host: you lose a close election this year. tell us about the things you feel you got done, that you re proud of, and some of the things left undone. rep. ashford: unquestionably some things for the district. the runway at offutt air force base, it is a local issue, certainly, but it is a national security issue. developing a center for infectious disease and research and training at the university of nebraska medical center, working on the hospital for v.a. those are localized kind of things with national implications. really, as i look back at it, it was my time on the armed services committee, three trips to the middle east, changing the direction of the fight against isis by funding the military in a more robust manner, doing it in a nonpartisan way, increasing the air war against isis. those kind of things happened within the last two years. i think those are accomplishments for the entire team. i was part of it, and i was proud to be part of it. as you leave congress,
[inaudible conversation] good morning. i call this hearing to order. we have a full house today. i welcome the audience. this is a formal senate hearing and in order to allow the senate to conduct their business we will have a quorum. that means if there s demonstrations by the audience the person will be escorted from the room. since this is the first hearing of the session i would like to welcome our new members. thank you very much and congratulations and joining the committee. i would also like to welcome senator tom carper in his new role as the ranking member of the committee. you are here even if you have a scratchy throat. forty years from you were treasurer of delaware, member of congress, governor, member of the u.s. senate has not missed a day. you are cal ripken junior and the iron man so thanks being here. i look forward to working with you. he deserves applause. with regard to procedure, we will follow the earlybird role in terms of the member questions. membe
we have quite a full house it. i welcome the audience. this is a formal senate hearing and in order to allow the committee to conduct its business we will maintain decorum. that means if there are disorders, demonstrations by a member of the audience, person causing the disruption will be escorted from the room by the capitol police. this is the first hearing of the session i would like to welcome our new members senatorsjerry moran and jonie earnst . tammy duckworth and camela harris , thank you very much and congratulations in joining the committee. i would also like to welcome senator tom carper and his new role as a ranking member of the committee. you are here even if you have a scratchy throat. 40 years from when you re treasurer of delaware, member of congress, governor, member of the u.s. senate, has not missed a day, you are cal ripken jr. and the ironman. thank you for being here. thank you. i look forward to working with you. he deserves applause. with regard to pr
four hours. [inaudible conversation] [inaudible conversation] [inaudible conversation] of morning. we are meeting today to consider the nomination of wilbur ross to be the next secretary of commerce pad he would bring decades of business, entrepreneurial and civic experience to this position pretty is perhaps best known for his expertise in revitalizing distressed businesses. at a time when most investors had abandoned the industry he organize the steel group in 2002 and two acquisitions. it merged to form the largest steel company in the world. his strong record of achievement named him one of the 50 most in flagyl people in global finance in 2011. it s also why he s the only person elected to the turnaround management hall of fame and the private equity hall of fame. his expenses complement it by service to the community he served as first lieutenant in the u.s. army and is currently a member of the dean s advisory of harvard business school appeared he s an advisory boar
good morning. we are meeting today to consider the nomination of mr. wilbur ross to be the next secretary of commerce. if confirmed mr. ross would bring decades of business and entrepreneurial experience to this position best known for revitalizes distressed businesses such as those in the united states steel industry. at a time most inventors aban n abandoned the industry, investors abandoned the industry he organized the international steel group in 2002 through acquisitions of the largest steel company in north america, later it merged to form the largest steel company in the world. mr. ross strong record of achievement led bloomberg business week to name him as one of the 50 most influential people in global finance in 2011. it s also why he is the only person elected to both the turnaround management hall of f.a.m.e. and private equity hall of fame. mr. ross s business is complemented by a service 0 the communi community. mr. ross served as first lieutenant of the u.