Transcripts For CSPAN Politics And Public Policy Today 20161112

[playing National Emblem march] [playing National Emblem march] please remain standing for the prayer for all veterans. Delivered by chaplain Michael Mccoy senior, director of chaplain services, National Chaplain center. Let us pray, almighty and eternal god, who gives us the freedoms we enjoy in this great nation. Come visit us in this most sacred garden of where many of our veterans have gathered and many of our veterans and nations heroes rest. Fill our hearts with thankfulness for our veterans who answered the call to defend the honor and just causes of our nation. We thank you for their patriotism, their devotion to liberty and justice, Human Dignity and rights, compassion and self giving. We thank you for their diversity and unity and mission. Let all who would beget war reach out in compassion to those who must remember, made the nightmare of all wars cease so healing can take place. May each american find a reason to love, not hate, and strength to build than to destroy. Renew our sense of unity, hope, and faith through times of testing and difficulties. God give us the joyous spirit of celebration of our nations veterans and their families. Bless us now with your presence. In the name of our god, who challenges us to care. Amen. I would like to invite mr. Robert swan, National Commander of the polish legion of the veterans to lead us in our pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Please be seated. It is my distinct pleasure to introduce the members of the Veterans Day National committee. It was formed by president order in 1954 to plan this observance in honor of americas veterans and to support veterans day observances throughout the nation. Please hold your applause until i have introduced these special guests. If you are able, please stand when your name is called. Robert swan, National Commander of the polish leader of tomas stevens. Korean veterans. Angel. Catholic war veterans of the usa. David, chief executive officer. American exprisoners of war. John rowan, president Vietnam Veterans of america. Al kovac paralyzed veterans of america. Brian duffy, commander in chief, veterans of foreign wars of the United States. Harold chapman, National Commander. Dale stamper, National President , blinded veterans association. Richard gore senior, national commandant. Marine corps league. Donald larson, National President , Fleet Reserve association. Richard rinaldo, National Commander. Leader of valor, United States of america. Lyman smith, director military chaplains association. Donald youngblood, National Commander, army and navy union of the usa. John, executive director, noncommissioned Officers Association. Douglas bolt, National Vice commander, the american legion. Mr. David riley, National Commander, disabled American Veterans. Mike plummer, director of uniformed services. Clay junior, commander in chief, military order of the world wars. John adams, National President. The retired enlisted association. Herschel gober, National Commander, military order of the purple heart. Dana adkins, National President , military Officers Association of america. The associated members of the committee are located in the boxes to my left. I would like to ask the president and National Commanders that comprise our associate membership to stand and be recognized. Ladies and edelman, please recognize our Veterans National leadership with your applause. [applause] it is now my pleasure to introduce our veteran organization host for 2016. Polish legion of American Veterans, usa. The polish legion of American Veterans, usa is honored to serve as the Host Organization for the 2016 Veterans Day National observance at Arlington National cemetery. It was founded after the end of world war i, holding its First Official convention in 1921. Today, they celebrate over 95 years of providing assistance to veterans and their families. Chartered by congress, it represents over 3 million veteran americans of polish descent who have served in all wars and conflicts of the United States since its inception. With a knowledgeable and Trained Service officers as well as representation in washington, d. C. , they continue to provide assistance to veterans and their families with posts and chapters around the country. Veteran and ladies auxiliary volunteers donate endless hours of service and help in v. A. Medical centers, providing aid and support to hospitalized heroes. They also have Scholarships Available at the national as well as statelevel departments, providing Financial Aid to qualified students. They are represented today by their National Commander. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome mr. Robert swan. [applause] mr. Swan thank you. Welcome, mr. President , mr. Secretary, veterans, friends, all of you gathered here today. It is a great honor i am able to speak to you on this special day. It marks the 95th anniversary of the polish legion of American Veterans. After years of lobbying, the polish legion of American Veterans, congress unanimously floated to proclaim an honorary United States citizen on november 6, president obama signed public law 11194, which proclaimed him the seventh in history to receive this posthumous honor. We would like to recognize the contribution of all men and women that was provided while they were on active duty. And there continuing volunteering, which ups many veterans in need at the v. A. Hospitals and homes and even individual families in need. The values and principles gained in the military offers many a pathway to success. As a veteran family, or friend of a veteran, we know what they go through well serving and we know how hard it was when our Service Members return home. We are uniquely interested in helping in many ways. V. A. Hospitals and homes are always in need of support. Either monetarily or through comfort item donations. Organizations that are membership in the organizations that are declining, i am pleased to see younger veterans are still joining or creating newer, more specific organizations, where they are able to continue to help our nations veterans. Now, may we salute our military Service Members and their families that made that ultimate sacrifice. Thank you for the honor of speaking to you today. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the honorable ronald mcdonald, secretary of veterans affairs. [applause] mr. President , fellow veterans, honored guests. In the last scene of spielbergs saving private ryan, he kneels in front of captain millers grave. Captain miller gave his life in combat to save private ryans. Ryan says to miller and all veterans, i have tried to live my life the best i could. I hope that, at least in your eyes, i have earned what all of you have done for me. I am a veteran. When i come to arlington, i imagine myself saying that to every veteran resting here. I hope that, in your eyes, i have earned what all of you have done for me. We would all do well to kneel at any one of these markers and repeat ryans words. We would all do well to turn to a veteran and ask, am i earning this . Seven years ago today, right here in arlington, president obama made a sacred vow to veterans. America will not let you down, he said. We will take care of our own. Then, he fulfilled that vow. President obama and congress provided the largest single year the v. A. Budget increase in over three decades, his very first year. [applause] under his leadership, the v. A. Budget has nearly doubled. He opened it their doors to nearly half a million veterans who had lost their eligibility in 2003 and supported three presumptive conditions for veterans exposed to agent orange. Today, even though there are 2 million fewer veterans than in 2009, there are nearly 1. 2 million more veterans receiving some type of v. A. Care and services. [applause] 1. 2 million more veterans are enrolled for v. A. Health care. 1. 3 million more receive disability compensation. Half a million more veterans have v. A. Home loans. We have seen a 76 increase in veterans receiving educational benefits. We have cut veteran homelessness and half since 2010. Veteran unemployment has dropped. [applause] veteran unemployment has dropped by over half in the last five years. Unemployment for post9 11 veterans has dropped by 70 . America will not let you down, the president said. We will take care of our own. He stood by that commitment year after year after year. And for good reason. America met Sergeant First Class Cory Remsburg when president obama introduced him during the 2014 state of the union address. The president met corey 4. 5 years earlier in france. Corey was one of the elite rangers who parachuted into commemorate the dday landings. Then, he returned to afghanistan for his 10th tour. The president next saw corey in a hospital bed in bethesda naval. He had been grievously wounded by a 50 pound roadside bomb. Corey could not speak. He could barely move. But, he gave the president a thumbs up. Three years later, when the president and i traveled to phoenix, president obama quietly took a detour. He needed to see corey. Corey had made miraculous progress in the tampa v. A. Unit. This time, with help, corey stood, saluted, and said what you would expect. Rangers lead the way, sir. Corey is the apparently of that is the epitome of that rare sense of a combination of qualities that characterizes the best among us. A dogged sense of duty, indomitable courage, plain, american grit. President obama admires that in corey. He admires it in all American Veterans. It is why he loves them. Ladies and gentlemen, honored guest, the commanderinchief and the 44th president of the United States, barack obama. [applause] [cheers] pres. Obama thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you very much. Please. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Secretary mcdonald, distinguished guests, most of all, our extraordinary veterans and your families. The last time i stood on these hallowed grounds on memorial day, our country came to together to honor those who had fought and died for our flag. A few days before, our nation observed armed forces day. Honoring all who are serving under that flag at this moment. Today, on veterans day, we honor those who honored our country with its highest form of service. You, who once wore the uniform of our army, air force, marines, navy, or coast guard. We owe you our thanks. We owe you our respect and we owe you our freedom. We come together to express our profound gratitude for the sacrifices and contributions you and your family made on the battlefield, at home, and at outposts around the world. Americas gratitude towards our veterans is always grounded in something greater than what you did on duty. It is an appreciation of the example that you continue to set after your service has ended. Your example as citizens. Veterans day often follows a an exercise in free speech and selfgovernment you fought for. It often lays bare disagreements across our nation. The american instinct has never been to find isolation in opposite corners. It is to find a strength in our common creed. To forge unity from our great diversity. To sustain that strength and unity, even when it is hard. And when the election is over, as we search for ways to come together, to reconnect with one another, with the principles that are more enduring and transitory politics, some of our best examples are the men and women we salute on veterans day. It is the example of young americans, our 9 11 generation, whose First Responders went into smoldering towers, then ran to a recruiting center and signed up to serve. The example of a military that meets every mission, unites teams, all looking out for one another, all getting each others backs. It is the example of the single most diverse institution in our country. Soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, coast guardsmen who represent every corner of our country, every shade of humanity. Immigrant and nativeborn. Christian, muslim, jew, and nonbeliever alike. All forged in the common service. That is the example of our veterans. Patriots, who when they take off their fatigues, put back on the camouflage of everyday life in america and become our Business Partners and bosses, teachers, coaches, First Responders, city councilmembers, community leaders, role models, all still serving this country we love with the same sense of duty and with valor. A few years ago, a middle school from missouri entered an essay contest about why veterans are special. This is what he wrote. When i think of a veteran, i think of men or women who will be the first to help an elderly lady across the street. I also think of someone who will defend everyone, regardless of their race, age, gender, hair color, or other discriminations. After eight years in office, i particularly appreciate that he included haircolor. [laughter] pres. Obama but that middle schooler is right. Our veterans are still the first to help, still the first to serve. They are women, like the retired military policewoman from buffalo who founded an American Veterans post and is building a safe place for homeless female veterans with children. [applause] pres. Obama they are men like the two veterans from tennessee, one in his 50s, one in his 60s, who wrote me to say they would happily suit up and ship out if we needed them. We might be a little old, they wrote, but we will be proud to go and do what we were taught to do. Whenever the world makes you cynical, whenever you seek true humility and selflessness, look to a veteran. Look to someone alike First Lieutenant irving lerner. He was born in chicago to russian jewish immigrants during world war i. He served as a bombardier in the air corps, flying dozens of missions towards the end of world war ii. When he returned home, he did what a lot of veterans do. He put his medals away and kept humble about his service, started living a quiet life. One fall day, walking on sheffield avenue on chicagos north side, a stranger stopped him and said thank you for your service, and handed him a ticket to see the cubs play in the world series. [applause] pres. Obama it is a good thing irving took that ticket. Because it would be a while until his next chance. [laughter] pres. Obama irving worked hard, managing warehouses for his brotherinlaws tire company. He got married 28 sargent in the womans air corps, no less. He raised four children, the oldest of whom is celebrating her 71st birthday today. On a june morning many years ago, another one of his daughters, carol, called the check in. Her mother answered but was in a rush. We cant talk, she said, your father is being honored and we are late. Carol asked, honored for what. The answer came, for his heroism in the skies above normandy exactly 50 years earlier. You see, his children never knew their father flew over the french beachheads. He never mentioned it. Now, when a call to check in, the children always say, thank you for saving the world. Irving, sharp as ever at 100 years young always replies, well, i had a little help. Whenever the world makes you cynical, whenever you doubt the courage and goodness and selflessness is possible, stop and look to a veteran. They do not always go around telling stories of their heroism. So it is up to us to ask and listen and tell those stories for them. And to live the values for which they were prepared to give theirs. It is up to us to make sure they always get the care they need. When i announced my candidacy for this Office Almost a decade ago, i recommitted this generation to that work. We have increased funding by more than 85 . We have cut veteran homelessness almost in half. Today, more veterans have access to health care and fewer are unemployed. We help the disabled veterans afford a preset experience afford prosthetics. [applause] pres. Obama we help disabled veterans, we are delivering more Mental Health Care Services because we know not all wounds of war are visible. Together, we began this. Together, we must continue to keep that sacred trust with our veterans and honor their good work with our own, knowing that our mission is never done. It is still a tragedy that 20 veterans a day take their own lives. We have to get them the help they need. We have to keep solving problems like long wait times at the v. A. We have to keep cutting the disability claims backlog. We have to resist any effort to outsource and privatize the health care we owe americas veterans. [applause] pres. Obama on veterans day, we acknowledge humbly that we could never serve them quite the same way they served us. But we can try. We can practice kindness, pay it forward, we can volunteer, we can serve. We can respect one another. We can always get each others backs. That is what veterans day asks us to think about. The person you pass as you walk down the street might not be wearing our nations uniform today. But consider for a moment, that a year, a decade, or a generation ago, he or she might have been one of our fellow citizens who was willing to lay down their life for strangers like us. We can show how much we love our country by loving our neighbors as ourselves. May god bless all who serve and still do. And may god bless the United States of america. [cheers and applause] ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing and join the United States navy band in singing God Bless America. While the storm clouds gather far across the sea let us swear allegiance to a land thats free let us all be grateful for a land so fair as we raise our voices in a solemn prayer God Bless America land that i love stand beside her and guide her through the night with a light from above from the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam God Bless America my Home Sweet Home God Bless America my Home Sweet Home [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing as we retire the colors. Retire the colors. [playing National Emblem march] [playing National Emblem march] [playing National Emblem march] [playing National Emblem march] this concludes the 2016 National Veterans day observance. Please be seated for the departure of the president of the United States. Thank you for joining us as we celebrate and honor all who served. [applause] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2016] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] [applause] [applause] every weekend, book tv gives you 48 hours of nonfiction books and authors. Here is what is coming up this weekend. Saturday night at 10 00 eastern, Harvard University economist examines the Historical Impact of immigration on the u. S. Economy in his book we wanted workers, unraveling the immigration narrative. When immigrants come in they do all sorts of things to the economy. They reduce the wages that Wage Reduction in itself creates gains. Somebody lower wages somebody elses higher profit. Sunday at 7 00 eastern, neil de grasse tyson and others talk about their book welcome to the universe. We calculate how you may go about finding exit planets that would be of particular interest to us, and what would it would you be after . Whether it can harbor life. Go online for the complete we schedule. Were asking students to participate in this years studentcam competition, what is our most urgent issue for our new president and congress to address in 2017 . It is open to all middle school and high school students. They can work alone or in a group of up to three to produce a five to seven minute documentary on the issue selected. The grand prize is 5,000, to the student or team with the best overall entry. 100,000 in cash prizes will be awarded between 150 students and 53 teachers. This years deadline is january 20, 2017. That is an operation for more information, go to our website, studentcam. Org. Announcer washington journal talked to veterans about iraq and afghanistan, about their wartime experiences in the transition to civilian life. Suzanne gordono about Health Care Needs for veterans. Vietnam veterans memorial. Visiting that memorial not only remember friends and family who served in wartime and honor their commitment, but also Walking Around washington, d. C. As well. And our studios in washington, we have the honor of talking to to veterans of wars in iraq. To learn about what it is like to be a soldier, not only during a period of in active service but as they transition to civilian life. Whoed by Ashley Nicolas served in afghanistan from 20122013. And Brennan Mullaney, an iraq veteran. Both of you, happy veterans day. You think is the perception of soldier and active life by most people and what is the reality . Everything with think about veterans is depicted by the media and in movies and if that depiction is not exactly the truth. I know from my time in active service which i valued very much. I did a couple of tors to iraq and some of the things did not look like that. 80 90 did not look like that. A lot of hanging around with my guys and our hurry up and wait mantra. Metric it does not look sexy. Ands grinding it out improving day after day. Spending time with your team and getting to know each other and practicing. Host what did you do . Guest 1 i was at calvary scout. I spent my time in fort hood, texas. I was lamenting with ashley when she asked me what i did. I was assigned to be in front of the Main Elements looking for the enemies and scouting and that is not what happened. Most of us on the ground were doing similar jobs, working with the Iraqi Security forces. Anding on Governance Economic Development projects. Building a rapport with the nationals. Same Ashley Nicolas, question, what is the perception, what is the reality . Guest 2 brennan is right. It is the hard work of leadership and Building Trust and relationships and building teams which is not a flashy stuff you see in movies. Taking care of soldiers, especially leaders, they spend a lot of time doing. Does not stop it when we leave activeduty service. Work was the of my hard work behind the scenes as an Intelligence Officer and make sure our teams and soldiers were informed and prepared to be successful in the battlefield. That is not what you see. Guest 1 it is a great point. There is a credible cast of individuals, their collective efforts makes it work. Thesee whether it is special operators, the navy seals, the army rangers, you see the league teams. A host of people behind them that are doing their jobs and must do it effectively. Host both of you talk about teamwork. This teame have with work that is already established, is that the case . Or is it more needed to submit that see meant that . Guest 2 you are fortunate because you start with, and a shared mindset. You have a baseline. Theres camaraderie that gets built that does not start from the beginning and it does not happen by magic. It happens through long days in cold weather and long nights and being a miserable, that shared misery is magic for teamwork. Guest 1 definitely. The experiences that forged that camaraderie and units and get stronger whether training experiences, difficult decisions , situations, i am sorry. Or the point you are deployed. That heightens of those experiences and strengthen those bond. Tot our guests joining us tell their service and give you the viewer a sense of what a military person does day today. You can ask them questions. We divided the lines for veterans. Regionally, give us a call at we are joined by Ashley Nicolas who served in afghanistan and Brennan Mullaney who served in iraq. Fivesure it is not a 9 to job. Tell us what your day. Guest 2 every day is a very long day. Most days is long. It starts in the dark in a formation where you will work out and do some sort of physical fitness, prepare you for the long days ahead. And from there, it is job depended. What is your main task . Some of my days were spent preparing intelligence for units from our home state. Some were spent in the field prepare for deployment ourselves. Some days were spent expect inspected vocals and taking care of soldiers. Beauties of military service. It is never boring. Guest 1 there is definitely that task and the things you have to accomplish daytoday, i was an officer. The paperwork side of things and the administrative side of things, building training plans and executing that training. It is about leadership. That is the fulltime job. It is not a 9 to 5. I was responsible for a number of phenomenal soldiers. If they needed help, whether afterhours or early morning, i was there for them and they knew that. They would have been there for me. There must chemical things that happen whether you are stateside. Mechanical things that happen when you are stateside or abroad. The sense of team and a sense of purpose that is not replicated in many civilian jobs. That is one of the challenges civilians have from the transition to whatever else is next and they miss those things. Host lets hear from callers. This is arkansas. Good morning. You are first up. Caller good morning. I want to mention the door did after. The president should take up the information from Wounded Warriors and cannot do anything after the military or need help, that can put them back into the military but not military situations. That would help immensely for many of them instead of putting them out. And to help the military personnel, put them in places where there do not have to have combat. There are people who want to be warriors. Let them do that. After military, i personally would like to see our military come home from places we dont need to be like japan. Which would help our benefits and our country by taking care of their country. We have been doing there for 40, 50 years. I do not know the exact time. Us. Money could be for host dusty, thank you. Guest 2 absolutely. There is a tremendous need at home for service. I think it is lost sometimes when we talk about what the typical image of a bitterness, their services done. I do not think that can be more untrue. Your service continues. That is already happening. , theirimage of a veteran services done. Like the pat tillman foundation, these organizations take the unique experiences of veterans and put them at work at home. That is already happening. Veterans are feeling a huge need. A huge need. Guest 1 dusty had a few questions and we appreciate them. The one i would tease out is after the military peeves. Peace. That is why work today. Does a, the military good job of making your soldier, navy, airmen. Sometimes they do not do nearly as good of a job as transitioning you back into society. There been tremendous stride to bolster that. It is something we have a responsibility to servicemen and women to be thinking about. The reality is whether you do your fouryear enlistment and get out or you do 30 or 35 years and are a general or something. There is something beyond that military service. If we are not doing the things to prepare ourselves even when we are in uniform, we are doing ourselves and fellow serviceman a disservice. Host here is ken from south carolina. Caller how are you dont . Doing . My question is different. I am a veteran. Id. I permanent duty station was in new york. My concern is the war in iraq. I did my permanent duty station in new york. After desert storm, we went in and hussein was back and george bush in dick cheney said it was dangerous because the country is difficult. We invaded and we saw how difficult. We assisted our soldiers for 10 years but when it was time to fight, they ran. I am worried about the soldiers. We cannot fight for country if they do not fight. We relinquishul, it again and have to go back and take it again. I do not wantht, any more soldiers dying in a foreign land when we know down deep, like egypt, they wanted a change. It was chaos. Libya, saddam hussein. Even though they were dictators, they kept the lid in. Host we will let our guests respond. Brennan mullaney it was difficult guest 1 it was difficult. 15 years of combat in iraq. I do not think anybody anticipated the conflicts to drive on a that long. There is an important policy component to that question. One i am not qualified to answer. It is something that we as a country needed to be very cognizant of. When our civilian leadership makes these decisions and decided to send our sons and daughters into the phone for intoo conflict, conflict, it means a lot more what plays on the maybe a major media networks. Their transition back from these combat experiences and that lives on for years and decades. It is not until 40 years after the Actual Service or conflict that the repercussions of that really take place through the body or mind. It is an important thing for us to consider. When we make those decisions, there is in effect. Guest 2 absolutely. It is important to realize after these years of conflicts, veterans in a unique position to provide a policy position. For some of the veterans to step up and be involved of some of the moves as a nation so we do not repeat some of the mistakes. Host when it comes to redeployment, what is it like when you get the notice . Tim arango i never guest 2 i never got that. Once i was home, i was home. Guest 1 we were on a year on, year off cycle. I was in 2 of them. I spent 15 months in my first deployment in baghdad. Home, which was it is an incredible feeling. That elation of being back home here in the country. There are so many things we take for granted, you really realize what we have when you are in other environments. Try to embrace that in hold on to that feeling as long as you can. It starts the cycle of training and you go back. Therek i knew all along would be a second or even third tour. You understand it. In some ways, you look forward to it. The experience, that sense of personal purpose, the people youre sharing with it, that part is phenomenal. That is something all servicemembers really value. Host you get a phone call, email, how does it work . Guest 1 you get it through the rumor mill first. You start to hear. The dod, it is all out there. You get orders. Sayinga piece of paper you are going wherever. And the same thing when you come home. A date everybody is waiting for the first sergeant. Forward to both aspects of it. You are excited to go and frankly, you are relieved and stoked to go home. Host lets hear from james and arkansas. Caller hi. Hi. Retired from the years. Y with a 21 i served in 1974 to 1994. I appreciate your program. Years. Question . Is your caller my question is, after you get out of the military, you do not get enough pay to make your bills. I served 21 years and host the idea of pay, how does it work . Youre on active duty as an officer, a comfortable life. He is a challenge for many. That be aeave, its challenge if that transition is not clear. A clearo not have understanding of where you are going, it can be a challenge. That is where it is important to have a Community Supporting of veterans to help lift up and bridging that gap between you leave uniform and find your new direction on the civilian side. Host how often are you paid . Guest 1 you can take either option tim arango you can take guest 2 you can take either option. I was paid every two weeks. Guest 1 once you make the transition, why are there not high paying jobs for veterans . I know there are a number of organizations who are very aware of this. A number of private companies who have hiring veterans initiatives. Let peopled to do is understand veterans are assets. As they are people who want to continue to serve. Be rock star performers in your organization. They know how to perform under duress. They know how to solve difficult problems. As long as we shake that narrative, you want to hire veterans and pay them a salary they deserve. They are capable of so much more. And giving them an opportunity and compensating them appropriately is what were striving to do. We hope that conversation continues. They may veterans edition transition, can have opportunities and continue to walk the two jobs that will provide them the resource. Host when you are serving outside of the United States, do you get hazardous pay . Receive that pay when youre deployed and also skill base pay. You jumpe airborne and out of airplanes, you get additional pay. You have a unique skill. You will receive a stipend for that. Of base pay beyond that pay if youre qualified for it or serving in the area that qualifies you. Guest 1 something that is important with a pay, you tend to be paid in a manner in which you live quite comfortably. Whether you are a lower listed soldier and live in the barracks or an officer like we were. The really interesting thing is what you consider, you perform in your job in the military, get ,romoted, get a pay increase qualified with a different skill or a pay increase. When you make the transition, all of the stability you had in terms of pay and Life Insurance and health care for you and your family and the resources that sat and the military installation you had access to, goes away. Whoou think about somebody lost their job, imagine everything you relied on, that is a daunting proposition. Thats why a lot of veterans in this transition are looking for those things are struggling. There are organizations trying to provide all of the stability. Host that is Brennan Mullaney who served in iraq. Also joined by Ashley Nicolas who served in afghanistan to give you a look in the life of a military person not only in active duty but transitioning. Orlando in colorado. Caller good morning. Yeah ill have to bear with me. I have shortterm memory loss. , i was with the first airborne division. I didnt 9. 5 months in the jungles of vietnam. Our mission is basically where to go and, search and destroy and whenever there was an emergency and we had a bunch of choppers down somewhere, they dropped is in their there. We went through quite a bit of what happens after we get back from vietnam . People are flipping us off. Nobody spit in my face or i would have decked them. Now, they treat me like i waited one year and two months for an appointment one time. The only reason they did that, a couple of reasons was being i would argue with them. Said, they quit giving me travel pay because they said there was a glitch in the system. Saying i chose that is he a split the v. A. Specifically and i tried to drive that far. Host thank you for telling us your story. Guest 2 a lot of challenges we face with his v. A. , a large with aation and people lot of needs. We have seen improvements. Care has been largely positive. One of the bigger challenges, one of the biggest is met the shores of the v. A. Is inclusive and address needs like the caller had. A long way org you feel like youre not a valued member. That is something women face a lot, its a male driven organization and women do not always feel like they belong or assumed they do not. Certainly, we are going to face challenges in addressing multigenerations and why varying needs. It is something we will have to keep an eye out and address. Guest 1 i think it is, the point i would like to address is the climate of the veteran came back to. Our generation has came back to welcoming public and has been able to decouple the conflict and the politics with the service of the individual or the service member. We have been fortunate and i know the vietnam generation was not as fortunate. One we arend that, Getting Better at that. It is needed. In a country as how we welcomed our generation of the enough veterans was wrong. I hope it would never happen again. The more interesting point is the way the vietnam generation has welcomed us as veterans home. They have been the was advocating for Veterans Issues for so long. They have said, no, this will not happen again. I cannot beteran, more thankful to the vietnam veteran and grateful for what they have done in shaping the space. Host i am sure when you are back home in your civilian life, you hear the phrase thank you for your service. What goes through your mind . Guest 2 it can sometimes be at loaded statement. You will be hardpressed to find does not enjoy the sit there. Sometimes, it can be seen as an empty statement. For an action. I appreciate you thanking me for service a but followup. Start the conversation, ask me about my experience. Go to an event. Go to Vietnam Veterans memorial and ask questions. Ask for stories. Those are the ways you can show gratitude. Be involved. That goes a lot further. Sometimes it can be an empty statement if it is not followed up. Guest 1 i would agree. It is a start. Im personally very uncomfortable when people say thank you, i am not sure how to respond. Theres a lot of great things and experiences i have had. I am very proud of it. It is the start of a conversation. Thank you for your service, followed by what did you do . What are you doing now . How can i help you . The knowledge i am a veteran, but having transitioned into the local community, im facing a lack of the same things you are. Who am i going to vote for, the election went past. Where my kids are going to go school. What my next job is going to be. To be involved in a veterans life is a powerful thing. It validates of their service, hey, the best way to thank him is to welcome him back. The organization i work for is a fact has a medium. We bring veterans and civilians together over simple activities and to build those relationships. That is a very human thing. We all need that. Whether transitioning from war or going to rely. Relationships are really the glue that keeps it together. Host have you ever been criticized for your service . Guest 2 i do not think so. It is a lesson although vietnam generation. I will get comments that are policy questions. You will hear, we love the troops or preshow what you did, but we do not agree with what is going on. Aat can be the start of conversation. Among the veteran population, there is a nuanced understanding of what we participated in. Be prepared to get answers you do not necessarily expect. Guest 1 i do not think ive been criticized but misunderstood, probably at better characterization. I had of the opportunity to grasp all after the army. I was in a fantastic program and i was amazed at the many my colleagues who would going on to be decisionmakers and will never spoke one on one to a veteran who served in iraq or afghanistan. It was amazing. All of my friends, as i go through my iphone, 90 of them served. A different thing, it is so important to have those conversations. If you do not have a service your life, brother, whoever, seek someone out and have a conversation and learn. Ask them about their service and what they did. The same questions you are asking us, these are important things for people to know. Sort of brigid that divide between our military and civilian community. Guest 2 do not be afraid to ask. Arele of never served scared to ask the questions because a day do not know if they are asking something offensive or difficult to talk about. To start a willing conversation, it is never going to change. Host lets go to john. He is in louisiana. Good morning. Caller 50 years ago, i started my air service career. I was a pilot and flew for delta airlines. You mentioned people come of assaying me for my service and my response is i was blessed by god with the abilities to become a pilot. It is my honor to have been selected to do that. Am in northwest louisiana neared airport and i am close to it. Whenever i go to the base and the man or woman checked my id, havenk them for what they started to do. Something i did for 28 years and i wish them well in their career. I hope they stay. The way i feltn in the 20th years i spent. I served in combat from vietnam to desert storm and everything in between. I try to encourage young people to look the military. I think it is a wonderful thing they can do for their country. It makes my heart feel good to see these young people serving. They are every bit as good as i was when i started. I hope they continue forward and serve the country. I am active in several organizations were we go to high schools, the rotc in the area. We have a huge military retiree population in this part of the state. We always try to go out and encourage others to follow in our footsteps whether one tour or spent a career. It is service to their country. Host gotcha, john. We are running a little short on time. Guest 2 absolutely. After i left uniform, i became a high school teacher. I was always encouraging of my students to consider the military. There are very few ways to start your life that will give you such a great set of values and the lessons and support you in a way that sets you up to be successful forever. Said, one term or 35 years, it will be valuable. It is something that should still be considered. Guest 1 my military experience was phenomenal. I learned things, met people and learned lessons and expresses i rely on today. I was a 22yearold platoon leader responsible for 30 soldiers. There is not leadership like that in in other organization in this country. Is important for people to consider service if service is right for them. And it is in for people serve to provide them with the ability to ask questions asked the us out in our communities serving. Like the call mentioned with the vfw. My organization in the d. C. Area, we are going to read in Elementary Schools today. Im going to all project, which is another phenomenal organization. Andjust any Veterans Service a uniform but making the transition and still being leaders in their church, their kids school, coaching, teaching. These are the important things and that will shape our future generations view of service. Host bill from pennsylvania. Caller thank you so much for having me on. I served in vietnam, 1968, 1969. Overtake. Operation i was there for 15 months. I was very proud to do my duty and i was very lucky. And the lord was with me. What waseally realized going on until i got back to oakland, california and we were met by thousands of people with eggs, throwing rocks, bananas. We were treated to terrible the first 20 minutes i set foot on american soil. And the same thing with the job market. When i got home, i put everything away and forgot about my military service of 440 something years. Then i started to become deal. Went to my local doctors and i already had information on agent orange. And then i started to become ill. I asked about agent orange and they shrugged their shoulders. We know nothing about agent orange. They treated me like a regular patient. Host thank you so much. The first 20 minutes i was in the u. S. , we were greeted by is in no veterans. Those lessons that were learned. We were graded greeted by Vietnam Veterans. Those people were treated so terribly and they make sure it is not like that for current generations. I am so grateful for what they have done. Guest 1 it is beyond the welcome and the health care providing to our veterans. Agent orange, which was one of the elements on the vietnam conflict we knew nothing about. You juxtapose of with todays conflict and our knowledge of traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress. Aribale bit of lag in his holistic league we are in a position where we know a lot holistically winter position where we know more and provide appropriate care. Learned hope we have our tough lessons from vietnam and we do not have to learn again. Host you mentioned transition. What there something that took you by surprise . Or was it a difficult . Guest 2 i think you missed the camaraderie. Thatse of shared mission you are custom is surrounded by people of that share the same ideas and values and mindset. Uniform, you lose that a little bit. For me, i became an educator. I had a sense of mission and surrounded by people doing the same. If it takes you lose that support. You lose that feeling of being part of a team all the time. It can be jarring. Guest 1 i had somebody tell me when you enter the military, with your team a uniform, eua cup compass things you never thought was possible. When you leave, they take them away. Your team and uniform, you accomplish things you never thought was possible. You lose that team. , what on wherever you are ever community, whether a month after, a year after, you start to miss that. Maybe that is an important point. Finite. On is not not the day i took uniform off and put on a suit or whatever. It happens over a prolonged period of time. For some, it is years and years. For me, it is still happening. I left years ago and i am still thinking about what my life ahead is going to look like. These are very humid things. Knowingsome consolation some of the struggles or things im challenged with, my neighbor has been through. Host when you went to go looking for jobs, what happens when the potential employer sees that line of your service . Guest 1 i think it is a changing sort of discussion. A lot of people see that essay it is great, you are a veteran insert. A lot do not know what that means or translates into. Get it translated from the military jargon into normal, civilian resume speech can be difficult. From what i can tell, a number of employers who welcome that. Is it an advantage while jobhunting . Guest 2 it can be. If you could describe your services and and access to that ploy or and understand, it can be to a great advantage. There is a challenge in making sure you were able to translate that jargon as speaking the language the employer understands. Guest 1 just say you were a mechanic in the military, that may not be what you are in civilian. Working under the rest and teens and solving problems, those are what you want to highlight. Host arthur from virginia, good morning. Caller good morning. Thank you for taking my call. Host go ahead. Caller a little background. 20 years in the army. 70 years on the seven years lookingeel look hill at the v. A. Issues. A couple of thoughts on transitioning. I had the opportunity to travel to the v. A. I look at the v. A. Budget. Year, 182 billion this this coming year. A huge growth that was 90 billion when i came to the hill in 1995. There is now 325,000 people working. It is not a money issue. Both your guests have a great perspective. I got to talk to a lot of people on a trips to afghanistan and iraq. I think we need to take care of Arthur Verrilli Wounded Soldiers and every body, ptsd and the issues and we do not address those correctly. I do not think the military addresses tbi. I interviewed someone it in iraq, a national guardsman, he allegedly had been, he had been 07 different tors and was in 4 different ieds prewe need to look at the symptoms. I am stepping back a little bit. President elect, i would hope that his cabinet selections that he picks some veterans. To be the new secretary of the v. A. Secretaries i had where secretary peaks. It offers a unique perspective on what needs to be done. The procurement issues in the v. A. In the Job Opportunities needed to be explored and worked on. Said there wass tremendous opportunity. I think it is. Host we will leave it there. I am sorry. Guest 2 the tremendous opportunity that exists when you leave uniform, a lot and the nonprofit around. Organizations outside of the the a to help the of the v. A. To have the transition. One of the may at first is to translate one of the main aspects is to help translate the jargon and make it an asset. There are organizations that exists inside of the v. A. And outside. Guest 1 the caller talked about the jump of the v. A. s budget and as the manifestation that the full effects of the conflict are not seen until 40 years later. Largely taking care of our Vietnam Veterans and there are still going to be over time and will see the different elements of our iraq and afghanistan veterans. Something to be pretty too. Point, whether the head of the v. A. Or on the hill, whitney veterans to step up. We need of interest to step up. We needed them to be leaders. Your service is now where it ends. I would encourage veterans to find ways to serve this country. Mentioned ptsd issues. There is an op ed by mark jackson. He writes about what it means to be a veteran. He says does it reflect your experiences considering what you did . Guest 1 not to mind. That is the point. Veterans are all different. Our lives are going to be different. Have been because i deployed and i have seen combat and been with these weapons, the fireworks on the fourth of july would cause me to put the sign that of veteran lives here, it is not true. Does it mean there is not another veteran that experiences this . Obviously, it does. When we start painting with these broad brush strokes, we are doing all of us a disservice. We are people. Serve people who chose to this country. Our experiences will be different. West 2 it is dangerous when paint the Broad Strokes about what service and maintenance. Being deployed is not the only servicemembers. Or theplane mechanic sailor on the ship is serving legitimate as anybody on the front lines. That service look different and have different consequences. We get into a dangerous area where their service is painted as less than that what somebody did on the combat zone. Host david. Go ahead. Caller top of the morning. I have a couple of things. One is, exception of the gentleman about we learned from our mistakes. From agent orange. Burningiraq, we had tips that have affected our soldiers that we have not addressed. The other thing i would like to. Ring up is the general his name was butler. Honor thatmedals of everybody in the service and everybody thinking of going to disservice should think. It will tell you exactly what we are doing over 4 wars. Thank you very much. Have a good day. Host one more call. Good morning. Caller good morning. Love your show. Militarypoint is misdiagnosis. I was diagnosed with one disease. All of the doctors, everybody out of the v. A. , including the v. A. Said they misdiagnosed but they rejected my claims. Ofsecond point is, the theft the v. A. Stole 400,000. Were not prosecuted. Veterans put to their kidney on the table. Host thank you, caller. Anything from those calls . Guest 1 i will clarify my previous comment. I do not know for we completely, but i hope we have. If we stop learning, we are doing ourselves a disservice. V. A. A lot about the of times. I am not a user of the a care so v. A. Care so i cannot speak. One, the challenges that the v. A. Are dealing with is incredibly complicated. If they were easy, they would have been solved. Nuance, itracy, the is not a very easy. In my professional capacity with the team at the central office. I have seen things change in the past few years. I know people go to work there every day are committed to veterans and making the change. If people have grievances, have them the v. A. Wants to improve. Guest 2 my experience with the v. A. Has been positive. The providers of the v. A. And people who work, the daytoday work with veterans are dedicated Civil Servants that value and want to do good. I think a lot of times, the flashy headlines and the failures are what get attention. It takes away from the fact with a lot of civilians and veterans working in the v. A. Trying to do good and being successful everyday. A sense of the life of military person in active duty and outside of it and civilian life. Ashley nicolas who served in afghanistan. Tell us about your organization. Guest 2 i am a law student at georgetown area a member of the pat tillman foundation. It was established to honor the legacy of pat tillman by his andly and enable veterans military spouses to pursue education after their service to continue to change the world. Who and Brennan Mullaney served in iraq with the team red, white, and blue. Regionali serve as a director 14 red, white, and blue to enrich the lives of veterans through physical and social activity. We have hundreds of chapters across the country breaking the veterans and their civilian communities over positive events. And getting to know each other and building relationships. You can learn more about us at host one top issue veterans are concerned with, oining us to talk about healthcare is Suzanne Gordon, joining us from california, a ealthcare journalist and author. Mrs. Gordon, thanks for joining us on cspan today. Me, thank you for having pedro. Host could you give us your assessment of the current available to veterans and the quality of that care . Is t Veterans Healthcare the largest integrated in the United States, the biggest. Of the tually one largest in the world. ve spent three years covering the v. A. And writing a book about v. A. Healthcare and i amazing healthcare. Its integrated healthcare. The only integrated the u. S. System in the doctors are on salary, no overtreat or undertreat. It has, negotiates drug prices companies so it has better prices. The kes care of some of most difficult and deserving patients in the United States, 9 million veterans, not all veterans are eligible for which is hcare, something we should talk about and something the new president about. Do something but it is really extraordinary healthcare, it is kind of serves you if you have an amputation, if you ptsd, Mental Health problems, if youre aging, if ne of the main things that brings veterans to the v. A. Ealthcare system, which surprised me is tinnitus and hearing problems, no branch of military doesnt have over exposure to the noise. Delivers high quality care, which survey after survey and assessment after independent assessment has it has some problems much to do with the kind of by ibility problems imposed congress and under funding. Lot of waittimes, a times have to do with shortages of providers that are created by our larger Healthcare System. Extremely highis quality care. People do not have to get on the phone like a young woman i to yesterday, who called in tears about sitting on the hours because shes just gotten done 1000 private sector healthcare and worry body her credit rating, that is something mercifully veterans do not have to go through. Im 70 and i wish i had the kind of healthcare that veterans receive. Host mrs. Gordon, questions about the issues weve heard waitour veterans about the times, concerns about management structure, it led to concerns times, especially the phoenix hospital, that was highlighted in the news and on congress. Do you think the Current Administration is doing enough problems and make the changes . Guest yes, i do. I think there could be more done. Need to deal with the requirements that cause a lot of wait times, which by congress osed because congress is not giving the v. A. Enough money, that eans they have to create eligibility requirements. I personally think that every served our country should get v. A. Benefits, healthcare. A. Most americans think that all 22 v. A. Million veterans get healthcare, they dont. The v. A. Is only given enough care for about 9 million people. Not quites, you know, that d of veterans and means that veterans have to prove they have this problem or have to go tothey the veterans benefit are istration, where there delays. If you want to fix something, fix the vda. There is a terrible problem now 8000 eterans who are about a year denied healthcare they them ecause the army gave a discharge status, other than onorable discharge, which the discharge because maybe they got into a fight or they were drunk on the weekend and theyre out of the army, it is not a dishonorable discharge, 300,000 veterans problems who have exacerbated or acquired in the military, many Mental Health problems that resulted in bis they are denied benefits they deserve and congress could fix that. Gordon, i want to interrupt to let the viewers now, if you have questions, 2027488000 for veterans in the audience. 2027488001. Suzanne gordon, professor at california, San Francisco school of nursing, and affiliated scholar at Wilson Center at university of toronto faculty of medicine. Is a piece in the gordon, by times, mr. David walker, to salute american heroes, talks about the v. A. And management structure. This is what he says. In a word, critical problem is or lack thereof. Private sector, people prove incompetent, they are dismissed, people who demonstrate ompetence are promoted to higher levels of responsibility, basic components of efficiency and accountability, but do not exist in the federal bureaucracy, how would you respond to that . Is a fantasy about the private sector we need to get rid of. In managementlems and private sector just as management in the v. A. d be happy to talk about problems in management about the people who are countless o this, private sector examples of ospitals or other kinds of firms where toxic managers, are allowed to continue, people leave, people are fired, people quit and i problem in e a American Management that is way beyond the v. A. Of talk in the v. A. About whistle blowers and to be friendly to whistle blowers. Well, nurses in private sector been fighting for protection for whistle blowers for as long as ive been healthcare, 35 years. They are fired in the private raise issues. Ey the Cleveland Clinic has been shining example of healthcare to the v. A. , recently a book nurse who wrote about doctor nurse relationships clinic. Leveland i think that the person at the Washington Times is just a of management and the private sector. There are some firms that are some firms fire people when they need to be you know, firing is, firing managers has been a big at the jeff miller House Veterans Affairs committee. Nd you dont solve culture problems by firing people. Obviously if people are reckless criminals, you want to fire them and fire them right away, management in v. A. Are not going to be solved by firing a lot of people, it is culture of ng management, changes things so they are more open and so people feel free to speak up if there are problems going on. I think that just chop off their heads, if you look at management people and punishing blaming people is not the way hat you change complex culture like in a Healthcare System. Host go to the first call, john north carolina, a veteran, for our guest, Suzanne Gordon. John, you are on with the guest, go ahead. Caller thank you. I appreciate you taking my call. Being is i got orders, september right . Four to six weeks. Me, after ie telling called and asked when they didnt show up, took me to yesterday afternoon to find out going to take eight weeks or right, from the that i had called. Directors office, atient rep and all you get is the answering machine and no call back. V. A. Is r sum of the exactly that, admin side. The doctors and stuff you have down there, will do great as long as they have, they can get you in and out and have the staff. Guest i think that id be curious to know what v. A. You talking about. I think that there are problems v. A. S, at in many problems like that in other healthcare v. A. Is exactly that, admin side. The doctors and stuff you have down there, will do great as long as they have, they can get well. R, as i think some v. A. S have short more staff. Ed one of the issues with wait times that is very significant that the American Healthcare system is not producing enough providers in general for the entire population. Were a shortage, getting 2020 population ages, well have shortage between of 45,000 primary care v. A. Is s and the dependent on the supply of physicians and primary care providers like Nurse Practitioners that the American Educational stem system, medical schools, nursing chools, produce, and it is really frightening. Pedro, because they are not producing enough primary care providers, not producing primary providers for you, for me veterans. It is really a big problem. They are not there arent enough staff in some places. The caller was in a rural area, but in rural tis very hard to get staff, not only in the v. A. , but sector. Rivate recently in new york spending time, id love to talk to folks about the suicide have now a, and they full compliment, but they have a very hard time recruiting people to come to upstate new york to man a veteran crisis line where they are listening to people who are in crisis day after day, for eight hours per day and the v. A. People to move to clinics as to work in and so forth. We need more incentives, we need and healthcare workers competitive prices with sector, but even the private sector has a hard time people in certain areas in the United States and this is something that is a very vexing problem in our Healthcare System, as a whole and may be responsible for some problems that the gentleman caller reported. Veteran s fw to tom, in michigan. Tom, good morning. Go ahead, please. Caller yeah, good morning. To cspan. Im vietnam veteran. Driver. Uck and i go to the v. A. To get my great, physical. As a truck driver, cdl license, to have a medical card. The v. A. Used to be able to give us our medical card, but now they cant do it anymore, we have to go elsewhere. I was just wondering why. I could answer that question, i have no idea, i dont know if that is egislative problem with the state of michigan, if it is congressional, i mean this of ously is some kind regulation, im sure that the v. A. Would be happy to give you could, i if they dont its quite an interesting question and im an answer forhave it. Host elanorefrshgs illinois, on all others, good morning. Caller good morning. Npr, of all, according to 40 of all crisis calls that make are left, they have to leave a message. Of ink anyone in that kind situation needs to talk to someone. Warriors, can you tell me legitimate groups, i nded warriors had trouble, sent money and i found out they were making money on the side having parties. Also, social Action Ministry and a place to maybe go for help. Veteransll, i think if need help with Mental Health issues and social issues, they to the v. A. He Wounded Warrior system a problematic organization. They are one of these new kinds veterans, not really Veterans Service organizations, they do a it is not raising, clear how much goes to veterans. That if there are delay necessary v. A. Care, those have to be solved by not gthening the v. A. , going outside the v. A. We should use going outside the it and the need v. A. Has always sent people get care. I think the issue of the crisis line in canada i spent time , there, it is important for people to understand, they have they a lot of criticism,. Re now them, it is very interesting, the veteran service to is, the crisis line has deal with every veteran and every veteran Family Member who from any place in the world, it deals with act duty and any american ivilian who calls a suicide crisis line and is too upset to if youre e message, a veteran, press one, it is not one, they the responders cannot say, sorry, we veterans, im sorry, you are suicidal, hangup, them. Ave to deal with they also have to deal with a lot of veterans who call, when i guy called 12 times per day. He was not suicidal, he had issues, he called 70 times that month, they have to deal with them. Of complex lot reason yes people may be sent to another crisis line. That is an exaggeration, that calls are not answered and the Veterans Crisis line very effectively, but its problem mplex responding to the enormous olume of calls and we may need another facility, but it would be interesting to see what the atlanta facility is fully running. Host what do you think as far Donald Trumps proposal to care to veterans, particularly reliance on the private system that . Lp with guest i thank you, pedro, such a good question. Give a ould love to little bit of advice to donald rump about how he talks about mentally ill veterans, if you that, i think privatizing the v. A. , which is what trump has favored, it is miller has favored, in a lot of republicans veryess have favored, is a bad idea. These people unfortunately dont know enough about the realities of private sector healthcare, which is fragmented, which gives some good quality in some areas, are huge wait times in the private sector and San Francisco, for example, i just to switch from one primary care physician to another, i yelp, every went on physician in San Francisco, in the bay area, because of the of primary care closed ns, they have their practices. There are no wait times, there are no wait lists. Fortunate to pull strings with some docs i know and find a provider, but the new york times, who is very biassed v. A. Criticized the v. A. For long wait times, stories s been running about the wait times in private sector healthcare. Americaage wait time in is 19 days, donald trump was concerned about veterans waiting five to six days. Its not a pretty picture out terms of wait times. Get a have, you want to total hip replacement or expensive procedure, you may not long, althoughhat youville to wait for a topnotch surgeon. Care want to get routine or Mental Healthcare tis very bad out there. Host so let me pause you to give you another call. Georgia, a nta, veteran. Good morning, go ahead. Caller good morning, folks, listening to this conversation with great interest. Mrs. Gordon, thank you for appearing. I was in the military, i ran a usiness and earlier what prompted me to call, you saying that we got our problems, but problems, too. You dont fire your people when are not performing, that is not true. The v. A. Over the last 15 years indigative, people dont know what they are doing or they are not focusing on the problem. It is not help to feel say, we problems in the v. A. , look at the private sector and that. Fire, v. A. , under wounded, you went to war, it is a different situation and you bad, ying to say, were look at them, it is not helpful we i think the best thing could do as i shut off here, and my call. For taking guest im sorry if the caller misunderstood. Im not saying that the v. A. Has to improve. And that it has to improve management. Im simply saying that there are problems with management in all areas where people manage people. I think that the solution to the problems of the v. A. Are to look at the bestperforming v. A. S veterans vhs, Health Administration understands we have in the invested,tes, we have we have made 70Year Investment Veterans Healthcare. We have invested in a system very nderstands the specific problems of veterans. Veterans have very specific problems, very specific Mental Health problems. Provider would probably not be able to recognize the difference between traumatic brain injury and a severe traumatic brain traumatic moderate brain injury. They wouldnt know not to paint practices f their certain colors or put certain on the floor leum because a veteran with ptsd would freak out, they dont problems that veterans have. That ently read a study showed that 50 of primary care private sector never even ask people if they have been in the military. Years old, i could have served in multiple wars, ive billions of not billions, many different ealthcare providers and never once been asked if i served in the military, much less where i in combat. F i was trained, very specially especially people who have on the job experience with veterans veterans well f. We want to fix the v. A. , fix some thing that we e have to do if we want to fix to gs is we want have stop the media bashing of the v. A. And the new york times, washington post, etcetera, because the v. A. Does a huge amount of things sxriet some things wrong and to focus only to really wrong is hurt veterans, to do a disservice to the many veterans the v. A. And helped by the v. A. F. We want more veterans to be helped by the we have to look inside the v. A. And find out what works and Standard Practice everywhere, which is what, by the way, their model is. From nancy, in franklin, north carolina, others, on the line for on a conversation with Suzanne Gordon. Go ahead. D morning, caller thank you for your program, i really appreciate it. A veteran, my father was a world war ii veteran. Away in 1999, he was disabled, but worked through his life. California, the v. A. Hospital him many years before he passed, most wonderful service. Nobody, i never heard from my fathers group, korean veterans, with the v. A. Blem 9 11, orward, we get into us in ts tax twice, gets two wars, has no way to finance, he even said, no way to finance wars. He cut v. A. He had no explanation for why coming home, but no idea how to take care of the wounded. That were he took away from social security, medicare, etceterathis, is why the v. A. Is a mess. I remember not four years ago, whistleblower hit phoenix, arizona, senator mccain arizona, said he knew the mess that was going on before 2008, right there is tape and cupull it up. Host okay. He knew about it, why didnt he take it to the hill war elp veterans, he is a hero. Host let the guest response, thanks. Underfunding of the v. A. Has been a huge problem for a long time. I think that the service that our father got is typical of the service that many veterans et once they get into the system. Edro, you asked about privatization, a number of privatization bills or semiprivatization bills have floated since the choice act. Was by kathy mcmorrisrogers, which would veterans go to anybody they want in the private sector. Veterans organizations, Veterans Service organizations, not like Wounded Warriors, the veterans of wars, disabled American Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of paralyzed veterans, etcetera, got together to bill. St the the Veterans Service organization that serve millions f veterans do not want privatization. They want the v. A. To be lots thened and there is of ways we could talk about how strengthened. Be but congress tends to be very stories that are they are notd, but characteristic of what goes on phoenix was a en but not f some v. A. S, all v. A. S. I would argue the media is on a antiv. A. Mission and i get calls or talk with Veterans Service organizations that tell me they get calls from a media outlet to know bad the es, only, and when Veterans Service organization says, we actually have mostly basically s, they hangup and i think that you see unbalanced media narrative or media story being projected out there because they a bone and they are gnawing n it and not interested tragically in some of the really good stories about what is going veteran v. A. Around suicide, around primary care, research, teaching, etcetera, i would like to see and see ries get out more Veterans Speak about the care hey get and the good they get so that if there are facilities that arent giveing that care that gives mod and he will benchmark against which we could measure things. Host lets go to bridgewater, new jersey, line for veterans, this is dan. There. Caller hi. In the past, i cant speak bout what is going on now, one of the most important things to keep in mind, these are and systems medics that had learned tremendous skills in combat and stabilizing patients in vietnam, for example, and these people are adequately used after they military tour. The v. A. S are heavily what isatic set up, but not realized is that in the community as a whole, we now twice as many patients for less than half as many doctors really need now is a Teaching Development and program that wons expanding v. A. Ps medical core of people who deal with specialty problems that you deal with in veterans and not just psychological one, cyclical ones. A lot of psychological problems are cyclical problems. I dont think that the professional side has discussed when it comes to v. A. Expanding its benefits for expands load of bureaucrats who dont know what doing, secondly as far as bureaucrats are concerned. Well let our guest respond. Guest well, i think that many and american nies management is top heavy and this true in private sector healthcare, as well. The bureau of labor statistics a graph of the increase i thinkns between 100 and 2010 and about increase of physicians in healthcare and 3500 percent increase in administrators. I mean so staggering i wish we could show it online. Problem in g American Healthcare outside of he v. A. , the growth, the failure to dproe enough physicians, particularly primary care physicians and the huge in administrators. I think that we have to get more physicians, Nurse Practitioners, physician etcetera into the private sector healthcare, as well, and give incentives. Enough. A. Cannot hire primary care providers, mental social roviders, workers, etcetera, if the supply to them by the Training Institutions that of uce these kinds professionals and these are not the v. A. Does not have own Training Institutions, it depends on medical schools, schools, physician assistant schools, pt schools, schools, etcetera. For the bigger supply whole society and then the v. A. Can get what it needs. Also has to be able to pay competitive salaries, market salaries. I sit in offices in v. A. , v. A. Professionals ho are losing staff because some other facility in the private sector will offer 40, 60,000 dollars more. We have to show that we care enough to pay people market salaries, so that we can get the stat that veterans need. People will not sacrifice 40, 50,000 dollars in a city like new york, boston or any american city. Incentives e to have to get people into rural areas. Of american counties have no psychiatrist, or social worker to provide Mental Healthcare and counties. Ral we have to solve the problem if the v. A. Is going to be able to people for their clinics in rural areas. We cant just turn on a spigot, and expect people to pour out, it will not happen. Got you. Our guest is assistant adjunct professor at university of San Francisco school of nursing. Healthcare journalist working on book looking at the v. A. Suzanne gordon is joining us, to more information go Suzanne Gordon dot com. Guest Suzanne Gordon dot com. No c. Host Suzanne Gordon dot com. Charles is next. For l hill, maryland, line veterans. Hi. Caller good morning. Charles on, my name is and im 77 years old and i was times in germany and frankforthospital reason, the army cannot find my records. Think at least they should keep accident reports. Last thing, mrs. Gordon, why many my cannot find so black servicemen medical records. Thank you very much. Dav is handling my claim. Guest the dav is disabled veterans, a great organization. Recommend if anybody watching wants to find out more about solutions for the v. A. , youtube and look d. A. V. , setting the record straight, a great series of lever videos talking about solutions to the to make the v. A. Stronger. Healthcare stronger. Charles, you know, i hear that a lot. And prior to the problem with or the veterans benefit fact that ion is the has lost papers veterans need. Another problem, and i really veterans all over and to active duty Service Members, important, if you get an injury, that you go thehe medic, that you go to doctor when youre in the military service to get a record that. There are many Service Members do not do that. It out, theyre discouraged, theyre called wooses, or sick rangers, they injury their back because 100pound rrying packs, they get into a car kinds of things happen to them f. They dont go theyre not this, going to have evidence to prove a claim of disability, which need later. This is particularly important and the l healthcare army and the military says it is working to destigmatize mental it th conditions, i think could do more, because many of the Service Members, veterans to say that if you said you had Mental Health over, ms, your career was you were out. And they do not have good models military of people who talk about their Mental Health conditions. Of the Amazing Things the v. A. Has done, Veterans Health done, producen has a series, about 400 interviews with Veterans Speaking to veterans, encouraging people to say they need help when they conditions. Health one of the pieces of advice, i listen, but will that i have for new commanderinchief is that he putting down veterans with Health Conditions and calling them losers because there has been a huge effort department of defense and inside the v. A. To Mental Health conditions, to ask people to get and i hey are poignant believe donald trump could serve Service Members by reflecting compassion toward veterans with Mental Health or physical problems that is advanced in this kind of campaign. Host up next, well hear from in south carolina, a veteran, this is hank. Hi there. Taking my nks for call. To say, i dont know where you talking about mr. Wanting to privatize the v. A. Every v. A. Committee meeting that is on cspan and i get that at all, wanting to privatize v. A. Wanted to improve it. Talk about money, they have been yearsng money at v. A. For and years and havent improved. The hospital in denver, talk about that. Lady, i dont know where you come from with some of this. Heard trump talk about losers and mentally ill, you now, i dont know where youre coming from. Host go ahead. Guest thank you. I mean, its on t. V. , he castigated mccain, he said he people who got, who ere captured, mccain, as we know, john mccain was a prisoner said very he has also unflattering things about people with Mental Health problems, perhaps the caller that. Missed and im sorry if there is a millers tanding about views on privatization, but i think he has over and over again favored channelling more and ore veterans into private sector healthcare and im we could agree to disagree here. Ost here is don, iron michigan, veteran, don, were running short on time. Ust jump in with question or comment, go ahead. Aller yes, what i would like set e is a civilian court up that deals nothing with Veterans Healthcare. Take people from the private sector, put them through school, pay for their tuition, once they require them to do so many years of service f. They to stay in, give them a ension, just like they would any other gs worker within the v. A. System. You. Guest i think there are lots of interesting ideas like that get more people and rk in primary care Mental Healthcare in the v. A. Think that the v. A. Has been trying to do loan forgiveness and get people involved in v. A. Care. I think, the media needs to of the more of some wonderful things the v. A. Is doing. How many people in america know research that the. A. Brought us shingles vaccine, first implantable know, the you patch, ptsd care, etcetera, and i think the media really needs to change narrative about v. A. Healthcare providers. I watch people everyday and some allers talk about the people, who give their all to patients who have very sick, very old, a sense and they have of mission that i have never seen in private sector healthcare. Tell you, ive been covering private sector healthcare for 35 years and devoted. Ple are ive spent three years in the field and maybe met one provider i thought was not topnotch. That in a system with 300,000 employees people who are many e greatest, but so people who are wonderful, we have to remember when we think to privatize v. A. Healthcare, mean putting 100,000 a third of the workforce to have the workforce vha eterans facilities, facilities are veterans themselves. I think we have a huge the v. H. A. To make better, i think the va slay healthcarea model for in the private sector and i think there is so much more we an do to strengthen the v. A. And i hope that the president takes the new president takes of this opportunity to strengthen Veterans Health and strengthen the 70 Year Investment that a very s have put into fine Healthcare System that has like many Healthcare Systems to be s that need addressed. Host talking with Suzanne Gordon, healthcare journalist about the washington journal live every day with news on policy issues that impact to you. Saturday morning, a look at Donald Trumps trade proposals and potential trade policies with a senior fellow from the Peterson Institute for international economics. A discussion on the historical precedents of president ial pardons and the process amid questions whether president obama will elect to pardon secretary clinton. By dean of the Chicago College of law. Washington post political reporter talks about what a donald Trump Presidency could mean for lobby firms. Join the discussion. With donald trump elected as the next u. S. President , Melania Trump becomes our nations second foreignborn first lady since Louisa Catherine adams. The book is a look into the personal lives and influence of every president ial spouse in american history. Thes a communion to television series. First ladies, published by public affairs, is available wherever you buy books. Available now in paperback. That the elections are over, Congress Returns next week for its lameduck session. We are joined by scott wong. You covered donald trump on capitol hill and the headline of your current piece says a new chapter in their relationship. How does this play into next weeks elections for speaker . How does this bolster paul ryans chances . Now that donald trump is the president elect, the dynamic has completely shifted. The two men, who met yesterday, were praising each other. Speaker ryan rolled out the red carpet, hosted a lunch for him in the capitol hill club. Then brought him back to the capital where he took him out on the speakers back at showed him the view of the entire d. C. Skyline, the platform where he would be inaugurated and sworn in on january 20. The dynamic and the relationship , which had been a pretty testy one throughout the campaign, has completely shifted. Congress has plenty to do. Walk us through this lameduck session next week in addition to the leadership elections. The president ial race has completely changed everything as one leadership force told me today. Election wasre the that congress would try to tackle an omnibus bill, perhaps break it up into smaller pieces with a minibus type of approach that would extend funding for the 2017 fiscal year. Now the thinking, with republicans controlling both the white house and both chambers of congress, is that republicans will try to push for a cr that will take funding into early 12 and to early 2017. That would allow then President Trump and a Republicancontrolled Congress to hash out a much better deal on spending levels than republicans would have gotten in the lameduck session. Victory onld trumps tuesday night has changed almost everything in washington. On the spending measure, lets take a look at some reference on where things stand. Go back to september 28, hal rogers on the house floor. I rise today to present the. Enate amendment the legislation includes the fiscal year 2017 continuing resolution and fullyear appropriations for military construction and veterans affairs. It also includes funding to prevent the spread of the zika virus and assistance to communities affected by recent devastating floods. This is a reasonable and necessary compromise that will keep the government open and operating them address urgent needs across the country, and provide the necessary support for our Service Members, their families, and our veterans. First and foremost, mr. Speaker, this bill helps us avoid the unwarranted damage of a Government Shutdown by providing the funds required to keep the government open and operational pastor september 30 deadline. The funding is provided at the current rate of one trillion and last through december 9. The short timeframe will allow congress to complete our annual appropriations work without jeopardizing important government functions. Secondly, the package contains the full year military construction, the v. A. Bill for fiscal 17 which was conferenced by the house and senate and passed by the house already in june. In total, 82. 5 billion dollars is provided for our military infrastructure and Veterans Health and benefits programs, 2. 7 billion above current levels with targeted increases to address mismanagement and improve operations at the v. A. That important to note once the president signs this bill into law, it will be the First Time Since 2009 that an individual appropriations bill has been conferenced with the senate and enacted before the september 30 fiscal year deadline. Includesis legislation 1. 1 billion in funding to respond to and stop the spread of the zika virus. This funding is directed to programs that control mosquitoes , develop vaccines, and treat those affected. This funding is spent responsibly, balanced by 400 million in offsets, in unused funding from other projects. This legislation includes important provisions that address Current National needs, including an additional 37 million to fight the opioid epidemic, which has struck my district especially hard, and additional 500 million in disaster designated funding to help states recover and rebuild from recent destructive flooding. I believe this legislation is a good compromise that this house can and should support. It is not perfect. It ensures we meet our nations current critical needs. I have said many times before, standing in this exact spot, that a continuing resolution is a last resort. At this point, it is what we must do to fulfill our congressional responsibility to keep the lights on in our government. I urge my colleagues to vote aye on this necessary legislation so we can send it to the president s desk without delay. From september 28. That shortterm cr runs to december 9, a couple of outstanding issues. The House Republican Study Committee wants a shortterm cr into the beginning of the Trump Administration. Who will win out in the end . It depends on what donald trump wants. He has a lot of Political Capital right now. President obama still has a few months left in his turn and will be the one signing any sort of funding bill at the end of the share. Year. Of this president elect trump will be dictating a lot of what happens. He had the support of the voters. Members of congress are falling in line. We have not seen any signals about what he wants, but i expect there probably will be a shortterm cr into either february or march. Aid tohat to do list, is themichigan congressman talked about that aid package. This amendment is something ive been working on for some time and it would bring urgency needed urgently needed aid to my hometown of flint, michigan. For over a year, the water crisis has been public. It has been even longer since the residents have been using water that is poison. Clear, what happened in flint was a failure of government at every level of government. Through this amendment, congress can take its rightful place in fulfilling its obligation in its responsibility to help my hometown recover. The amendment would authorize 170 billion to restore the safety of Water Infrastructure and communities like my hometown that have led in their water. It would create a concrete commitment from both bodies of congress to get aid to my hometown, for my hometown, to the president s desk. The Senate Passed similar 953. Ation by a vote of this amendment would ensure the house also supports communities like flint. We have waited an awful long time for this. We worked very hard to get this amendment. I want to thank all of our. Riends mentioned that the Senate Passed their own measure. The house passed it as far does as far as what is left to do . The negotiators need to come a final and settle on product and present that back to their respective chambers. That is another item that needs to happen during the lameduck session in terms of the flint, funding flint funding, the house bill that was negotiated is about 170 million. The senate bill contains a little bit more, 300 million. They will probably have to meet somewhere in the middle. The good news for the people of flint is that donald has been very supportive of those efforts. He visited flint back in september and spoke to a number of the residents and has been talking a lot about Infrastructure Spending on the campaign trail. I would expect everything is up in the air, but i would expect the two sides will be able to come together on flint. Mitch mcconnell prioritized getting down the Defense Authorization bill and this 21st. Entury cures bill i do not have too much information. Id no when mcconnell spoke i do know when mcconnell spoke to reporters the other day, one of his Top Priorities was the repeal of obamacare. A lot of the discussion that will be happening is going to be about what republicans do in the first 100 days of the new Trump Administration. That was part of the discussion that happened yesterday between trump and mcconnell and trump and ryan. Reince priebus was there as hearing fromm members today, a lot of the focus is going to be on the Top Priorities of those first 100 days. Talking about the house leadership elections next week. Lets talk about senate the senate. What is the relationship between Chuck Schumer and Mitch Mcconnell . More of a is seen as deal maker compared to harry reid. Harry reid was somebody who often would throw up roadblocks in the process and accuse republicans of doing the same. Leader. Fiery york,schumer is from new much more of a deal maker. It will be interesting to see how Chuck Schumer works across the aisle with Mitch Mcconnell that with his fellow new yorker entitled trump who he has known donaldfellow new yorker trump who he has known for many years. You can follow his reporting thehill. Com. Watch all of the house and Senate Proceedings when they gather lynn for their lameduck session next week. Thats when they gavel in for their lameduck session next week. The Palestinian Authoritys ambassador to the u. N. Spoke today at the Palestine Centers annual conference in washington. He discussed palestinian efforts to get the u. N. And other International Bodies to address their needs and put pressure on israel to resolve the conflict. The chair of the Jerusalem Fund introduces the ambassador. Good morning. I like to invite those who may be outside to come in since were ready to start. You whom i have not had the pleasure of meeting, i am the chairman of the Jerusalem Fund and Palestine Center and it is a pleasure to welcome everyone of you here. I see some familiar faces and a lot of newcomers. It is a delight to have you at our annual conference, which has been an annual happening for many years. We have an Excellent Program for you today. Before i start that, i would housekeeping. E from thenstructions staff, if you have one of those that saying, music, please silence it. Mine. Silence there will be a afteronandanswer period the keynote speaker. Panels. As the we will be adding in time for questions and answers. , they can tweet their questions to palestinecenter. Those on twitter, the handle is pcconf2016. Upope everyone has picked one of these. It has the bio of every speaker we have today as well as other information. Donors,r programs, our our committees. This years Palestine Center annual conference will examine the situation of palestine within overlapping historical, social logical, and political sociological, and political context. We will examine the developments over the pasteast century and the deep impact they have had on palestinian. Spirations november 2 was the 99th anniversary of the declaration. That is my editorial. Spring, i do not want to call it arab spring. Unfulfilled promises. Experts will offer perspectives on washingtons policy toward. Srael and palestine in light of the shares president ial election this , ass president ial election well as the challenges to the pds. Ng today, we will open our conference with a keynote address delivered by a friend of years, andny, many decades. He is the permanent observer over the state of palestine to the United Nations as well as the young president ambassador to costa rica and the dominican republic. He has presented palestine in separate committees and bodies of the United Nations. He has spent some time in the private sector and served as an adjunct professor in the Political Science department of the university of central florida. Counselingdegree in from the university of akron ohio and has published several articles about the Palestinian Community in the United States. I really do not know who in the United States can deliver a better perspective and service servee better than and as keynote. Please welcome him. [applause] thank you. Youre welcome. Thank you very much. He is a good friend of mine and every time we meet, whether today or a few years ago or years before that, i always have a wonderful personal exchange with him as friends. My nephew is and thato his niece sort of strengthens the on thenship between us palestinian side. When you have people married from different families, they tend to become closer. I am very delighted to be here. I have seen quite a few of some of my old friends and i just want to commend you and the board and the organization for all of the wonderful things you do in advancing the cause of justice for the Palestinian People. We thank you very much for your work. We know that you will continue this course, even if things become more complicated. Support your efforts and i will always be with you in doing whatever i can in order to allow you to accomplish your objectives in the best possible way. We feel like we are meeting at a critical time. Every time, we feel like we are meeting at a critical time. Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the Israeli Occupation to the land of the state of palestine. 50 years of occupation is way too long. Beupation are supposed to temporary in nature. They last for a few years and they should end to allow for reversing the situation. 50 years of occupation is way too long for the Palestinian People to endure. Assistance for those who live in the d aspera. Iaspora. The catastrophe the Palestinian People went through and still go especially those who live in refugee camps in lebanon, syria, and jordan. The year, well remember bedford declaration in which a National Homeland was promised by a colonial power to address issues in europe at the expense of the Palestinian People and at the expense of the jews in europe instead of dealing with their tragedies in europe on the basis on those who created those tragedies for them, to correct their conduct, including antisemitism in europe. Yet they decided to expel many of them and add to their tragedies. It is a double whammy for us. , the time forment us we would be going through next years. Situation at the mission of the state of palestine. Committee on the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian People. To conduct many activities in collaboration with you and agencies, countries, civil , regional organizations to do activities with the view of ending this occupation. The committee will do all of its activities and all of you are invited to be involved. The way that you wish to be 2017. Under the banner of this is one piece of legislation we will adopt at the United Nations. One can say the situation of the Palestinian People is so difficult and so miserable, and it is. Occupation has been there for way too long. There are walls, sediments, isolation, the blockade. Jerusalem is being severed from the remaining part of the upied palestinian palestine. Why can say our situation could be characterized as very miserable and very difficult. People,the palestinian are resilient. We do not give up. Ashesays rise up from the and tend to articulate our strategies and tactics. In this connection, i can tell you i have been personally involved over the last i do not know how many years. To counter the israeli strategy on the ground. Their strategy is to create stealing our land and building settlements. This is illegal. Unfortunately, there is no political will in the International Community, particularly in the Security Council, to hold those who are violating International Law and committing all of these crimes accountable. If somebody tried to into steel, they would be held accountable. , in order to conduct their behaviors when they fight, that occupier an occupied people to be following certain patterns of International Law on civilizations. You cannotgs they say that u. S. All the time. There is a unanimous position on that you legality of settlements settlements. Of what are they going to do about the behavior of israel, meaning about behavior of israel. Their strategy is to create without being held accountable. There is a powerful party that is shielding them and protecting them from accountability. They do not care what the Security Council is and they continue with this illegal behavior. For thetegy has been last five or six years, maybe our peopleeate are steadfast, they are staying on their land, they are resisting peacefully. A shining example of what our , pacifistsvery week from israel and internationals in order to push the wall away from their land of their village and liberate more units of their land and to push the wall to be closer. Ofre are many examples people in the occupied territory. Has been, ok, you illegal facts on the ground. Decided in 2011 and 2012 to go to the General Assembly to legislate the recognition of the state of palestine on the borders of 1967 with jerusalem as its capital and to change in status as an observer state. We resolve the issue whether a stable palestinian palestine exists or not. That opened the door for us. Creating illegal facts on the ground, we are creating legal facts by becoming equal in so many things, climate change, human rights, the right of women, the rights of children, the rights of the disabled. They fight us and even the accused accused us of what we are doing. They call it diplomatic terrorism. Their action, which is a blunt violation of the law, and they should be held accountable, committing war crimes. If you transfer part of your civilian population and plant them in the land of the occupied territory, it is a war crime. Committing legal peaceful action by changing our status to a state, strengthening the pillars of the state and creating every day diplomatic realities. , and bys they say to us the way, we hear rumors he might be coming back again to new york. When you fight against our resolution, in order to convince people not to vote in favor of the resolution, and when he is defeated, he says these resolutions are meaningless. Only inc. On pieces of paper. Only ink on pieces of paper. While we are deepening the pillars of the state of palestine in the international arena, one might ask, what is the value of that . The value is tremendous. Maybe for those who are not in the trenches to see the meaning and value of the state of palestine, is marching slowly in the direction washington and tel aviv cannot deny the fact that we exist as a nation. The land of our state is under occupation. When the world accepts us as a state, when the world is excited about us, when we put ballots in the boxes and we vote as a state, when the world is excepting us to be a responsible iser and the world accepting us. You can steal part of our land but you cannot erase the fact that the Palestinian People exist and they are recognized and welcomed by the great majority of nations. Connection, we started a process about a month and a half ago trying to legislate something in the Security Council but particularly around sediment. Settlements. If this is your position, and we agree with you, tell us what you are going to do about it. They are not telling us what they want to do about it. The palestinian observer will tell you what we are going to do about it. A few days ago, we had a resolution in the First Committee on settlements. For the first time, we used if israel does not , thene its obligations the option of considering accountability is an option to be put on the table. There is a possibility of a small door to be opened for sanctions. They are forcing us to go that route. They are excepting the concept is this you do not accepting the concept. Sanctions. Use i know this is a big world. The march in that direction, you have to do it one step at a time and i believe some of these steps are taking place. It is not as gloomy as one can think, although the Israeli Government is working day and night. They might be influencing one african country. In general, they are not fundamentally succeeding in this arena. Strategy. Rt of our resolution,to this werd very constructive gave them a sheet of paper that constitutes the elements where we believe. Some of the arabs and some in washington, they were saying, wait until the election because they were thinking Hillary Clinton would win and they werent situating they were insinuating the president might put a draft resolution on the table. Toaid to samantha, we have we have two products for you. As part of our negotiation with members of the Security Council. We have a draft resolution. The president is saying he wants to preserve the two state solution. Resolution would serve his objective of trying to preserve a two state solution. If you do not like that, we have another product for you. You do not like option a or you like. Tell us what we will not accept wait until the Trump Administration to take place in january because if we that il that, we know wait until we get ready. The story of our life with the u. S. Administration is not stop waiting. It is either you put on the table something that we will look at where we are going to advance our plans for having a resolution. I sincerely hope they have the guts and the spine to say, proceed with a draft resolution and settlement. We are not looking for a veto but we want the u. S. Administration, including president obama before he leaves, to do something. Ongruent with his position we think the resolution is extremely useful because israel needs to receive a Strong Political message from the International Community that the International Committee cannot continue to tolerate their disregard for International Law. We will see. Hopefully, doing something will happen and i sincerely hope we can proceed in the Security Council and try to have a resolution about this. Administration, and i hope they do not show belligerents against us, but if they want to start attacking us downand right, and to come settlements condone settlements, no one should blame us for unleashing all of the weapons we have in the United Nations to defend ourselves. And believe me, we have a lot of weapons and we are not a small something at the United Nations. We are a strong, well respected, 150,supported by more than in, 170 countries that vote favor of our resolutions against a handful of countries. Canada come we hope that canada will change its behavior and conduct itself in a different way and we are engaging them. If you can engage them, by all means. If you can engage the new administration not to show more an acceptance, unfair negative position against the Palestinian People. They need to be as balanced as possible if they want to contribute to solving this conflict. All of our friends who have influence with washington to work in this regard. For us internally, we need to put them into our division. We need to put an end to the we need toave have National Unity because National Unity is the essence of the National Interest of the Palestinian People. We can disagree with in the house but we should not divide the house. To thisd put an end division. We need to have National Unity and we need, of course, to agree on a strategy of how we conduct ourselves as we move forward after the American Election and after we put our house in order and taking into account, what is really happening in the middle east . Appreciate what you do and you are playing a very important role. We are all complementing each other for the same objective. Things in newe and with the committee organizations, including those in the United States. It was the israeli ambassador who brought 1000 Jewish American students to new york. When the journalists asked me, what do you think of that, i said, he is the one bringing this issue to the agenda of the u. N. I said, bring it on. You are welcome to come to new york and you are welcome to organize for conferences and meetings and we will be helping you. Spoke more than enough. I do not want you to be gloomy that we are helpless. We are doing a lot. To i very much. [applause] thank you very much. [applause] thank you. We have a lot of time for questions. Believe we have time for probably all the questions. You talked a lot about the settlements. States, it was mentioned as if it were a legal. Illegal. This in one of the meetings and he did not answer it. What is the difference you want me to take a few questions in the what them together and deal with them together . Maybe three or four and then i will be what them altogether deal with them altogether. [laughter] of course, yes. Thank you, you made a lot of very important questions. My question is the relationship