mr. levin: i'd be happy to. mr. mccain: first of all, i'd also like to thank you and the senator from oklahoma for your leadership and hard work on this legislation. and i congratulate you on the great work you have done. but could i ask you, is this the first time in 51 years that a defense authorization bill will be voted on without debate or any amendment? mr. levin: an amendment on this bill the week before thanksgiving -- mr. mccain: excuse me. without extended debate and addressing the issues of sexual assault, n.s.a., detainees. have any of those issues been addressed by debate and amendment on the floor of the senate? mr. levin: the sexual assault amendments which were pending, as my good friend from arizona knows, were debated. there were about 20-plus sexual assault amendments that are in the bill, so it makes major advance in that area. in terms of the two amendments that the senator, i think, is referring to, senator mccaskill's and senator gillibrand's amendment there was about a day long debate on that

mr. levin: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from michigan. mr. levin: mr. president, -- the presiding officer: would the senator quhoald for a minute? mr. levin: i will. the presiding officer: under the previous order, the senate will resume consideration of s. 1197 which the clerk will report. the clerk: is $1197, a ghoil authorize are appropriations for fiscal year 2014 for military activities of the department of defense and so forth and for other purposes. the presiding officer: the senator from michigan. mr. levin: before me left for the thanksgiving break, senator inhofe and i said that we would come to the senate floor today to update members on the status of the national defense authorization act for fiscal year 2014. before the break, we spent a week on the senate floor trying to bring more amendments up and to have them debated and voted on, but we were unable to do so. we tried to reach agreement to limit consideration to defense-related amendments, but we were unable to

mr. levin: mr. president, we have not failed to pass a national defense authorization act for 52 years, even when, as i mentioned, in a couple cases in recent years the final bill was the result of a process like we've had to follow with this year's authorization bill. this is not the best way to proceed, but our troops and their families and our nation's security deserve a defense bill. and this is the only practical way to get a defense bill done this year. floss other way. as i indicated before, the house of representatives is -- we can't ghet this bill done before the end of this week if we brought back the bill that was pending before thanksgiving. there is no way. floss way that we can do it and the experience of the week before thanksgiving recess demonstrated pretty clearly there is no way we could get a defense bill such as the one that was piend pending this wee. the problem is that the house of representatives is done at the end of this week and if we use the pending bill that was previou

mr. levin: the senator points out the reality, which is what is likely to happen in january. but there is another reality. in other words, what will happen in january, it will be very difficult to get to this bill because of, number one, the crushing business of c.r.'s and other crushing business in january tpaoepb we meet in -- even if we meet in january. i guess the shortest answer i can give is the following: i'm in combat. i'm in combat somewhere in the world, and i'm going to read, combat pay stops on december 31. there's dozens of these kind of authorizations that are listed in general demsey's letter. dozens of them that just stop on december 31. just take that one. think about that. what kind of an impression are we giving to our men and women who are in combat, in harm's way, when they read combat pay stops? maybe it will be extended in january or in february, but that's totally unsatisfactory. it would be outrageous, i believe, for us not to pass this bill. mr. inhofe: i'd like to add

. >> mr. levin in meeting at the white house suggested to keep us from being in a series of rolling agreements that we ensure that this interim agreement has an end date in six months. that six months hasn't begun. but instead of that, you guys agree to six months, six months deal, and i'm just, again, you can understand why folks on our side would be concerned because we understand sort of the elements of the program. let me ask you this. if arac, i know it cannot be commissioned, but it's my understanding based on a document that work can continue on the elements of this plutonium facility, is that correct? >> none of the issues that would make iraq function as a nuclear reactor can move forward. >> i understand. >> they could build a road. they could put up a wall. >> a country that is interested in peaceful activities only with a plutonium facility of its size that has no commercial purpose, doesn't that raise a little bit of an antenna they are continuing to do those things? i mean people gener

introducing a bill that they've lost the other two committee leaders who had been with friends as mr levin has now to be part of that deal they're going to introduce a bill that more or less is going to arrive in the house because there are the votes to pass it what happens in the senate finance committee totally mysterious but basically the administration was looking for a little boost for the singapore meeting to bully the other countries and they figured the other countries don't know the difference between a bill being put in what i think are like a bill six thousand and four four hundred seventy three now so this is six thousand four hundred seventy four woohoo bring up the champagne has been going to be processed they do got to get the person they need so those folks know folks that want to fastrack they better make sure their house member doesn't vote for it because it's not a done deal but there's no fast track it's just right now it's not looking so hot in the house and we can make sure the whole thing is boxed in by the time that they actually get to a vote right and this is one

expected and were expecting the extension -- the emergency extension of unemployment offered by mr. levinan holland. done since president bush. it started since president bush and it is an emergency. with all the political might our democratic leadership had and all of us who actually voted in what we call the previous question, we voted 100% democrats to ensure that that would be extended. we got no republican. and the reason why we feel that this is a catastrophe is because your reporter said it right but it is absurd. this is an emergency. and republicans want to insist on a pay-for. i don't believe a pay-for is necessary. >> you believe we should borrow to pay for it? >> i believe just like in hurricanes -- remember that long fight we had for hurricane sandy. >> sure. >> how devastating that was. to leave our fellow americans out in distress because the republicans were looking for a pay-for. yes, i believe it's an emergency. the economy is percolating. but long-term unemployed persons are having difficulty. 40% of these individuals are middle class individuals. their salaries are abo

simply advocates congressional authority to the executive branch, how do you think lawmakers such as mr. levin are reconciling that? if i might add one more thing, although there has been vocal opposition to fast track through the letters you referenced, there very well may be sufficient support. what do you think the reason for that support? do you think lawmakers are coerced or is there corporate subservients or what's going on? >> well, first of all, in the situation with congressman levin, congressman levin has given lots of speeches describing his position and concerns about trade authority. i obviously will let him speak for himself. again, in the news worthy department is that in fact after a year of negotiations that were called the big four negotiations between the ranking members and the chairs of the ways and means and finance committees is quite ews worthy that it is only chairman camp and chairman baucus who may allegedly finally this time come up with fast track legislation which is to say it's not clear where the ranking member, senator hatch, a longtime fast track supporter, is

again, i thank my colleagues for their leadership, and again, mr. levin, thank you. he's just totally relentless. totally. [ applause ] thank you, all, to our witnesses. [ applause ] rex coming up tonight house and the leader cantor treasury secretary jack lew. then remarks by obama at the white house holiday reception. >> friday on c-span, washington journal looks at the role of the institute of health. fauci followedy by eric green. later a look at the national institute of health. >> i am a combat vet. i served in the navy for seven years before i was retired. i crushed both of my hands and my to have them rebuild. life expectancy is down less than two years. my husband is my primary caregiver. i don't need anything from the v.a. anymore. my complicated claim took four i am heredjudicate. not to represent my issues. i am here to ensure everyone will understand that cases like my own are not isolated. i personally have dealt with 1000 cases of veterans and their spouses and children dealing with complex claims. weekend a hearing on dealing with processing and disab

mr. phil levine. >> last night i made love to this woman that was so incredible, it wasn't human. >> truee is the greatest thing in the world. except for nice mlt. when the muttton is nice and lean. so perky. >> some day believe it or not you'll go 15 rounds of who is going to get this coffee table. this stupid wagon wheel roy rogers garage sale coffee table. >> i thought you liked it? >> i was being nice. >> you know what the secret to life is? >> no, what? >> this. >> your finger. >> one thing. >> thanks, bud. you know something, you're the only one i can talk to. [ laughter ] >> you know all the lines. >> that's like an a lifetime achievement role. >> congratulations. >> a hell of a ride. >> been so much fun. >> look who is here. >> legendary actor, comedian, billy crystal out with a new book, "still foolin' 'em." >> so your dad was a record store manager and he would bring comedy records home to you. >> my dad started my brothers and i to appreciate the great television comedians of the day. they were massively funny, but muscular comedians. sid cesar. phil rivers. "the honeymooners."

again, i thank my colleagues for their leadership, and again, mr. levin, thank you. he's just totally relentless. totally. [ applause ] thank you, all, to our witnesses. [ applause ] >> washington journal looks at the mission and role of the national institute of health starting live at 7:30 a.m. with director francis collins on their medical research priorities, future projects, and the impact of sequestration. at 8:00, allergy and infectious diseases director. at 9:00, national cancer institute director. at 9:30 a.m., a look at the national institute of mental health. all with your calls and comments, live on c-span. paul will be speaking at the detroit economic club on friday to announce his new proposal on jobs and the economy. you can see a live here on c- span. after the end of legislative business this week, eric cantor and steny hoyer talked about the house agenda and the end of legislative year. this is 30 minutes. >> i thank the gentleman from maryland for yielding. on monday the house will meet at noon for legislative debate. no votes are scheduled on mond

. >> mr. levin, in meeting at the white house, suggested to keep us from being in a series of rolling agreements that we ensure that this interim agreement has an end date in six months. that six months hasn't begun. but instead of that, you guys agree to six months, six months deal, and i'm just, again, you can understand why folks on our side would be concerned because we understand sort of the elements of the program. let me ask you this. if arac, i know it cannot be commissioned, but it's my understanding based on a document that work can continue on the elements of this plutonium facility, is that correct? >> none of the issues that would make iraq function as a nuclear reactor can move forward. >> i understand. >> they could build a road. they could put up a wall. >> a country that is interested in peaceful activities only with a plutonium facility of its size that has no commercial purpose, doesn't that raise a little bit of an antenna they are continuing to do those things? i mean people gen

again, i thank my colleagues for their leadership, and again, mr. levin, thank you. he's just totally relentless. totally. [ applause ] thank you, all, to our witnesses. [ applause ] foxarlier this morning on news sunday, kentucky senator rand paul was asked about unemployment benefits. here is his response. >> i do support unemployment benefits for the 26 weeks they are paid for. if extended beyond that you do a disservice to these workers. a study came out a few months ago that said if you had a worker who is unemployed for four weeks and went to 99 weeks, who would you hire? nearly 100% said that they would always hire the person who had been out of work for only four weeks. when you allow a person to become unemployed for 99 weeks, you allow them to become part of the perpetually unemployed in our economy and pilot seemed good, it does a disservice to the people you are trying to help. black unemployment in america has doubled white unemployment and has not budgeted under this president. a lot of african-americans voted for them, but i do not think it is working.

some of the people that wrote this bill, you know, some of these hearings that mr. levin had.understand the vernacular of the market much less regulating it. all of those things are keeping us moving forward. i live in a little town, guys. they constantly talk about. why don't you talk more about, how can i plan for the future when i have no idea what the future's going to cost me? these are big deals and to see these kind of numbers makes me so optimistic that maybe we'll get some of these knuckle heads out of d.c. and we'll really clear the zone for some stellar growth in the futures. >> i will say there's a lot of people writing in that say the irs was all desperate guys acting on their own too. there's one guy that reports all the -- how did they do it at the irs? i guess it's just maybe -- i don't know. i think it was a little by skewed. you don't think it was a little bit skewed? >> i don't want to get into this. i want to talk about the gdp number here. >> he's fired up. >> because he's calling me fat. >> he's throwing his weight around. >> the inventory bill and the nu

member coburn asked chairman levin of the permanent subcommittee on investigations whether that committee would consider interviewing witnesses in controversy involving mr. mayorkas. while he dekhraeupbd, chairman -- declined, chairman levin rightly noted if the subcommittee were going to launch such an investigation the vote on mr. mayorkas would need to be delayed. i completely agree. this vote should not take place until someone has been able to gather testimony and draw conclusions about these allegations. whistle-blowers provide my office with very troubling evidence regarding the substance of some of the allegations. much of the evidence involves the eb-5 regional center program which mr. mayorkas is responsible for managing. the evidence appears to support allegations mr. mayorkas and his leadership deem at citizenship and immigration services are u.s.s. september able to political pressure and favoritism. our immigration system should be governed by equal application of the law, not by who has the best political connections to the director of the agency. i have given mr. mayorkas a chance to defend himself and explain the evidence which seems co

the house ukrainian caucus, which i co-chair with mr. levin and mr. gerlach, have expressed the rights of the ukrainian people to exercise their rights to political speech and free assembly. yes, these are difficult yet hopeful times for ukraine which is trying to find its rightful place among the community of nations despite daunting challenges. the country is gripped by uncertainty which is exacerbating an already difficult economic situation. the current crisis was triggered by the decision of the current political leadership to pursue free trade with ukraine's eastern neighbor, russia, rather than neighbors to the west. the european union. regardless of the police plithcal discord in ukraine, this congress should ask them to settle this peacefully and without violence. ukraine's soils historically have been showered of the precious blood of country men and women at a higher rate than most human beings can imagine. brilliantly recounted blood lands, written by a yale scholar, tells their story. yes, though ukraine's very name means border land, she

simply advocates congressional authority to the executive branch, how do you think lawmakers such as mr. levinonciling that? if i might add one more thing, although there has been vocal opposition to fast track through the letters you referenced, there very well may be sufficient support. what do you think the reason for that support? do you think lawmakers are coerced or is there corporate subservients or what's going on? >> well, first of all, in the situation with congressman levin, congressman levin has given lots of speeches describing his position and concerns about trade authority. i obviously will let him speak for himself. again, in the news worthy department is that in fact after a year of negotiations that were called the big four negotiations between the ranking members and the chairs of the ways and means and finance committees is quite news worthy that it is only chairman camp and chairman baucus who may allegedly finally this time come up with fast track legislation which is to say it's not clear where the ranking member, senator hatch, a longtime fast track supporter, is in on

follows -- reid of nevada, levin, murray, donnelly, murphy, coons, tester, udall of new mexico, rockefeller, carper, stabenow, manchin, king, hirono, heinrich, nelson and baucus. mr. reid: i move to concur in the house amendment to the senate amendment to h.r. 334 with an amendment. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: the senator from nevada, mr. reid, moves to concur in the house amendment to the senate amendment to h.r. 3304, with the following amendment numbered 2553. mr. reid: i ask for the yeas and nays on my motion. the presiding officer: is there a sufficient second? there appears to be. the yeas and nays are ordered. mr. reid: i have an amendment that i have asked the chair to order reported. the presiding officer: the clerk will report the amendment. the clerk: the senator from nevada, mr. reid, proposes an amendment numbered 2553 to the instructions of amendment numbered 2552. mr. reid: i now move to refer the house message with respect to h.r. 3304 with instructions. the presiding officer: the clerk will report the motions. the clerk: the senator from nevada, mr. reid, moves to refer the house message on h.r. 33004 to the -- 3304 t

mr. woodall, and the rules committee, let's put the van holland lee and levin amendment on the floor tonightwomen -- >> time ex peered. >> so the faces of america -- >> the time has expired. the gentwoman's time has expired. >> we should not allow this to happen in this season of joy! >> i think her time was up. do you guys think that's what she meant? unemployment for people who were working? >> i mean, she's got a big heart. i don't see how that's possible. >> it's not. >> it's not part of the bill. >> it's not. >> it could be sometimes in congress. it's actually not part of the bill. >> oh, it will be though, eventually. you watch. >> no. maybe she meant to say formerly workmen and women. men and women who were part of the work force who would like to work. >> maybe. >> people who were unemployed perhaps. >> we'll give her the benefit of the doubt that that's possibly what she meant. >> what do you think she was talking about? >> the pope endorsed it, obviously. >> what was she talking about? e-mail us or twitter us or facebook us. during the breaks, peter and i go and man the cb radio. b

mr. king? i'll read the list so you know king, collins, udall, heinrich, burr, rockefeller and levin. >> i could comment on the two senators from maine being at the top of the list in terms of attendance. thank you mrs. chairman. >> you're welcome. >> ambassador smith, does your analysis have to be cleared through the dni or community generally or go to the secretary of state without any other steps along the way. >> senator, our analysis can go directly to sk of state without any further clearances. we do coordinate closely with other members of the intelligence community on communitywide projects and products -- >> that was my next question. can it go through the president without necessarily cleared through the community? >> we coordinate closely in the community on any products whether in the daily briefing or others. sometimes inr products stand alone products will be shared with other principles outside of the state department. >> what i'm trying to get at, "we want your work to be coordinated but not homogenized. >> appreciate that very much and share that desire. >> i think your agency,

mr. president, i want to take this opportunity to thank senators levin and inhofe and the committee on armed services for their very hard work on the department of defense authorization bill. unfortunately, i must vote against it, and i want to take this opportunity to explain why i am voting no and to express my very serious concerns about our nation's bloated military budget, particularly in light of the many unmet needs we face as a nation. at a time when the united states has a $17.2 trillion national debt and when we spend almost as much on defense as the rest of the world combined, the time is long overdue for us to take a hard look at the waste, at the cost overruns, at the financial mismanagement that have plagued the department of defense for decades. as a point of comparison, the international institute for strategic studies estimates total global military spending in 2012 at $1.583 trillion. the united states portion of that spending is over 40%, $645 billion. in other words, mr. president, the united states is spending almost as much as the rest of the world combined on defense.

. >> that he's put the van holland, lee, levin amendment on the floor tomorrow, call us back, mr.- >> the gentle woman's time is expired. stuart: all right, monica, go. >> unemployment coverage for working americans, i think, that's what she just said, which makes absolutely no sense. but this is the liberal line and they want another extension for unemployment benefits. it doesn't look like they're going to get it at least according to the budget. right now it stands at 99 weeks, the standard before the great recession was 26 weeks, what we've seen is studies throughout europe where it's chronically high unemployment the longer you grant the unemployment benefits you longer you get trench unemployment. stuart: and right before the unemployment benefits run out. >> i learned that in an odd way. i had a buddy years ago, what are you up to next week? i'm going to look for a job. i said, okay, my benefits run out next week. i said have you been looking? he said no. what the hell, you're waiting until the last week? i never conceived it was possible, but i know people who have done it

mr calls a quote and ugly operation. a major anti graft scooped more than fifty arrests. levin police chief sacked by the skin is the sign of infighting within the ruling akp. in a rush of the parliament says at stop signs and wonders. bolton amnesty bill the priest was he right activists and greenpeace go since it falls well short of the british political prisoners. it is disgraceful and our retail store asked me. so the transit center on the telly on a blanket to sit sacked after shot video footage shows the ill treatment of migrants. saw sudan's president offers to speak with his main rival this as the violence in the capital subsides but elsewhere signs of fighting in africa's newest country and in egypt the chargers defense against it supposed to go home and morrissey charges for if convicted he could see the test. i know all up. welcome back are welcome if you just joining us this is the false men get to be. we are in paris so is the german transfer uncle a merkel freshly re elected her first foreign visit to the french capital ahead of an eu summit taking place in brusse

mr. producer and learn how to march and salute and carry flags. i think brown would be good, you know, brown shirts. >> i'm sure mark levine's awaiting my interviewmorrow night with the president. you're watching "hardball," the place for politics. >>> radioactive material that was stolen from a truck in mexico has been found outside of its container. >>> and an arctic blast of winter is sweeping across the rockies and midwest. parts of minnesota saw nearly 3 feet of snow in two days. the storm is blamed for six deaths. >>> vice president biden is in china meeting with leaders there over a disputed area of airspace. >>> welcome back to "hardball," coin him the turn around man perhaps, and with more good news about enrollment numbers the president continued to play offense on health care. >> i've acknowledged more than once that we didn't roll out parts of this law as well as we should have, but the law's already working in major ways that benefit millions of americans right now, even as we've begun to slow the rise in health care costs which is good for family budget, good for federal and state budgets and good for the budgets of businesses small

mr. producer and learn how to march and salute and carry flags. i think brown would be good, you know, brown shirts. >> i'm sure mark levine's awaiting my intervieww night with the president. you're watching "hardball," the place for politics. it card, which rewards her for responsibly managing her card balance. before receiving $25 toward her balance each quarter for making more than her minimum payment on time each month. tracey got the bankamericard better balance rewards credit card, which fits nicely with everything else in life she has to balance. that's the benefit of responsibility. apply online or visit a bank of america near you. it's not the "limit the cash i earn every month" card. it's not the "i only earn decent rewards at the gas station" card. it's the no-games, no-signing up, everyday-rewarding, kung-fu-fighting, silver-lightning-in-a-bottle, bringing-home-the-bacon cash back card. this is the quicksilver card from capital one. unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, everywhere, every single day. so ask yourself, what's in your wallet? losing thrusters. i need more power. give me more power! [ mainframe ] located. ge deep-sea

mr. chairman. wish this hearing were not necessary, that we were with what representative levin presented to us, but i am grateful to the cochairs of the steering and policy committee for bringing us together to hear from our very special guest. robll yield to chairman andrews in just a moment but first i want to acknowledge we have been joined by congresswoman barbara lee of davidrnia, congressman sizzling of rhode island, congressman hank johnson of georgia, and congresswoman jackowski of illinois, our distinguished democratic whip of steny hoyer, our ranking member on the small business committee. will formally introduce our witnesses, but i thank all of them for honoring us with their presence. we look forward to hearing your testimony. >> thank you. a member of the house republican is noship said "there appetite for extending unemployment benefits in the republican conference. today, we are not your to hear about appetite, but about hunger and about the hunger people across this country come a 1.3 million of them have for the dignity and the literal hunger these families will suffer on the 28th

mr. ambassador. >> [inaudible] well said. senator heinrich, i believe you're next and then senator levin. >> you know, in the interest of time here, i'll submit some additional questions for the record. >> thank you. and perhaps i'll just announce that we'd ask all written questions be submitted by 5 p.m. on friday, and is we'd ask both of you -- and we'd ask both of you to please respond to them as soon as possible. then we can, hopefully, vote on your nomination. senator levin? >> thank you, madam chairman. your response about providing documents, you said that you would do so if appropriate. that's a pretty big loophole. what's not appropriate? give us your menu. what documents do you believe are in the possession of the cia that we should not see? >> well -- >> predecisional, i assume legal opinions, right? >> yes. but of the cia general counsel is in a different position, um, and so i would -- were i to be confirmed, i would make sure that you were provided with an explanation of the legal basis. i know on some occasions steven preston provided the committee with a, an oral briefing as well as a written paper explaining

mr. vice chairman. >> i will just read the list so people know that it is senators king, senator udall, and senator levinamong others. >> thank you, madam chair. >> you are very welcome. >> does your analysis have to be cleared through the dni or the community in general? or is it directed in other stops along the way? >> analysis is directly without further cleansers and we also participate on communitywide products with the president and others and can we go to the president without it being cleared through the community? >> sometimes the products or send it along will be shared with other principles outside the state department. >> when i'm trying to get i is that we want your work to be coordinated but not homogenized. >> i appreciate that. i share that desire. >> i think your agency has a very important role to play in a distinguished record of being right and so i hope that you will maintain that independence, if you will. >> absolutely. >> server, we just had a district court opinion of the patriot act, although that is not strictly going to the general counsel and the office of the cia. but i wou

mr. chairman for championing this issue. i wish this hearing were not necessary, that we were not faced with what representative levin presentedus, but i am grateful to the co-chairs of the steering and policy committee for bringing us together to hear from our very special guests. i will yield in a moment but first i want to acknowledge that we've been joined by congresswoman barbara lee of california, congressman david sis linney of rhode island, congressman hank jordan of georgia, our distinguished democratic whip of the house of maryland, steny hoyer, our ranking member on the small business committee, nydia velasquez. our co-chairs will more fully introduce our witnesses. i want to thank you all for honoring us with your presence. we look forward to hearing your testimony. with that, i yield. >> a member of the house republican leadership said this week, quote, there is no appetite for extending unemployment benefits in the republican conference. today we're here not to hear about appetite, but about hunger, about the hunger that people across this country, 1.3 million of them have for the dignity to work, the literal hun

mrs. and they represent? a white-collar government tonight at 9:00. in january, in depth with radio talk show host mark levinewill take your questions for all part of booktv weekends on c-span2. booktvfor december's bookclub, we want to know what your favorite books were in 2013. join other readers to discuss the notable books published this year. go and click on book club to enter the chat room. >> washington journal continues. host: joining us from boston is john della volpe, the polling director of the art institute of politics. he is joining us to talk about the new poll looking at millennial's and the support of president obama in particular, focusing on the health-care law for the affordable care act, and also to more broadly look at the andennial view of politics public service. thank you for being with us this morning. >> thanks for having me. good to be with you. we have the overall numbers in terms of your poll for the harvard institute of politics. the approval rating for president obama, where does it stand for november, 2013? >> thanks again for having me. where it stands now is overall, among al

levin and my colleagues on the senate armed services committee to find additional ways to protect the retirement that our retirees and their families have earned. now, these proposed changes don't go into effect, mr. president, until 2015, and that gives us some room and some time to get together to work on addressing these areas where this bipartisan budget agreement falls short. this is an important agreement. it's important to the defense department, it's important to many other programs like head start and meals on wheels that affect coloradans every day. it will mean more resources for housing and economic development programs, for roads, small airports, for first responders and those who fight wildfires. the list goes on and on. and this agreement provides predictability for the individuals, organizations, cities stis and businesses in colorado who need to know what to expect from the government and it -- from the federal government. it does this while providing a net reduction in the deficit, something we all know must be achieved more often. for all those reasons i support the bipartisan budget package and urge my colleagues to join me in continuing to find ways to keep faith with our mil

mr. levin: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that further proceedings under the quorum call be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. levin: mr. president, the bill that we are about to vote on is a good bill. it's the product of a -- an extensive bipartisan, bicameral agreement between the armed services committees of the senate and the house of representatives. we have passed a defense bill every year for the last 51 years. this bill deserves to be the 52nd, because like our previous bills, it does the right thing for our troops, their families and our nation's security. it passed the house with a vote of 350-69, and it deserves an equally strong bipartisan vote in the senate tonight. now, yesterday, i praised the members of our committee, and i also noted the amazing work of our staff, and i'm not going to repeat that. this bill is not a christmas gift to our troops and their families, authorizing funding for our troops, supporting our troops and their families is what

beloved friend carl levin and my dear friend senator carper, i just came from a meeting in my office with mr. jeh johnson. mr. jeh johnson again repeated to me that he could not give me the information that -- of what is necessary, what tools are necessary to ensure 90% effective control of our border. now, allegedly, he is being prevented from doing that by the white house. now, it's -- it's stunning. why would the white house prevent the nominee for secretary of homeland security from providing members of the senate and members of the committee that oversight homeland security information which is fundamental information if we are going to achieve effective control of our borders? so now, i go back to arizona and i say yeah, it's in the law, my friends, it's in the law that we're going to have to get 90% effective control of our border, but i don't know how you do it.

mr. president, i want to pay particular compliment to chairman levin as well as to ranking member inhofe for their leadership which has not -- has not failed the country nor has it failed this body. they got together and produced a bill that came out of our committee in due course after full and open debate on many critical issues with the understanding that we would have the opportunity on the floor of the senate to file amendments, debate those amendments and have up oup-or-down votes. chairman levin has been more than accommodating throughout that process before and after this bill came out of the armed services committee. likewise, senator inhofe has been more than accommodating to make sure that members on this side of the aisle had free and open access to the debate process. they have provided the kind of leadership that we expect. unfortunately, the majority leader has made a decision to cram this down the throats of the senate and that simply from a national security standpoint is not the way this body is designed to work or should work. mr. president, i'll support the passage of