Them to be at their full capacity, and the only way we achieve this is by dredging some of these areas where weve seen some major problems. The bill also makes Critical Reforms to our nations rivers and waterways. The inland waterway system in this country spans 38 states and handles approximately one half of all inland waterway freight. With many maintenance and Construction Projects years overdue, the inland waterways are in dire need of major rehabilitation. The inland Waterways Trust fund which funds these projects is in steady decline and if we dont strengthen it, the industries that so heavily depend on the inland water system and the people that work for these industries critical jobs will suffer. That is why i cosponsored the river act with senators casey and landrieu to help move forward major instruction Construction Projects on the inland waterway system including locks and dams on the mississippi river. Other provisions of the river act are included in the final wrda bill i
I hope well be talking about it today. I cant think of a better person to address them for us. John carlin has been acting assistant attorney general for some time and was recently confirmed in the role. He served as the chief of staff to his predecessor and Principal Deputy to lisaen monaco. Previously he was chief of staff and senior counsel to Robert Muller when he was director of the fbi. A career federal prosecutor, mr. Carlin served as National Coordinator of the hacking and intellectual property program. The prosecutors were specially trained to prosecute cyber crime in intellectual property cases. He has a lot of background in the area that gave rise to this weeks indictment. He has a degree from harvard law and williams college. He will speak for about 45 minutes. And then well have a q. A. With him over there and take questions from the audience. I ask that you silence your phones. There are a lot of cameras in the room. Please join me in welcoming john carlin. [ applause ] t
From an apple is maryland at 10 00 eastern on cspan. Later today, the council on Foreign Relations looks at technology, innovation, and policy making. Or of the topics will be the potential implications of driver list cars. Live coverage starts at 10 30 a. M. Eastern also on cspan. I focus on trying to stop waste and trying to catch people to date in the past, but to actually go out and figure it out and had it up, 50 , 30 , 20 , 60 . I think we are spending a lot of money. My staffs time can be better spent by trying to find, identify, and correct problems. It by sq, have the American People, and their moneys worth . Their full moneys worth . No, definitely not. There have been some good things done, a lot of good things done. We have a lot of hard working people at the state and the department of defense, department of agriculture, department of interior. The department of commerce. A lot of people have devoted their lives and energies over there. But have we gotten the biggest bang
Quorum call quorum call mr. Reid mr. President . The presiding officer the majority leader. Mr. Reid i ask consent the call of the quorum are be terminated. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Reid i move to to executive session to consider calendar number 633. The presiding officer the question is on the motion. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed say no. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it. The motion is agreed to. The clerk will report the nomination. The Clerk Department of state. Keith m. Harper of maryland for the rambg rank of ambassador during his tenure of service to the u. N. Human rights council. Mr. Reid madam president , there is a cloture at the desk on this matter. The presiding officer the clerk will report. The clerk cloture. We, the undersigned senators, in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate hereby move to bring to a close the debate on the nomination of keith m. Harper of maryland for the rank
Colorado, san antonio, texas, augusta, georgia, memphis, tennessee, columbia, south carolina, pittsburgh, pennsylvania, Chicago Illinois with news stories being covered almost every single day. Mr. Speaker, these stories were crystallized for me and other members at a recent hearing that we had on patient wait times on the 9th of april. Mr. Barry cotes, a veteran from columbia, south carolina, informed the committee that he waited almost a year to receive a colonoscopy at v. A. When he finally received his appointment, it was revealed that he had stage 4 colon cancer. Mr. Cotes testified, and i quote, the gross negligence and crippling backlog epidemic of the varks a. Health system has not only handed me a death sentence but ruined my quality of life. Mr. Speaker, the need for accountability to help veterans like mr. Cotes is the reason why h. R. 4031 is so critically important. The v. A. Management accountability act of 2014 would give the secretary the authority to fire or to demote