Ready for this post, saying it will be the president s number one foreignpolicy achievement. But it said the white house remains confident that if Congress Rejects the deal, the president could be to the action and continue to move forward. That is what i was talking about. It would require 34 votes for him to go forward. Is he getting that . I think it is going to be a hard sell. He knows that the resolution of this approval is likely to be introduced is not likely to pass is very likely to pass. If he vetoes that in order to sustain the veto, he would need 34 votes. Which is what i was referring to earlier. I think it is going to be a hard sell. A hard sell. Cspan gives you the best access to congress. Live coverage of the u. S. House congressional hearings, and news conferences. Bringing you events that shape public policy. Every morning, washington journal is live. With your comments by phone, facebook, and twitter. Cspan. Created by americas Cable Companies and brought to you as a public service. This week saw the removal of the confederate battle flag from South Carolinas State Capitol grounds. The result of National Debates over the flags history and symbolism following last months Deadly Church shooting. The South Carolina legislature approved the flights removal with a bill that was first passed by the flags removal, with a bill that was first passed by the senate, and then passed by the house. Thank you, mr. Speaker, for allowing me my second 10 minutes. I am attempting to be very measured in my comments. This amendment before you today removes the flag that some would say represents hatred and has been abducted by hate organizations adopted by hate organizations. This amendment removes the flag that is currently out front that many of you find offensive. Did you hear what i said . It removes that flag. What i just sat here and heard from my friend, was that it doesnt matter what goes back of that poll because somebody pole because somebody could potentially coopted. That is what i heard. The flag in question looks exactly like what is flying on top of the dome right now. Except it has a wreath in it, or whatever it is called, a wreath. The only difference. So my question to you is, is the flag that is flying on top of the dome right now offensive to anybody in this room . If it is, stand up. Ask me a question. Lets be real with one another in here today. Nobody in this room with this amendment is trying to disallow those of you who think the flag has been coopted, of ducted, a symbol of of ducted abdu cted a symbol of hate, this amendment removes it. If you want the flight down, this amendment does that for you. Glad flag down, this amendment does that for you. The flag in question looks exactly like the flag that is on the dome right now. With the exception of the fact that it has a refinished. It has a wreath in it. If i had not come to this podium or this amendment had not read that it was a regimental flag, most of you would not have ever known it. And in attempt to be respectful to the people who gave their lives in defense of this date from an over oppressive federal government, allow them to be honored, allow them to be respected. They fought for things they believed in. No different than veterans who died in more recent conflicts gave their lives in defense of this nation. Please have some respect for your constituents and to those who have gone before us who lost family members in that way and still wish to respect them, just as i am respecting the fact that the current flag outside represents things that some people dont like. I have gone through a transformation within myself to understand that issue. Honestly. I mean, in all seriousness, i have wept over this thing. I have been this thing in prayer. I have called my pastor to have him pray for me. I have reached out to my constituents because i have been so distraught over this process. We had an opportunity to allow this to go through regular order with a debate that went through committee where people had an opportunity to speak and be heard. We voted down an opportunity for a referendum to give them that opportunity again because we took away from them and didnt allow ourselves to hear from them by rushing through this. In a very, very short period of time, i have come to a place within myself that says, lets find a better way. Whats more respectful way can we have today than a flag that looks like what is flying on the dome . Noted you want to take it down. Guess when that flag came about . In the 1860s. In all seriousness folks, i love every person in this room. Black, white, green, yellow, i dont care. Color doesnt mean anything to me. What means something to me is the fact that we are being respectful, we are honoring the facts that somebody abducted a symbol of heritage. We have lost lives in charleston related to this, who we might want to be utmost respectful to, and we have given you an opportunity to allow those who want to have respect for their heritage to have it. You cannot erase history. You cant do it. But you cant do it. The flag that is in question at this time is not recognized by any hate group, we have gotten to a place in here today where we just want to forget about part of what is happened what has happened in our past. It cannot be done. I cant forget about the wrongs i have done to people. I cant. I have had to ask forgiveness for them. I have had to go to the people i have wronged and ask for forgiveness from them. Allow us to honor those veterans who gave them life in defense of the state. And lets move forward. Again, is there anybody in this room who thinks the flag on top of this dome is disrespectful . Will questions. Im contemplating that. It is your right not to. Beddingfield. Ill contemplate that. Its your right, mr. Bedingfield. In all honesty, i feel my face getting red. Probably been that way all day but i feel it right now. I love everybody in this room. Im thankful for the influence you all have had on my life. Im asking you today, this amendment respects your position. Please respect mine. Representative delaney . Representative delaney is recognized on the amendment. I just want to mr. Speakers i want to give folks perspective about this particular flag, if anyone in here would like to compromise show a little grace. This will be the way to do that. The confederate relic room said this is the most significant september battle flags. This is it. Its also the most significant flag to me personally personally, to my family. This flag was used by volunteers, thirteen different counties. It was carried through gid tisburg and coming back to sg and was displayed. But this 1 the most significant flag and this flag has never been could opted by any. The riche its important to me is because it was the last battle flag my family hero ever brought. A fellow from the fire field district. He was a doctor. A graduate of the met call college in 1887. His wife died before the war. He was only 25 years old. And he insists if you read confederate mill rare at this history, the evidence which involves the South Carolina troops, that he helped raise the next level. And if you read the southern christian advocates talking about him in the early 1900s, it say the that he rather efficient. He would see him to be shocked in the forehand. The game smells at the end of the seven days battle. Leading his battle there, 1862. The same as those five color bearers who carried the same flag in that battle who were killed the teenage paul bearers who were killed within the first 15 of that model. Yes, they were fighting with the army of Northern Virginia as part of 80 of the crew does. In the army of Northern Virginia. They say if you want to reach a compromise. If you want to show the hair to speem, that you understand a little bit more about your ensuring this flag will fly beyond friday. And for the widow of senator pinckney and his two young daughters, that would be adding insult to injury. I will not be a part of it. And for all of these reasons, i will not vote to amend this bill today. We may visit this another session, another year but if were memphis go we are telling the people of charleston we dont care. We do not care that someone used the simple of paid to slay a innocent people who worshiping their god. I have heard enough about heritage. I animated descendent of jefferson davis, but that does not matter. It is not about jenny koren. It is about the people of South Carolina who have demanded that the symbol of hate come off of the statehouse grounds. I will tell you i do now, and i have it on good already, that the world is watching this debate. There is an Economic Development prospect in Dorchester County that is in jeopardy because we refuse to fact. We need to follow the example of the senate will remove this flag, and do it today. This issue is not giving any better with age. Thank you. [applause] pitts and delaney. Amendment 56. Mr. Quinn is recognized. Mr. Speaker, ladies and gentlemen and of the house, i have spoken to many of you about this amendment and had good conversations yesterday. I took a group mr. Gillyard tommy pope i think there were 30 people that went by the confederate relic room. The purpose of my asking folks to do that was because i wanted them to understand something about where im coming from and also about people that arent racist that want to remember their history. I realize that the Southern Cross flag thats currently on the monument has been used by racist groups. And i understand the perspective of africanamericans and others who see this as a symbol of hate. For me growing up my grandfather would tell me about my great great grandfather who fought. There are people who want to think about that, their deaths. In the war 50 of the male population was killed or wounded. Onethird of the male population died during the war. So slavery and the civil war left scars for everyone. And those there are folks out there that dont see dont look at the relic room and think about racism. They want to remember their great grandfather or relatives that died. Bringing folks there, i was trying to bring them that context. Most of the proposals, everything ive seen has the flag going to the relic room. What ive asked is the relic room has not had the support i appreciate that yall vote to go override the veto of the relic room last week. But it has not had the support of the state that it needs. It has been the redheaded step child of the museum and is in the back corner of the state museum. So incidentally one of the things i was very proud of about the relic room is they have the only banner on display where africanamericans who fought for the union flew under the flag. Its one of the major components of the museum. And i was proud to see that. So to me one of the things i think that is essential to this is for the folks who arent racist, who just want to remember their families who died and for the folks who are going to want to go to the relic room when the flag is retired there, what this amendment does is is it merely says january 1st of next year they have to present a plan and a budget for which they will how they will treat the manner that it is retired and how they will remember the Southern Confederate soldiers who died. And really all who died. And so i think this is a very reasonable request that allows for some measure of comfort for people who are worried that maybe the relic room wont have the support for them to have the idea that yes, there will be a plan and there will be a budget to display the flag and remember the soldiers who died. We have a question, mr. Quinn. Mr. Merrill is recognized. Mr. Quinn just to clarify, this is just in addition to the existing bill. It would remove the confederate battle flag, is that right . Yes, sir. And it would still remove the flag pole . I dont effect anything on the senate bill that deals with removing the flag. It accomplishes all the objectives we were talk building. It removes this. And then it places the flag in Historical Context at the confederate relic room and establishes a committee i think for the display, is that right . Actually its very interesting. I researched this pretty thoroughly. I delve into the minute knew that of things. It actually has a new Commission Formed july 1st of this year. It has not yet been appointed. Three from the speaker, three from the senator and three from the governor. It lets the commissioners know when they are appointed we are expecting a plan and budget for how they will handle the matter. I feel, in particular with mr. Hosy and others who have a military record, i feel silly talking about it myself. One of the things about this to me thats kind of a story that was told, i think mr. Jefferson made a very good point yesterday, when a war is fought its very often children that are killed. A lot of what im asking for is to put all of this into context for those folks who died. Were talking about sending it to a museum. Give us a plan and budget next year so we can have that and actually support the relic room so its done in an honorable manner. I understand this isnt necessarily a win for either side. But it is the very definition of a compromise to some extent. Wouldnt you agree . For me yes. I see this as a way for the people who look i think this is a tough issue, yall. Everybody knows that. I was here in 2000 for this. It feels like groundhog day in some ways. To me there are as i mentioned, there are many people who arent racist that just want to remember their family members. This gives security that were not going to display the flag in a dishonorable fashion. They also want to show some deference to those who lost forefathers in the war. This would allow them to accomplish both of the goals . Yeah. And im hopeful that the members voting to keep it up on the monument see this is really to me i think a goodwill gesture to let them know that the flag will be handled in an honorable fashion. This is more minutia. But if someone voted for this amendment, that doesnt necessarily mean they have to vote fort bill at the end. It could stand on its own. It is doing something for both sides, both parties. Would you agree with that . Thats my hope. Thats my hope. All right. Thank you srefplt very much. Recognized for a question. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Quinn let me, if i may, just ask you a couple of questions based on on your amendment. And thank you for allowing the tour yesterday. I appreciate your time doing it. Sir . I appreciate you giving the time. Yes, sir. I know were all busy. Did we have a conversation at the relic room yesterday about your amendment and the concept of your amendment . We did. We were very honest about it. And did we reach consensus pretty much yesterday what what you are trying to do is a very good thing and that we supported that . That was my feeling from you, yes, maam. Did we also say to you, though, that because we are concerned of the timing of this bill and because we want, as the governor has requested, as the senate has done we wanted a clean bill so that there would be no need for a conference committee. Would it make sense for us to come back in january and do not only what you want to do or our proposing to do in this amendment, but did we not also have a conversation about the africanamerican history monument and the process that was put in place there . Do you recall that . Oh, yeah. I was there. Yes. What im trying to do is figure out what happened, mr. Quinn, from the tour we did yesterday where all that goodwill and kumbaya was flowing freely. And now, because i was under the impression tell me if im missing something that yesterday we didnt have a vote or anything. But based on the 30 35 people bipartisan, biracial group that was there, did we not talk about using a process that would restore the flag to the confederate relic room with honor, pomp and circumstance, have the citadel come in and do all of that . Did we have that conversation . We did, ms. Cobbhunter. You made that point. And i think your comment was there was a trust issue. Right. I would say the senators i talked to ive spoken with them, i miamim not going to name them i dont care about the National Media. Theyre telling me this amendment is fine and i think its a reasonable proposal and i think several members and maybe the whole drink caulkemocratic caucus you and i have been through this twice. Yes, sir, i dont want to do it again. To handle this issue it required mutual trust. Yes, sir. I think this is a moniker, a gesture, almost a not a commitment but letting people know that were going to get a plan in january, were going to get a budget. We have to debate it and have votes on it but its giveing them some zreg of confidencedegree of confidence we will address it next year. Mr. Quinn if i may, the hour is late and im not what i used to be. Help me to understand this and i meant that in a positive way. I hear my colleagues chuckling and i dont even want to think about where their mind when when i said that. Did you know that . I have a lot of faith youre still the person you used to be. Let me try it this way mr. Quinn, the Senate Already said and concurred there is no way you talk about having conversations with somebody and theyre okay with it. Miss quinn, thats your first 10 minutes. I apologize, and you want your second . Yes sir. I know there are others who want their time and i dont want to vo gard their time and what that word means i dont want to monopolize your time. I know. Its not for you but some people in here who didnt know that. Heres a what i wanted to get at i thought weed a reached a point where we had allowed this process to play out, let everybody have their say and at some point vote up or down on an ai amendment that simply moves the flag, as the senate has done, and allowed the commission because did the director of the relic room not say to us yesterday that they are not prepare dd to sep theaccept the flag if we do it . Did he not tell us that . Youre making my point for me. No. If i am its a certainly a mistake. Well on my part sfp. My point is i think he does not have the resources i think he does not have the human and otherwise resources to deal with this. My point to you is this is a way for us to show we have a commitment to handling this in an honorable fashion. You mentioned the process this is a process. As far as i know in my years of service here as ive mentioned you, i had two lives, this last one only 3 1 2 years here ive never seen a process where the idea is no amendments is the process. And i understand i understand theres an idea that, you know, if you have one amendment thats when things start rolling. Thats not my intention here. My intention here i understand we have t