in my home state of north carolina, and mel watt is the president's nominee to be the next director much our federal housing finance agency. congressman watt is a true north carolinian. he was born in north carolina. he attended the university of north carolina at chapel hill, and he has spent much of his distinguished career working for the people of north carolina. congressman watt is an outstanding choice to lead the federal housing finance agency. over his 20 years on the house financial services and judiciary committees, congressman watt has been a steadfast advocate for affordable housing in north carolina and across the country. he has worked tirelessly to protect families from predatory and deceptive lending practices. and he's been willing to work across the aisle to find common ground on issues that promote economic opportunity for the middle class. well before the housing crisis, congressman watt raised concerns that predatory lending prices were harming consumers and putting our housing market at risk. he was instrumental in enacting dodd-frank and in supporting its antip

also earlier today the senate, members what denomination of mel watt to become federal finance agency and patricia millett to the d.c. circuit court. there is more about that now. >> joining us from capitol hill he covers congress for cq rollcall. your article this afternoon says the nomination wars are officially back. what happened on the senate floor today? >> guest: well, what happened this afternoon is that there were two president obama's nomination, both congressman mel watt to head up the federal financing regulator as well as a federal appeals court judge for the district of colombia circuit, who both based being blocked by the senate thanks to a republican-led filibuster of each nominee. each nominee failed to get the 60 votes required to advance with just a couple of republicans in each case voting yes on the motion to limit debate. >> host: tell us about mel watt's nomination. democratic representative from north carolina, obama figured capitol hill. how much support did it have on the president made the nomination and going into today's procedural vote? >> guest: well, th

the senate today blocking the nomination of mel watt. "politico" reporting on it. s blocking the nomination of the former representative to be the regulator of taxpayer on mortgage companies fannie mae and freddie mac. despite a renewed effort by the administration to pressure g.o.p. senators to get behind president obama's choice to lead the federal housing and finance agency. the senate also blocked patrigsa millett to be a judge. the senate is back shortly, 2:00 p.m. eastern. you can follow that on c-span 2. up next we'll take you back to the commerce summits, the investment summit at the commerce department from earlier today. black rock c.e.o. said the u.s. is well positioned to attract business investment. but he criticized washington citing the recent dispute over raising the debt ceiling. and shutting down the government. also on this panel, the c.e.o.'s of wal-mart, u.s. and dow chemical. [applause] >> good morning, everyone. secretary lew, secretary pritzker, thank you so much for your very excellent remarks. and i want to thank both of them for their lea

mel watts, they did block that nomination just recently.hite house saying that they are determined to stand by that nomination. he's a real flash point. mel watts, a representative who served for 21 years, including on the financial services committee. the white house democrats believe that he is qualified for this role. republicans say he's too political, one of the reasons that some voted to block his nomination. i won't get into the nitty-gritty, tamron, but harry reid can bring his name up again. so the white house democrats determined to stand by him. i should also say today, tamron that, patricia malette was also blocked today. >> all right. thank you very much, kristen. and new york city at it again. from calorie counts to soda ban, the city will soon get tough on tobacco. a new law would ban the sale to people who are younger than 21 years old. the councilmember who sponsored the bill will join us live to explain why this needs to be done ain his opinion. >>> plus -- >> this is more an issue parents should be working with their kids

mel watt, and they need to put him in place so people can see relief. >> what are we watching for next? what is the timeline, and what is the probability of jp morgan chase moving forward? >> i think we'll definitely see something in the next week or two. they really want to get this done. i think we'll be looking at what kind of admissions we're going to see from jp morgan and the fine print. >> they've already reserved $23 billion for settlements. the stocks have taken the hit that it is, but the shareholders are a good barometer for a too big to fail bank. as far as the bank keeps making money, the cheerleaders are going to choir them, and it's the tax payers and homeowners who have taken the hit and other people who have a standard of justice from wall street to main treamainstreet. they have taken a hit. >> we'll have to leave it there. thank you for being here. that's it from the team in washington, d.c. and from me, libby casey. >> slavery in nepal has been abolished, by law. but behind the high walls of many city homes here, young girls continue to serve as slaves. known as kam

i got to know mel watt when he was chairman of the black congressional caucus. we come over and visit with me every month or so. a fine man. he's represented north carolina's 12th congressional district since 1993. and as a senior member of the house finances service me committee he understands the mistakes that led to the housing crisis. he also has proposed legislation to contract down on the worst abuses in mortgage lending and helped pass the dodd-frank bill to prevent predatory lending. he's qualified to help struggling homeowners to recover from the worst economic downturn in generations and my republican colleagues should give him the up-or-down vote he deserves, not filibuster him. i know some republicans don't like dodd-frank. obviously, they didn't mind the abuses that led to the crashing of wall street. but he shouldn't be punished for that. so, mr. president, the time when america faces difficult times at homes it's crucial the senate confirm these talented and dedicated individuals to serve in the executive branch of government. let us vote on these

the gentleman from north carolina, subcommittee chairman, mel watt. >> thank you, mr. chairman. i just want to thank the chair for convening us here, and i think i'll yield back my time and listen to the witnesses might be better than them listening to me. >> thank you. uncharacteristically brief -- [laughter] but definitely -- >> characteristically brief. >> oh, yes, i meant characteristically brief. suzanne delbini, distinguished member of the committee from washington state, is recognized now. >> thank you. i also want to thank the chair for calling this hearing together. i really appreciate it and appreciate all of you being here, taking the time today to give us your feedback, and like congress juan -- congressman watt, i want to be brief. i want to hear from you, so i yield back my time. >> thank you very much. the gentleman from new york, jerly nadler, chairman of the -- former chairman of the constitutional subcommittee, senior member of the judiciary committee in the house. >> thank you, mr. chairman. thank you, mr. chairman. i, too, will be uncharacteristically brief -

johnson: i rise to speak in support of congressman mel watt to serve as director of the federal housing finance agency. it has been over five years since the fhfa's inception and it still has never had a confirmed director. first, senate republicans blocked president obama's original nominee for the post, jewel smith, who was a technocrat. today they are trying to block congressman watt because they say he is a politician and not a technocrat. whabut they forget that congresn watt has over 40 years of experience in housing, real estate, and other financial services issues. before coming to congress, he practiced business and economic development law and personally walked hundreds of families through real estate closings. in congress, he had served on the house financial services committee for the past 21 years. in that capacity, was one of the first members to recognize the need for action on predatory lending. with quite foresight, he introduced the "prohibit predatory lending act" in 2004 and introduced it every congress until it became the foundation for the "qualifie qualified more

this body have served in the house of representativesn with ata fine public servant byf the name of mel watt. i got to know mel watt when he was chairman of the congressional caucus.ress he would come over and visitisit with me every month or so. fine man. he's represented north r carolina's 12th congressional district since 1993. and as a senior member of the t house financial service committee, he understands the mistakes that led to the housino crisis. he also has proposed legislatiol to crack down on the worst abuses in mortgage lending and help pass the dodd-frank bill te prevent predatory lending. by any measure congressman watt is qualified to help struggling homeowners recover from the worst economic downturn in generations, and my republican colleagues should give him the up or down vote he deserves, not filibuster him. i know some republicans don't like dodd-frank. obviously, they didn't mind the abuses that took place that led to the crash of wall street. but he shouldn't be punished for that. so, mr. president, a time when a america faces difficult economic times at home and thre

the other is congressman mel watt. the president's pick to lead a federal housing agency.ber of congress who has the support from the business community. but to republicans, blocking these two appointments are just another way to try to hurt president obama. we've seen it again and again on issue after issue. with this republican party, they have such antipathy for this president and his agenda, they root for his failure. even if it's bad for the country. they'll do everything. even mistake the facts. here's what gop leaders said this week about government spending. >> this debt, it weighs on our economy today. we're not doing much about it. >> our country is on an unsustainable fiscal course. >> we have had record deficits. >> record deficits for the past five years? the senator conveniently left out some major information. under president obama, deficits have gone down five straight years. the fastest drop since world war ii. down $409 billion since 2012. republicans are quiet about that, but they're still making stuff up about health care. >> what i want is the finest p

subject to the call of the chair after earlier blocking the nomination of former representative mel watt of north carolina to head the federal finance agency. we will have live coverage when the return. >> author and astrophysicist neil degrasse tyson on america's call for scientists and engineers. >> as nasa's future goes, so, too, does that of america. and if nasa is healthy, then you don't need a program to convince people that science and engineering is good to do. they will see at writ large on the paper. there will be calls for engineers to help us go ice phishing on europa where there's an ocean of water has been liquid for billions of years. we are going to dig through the source of morris and look for life. that will get me the best biologists. look at the nasa portfolio today. it's got biology, chemistry, geology, planetary geology, aerospace engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, all the s.t.e.m. fields, science, technology, engineering and math represented in the nasa portfolio. a healthy nasa pumps that. a healthy nasa is a flywheel that society casts for inn

congressman mel watt of north carolina was blocked from becoming the next head of the federal housinginance agency. watt is the first sitting member of congress whose nomination has been defeated by a phil buster since, get this, 1843. and the other appointee to be blocked by patricia millit to the court of appeals. "hardball" back after this. you'd what they're saying about the nissan altima. ♪ and we have to admit, that it's all true. but don't just take their word for it, check it out for yourself. the award-winning nissan altima. nissan. innovation that excites. now get a $179 per month lease on a 2013 nissan altima. ♪ with my united mileageplus explorer card. i've saved $75 in checked bag fees. [ delavane ] priority boarding is really important to us. you can just get on the plane and relax. [ julian ] having a card that doesn't charge you foreign transaction fees saves me a ton of money. [ delavane ] we can go to any country and spend money the way we would in the u.s. when i spend money on this card, i can see brazil in my future. [ anthony ] i use the explorer card to earn mil

then you look at today's activity in the united states senate where mel watt, the congressman from north carolina was blocked to head up the federal housing administration and housing agency, one of president obama's picks to head up the d.c. circuit court of appeals was blocked by filibuster. people just say washington is broken. this is just standard operating procedure. if you're looking -- if the past hikt ri is predictive, some people might not be all that far off if there's not some time of government shutdown in the future, i think we're going to get pretty close to it. >> right. a lot of frightening numbers in this poll and a real indication the american people simply lack confidence with their political leaders. as the man that understands these polls better than any of us, what was most shocking to you? >> i think it was the 63% of the folks want to elect a new member of congress. we do know -- and i was just saying at the beginning, this is why i think that incumbents should be worried because nothing is easier than being an incumbent and winning re-election. of course, we see

procedural votes later on several executive nominations including north carolina democratic congressman mel watt the direct of the federal housing finance agency and patricia mr. litt to be united states district judge for the district of columbia circuit. and now live to the senate floor here on c-span2. the presiding officer: the senate will come to order. the chaplain, dr. barry black, will lead the senate in prayer. the chaplain: let us pray. eternal god, the giver of gifts, thank you for your unchanging promises that we can claim each day. you have promised to supply our needs and to work everything together for our good. bless our lawmakers. help them to seek not what they can get from you, but what your power can enable them to do for you. remind them that in prayer they do not so much hear a voice as acquire a voice. show them how to use that acquired voice to speak for the voiceless, may they even use their pain to put them in touch with the pain of others. we pray in your merciful name. amen. the presiding officer: please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the flag. i pled

senator mcconnell said mel watt does not meet those standards. the senate also walk of its new its newest member today, the mayor newark city cory booker was sworn in as senator from new jersey. senator swearing in of booker, the makeup of the senate now stands at 53 democrats, 45 republicans, and two independents. more about cory booker. he was mayor of new work among new jersey, from 2006 until 2016. he earned a law degree from yale. off the floor, the senate homeland security committee held a hearing to review the background check and security clearance process for people working in government holdings. the top applicant on the committee pointed out that about 8400 people with top security clearances have tax problems. >> what is the answer? one of the answers has to be doing the job that we do better, number two, the other has to be that using data that is available. the form -- where is that form? bucks, you can20 get 90% of the information on the internet that is in this form. we pay $2400 for a top-secret clearances, is that right? aboutab