mr. cardin: but if they are civilians, it would be even more complicated. dr. brown: correct, i think so. mr. corker: back to the pressure you were talking about earlier, where you have these expanded peacekeeping needs that are complex. you have pressure for more of that to occur. i mean, i look at the types of populations, generally speaking, that are being quote, "protected." and, i mean, is there some institutional disrespect for the types of people that these peacekeeping missions are being sent out to protect, is there something there that we need to understand? mr. yeo: i think the disrespect that occurs is between individual soldiers and the disrespect that comes as a result of individual actions they are taking, the crimes they are committing as a peacekeeper. but having visited many different peacekeeping missions around the world, i am honestly shocked by the willingness of these peacekeepers to serve away from their homes for some time, maybe months, years on end, protecting people they do not even know. and they are doing it at great personal risk w

mr. cardin: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from maryland. mr. cardin: i would ask consent that the quorum call be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. morning business is closed. under the previous order, the senate will resume consideration of h.r. 2028, which the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 96, h.r. 2028, an act making appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending september 30, 2016, and for other purposes. mr. cardin: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from maryland. mr. cardin: mr. president, i understand shortly we're going to be voting on the hoeven amendment. the hoeven amendment would deny the ability for the clean water rule to go into effect. in 1972 congress passed the clean water act. it passed the clean water act in response to what was happening around this country. we saw rivers literally catch on fire as a result of polluted waterways. we had lake erie, which was considered dead. the chesapeake bay was one of the world's first m

mr. cardin: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from maryland. mr. cardin: i want to share the frustration of my colleague from wyoming. this just should not be a partisan issue. i agree it's wrong to hold people's lives in abeyance. we're trying tpo get the very best people to serve on our courts, and if they have to put their lives on hold for a year or two will they come forward and seek to serve as a judge? we know that for the ones that we're trying to get on the bench, it's going to be a financial sacrifice. they can make more money in the private sector. we want the very best on our courts. but if someone is put on hold for two years or for one year, it compromises their ability if they're in the private practice of law and it's not the right thing to do whether it's a democrat or republican in the white house. we've got to being the a on these appointments a lot faster. the point that i raise is that during this term of congress, during this year and a half, we've seen the number of judicial vacancies go from 43 to 79. at this particular momen

mr. cardin: but if they are civilians, it would be even more complicated. dr. brown: correct, i think so. mr. corker: back to the pressure you were talking about earlier, where you have these expanded peacekeeping needs that are complex. you have pressure for more of that to occur. i mean, i look at the types of populations, generally speaking, that are being quote, "protected." and, i mean, is there some institutional disrespect for the types of people that these peacekeeping missions are being sent out to protect, is there something there that we need to understand? mr. yeo: i think the disrespect that occurs is between individual soldiers and the disrespect that comes as a result of individual actions they are taking, the crimes they are committing as a peacekeeper. but having visited many different peacekeeping missions around the world, i am honestly shocked by the willingness of these peacekeepers to serve away from their homes for some time, maybe months, years on end, protecting people they do not even know. and they are doing it at great personal risk w

mr. cardin: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from maryland. mr. cardin: i would ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. cardin: i would ask that the senate stand in recess until 2:15 p.m. the presiding officer: without objection. under the previous order, the senate stands in recess until 2:15 p.m. schedule and online@c-span.org. >> campaign 2016 continues with the wisconsin primary. and your reaction taking you on the road to the white house on c-span, c-span radio and c-span.org. up next, former presidential campaign manager and advises discuss campaign advertising. and george w. bush center in dallas, it begins with a look at presidential campaign ads as far back as 1952. ♪ everybody likes like ♪ we don't want john ♪ ♪ ♪ >> now is the time for all good americans to come to the aid of their country. >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome kevin sullivan, senior advisor external affairs, george w. bush presidential center. >> good evening and welcome. let me offer our sincere apol

mr. cardin: mr. president, in many places around the world, april is a month where we celebrate rebirth and renewal. but april has too often been in t.s. elliott's words, "the cruelest month, the month where some of the world's darkes darkt moments have cast shod dose." it was a step that led to the extermination of more than a million armenians. it was april 1933 that the nazis issued a degree paving the way for the annihilation of 6 million jews of europe. it was april 1975 that the khmer rouge entered cambodia's capital city launching a four-year wave of violence kill being 2 million people. in april 1992, the siege of sarajevo began in bosnia, the longest siege in modern history where more than 10,000 people perished, including 1,500 children. in april 1994, the plane carrying the president of rwanda crashed triggering the beginning of a genocide that killed more than 00,000 people in -- 800,000 people in 100 days. when we talk about what happened in rwanda, it's easy to begin to think that genoc

mr. cardin: i particularly wanted to be here not to say how proud i am of senator mikulski but also that the paycheck fairness act is not about women. it's about families and it's about our economy. it's about fairness, about american values. it affects everyone in our country and we all should be personally engaged to making sure paycheck fairness becomes the law. to me it's outrageous that a woman has to work five days, the same work that a man works four days with the same pay. that's inherently unfair and needs to be corrected. and the paycheck fairness act would do that. i know that we are on equal payday which basically reflects how long women have to work basically without getting a paycheck in order to get paid for the same amount of work that a man does at the same level. that's just not american. it's not fair. mr. president, i had the privilege of being, as the chair knows as a member of the senate foreign relations committee, the rarpging democrat -- ranking democrat on the foreign relations committee. as the president knows, america -- one of the things we look at is how wel

senator cardin. >> thank you, mr. chairman. i want to first thank you all, and i mean that.is not easy work and we appreciate your commitment and passion to get this right on behalf of former people globally. so thank you for your commitment. i do acknowledge the fact that we now have more information we had a year or two ago. my staff has given a copy of what's on the u.n. webpage on those who have been, allocations of sexual abuse -- allegations. it looks like proximally since the beginning of 2015, rounding, could be 90 but somewhere in that range, specific episodes involving about the same number of victims. of all those cases, only four have been finalized with any jail time. i also point out, the chairman said, that these are the reported cases. we know that in some countries the seriousness of this issue, even though it is globally acknowledged as being the worst types of conduct, but in some governments, some countries, it's not considered to be a serious issue. and that means that the reporting is going to be spotty in some of the missions, and then the pressure tha

mr. cardin: i particularly wanted to be here not to say how proud i am of senator mikulski but also that the paycheck fairness act is not about women. it's about families and it's about our economy. it's about fairness, about american values. it affects everyone in our country and we all should be personally engaged to making sure paycheck fairness becomes the law. to me it's outrageous that a woman has to work five days, the same work that a man works four days with the same pay. that's inherently unfair and needs to be corrected. and the paycheck fairness act would do that. i know that we are on equal payday which basically reflects how long women have to work basically without getting a paycheck in order to get paid for the same amount of work that a man does at the same level. that's just not american. it's not fair. mr. president, i had the privilege of being, as the chair knows as a member of the senate foreign relations committee, the rarpging democrat -- ranking democrat on the foreign relations committee. as the president knows, america -- one of the things we look at is how wel

cardin: mr. chairman, thank you for your passion on this issue.ot the first time we have dealt with problems such as this. this committee has taken i think the right position on trafficking persons, or the u.s. leadership has been instrumental in changing attitudes in so many places of the world where young people are trafficked for sex and abuses. this committee came in very strong in oversight to make sure the integrity and what we do it evaluating the progress on trafficking is not compromised by politics. and when you look at the united nations, we will not tolerate the united nations, under the auspices of the united nations, perpetrating the violence against young people. against anyone. so i agree with you completely. i first want to underscore the importance of the u.n. peacekeeping missions. 120,000 military and police personnel, overwhelming numbers performing professional responsibilities in the appropriate way. with commitment and honor, protecting the vulnerable citizens from the south sudan to the golan heights. 16 missions around th

cardin: mr. chairman, thank you for your passion on this issue.t is not the first time we have dealt with problems such as this. this committee has taken i think the right position on trafficking persons, or the u.s. leadership has been instrumental in changing attitudes in so many places of the world where young people are trafficked for sex and abuses. this committee came in very strong in oversight to make sure the integrity and what we do it evaluating the progress on trafficking is not compromised by politics. and when you look at the united nations, we will not tolerate the united nations, under the auspices of the united nations, perpetrating the violence against young people. against anyone. so i agree with you completely. i first want to underscore the importance of the u.n. peacekeeping missions. 120,000 military and police personnel, overwhelming numbers performing professional responsibilities in the appropriate way. with commitment and honor, protecting the vulnerable citizens from the south sudan to the golan heights. 16 missions aro

cardin: thank you, mr. chairman. this is our first hearing on the jcpoa since its implementation on january 16, as they look at how we are going to look at the post-jcpoa era. it is a pleasure to have you here, ambassador. thank you for your continued commitment to our country. you hold a critically important position as we look at the enforcement of the jcpoa and other activities iran is participating in. to me that welear need to work together in regards to making sure iran fully complies with the jcpoa. iran's need to look at other nefarious activities. the chairman mentioned the ballistic missile tests on march 8 and march 9. iran did ballistic missile tests clearly in violation of the missile bans, clearly out of compliance with the united nations' security council, 2231. whether it was a form of violation that requires action is something being debated internationally, but it was clear that those types of missile violations were supposed to end. and that we should be prepared to take a strong action and the adm

cardin. >> thank you, mr. chairman, and thank you for convening this hearing. as we look at how we are going to look at the post-jcpoa era. ambassador shannon, it is a pleasure to have you here and thank you for your continued commitment to our country. you hold a critically important position as we look at the enforcement of the jcpoa and other activities iran is participating in. it is clear to me that we need to work together in regards to making sure iran fully complies with the jcpoa. that we need to look at iran's other nefarious activities. the chairman mentioned the ballistic missile testing done. iran did the testing that is clearly out of compliance with the security resolution 2231 whether it was a formal violation that requires action is something that is being debated internationally. but it was clear those types of missile violations were supposed to end and that we should be prepared to take strong action and the administration has taken action. throughout the middle east, iran is an instigator of instability and conflict fostering violence throu

cardin? >> thank you, mr. chairman. i want to thank the entire panel and my good friend senator wicker, i want you to know that i visited the water treatment facility plants in my state. i was just at the ashburton facility in baltimore city this past monday. i was at the wssc plant also on monday and i'm very proud of the commitment that the local governments of maryland have made to make sure we have safe drinking water, and we do. but it's not a cadillac. it's not a used chevy. we are rebuilding the model t. they are a hundred years old. the plant in baltimore was first built 100 years ago. it was state of the art. state of the art. we are modernizing it, but it's still the hundred-year-old facility. so it's a struggle. obviously, we all want to make sure that regulations are done as efficiently as possible, but bottom line is we must make sure that there is safe drinking water for the people of our country. and what happened in flint was absolutely outrageous. i think we all understand that. there was some conscient

cardin. thank you, mr. chairman. this is our first hearing on the jcpoa since its implementation on january 16 as we look at how we are going to look at the post-jcpoa era. thank you for your continued commit to our country. you hold a critically important position as we look at the enforcement of the jcpoa and other activities iran is participating in. it is clear to me that we need to work together in regards to making sure iran full complies with the jcpoa. that we need to look at iran's other nefarious activities. the chairman mentioned the ballistic missile tests. did ballistic missile tests that were clearly in violation ban, clearly out of compliance with the united nations security council resolution. whether it was a formal violation that requires action is something debated internationally, but it is clear those types of missile violations were supposed to end. preparedwe should be to take strong action and the administration has taken action. throughout the middle east, iran is an instigator of conflict, f

cardin. >> thank you, mr. chairman, and thank you for convening this hearing. as we look at how we are going to look at the post-jcpoa era. ambassador shannon, it is a pleasure to have you here and thank you for your continued commitment to our country. you hold a critically important position as we look at the enforcement of the jcpoa and other activities iran is participating in. it is clear to me that we need to work together in regards to making sure iran fully complies with the jcpoa. that we need to look at iran's other nefarious activities. the chairman mentioned the ballistic missile testing done. iran did the testing that is clearly out of compliance with the security resolution 2231 whether it was a formal violation that requires action is something that is being debated internationally. but it was clear those types of missile violations were supposed to end and that we should be prepared to take strong action and the administration has taken action. throughout the middle east, iran is an instigator of instability and conflict fostering violence throu

cardin? >> thank you, mr. chairman. i want to thank the entire panel and my good friend senator wicker, i want you to know that i visited the water treatment facility plants in my state. i was just at the ashburton facility in baltimore city this past monday. he was at the wssc plant also on monday and i'm very proud of the commitment that the local governments of maryland have made to make sure we have safe drinking water, and we do. but it's not a cadillac. it's not a used chevy. we are rebuilding the model t. they are a hundred years old. the plant in baltimore was first built 100 years ago. it was state of the art. state of the art. we are modernizing it, but it's still the hundred-year-old facility. so it's a struggle. obviously, we all want to make sure that regulations are done as efficiently as possible, but bottom line is we must make sure that there is safe drinking water for the people of our country. and what happened in flint was absolutely outrageous. i think we all understand that. there was some conscien

mr. chairman. >> senator cardin, you're next. >> i thank all of our witnesses today in regards to the integrity of the system. we're very concerned about the recent warning that was given to maryland, virginia and d.c. taxpayers due to the phishing scams, trying to trick victims into verifying the last four digits of their irs number in order to get unsuspecting taxpayers' information that can be used to compromise their privacy and their financial integrity. could you just -- i guess i'll go with the commissioner. can you just update us as to the status of that particular concern and whether there's still should be high alert in our region in regards to this scam? >> i think there should be. one of the things i think everyone should be aware of is people should be aware of all the possible scams out there. there are the phone scams where people call you and pretend to be from the irs and threaten you. we keep telling people if you're surprised to be hearing from us, you're not hearing from us and you should report that call. we work with the i.g. very closely on that. there are phishing expeditio

mr. chairman. >> senator cardin, you're next. i thank all of our witnesses today in regards to the integrity of the system. we're very concerned about the recent warning that was given to maryland, virginia and d.c. taxpayers due to the phishing scams trying to trick victims to verifying the last four digits of their irs number in order to get unsuspecting taxpayers' information that can be used to compromise their privacy and their financial integrity. could you just, i guess i'll go with the commissioner. can you just update us as to the status of that particular concern? and whether there's still should be high alert in our region in regards to this scam? >> i think there should be. one of the things i think everyone should be aware of is people should be aware of all the possible scams out there. there are the phone scams where people call you and pretend to be from the irs and threaten you. we keep telling people if you're surprised to be hearing from us, you're not hearing from us and you should report that call. we work wi

mr. chairman. ranking member cardin and distinguished members of the committee for inviting me to testify today on the urgent, and shameful, issue of sexual exploitation and abuse by un peacekeepers. earlier this month, i had the opportunity to travel with ambassador power to the central african republic to witness the peaceful transfer of power to the country's newly-elected leader, president touadera. in many ways, the trip underscored both the best, and the very worst, of u.n. peacekeeping. the presence of un peacekeepers has been crucial in stanching the ethnic violence oft has led to the deaths of thousands of people and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. usca has beenw, min praying on the very people they have been sent to protect. opportunity to travel and meet with the families of victims. their descriptions of the violence their loved ones have suffered at the hands of peacekeepers were really powerful personal accounts that, for me, cut the handwringing and frankly, the excuses about why this scourge has continued to persist for just too long. sexual exploitation and ab

cardin: thank you mr. chairman. i thank all of our witnesses with regard to the integrity of the system. we are very concerned above the recent warning that was given to maryland, virginia, and d.c. taxpayers regarding phishing scams. unsuspecting taxpayers information being used to compromise their privacy and financial integrity. could you -- i will go with the commissioner, can you update us as to the status of that particular concern and whether there still should be a high alert in our region with regard to this scam? mr. koskinen: something everyone should be aware of is all of the possible scams out there. phone scams where people call you and pretend to be from the irs and threaten you. we work with the id very closely on that. there are fishing expeditions of all kinds masquerading coming from financial institutions or the irs seeking information or personal information. a lot of times you will receive a note saying your accounts are frozen, click here to unfreeze your accounts. you should never do that. no

mr. chairman and ranking member cardin and other members of the committee for inviting me before the committee today. i serve as president of the better world campaign which works to promote a stronger relationship between the u.s. b and the united nations. as previous witnesses have made clear there is a cancer within the united nations and it must be cut out. the scourge of sexual exploitation and abuse by u.n. peacekeepers continues. the victims of this abuse are real and consequences are as well. just two weeks ago a six teen-year-old girl was allegedly rape id about a peace keeper from dr congo in hotel room. what a sickening violation noter only of an innocent girl but the trust place into that peace keeper by the united nations and military that sent him to help the people of the central african republic. hearing the horrendous reports eminating from car it would be natural to withdraw all u.n. peacekeepers before more damage can be done.e. but this basic instinct to protect needs to be balanced against good peacekeepers continue to do there.. the u.n. mission played a critical role in

mr. chairman, and ranking member cardin and the other members of the committee for inviting me to appear before the committee today. i serve as president of the better world campaign which works to promote a stronger relationship between the u.s. and the united nations. as the previous witnesses have made clear, there's a cancer within the united nations and it must be cut out. the scourge of sexual exploitation and abuse by u.n. peacekeepers continues. the victims of this abuse are real and the consequences are as well. just two weeks ago, a 16-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a peacekeeper from the congo in the hotel room. what a sickening violation, not only of an innocent girl, but the trust placed in the peacekeeper by the united nations and the military that sent him to help the people of the central african republic. hearing the horrendous reports emanating from carr it would be natural to want to withdraw all u.n. peacekeepers before more damage could be done, but this basic instinct to protect needs to be balanced against the good the peacekeepers continue to do there. the u

we'll start with senator thune and then senator cardin after senator wyden completes his remarks. >> thank you very much, mr. chairman. i very much look forward to working with you and our colleagues, and i too want to commend senator thune and senator cardin for their outstanding work. we have just the right people heading that part of the working group. and i appreciate it. colleagues, if you own a small business in america today, often you go to bed at night believing that you are in danger of being ensnared by an outdated, overgrown tax code that americans spend 6.1 billion hours and more than $100 billion complying with each year. that tax system is punishing to those who don't have a fleet of accountants and the luxury of time to plan investments around taxes. the american tax code tells small businesses that their dollar is worth less compared to sophisticated firms that can afford to make the rules work for them. that's why today i have released the cost recovery reform and simplification act of 2016. this proposal is all about making the tax code more attractive for the risk takers who go out and s

senator thune and then senator cardin after senator wyden completes his remarks. >> thank you very much, mrrman. i very much look forward to working with you and our colleagues, and i too want to commend senator thune and senator cardin for their outstanding work. we just have the right people heading that part of the working group, and i appreciate it. colleagues, if you own a small business in america today, often you go to bed at night believing that you are in danger of being ensnared by an outdated, overgrown tax code that americans spend 6.1 billion hours and more than $100 billion complying with each year. that tax system is punishing to those who don't have a fleet of accountants and the luxury of time to plan investments around taxes. the american tax code tells small businesses that their dollar is worth less compared to sophisticated firms that can afford to make the rules work for them. that's why today i have released the cost recovery reform and simplification act of 2016. this proposal is all about making the tax code more attractive for the risk takers who go out and start a

cardin. senator fischer? >> thank you, mr. chairman. and i thank the witnesses for being here today. we need to discuss the real-world implications of these unfunded federal mandates as well as the lack of flexibility and the fear of penalties that many of our communities are facing. the affordability of water and wastewater infrastructure is a critical concern around the country. in my home state of nebraska, the city of omaha's east with the challenge of addressing a $2 billion unfunded combine over show -- sure overflow comforting and the epa. cost is a burden, and it is particularly hard on our low and income fixed residence. so mr. mayor, i would like to ask you a question. in your testimony you discussed extensive and costly cross that your city endured to reach an agreement with the epa's required mandate. water the tools that they can use to comply with those mandates? >> thank you. i believe that, first of all, that one of the critical elements of integrated planning is the opportunity to prioritize. thatxample, we have sso's we demonstrated had no public impact, but twitche

according to witnesses the two got in the argument have after cardinal rear evened smith's suv. >> when we arrived, we located mrtially inside of his vehicle, suffering from multiple gun the shot wounds to his body. he was later pronounced dead on the scene. >> smith's wife was shot in the leg, surviving this attack. the couple has three children. smith played defensive end for the saints for ten years bringing new orleans its first super bowl win in 2009. >>> more than a hundred people died in the massive fire in a hindu temple in southern india and officials think it was spark by fire works. thousands were actually pack inside that temple when the fire broke out. police say a spark from one fire work set off a separate batch of fire works that were being stored there at the complex. the fire spread quickly tracking people inside. >>> u.s. secretary of state john kerry visited memorial to hiroshima's atomic bombings earlier today in japan. secretary of state now the most senior american official to ever visit the site. 140,000 japanese people died in the bombing attack in the final days of the world war two. >>

mr. cardin: mr. president, i i understand that it's likely that we shortly will be considering the ernst amendment that would eliminate funding for the appalachia regional commission, the delta regional authority, denali authority and the northern border regional commission. i want to talk about the appalachia regional commission. i know a little bit about this. the western part of my state known as mountain maryland, it is a beautiful part of maryland, i visit there frequently. there is not a lot of people, and it's slairn hearty life. -- and it's certainly a hearty life. it is not easy to attract business to the western rural part of maryland. these people work hard and they are preserving a way of life and an economy that is critically important to the state of maryland. the appalachia regional commission is absolutely essential for the economic growth of western maryland. the appalachia region is a region of a proud history, and we've given them a future, and the ernst amendment would take away o

mr. cardin: reserving the right to object, mr. president, i agree with much of what the senator from new hampshire has said, and that is our veterans deserve to have the highest quality care at the veterans administration. those employees at the veterans administration that have not carried out their responsibilities should be disciplined, and when there's asked for respondings, there should be consequences to adverse findings. so i agree with much of what she's said. leat be mindful that the overwhelming number of federal workers, including those at the veterans administration, are hardworking public servants, asked to do more with less resources, that have been through freezes, furloughs, government shutdowns, sequestration, you name it. i understand that the veterans administration committee is considering a more comprehensive legislation, as they should. as my colleague from new hampshire has mentioned, this deals with one aspect of those who have adverse findings in regards to their ability to get bonuses or the reprimand on

mr. cardin: mr. president, i want to thank my friend from minnesota, senator franken, for his comments concerning an important day tomorrow. it's important for many reasons. we've worked a long time to get the global community engaged on climate change. as senator franken pointed out, tomorrow is earth day. it will be the 46th anniversary of earth day that was started by our former colleague, senator gaylord nelson. he did that because he recognized that it's important for this country to recognize our global responsibilities to our environment and to our future. and there is no greater challenge that we face than climate change because climate change has been caused in part by our own activities here on earth, by the emission of greenhouse gases, and we have a responsibility to reverse the current trends. and we can do that. so tomorrow in new york city, many leaders will come to sign the top 21 agreement that was negotiated in paris earlier this year. by 196 nations representing 98% of the global g