jake tapper has the story. >> reporter: earlier this year cindy mccain, a philanthropist and the wife of 2008 republican presidential nominee senator john mccain, got a phone call from ben affleck. >> it is an odd couple relationship, i've had other people say that to me, and i don't know whether i'm oscar or felix in this. >> reporter: affleck, the famously democrat actor who campaigned for barack obama and john kerry, the star of films like "the town," "armageddon" and "daredevil." >> i didn't believe it was him, of course. >> she thought it was a prank call. >> i did. it was a prank call. surprisingly perhaps affleck was calling because he was seeking her help in a part of the world largely ignored by the u.s. which is the congo. cindy, i need a real moment of straight talk from you. when this hollywood actor calls you, you must have been a little skeptical. >> yeah, i was, quite frankly, because i'll be very honest with you, my past experiences with other folks in the same perhaps arena have not been good. >> reporter: but affleck's work in the congo is something of a mission. >>

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cindy mccain who is with us today. she is a founding member of and investor in the eastern congo initiative and share's mr. affleck's dedication to end the suffering in this region. she also has dedicated her time and energy to other worthwhile projects. for example, she serves on the boards of directors of several nonprofit philanthropies including operation smile which provides reconstructive surgery to children with facial deformities and the land mine removal group, the halo trust. mr. affleck and his organization are making a major contribution in focusing political will on resolving the crises in the drc and bringing constructive recommendations to the table. but just as importantly, he is setting an example for all of us as to the need to direct whatever resources and influence we may have to help those who are less fortunate and without a voice to help themselves. his presence respective of an example for that, and the subcommittee is most appreciative. i am also grateful for our distinguished witnesses who are

. >> reporter: earlier this year, cindy mccain, the wife of presidential nominee, john mccain, got affleck. >> it is an odd couple relationship. i had other people say that to me. and i don't know whether i'm oscar or felix in this. >> reporter: affleck, the democratic actor, who campaigned for barack obama and john kerry. the star of films like "the town," "armageddon," and "daredevil." >> i can't think it was him. >> a prank call. >> i did. >> reporter: affleck was calling because he was seeking her help in a part of the world largely ignored by the u.s., the congo. affleck's work in the congo is something of a mission. >> you look at a place where 3 million people died over the last 15 years. it is a humanitarian catastrophe. >> reporter: he took her to the eastern congo, where he skepticism vanished. there, they visited the organization that gets funding from the organization that affleck set up last year. one of the most moving stories they heard, that of christine, whom they met at heal africa, a hospital that gets grants from affleck's group. kidnapped by a militia at 14, chri

and i would like to if she would like to come to the witness table cindy mccain who has been a leader on issues dealing with health care for africa including the american voluntary medical team leading medical missions and is the wife of the distinguished senator from arizona. john mccain, but has worked with pragts smile and the land removal group, the halo trust. if you would proceed. >> thank you very much. this is very excited about this. it is a great honor. thank you all very much for including me today. mr. chairman mr. ranking member and members of the subsubcommit. eci is the only u.s. based grant making organization entirely focused on working with and for the people of eastern congo. and area that carries the distinction of being the deadliest and most volatile region of the country and one of the most deadly in the world. estimated 1.7 million people have been displaced and lead to over 1,000 rapes being committed every month. 5.4 million people have lost their lives in the conflict since 1998. many of these deaths were children under the age of five. not all were killed i

i recognize cindy mccain and joined e.c.i. as a founding member. we just returned from eastern congo where we saw the tragedy and triumph of the congolese people. there are many reasons, most of them rooted in the strength and fortitude of their people to be hopeful about congo's future. i want to share with you this story of a woman who ex emapply files the potential of the people to transform themselves and their society. she was captured by rebel soldiers at the age of 14 and held as a sex slave for over two years. she was raped every day by her captors until she found her freedom through the thick jungle in the second largest rain forest. she discovered she was pregnant, child of one of her rapists. let africa live took her in and provided her with job counseling and while caring for her new daughter, she started a small business and earned enough income to return to school. she is now 22 years old and third year of studying law and advocates for the rights of women. since my first visit to congo, i witnessed efforts to improve governance, prom

cindy mccain who is with us today. she is a founding member of and investor in the eastern congo initiative and share's mr. affleck's dedication to end the suffering in this region. she also has dedicated her time and energy to other worthwhile projects. for example, she serves on the boards of directors of several nonprofit philanthropies including operation smile which provides reconstructive surgery to children with facial deformities and the land mine removal group, the halo trust. mr. affleck and his organization are making a major contribution in focusing political will on resolving the crises in the drc and bringing constructive recommendations to the table. but just as importantly, he is setting an example for all of us as to the need to direct whatever resources and influence we may have to help those who are less fortunate and without a voice to help themselves. his presence respective of an example for that, and the subcommittee is most appreciative. i am also grateful for our distinguished witnesses who are

cindy mccain and ben affleck will talk about the suffering they saw in congo with lawmakers today on exclusive interview today on "good morning america." >>> secretary of state hillary clinton and first lady michelle obama observe international women's day in washington. it's the 100th anniversary of that event. >>> also los angeles extends its smoking ban to restaurant patios today. violators may face fines up to $500. don't light up in l.a. >> that's expensive. >>> finally this morning, an update on a story we told about you a few weeks ago. the jig is up for one notorious california cat burglar. >> i'm a dog person but i like this cat. this thief, who was a cat, was caught on tape stealing from the neighbors and now giving it back. kgo reports. >> reporter: this is no ordinary rummage sale. >> these are from -- >> daddy, are these mine? are these all mine? >> reporter: everything here -- >> a towel company. >> reporter: -- was stolen. >> underwear. >> reporter: here is the culprit, dusty, also known as clepto the cat. >> dusty took all these things. >> reporter: dusty was featured

. >>> an unlikely team, actor and director ben affleck, along with cindy mccain will be testifying onumanitarian process in the republic of congo. ben affleck visited that country back in 2008 and actually made a short movie about his experiences there. today's hearing begins at 10:00 a.m. >>> 7:47. uc bergly intends to -- berkeley intends to file a lawsuit that anti-semitic has occurred on the campus. the wombs of the palestinian group say the lawsuit is -- the members of the palestinian group say the lawsuit is an assault on free speech. 14 people have been arrested for refusing to leave the uc berkeley police where the standoff was held. >>> gay marriage opponents say the obama administration's decision to no longer defend the federal defense marriage act should have no wearing -- bearing on the case for same- sex marriage. the motion was filed yesterday. it was in response to a request made by same-sex marriage supporters. they are asking the court to lift a temporary ban on same- sex marriages, while the court reviews the legality of proposition 8. that's the voter- approved pan

i'm pleased to recognize cindy mccain who recently joined eci as a founding member. we jus returned from eastern congo where we saw first hand the tragedy a triumph of the people there. there are many reasons most of the people, to be hopeful about congo's future. i want to share with you a story about a woman who shows the potential of the people is there to transform themselves. she was tap tourcaptured at the of 14 and was raped every day by her captures until she fnd her freedom through the thick jungle in what makes up the second largest rain forest in the world. she discovered she was pregnant. counselors found her and took her in. they provided her with counseling and while caring for her new daughter used her skis to start a business and return to school. i met her, she is in her third year of studying law and advocates for the rights of women using her own story. i would witnessed markable efforts to promote growth and reduce conflict. the record is not promising. congo risks heading into a deeper spiral of violence that could lead to more fighting and suffe

affleck teamed up with cindy mccain, wife of senator john mccain, to highlight the widespread sufferingst countries in the world. it has been in near constant turmoil since 1996. >> we are the odd couple, perhaps, in politics but that's the beauty of this, because this transcends political parties. >> we strongly believe that if we continue to place congo on the back burner of u.s. policy, it will indeed come back to haunt us. the federal budget may be a zero sum game but our morality, our sense of decency, our compassion for our fellow human beings is not. >> now, the situation is especially bleak for females in congo where more than 1,000 women and girls are raped every month. half of those victims have no access to medical treatment. >>> and now to the environmental mess along the southern california coast. millions of dead fish have turned up there at a marina. experts blame it on nature, not pollution or even poisoning. mike von fremd reports from redondo beach. >> reporter: at sunrise those with a view of normally pristine king harbor could not believe their eyes. millions of sard

cindy mccain who is also with us today. of ms. mccain is a founding member and investor in the eastern congo initiative and mc shares mr. after fleck's dedication to ending the suffering in this region.ern she also has dedicated her timei and energy to a number of other very worthwhile projects.regi she serves on the boards of ded directors of several nonprofit philanthropies includinge, operation smile which provides reconstructive surgery to children with facial deformities and the land mine removal group the halo trust. mr. after fleck and his organization are -- after flecky and his organization are making a major contribution in focusing political will on resolving the crises in the drc and bringing constructive recommendations to the table. pol but just as importantly, he ishe setting an example for all of us as to the need to direct whatever resources and influence we may have to help those who are less fortunate and without r voice to help themselves. and his presence, perspectiveelp and example for that, the subcommittee i