>> you have to understand, i am not sitting in the united states senate with, by the way, the worst voting record there is today. number one. i am not sitting in the united states senate. i'm a businessman doing business

president, that this is something that was voted on here in the united states senate, overwhelmingly supported, sent to the president, the president of the united states who reluctantly signed it into law, but the understanding was from that point forward when this actually was brought to the tour of the united states the united states senate there would be a vote and there would be a vote. and all that's i think simply expected by the american people as an opportunity to be heard from in an up-or-down vote through their representatives here in the united states senate. i would think that even if democrats here in the senate, you know, object to or to the vote we would have on a resolution of disapproval and want to support the president's position, that they would allow it to be voted on, and the president to veto it and if the president is so proud, why would we not have an opportunity to vote on this veto for this. democrats are doing their best to protect the president from having to make that decision. notwithstanding the president's assertions that this is a wonderful deal for o

that is why i'm thankful for the opportunity that we have this week here in the united states senate, and opportunity to celebrate life and to protect life, god's most amazing gift of all. i am proud to join my colleague and the senior senator from my state, lindsey graham, in introducing this version of the pain-capable legislation in the united states senate. and the studies are very, very clear that this legislation can save more than 18,000 lives each and every year. that's right, 18,000 lives each and every year. we aren't talking about anything other than the results of sound science. and because of that sound science, we know that at approximately five months babies can feel pain. we know that if a baby were to need prenatal surgery at that age, they would be given anesthesia. why? because that little life, that little life feels pain. yesterday, mr. president, senator blunt gave name after name after name of babies born around five months who have gone on to live healthy and full lives. this, mr. president, is not about pro-choice or pro-life. it is simply about protecting ten

and that is why i am thankful for the opportunity that we have this week here in the united states senate and opportunity to celebrate life and protect life which is the amazing gift of all. i am proud to adjourn my colleague and the senior senator from my state, lindsey graham in introducing

p and that is why i am grateful that we in the united states senate have the ability to celebrate life and to protectoic life. god's most amazing gift of all. and i'm proud to introduce cleahat this version of the united t states senate. les and more than 18,000 lives each and every year. and we are talking about tt anything other than the results of sound science and they will be given anesthesia. because that little light, thatt feels pain. and this is not about the choice and this is about 10 fingers and 10 toes and one beating heart. >> and there's still abortions . pres in demand. only seven out of 200 nations, mr. president.today, and of the united states, really? and so why i may stand here w today, mr. president, with a h gnawing in my stomach, i also stand with hope. the hope that we can take a l massive step forward.islation especially when protecting life. 18,000 lives per year by passint this important legislation. and we shall be as a city upon . hill, the eyes of all people that are upon us. >> thank you, mr. president. >> serve? >> i asked that we have a quorum call befo

there is not a more respected united states senator than the senator from virginia.he was co-author of the iran nuclear agreement. refer to properly as the iran nuclear agreement review act, reviewact, review act. he said this, and he said it this morning, i was co-author of the iran nuclear agreement review act , which congress was considering the international agreement to prohibit iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. the bipartisan bill was drafted so that 6060 votes would be required in the senate to either pass or reject proposal. so let me read this again. one of the people that helped write this bill said, i was co-author of the iran nuclear agreement review act under which congress is considering the agreement to prohibit iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. it was drafted so that 60 votes would be required in the senate to pass either a motion of approval or emotional disapproval. he continued, we should follow the procedure that was explicitly discussed and agreed to. that is a direct quote from one of the authors of this legislation. it was never any senat

deferring to the president and deferring to the leadership of the democratic leader in the united states senate, not only did this senator who made this statement indicate his approval of the deal, this senator voted to block an up-or-down vote on the deal in the united states senate. in other words, participated in the filibuster of this vote. so, mr. president, this debate is one that the american people deserve to hear. i know that the press, as they typically do, like to keep score and like to move on to other things. but this is one that the american people deserve to hear and it's one they've demanded. and, frankly, from what they know so far, they don't like this deal. 21% have said they approve of it. and rather than listen to their constituents, our friends across the aisle have decided to essentially move on, block a vote that prevents the kind of accountability that our constituents deserve and to move on to other issues. but with the future security of our country hanging in the balance, mr. president, we can't just move on. and we can't disregard the will of our own constituents or

deferring to the president and deferring to the leadership of the democratic leader in the united states senate, not only did this senator who made this statement indicate his approval of the deal, this senator voted to block an up-or-down vote on the deal in the united states senate. in other words, participated in the filibuster of this vote. so, mr. president, this debate is one that the american people deserve to hear. i know that the press, as they typically do, like to keep score and like to move on to other things. but this is one that the american people deserve to hear and it's one they've demanded. and, frankly, from what they know so far, they don't like this deal. 21% have said they approve of it. and rather than listen to their constituents, our friends across the aisle have decided to essentially move on, block a vote that prevents the kind of accountability that our constituents deserve and to move on to other issues. but with the future security of our country hanging in the balance, mr. president, we can't just move on. and we can't disregard the will of our own constituents or

close by saying the press reports last night that explain why we're here wasting a week of the united states senate on the republican debate, and on the fact that even some of the republican presidential candidates reserved vile and venom to be used against the leader here, the majority leader of the senate and of the house, they're under immense pressure to show their manhood. that's what it's about. the presiding officer: the senator's time is expired. the senator from maryland. mr. cardin: we'll vote on something that will fundamentally change the issue before us. the iran review act gives congress three options. approve the agreement, disaproductive or take no action. this would be approval of the agreement. now, let me just make it clear to my colleagues. the flamework of the agreement is to provide a framework for iran stopping the nuclear state. preserving our options if iran participation and ballistic missile officials, and the bottom line whether iran is in better or worse shape to acquire a nuclear weapon under this agreement. i r -- i reached my judgment on it, as did 100 senators, and

we had a big debate on it in the united states senate. reauthorization of higher education, elementary and secondary act which got 81 votes. it was bipartisan and the one overriding subject was we did not want a national school board. we did not have any agreement among ourselves on whether we should be telling 100,000 public schools with their discipline and bullying policies should be. where does the department of education get the authority to issue a guidance or regulation on bullying? where is that in the law if the united states senate thinks that it is making the law of bullying or not? senator of all, alexander, thank you very much for your leadership and a bipartisan work that the senate has done toward a new esca bill. i think the bullying guidance you are talking about stems from civil rights law, that is also a law of congress. doesn't sayer: it anything about bullying. you're talking about title vi? thatthink you would agree bullying could be a serious problem and a violation -- sen. alexander: it is a problem but the united

states senate. senator corker, senator men men dead, secretary kerry, and vice president biden and all four fought for the united states senate having its rol appropriate role in establishing foreign policy. we are a country that believes serves our country the best. that is what separations of branches of government.se we don't have a parliamentarywe system here. provide independence in its reviews of the laws of our the country and policies of our chief executive. and that is exactly what we are doing in this debate and i thank senator corker for his extraordinary leadership of our committee and i know i speak for both democrats and republicans in saying that we support the independence of the senate and w reviewing our work. i, senator durbin, i listened to his comments and senator durbin is a dear friend of mine. the two of us have foughthts together on human rights around we have fought for civil liberties here in the united states. many important issues including mr. president, there are memberh on both sides that have reachedn different conclusions. but we are all committed to making sure iran does not be

this legislation and this vote before us here tomorrow in the united states senate is an opportunity to make that happen. mr. president, the united states of america is one of only seven countries in the world to provide and allow for elective abortions after 20 weeks. think about that. on that short list, by the way are north korea and china. what does that say about our national character if we know these unborn children are feeling excruciating pain and yet we choose not to act? when our founders founders declared our independence they wrote of certain unalienable truths endowed by our create, they said. among them, of course, life, libertiers and the pursuit of happiness. life is the very first one. so let's stand together today and take a unified step toward protecting life. mr. president, this is a commonsense bill. it has the support of the american people. i urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to help provide a voice for those who cannot provide that voice for themselves. to take this important step toward holding up the sanctity of life and to pass this important le

there is not on either side of this aisle and more respected united states senator ben senator from virginia tim kaine. he was co-author of the iran nuclear agreement. referred to properly as the iran nuclear agreement with the u.n. review act. he said this and he said it this morning and i quote directly. i was co-author of the iran nuclear agreement review act which congress is considering. i'm sorry i was co-author of the iran nuclear agreement review act under which congress was considering an international agreement to prohibit iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. the bipartisan bill to give congress and to deliver constructive review of the final nuclear agreement was drafted so 60 votes would be required in the senate to either pass or reject the proposal. so let me read this again. one of the people that helps write this bill a respected member of this body said that i quote i was co-author of the iran nuclear agreement review act which congress is considering an international agreement to prohibit iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. the bipartisan bill would give congress a review

there has already been noted a bipartisan majority in the united states senate, united states house of representatives that opposes this deal and get democrats in the united states senate talk about blocking from us having a debate. that was unfortunate to read it would be a tragic outcome or something that is this important to the national security interest for the american people in the united states. >> and to know the intentions of iran and the supreme leader today said 25 years from now israel will no longer exist and continues to refer to the united states as the great satan, so iran with a nuclear weapon makes us all less safe and less secure. we know their intentions and now this is what the capabilities will be in the future. also, today hillary clinton gave a speech. with a lot of tough talk about it iran, but it's hard to take it seriously because it was hillary clinton as secretary of state who opened the door to iran to continue to enrich uranium. that's the path to a bomb. she has now taken credit for being the want to open the door to what is a terrible deal. terrible de

nobody in the united states senate who's voting on this gets to read it. nobody in the united states house of representatives who's voting on this gets to read it. forget about any slight on you and me and others personally, it's not about that. we're here to represent the people. i'm here to represent the people of louisiana and i can't read what we're voting on? that's absolutely ridiculous. and then to add insult to injury come press reports about what we're not allowed to read. and, of course, madam president, the most significant were the press reports from several weeks ago from the a.p. saying that this side agreement had an extremely unusual provision with regard to inspections at at least one of iran's most sensitive military facilities. "the" biggest concern we have probably in all of iran. and in at least that most sensitive military facility -- and perhaps others -- iran gets to collect the samples, iran gets to choose and control those who do. the iaea, the international community, america does not and is not allowed on site. now, madam preside

[cheering] >> ladies and does make him united states senator. -- ladies and gentlemen, united states ou are not worn out yet, are you? we are just getting started. the best is yet to come. thank you, new hampshire democrats. [applause] you because you are simply the best. [chanting] is hillary supporters back there cheering for me. we need to bring them out front. was in the top political battle and you are there for me. i could not have won without you and my husband billy, who is here today, stephanie, who you just saw, our whole family, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. [applause] of course after that fight, i can tell you that i am pretty happy not to be on the ballot in 2016. just think about all the amazing democrats who are running next year. from state rep to congress to havenor, to president, we the best candidates. [applause] it is democrats up and down the ballot to make college affordable, to increase the minimum wage and to make sure seniors have a secure retirement. we want a country where everyone -- fair shotare at at success. that is what democrats have alwa

we have understood the process and americans no where every member the united states senate stance ofstand the 60 vote threshold for the united states senate and they certainly understand the 67 votes necessary to override it agreement. we should talk about how we can move forward on the agreement but i don't understand why the majority leader decided to bring forward an amendment to change resolution of disapproval to a resolution of conditional disapproval. that's inconsistent with the review act and to those of us who support for disapprove of the agreement it's not fitting and not consistent with the work on going for 53 days of therapy where we have worked very hard. every member of the united states senate to get as much information is helpful to make their individual judgments for or against agreement. 58 in support of 42 against. his next book i don't understand i would urge my colleagues in the senate's responsibilities here we should be voting no on the amendment offered by the majority leader and with that mr. president i would yield the floor. bee the senator from tennesse

this statute that brings us to the floor of the united states senate, on the agreement, passed the senate with a vote of 98-1, a strong bipartisan agreement that this is how we would grove he approach it. this is what the senator from mcconnell is working off of, but look at what's happening across the rotunda. yesterday the house of representatives dissembled, to move to the same vote we are face being, they fell apart. the republican caucus was in disarray and now they are proposing not the underlying statute which we're considering but three brand-new different approaches to this. this is no way to run a congress. no way to run a serious foreign policy issue, one of the more serious issues of our time. my colleagues here are to speak and i'm going to yield the floor to them. i've spoken from time to time but i will say this. what we're trying to achieve here, we're not putting a seal of approval on iran and their conduct and their activity. that will never happen. instead what we are saying we have one goal in mind, shared by many nations around the world to stop iran from developing a

new continues next. >>> a live look at the united states senate floor where the voting is continuing.8 ortho senators to vote on the deal. the bottom line is there most likely will not be a vote on the iran deal in and the president will not have to asia veto. -- not have to issue a veto. >> in 1988 the rock band guns n' roses score a hit riff the barroom classic "sweet child of mine." the album is the top selling debut album in rock history. making the guys one of the biggest bands on the planet. axle rose formed the group by using an ad in a newspaper to find slash. the original band members slitted up after producing hits including "welcome to the jung tell guy and" paradise city ." those were good times. neil cavuto is on deck. have a great afternoon. >> i am neil cavuto. on the left of your scene we have a senate vote going on and there's -- cloture vote that would get to yea or nay but they don't have to the votes to do that so we don't get a vote on the iranian deal. in the house, they're about to take up a measure that would reset the clock. well talk to the congressman behind

united states of america. never happened. unprecedented. so for 47 republican senators, they did not want to wait until the agreement was reached or written. they decided in advance to warn the ayatollah in iran not to negotiate with the united states or to assume any agreement would be enforceable with congress for future presidencies. what a contrast that 47 republicans would decide in the midst of negotiations to send that letter. what a contrast with the democratic side of the aisle for the last six weeks i've been in touch with my colleagues over here. they're probably tired of hearing from me, talking about this agreement and where they stood. and i know but for a few what they went through. many of them were -- tried to educate themselves on the terms of this agreement because it is complicated. they were talking to experts in the field. one senator came back and spent five hours with the intelligence agencies here in washington to try to understand the complexities of this agreement and how they worked. and after all that time, after all of that reflection, afte

stated intention of the minority leader senator reid and the senator from nevada who actually filibuster and prevent an up or down vote. this is something being actively encouraged by the president of the united states. just a short time after the president himself signed a bill, a a bipartisan bill with 98 votes in the senate which sets up a procedure by which this will be voted on. many democrats are tempted to filibuster this most important security issue that many would say i have seen during their lifetime. the president is picking the low road. he's claiming that those chanting death to america are making common cause with the republican caucus. that's the president of the united states. i'd like i'd like to point out there are several influential leaders of the president's own party that are opposed to this deal and they include some of this chambers most respected members in the field of foreign affairs. first of all, the ranking member of the foreign relation committee, senator cardin. he pointed out in his remarks when he said he would vote against excuse me or for the dissolution. under this agreement they are permitted to a level that can take down extremely close to breakdown leg

united states of america. never happened. unprecedented. so for 47 republican senators, they did not want to wait until the agreement was reached or written. they decided in advance to warn the ayatollah in iran not to negotiate with the united states or to assume any agreement would be enforceable with congress for future presidencies. what a contrast that 47 republicans would decide in the midst of negotiations to send that letter. what a contrast with the democratic side of the aisle for the last six weeks i've been in touch with my colleagues over here. they're probably tired of hearing from me, talking about this agreement and where they stood. and i know but for a few what they went through. many of them were -- tried to educate themselves on the terms of this agreement because it is complicated. they were talking to experts in the field. one senator came back and spent five hours with the intelligence agencies here in washington to try to understand the complexities of this agreement and how they worked. and after all that time, after all of that reflection after

i hope that we can work together because that's what's in the best interest of the united states senate. that's what's in the best interest of the united states of america. i look forward to working with senator corker and all members of the senate foreign relations committee and united states senate to see how congress can work together with our president so that we can achieve that goal. with that, mr. president, i yield the floor. >> mr. president? >> the senator from florida. >> mr. president, i would agree. i know the senator from tennessee would like to close on december. i think that if he needs to be said about the details have already been said. i want to be recorded for history's purposes for i know what is going to happen in regards if it goes through. iran will immediately gives the money that it is received and sanctions were lifted he can to build up its conventional capabilities to a well-established the most dominant military power in the region outside of the united states and it will raise the price of us operating in the region. they will go at that access capabilitie

and that is, it takes 60 members of the united states senate to say, we've heard enough about it. it's time to vote. but what's happening is, we have 42 members, all of one party, that are in the minority -- 42 senators that are saying, no, we're not going it allow this to move to a final vote. we're not going to do it. now, we know i.t it's not about debate. we know that -- as a matter of fact, here the second-highest officer on the democratic side said, we need to move on to other businesses. i.t. timit's time to move on tor business. and what we need to do is invoke cloture, and leat vote. -- and let's vote. i've said this several times. it's taken on kind of a tammy wynette -- tammy wynette kind of flavor. you know, let's stand by our man. let's stand by our man. we don't want the president to have to deal with a resolution of disapproval. we want to protect him from that. we don't want to embarrass him that there's a bipartisan -- by the way, the smartest, most well-versed, deep in foreign policy on his side of the aisle agreeing with the vast majority of the senate, 58 senato

i am just a united states senator from the small state of vermont. but, i agree with pope francis who will soon becoming to visit us in the united states. [applause] mr. sanders: i agree with pope francis when he says, and i quote "the current financial crisis originated in a profound human crisis, the denial of the primacy of the human person." "we have created new idols. the worship of the ancient golden calf has returned in a new and ruthless guys in the ise in thes gu idolatry of money, and the dictatorship of an impersonal economy lacking a truly human purpose." [applause] mr. sanders: the pope also writes "there is a need for financial reform along ethical lines that would produce in its turn and economic reform to benefit everyone. money has to serve, not to rule." [applause] mr. sanders: now those are pretty profound words, which i hope we will all think about. in the pope's view, and i agree with him, we are living in a nation and in a world, and the bible speaks to this issue, in a nation and in a world which worships not love of brothers an

that is why i'm thankful for the opportunity that we have this week here in the united states senate, and opportunity to celebrate life and to protect life, god's most amazing gift of all. i am proud to join my colleague and the senior senator from my state, lindsey graham, in introducing this version of the pain-capable legislation in the united states senate. and the studies are very, very clear that this legislation can save more than 18,000 lives each and every year. that's right, 18,000 lives each and every year. we aren't talking about anything other than the results of sound science. and because of that sound science, we know that at approximately five months babies can feel pain. we know that if a baby were to need prenatal surgery at that age, they would be given anesthesia. why? because that little life, that little life feels pain. yesterday, mr. president, senator blunt gave name after name after name of babies born around five months who have gone on to live healthy and full lives. this, mr. president, is not about pro-choice or pro-life. it is simply about protecting ten

the american people deserve to know where the united states senate stands and deserves to know where their member of the senate stands with the united states. mr. president, i yield back my time. the presiding officer: the senator from maryland. ms. mikulski: mr. president, i rise today to speak about the joint comprehensive plan of action agreement on the iran deal. i ask unanimous consent that my entire statement, the meticulous way i have arrived at my decision, be included in the record. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. mikulski: mr. president, too, i just want to comment that as we move forward to voting later on this afternoon, i deeply regret that the proposal offered by the democratic leader, mr. reid, was rejected so that every senator could vote not on a procedural vote that will be so determinative but that our name would be called for the record to show where we, by our name, took that position. and i regret that we are now so entangled in parliamentary maneuvering that we're losing sight of how we should really proceed in governing. but enough about procedure

thank you. [ applause ] >>> ladies and gentlemen, the democratic leader of the united states senate,harry reid. [ applause ] >> jack, i'm sure you would appreciate this, but i have to stand-up for someone who is not here. st. nicholas has already been given a name. it's already taken. she said you were saintly, but st. nicholas already has the name. a wise man once said, a perfectly straight shot with a big club is a fluke. the wiseman that said that was jack nicklaus. jack nicklaus' entire life has been just that. the tee that stayed straight and they stayed true. each drive was no fluke. jack nicklaus' success and status are a result of his athleticism, his hard work and his dedication. what an amazing athletic career, even from the days of his youth. while in high school, golf, he is a tall ened basketball and football player. jack nicklaus was all state in basketball and recruited to play college basketball by ohio state university. on the football field, he was a quarterback. in those days, you played both ways. he was quarterback, linebacker, he could kick a field goal 50 yards

bring that to the floor for a vote and move it forward in regular order, which is the way the united states senate should operate. now i'd like to pause and yield so my distinguished colleague from the great state of new hampshire, senator kelly ayotte, chos also a big support -- who is also a big supporter of lwcf, and i'm glad senator ayotte has come down to the floor today and is joining me in our fight to make sure we keep lwcf reauthorized. ms. ayotte: thank you, senator daines. i want to thank you for your incredible support for the land and water conservation fund, and i love the picture with your wife. because just like montana, in my home state of new hampshire, there are so many beautiful, beautiful places to hike. the white mountain national forest, places where the land and water conservation fund have made such a difference in giving everyone an opportunity to enjoy the use of our public lands. and in fact, having been born in new hampshire and grown up there, i have so many fond memories of my childhood, of hikes in our beautiful forests in new hampshire. and without the land and wat

but the american people expect now is a debate befitting the great institution of the united states senate. they expect us to come here and conscientiously consider the matter in its merits and express points of view and virtually every senator has 30 done that. in the course of the debate american people can follow. whether iran will develop a nuclear weapon we believe they have capacity now to create as many as 10 nuclear weapons. we don't want that to happen. it would be disastrous for the world compass certainly disastrous disastrous for the middle east and israel and that is by leaders around the world, 100 different nations supported different nations supported the president a bomb is striving to do. but the president is trying to do something that should be a starting point in every critical foreign policy negotiation. try to solve problems in a thoughtful diplomatic way and if that fails, start with diplomacy and that's what the president has done. he's organized nations around the world to join in this effort. if this were the united states for saving, we wouldn't be where we are

call the united states the great satan and have rejected the administration's hope publicly that the agreement will lead to better cooperation with iran. so where are we? the united states senate passed legislation 98-1 saying that congress should have a right to vote on this agreement. twice already in these senate chambers within the last week we have tried to bring that legislation up only to face a filibuster that has stopped us from even being able to vote on the agreement. 98 senators voted to let congress have a right to vote on this agreement. 42 of them voted twice now in the last week to refuse to let us bring the agreement before the senate to vote on it. and so today we are facing yet another effort. today the issue before the senate is a provision that would say that the agreement cannot go into effect until iran recognizes israel's right to exist and until iran frees the four political prisoners whom i identified. once again we are facing a threat of a filibuster. mr. president, as i've indicated, this agreement is dangerous. it's dangerous to the security interests of the united states. it's dangerous to the security interests of the world. it's destabilizing in

and i'm going to do my best to fill in for her it is a certificate of accomodation from the united states senator hereby presented by dianne feinstein the united states senator if california to the booker t washington community service center and it reads in recognition and prediction of booker t washington community civic center opening on service to the city and county of san francisco california congratulations on the groundbreaking of the new booker t washington communities civic center and john burton foundation housing complex john turns into mayor ed lee. >> oh, (laughter) hello mayor ed lee. >> established in 1919 booker t has been embedded in the lives of african-americans and san francisco with a unique collaboration with the japanese-american communities at the opening the current facility in 1952 dr. howard dlardz it a center for all raze this new facility expands the critical services with an emphasis open affordable housing, education and health services as the united states senator representing the people of california i salute the booker t washington community civic and the john b

very few united states senators have their portraits painted on the wall in the reception group, and i'm very proud that one of those is a former republican senator from west michigan. senator arthur. he was against president fdr. he hated the deal. he went after president roosevelt on his domestic agenda. as chairman c of the foreign relations committee, when we were being attacked in pearl harbor he stepped up and said, politics stap at the water's edge. that's the way the united states of mearrg operated, that's the way the senate operated. we had lost that and i am deeply concerned, not as a democrat but as an american as to where we find ourselves today on matters of such seriousness international threat to our country. we can debate them, we can have differences, yet someone loses the vote, it becomes time to come c back together and find a way to move forward to keep america strong. there are many opportunities for us to do that. many opportunities on this agreement to make it stronger, to focus on the nonnuclear sanctions and other things that we need to do together against ir

there ought to be a vote and there ought to be extreme measures taken in the united states senate to it. it is really critical. if that happens, then the senate will have its say, the president may veto it, and the american people will have more to say because i don't meet many people here in the country who like this agreement. they think it endangers our allies and us. >> obviously we are all very upset by the stories about veterans not getting the care that they have earned through the va system. in a new report from the va inspector gem, more than 300,000 veterans died while waiting for care. >> it's unbelievable. >> dr. ben carson has essentially called for closing the va and folding in most health care for veterans into the pentagon. you have a lot of experience in government. do you think the plan would work? what would you do? >> first of all, i think we need to expand the voucher program so a veteran can get the health care they need as soon as they can possibly can get it. it should not be just limited to the va hospital. secondly, my sense is you have to decentralize the va

and that is it takes 60 members of united states senate to say we have heard enough about it. it's time to move by what is happening as we have 42 members all of one party that are in the minority, 42 senators that are saying no, we are not going to allow this to move to a final vote. we are not going to do it. now we know it's not about debate. we know as a matter fact the second highest officer on the democratic side said we need to move on to other business. it's time to move on to other business. what we need to do is invoke cloture and let's vote but let me tell you what's happening here. i have said this several times, we have taken on a tammy wynette kind of flavor. let's stand by her man. let's stand by our man. we don't want the president to have to deal with a resolution of disapproval. we want to protect him from that we don't want to embarrass him that there is a bipartisan and by the way the smartest most well-versed deep in foreign-policy on his side of the aisle agreeing with the vast majority of the senate 58 senators saying this is not good for our nation, it a

so i'm a sitting united states senator. why vote? >> and speaking of outsiders the person whose numbers i'm going to be interested to watch over the next few weeks is ben carson. who really had a very good first debate. he comes off as a different kind of presence. sort of a gentle presence on that stage. gwen: but he leaned away from the opportunity of questioning donald trump on his anti-vaccination stance. as a physician, you would have expected him to be able to say directly, i don't know that that is a good idea but he danced all the way around it. >> he started out going after it but by the end oh, yeah, you're right. because donald trump -- i space out the vaccines and don't follow the regular schedule. gwen: someone did it for him is the way he phrased it. >> but if in fact carly fiorina does rise in the polls, i think as a lot of people expect her to, i'll be interested in seeing whose numbers she is taking. and there's a good chance it's going to be ben carson. gwen: really? because -- even -- in part because of that passio

this statue bringing us before the united states senate, resolution of disapproval on the iran agreement, passed the senate with a vote of 98-1. a strong bipartisan agreement. this is how we would approach it. and this is what senator mcconnell is working off of. the basic statue that brings us together. but look what is happening across the rotunda. the house of representatives descended when they were supposed to move forward to the same vote we were facing they fell apart. there was a republican caucus and it was in disarray. now they are proposing not the underlining statute we are considering but three brand new different approaches to this. this is no way to run a congress. the t is no way to address a serious, foreign policy issue, one of the more serious issues of our time. my colleagues are here to speak and i am going to yield the floor to them. i have spoken from time to time but i will say this. und understand what we trying to achieve. we are not putting a seal of approval on irain -- iran and their conduct. instead we are saying we have one goal to stop iran from developing

the two of us came to the united states senate together. we served in the house of representatives. he is one of the most passionate voices in this country, and it is an honor to have him on this issue. i yield to senator sanders. the presiding officer: the senator from vermont. mr. sanders: i thank nigh my frd -- i thank my friend from maryland. i rise to talk about the joint comprehensive plan of action, the agreement that the united states negotiated. i support the agreement and will oppose the resolution of disapproval, as i believe that this approach is the best way forward if we are to accomplish what all of us want to accomplish; that is, making certain that iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon, an occurrence which would destabilize the region, lead to a nuclear arms race in the area, and would endanger the existence of israel. it is my firm belief that the test of a great nation with the most powerful military on earth is not how many wars we can engage in but how we can use our strength and our capabilities to resolve international conflicts in a peaceful way. those who ha

and depending upon particularly in the united states senate, where it will require 60 votes to pass a continuing resolution to get over the filibuster, and with presidential candidates running, and for them on the republican side in the senate, this makes it very problematic. this could be a very critical piece in the decision. theuld only point out that appropriations bills -- and not to get too far in the woods again -- this is what we call a discretionary point of the budget. planned parenthood in the appropriation bills is about $70 million as i recall. but there is another close to 300 plus million dollars that goes to effectively planned parenthood through the medicaid program. you could eliminate the $70 million if you would like and you had the votes for it. but the end product is that it will not eliminate all funding to planned parenthood since most of it comes through the nonappropriated accounts called medicaid. lots more to goe t through with that planned parenthood vote. william hoagland is here with us. bob, democratic colleague. good morning. caller: good morning and t

and to put on record all 100 members of the united states senate. and i know many people would prefer to look the other way because of the gruesomeness of this practice, particularly as it regards late-term fetuses, children which, if born, even though they're not full term at 40 weeks, they could literally live out of the womb. in fact, neo-natalogists have demonstrated incredible capability at keeping these children alive, even if they are born preterm. and we will, i hope, take up -- have a vote on senator ben sasse -- senator ben sasse from nebraska has introduced a bill called "the born alive bill" which says that if a child is born alive as a result of a botched abortion, the health care provider must do everything in their power to save and preserve that life. i think it's important to get every united states senator on record on that issue, because this is -- this is a little bit different than the issue of defunding planned parenthood. i think we ought to do both. we ought to ban funding of tax dollars for planned parenthood, the number-one

senator pain and. are what to say again i know some people who want to go to war support this but the navy but that type of and in the united states. >> the distinguished senator who represents say beautiful state. >> thank you, mr. chairman president. mr. president, i want to thank the chairman of the foreign relations committee for his leadership on this issue and i also want to commend the senator from -- from maryland for his vote to do what he believed was correct that the courage to cast a vote was your conscience of was happy to be here to listen to his comments today. mr. president, president obama agreement with the iraqi cover rent with respect to the nuclear program, is one of the most important foreign policy decisions as well as america's leadership in the world. they are affected by this agreement known as the joint comprehensive plan of action. let me begin to make clear that i am supportive of the administration is with us iran and i was heartened when the president initially said in october 2012 that to recognize the needs of the nuclear program and those could have been in place. expose non to say that the deal t

democrats in the united states senate. i would that there were more joe lieberman democrats in the united states senate. it is also telling that not a single republican was persuaded by the president and the secretary of state, when they have told us this is the only option, that it is this deal, this catastrophic deal, or war. and that this is the very best deal we could have gotten. if that is so, we shouldn't have been negotiating in the first place. indeed, as israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, noted, the one person telling the truth about this deal is iran's president rouhani who observed that iran has gotten everything they wanted from this deal. because this deal is, as prime minister netanyahu predicted, a very, very bad deal and an historic mistake. first and foremost, this terrible deal will not stop a virulently anti-american and anti-israeli regime from getting a nuclear bomb. the so-called supreme leader, the ayatollah khamenei, declared that israel, which he calls "the little satan," would be nothing

republicans who want to abolish the filibuster in the united states senate are, i would suggest, republicans with very short memories. the senate's 226-year tradition of extended debate was created for the purpose of protecting the minority from the tyranny of the majority, and for the last 70 years, madam president, most of the time republicans have been the minority needing that protection. since world war ii, democrats have controlled the presidency and both houses of congress for 22 years. republicans have had such complete control for six years. let me say that again. since world war ii, democrats have controlled the presidency and both houses of congress for 22 years. republicans have had such complete control for only six years. during those 22 years, when the democrats had complete control, without a senate filibuster to protect the minority, democrats could have enacted any law they wanted. to see what can happen when democrats have complete control and republican senators can't filibuster, one has to look back only to 2009 and 2010. then, because there were 60 democratic senators m

and i'm going to do my best to fill in for her it is a certificate of accomodation from the united states senatory presented by dianne feinstein the united states senator if california to the booker t washington community service center and it reads in recognition and prediction of booker t washington community civic center opening on service to the city and county of san francisco california congratulations on the groundbreaking of the new booker t washington communities civic center and john burton foundation housing complex john turns into mayor ed lee. >> oh, (laughter) hello mayor ed lee. >> established in 1919 booker t has been embedded in the lives of african-americans and san francisco with a unique collaboration with the japanese-american communities at the opening the current facility in 1952 dr. howard dlardz it a center for all raze this new facility expands the critical services with an emphasis open affordable housing, education and health services as the united states senator representing the people of california i salute the booker t washington community civic and the john burton

perdue: i didn't think this moment would arise here in my tenure here in the united states senate. i am troubled about being a member of this body. just a few short months ago w told the american people in our foreign relations committee that we could work together. we unanimously passed a bill that gave this body, the u.s. congress, a right that the president and his administration had denied us by not allowing this to be treated as a treaty. and yet here we stand today, even after a unanimous bill came out of that committee, and 98 senators voted for us to get a look at this deal and to vote on this deal. we sit here tonight without the ability to tell people back home that we will in fact have a vote on this deal. i find that terribly, terribly troubling. smackas a matter of fact, i'm embarrassed. the people back home deserve better than this body is providing. there is bipartisan opposition to this deal. there are good democrats who in their deep conscience are going to oppose the president. i respect that. but there is not bipartisan support for this deal. there is a huge diff

the united states senate has been united between behind democratic and republican presidents for war and i appreciate that perhaps we can become united together behind peace. where iran will be in the future i don't know senator. i really don't. i don't think anyone does. our intelligence community i think has given you an assessment of what they believe, but quite frankly it is a very complicated situation. the people who turn out on the street tend to be the young people who are desperate not only for a better life and a stronger reality and a job that they want in their isolation. we live in a technologically connected world. no matter what the iranian mission -- regime does indeed they get on the internet. they see twitter. they use all of the devices that all of our kids use and they know what's going on in the world and they want to be part of it. i thank the united states senate for their support of programs which have helped break through the internet so they can get on. and at the same time we have for regime led by clerics who have been around for very long time and have ver

course of negotiating this deal did the obama administration seek the advice and consent of the united states senate or display any respect for the constitutional limits of the executive in foreign affairs. nevertheless, i'm glad that the senate has been debating this agreement because this is how the senate is supposed to function, on the basis of open and robust deliberation. and i hope it's how the senate will function well into the future on matters of national security and domestic policy. but if the debate that we're trying to have today could be congressional deliberation at its best, the obama administration's deal with iran is the product of diplomacy at its worst. as the negotiations neared completion earlier this year, president obama began building his case for the deal on the specious claim that the only alternative to the deal was war. this black or white setup, the notion that the art of statesmanship is a little more than navigating a series of binary either/or propositions is plainly absurd. it misses the mark. we learned this from the fiasco following the new start treaty in 2010.