before recognize mr. lewis for five minutes, after mr. lewis will go to three minutes of questioning. the investor has to leave at 12:30 and went abroad to have an opportunity to ask a question. so without recognize this to lewis for five minutes. >> thank you very much, mr. chairman. mr. ambassador, i want to team up for being here today and thank you for your service. we've heard a great deal about delay, we, as the letter to rush and gather an agreement but to wait and get it right? mr. ambassador, you know i am very concerned about the issue of human rights, workers rights, environmental issues. and some of these concerns and issues, a long seated problems and colombia. it's all right to talk the talk, but sometimes we need people to a walk. and i'm not sure that the leaders, even the new leaders are prepared to walk the walk. there's too many killings, too many violations of human rights. too many people disappearing. and as you said, and i agree with you, that our trade agreements, our trade policies should reflect our whole values.

. >> before i recognize mr. lewis for five minutes, after mr. lewis we'll go to three minutes of questioning. i know the ambassador has to leave at 12:30 and i want to give everybody a chance to ask a question of you. with that i recognize mr. lewis of five -- for five minutes. >> thank you very much. mr. ambassador, thank you for being here today. we heard a great deal about delay, waste. is it better to rush and get an agreement or to wait and get it right? i am concerned about the issue of human rights, workers' rights, environmental issues and some of these concerns and issues are long-seated problems . it's all right to talk the talk, but sometimes we need people to walk the walk. and i'm not sure that the leaders even, the new leaders are prepared to walk the walk. that's too many killings. too many violations of human rights. too many people disappear. and as you said, and i agree with you, that a trade agreement, trade policies should reflect our core values. will you elaborate? what are you going to do to see that the people in colombia

before i recognize mr. lewis for five minutes, after mr. wis we'll go to three minutes of questioning. i know the ambassador has to leave at 12:30, and i want to give everybody the opportunity to ask a question of you. so with that, i'll recognize mr. lewis for five minutes. >> thank you very much, mr. chairman. mr. ambassador, i want to thank you for being here today. and thank you for your service. we've heard a great deal about delay, wait. is it better to rush and get an agreement or to wait and get it right? now, mr. ambassador, you know, i am very concerned about the issue of human rights, workers' rights, environmental issues, and some of these concerns and issues are long-seeded problems in colombia. you know, it's all right to talk the talk, but sometimes we need people to walk the walk. and i'm not sure that the leaders, even the new leaders, are prepared to walk the walk. there's too many killings, too many violations of human rights, too many people disappearing. and as you said and i agree with you, our trade agreements, our tra

mr. lewis: i do this only to suggest when ronald ray begun was being considered on the floor. mr. walz: absolutely, i yield time to the gentleman. mr. lewis: i ask for one minute to suggest to my colleagues was to serb with ronald reagan as governor of california, as president of the united states. reagan meant it when he said there is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit. president reagan's cricks on behalf of freedom around the world are unparalleled since the end of world war ii. there's no more cold war, there's no more berlin wall there is no worldwide threat of communist dictatorship because of the leadership of president reagan and with that, i would ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks and place it at the appropriate place in the record. i thank my colleagues. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. walz: absolutely. i thank the gentleman for his words and i do think there are lesson to be learned there. the fol

that is the point mr. lewis and i were trying to shop with you. give us an update where we are with panama bilateral and what happened with domestic politics that might ensure an easier path to completion? >> i will try and think you for your comment. you are correct in noting one of the reasons panama stalled was the complication, head of their assembly had been convicted in a court in florida of murdering a u.s. soldier and the bush administration wisely said we will do business with you. after that person was removed from office we began to engage panama on ways we could address the outstanding issues we presented to them. then we had the intervening complication that panama was designated a tax center and we were engaged with the previous administration and we met with them in the summit of the americas. mr. mcdermott was there and others. administration told us that if we are going to put in place tax information exchange agreement we are not going to do this deal. we were able to progress beyond that. we have a newer administration in place

mr. lewis: i recognize your recognizing mr. rogers and mr. dicks and others, our stafferers, their fabulous work, but i think it would be a shame if we didn't recognize a specific person who's essentially been mr. rogers' right hand during all of this discussion, he's leaving the house at the end of the month to go to the private sector, a fabulous, fabulous guy who is respected on both sides of the aisle, let's give jeff chucky a hand. i yield back. the chair: without objection, two-minute voting will continue. the unfinished business is the request for a recorded vote on amendment number 232 printed in the congressional record offered by the gentleman from new york, mr. nadler, on which further proceedings were postponed and on which the noes prevailed by a voice vote. the clerk will redesignate the amendment. the clerk: amendment number 232, printed in the congressional record offered by mr. nadler of new york. the chair: a recorded vote has been requested. those in support of the request for a recorded vote will rise and be counted. a suf

mr. lewis: i appreciate my colleague yielding me this time. it has been suggested by more than one person, not just today but just a moment ago, also, that we are headed towards a cliff in terms of our financial circumstances. it could take our country to bankruptcy and create a circumstance from which we perhaps would never be able to come back. to suggest that this substitute makes sense really baffles me. i've been told by the speaker that the gentleman from ohio is a very thoughtful member and has contributed a great deal to our committee. which he has, but across the board cutting in an effort to make sense out of our spending process makes no sense at all. and indeed, we are elected to look at the whole mix, and indeed to pick winners and losers, decide what programs should be cut significantly, and decide which ones should be eliminated, indeed. that's a part of our work. and in this institute, essentially we're taking all the work we've done the last several days and kicking it out the door. these efforts at amendments was not worth an

mr. lewis: i appreciate my colleague yielding. some of my colleagues say they are shocked at the spending reductions we have proposed here. no one should be surprised. for the past several years congress and the administration have been spending like there's no tomorrow. since f.y. 2008 we have increased nonsecurity discretionary spending by almost 25%. in some areas it has jumped nearly a third in two years. those were historic spending increases and they don't even include the $800 billion that was in the massive failed stimulus package. that was such a huge amount of money, some agencies still have not been able to spend it two years later. well, my colleagues, tomorrow is here. the bill is coming due and if we do not find a way to stop spending, we are headed towards fiscal disaster. this absolutely should surprise no one, republicans on the appropriations committee have been warning for two years that we cannot continue spending this way. we tried to stop it. to at least slow it down. but for the past two years we have not ev

chairman, i'd like to take a moment to express my deep appreciation to both the work -- mr. lewis: both of my chair mnds an ranking member, putting together what i consider to be an overall very fine bill. i know mike simpson's concern about those issues that relate to our environment and the interior especially, he's a fabulous chairman, assisted today by a very, very fine young person who is his staff director, not so young as he used to be, dave lestrang. but this fine bill also is put together by a cross section of great staffers who are doing all they can to improve the condition in which we live. i rise to oppose this amendment in no small part because mr. calvert and i over the years have shared the same problem. we live in a region that is surrounded by beautiful, beautiful mountains. it's a wonderful area. but during much of our lifetime, indeed for decades, for 250 days-plus a year, you could not see the mountains. how come? it wasn't because of fog. it was because of seven million automobiles starting their engines in los angeles and that which was spewed out going up a

thomas, you mentioned mr. lewis earlier. he's been pretty complimentary of the commission and said it did an excellent job and found nuggets of facts that were not available earlier because you ha subpoena power. he said to have a complete story you needed not just subpoena power but waterboarding power. he thought there were natural limitations. >> as a republican, i assume that's a positive comment. >> whout getting into that debate, allow to move on. one things that the rules of evidence allow you to consider. with a witness, is it consistent with what they've said bore? we have been hearing since september of 2008 that government policies made banks make all those bad loans. and the banks would never have made those. i was right here as that debate. i don't remember anybody saying a word about that before september of 2008. i don't remember banks sitting in my office or at that table or saying in the popular press, we shouldn't be making these loans. please lethem stop. what i heard from the industry was subprime mortgag

lewis. >> thank you, mr. speaker. we have made clear that we are committed to maintaining a new deterrent. that's why it was excluded from the security review and why we commissioned a separate value for money study. the replacement of trident is going ahead and the initial gate will be passed soon. as set out in the coalition government the liberal democrats will continue to make the case for alternatives. >> dr. julian lewis. >> when the coalition was being formed my right honorable friend promised a meeting of all conservative mp's that the liberal democrats would support the replacement of trident. as we know the key decision has been postponed until after the next election and the liberal democrats from their president downwards have been boasting that this is their achievement. will the prime minister give a pledge to this house and to the country that in the event of another home parliament, if the liberal democrat demanded the price for another coalition that's scrapping it up, he will refuse to pay that price

mr. john lewis his role in the civil rights movement is well documented and after today, when the president of the united states bestows upon him the nation's highest civilian honor, the presidential medal of freedom, it will be well recognized. on behalf of this committee and the people i represent in the fourth district of michigan, i want to extend a heart felt congratulations to john and the success of the civil rights movement was a victory for the african-american community and for every american. it may be a bit out of character for this committee but i would ask that we break with tradition and all join in a deserved round of applause for the honorable john lewis. [applause] >> with that welcome, secretary geithner. it's good to see you again and have you before the committee. it's been said the power to tax is the power to destroy. but last year's election shows the american people are increasingly concerned about the power of deficits. to destroy jobs, the sound dollar and ultimately their children's and our country's future. unfortunately, the president's budget features too much

mr. ken cook, the president of the environmental working group. ms. carrie lewis from the milli milwaukee water books was unable to be here but due to weather was enable to be here. then mr. steven d. lewis, the city manager of city of norman, due to severe weather, mr. lewis was unable to travel but he is putting his statement in the record without objection and i know we will have him on the phone; is that correct? he cannot be on the phone? okay. we will not do that but i'm sure i will give extra time to senator inhofe to ask questions. really, i will. so you'll get 10 minutes for your questions. mr. chuck murray, general manager of fairfax water, dr. thomas burke, associate dean for public health practice and training johns hopkins bloomberg school of public health. so i think all of you probably were very interested in the first panel and we really need doneed your expertise and i ask that we come to order, and those leaving please do so quietly and we will start with you, mr. cook, president environmental working group. welcome. >> chairman boxer -- >> excus

mr. john lewis, his role in the civil rights movement is well documented and after today, when the president of the united states bestows upon him the nation's highest civilian honor, the presidential medal of freedom, it will be well recognized. on behalf of this committee and the people i represent in the fourth district of michigan, i want to extend it heartfelt congratulations to john, the success of the civil rights movement with a victory for the african-american community and for every american that may be a bit of character for this committee and i ask we break with tradition and all joined in a deserve a round of applause for the honorable john lewis. [applause] with that, welcome, secretary geithner. it's good to see you again and have you before the committee. it's been said that the power to tax is the power to destroy. but last year's election shows the american people were increasingly concerned about the power of deficits to destroy jobs sound dollar and ultimately their children and our country's future. unfortunately, the president's budget features too much of both. it coul

mr. speaker, i want to join the prime minister in paying tribute from private lewis henry from third battalion the regiment and the fourth regiment and kyle marshall from second battalion the chair chute regiment in all of these men showed extraordinary bravery and dead chags our thoughts are with them and their family and friends as they grieve for them. mr. speaker we now know that inflation is rising. growth has stalled. and 66,000 young people extra are out of work. can the prime minister tell us whether he thinks his strategy is working? >> well, of course today's unemployment figures are a matter of great regret and it's a great regret particularly in terms of higher youth unemployment but i have to say to him, youth unemployment has been a problem in this country for well over a decade in good years and in bad. the level of -- the level of youth unemployment actually went up by 40% under the last government an extra 270,000 young people unemployed and what we have to do is sort out all of the things that help young people get back into work. that is a welfare system that doesn't help yo

lewis many there is some difference there you're getting. there were some of the same and we're ready to add new dynamics to our dialogue just as but in the young mr president aleutian. said something for the full hearing good for me or will you vote for you he gave us a very good formula a very good idea actually you could doubt but i see he said you know the russian energy industry guarantees in the book as well being of europe actually we could stop there our press conference which. of course. we also discussed a great number of its other equally important issues. he would know them to tell us this morning that the musical we had when you can meetings between you should hear them say that it is the representative self some government agencies of the russian federation are ministers can be collating and their european counterparts european commissioners. if you might need change to look at the earth again you don't know we all would like to know that. because our laws are welcome for the native looking anti-crisis measures by the russian federation and been put in the governments of european countries economic growth but actually each of reasons

mr. smith missing in the first place. we will keep an eye on the weather. lewis look. >> louisa: rain and cold weather combined makes for snow. rain switches to snow later in the hills today snow levels drop friday. could get down to 1,000 ft.. radar shows the wet weather pushing through the peninsula and the east bay. we are talking about a light sprinkle here. a cell is moving through oakland, that's where heavier showers are. that led to the south bay cells working their way through palo alto towards san mateo. the bulk of the wet weather stays to the north spreading south. by the evening commute it will be a wet 1, moderate to heavy downpours that times. the cold air filters and as well. this snow levels will drop down could see snow in the hills tonight. dropping even lower friday. we had a winter weather advisory in a couple of locations. north bay actually started with the winter weather advisory around 4:00 a.m., lasting until 10:00 a.m. friday. 1 in. of snow accumulating at 1,000 ft.. through the east bay hills the diablo range we have a winter weather a

lewis. >> thank you, jack. i am honored to be here. i want to thank the attorney general for inviting us all to be here. mrs.kathleen, and other members of the kennedy family, and my family -- fellow members of the panel. i think the first time that i got to really know of the work of attorney general robert kennedy, and i know john doar and john seigenthaler will have much more to say about this, was during the freedom rides. i think it was the first real test in the area of civil rights. just think in 1961, black people and white people could not board a greyhound bus or a trail waste bus and leave washington, d.c. and be ceded to the header and travel through virginia, north carolina, south carolina, georgia, alabama, mississippi, into new orleans without the possibility of being arrested. or jailed. or beaten. and that is what happened. we were testing the decision of the united states supreme court, 13 of us. seven whites and six african- americans,. railways and greyhounds. violence in south carolina. between atlanta and birmingham, our bus was burned. one organization stopped the freedom rides and a n

lewis. [applause] >> well, thank you very much, jack. i must say that i'm honored to be here. i want to thank the attorney general for inviting us all to be here. mrseen and other members of the committee, family, and my fellow members of atlanta, i think the first time that i got to really know whether work of attorney general robert kennedy, and i know john doar and john seigenthaler will have much more to say about this. it was during the freedom ride. i believe it became the first real test in the area of civil rights. just think, may of 1961, black people and white people couldn't board a greyhound bus and leave washington, d.c. and be seated together and travel through virginia, north carolina, south carolina, georgia, alabama, mississippi into new orleans without the possibility of being arrested or jailed or beaten, and that's what happened we were testing the decision of the united states supreme court. 13 of us, seven whites and six african-americans traveling on the triolet and greyhound, the violence in south carolina, between atlanta and birmingham outside of alabama. an organization by the name of racial equality dropped the freedom r

mr. lewis doing this? >> yes, because it would not allow was the chance to cross- examine. commissioner: ok, a move we go to closed session. -- i knew. -- i move we go to closed session. in particular -- so we should -- punishment for -- >> let me just enlarge the issue for a moment. as speaker and before then, i have the occasion to visit many countries in the world in the middle east and other places and -- africa. you know. whole world. what i came back and said was in everyplace i went, i visited, i met with women, i met with young people, not just the leaders to have government. i came back and i said, you know? young people in the world are weary of war and weary of these oppressive actions. they see it as a way for governments to have an excuse not to create jobs and do the things that will make the future better for them. but instead, it is a way for them to either have a foreign enemy or a domestic enemy to consolidate their power. and there are drastic cultural differences. so what i would like to see and president kennedy over 50 years, no, not over 50 years, nea

mr. lewis has been complimentary of the commission. he said it did an excellent job and found some nuggets of fact that were not available earlier. he said really to have a complete story you needed not just the subpoena power but water boarding power. he thought there were a natural limitations to what could be gained voluntarily. >> as a republican i assume that is a positive comments. >> without getting into that debate allow me to move on. one thing most people and certainly the rules of evidence allow you to consider whether to believe a witness is is it consistent with what they said before? we are now hearing or have been hearing from september of 2008 government policies make all these bad loans and the banks never made those. i was right here as part of that debate. i remember what everybody said. i don't remember anyone being worried about that before september of 2008. i don't remember sitting in the office for that table, we shouldn't be making these loans. please let us stop. do any of you remember? what i heard from the b