mr. cunningham, and as you will be in the next hour. we look forward to your service. >> i wanted to turn to some questions for ambassador cunningham. two broad areas -- we do not have enough time, but we can further amplify them in questions for the record. first, about women and girls in afghanistan. by one level, we could assert that over the last decade significant progress has been made when you look at one metric, which has a lot of meaning and value, the number of girls in school. it was almost zero or in the area of almost no girls in school one decade ago. now it is maybe as high as 1/3 or more of the millions in school. that is a great measure of progress. also, the participation of women in the government of afghanistan is also a significant measure of progress. the concern is that, even as that progress is marching forward and president karzai speaks to this issue, those gains will be diminished or maybe even wiped out as a result of our reconciliation process that results in a conclusion after negotiations where women are se

mr. cunningham. fonzi failed. >> eric: will we hear barack obama's name mentioned?andrea: absolutely. absolutely. >> eric: you think so? >> andrea: one last point on what he should do, we heard all week long the theme that republicans have been fixing it. they have been doing it in the state houses. we heard virginia governor bob mcdonald turn around virginia. chris christie turned around new jersey and paul walker turn around wisconsin. mitt romney is a fixer. he has been in the undesirable situation in his life and he turned the situations around. he needs to talk about that. >> greg: this is like he is the harvey keitel earn in "pulp fiction." >> andrea: or "point of no return." cleaner. >> greg: when he is done nothing ever happened. in a weird way the obama administration a weird detour and america wants to forget that. >> bob: if you are going there, i can't take it anymore. >> eric: no, hold on. hold on. >> andrea: you were doing so well. >> eric: we're going to get there. coming up, may as well call him the mailman because paul ryan delivered last night with

mr. cunningham, and as you will be in the next hour. we look forward to your service. >> i wanted to turn to some questions for ambassador cunningham. two broad areas -- we do not have enough time, but we can further amplify them in questions for the record. first, about women and girls in afghanistan. by one level, we could assert that over the last decade significant progress has been made when you look at one metric, which has a lot of meaning and value, the number of girls in school. it was almost zero or in the area of almost no girls in school one decade ago. now it is maybe as high as 1/3 or more of the millions in school. that is a great measure of progress. also, the participation of women in the government of afghanistan is also a significant measure of progress. the concern is that, even as that progress is marching forward and president karzai speaks to this issue, those gains will be diminished or maybe even wiped out as a result of our reconciliation process that results in a conclusion after negotiations where women are se

mr. cunningham, and as you will be in the next hour. we look forward to your service. >> i wanted to turn to some questions for ambassador cunningham. two broad areas -- we do not have enough time, but we can further amplify them in questions for the record. first, about women and girls in afghanistan. by one level, we could assert that over the last decade significant progress has been made when you look at one metric, which has a lot of meaning and value, the number of girls in school. it was almost zero or in the area of almost no girls in school one decade ago. now it is maybe as high as 1/3 or more of the millions in school. that is a great measure of progress. also, the participation of women in the government of afghanistan is also a significant measure of progress. the concern is that, even as that progress is marching forward and president karzai speaks to this issue, those gains will be diminished or maybe even wiped out as a result of our reconciliation process that results in a conclusion after negotiations where women are se

mr. president, is nomination 826, james b. cunningham. looks like 1826. sorry, mr. president. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. reid: i'm glad i got a little help. if the senate adjourns under s. connecticut res. 59 sconce -- s. con. res. all nomination nominations received during the 112th session remain in status quo notwithstanding the provisions of rule 31, paragraph 6 of the standing rules of the senate with the following exception, presidential nomination 1727. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. reid: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to calendar number 458. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 458, h.r. 4240, an act to reauthorize the north korean human rights act of 2004 and for other purposes. the presiding officer: without objection, the senate will proceed to the measure. mr. reid: i further ask the bill be read a third time and the senate proceed to vote on this -- passage of this bill. the presiding officer: all in favor say aye. all those opposed say nay. the ayes have it. the bill is agreed to.

cunningham, if you would lead off. full statement will be placed in the record. >> thank you, mr. chairman and members of the committee. i am truly honored that president obama and secretary clinton have placed their trust in me and i look forward to working closely with you. i welcome frequent opportunities to consult with you. i've been serving as deputy ambassador in leading a mission of some 1100 dedicated staff from 18 u.s. government agencies. i intend to follow and pursuing the approach for the important challenges before us. we have achieved a great deal over the past year including completion of our strategic partnership agreement which will guide our partnership now and beyond the transition in 2014. the strategic partnership sends a clear message to the region that afghanistan will have the support of the international community. if confirmed, i will build on this successful diplomatic campaign, underscoring our commitment that will contribute to stability in the region and it never again be a source of a terrorist threat to the united states. on september 11, 2001, i w