ms. sanchez, i think if you look -- there's clearly a lot of work to be done. everyone in the administration from the president on down has recognized that we need to keep the pressure on the government of afghanistan to deal with the problem of corruption but there has been progress. you look at the ministries and the government, they're not all great. i'm not going to sit here and say they are all where they should be but there are quite a phone number of them which have tackled corruption in terms of of firing people and trying to instill a different kind of culture in their ministries. we worked closely with the ministries, like the ministry of finance and agriculture. we have to recognize that's significant progress. >> well, i would like a report on the specifics. >> we're happy to provide -- >> because i haven't seen much change. >> at the inaugural i think it's important to note the idea of tackling corruption, naming a major crimes task force is an action. we have to keep pressure on to make sure that's followed by further actions. but this was -- it w

ms. sanchez: i ask permission to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. ms. sanchez: mr. speaker, i rise today to honor a fallen soldier from my district, jesus flores jr. was killed in action on october 15 of this year in afghanistan. he leaves behind his mother, father, four sisters and one brother. jesus enlisted in the navy straight from high school and served four years. in 2003 he enlisted in the army. he became a combat specialist. he was on his first tour in afghanistan when he was killed in action. one of his sisters spoke of jesus in this way, a loving son, a generous brother, a soldier who loved military life. this was apparent in the many medals adorning his uniform. the people of this body and people throughout this country could not exist without the dedication and sacrifices from the soldiers who serve. soldiers like jesus, soldiers who above all else want to honor this country, preserve our freedoms and protect our families. there is nothing that i can say or do to take away the pain

ms. sanchez. >> thank you mr. chairman, and thank you mr. sullivan. first let me say that i think the secret service does a great job and it saddens me to see that there was such a lapse this time at the white house. in the past and others in close communication between the social secretary for the white house, all legislation affairs for example if we're going to have the congress people, for the christmas party and every single time that i have entered the white house there has always been somebody from the president's --, the white house there at the very first point before you ever even get to to the checkpoint with a check your purses etc.. every time, even if it's just been a meeting with the president over a particular policy, there's always been somebody out there so my question i have for you is coming in this pre planning meeting did you all decide if that no one would be specifically assigned from the social secretaries office or legislative affairs or what have you at the first checkpoint? was that a decision made because i heard you say t

ms. sanchez, kindly take the chair. the chair: the house is in the committee of the whole house on the state of the union for the further consideration of h.r. 4173 which the clerk will report by title. the clerk: bill to provide for financial regulatory reform to protect consumers and investors, to enhance federal understanding of insurance issues, to regulate the over-the-counter derivative markets, and for other purposes. the chair: when the committee of the whole rose on wednesday, december 9, 2009, all time for general debate had expired pursuant to house resolution 956. and pursuant to house resolution 964, no further general debate shall be in order. the bill is amended shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule and shall be considered as read. no further amendment to the bill as amended shall be in order except those printed in house report 111-370 and amendments en bloc described in section 3 of house resolution 964. each amendment printed in the report shall be considered only in the order pr

ms. sanchez. >> thank you, mr. chairman and mr. sullivan for being here today. first let me begin by saying i think the secret service does a great job and it saddens me to see that there was such a lapse this time at the white house in the past i know there's always been close communication between the social secretary for the white house, legislative -- legislative affairs for example if we are going to have congress people come for the christmas party, and every single time that i have entered the white house there has always been somebody from the presidents -- from the white house at the very first point before you ever even get to the checkpoint where they check your purses, etc.. every time even if it's just been a meeting with the president over a particular policy there has always been somebody out there. my question -- the first question is in this pre-planning meeting did you all decide no one would be specifically assigned from the social secretary's office or legislative affairs or what have you at the first checkpoint? was that a decision made? bec

sanchez of california says someone from the white house social secretary office should have helped the secret service clear people into last week's state dinner, saying, "even walmart has a greeter." ms appear yesterday at the house home security hearing on the matter. >> senators are continuing their debate of the health care bill through the weekend. our regular "book tv" schedule will be pre-empted during these senate sessions paired with "book tv" programming continuing after the debate. on c-span2, the only that were worked the full debate, unedited and commercial free. to read the senate bill and the house version, plus watch video on demand, the one line to c- span's health care hub. host: next guest is general george joulwan, who served from 1993 to 1997 as the supreme allied commander at nato. first of all, you heard the president's speech tuesday. will the new strategy work, as outlined by general mcchrystal and others in the military? guest: the jury is still out. it depends on the execution and implementation. but i think he laid out some clarity that is extremely important on with the goals are and what is required of the afghans in particular, in order to get their secu