madam speaker, dr. king's letter from a birmingham jail is one of the finest articulations of the moral prerequisites of the rule of law and its fundamental necessaryity to our legal, political, and societal foundations ever written. when i talked to school children, oftentimes i tell them to take a look at that letter. when you realize that letter was written without any access to books at the time. that he wrote under very difficult circumstances in a sparse jail cell. you appreciate even more the wisdom and the grace of the language that dr. king used. his articulation of natural rights guarded by natural law of just and unjust laws, of the objective and nonarbitrary basis for the rule of law, trust, government, and moral order is in my judgment without comparison. so as we call in this resolution people in this nation, particularly young people, to dedicate a portion of that day to service of the country, let us remember the vision of dr. king as he understood the true basis for laws in this country

ly close, madam speaker -- i will close, madam speaker. madam speaker, i'd like to thank all of my colleagues for their great words of condolences and sympathy in honor of those that were killed in khost. again, personally, i extend my condolences to the families and friends who are forever impacted by this tragic loss and to those that are recovering today from injuries they received in this attack, i wish you a fill and -- full and fast recovery. we as members of congress recognize that we have a tremendous responsibility to provide our men and women in the intelligence community all the tools that they need to carry out their mission. we're forever grateful and we're blessed to have these men and women serving, protecting our great nation. with that i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the question is, will the house suspend the rules and agree to house resolution 1009. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 of those voting having responded in the a

thank you, madam president. i yield back my time. mr. baucus: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from montana. mr. baucus: madam president, i have further correspondence which i'd like to read into the record with respect to my amendment which is pending and also with respect to statements by organizations who have essentially opposed the conrad-gregg amendment. the first is from the leadership council of aging organizations and it's entitled "a proposed bipartisan task force for responsible fiscal action." and it says, "dear representative: the leadership council of aging organizations, lcao, is a coalition of national not-for-profit organizations focused on the well-being of america's 87 million older adults. today we write to you and your colleagues regarding recent efforts to create a commission that would force changes to entitlement programs, among other things, through the use of a congressional fast-track procedure. we firmly believe that congress, through its regular legislative process, is best suited to consider and address any change

i think that's the way to do it, madam president. because there is a reluctancy in the -- among banks to lend money to small businesses. even though today 90% of that loan is guaranteed by the s.b.a. my legislation would use the same standard for s.b.a. to make direct loans, basically 100% guarantee by the federal government remember than 90%. then we know the loans are going to be made. i can't tell you how many companies i talked to in maryland who are credit worthy. they're prepared to hire more workers. they're prepared to believe in our economy and believe in our future. the problem is they don't have a bank. the -- a bank to partner with. if they had an existing relationship with a community bank, they may be okay. but if they -- don't to try to establish a relationship today is very difficult. the president recognized that last night when he talked about the credit crunch affecting small companies. we haven't eased that up. this legislation would provide for the s.b.a. using the same standards it use today for their s.b.a. loa

mccollum: thank you, madam speaker, thank you, madam chair.am speaker, as co-chair of the congressional mentoring caucus, i rise today in strong support for designating january, 2010, as national mentoring month. thank you to chairman miller and for chairwoman woolsy for bringing this legislation -- woolsey for bringing this legislation to the floor. i'd like to thank the other chairs of the mentoring caucus, mrs. davis of california, and mr. rogers of michigan, who are original co-sponsors of this legislation. we all have an important role to play in the lives of young people around us. our entire community needs to be part of the process in shaping young lives and to become responsible citizens. when caring adults make connections and provide guidance to our youth, it makes a positive impact on their lives. a local newspaper in minnesota recently ran an article about the enormous difference mentoring makes in someone's life. and all of us have experienced that personally. for far too many young people and children, they just might not have a

madam president, i yield the floor. mr. brownback: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from kansas. mr. brownback: madam president, how much time is remaining on our side? the presiding officer: 4 minutes and 55 seconds. mr. brownback: okay. madam president, i'm happy to go back and forth if that was the agreed-upon order of things. that would be certainly acceptable to me. i just wanted to make sure what time we had on our side. the presiding officer: without objection. the senator from vermont. mr. sanders: thank you, madam president. madam president, in a little while, we are going to be casting votes on an issue of enormous consequence and that is whether we reappoint ben bernanke as chairman of the fed. and i'm here to argue that that would be a very bad decision, that we should reject this nomination, that we need in this country a new wall street which understands that its function is not simply to make as much money as it can for extraordinarily wealthy people on the street but begin to integrate the functions of wall street in

hastings: madam speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from washington ask unanimous consent to reclaim his time. mr. hastings: i ask unanimous consent to reclaim my time and unanimous consent that the gentlelady from the virgin islands has her time also. the speaker pro tempore: any objection? seeing none. mrs. christensen: i have no objection. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from washington is recognized. mr. hastings: i'm pleased to yield two minutes to the gentleman from georgia. such time he may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from georgia is yielded as much time as he may consume. mr. kingston: i thank the speaker and the gentleman from washington and the gentlewoman from the virgin islands. i had a lot of interest in this bill because i have spent so many wonderful hours at the rocky mountain national park. my family has been going there off and on for nearly 25 years, about once a year. i can tell you there is not a greater playground in the united states of america if

burris: thank you, madam president. madam president, over the past few days i've heard a number of my colleagues come to the floor to discuss whether this congress should vote to raise the limit on the national debt. as this debate unfolds, i'm beginning to hear from my friends on the other side of the aisle. instead of offering constructive criticism or original ideas of their own, my republican colleagues keep returning to the same irresponsible politics and empty rhetoric that got us into this mess in the first place. they seek to shift the blame and to hold democrats responsible for the failed policies that led us to this point. the american people remember who really -- who really is responsible. in 2001, at the end of the last democratic administration, our country enjoyed a $236 billion budget surplus with the projected surplus of $5.6 trillion over the next decade. but then republicans took control of the congress and the white house. were there good stewards of the surplus left by the clinton administration? di

madam president, dr. bernanke's federal reserve played a key role in setting the stage for the financial crisis that we're in now. first, under his leadership, the federal reserve failed to ensure that our financial institutions were adequately capitalized, as i mentioned a minute ago. indeed, the federal reserve, our federal reserve, led the effort to reduce capital, reduce capital, madam president, in our largest financial institutions through the adoption of the capital accords. the fed even considered abandoning a leverage ratio which ensures that all banks maintain at least 4% of capital. think about it a minute. as a result, when the crisis struck, many of our financial institutions did not have the capital necessary to withstand the downturn. not surprisingly, the federal reserve then argued that a taxpayer bailout of the banks was the only way to prevent an economic collapse. but rather than do its job and ensure that our financial institutions were adequately capitalized, the fed waited until the

the messenger: madam speaker, a message from the senate. the secretary: madam speaker. the speaker: madam secretary. the secretary: i have been directed by the senate inform the house that the senate has agreed with h.con.res 228, providing for joint session of congress to receive a message from the president. the speaker: thank you. the chair will entertain up to 10 requests for one-minute speeches on each side of the aisle. the gentlewoman from ohio, for what purpose does the gentlewoman rise? ms. kaptur: to address the

the ayes have it. >> madam speaker. madam speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from florida. mr. diaz-balart: we request the yeas and nays. the speaker pro tempore: the yeas and nays are requested. those favoring a vote by the yeas and nays will rise. a sufficient number having arisen, the yeas and nays are ordered. pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this question will be postponed. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from new york rise? mr. rangel: madam speaker, i move to suspend the rules and call up h.r. 4462 as amended and ask for its immediate consideration. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 4462, a bill to accelerate the income tax benefits for charitable cash contributions for the relief of victims of the earthquake in haiti. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from new york, mr. rangel, and the gentleman from california, mr. herger, will each control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentlem

thank you, madam speaker. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from tennessee rise? >> to address the house for one minute and revise and extend. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. cohen: thank you, madam speaker. as the world watches the crisis and tragedy in haiti, many people are coming forth with charitable contributions to help, different organizations that are sponsoring efforts. it's commendable and wonderful. but it's discovered that the credit card companies are charging their customary 3% fees on those contributions. that's wrong and the credit card companies, i believe, saw it was wrong and put that off for 60 days for contributions given to certain groups. what i'm looking into introducing as legislation or through letter and requests to the administration is a suspension of credit card fees except those for processing on contributions to 501 c 3 charities. when people make contributions to charities, and contributions are down because of the recession, all of t

[laughter] >> madam secretary, yes. the law requires that the -- must be a member of the senior executive service. we have no other choice. it's written in the statute, so we're in the process of all this takeover recruiting someone because we have to identify an scs position and recruit someone and that process is ongoing. >> and there's no preselection in -- [laughter] [applause] >> yes. >> my name is dorothy burkett and i'm sort of coming behind major bruce and i'm sort of concerned in that i've been here 11 years and i've never had a good supervisor. i've always had -- >> should we give equal time to your supervisor? [laughter] >> i am concerned, because they are not accountable to anyone. in fact, in the two bureaus i've worked in here, they particular supervisor is always supported by management all the way up to the assistant secretary. and whatever they do is one assistant secretary told me, we don't ever tell any supervisor what they can do in their office. and so that is a very poor environment to work in. and

madam president, dr.ership, the federal reserve failed to ensure that our financial institutions were adequately capitalized, as i mentioned a minute ago. indeed, the federal reserve, our federal reserve, led the effort to reduce capital, reduce capital, madam president, in our largest financial institutions through the adoption of the capital accords. the fed even considered abandoning a leverage ratio which ensures that all banks maintain at least 4% of capital. think about it a minute. as a result, when the crisis struck, many of our financial institutions did not have the capital necessary to withstand the downturn. not surprisingly, the federal reserve then argued that a taxpayer bailout of the banks was the only way to prevent an economic collapse. but rather than do its job and ensure that our financial institutions were adequately capitalized, the fed waited until the crisis was in hand -- at hand and then rescued its banks with taxpayer funds. think about it a minute. ben bernanke's federal reser

madam president, dr. bernanke's federal reserve played a key role in setting the stage for the financial crisis that we are in now. first, under his leadership, the chair of the federal reserve failed to ensure that our financial institutions were adequately capitalized that i mentioned a minute ago. indeed, the federal reserve, our federal reserve led the effort to reduce capital, reduce capital, madam chairman, president, in our largest financial institutions through the adoption of the basel two capital accord. the fed even considered abandoning the leverage ratio which ensures that all banks maintain at least 4% of capital. think about it a minute. as a result when the crisis struck, many of our financial and touche and did not have the capital necessary to withstand the downturn. not surprisingly, the federal reserve been argued that a tax payer bailouts of the bank was the only way to prevent economic collapse. but rather than do his job in ensure that our financial institutions were adequately capi

thank you, madam speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentleman from new york. mr. rangel: madam speaker, i recognize mr. blumenauer, a distinguished member of the ways and means committee, for two minutes. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. blumenauer: thank you, madam speaker. i appreciate the courtesy of the chair of the ways and means committee in permitting me to speak on this and the rapid action that the committee has taken. as we are overcome with grief and sympathy for the haitian tragedy, i am reminded of the devastation i saw in indonesia in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami. where over 160,000 people were killed. that disaster inspired cooperation that was truly incredible even in the troubled island of ache that had been torn by war for years. that rebuilding effort sparked a terrific renaissance there. this must signal a new day for the troubled but promising country of haiti. obviously our immediate priority must be saving lives with food and water an

thank you. >> thank you, madam secretary. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2010] >> now, two state department officials discussed the government's initiatives for open access to the internet and the impact of this issue on u.s.-china relations. this is half an hour. >> good afternoon and welcome to the state department. we're very pleased to have with us senior advisor alex ross, along with michael posner. they're here to talk in more detail about the secretary's internet freedom speech yesterday. and with no further ado, i will hand it over to alec. >> good afternoon, everyone, it is a pleasure to be with you this afternoon. what i wanted to do was to take a very few minutes to frame and give a bit of historic context to the remarks yesterday by secretary clinton. i thought it was appropriate that -- if it wasn't the day, it was off by one day. it was basically a year as secretary of state to the day that she gave that speech and for me, that was significant because one of the things that in my opinion that

hastings: madam speaker, maybe -- madam speaker, i ask for the yeas and nays. the speaker pro tempore: the yeas and nays are requested. those in favor of a vote by the yeas and nays will rise. a sufficient number having arisen, the yeas and nays are ordered. pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, proceedings will resume on the questions previously postponed. votes will be taken in the following order. passage of h.r. 4474 and h.r. 3726, and motions to suspend the rules with regard to h.r. 4508 and house resolution 1020. in each case the -- by the yeas and nays. the first electronic vote will be conducted as a 15-minute vote. remaining votes will be conducted as a five-minute vote. the unfinished business is the vote on passage of h.r. 4474 on which the yeas and nays were ordered. the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 4474, a bill to authorize the continued use of certain water diversions located in national forest system land in the frank church river of no return willedersness and th

cantor: i thank the gentleman, madam speaker. mr. hoyer: let me say one additional thing. mr. cantor: i didn't yield, madam speaker. mr. hoyer: you took back the time. i didn't yield. mr. cantor: i yield. mr. hoyer: thank you. i agree with the gentleman, we need certainty. we tried to give certainty in the estate tax. your side voted against that. we tried to give certainty in tax extenders. we tried to extend the tax extenders. and your side didn't vote for that. i don't think you did either but i agree with your premise and wanted to make that clear. that's one of the reasons we tried to pass -- making sure that doctors treating medicare patients knew what they'd be getting years out so that medicare would have a stability that it needs. i yield back. mr. cantor: i thank the gentleman, madam speaker. and i would say again, somehow in the gentleman's memory of these past years there is something that's left out and that is the -- this body and congress. because during the clinton years, the clinton years that saw prosperity, the

cantor: thank you, madam speaker. and i yield to the gentleman from maryland, the majority leader, for the purpose of announcing next week's schedule. mr. hoyer: i thank my friend, the republican whip, for yielding. on monday the house is not in session. on tuesday the house will meet at 12:30 p.m. for morning hour debate and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. on wednesday the house will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business and recess at approximately 5:00 p.m., madam speaker, to allow security sweep of the house chamber prior to the president's state of the union address. the house will meet again at approximately 8:35 p.m. in a joint session with the senate for the purpose of receiving an address from the president of the united states. on thursday and friday the house is not in session to give time for the republican issues conference to occur in baltimore, maryland. we will consider several bills under suspension of the rules, a complete list of suspension bills will be announced by close of business tomor

madam president, i yield the floor. mr. gregg: madam president? presiding officer: under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved. under the previous order, the senate will resume consideration of h.j. res. 45,eport. the clerk: h.j. res. 45, increasing the statutory limit on the public debt. evious orderer you can the time until 11:30 shall be equally divided between the two leaders or their designees. mr. baucus: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from montana. mr. baucus: madam president, i understand there's been a time allocation among senators here, but i had a he like to give -- but i'd like to give five minutes time given to me to the senator from illinois. mr. gregg: if the senator fro would yield for just a minute. i would ask that i be recognized to manage the time on our side. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. gregg: and i will yield after the senator from illinois ten minutes -- or up to ten minutes to the senator from alabama. the presiding officer: the senator from illinois. mr. durbin: madam p

madam secretary? >> senator, we did not prepare a no-fly our terrorist list and we do not do the screening at international airports. i am secretary of common security and i share responsibility for the enterprise that has to happen to prevent this from happening again. >> i thank you, madam secretary. i understand, admiral blair, that in response to senator collins, you're not consulted as to which they knew the christmas bombing would be tried again. >> that is correct. >> how about you, mr. leiter? >>, no sir, i was not. >> secretary to paul a tunnel? >> no. >> i have asked your opinion. should the christmas bomber be tried in civilian court or should he be under military tried burn all -- tribunal? >> i am not ready to offer an opinion on that in open session. we can talk about it in closed session, senator mccain. >> mr. leiter? >> i did not have a position. i am and -- i am focusing on this and i am not -- i do not have an unpaid -- i do not have an opinion on where he should be charged. >> the

ryan: thank you, madam speaker. it's an honor, again, to be on the floor of the house of representatives to talk about the issues of the day that are here and talk about changes that have happened in our country over the course of the last year due to the leadership of president obama and the democratic congress. and i know in today's world and today's media-driven world where we like to talk about and have fights about different issues and let those fights kind of permeate society, sometimes it's very difficult for us to, as leaders in the country, to talk directly to our constituents and to the american people about some of the changes that have been in place. if we look at just a little over a year ago when, in the fall of last year, october of 2008, i guess it would be, the difficulties facing our country. on the economic side, the collapse of the stock market, the collapse of the job market, wall street run amok, no regulations, no rules, fancy packaging of different accounting skeems and creative financial --

king: thank you, madam speaker. i appreciate the honor to be recognized, to address you here on the floor of the house. and i appreciate the previous hour of the gentleman from virginia leading it, talking about the responsibility that we all have to provide a balanced budget here in this congress and recognizing that the political forces that are at play here in, let's say in congress and across the country, everybody wants their measure and it has been something where federal dollars have been distributed on down through the chain from the federal government to the state to the counties to the cities and other political subdivisions, parishes, other examples of that, individual organizations, appropriations, and it has been very, very difficult for this congress to find the discipline to produce a balanced budget. and that's one of the reasons why i believe strongly that we've got to amend the constitution so that we have real strict constraints because congress hasn't shown the discipline to balance the budget. a

>> thank you, madam speaker. i'm trying to hide behind him because i'm dressed for the weather today. >> i just changed. [laughter] >> i do believe that all of us heard from our constituents over the holidays, and we know that they're looking forward to us using the time between now and when we reconvene to have a legislation well underway to reconciliation. we are trying to reconcile two bills that are good bills. there are real good things in the senate bill. great things in the house bill. what we have to do now is meld these two together and do this in such a way that the american people will feel that the time and imaging in this effort has been worth while. >> thank you very much. we are particularly delighted with the leadership of the president of the united states. without his leadership, without his vision, without his encouragement we would not be right on the verge right now of passing this historic legislation which will be placed, i think, in its rightful place, alongside social security, medicare a

with madam secretary.mentioned we discussed -- as madam secretary mentioned we discussed all the issues that are important for both countries and i just want to highlight that -- about two or three issues, one of them is yemen is a very important disability of yemen and unity of yemen and we think the situation in yemen there is only one solution to be solved through a peaceful manner by trying to find a way to solve this problem in a peaceful way. the second thing is about the middle east track and the palestinian-israeli peace process. we are hoping that this peace process could start again and it have to start an agenda and end game. we are looking to see where is the end game and i really thank obama and madam secretary's administration for their efforts which bring hope again to us to continue this process. there will be difficulties and there will be up and down in this process. we know this. but the most important things is how we can do a unity government between the palestinian so they can concent

cantor: i thank the gentleman, madam speaker. mr. hoyer: let me say one additional thing. mr. cantor: i didn't yield, madam speaker. mr. hoyer: you took back the time. i didn't yield. mr. cantor: i yield. mr. hoyer: thank you. i agree with the gentleman, we need certainty. we tried to give certainty in the estate tax. your side voted against that. we tried to give certainty in tax extenders. we tried to extend the tax extenders. and your side didn't vote for that. i don't think you did either but i agree with your premise and wanted to make that clear. that's one of the reasons we tried to pass -- making sure that doctors treating medicare patients knew what they'd be getting years out so that medicare would have a stability that it needs. i yield back. mr. cantor: i thank the gentleman, madam speaker. and i would say again, somehow in the gentleman's memory of these past years there is something that's left out and that is the -- this body and congress. because during the clinton years, the clinton years that saw prosperity, the

. >> madam speaker, the dean of the diplomatic corps. [applause] >> madam speaker, the chief justice and the associate justices of the supreme court. [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] >> madam speaker, the president's cabinet. [applause] . .

stewart and stewart said madame, let me finish i was about to say that the general has those passions under perfect control. >> host: he really was a good psychologist than three >> guest: yes, he got out of a tight spot on that one. but then washington, he looked to washington hoping to get a positive response and a little smile across washington's face and he said he's right. [laughter] so you told about the 1877 letter. what's also interesting about that is that nobody seemed to be interested in it. it sold for very little money at an auction. >> guest: and i suspect the probability was there was a very strong rumor that jpmorgan had bought the letter thinking he was doing something patriotic. but we don't know that for sure so that is at best an interesting rumor. but the auctioneer announced it was sold for $13 which is really ridiculous. so it was a cover-up all the way because the man felt that washington's reputation had been damaged by this letter. but when you get deeper into the whole story of course you find out that that is simply not the case. >> host: his reputation see

stewart and he said madam, let me finish, i was about to say that the general has those passions under perfect control 57 he was a very good to when he got themselves out of that. a little smile played on his face and said he is right. [laughter] >> host: you tell us about the 1877 letter which was also interesting is that nobody seemed to be interesting interested. it went for very little money. >> respect the probability that jpmorgan had bought the letter thinking he was doing something patriotic. but we don't know that for sure. it is a rumor. but the auctioneer announced it was sold for $13 which is ridiculous. it was a cover-up all the way. the demand that washington's reputation had been damaged by this letter but when you get deeper into the story you find out that is simply not the case. >> host: his reputation seems to have changed with his three. he was an icon right after his death and was with the democratic nation particularly as jackson became president and the american and sean representative painting became popular, washington was shown in these scenes of interiors of

difficult for madame secretary. [speaking foreign language] arabic] [speaking arabic] >> madam secretary, with regards to the letter of guarantees that was asked of the arab countries, as you know qatar chairs the current arab committee for another round. we have given all letter to that affect to the yassar administration right after the un meetings. we are still awaiting a response from the u.s. administration. this response will be very and pour in to us, as it will give us a clear identia of how the u. sees the end game. with regards to the issue of assistance, qatar has always given assistance to the palestinians and will continue to give similar assistance to the palestinians. >> thank you, all, very much. >> thank you very much. >> here on c-span 2, tomorrow morning, a forum on long-term care services. there will discuss whether or not congress will include long term insurance and their final health care bill. that is live at 8:30 eastern. later in the morning, a form are energy efficiency. panelist from gove

if anybody was ever ready to be seduced at that point it was the madam and if subduction had been the name of the game as far as franklin was concerned this was his opportunity. he said you must learn to forgive your husband because revenging yourself against him only puts you on his level and he persuaded her that this was a spiritual challenge that because for the sake of her children and marriage is a very moving and touching scene and it shows this side of franklin, too. he knew that there were serious feelings between people. >> host: as you say he was second only to washington as a founding father so there is a very serious side and i guess this is a kind of release for m to get along with all of these ladies in england and france to relieve the tension of the things he was doing. >> guest: was part of it but also he understood something most people don't appreciate about the french at this time. the french ladies he was dealing with are the upper class almost all, and they were into politics. they have salons where the best people came so when he was charming then he was also a

. >> madam speaker, madam president, mr. chief justice, honorable members of the governor's council, the judiciary, house and senate, and my fellow citizens of new hampshire. let me take a moment to first introduced m exceptional first lady, dr. susan lynch. [applause] [applause] i want to thank susan for her support, and for all the great work she does for the people of new hampshire. i also want to recognize a friend to all of us, someone who has spent a lot of time here in the state house and someone who has devoted his life to making a difference in the lives of others here in new hampshire. former governor walter peterson and his wife dorothy are with us today in the balcony. let's thank them for all they have done. [applause] [applause] we all mourn the lives lost in the haitian eric flake ander said by the suffering that so many of that country's residents are enduring, and for some new hampshire residents, the tragedy is very personal as they greet and wait news of family and friends. they are in our thoughts and the

madam clerk, close the machine and take a fallly. >> madam speaker, you have 39 members present, youhave a quorum. >> i recognize the senate majority leader. from middlesex county, representing the 18th district, senator barbara brono. >> thank you, madam speaker. i move that this joint session of the 214th legislature does now come to order. >> i recognize the assembly majority leader from union county, representing the 20th ledge slay i -- legislative district. >> i sec the motion. >> those in favor say aye. opposed say nay. the ayes have it. i am opposed be -- advised by the secretary of the senate that a quorum is present at this joint session. please rise for the invocation to be delivered by reverend bruce davidson of the lutheran office of governmental ministries. >> let us pray. holy and generous god we call you be many names and know you from the teachings of many religions. may we always then appreciate that we are a blessing to each other. holy words revered by many tell us that you require no more -- no more of any of us than to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly

thank you. >> thank you, madam secretary. >> thank you very much.ational captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2010] >> the chinese government reacted to the remarks by saying that the american government should stick to the facts. >> welcome to the state department. we are very pleased to have albatrosses and the assistant secretary for human rights. -- alex ross and the assistant secretary for human rights. they are here to talk about the comments made by the secretary>> good afternoon, everyone. it is a pleasure to be with you. i want to take a few minutes to give it some context to the remarks yesterday by secretary clinton. i thought was appropriate that if it was not the day it was off by one day. it was a year to 8 day that she gave that speech. it was basically a year to 8 day a day. to me, that was significant because one of the things that secretary of state is figuring out the way in which we can modernize our statecraft. we have learned a lot over the course of this year. we have learned some things tha

mccain: madam president?e presiding officer: the senator from i a unanimous consent that further reading under the quorum call be suspended. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mccain: and i rise to speak in support of the coburn amendment to eliminate wasteful and duplicative spending. before my colleague from oklahoma leaves the floor, i know he has to go, but i ask -- i pose a question for the senator from oklahoma. we have a listing in your amendment of the many duplicative programs. have we had a study that would indicate how many employees are -- numbers of employees, government employees are engaged in administering these duplicative programs? mr. coburn: no. to answer the senator's question, we don't know how many duplicative programs are out there. these are just the 640 we found looking over a four-week period. when we asked the g.a.o. or the congressional research service about this, what they say is the task is too big, that they don't even know if they can accomplish the task, which goe

. >> thank you very much, madame secretary. have the new year. i am very glad in the first working day to be here with madame secretary. at that -- as madame secretary mentioned, we discussed all of the issues that are important for both countries and i want to highlight about two or three issues, and one of them is yemen, the support and visibility of yemen and unity of yemen. we think there is only one solution to be solved for a peaceful way to solve this problem. the second thing is about the middle east track and the palestinian-israeli peace process. we are hoping that this peace process could start again and attempt to start an agenda and endgame. we're looking to see where is the endgame. i really thank obama and madame secretary of the administration for their efforts that have brought hope that began to us to continue this process. there will be difficulties and if will be up and down in this process, we know this. but the most important thing is how we can do a unity government between the palestinians so they can concentrate how to de

. >> think you, madam secretary. it the pleasure is all mine. i am happy to be here at the state department again. back in august when i had the pleasure to be here, the relationship could be described as a partnership and not just a friendship. this relationship has withstood the test of time and the challenges we have had in our part of the world and globally. our relationship is stronger by the day. we celebrated the 60th year of the relations between jordan and the united states. again, we let the solid relationship that both caught -- both countries enjoy is a solid one based on common values and shared vision of a comprehensive, lasting peace, coexistence, and prosperity. we have a firm belief in combat in the many challenges that we face around the world. i think you, madam secretary -- i think you to refer to the tragic loss of life that we sought in afghanistan and elsewhere as a result of our ongoing and joints, global collective war on terrorism. thank you for referring to the 2005 hotel bombings in jordan. we must not forget that we,

. >> madam chairman, i think you for inviting me to testify today. --thank you for inviting me to testify today. we're talking about the mental health consequences of national disasters. my remarks will be a reminder of why our commitment to children is so important. as you know, psychological trauma experienced by so many children in the aftermath of hurricane katrina increased the incidence of depression, ptsd, risk-taking behavior, and other potentially -- lasting emotional effects. it is well known that children have possibly a greater risk of developing mental health disorders. in new orleans, a slow pace of recovery and recurring threat of hurricanes make further exacerbate their trauma. against this backdrop, we found persistent barrier to providing mental health services. several grants are helping to address this. lack of mental health providers was identified as the number one barrier to providing services. the designation of parishes in new orleans as mental health professional shortage barriers -- shortage areas showed the large number gr

no madam, i don't have esp. ok. i'll take a box, but you probably already knew that. (announcer) fiber one. cardboard no. delicious yes. >>> senate majority leader harry reid is apologizing tonight for comments he made about president obama during the campaign. reid said mr. obama could win the race because he was, quote, a light skinned african- american with no negro dialect unless he wanted to have one. the comments were published in a new book about the campaign called game change. now the senator says, i sincerely apologize for offending any and all americans especially african-americans for my improper comments. president obama says haccepts the apology and considers the matter to be over. >>> something not over? health care reform. senator reid helped push through the health care bill, a bill that received no votes from republicans. but tonight a big name clinic is being held up as an example of what could go wrong. fox 5's melini wilx reports on why the clinic has this people worried. >> costs will finally come down for families, businesses, and our government

madam speaker, -- madam speaker? [laughter] all right, do-over. madam president. yes. [applause] mr. speaker. there we go. and all of the members of the house and senate, lieutenant governor, fellow constitutional officers, and members of the cabinet, to the members of the hon. judiciary, the mayor, and other municipal leaders, distinguished guests, and above all, the people of the commonwealth of massachusetts, i want to first acknowledge and thank my first lady and yours, diane patrick. [applause] you should all know that diahann has done a marvelous work around the commonwealth on domestic violence issues, and, diane, i think people are almost as grateful to have you in their lives as i am to have you in mind. -- as i am to have you in mine. i want you all to please join me and diane thinking the people of massachusetts who served in the united states military and their families. [applause] -- to please join us in thanking the people of massachusetts to serve in the united states military and their families. [applause] we are, everyone of us, in their debt. a specia

mark brown, board member of cdd. >> lord. >> for the non-americans in the room, your message today, madam secretary, your team, this vision will be hugely well- received all over the world. let me ask two quick questions. you spoke about the need sometimes to do things for strategic reasons even if development returns are not as high as they would be somewhere else. that means how much for afghanistan compared with how much for africa. i would be fascinated by your comments on how you will manage that important balance. second, as someone who has admired u.s. aid for years, one of its biggest difficulties is not so much just the things you have referred to but the fact that its political masters have shied away when it comes under attack because of development projects somewhere has gone wrong. development projects do go wrong because it's a risky difficult business. i would urge you to recognize, because i think you did in the speech, you will have to fight very hard very often with the congress and others to defend u.s. aid because it gets into risk averse challenge, wondering what it d

in stuart set him and adam, madam, let me finish. let me say that the general has the bose passions on the perfect control. >> host: he really was a good psychologist then. >> guest: he got out of a tight spot on that one. but washington -- he looked to washington hoping to get a positive response a little smile when across washington state to be said, he's right. >> host: so you told us about the 1877 letter. what's also interesting about that is that nobody seemed to be interested in it. it sold for very little money. >> guest: so they say. i suspect that the probability was there was a very strong rumor that jpmorgan about the letter thinking he was doing something peachy addict, but we don't know something for sure. that's an interesting rumor. but the auctioneer sold for $13, which is really ridiculous. so it was a cover-up all the way. the man thought washington's reputation had been damaged by this letter. but when you get deeper into the whole story, of course, you find out that simply not the case. >> host: well, his reputat

speaker, madam speaker would have been speaking the truth. and that's what she should have done because that's what she did. we have no openness here. it's kind of like our current president said, you know, a change you can believe in. mr. speaker, i don't think this is a change the american people were expecting and they certainly don't believe in it. i yield back to my colleagues. mr. broun: thank you for yielding back. you're exactly right, the american people were promised many things by this speaker, transparency, openness, the new era of a clean government with a prosecution of corruption. nothing could be further from the truth. this speaker has not fulfilled those promises to the american people and the american people need to stand up and understand that they are really in control . the constitution of the united states, which i believe in, it was originally intended -- it starts off with three powerful words. i have a copy in my pocket, i carry a copy all the time. it starts with three very powerful words, we, the people. this is a

kyl: thank you, madam president. i ask unanimous consent that further proceedings on the quorum call be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. kyl: madam president, i wanted to talk a little bit this afternoon about the amendment that senators conrad and gregg have proposed and which we will be voting on next week. both of these senators are very well versed as the chairman and ranking member of the budget committee in fiscal policy and in the types of reforms that everyone is looking for to get a handle on the deficit and the debt that this country is facing and so it is with some trepidation that i oppose an amendment that the two of them would offer. and i hasten to say that both are respected members of this body who approach problems with principle in mind, and in this particular case having talked to senator gregg, i know the idea that only by working across the aisle with each other and compromising can we hope to deal with the most vexing problem that seems to face this body, and that i

no madam, i don't have esp. (announcer) fiber one. cardboard no. delicious yes. >>> we're back with the program. every week, i'm going to be taking you into the lives of some really fascinating people. something new we're doing on the show. they could be scientists, medical innovators or even celebrities. and today we start with the inventor of more than 400 medical devices, dean cayman. >> sir, how are you? >> how are you doing? >> terrific. >> i'm so excited to be here. >> dean kamen is an inventor. on a bitter cold day, i went to visit him at his home in new hampshire. >> well, actually, just to give you a sense of how things are going to go today, i thought i'd light the situation up. so are we ready? >> this is how you start an interview with dean kamen. a lightbulb hanging and burning. >> and burning. >> i've had this house described to me by various, one of the best ones. it's a cross between willie wonka's chocolate factory and the museum of technology. >> dean kamen, you've probably seen his most famous invention, the segway. you might kno

madam president, madam speaker, madam chief justice, members of the legislature, members of the cabinet, distinguished guests and my fellow citizens, i cannot remember a time that is presented me with such hard choices and such great opportunities. it is a bit of a contradiction to talk about economic hardship and opportunity in the same breath, but that's the same situation we face today. in the last 12 months, state revenues up on $1.1 billion. unemployment has dropped 8%, housing and businesses are struggling, and people are uncertain and anxious. it's a time of great turmoil. but it's also a time of incredible opportunity and revolutionary change. spent time in our state is breaking with the comfortable past to blaze a new trail. we have come together to say enough, to put our foot down and put an end to the circumstances that have held our people and our economy hostage. today we are laying the groundwork for economic revitalization and freedom from the tyranny of foreign oil. are we there yet? no. though we are on the way. despite the difficulties we face, the hard choices and har

the messenger: madam speaker, a message from the senate. the secretary: madam speaker.the speaker pro tempore: madam secretary. the secretary: i have been directed by the senate to inform the house that the senate has agreed to h.con.res. 3145 in which the concurrence of the house is requested. the speaker pro tempore: the chair lays before the house a communication. the clerk: the honorable the speaker, house of representatives, madam, pursuant to the permission granted in clause 2h of rule 206 the rules of the u.s. house of representatives the clerk received the following message from the secretary of the senate january 21 at 5:20 p.m., that the senate passed h.r. 3462. with best wishes, signed, sincerely, lorraine c. miller, clerk of the house. the speaker pro tempore: the chair lays before the house the following enrolled bills. the clerk: an act to doctor charitable relief contributions for victims of the earthquake in haiti. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the house will stand adjourned until 12:30 p.m. on tuesday, january 26, 2 >> we are live right no

madam secretary.ause] >> well, good morning and i ago pat's comments about the relief needs in haiti and i think all of you from throughout the department, our colleagues from tid who have been working literally around the clock since january 12th. the needs are overwhelming. we are trying to meet the humanitarian needs in this. , while at the same time working with the haitian government, the u.n. and other countries and organizations to plan for the longer-term. when i spoke to family members who have lost loved ones, victoria delong, and then i spoke with andrew wyllie. they both thanked me as secretary for the outpouring of support that they had received from colleagues. in victoria's case from people was served with her and knew her, who had reached out to the family, who had really demonstrated the closeness of community that exists among us. and for andrew wyllie, who inconceivably, unimaginably lost his wife on her birthday and his seven en masse and 5-year-old children. he mentioned specifica

hoyer. >> thank you very much madam speaker. this has been a wonderful conference.then it wonderful job in leading this congress. we just heard from bill clinton. i have been here for some years and in the 1980's particularly the middle of 1980, we were talking about whether america could continue to debate the world. with the germans, the japanese and others were moving ahead of us at a very rapid rate. in the 1990's we adopted an economic program and i would remind all of you that we pass that in a partisan fashion with no republican votes. that is not the way we wanted to pass it but that is the way we passed it. and we saw the greatest economic resurgence that i have seen in my lifetime in this country. jobs were created, surpluses were created, the problems were just a few months ago in the beginning of last year we confronted the worst economic crisis since the great depression. we heard from president obama yesterday as we heard from president clinton today. pundits, many of you, have observed that we have just gone through one of the most productive sessions