our keynote speaker for today, ambassador daniel benjamin. he is currently ambassador at large and is with the state department as the coordinator of counter-terrorism. a very unique background, a combination that we do not often see. i think it would be beneficial to us this afternoon. in government and private- sector media and as well in academia, and aside from his current position in government, he has also served with the clinton administration as the director of counter-terrorism and in the office of multinational threats. he has also served as a speechwriter on foreign policy and a special adviser to president clinton. in the media realm, he has been a correspondent for "time" magazine as well as "wall street journal." and has served as a senior fellow at the brookings institution in academia, and also has degrees from harvard and oxford where he serves as a marshall scholar. a great background and very honored to have you with us this afternoon. please welcome the ambassador. [applause] >> thank you very much, general. and thank you

> david. >> zachary. >> grant. >> caitlin. >> stormy brewer. >> christopher carl. >> robert daniel. >> benjamin samuel. >> erin rose. >> daniel. >> ashley elizabeth. >> daniel patrick hayes. >> daniel robinson hughes. >> kyle matthew johnson. >> john wall server. >> cabin in true. -- kevin and true. >> tess o'neill. >> eric louise. >> nathan alexander wells. >> calvin john winter. >> lance. >> cadets squadron 11. >> chad. >> lindsay ada barber. >> james lance. >> curt david. >> christina merry. >> allison murray. >> nathaniel. >> stephen gregory. awn.helsea d >> joshua hagan freedom -- freeman. >> sean joseph. >> brian anderson. >> sean michael. >> eric. >> mackey charles t. said. -- keith. >> benjamin gary. >> stephanie ann. >> christopher david more house. >> christine l. elisabeth sally. >> wisely dakota. >> tyler charles. >> joshua white. >> cadet squadron 12. >> amy michelle abraham. >> michael. >> jonathan. >> ryan david brady. >> nicholas gregory hernandez >> james david evans jr.. >> felicia ferret representative. >> steven christopher appeared >> robert. >> david edward herrmann. >> ca

our keynote speaker for today, ambassador daniel benjamin. he is currently ambassador at large and is with the state department as the coordinator of counter-terrorism. a very unique background, a combination that we do not often see. i think it would be beneficial to us this afternoon. in government and private- sector media and as well in academia, and aside from his current position in government, he has also served with the clinton administration as the director of counter-terrorism and in the office of multinational threats. he has also served as a speechwriter on foreign policy and a special adviser to president clinton. in the media realm, he has been a correspondent for "time" magazine as well as "wall street journal." and has served as a senior fellow at the brookings institution in academia, and also has degrees from harvard and oxford where he serves as a marshall scholar. a great background and very honored to have you with us this afternoon. please welcome the ambassador. [applause] >> thank you very much, general. and thank you

our keynote speaker for today, ambassador daniel benjamin. he is currently ambassador at large and is with the state department as the coordinator of counter-terrorism. a very unique background, a combination that we do not often see. i think it would be beneficial to us this afternoon. in government and private- sector media and as well in academia, and aside from his current position in government, he has also served with the clinton administration as the director of counter-terrorism and in the office of multinational threats. he has also served as a speechwriter on foreign policy and a special adviser to president clinton. in the media realm, he has been a correspondent for "time" magazine as well as "wall street journal." and has served as a senior fellow at the brookings institution in academia, and also has degrees from harvard and oxford where he serves as a marshall scholar. a great background and very honored to have you with us this afternoon. please welcome the ambassador. [applause] >> thank you very much, general. and thank you

benjamin l. cardin, a senator from the state of maryland, to perform the duties of the chair. signed: daniel k. inouye, president pro tempore. mr. reid: mr. president? the presiding officer: the majority leader is recognized. mr. reid: i now move to proceed to calendar number 400, s. 3187. the presiding officer: the clerk will report the motion. the clerk: motion to proceed to consideration of calendar numbered 400, s. 3187, a bill to amend the federal food, drug and cosmetic act, and so forth and for other purposes. mr. reid: mr. president, we're now on the motion to proceed to the f.d.a. user fees bill. at 4:30, the senate will proceed to executive session to consider the nomination of paul watford to be a member of the ninth circuit. at 5:30, there will be a cloture vote on the watford nomination. if we're able to confirm his nomination, we should expect a second vote, cloture vote, on the motion to proceed to f.d.a. user fees legislation. mr. president, this week, the senate must complete work on legislation that will enact crucial reforms that will prevent drug shortages and bring life-sav