Happening in washington and watching the dysfunction in this nation, i think that the major motivation for running for office had to be more out of frustration than anything else. Theties parity, the inconsistency in pl policies, decisions being made that lack i think, the Public Interest and are being made more so as a result of political decisions. Unfortunately, what im going to talk about tonight i dont think will be the only subject i come back and talk about over the next several months. It seems that often times the federal governments decisions, policies regulations seem to lack any type of connectivity to whats actually happening on the ground. Decisions being made in a vacuum. Decisions lacking, i think, the true expertise and what im going to talk about tonight is an example of that. This picture right here is a picture, or the result of bad federal policy. Now, the administration would lead you to believe that this picture is whats going to happen by building the Keystone Pipeline. This is oil, mr. Speaker. This is oil in all of these bags that was recently picked up. But the administration would make you think that this is whats going to result from constructing, from building the Keystone Pipeline. The irony is that these bags dont have anything to do with the Keystone Pipeline. This was actually oil picked up just in the last few months from an oil spill that happened in the gulf of mexico, the Deepwater Horizon Oil spill, five years ago. Five years ago mr. Speaker. This administration has been asked over and over and over again by the state of louisiana and the coastal parishes in our state to force the responsible parties to come clean up the oil. Its not happening. It hasnt happened. Theyre not being held accountable. Its unbelievable to me that we have an administration talking about the Keystone Pipeline because they concerned about environmental consequences but at the same time allowing this to continue for five years. Its hypocrisy its absurd and its not in the Public Interest mr. Speaker. The only reason that the white house, the only reason the state department is involved in any Decision Making whatsoever in the Keystone Pipeline is a result of the fact that the pipeline actually crosses the barter between border between canada and the United States. Thats the one thing that introducing the federal government into this decision. For the most part pipelines can be permitted and built by states work state approval. They dont need interaction or approval from the federal government. Now by not building the Keystone Pipeline, or not approving it, many folks in the administration would lead you to believe that that is going to benefit the environment. That it will result in less oil consumption. That it will result in less Greenhouse Gases being released into the environment, into the atmosphere. And the reality is that thats not accurate at all. The reality is that first of all, if you dont build the Keystone Pipeline, you are still going to trps that oil. The canadians will still be producing that oil. But whats going to happen is theyll use other modes of transportation. Theyll use barges, or rail. I think its note worthy to look at the statistics to look at the historic performance of these other modes of transportation, which clearly indicates that transporting by pipeline is actually the safest means the safest mode of transportation to get this product into the United States. Its safest in regard to different incidences. Its safest in regard to spills. Impacts on individuals, on communities. On the economy. On the environment. The safest way to transport is doing it by pipeline. You know, i mentioned that the oil will still be transported and heres an example of what happens when you transport through other modes. When you dont transport by pipeline. This is an example of what happens. As a result, youve had Additional Oil being transported by rail lines and look at the extraordinary spike look at the extraordinary spike and the spills and the impacts to the environment as a result of transitioning to that mode of transportation. Mr. Speaker, we have all seen in the news the various accidents that have happened. All over the nation. As a result of this flawed policy of refusing to allow for this pipeline to proceed. The state of louisiana is a logistics its an intermodal hub. We have five of the top 15 ports in the United States. We have enough pipelines in our offshore region that would go around the equator if you put them end on end. We have an extraordinary network of pipelines demonstrated right here. You can see the high concentration of our state and in the adjacent state of texas and in all 48 states in this graphic here. Very, very clearly. Ill say it again, the only reason the administration is involved in the Keystone Pipeline decision is because that pipeline crosses the u. S. Canadian border. It is the seoul reason. All these pipe it is the sole reason. All these Pipeline Networks here probably did not include federal approval in regard to crossing over international borders. So take a look at this, mr. Speaker. Take a look. As i recall 1. 5 million miles of pipelines across the country. The reality is that major components of the Keystone Pipeline are actually already built or can be built without the approval of the federal government. That one foot section crossing over our Canadian Border in the north is the only reason, again, that the administration is involved in this. The fact remains number one, by building the Keystone Pipeline, were not going to it will not result in additional groan house gases being released. The canadians will continue to produce the oil. The oil will be set through other modes of transportation in the United States or it will be sent to other countries, which i remind you, mechanic, the Clean Air Act regimes in these other nations new york most cases is not as stringent or as strict as it is in the United States. So resulting in a net increase in the Greenhouse Gases that this administration is so concerned about. Ill say again, by not approving this pipeline, you are going to force the oil onto barges, onto trucks, onto rails or other less safe means of transportation. I certainly have nothing against those other modes of transportation. Theyre all critically important. But to see this administration hide behind the oil spill or the suggested oil spill impacts of the pipeline is simply absurd. Facts prove otherwise. And as you see here, this pipeline can be built, the majority of this pipeline by far can be built without the federal governments approval. Its simply nonsensical. Its nonsensical to watch this administration hide behind false excuses to drag this decision out for years whenever its contrary to our economy. Whats going to happen if we dont build this pipeline . In addition to using other means of transportation, wohl be importing oil, not from the north American Continent but from other countries like venezuela, like nigeria and middle eastern nations that make up the top 10 nations that export oil to the United States. In many cases mr. Speaker, ill say again venezuela, countries that dont share american value, yet were exporting hundreds of billions of dollars and thousands and thousands of jobs to other country. Who is running this place . Mr. Speaker, the house of representatives and the u. S. Senate passed a bipartisan bill that was going to allow for the pipeline to be approved, for taos put this behind us and move toward other things, toward higher priority things that actually should have the attention of the United States congress and the white house. As opposed to these things that should have decisions that should have been made years ago and we should have passed on from them. But as a result of these ridiculous decisions, all these tortured reports, all the involvement of various agencies including the e. P. A. , state department and other agencies, were continuing to go through this long process, dragging this out, resulting again, lets safe means of transportation whether its coming in through ships from other countries, across the atlantic ocean, its or its coming in rail line, its coming in tugs and barges on our waterways its being transported to the United States. Through less safe means of transportation. So mr. Speaker i just want to say, i just want to say in closing that this is what happens when you have bad federal policy. When youre making bad federal decisions. This is what happens. It results in oil, thousands of pounds of oil on miles and miles of shoreline, tens of miles of shoreline still oiled in our home state of louisiana as a result of bad federal policy. And were watching a similar bad federal policy unroll right now as the administration continues to invent impediments to what makes sense, to what statistically makes the most sense by approving a pipeline and getting out of the way and obstructing our economic development, jobs for americans and north American Energy independence. Mr. Speaker i want to thank you very much and i yield back my time. Pursuant to clause 12a of rule 1, the house stands in recess subject to the the speaker without objection. The speaker will the members of the new york delegation present themselves in the well of the house. And will all members rise. And will the representativeelect raise his right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies and bear true faith and alegionages to the same and you take this obligation freely without any mental reservation and you will well and discharge the duties about which you are about to defend. Congratulations. You are now a member of the 114th congress. Without objection, the gentleman from new york, mr. Rangel is recognized for one minute. Mr. Rangel my dear friends, the good people of the Staten Island and brooklyn state of new york has sent to us to represent the 22nd seat of the empire state of new york, the open door for immigrants that have come here historically from all over the world, we welcome him on behalf of this delegation as well as the good democrat and republican members of this house of representatives. I welcome him to the house look forward to the great contribution we hill he will make to our city, our state, the congress and our great country. Id like to introduce also a good democratic of good democratic stock if the great state of new york, peter king, who will join with me in welcoming our friend from richmond county. Peter king. Mr. King thank you, charlie. Thank you, congressman rangel. It is my privilege to introduce a man who has been a friend for many years hes been a career prosecutor, 12 years he was District Attorney in Staten Island, he was overwhelmingly elected a true public servant, universally respected, it is my privilege to introduce the congressman from brooklyn and Staten Island, the honorable dan donovan. Mr. Donovan thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you so very much. Thank you. Mr. Speaker thank you so very much. I am honored to join you and im humbled by the confidence that the people of the 11th Congressional District have placed in me. I want to thank all of my volunteers, all my supporters for helping me get here. I want to thank my family for everything they have done for me and i promise to make all of them proud through my representation of them down here as a member of the greatest legislative body in the world. Thank you so very much. President obama spoke about poverty today. The New York Times expressed skepticism that would happen but says conservatives care about the poor even if they do not put that into practice. He appeared at a roundtable discussion with robert putnam. Part of Georgetown Universitys catholic evangelical summit. We will show you the discussion next. That is followed by the panel of mayors talking about their cities approaches to preventing Youth Violence. Now to Georgetown University for the president. This is one hour and 15 minutes. [applause] it is an honor to be here with my two residents president s. My friend david brooks curled the most vicious insult at me when he said i was the only person he ever met whose eyes lit up at the words held discussion. Poverty is a subject we talk about when events such as those in baltimore grab our attention. And then we bury it. We say it is not a lyrically shrewd. I salute georgetown. All the others who are gathered here for the summit. From all religious traditions all over the country. Our friend once said, if you cut everything jesus said about the poor out of the gospel, you have a book full of holes. These are people who understand what the scriptures said. Two organizing points. The first is, when it is time to go, please keep your seats so the president can be escorted out. The other is we agreed we should direct more attention to president obama than other members of the panel. I say that in advance so you know this was our call and not some exercise in executive power. This was our decision to do this. We hope this will be a backandforth kind of discussion. Feel free to interrupt the president if you feel like it. My first question, mr. President. The obvious. A friend of mine said, when do president s do panels . What came to mind was the late admiral stockdale. Who am i come a why am i here . This is an unusual venue for a president to put himself in. Where do you hope the discussion will lead beyond today . And i was struck with something you said last week. Politicians talk about poverty and then gotut policies that you alleviate policy. President obama i want to thank the groups who are hosting this. And this terrific panel. I think that we are at a moment in part because of what has happened in baltimore and ferguson and other places. In part because of a growing awareness of inequality in our society. Where it may be possible not only to refocus attention but also to bridge some of the gaps. The ideological divides that have prevented us from making progress. There are a lot of folks here who i have worked with. They disagree with me on some issues. But they have great sincerity when it comes to wanting to deal with helping the least of these. And so this is a wonderful occasion for us to join together. Part of the reason i thought this venue would be useful, and i wanted to have a dialogue with bob and arthur, is that we have been stuck, i think for a long time, in a debate that creates a couple of straw men. The stereotype is that those on the left that want to pour more money into social programs and dont care anything about culture or parenting or Family Structures, and thats one stereotype. And then you have coldhearted free market capitalist types who are you know, think everybody is moochers, and thats and i think the truth is more complicated. And i think there are those on the conservative spectrum who deeply care about the least of these. Deeply care about the poor. Exhibit that through their churches, through community groups, through philanthropic efforts, but are suspicious of what government can do. And then there are those on the left who i think are in the trenches every day and see how important parenting is and how important Family Structures are and the connective tissue that holds communities together and recognize that contributes to poverty, when those structures fray, but also believe that government and resources can make a difference in creating an environment in which young people can succeed despite great odds. And it seems to me that if coming out of this conversation, we can have a both and conversation, rather than either or conversation, then well be making some progress. And the last point i guess i want to make is i also want to emphasize, we can do something about these issues. I think its a mistake for us to suggest somehow every effort we make has failed and we are powerless to address poverty. Thats just not true. First of all, just in absolute terms. The poverty rate when you take into account tax and transfer programs has been reduced 40 since 1967. Now, that does not lessen our concern about communities where poverty remains chronic. It does suggest, though, that we have been able to lessen poverty when we decide we want to do something about it. In every lowincome Community Around the country, there are programs that work to provide ladders of opportunity to young people. We just havent figured out how to scale them up. So one of the things im always concerned about is cynicism. My chief of staff, we take walks around the south lawn, usually when the weather is good. And a lot of it is policy talk. Sometimes its just talk about values. And one of our favorite sayings is our job is to guard against cynicism cynicism, particularly in this town. And i think its important for us to guard against cynicism and not buy the idea that the poor will always be with us and theres nothing we can do, because theres a lot we can do. The question is, do we have the political will, the communal will to do something about it. Thank you, mr. President. I feel as a journalist, maybe im the one representative of cynicism up here. So ill try to do my job. I want to go through the panel and come back to you, mr. President. I want to invite bob, and im going to encourage us to reach for solutions. Before we get there, i think its important to say in your