[no audio] ; these are scenes of the first family. Donald trump and Melania Trump arriving at joint base andrews. That was from earlier today, kicking off a number of events that happened today, including a special concert that was held by the president ial inaugural committee. We will show you some of that in just a little bit. Also again tonight, 9 00 eastern time, we will have a live Radio Program the program out of iowa. You can watch it here on cspan and also online, www. Cspan. Org. One of the other events he attended shortly after arriving in washington, d. C. , was the wreathlaying. Look at a tweet here. We will show that in just a bit. Here some of the wreathlaying earlier today. President elect donald trump at Arlington Cemetery to lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknown. The only constitutional inaugurationor the ceremonies is that the president takes the oath of office. That happening tomorrow. We will have live coverage. The ceremony will take place around 11 30 a. M. Eastern. We will get to the wreathlaying at the Arlington National cemetery, the tomb of the unknown. Donald trump was here. He laid the wreath with his Vice President elect mike pence. He was preceded by his family who wait at the bottom. Here is a look. [no audio] [drumming] [playing taps] [no audio] and the president elect and the Vice President elect laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknown. This is from earlier today. Just showing some of todays event on cspan. From theearlier today Incoming White House press secretary, sean spicer. He gave a preview of the president elects speech tomorrow. Practice is over. Sean spicer meets the press. He started aggressively with media outlets. The Incoming White House press secretary spent weeks sharpening himself to be the tip of the spear in Donald Trumps war with the Dishonest Media but he became but he came unarmed to his first facetoface in counter with the white house press. Today come on the eve of the night duration the former Republican NationalCommittee Spokesman underwent his first test in a room at the trump transition headquarters, where the stage and lectern were specifically designed to mimic the dimensions of the brady Briefing Room at the white house. Heres just some of the soon to be press secretarys comments. Spicer the president elect continues to make edits to his inaugural address. We will have further updates for you on that pyramid it was asked yesterday in a speech. It will be a personal and statement about his vision for the country. He will discuss what it means to be an american, the challenge that he will face as members of the middle class. He will talk infrastructure and education, and our manufacturing base. I think its going to be less of an agenda and more of a philosophical document, a vision where he sees the country. The proper role of government, the proper role of citizens. So look forward to that tomorrow. If youve been watching the cspan network over the past week or checking in on our video library, you have seen a number of confirmation hearings underway for the president elect soon to be cabinet. Sean spicer talked a little bit about how that process has been going. Same press conference that use all right there. He talked about democrats stall tactics. Mr. Spicer there is no excuse for the delay tactics and frankly the partisanship that is being exhibited by the democrats. There is a time in a place for it. I get it. But hold them to the standard that they were held in 2008, you recognize the fact that they are continuing to deploy delay tactic after delay tactic, which is in good for the government. I saw a poll yesterday were over 50 of the people believe that the economic and security teams should be confirmed immediately. And the idea that they are delay enough for the calls into question their desire to have a government in continuity. It since not just a signal to the folks around the United States, but around the world that we are not that they are questioning the accountability of continuity of government. We have a plan to ensure that every department, there is a key individual ready. Think its disappointing that they have chosen to do this. I noted this before. If you look at the questions that are being asked in these confirmation hearings, it is not about substance. It is not about policy. It is not about the issues in front of that department. And about partisan attacks ethical questions. These people have had their paperwork in their quality and caliber and integrity is unquestionable. And to see some of the its some of the attacks and the issues not to be on teachers and schools and homeland, there are so many issues to be moving on. Using the stall tactics, it is not in the countrys best interest. That is sean spicer, donald presss choice to be secretary. An article here from town hall, and a democrats have little to no options when it comes to blocking Donald Trumps nominees. They can create a lot of noise in the hopes of putting pressure on republicans. Again, that is from town hall, an article about what Chuck Schumer calls the swamp cabinet. Here is some of his News Conference from earlier in the day. Schumer early on in the transition, Senate Republicans said they hope they can confirm as many as seven cabinet nominees on Inauguration Day. They said that is what president obama got. So we should get the same treatment, they said. But over the last several weeks, republicans have made a mockery of the cabinet hearing process. Trying to jam through nominees and in truncated hearings, nominees with serious complex of issues serious conflict of interest. Americanimportant, the people their chance to question in here from these nominees. If there was ever a group of cabinet nominees that cry out for regular desk to rigorous scrutiny, it is this one. The president elects cabinet is a swamp cabinet full of billionaires and bankers that have conflict of interest and ethical lapses as far as the eye can see. Congressman mulvaney failed to pay taxes on a household worker. The exact same issue that caused past nominees to withdraw. Punishment price is facing serious scrutiny for trading stock with one hand and pushing legislation to boost the stock with the other. Bessie devos has refused to pay an old election fine. And by the way, the fact that her hearing was so appalling to so many americans, 15 million out just a video of a couple of the questions, 15 Million People have seen it. If you go on the social media, Trump Supporters are saying why the heck did he nominate her . Rex tillerson has refused to recuse himself for matters relating to exxon mobil for the length of his term. Amazing. Ead of the Biggest Oil Company and after one year, he can do things to help it again. His work there, decades. And just this morning, we learned that stephen h and tried in the his Holdings Cayman islands from the Senate Finance committee. The list goes on and on. And every day, theres another report of a major ethical lapse among the nominees for the cabinet, the swamp cabinet. Isntesidentelect draining the swamp with his cabinet picks. He is filling it up, contrary to everything he promised during his campaign. These issues and others deserve to be thoroughly and rigorously reviewed by the senate. Senate democrats asked for multiple rounds of questions, multiple days of hearings, outside witnesses, and to have review a nominees completed paperwork before a hearing is held, particularly in light of the fact that so many of these folks have such complicated paperwork you cant he just review it in a day. I would remind my republican friends that the only real billionaire and billionaire in president obamas cabinet, penny pritzker, took six months to clear her ethical conflicts and file papers. So we have made some progress on a few fronts. But the more we learned about the nominees, the more important a thorough, fair process became. Cleare more became republicans were simply trying to jam through these nominees out of sight of the American People. They are not really proud of this cabinet. So they want the hearings to be as quick, as short and as bunched up as they can be. Even though, back in 2000 nine, republicans asked the democrats not to have any hearings 2009 , republicans asked the kick the democrats to not have any a review. Efore fromrs stymied members asking questions of both ms. Devos and mr. Price. One report was that there are only 7 for the public in the hearing of mr. Pruitt. From top to bottom, its clear. Republicans were attempting to orchestrate a cover above the president elects swamp cabinet. Senate democrats and the American People wont stand for it. So the inauguration is tomorrow. And here is what we are prepared to do. Senators on both sides of the aisle have expressed support for the president elects Key National Security nominees. We expect to be able to vote on general kelly and general mattis tomorrow and look forward to beginning the debate on congressman pompeo in hopes that he can also receive a quick vote. It is possible that some other noncontroversial nominees could be considered relatively quickly. We intend toe, have a full and rigorous debate on the president elects remaining nominees. Senate republicans did not want to have a full debate on the merits of these nominees in committee. But they should be prepared to do so on the floor of the United States senate. I understand republicans are saying they wouldnt have chosen any of obamas nominees, but allowed them to be confirmed. Let me be clear, democrats will allow the confirmations and those for nominees who have not been chosen by our party. But what we will not support our nominees who are so extreme in their viewpoints or their noncompliance with ethics laws and practice that they have demonstrated themselves to be unfit. We will not be dilatory for the sake of it. And we are hopeful that nominees will fully answer the remaining questions that their hearings have raised and that some will even come back for another round of questioning. That type of cooperation could speed things up on the floor. Haveuld much prefer to full questions with these nominees in hearings because they are there. But if we cant, the floor will be the place we have to bring to light the key issues that ive mentioned. And a look at some of those nominees and the confirmation hearings. The Senate Returns tomorrow, 4 00 eastern time, on Inauguration Day for voting on cabinet nominations, retired general james mattis for defense secretary, retired general john kelly for Homeland Security secretary. And also, they will begin debate republican commerce men mike pompeo for cia director with a possible confirmation vote by monday. One of the hearings that we did bring to you today and you can find online at www. Cspan. Org was a hearing for the Energy Secretary nominee, rick perry, former governor of texas. As npr reports, rick perry says he no longer wants to dissolve the agency that he once said he wants to abolish. And even changing his mind at his confirmation hearing as president elects pay gas secretary of energy. He says he no long walk he no longer wants to do away with the department. At least thats what he tried to say. It recalls reports in 2011 during a president ial campaign debate, if he could only remember the names of two of the three agencies he wanted to get rid of, during his testimony today, he had an Interesting Exchange with minnesota senator al franken. And here is that. Senator franken if i may in my limited time, i have a couple of other issues i would like to touch upon. I have learned a great deal about parry if i may in my limited time, i have a couple of other issues i would like to touch upon. I have spoken several times to theetary moniz about operation. Ive spoken to his predecessors. And if confirmed, my desire is to lead this agency in a thoughtful manner, surrounding myself with the expertise on the Core Functions of the department. Overst statements, made five years ago about abolishing the department of energy, do not reflect my current thinking. In fact, after being briefed on so many of the vital functions of the department of energy, ira get i regret recommending its elimination. If confirmed, i will enter this role excited and passionate about advocating and advancing doe,ore missions of the drawing greater attention to the vital role played by the agency and the hardworking men and women who dedicate themselves in pursuit. Senator franken thank you for coming into my office. Did you enjoy meeting me . [laughter] parry i hope you are as much as on that day is as you were on your couch. Senator franken well. [laughter] may i rephrase that, sir . Sen. Franken please. Please. [laughter] oh, my lord. Perry i think we found our saturday night live soundbite. [laughter] franken lets move on. One of the fun things on the couch was when you said [laughter] owed a lotenergy boom to the department of energy. This is something i think my colleagues on the other side have almost gotten sick of me saying. Validator. E a great we talked about this, so i know that you agree that the department of energy was an enormous factor in the shale boom. Is that right . I would suggest to you that there were technologies that were moved forward at the universities our in the private sector then took and implemented together that shale revolution to occur. Sector had ate substantial amount to do with that. George mitchell, who is a texas geologist, was a great example of an individual who heard scientists and im sure his private sector friends time after time and saying youre wasting your time and your money. But he believed in it. Much credit to him as i did the doe and i think the doe has a role to play. Sen. Franken has a matter fact, the Vice President of his cup and he said this. Doe started it and other people took the ball and ran with it. You cannot dimension you cannot diminish does involvement. Reason i say this, both points of importance, research from doe and solving all these problems that we have, thats why these reports i hope these reports on cuts on the doe are not true in the new administration. I want to go to Climate Change. Office,cussed in my Climate Change is an existential threat, one of the most serious challenges of our time. Your 2010 book, you claim we have been experiencing a cooling trend. It was Just Announced yesterday that this is the hottest year on record. In the yearore that before that. The first time three years in a row. In your book you said, i dont believe we have the settled science by any sense of the imagination. Calling co to a pollutant is doing a disservice to the country and i believe a disservice to the world. Your testimony that your views have been evolving on this. Note that man is responsible for some Climate Change. How much Climate Change to you think the science shows is due to human activity . Me be itfr from far from a sitting in front of you today and coming to be a climate scientist. I wont do that. Senator franken i dont think you will ever be a climate scientist, but you will be the head of the department. Mr. Perry thats right. We will have to hire very good scientist. Senator franken well 90 of scientists climate Scientists Say that this is real. Of the century, we will be reaching 3. 5 celsius increases in temperature and that will be disastrous. I dont want that for my grandchildren. Let me put that 97 in context. A recent survey found that only 95 of scientists are sure that cigarettes cause cancer. That signs on me Climate Change is pretty definitive. Science on Climate Change is pretty definitive. I just dont want and i know my time is out to i dont economys idea of the and addressing Climate Change are at odds at all. State, peopleyour stay in your communities that have wind. Those towers are big. They are tall. Only young people can go up with and keep young people in your community. To i dont know if you have any grandchildren yet. Mr. Perry a little early for that. They were just married in october. Senator franken yes, too early. [laughter] you see, i am not a mathematician. [laughter] my time is over. Its done. Mr. Perry thank you, sir. A funny exchange at the start and at the finish with Senate Minnesota senator al franken with former Texas Governor rick perry. We will have more of his exchange with Washington State senator maria cantwell. But more from the npr article talking about his stance on energy and the epa, saying this wasnt the only message that differed from his past views. Here is a little bit of his exchange with maria cantwell. Senator cantwell i like day number of things you had to say. Want tog i definitely bring up is disconcerting and that is what you said relating to an energy strategy. We cannot, as you said, optimize economic growth. Whil. Growth fossil fuel is having an impact on the Natural Resources in my stay. It is having an effect on shellfish and the ability to feed. It is having an effect on the two most devastating fire seasons my state has had in the history of our state, burning up in one indian reservation over 2 billion worth of timber. A report thatted i expect to be ou