Transcripts For CSPAN2 Public Affairs Events 20161207 : vima

Service to every city deserves. My honorable friend, as always, speaking on behalf of his constituents. We know it is a place you want to be able to visit frequently and easily. The government is investing record amounts to improving our railways in regard to a particular case to transport ministers working with crosscountry to see how the Gloucester Service can be improved. Order. [inaudible conversations] cspan2 we leave the british house of commons as members move on to other business. You have been watching prime ministers question time aired live on wednesdays at 7 00 a. M. Eastern when parliament is in session. Quick reminder you can see this weekend session sunday night at 9 00 eastern and pacific on cspan. For more information go to cspan. Org and click on series to view every program we have aired from the british house of commons since october 1989. We would like your comments about prime ministers questions via twitter in the hashtag pmq. All day saturday American History tv on cspan3 featuring programs about the 75th anniversary of the japanese attacks on pearl harbor beginning at 8 am Eastern National archives Christopher Carter reads from u. S. Navy deadlines describing eventss on ships that were under attack in pearl harbor followed by the pearl harbor casualty barrier of john lindley at Arlington National cemetery, one of the 429 casualties on the uss oklahoma, his remains were recently identified 75 years after the attack. Tour pearl harbor attack sites and memorials on the island of oahu with National Park service site historian daniel martinez. At 9 30 president Franklin Roosevelts december 8, 1941, speech to Congress Asking for a declaration of war followed by the pearl harbor 75th Anniversary Ceremony at pearl harbor cohosted by the National Park service and the u. S. Navy and we are taking your calls and sweets live. The author of pacific crucible, war at sea in the pacific 19411942 discussing the pacific war from the attack on pearl harbor through the us victory over the japanese at the battle of midway. At noon eastern we are live with paul travers, otter of eyewitness to infamy, oral history of pearl harbor december 7, 1941. Giving a behind the scenes account of the japanese attack, 200 interviews with pearl harbor veterans. At 1 00 the pearl harbor 75th Anniversary Ceremony from the National World war ii memorial in washington dc with keynote remarks by arizona senator john mccain. Saturday on American History tv on cspan3. Yesterday the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on iran and their connections with terrorist groups in the middle east. Former defense and intelligence officials testified about that countrys network of paramilitary groups. Yesterday irans president speaking at the university of tehran said the government would not let donald trump destroyed a treaty on Nuclear Weapons that was reached with western powers. This hearing is two hours and begins with legislative business and a resolution honoring retiring member barbara boxer. [inaudible conversations] the Foreign Relations committee will come to order. We dont have a quorum yet but we will go ahead and make the front end out of the way so we can move quickly through it but i want to thank everybody for being here. On the agenda for today we have ten pieces of legislation, one treaty, one nomination is multiple Foreign Service officer lists. First we will consider six Foreign Service officer lists of over 400 personnel referred to the committee. These appointments and promotions, thank all these officers for their service and consider the nomination of miss lockedear, former Us Ambassador to malaysia and thank my colleagues for helping the committee take the steps forward on current nominations today and consider resolution of ratification that supports the ascension of montenegro to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and thank our chairman, ron johnson, for having a great hearing on that when we had so many challenging things occurring at the time and allowing us to move ahead. Thank you very much. Onto negra has supplemented tough reforms to address corruption and other rule of law standards. More work by the montenegrin government will be necessary and we should encourage in establishing standards, this Committee Review the protocol i believe the ascension of montenegro to full nato membership is in the interest of the United States. And we consider divided korean american families, would like to thank senator kirk, congressman wrangell and chairman voice for being choice for korean american families, i support this resolution. Next on the agenda, expressing concern over disappearance of david and aiden. I would like to thank senator lee for his leadership in this matter and pleased to support this resolution. I express my sympathy to the native family and the ongoing uncertainty about their son david. Confident the United States government will continue to investigate. Any information that may come to light regarding davids disappointment disappearance or any americans is missing abroad. We consider honoring the life of the king of thailand and thank senator hatch to sing this timely bipartisan solution. On the agenda today 535 expressing consent of the senate regarding trafficking in the United States, mexico and china and a prescription, opioid and hair one overdose claiming thousands of lives each year, i think senators markey and rubio for their leadership on this issue. Expressing profound concern about the ongoing political and economic, social and humanitarian crisis in venezuela urging the release of Political Prisoners and calling for respect of constitutional and democratic processes. I think senator rubio, menendez, kaine, and boxer for bringing this situation before the committee, the situation is tragic and people are suffering, and find a peaceful, electoral way out of this crisis and consider providing the approval and agreement for cooperation between the government of the United States and the government of norway concerning peaceful uses of nuclear energy. This will cause the Nuclear Cooperation agreement with norway to come into effect in advance of the completion of the 90 day congressional review period which occurs after we have adjourned on december 16th. Absent this affirmative approval the administration will complete trilateral Servicing Agreement with norway, not subject to congressional review or oversight. This committee has reviewed the agreement, held briefings and a hearing and found the agreement not to be objectionable though we wish the administration as senator markey will echo and the transfer of storage and reprocessing of spent fuel. We will also consider hr 3949, us caribbean Strategic Engagement of 2016. I want to thank representatives i want to thank cardin for joining us to Seek Partnership in the United States. Hr 44, education for all act of 2016 is on the agenda. This restores our committee and its role in providing authorities and direction for usaid without such guidance from the committee, hope for over a decade. This bill authorizes programs to help countries provide basic education, lack of which is significant barrier to Economic Growth which we will also consider hr 2849, the growth enhancement act of 2015, has been an important part of our engagement with africa. This bill asks the president to direct more resources toward helping businesses trade with the United States. The Millennium Challenge Corporation mcc amendment represents the bill the Committee Approved at our june 23rd markup. I want to commend senators cardin, isaacson, tunes and brass over his constructive input on how to improve mcc oversight. This includes the recommendations need to take a breath here. We will consider hr 1150, International Religious freedom act. I think senator cardin for working with us to bring it before the committee, this bill as amended reinforces the 1998 law to strengthen the role of ambassador at large for International Religious freedom and enhances congressional oversight of the state department. This legislation enjoys broad interfaith support and seeking to have this bill passed in the senate by unanimous consent so amended legislation may be taken up and approved by the house this week. Lastly, this is not only agenda, we have a resolution i would like to present to senator boxer. This is going to be her last business meeting and we appreciate all you have done in the United States senate. Serving the senate since 1993 senator boxer has been the longestserving women in the history of this committee on Foreign Relations with 18 years of service. I want to thank her for patriotism and commitment to this institution in the country. When i asked the senate and was elected 10 years ago senator boxer was well known in tennessee but i want to say it has been a privilege for me not to know you as a wellknown senator but to know you well. It has been a blessing, we wish you well. [applause] [applause] mister chairman. If i might say a word and perhaps yield to senator boxer and say a few more things about the days agenda and our committee, one of the great pleasures of my life serving in the United States senate, the friends that i made. I knew senator boxer when she was congresswoman boxer and i knew her incredible talent that we became buddies in the United States senate. People of california have been blessed to have an incredible advocate on their behalf on so many issues but the nation has in blessed in the Global Community has been blessed, so many things we can talk about on Environmental Issues but on this committee what you have done, women and girls around the world is incredible. In afghanistan you have made a huge difference in the lives of so many Young Children and how much we appreciate what you have done. We are very proud, congratulations for an incredible career. I want to say this is an honor to have this resolution that we dont agree on anything. No one said i signed in protest. That was good. Each of you as i look at you we worked so well together. Sometimes, once in a while, not that often but i can truly say every member of this committee i worked with on issues we all care about, jim on the Ethics Committee being dedicated to our work and dozens matter when you are in their what party you are in and a lot of my love for this Committee Comes from the same point. These two gentlemen, the chairman and the Ranking Member working hand in glove constantly in an age when it is not expected and we are so thrilled to see Dirksen Senate Office Building 7 versus politics stops at the waters edge is right. This committee has to be nonpartisan because nothing less is at stake than the security of every man, woman and child we fight for every day. I will close with this. It is hard to talk fast but i will close with this. I have seen john kerry, richard lugar, i could go through the list, joe biden, i could go through the list, wonderful people, friends all. And when i got the ability to move forward on the first ever subcommittee that dealt with womens issues all over the globe it was a wonderful moment because everyone said you are right, we need to do this which i have spoken as if only a woman would carry these issues but it is reminder to everyone that we see the world through a slightly different lens. That is the beauty of diversity and will pick up a lot of particular issues and the rest of you will as well on other subjects but it has been a joy. I am going to close with this. I am. I am loathe to say this but it is perfect. I was disappointed we didnt pass a piece of legislation i wanted you to pass today. That is a joke. It is true. We didnt. But i know we are going to get it done after i leave. If i didnt say that it wouldnt be barbara boxer. I cant let you get away with everything today. Find memories made me a better person, god bless each and every one of you in the days and years ahead in keeping our country strong and safe, thank you. [applause] if i might, later this week the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will celebrate its 200th anniversary when the first Standing Committees were approved by the United States senate on december 10th and this committee has had a very proud history. I know i speak for all members on the democratic side and i think i also speak for the republican side to congratulate our chairman, bob corker on an incredible leadership of this committee, this has been a very difficult time. Your leadership has shown strength that we wanted in our chairman, fairness to it include all members of the committee and in the work of this committee you have been able to get the type of unity that we needed to preserve the appropriate role for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and you made it an honor to serve on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee so i want to congratulate you. [applause] we have a long agenda and i very much appreciate what is included on this agenda. It might be easier, i was going to go through all the items on the list and they are important items, i want to comment on what we have done. Perhaps the best way, i will comment as we get to this legislation. First order of business on todays agenda will be 6 Foreign Service, do you have any comment to support all of them . Anyone else like to speak to the list . There is no further discussion on these lists. I will entertain motion to approve these lists and is there a second . Moved and seconded, question on the motion approved, and on lock, all those in favor say aye. Opposed . With that the eyes have it. The promotions are agreed to. Next i would like to ask the committee to proceed to voice vote on consideration on miss, blackbeard to be ambassador to malaysia. Strongly support the nomination. I wanted to acknowledge the distinguished ambassador who is present in our committee room. Thank him for his availability. To our committee. It was clear this small country has made significant contributions to the Alliance Efforts around the world and make the necessary internal reforms to address governance, rule of all and corruption. This progress appears all the more remarkable for the fact montenegrin is the subject of a wave of antinato and antiwestern propaganda emanating from russia. I congratulate the men and which the country has responded and i am very happy that were making it clear that russia does not have a veto over the decisions of nato allies and i strongly urge my colleagues to support the session. Any other member wish to speak . Am going to go back and forth if thats okay. Not to repeat, want to thank the chairman and Ranking Member of so for support of this resolution. My cunego has made Great Strides trying to drive out corruption. Went to great hearing and i want to urge my colleagues to support the resolution. I would echo whats been said but i would also ask that we encourage leadership to bring this to the floor before we go into recess in this session of congress. I think the best message we could send to rush as they are looking at their future plans in europe is the message that we want montenegro to join nato and to be part of the european bloc that protects all of europe. Anyone else . Thank you both for your leadership on this issue. It is now for the discussion on this i would entertain a motion to approve this by voice vote. Is there a second . I thank you so much. The question is on a motion to approve the treaty. All those in favor . Opposed . The ayes have it. Next we will consider 537, senator cardin come any comments . I want to thank you for your help in getting this resolution before us today. Bits of resolution i worked with with senator rubio, mendez, boxer and other members of this committee and its heart wrenching narrative emerges from venezuela in which economic unraveling the lack of food and medicine, the deterioration of the rule of law and rising corruption have great an unstable situation where citizens face hardship and clyde were speaking as a body on this issue. Recognizing venezuela is in crisis and Needs International understanding. Any others . I just want to echo that. Thank senator menendez for his work on this issue in general. I want to point out whats happened in vene