to as you can see right now. it's nice and clear. i am expecting, though, a very sig thnificant round of fog as h pressure builds in and we have a lot of moisture left over from the showers we picked up on tuesday. this is what's we're looking at for today in san francisco. if you look in the city or work in the city. even at noon, mostly cloudy, 60 degrees. and this morning it's nice and mild out there. we're going to see temps in the 80s today and upper 70s. gorgeous day on tap for us. and all of the thunder, all that activity has now pushed into the four corners region. high pressure is building into the area. that's going to bring about a gorgeous day. but, really, really warm days ahead. downright hot as we head into this weekend. all the way through your fourth of july holiday. we'll be taking a lo

a similar bill by senator barbara boxer is making its way in the u.s. senate. >>> 6:08. get ready for a heat wave. meteorologist christina loren joins us with a look. >> that summer sciizzle is on already. we're going to warm up about 10 degrees from where we were yesterday. this is where we're headed as we head throughout the afternoon and the remainder of the day. high pressure builds in with a vengeance. this high pressure ridge is so strong. it's even stronger than that that brought us the mini heat wave earlier this month. then we have that junuary weather once again this week. now warm weather that's going to stay for a while. 55 degrees right now in concord. a really crisp start out there. 56 in oakland. 53 in san francisco. we have light winds and a lot of moisture left over. so fog is definitely forming. and starting to push inland. so i do think we'll see a pretty good marine punish by about 7:00 a.m. mostly cloudy conditions over the entire bay area. but by this afternoon, i think by about 12:00 in the city, we'll start to see a little bit of that sunshine bre

. >>> california senator barbara boxer joining me near senators calling for congressional investigation into nuclear power plant safety. this is after an "association the press" investigation on relicensing procedures for aging nuclear plants. the ap story claims the plants are designed to last for 40 years but that many are being relicensed for up to a century. >>> a teenage ervisiting california from arizona is recovering this morning after being shot in the head. 16-year-old zachary lamb was skateboarding at 2:00 a.m. near a nightclub in san diego county yesterday. zach's father says his son went out at that hour because there would be little to no traffic. a dark-colored suv picked up to zach and a passenger got out and robbed him. one of the thieves shot zach as they were willing -- pulling away. >> and i heard him screaming, "i was shot in the head. i need help. i need help." >> they made off with $2 and a pack of cigarettes. doctors say the bullet barely missed zach's brain. >>> a new inner agency operation center will open soon on yerba buena island. nancy pelosi is expected to

democrat barbara boxer stopped short of calling weiner to resign. but said, quote, from what i know about what he did, it's horrible. in fact, 56% of registered voters in weiner's district said he should not resign. compared to 33% who say he should. those who have spoken to weiner recently, say he shows no sign of wavering on the resignation issue. he has cited support in the poll. and he says his wife does not want him to resign, either. robin? george? >> that's right, jon. we'll see if he can withstand the pressure. when the rest of the members of congress come back on monday. thanks very much. >>> now, the case of the missing indiana college student, lauren spierer. police have hit a roadblock in the investigation, as the last person seen with lauren the night she vanished said he has no memory on how the night ended. barbara pinto is tracking this in indiana. >> reporter: lauren disappeared a week ago. we now know more about what happened at her apartment building in the early-morning hours before she vanished. but one, key witness may be of li

barbara boxer and her response. we will go in depth.> because i really want to get along and go along and i want to make this vote available for those that would like to raise the debt ceiling. i will vote no. >> let the games begin. that's what's going on around here. i have full respect for my colleagues. and you can tell from the tone and tenor of senator paul that he -- he finds it amusing, that he is offer inging a clean debt ceiling increase, he is voting against. >> what was the point that of your initiative? >> you know, the democrats have a budget. president obama has a budget that will spend $46 trillion over ten years. just to borrow enough money for the president's budget until the election is about $2.5 trillion. if they want to spend the money they need to be honest with the american people and say -- we have to borrow $2 trillion because that's what we want to spend. i don't want on spend that much money. i want to balance the budget and be conservative with our resources. i will vote no on it. many of the democrats, over

. >>> california senator bother barbara boxer says it's time for troops in afghanistan to come home. she spoke yesterday in san francisco about america's role in the region. the senator series the 10-year- old afghan war has killed more than 1600 american service members and pointed to intelligence reports estimating as few as 50 al-qaeda members remain in afghanistan. she says she wants at least 30,000 of the 100,000 troops there to return by year's end. >> we have a huge debt, and deficit to deal with. ending the war in iraq and afghanistan would save $1 trillion over 10 years. >> she suggests keeping 10,000 troops there to train forces and protect coalition personnel. but conservative members of congress warn a rapid withdrawal would allow terrorists to return. >>> president obama has reportedly decided he doesn't need congressional approval to continue the air war in libya. the new york times says the president is relying on administration lawyers. they believe the air assaults against moammar gaddafi is not enough to trigger the war power's resolution. however, both the justice

the environment committee, which has oversight over the n.r.c., with our chairperson, senator barbara boxer, and others on the committee who are interested in this issue to call for a g.a.o. investigation of the allegations made by the associated press. we need to determine whether it is true that the n.r.c. is systematically working with the industry to undermine safety standards for aging plants in order to keep them operating. mr. president, let me conclude by mentioning that around the world, around the world there is growing concern about the dangers of nuclear power, and i think that concern has been heightened by the terrible tragedy in japan. it is important to note that germany has decided to close all 17 nuclear plants in the next decade and not to build any new ones. they're getting out of the nuclear business. switzerland is also phasing out nuclear power. and in italy, just a few weeks ago 94% of the people voted in an election against restarting the nuclear power industry. here in the united states, some states are moving in the same direction. in addition to vermont, new york

barbara boxer chairs this 2.5 at our meeting. >> let me begin.t has been over three months since japan was hit by devastating earthquake and tsunami. it is expected to take additional time before a cold shutdown of all reactors at the fukushima nuclear power plant will be achieved. the emergency in japan served as an important wake-up call for the united states and the rest of the world. we cannot afford to ignore it. if there is one lesson to be learned, and this is the lesson i think is the most important, we must plan for the unexpected because as the japanese told us, they planned for the expected, not for the unexpected. i am pleased to see that the n.r.c. is reevaluating the safety and security of nuclear power plants in the u.s. in light of what has happened in japan. these are the things i am pleased about -- inspectors have inspected and issued reports on the 104 operating nuclear reactors and their readiness to address power losses or damage following an extreme event and the n.r.c. is reviewing its processes and regulations in light of

we will also hear interjections from dianne feinstein and barbara boxer. leon panetta served in the united states congress from 1977 to 1994. this hearing is 3.5 hours. >> the morning. this morning the committee meets to consider the nomination of leon panetta as secretary of defense. he is no stranger to testify before congress. over the course of his career, we welcome you to the committee today. the thank you for your dedicated service to our nation. nd your willingness to enter the call once again. we know your wife is not able to be here with you today. she has made her own sacrifices over the last 50 years, supported your efforts in the public and private sectors. i know that i speak for the committee when i say that we love to think her in person for the sacrifices that she has made. please let your wife know of the committees gratitude for her support and your sacrifice. if confirmed, director panetta will replace secretary robert gates at the helm of the department of defense. he was asked to stay on. it provided a welcome continuity in our defens

found one arguably is germane, and that one is one amendment that the chairman of the committee, barbara boxer, agrees to. again, they have amendments that would delay a repeal of health care reform. it's a battle republicans seem determined to fight over and over and over again, no matter how many times they lose. we have already voted on bank card swipe fees and ethanol subsidies and we have voted on the regulatory reform amendment offered once again by the senior senator from new york -- from maine, i'm sorry. yet we could not reach agreement to consider this worthy bill. this is not the first time republicans have stopped the important work of job creation in its tracks. the small business innovation research bill died here on the senate floor because of a load of amendments, none of which related to that bill. and the f.a.a., the federal aviation administration reauthorization and patent reform bills which would have put more -- about half a million people to work languished in the house. that's where it is now, over there someplace. and still unemployed americans wait. on this bill that

. -- barbara boxer cheers this 2.5 hour hearing. >> good morning, everybody. the committee will come to order. just to go over the way we are going to operate. will be a lot of questions and we will go back and forth from one side to the other. to it will be like a tennis match. hopefully, it will be as enjoyable as fact and not too contentious. let me begin. it has been over three months since japan was hit by a devastating earthquake and tsunami. it is expected to take additional time before shutdown of all reactors at the foot issue in the power plant will be achieved. the emergency -- focusing on -- we cannot afford to ignore it. if there is one lesson to be learned, and this is the lesson i think is the most important. we must plan for the unexpected as the japanese told us, they planned for the expected, not for the unexpected. i am pleased to see that the nrc is taking initial steps to reevaluate the safety and security of new group -- nuclear power plants in the u.s. and light of what has happened in japan. these are the things that i am pleased about.

the event was chaired by barbara boxer and runs 2.5 hours. >> the meeting will come to order. your heads will be bopping, but hopefully it will be enjoyable and not too contentious. let me begin. it has been over three months since japan was hit by a devastating earthquake and tsunami, and it is expected to take additional time before the cold shutdown at the fukushima dai-ichi nuclear power plant will be achieved. the emergency in japan served as an important recall for the united states and the world, and we cannot afford to ignore honus there is one lesson to be learned, and this is a lesson i think is the most important, we must plan for the unexpected, because if the japanese told us how they planned for the expected, not for the unexpected. i am pleased that the nrc is taking steps to be about records assumption about the safety and security over nuclear power plants. the inspectors have issued reports on the operating reactors following extreme events. and the nrc is in the middle of a 90-day task force review of practices and regulations in light of the events in japan

i debated barbara boxer on the floor for six hours. i am catholic. i think i will have a little time off in purgatory as a result of that, personally. [applause] we finished the debate at 8:00. the vote was the next morning. i felt maybe there was something more i should do. i still have this sense of responsibility that you all feel. that is why you are here. i went and called my wife. we had four children. we had a little one. i said, "i have been debating all day, but i feel maybe there is more, maybe there are two or three senators who are watching c-span late at night and will see what i have to say. maybe i can change their mind. karen said exactly what she always said. this time when i sat down with her in the family, "if that is what you feel called to do, that is what you have to do." i went back out on the floor of the senate and an hour and a half later i finish. i am almost done. don't worry. packed up the senate, came in the next morning, and we lost by the same number of votes we were going to lose by the night before. i walked out of t

i debated barbara boxer on the floor for six hours. i am catholic. i think i will have a little time off in purgatory as a result of that, personally. [applause] we finished the debate at 8:00. the vote was the next morning. i felt maybe there was something more i should do. i still have this sense of responsibility that you all feel. that is why you are here. i went and called my wife. we had four children. we had a little one. i said, "i have been debating all day, but i feel maybe there is more, maybe there are two or three senators who are watching c-span late at night and will see what i have to say. maybe i can change their mind. karen said exactly what she always said. this time when i sat down with her in the family, "if that is what you feel called to do, that is what you have to do." i went back out on the floor of the senate and an hour and a half later i finish. i am almost done. don't worry. packed up the senate, came in the next morning, and we lost by the same number of votes we were going to lose by the night before. i walked out of t

i debated barbara boxer on the floor for six hours. i am catholic.a little time off in purgatory as a result of that. we finished the debate at 8:00 at night, finishing up, and i felt maybe there was something more i should do. i was feeling a sense of responsibility, the citi field right now. that is why you are here. i called my wife had a time when we had just had four children, just had a little one at the time, and i said, i have been debating, but i feel there is more. made there are senators who do not have a lot and will be watching c-span and will see what i have to say, and maybe it will change their minds. karen said exactly what she always says. she said this time, when i sat down with her and the family, that is what you are called to do, and that is what you have got to do. i went back out on the floor of the senate and in an hour and a half, i finished. i am almost done, don't worry. [laughter] i packed up the senate, came in the next morning, and we lost by the same number of votes we were going to lose by the night before. i walked o