Chair recognizes members from lists submitted by the majority and minority leader for morning hour debate. The chair will alternate recognition between the parties with each party limited to one hour and each member other than the majority and minority leaders and the minority whip limited to five minutes, but in no event shall debate continue beyond 1 50 p. M. The chair recognizes the gentleman from texas, mr. Doggett, for five minutes. Mr. Doggett thank you, mr. Speaker. Next monday when our country honors an apostle of nonviolence, dr. Martin luther ing jr. , iran will begin reducing its nuclear stockpile. This important action is part of an International Agreement to begin implementing the interim joint plan of action that was announced in november. Hope for a nonviolent resolution of our conflict with iran will appropriately advance on a day that honors nonviolence. Some in congress have been unwilling to accept these negotiations or to acknowledge that the administration has been successful in uniting other countries around the world in enforcing sanctions against iran. Indeed, what appears to have been largely a partisan outcry, some of our colleagues condemn the november agreement late on the saturday night when it was announced without knowing what was in it other than that president obama had approved it. As a member myself who has consistently voted here to impose tough economic sanctions on iran, i believe that these sanctions have worked. The choice is not between sanctions and no sanctions, it is between recognizing that our sanctions have the potential to realize our important goals and not give up on them without even really trying. The iranians are well aware that this congress can act almost instantly to add even more stringent sanctions if they waiver from diplomacy. Can we trust the current Iranian Regime . Of course not. Thats why the painstaking task of varyfying every operational detail of verifying every operational detail of everything is so important. If done with the thoroughness required, this is a task that may well take more than six months, but as negotiations for a permanent agreement get under way, we will have new regular inspections to verify compliance, something we have not had in the past. To prevent a nucleararmed iran and to ensure the safety of our families and families around measurable, verifiable negotiated agreement is the wiser course over the unknowing risk of war. Those who would intrude on those fragile negotiations now only increase the danger of iran becoming a Nuclear Armed power. They would undermine the International Coalition that has enforced the existing sanctions and they would empower those hard lined ayatollahs, giving them the pretext to stop progress giving that to the very people who reject any cooperation and regularly demand death to america and death to israel. Congress must not impede the diplomatic alternative to war. Ultimately, that diplomacy may not be successful. It may not achieve a final verifiable agreement, but we should make every reasonable effort toward that end. There are no more important issues considered in this capitol building, undertaken by this congress than the questions of war and peace. Just as i do not trust iran, i do not trust war as the best way to prevent a nuclear iran, and war is the true alternative authored by those here who would interfere or limit these negotiations. Starting a war in iraq cost us so very dearly, and it did not make us safer. Lets not repeat that deadly mistake. Congress should commend secretary of state john kerry, undersecretary Wendy Sherman and president barack obama for their leader through tough, persistent diplomacy, through the wise use of american power. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to clause 12a of rule 1, the chair declares the house in recess on Early Childhood health care. The Robert Wood Johnson foundation. You can see that live starting at 2 30 eastern on cspan three. And aboutryan is out today. He will be speaking at the Brookings Institution starting at four that at four clock eastern starting at 4 00 eastern. Nancy reagan was the first lady to address United Nations. To my young friends out there, life can be great. But not when you cant see it. Open your eyes to life to see it in the bid that covers in the vivid colors that god gave us and enjoy life to the fullest and make it count. Say yes to your life and when it comes to drugs and alcohol, just say no. , first Lady Nancy Reagan tonight at 9 00 eastern. Also on cspan radio and c span. Org. We bring Public Affairs events from washington directly to you, putting you in the room at congressional hearings, white house events, briefings, and conferences. And offering complete gavelto gavel coverage of the u. S. House, all as a Public Service to private industry. Where cspan, created by the cable tv industry 30 years ago. Watch us in hd, like us on facebook, and follow us on twitter. Kissinger low brand continued her push for senator kirsten illibrand the senator spoke on a daylong conference on social mobility hosted by the Brookings Institution. The term refers to the degree from which people are able to classrom working status working staff working class status. Good morning, everyone. I hope everyone is feeling bright and cheery this morning. It is a sunny and reasonable temperature. Centercodirector of the for childrens families here at brookings. Group ofnvited a experts from around the country for the firstay annual summit on social mobility in the United States. Organized by my colleague, richard reeves. Have so manyted to wonderful experts here to talk about this issue all day. To put socialg mobility on the agenda and figure out what to do about it, we are going to need help from people in public life. Offer thatmendous tremendous honor to have someone with us today to help us address these questions. Senator jill brand was first appointed after Hillary Clinton vacated her post. She was elected on her own in 2010 for a sixyear term. Worked on all kinds of issues. I read her bio, looked at her website, and there are so many there that i cannot begin to list them all. I think she is best known for her advocacy of ending sexual must ending Sexual Assault in the military. Harry reid, very uncharacteristically, once referred to her as the hottest member of the democratic caucus. I cannot imagine senator reid saying that the evidently he did. Young mother of two children and only 20 women in the senate, she has been specially focused on the needs of women and families. She believes the Womens Movement has stalled out and wants to see at least half of all senate seats and half of all governorships be women in the future. If i want to endorse that goal and add to one that i am sure , a woman agree with president of the United States. It is with great pleasure we welcome you to brookings and i am sure i speak for all of us when i say we are looking forward to your remarks. [applause] thank you for your leadership and for hosting todays for him. I think this will be an interesting conversation. I want to thank the Brookings Institute for bringing us all together to talk about a topic that is vital to the future of this country and talk about some fresh ideas, to give more children and working families the opportunity they need to achieve their potential. Week marked the 50th anniversary of president Lyndon Johnsons declaration of an all out war against poverty, ushering in a new no matter the circumstances they were born into or whatever kind of hand that life dealt you. Week they had a chance to do one simple act to live up to that promise, by extending a lifeline to 1. 3 million jobless americans. Americans, million who, through no fault of their own, want to work. They were denied this lifeline, this basic lifeline to keep them afloat during tough economic times. Democrats and republicans may have honest estimate honest disagreements on ways to create jobs. We should be able to agree on a basic core principle. We should never leave anyone out in the cold. This is exactly what happens here in washington. It is the same old political game. It would have us all believe that they are just cutting fraud , ending free rides on the taxpayer dime. When you are cutting food stamps, you are just taking food off the table of families in this country, taking food out of the mouths of hungry children, taking them away from seniors on , to veterans who gave their lives for this country and everything for this country during our time of need. That is who you are taking food away from. It makes me angry because all we hear from the other side is that government assistance is somehow scamming the system. Neveret a ladys met a lazy child who was hungry. I never met a man or woman who was on Unemployment Benefits or who needs food stamps, who wants to be there. They dont want to be there. They would refer to be working, providing for the children, feeding their children. Mother whosemet a from were well fed and aa loss of confidence loss of dignity. Theyis all the motivation need to work as hard as they can to find a new job. That is what the 1. 3 million americans are fighting for, a job, an opportunity to work. Assistance is meant for them and their safety net. Politicians callously attack those receiving government assistance. They are not attacking the nameless and faceless. Kids, ourttacking our seniors, our veterans who have given so much. We need to do much better. It is not who we are as americans. Together and this we have to create the federal policy that reflects those core values. I know we will hear a lot of politicians finding new census of compassion and empathy over the weeks and months ahead. We see policies that tradeoff. If you look at the policies, they will got head start. You will see policies that were designed to cut medicaid. Is medicaid . It is access to health care that need it most. Of ais not the priority nation that fulfills the more obligation to those that need these are not the policies on a nation that do aredren of families that hungry or learning need a slogan. We should at least agree on this, lets do more than just find the right way to talk about it. Lets look at democrats and republicans for policies that focus on their core share values. Ive have traveled across my state of new york. Parents are working their hardest to get by. Reality is things seem to working against him. The fact is income inequality is at record levels. Affordability is slipping away. Seniors are working longer hours for less money. The real value of workers wages is on the decline. As a result families are having a tough time. The American Dream hasnt changed. Dream of getting an education, providing our families, and making sure we have money for retirement. The rules have changed. The world has changed and our economy has changed. Most importantly our American Family and the state of the American Workforce has changed significantly. That is where i see the greatest potential. An opportunity for those who are fighting to make it there. The new faces are now women. Women are increasingly the new family breadwinner. Women are the primary wage earners for a growing share across america. Families relied on their wages to provide for the kids. Is 40 , 40 of wage earners in america. Make those choices at the Kitchen Table and their kids. You would not know that looking at the policy today. They are fundamentally stuck in the past. If congress and state capitals across the country simply have failed to keep pace with the new economy and the modern American Workplace. To creating a growing economy and the key to an american middle class to thrive in the 21st century is women. Shot, women will be the ones who ignite this economy and lead america to a revival of middleclass. It is a set of five asic principles that will modernize the American Workplace and policies to give them a chance to earn their way and get ahead in the economy. Building our american middle keeping on earning a paycheck. For anyone who has had a new member orck family dying a Family Member who needs care around the clock, you know they need to make a choice for providing at their family or staying in the workplace or caring for your loved one at home. This is a choice that is happening every single day. More often than not it is the women who choose to leave the workforce and care for that Family Member. When they do they will earn less income. They will miss out on raises and promotions. It risks the stability of their own families. Democrats and republicans should be able to agree, americas strongest asset is our people. The family medical leave act basically provides for unpaid leave. Only about half of our workforce actually abides by unpaid leave. Many more cannot afford to take the time off. Should do muchd more to support these workers. We would create a self funded paid medical insurance program. Dime to theadd one deficit. Based on state models, it works on establishing an independent trust Fund Supported by both the employee and the employer. It is basically an earned benefit that will make a paid leave available to every working american, no matter how big your company is, whether you are part or fulltime. Copy the a cover cost is about a cup of coffee per week. With that decision perhaps affecting the fate of her entire career. Anyone of us need to care for an ill or dying Family Member in we should not have to sacrifice our job or do no reason why democrats and republicans cannot come together and supported again today. Give you a reallife example to show why this is something he should be able to support. For those who desperately want to reduce the roles of those on government assistance, this is a really great way to do it. Is ae an employee, she single mom working as a waitress. She was working 40 hours a week, anding 2. 19 per hour choose able to bring home 24,000 per year, a few thousand dollars above the poverty line. She had no Health Care Benefits by her employee when she got pregnant. She enrolled in medicaid. When she had her baby she knew she cannot afford the bill the hospital bill to deliver her baby. She had to quit her job. Because she was able to be beyond medicaid that was able to cover her expenses. Because her employer gave her no no paid leave,nd she wasnt able to have her time with her infant at home. Job, sheo quit her enrolled in food stamps. She was working for time working fulltime and basically on the edge of property. If she had paid family medical leave in that job she could have had the time she needed and would have had the time that protected her and her family. Things beyondk on simply raising the middle wage. Raising the minimum wage. Did you know that know that 64 of minimumwage earners are women. If you are working 40 hours per week on our minimum wage, you 15,000 per year. For you reward work and if you work hard every day you will make it to the middle class . That is not true. Working 40 hours per week on the minimum wage, you are earning 290 per week. Can you imagine what it would be like to live on 290 per week . I have an example for you. Her name is lucilla from union station. Day,as never had a sick never had indications day, she has no benefits. For 20 the same job years and still be earning a 75 per hour with no benefits ash earning 8. 75 per hour with no be earning and still 8. 75 per hour with no benefits. Hardworking people like her are not looking for a handout. They just want to work hard everyday and be able to provide for their family and have some hope, some glimmer that they too the americano see dream. She is one step closer to getting out of poverty and moving into the middle class. Raising the minimum wage would help. Many women with children, just like lucilla. Millions of mothers would be able to do more to support their families and put that money right back into the economy. Raising the minimum wage is good for business. Hourcreases at 10. 10 per by up to 33 billion over the course of three years. It increases spending on household goods, food, things family needs. Added activity we can create 140,000 new jobs. The next issue i feel passionate is understanding the need for affordable childcare. Women are going back to work sooner after having a child, creating a much greater demand for affordable childcare. Is aboutof childcare 6,700 per year, much more for an infant. Just about the same amount an average family spends on groceries. If you cannot afford child care and dont have a family option, the choice you are left with is to leave your job and get home and care for your children. Lets say the average between an infant and child is about 10,000 per year. How are you going to afford childcare . From zero to five, you have no options. There are no affordable options. Imagine what you do is a single mom. 17 million of those minimumwage earners are women. A lot of them are single mothers. What do you do . You look for informal care, you look for your mother, perhaps. Or a lady down the street or someone in your building. What happens if your informal caregiver is sick . You miss work. What happens if you miss work, you have no sick days. Wont be promoted. You lose out on economic potential and Economic Opportunities because there is no affordable day care option. Just as important, we need universal three universal prek. High quality Early Learning leads to strong cognitive language and development. Key skills that every child in america needs. Any childhood expert will say this fact. Windowst five years is a we have to give them those get those essential skills for success. For millions struggling, this is a chance they are never going to get. The black that you live on should not determine the success of the life you will have to that is why we need to make these investments today to bring affordable and quality childhood prek to everyone i