Talk for about implementing the buffet rule, and, you know, specifically that involves, and i noticed a lot of new York Congress members on the list, but a number are not. Talk about the people not on the list, have you reached out to them . Do you expect all new york members of congress to sign on to them . We started with app effort through the National Congressional caucus and a number of members, and some do not sign pledges. Theres a lot of folks in the congress who make a policy not to sign pledges, but who i reached out to the response was positive. Saw a number of them here today. I think what ewe saw, literally in a few weeks the first meeting was april 2, and were here less than six weeks later and theres been a tremendous response, and i think it indicates that a lot of people who work in this building are looking to join a coalition to make a change at the fundamental level of the politics. Here the problem, they heard from a lot of them they cant change the policies in the current political environment. We have to change the basic political debate. We got to put income inequality at the front of the line of the issues we discuss. This agenda helps to do that. Mayor, when are you going to meet with them . One of the plans here is raising the minimum wage to 15 an hour. Thats something youre looking to do in new york, but have not got the reception you wanted from albany running out of time on the clock there, and how do you intend to make this happen nationally if its having such a sticking point, i suppose, in new york. Point to the four red states that in 2014 the general election voted for increases, and extraordinary efforts for the fight demonstrations, 200 cities simultaneously, a lot happens on the ground. Im hopeful for change on the issue in albany. The people in new york state demand a higher wage. A lot of the gains over the past 50 years that labor is so proud of, came to the cost of stripes, work stoppages, hitting the bricks, but didnt hear talk of that today. In other words, there was no talk of okay, youre not going to give us this, were going to shut it down. Were going to really assert our power and close it up. And really hit you in the pocketbook pocketbook. There was no talk of that. I just wondering why. I appreciate that, henry. I think that the henry, its quite clear its a fact over the last hundred years. Right. What were talking about here is a coalition that changes national debate, and i think its very important to look at how intense the grassroots organizing efforts have been around these issues, again, the fight for 15 is not your garden variety organizing efforts. Its been extraordinary and vibrant and made an impact. Look what happened major corporations are proactively increasing wages. That did not happen by accident. Theres pressure on legislations to act even here in congress. Youre seeing Something Different than what you described, but an energy level is rising, Organization Level rising for progressive change. Obviously, you need more than democrats to get your agenda pass. Don von sworpn in today, have you talked to him . Congratulated him yesterday had a good talk, and look forward to working to the. Hes someone in the past experience, so i certainly can work with and hes looking out for the interest of stanten island, brooklyn, and new york city. We talked about the fact were going to need the help of Congress Members from both sides of the aisle to achieve the changes we need for the city, and he understands that. Attack on Elizabeth Warren is he wrong, they wrong, who is the progressive here . Bottom line on trade is i couldnt agree more with warren and progressives saying they are deeply concerned about this trade deal. We all live in the shadow of nafta. Simple as that. We saw a deal previously that was supposed to strengthen the economic hand of American Workers and undermine workers profoundly and those in the economic sector. Theres honest concern that this trade deal could do the same. We put aside real concerns about information and processing. The concerns of the deal, theres tremendous concern as this plank makes clear that the real empowerment is for not American Workers. I agree with Elizabeth Warren on that issue. I think we have a respectful disagreement on the issue. I think thats not unheard of in the democratic party. I think right now, what you see is more and more energy among progressives to not accept the status quo and to fundamentally change the political debate and the trade issues a good example of that. Why the criminal justice reforms you talked so much for years in new york city are not included as a part of the Progressive Agenda . Weve implemented changes on stop and frisk, marijuana arrests, and, obviously, what we do to reduce the jail population on reickers, bail reform, and a number of other measures, we are going back to the coalition tomorrow and add a couple of the pieces obviously, with the agreement of the coalition members, of those who thought they were important to include. Mass incarceration has a huge negative impact on the economic potential of young men of color in particular. It is exceedingly pertinent to the question of income ine equality and how to address it. Theres several more planks, including that one. Three people today were hit on the head with hammers in union square. What do you say to critics focusing more at home and leave this to experts who do this every day . Mayors of new york city for generations have had to speak up for our city here in washington, around the country and i remind people the greatest of the predecessors was one of the cofounders of the u. S. Kompbsz of the mayors did not exist, in the context and he realized mayors had to have a stronger voice in washington. He was one of the people who gave us the u. S. Conference of mayors. I dont know a mayor in new york city who has not spoke out nationally on issues core to cities all over the country. What i know is that a lot of the things my city needs happen right here and right now, the political environment here will not allow us to get the support we need and changes we need. We got to change the debate, change the political environment, the way you do that is by building a coalition of leaders and literally push the debate in the right direction. We have to i said earlier, we have to walk and chew gum at the same time. I have to achieve these kinds of changes while making sure my city is safe, ensuring we i want prove the schools and host of things we do every day. Commissioner bratton is doing a great job. The overall crime index shows crime going down thank god, but we have to achieve both. We cant have new york city and cities around the country abandon by the federal government. Last one. Yes, sir . Youre the one, yes. Okay. Are you concerned at all about the experience that the Great Britain went through with the labour party shifting to the left . Totally wiped out. This is a different dynamic. Obviously, i was entertained by mr. Foreman gingrichs analysis, and its a different reality for a host of reasons. First of all one of the major factors in that election was the growing desire in scotland to be independent. That shifted the context. Second of all, we have income inequality reality here thats grown literally from the day reagan took office in a very, very sharp manner. In an analysis this morning, i commend it to everyone here pointing out its not a new problem. This is 35 years of declining possibilities for american working people. This is now structural, unaddressed here in the capital. For years, so i think our situation is different and i think right now people all this country are shocked theres not a set of solutions on the table in washington to address income inequality, and these are ideas to win the day in the country. Yes, sir . You have two leaders of messages and policy in the senate and house on the democratic side. Chuck schumer, have you talked about the messages you said you failed to address income inequality . They are valued colleagues and we talk about a host of interesting things and we are see before our eyes, a change in our national politics. The fight for 15 movement is not like anything seen in 15 years. This pattern for minimum wage, decision by localities, to increase paid sick leave, something is happening different from a few years ago. I remind people politics are different than since the great depression, so this is a plan to address the america of today and thats why such a Cross Section of progressives are with it. Thank you, everyone. Several live events on cspan3 to tell you about. More than a handful of bills dealing with Data Security breaches are pending before congress. And the House Financial Services committee will hold a hearing on the issue live at 10 00 a. M. Eastern. Then in the afternoon at 2 30, a House Foreign Affairs hearing on the recent operations to rescue child sex slaves. And at 5 00 p. M. Eastern, well have live coverage of president obama after a camp david meeting with gulf cooperation counsel countries including bahrain, kuwait and qatar, saudi arabia, and the united arab emerates. Capital hill lawmakers held a meeting to assess potential risks and rewards of renewing a cooperation deal with china. The agreement would permit china to buy more u. S. Designed nuclear we actors and other technology to reprocess plutonium from spent fuel. The current 30year china deal expires at the of this yearmentyear ment ment. Heres the Senate Foreign relations committee. Its an hour and 40 minutes. Well come to order. We have a vote at 2 45. Well try to get through opening comments, your comments, and then come back and begin the questioning. Today, we began the exercise of statutory responsibility responsibility congress requested to review agreements between the United States and foreign nations related to cooperation on civil, nuclear programs. We must examine the Political Economic and security aspects of this agreement weighing the risk and benefits, and in doing so we have to dig beneath the surface of the agreement to expose and thoroughly examine issues that cause concern and engaging such an agreement. We also should consider how this agreement could potentially impact u. S. Strategic interest in asia pacific. The agreement before us represents a continuation of a relationship that originally began in 19 85 with a congressional approval of the agreement when the United States and the peoples republic of china concerning peaceful uses of Nuclear Energy, and that expires on december 30th 2015 with a new agreement, Civil Nuclear cooperation. Without it, a this Civil Nuclear cooperation we have will cease. At the time of the submission of the 19 85 agreement, china was engaged in activities that caused significant concerns related to proliferation lack of safe gafrds, lack of export controlsing and congress and the agreement lacked key ainsurances to alleviate those concerns. In pass inging a joint revolution expressing approval of the agreement, congress require the several certifications to address its concerns prior to the issue of any export licenses pursuant to the agreement. The challenges in the relationship with china and actions relevant to the required certifications were such that certifications could not and were not made by the administration until 1998, 13 years after the agreement originally entered force. Some of those concerns still exist. Maybe to a lesser degree, but they still exist. The agreement before us now continues Civil Nuclear cooperation for another 30 years. Im glad that the administration chose to hear concerns raised by this Committee Last year about Civil Nuclear agreements that extended in perpetuity including this agreement after 30 years, thank you for that. It is right that agreements of this consequence should be periodically reviewed by congress to ensure they continue to be in the national interest. Notably and not present in the current agreement, the u. S. Vooits advanced concept to supply uranium up to 20 and to reprogress u. S. Obligated material. Im sure im not alone in questioning this change of relationship. I hope that the administration can adequately explain why its in the u. S. Interest activity using u. S. Supplied or obligated material. This transmission letter to Congress States this agreement is based on mutual commitment to Nuclear Nonproliferation. I have some misgivings. The commitment may not be so mutual. It will be incumbent upon the administration to expeendly relay concerns raised by the members. This assessment statement also nope as impasse requires to be submitted to congress with the agreement identifies several issues of concern. According to impasse, chinas strategy for strength p its military involves the acquisition of Foreign Technology as well as greater civil integration, and both elements have potential to decrease developmental costs to accelerate military modernization. This strategy requires close scrutiny of all end users of u. S. Technology under the proposed agreement. Further, impasse says chinas provision to pakistan of reactors beyond one and two is inconsistent with commitments when they joined the Suppliers Group in 2004. Finally, according to impasse, china updated its regulations and improved actions in some areas, but proliferation involved chinese entities remains of concern. State owned enterprises and individuals have been sanctioned by the u. S. On several occasions for transferring proliferation sensitive dual use materials and technologies. Congress should also consider chinas record as it relates to missile proliferation. The 20 1 director of National Intelligence worldwide threat assessment said nuclear excuse me, north korea and entities in russia and china continue to sell technologies and components in the middle east and south asia that are dual use and could support weapons of mass destruction and missile programs. The 2014 state Department Compliance report staid in 2013 chinese entities continue to supply missile programs to countries of concern. The United States notes that china made a public commitment in november 2000 not to assist in any way, any country in the development of Ballistic Missiles that can be used to deliver Nuclear Weapons. Concerns persist about chinese willingness and ability to protect illicit transfers. Id like the administration to specifically address why congress should feel congressy allows illicit transfers to go forward. The realized benefits from the current agreement, economic agreements include an 8 billion sale to reactors to westinghouse in 2007, still under construction today. We also gaining valuable insight from Lessons Learned in the construction of the ap 1,000 reactors that will cause domestic construction to be more efficient, timely, and cost less. Chinas developed and articulated stronger nonproliferation policies and export control regulations. Its up to congress to determine if the concerns about the agreement are outweighed by the benefits. If so we should approve the agreement without delay. If not, for the concerns are mitigated, we have to work diligently to find grounds on which we can support the agreement. If the concerns cannot be alleviated, we have to disapprove the agreement. All of this is to say we have a difficult task ahead of us but one i know we can approach seriously and were the best political and Economic Security interest of the United States in mine. I thank our witnesses for joining us today to begin the examination and look forward to working with them and their colleagues in the weeks ahead. Again, thank you for being here. Mr. Chairman, let me thank you for conducting this hearing. Its a very important hearing on the relationship between the United States and china as one of our most difficult Foreign Policy challenges. This week, were holding two hearings, one on the territorial disputes in the east china seas looking forward to that hearing a very important hearing, and today focuses on the relation with the recently signed u. S. China civilian Nuclear Cooperation agreement. Current agreement, as you pointed out is set to expire on december 30th of this year, and it was sign pd 30 years ago by president reagan. Interesting to point out that the implementation of that agreement had to wait for 13 years because of the senate conditions on chinas proliferation activities, and then because of the aftermath of the massacre. Up front, i am supportive of the development of Nuclear Power, a smart and e. Ive way of the United States to achieve independence and reduce Carbon Emissions. U. S. Nuclear cooperation agreements with other countries provide the United States a number of important benefits. First and foremost, one, two, three agreement can help achieve nonproliferation objectivings waus because we stand to uphold the agreements and Nuclear Material is never misused for military purposes. Thats an issue i expect our committee would want to explore. Second agreements are critical for maintaining a robust nuclear industry. The Enormous Growth for Power Generation represents a major opportunity for u. S. Business and one they have al