And a lot or provision restricting access to information applies to the inspectors general of less than a lot expressly so states that in such unrestricted access extends to all records available to the agency regardless of location. I will handle this question to ms. Bryan. You have been handling accountability but in that time we have the importance of watch dog sitter truly independent wedding is the practical result Going Forward if we dont fix it legislatively . Thank you but as you may recall a project on procurement originally founded by fitzgerald to get to the point of a the biggest concern for whistleblowers are the people who are reporting to a the igs steadily have legitimate concerns as they do but this will amplify that problem but it will also amplifies the protection of those whistleblowers moving forward so we see this unnecessary in some sense but it is it is wrong just withdraw rather than congress having to change of lot. Though lot but the agencies can take advantage of what they want to use the from the opinion and we do need congress to fix this or we will not get the oversight that we need from our igs. Thank you for your testimony for the large number of people we have had from the various offices. We intend to fix this and we will get it fixed we will have a the igs do their job they are very essential to us that take the constitutional oversight very seriously. They help us in that regard not the only people that help us with that but they are a very important part of that. Thank you very afternoon thank you for joining us i have a number of colleagues today, many food chair key committees in the conference to talk about what we have done in the Republicanled Senate that showing back to work is more than a campaign slogan. But for the first seven months of this congress we have passed more than 70 bills signed into law by the president told strengthen our economy protect the most vulnerable to strengthen interNational Security. This year we have worked to increase access to jobs to support military men and women and reforming education decisions to state and local School Boards with the iran negotiations with the certainty with passage of the highway bill also all 12 Appropriations Bills for the first time in six years said the republicans are opening of the legislative process under democratic control that has been ground to a halt during the 2014 the leadership allowed 15 votes and so far they have allowed more than and votes but because of the commitment to work on a bipartisan basis with the every child the chief fax with a a bipartisan comprehensive reform to put them back in the hands like the local school board there committed to move the agenda but during the past seven months to deliver a commonsense results as the 114th Congress Continues to fight for the mayor can people priorities we hope they will continue to enjoy and as we will start with senator hatch followed by this senator of the Energy Committee and then senator in hough and then to talk about the appropriations unprocessed so i will hand them off. Actually have members of the congress and the senate to say it is wonderful to have amendments again. We are back to regular order so that is good for the American People proposes the start of the 114th congress we have made advancements in legislation improving daytoday lives of all citizens just last week the senate clarity a bipartisan month and highway bill for the america highway system to pass education reform with very difficult bills from National Security will get the work on the finance committee. And we were able to do that. Then we found more money. Goodies are bipartisan bills. But one have maya greatest accomplishments of the trade Promotion Authority bill or tpa. We empowers congress and the American People for in a trade deal. For the job creators but to have tpa back of the books with the chief trade negotiators for the Trans Pacific partnership agreement. That will allow us with those countries as well. But to be negotiated between in the United States and across the pacif with the markets containing the authority a 60 percent of all those in the world but only if it is done right. Thanks for the high standards for go so they brought it to their attention very closely. So then we pass the chip kill again. A bill again. We had to go through 18 different patches. This time of what we accomplished with a the way to solve the fix but it has taken so much more time. Budget is to do this for a the country to have things done right. When senator hatch talks about returning your regular order i the that can be distilled pretty simply and when committees are able to do work his leadership on the committee not of the work to a bill is essentially a rewrite their air fare the area that has not been addressed for almost touch decade where there are complicated issues but with good work you get a good product to live dash out of the committee 22 nothing then working benghazi did with the Ranking Member we have seen education reform and what they desperately need with the Energy Committee we follow that model of working together to build a good product. Last week we moved out of the committee a bride comprehensive energy bill not only on the committee with 2014 different bills to read rand say product set is broad from infrastructure to supply to accountability and reforms. To move the country for word essay relate to the exports so we has a committee have worked well with the revenuesharing measure. To move through the Committee Led dialect back to the beginning the keystone xl pipeline bill the first measure before the body. In the first week of regular order, we took up more amendments than we had in the entire legislative year prior. Ed is good for the country and good for the government. To spite of the total lack of leadership. [laughter] with the Defense Authorization on the Armed Services committee with the significant and generation as early as we did with the legislation to tackles acquisition reform. With 10 billion with wasteland excessive spending programs for treatment for the military confirmed by the do secretary of defense and the joint chiefs of staff. With the aggressor the pace with the witnesses like Henry Kissinger with those military leaders and laos so broad republicans and democrats together to fight for the administration to help ukrainians defend themselves against russian aggression then seek the development of a coherent strategy to stop defense cuts caused by sequestration now we play a significant role in the agreement. This is all done without assistance from south dakota [laughter] first of all, i come from another perspective 20 years ago when i came to the senate, i read the constitution but what we are supposed to do is defend america the roads and highways. That is whether we are supposed to do. But prior to 2007 the republicans were the majority. I chaired the committee as a matter of fact. The highway reauthorization bill is very successful. By the time that expired us democrats took over we have not had was a longterm highway reauthorization bill. But as everyone knows it takes 30 off the top. Because you cannot start a bridge without the extension is a we went through eight years of that. And restarted to work on a bill and now it is on the floor. I talked to the house leadership there looking after our bill now. Onefourth of the bridges are insufficient because we have not seen the bill over eight years now the highway reauthorization bill we will put america on the mend to Start Building in america. Faq for pro space dash for promoting me to the Senate Appropriations committee. But i am pretty far down the line but i take up my role on the Appropriations Committee very seriously. For the first time in six years all 12 Appropriations Bills are reported out of committee for consideration. And we stayed within the budget for every single one it was also bipartisan and this is good news for the American People. Good things happen when you Work Together but still to put forth a strategy towards a Government Shutdown they have flocked to the funding for consideration of troops fighting overseas i am sure senator mccain feels as strongly as i do with the wrongheaded this of that approach led to determine the priorities is the greatest responsibilities dedicated to do keeping the government open to get to that goal in september and they are sent a clear message to get things done. Now you have already heard about the numbers of amendments we can consider of the bipartisan efforts and the difficult issues but to have the appropriation bill has been debated and to have a vote we got them out of committee a cumulative total 277 83 with an overwhelming majority. Questions . The democrats have said over and over they will block them until they have a negotiation and why dont they take them up on that offer . Just from my perspective moving through the Appropriations Committee me debated a lot in the markup of very difficult issues and the state within a budget that we all agree on and we could have a discussion that is the best place. I am chairman of the interior one of those budget area is to get support as we go through the process but it is not because there wasnt a great to work going on so if you suggest the appropriations bill doesnt reflect the priorities of the democrats i disagree with the support that we received for many of the Appropriations Bills and we did have bipartisan support with their desire the caps that were set under the budget control act that was set and signed into law by this president which is trying to abide by the budget control act. To show by 10 million may be not a permanent longterm bill to be offset. We could do that. I am glad to see dynamic scoring and if we do both we can see which is more accurate under different circumstances i think so the finance committee passed 37 and the rest has not been done for years and years but to make these points but they say this is wonderful but at least we can put the language into the bill and we will continue to work with colleagues to make sure everybody is part of the system is set a sea change over the last seven or eight years. Just one other statement in response your question in the transportation bill with Barbara Boxer we knew we had to get this done we pass that bill 20 nothing were still working with the democrats to see this become a reality but we tried to get this done when we were the minority and could not do it so now i think it is good work thank you all very much. [inaudible conversations] afternoon and the president of United States institute of peace and i alighted to welcome everybody on the dangerous summer. Lamp glad to see so many people here i guess washington is not empty in august also afghanistan is an important issue to think about and grapple with. Cousin of vp there was hope and optimism with unity government and the hosted as the parts of his visit to washington in march. So fast for word of july august of the increased presence with the changes are the unexpected dues so we hired delighted to have with us here today very distinguished speakers to bring us there fresh perceptions as well as recent visits to afghanistan of this point were having right now. But today we are particularly honored to host with a special representative for afghanistan with a pivotal role since 2009 has been the heartbeat of the engagement with afghanistan with the pakistan naled talks between callable and the taliban his experience has been an important part of his ability to make a difference on a critical set of issues. He will be joined after he makes remarks by the u. S. Side p board chair for National Security advisor and Public Servant that will be moderated so with that please join me to welcome the ambassador to of the stage the we are very happy to have here to talk about your experiences and perceptions of the region right now. Thank you. [applause] i am excited to give my victory address as i visited the region i look forward to compare notes with Stephen Andrew i appreciate you having the flexibility. With the relationship is special and familial and a model for the way in which experts and policy makers are in a collaborative manner. When ambassador holbrooke offered me a onceinalifetime opportunity to serve as deputies to become a special representative myself. Now that i am transitioning back to acknowledge the challenges that are made. I was incredulous recently what diplomacy is achieved in afghanistan . That demonstrated the need to highlight the Significant Developments in the region that was sustained to the diplomatic efforts it was the diplomacy that facilitated and nurtured the government it was diplomacy with our relationship on pakistan more now than any other point of the administration that opened a historic opportunity for afghanistan and pakistan to Work Together for a common interest in peace and diplomacy has supported afghan determination to fundamentally change the role in their society it was diplomacy that secure the International Political and Financial Support of Security Forces. Only through a sustained diplomacy that success will be preserved. They dont just spontaneously generated i am extremely proud to be a charter member of the innovative and Entrepreneurial Team created by the vision of secretary clinton and ambassador holbrooke commitments to the region and power of diplomacy to to the achievements to have a government prototype to respond to a complex crisis and every day is dedicated team has honor his memory with his definition of diplomacy to save lives and achieving results you know, the list of a momentous achievement of afghanistan to improve the role of women and girls and independent media, infrastructure, gdp growth. Afghanistan simply is not the country it was when the taliban ruled. Political stability of Afghan Security just wind yearago the prospects were removed with the options and included the karzai term after the afghan request he famous a broker the political compromise of the Government Lie was left behind to the the mediation to hammer out a political agreement to form a unity government becoming the first democratic transition of power in afghanistan history polishing governments grappled with the implementation and afghanistan is no different there has been progress over the past year from the consumption initiative to the Electoral Reform commission that we met with last week. But the government to achieve the reform it must operate in a more inclusive manner to include in powering ministries to assume much of the work to engage comprehensively with a full range of Civil Society and opinion leaders domestic media and in all to believe the Afghan People. Those who feel excluded paved the way for spoilers to create unnecessary instability that is why i urge my colleagues to take the last best opportunity to demonstrate the government is durable and functional to translate their rhetoric and policy vision into tangible policy implementation to benefit the daily lives of all afghans. Sole support the unity government to be sure it is on the path to success. It is a legitimate government that the International Community will continue to support afghans dont support dont deserve to anything other than strengthens the fabric of their society. To optimize success of those ongoing efforts the economic climate must whether the shock and the security challenges are severe as they kill many civilians with casualtys bill is anticipated to be a difficult season to pose a real challenge but they have held their own while making temporary gains the taliban has not been seriously challenged any urban center or capital the have proven it was ready for their responsibility transferred to it and we will continue to support as they build the skills and resources they need to match the courage and commitment one final word on the progress of afghanistan we should be proud of the role we have played including the unprecedented civilian search it will always be difficult work with reports of waste with the least institutionalized countries and to be clear anyone who is legally benefits must be held accountable. But despite the lower the of reportedly must continue to assess the overall impact of the efforts and not just focus son the easiest mechanical accounting of project Execution Team must redouble our efforts cannot fundamentally kill initiatives that our critical to achieving our interest to ensure that once again does not become a safe haven these are hard goals and an important one said there will be failures as refined his initiatives but the risk is worth taking buying pakistan diplomats have been at the front diplomacy has broad the tumultuous relationship to the stable position based on a realistic set of expectations with our Strategic Dialogue we have honed in to keep the Strategic Alignment to deliver results including nuclear concerns to prompt stability Energy Initiatives an