Next, the 25 minute debate on the senate floor. It is now time for us to vote up or down on the nomination for many reasons. The nomination has been before us now inadequate time to get the information which our colleagues have asked for. There is also the looming fact of sequestration. We need to have a secretary of defense who is not only in office, but whose leadership is not in limbo, but is there. Our troops need it. Their families needed. Our country needs it. We have 66,000 military arsenal in harms way in afghanistan. The president of afghanistan has directed the United States to remove its special Operations Forces from a key afghan province. Our military bases key decisions about the pace of the drawdown between now and the end of 2014. The size and composition of a residual force in terms of conditions for the ongoing presence in afghanistan of the United States Coalition Partners after 2014. At the same time, we face new and growing threats elsewhere, including the ongoing
Were made and paid for by foreign governments that may not be friendly to us. That story died before it was aired. It was apparently based on a hoax. These are unfair innuendos. They have been answered. You know they are unfair. Senator hagel has an extensive record of service to his country. As a young man, he enlisted in the army, served with distinction in vietnam, he served as the deputy administrator of the va during the reagan administration, he was a businessman. Many of are bit him during his two terms in that u. S. Senate eerie decency left, he has continued to serve many of them served with him during his two terms in the u. S. Senate before he left. He has continued to serve. Senator hagel has been endorsed by five former secretaries of defense, three former secretaries of state, and six former National Security advisers who served in both democratic and republican administrations. He has been endorsed by the veterans of foreign wars. He has received this important and the n
Right here in virginia, but it doesnt just stop there. If the sequester goes into effect, more than 2,000 College Students would lose their Financial Aid. Early education, like head start and early start, would be elimb flatted eliminated for nearly 1,000 children and 18,000 fewer virginiaans would get the skills they need to find a job. Across the country, these cuts will force federal prosecutors to close cases and potentially let criminals go. Air Traffic Controllers and Airport Security will see cutbacks and that could cause delays at airports across the country. Tens of thousands of parents will scramble to find childcare for their kids. Hundreds of thousands of americans will lose access to primary care and Preventive Care like flu vaccinations and cancer screelings, including more than 3,500 children right here in virginia. So these cuts are wrong. Theyre not smart. Theyre not fair. Theyre a selfinflicted wound that doesnt have to happen. Now, the reason that were even thinking
Church. So as they switch that from the family photos. We see here inside. To a larger shot where you can see the people who are there to mourn with this family. It is full to capacity. Mayor bill de blasio there. The Police Commissioner william bratton. Governor cuomo, former mayor rudy giuliani. Vice President Biden and dr. Jill biden are there. And these are photos that the church is streaming here live. These are pictures of ramos and his wife. He is a father of two young ones, justin and jaden. One is a sophomore in college. The other one is now 13 years old. And just very moving. Very touching to see all the family photos. A lot of people talk about how important his family has been to him throughout the years. And just beautiful. This is what they are broadcasting to all of us. Were just seeing this for the first time as you are. I want to read part of the official statement from the church. They lovingly call him raf. It says raf was definitely a family man and always talked ab