Transcripts For CSPAN Key Capitol Hill Hearings 20240622

Kosecki, jezz will conference washington, d. C. , the Nations Capital. The chaplain let us pray. In the book of proverbs chapter 10, we are taught, he who gathers in summer is a sun who acts wisely this wise pursuit to the wisdom of solomon has built our nation. Of this season, the africanamerican poet from dayton ohio, Paul Lawrence dunbar writes, oh summer has clothed the earth in a cloak from the loom of the sun. And a mantle, too, of the skys soft blue and the belt where the river run. Oh ye who toil in town and ye who moil in the mart, hear the artless song and your faith made strong shall renew your joy of heart. The fruits of the earth from the bounty of our land are all your gift and we praise you this day o god, for all who labor for our sustenance and those who govern our nation. Amen. The speaker pro tempore the chair has examined the journal of the last days proceedings and announces to the house his approval thereof. Pursuant to clause 1 of rule 1, the journal stands approved. I will now lead our pledge to the United States of america. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under god indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The chair lays before the house a point of communication. The clerk the honorable the speaker house of representatives sir. Pursuant to the permission granted in clause h of rule 2 of the rules of the u. S. House of representatives, the clerk received the following message from the secretary of the senate on july 17, 2015, at 1 46 p. M. That the Senate Passed senate 192. That the Senate Passed senate 139. With best wishes, i am, signed sincerely, karen l. Haase. Haas. The speaker pro tempore without objection the house is back at noon for speeches and let us lead of business at 2 00 right here on cspan. Lets get back to the state department, still waiting for secretary kerry and the Cuban Foreign minister to come out. They were scheduled to get started about 1 45, we expect the momentarily. It looks like everyone in their seats, live coverage here on cspan and of course, any of the cuban coverage we have come at you can always find on cspan. Org. Apparently, just a couple of minutes away from secretary of state john kerry and the Cuban Foreign minister, Bruno Eduardo Rodriguez parilla coming before the the state department. Their joint News Conference marking the day that formal diplomatic relations are reestablished with the flag raising at the Cuban Embassy and you may have seen the video we had of that, of the flag being placed among the other flags at the hole in the state department, the hall of nations where all the countries with which the u. S. Has diplomatic relations are represented by a flag. The flag of cuba in place there in the u. S. State department overnight it now takes its place alongside the other flags. We expect this to get underway momentarily and we will bring you live coverage of the entire event here on cspan. As we wait for secretary kerry in the Cuban Foreign minister, lets show you real quick what it looked like outside the Cuban Embassy on 16th street in northwest washington dc this morning about 10 30 this morning, a lot of folks gathered in the cuban flag was raised in front of their embassy. [cheers] [applause] [indiscernible] [chanting in spanish] [cheers] [applause] [singing in spanish] [cheers] [chanting in spanish] secretary kerry in the Cuban Foreign minister running about a halfhour later this point. Which is not necessarily unusual as state Department Events go. We are planning on live coverage, we will stay right here the state department waiting for Bruno Eduardo Rodriguez parilla and secretary john kerry doubledigit to hold a joint News Conference. As we wait for the Cuban Foreign minister this afternoon less show you as much as we can of what we had to say this morning after the raising of the cuban flag at the Cuban Embassy. [applause] mr. Parilla [speaking in spanish] her excellency, mrs. Roberta jamieson, assistant secretary of a, officials of the u. S. Government the company her. Honorable members of congress, esteemed members of the u. S. Movement and institutions who have made huge efforts in favor of the change in the u. S. Cuba policy, and the improvement of bilateral relations. Esteemed representatives of the organizations and movements of the community and immigration. Conference of the cuban delegation. Officials and workers of the human embassy. Esteemed friends. Mr. Parilla [speaking in spanish] translator the flag and we were very the engines of this room is the same that we have had been kept in florida under the company of a family of liberators, and has kept ever since then in the eastern city and is stored premonition that this day would certainly come, flying once again in this place is the flag that speaks of sacrifices made for more than 100 years by people for their National Independence and full determination. Facing the most fierce challenges and risk. Today we pay homage to all those who died, and who renew the commitment of the present generation, who served with honor. Mr. Parilla [speaking in spanish] [applause] [speaking in spanish] translator we invoke the memory of him who was fully devoted to the struggle of cuba and is able to give us knowledge of the United States. In his work, he made a vivid description of a great nation to the north and extolled its virtues. He also bequeathed to us the warning against its extended craving for domination confirmed by a long history of his agreements. We have been able to make it to this day through the leader of the cuban revolution, who we revere with all loyalty. In april of 1959, with the purpose of promoting clear unilateral negotiations. Purposes that brought him to this country are the same that have been pursued throughout these decades and coincide exactly with the ones we pursue today. Many in this room, politicians, journalists, upstanding personalities in the field of art or science, the students that are American Social activists have been able to treasure unlimited hours of enriching talks with the commanders with a better understanding of the recent goals and decisions. Mr. Parilla [speaking in spanish] Bruno Eduardo Rodriguez parilla this translator this has been made possible through the Historic Works of our people and the strength of a cuban nation and its culture. Several generations of the revolutionary equality have conversed in this effort and offer their martyrs. The example in fiber and speech of the chancellor of dignity have continued to inspire Cuban Foreign policy and we remain forever in the memory of the Younger Generation and future diplomats. Mr. Parilla [speaking in spanish] translator i bring greetings from president fidel castro as a notion to move forward. Given the difference is that extend between both govern governments, which makes it possible to solve bilateral problems and for those corporations in the development mutually beneficial Relations Just as both peoples desire and deserve. We know this would contribute to peace, development, equity, and stability in the continent. The and limitation of the purposes and principles enshrined in the u. N. Charter and the proclamation of latin america and the caribbean, which was signed at the second summit of the community of latin american and caribbean estates held in havana. Mr. Parilla [speaking in spanish] translator today, the reestablishment of diplomatic relations and the opening of embassies complete the first stage of the bilateral compromise and pave the way for the long process of bilateral negotiations. There never been normal relations between the United States and cuba, in spite of the 1. 5 century link that has existed between both people. Mr. Parilla [speaking in spanish] translator the amendment in 1902 under a military Occupation Forces the liberation experts efforts of quite a few american citizens [indiscernible] in 1959, the United States refuse to accept the existence of a fully independent small and neighboring island, and a few years later, a socialist revolution that was forsters forced to defend itself. Mr. Parilla [speaking in spanish] translator i have referred to history to reaffirm that today an opportunity has opened up to begin working in order to establish new bilateral relations quite different from what has been in the past. The cuban government is fully committed to that. The economic, commercial and financial blockade which has caused so much suffering to our people, the return of the occupied territory of guantanamo and sovereignty will land will lend some meaning to the historic event we are witnessing today. Every step forward will see the favorable acceptance of our people in government and the approval of latin america and the caribbean and the entire world. Mr. Parilla [speaking spanish] translator we reaffirm cuba possible willingness to move toward normalization with the United States to proceed in a Constructive Partnership without any interference that falls under the exclusive sovereignty of cuba to insist in the attainment of goals only hoping for a change in the methods will not favor the National Interest of the United States or its citizens. However, should that be the case, we would be ready to face the challenge. We will engage as written by roll castro in his letter to president obama, encouraged by the developing of intentions between our peoples and government. Mr. Parilla [speaking spanish] [applause] [speaking spanish] translator we will continue to work hard to promote cultural, economic scientific relations as well as friendly ties between our people. We would like to convey the cuban governments respect to the president of the United States were urging u. S. Congress to lift the blockade and the change of policy he has announced, particularly for the disposition he has showed to make use of his executive powers for that purpose. We are reminded of president carters decision to open the respective intersections of september, 1977. I express my gratitude for having extended the cuban interests for the last 24 years. Mr. Parilla [speaking spanish] translator on behalf of the government of the people of cuba, i would like to extend my gratitude to the members of congress, religious leaders Business People and so many u. S. Citizens who worked so hard for so many years so that these days would come. For the majority of cubans residing in the United States will have a hope for a different kind of relationship, we would like to express our gratitude. They will remain faithful to supporting the ideas of independence. Mr. Parilla [speaking spanish] translator we would like to express our gratitude toward our latin american and caribbean brothers and sisters who have supported our country and called for a new chapter in the relations between the United States and cuba as was done with extraordinary perseverance from a lot of friends around the world. I reiterate our gratitude to the Diplomatic Court and the u. N. General assembly that made a decided contribution. Mr. Parilla [speaking spanish] [applause] translator all [indiscernible] his ideas which were vindicated continue to be the free relations that move us along the half our people have chosen. Thank you very much. [applause] mr. Kerry good afternoon everybody. I am pleased to welcome to the state department my colleague, bruno rodriguez, the foreign minister of cuba. I apologize for our being a little late, but we were downstairs. We had a lot to talk about, not just u. S. Cuba relations, and i think we had a very constructive conversation. This is the first visit to the department by a Cuban Foreign minister since 1958. Today marks as well the resumption of normal diplomatic ties between our countries and the reopening of our embassies after a rupture that has lasted 54 years. So it is an historic day, a day for removing barriers. [speaking spanish] of course, this milestone does not signify an end to differences that still separate eight still separate our governments. It does reflect the reality that the cold war ended long ago and in the interest of both countries are better served by engagement than estrangement and that we have begun a process of full normalization that is sure to take time but will also benefit the people in both cuba and the United States. This shared resolve to look ahead is what drove our conversation today and what has brought us to this moment. The foreign minister and i touched on a wide range of issues of mutual concern including cooperation on lawn forstmann, counter narcotics telecommunications, the internet, environmental issues, human rights, and we also discussed the openings of our embassies. We want to make sure those embassies are able to function fully and im confident diplomats from both countries will have the freedom to travel and converse with systems of all walks of life. I am encouraged we have a first rate embassy team in cuba led by jeff deller and this, one of our finest and most experienced Public Servants, and i and and i congratulate on foreign minister rodriguez on the opening of the embassy here in washington. I look forward to making my first trip as secretary of state to cuba and holding a comparable ceremony at our embassy in havana. Before closing, i want to thank our colleagues from switzerland for the vital role they have played as the protecting power for what has obviously proven to be a much longer time than originally anticipated. I think our friends around the hemisphere who have urged us, in some cases for decades, to restore our diplomatic ties and have warmly welcomed our decision to do so. And i am grateful for the outstanding leadership of Roberta Jacobson and the efforts of the many u. S. And cuban representatives whose hard work made this day possible. I want to knowledge the commitment of all the care about u. S. Cuba relations whether they disagree whether they agree with the decision to normalize or not, changes rarely easy, especially when earlier positions have been so deeply ingrained and so profoundly felt. Although we can and must learn from the past, nothing is more futile than trying to live in the past. President obama believes and so do i that our citizens benefit far more from policies that aim to shape a better future. There is, after all, nothing to be lost and much to be gained by encouraging travel between our nations, the free flow of information and ideas, the resumption of commerce, and the removal of obstacles that have made it harder for families to visit their loved ones. Make no mistake in the process of fully normalizing relations between the United States and cuba will go on. It may be long and complex. But, along the way, we are sure to encounter a bump here and there, and moments even of frustration. Patients will be required. But that is all the more reason to get started now on this journey, this long, overdue journey. Today, with the opening of our embassies in the visiting of the foreign minister, we are taking an historic and longoverdue overdue step in the right direction. To keep moving forward, both governments must proceed in a spirit of openness and each will respect. I can assure the world including people of cuba, that the United States will do its part. [speaking spanish] and now it is my pleasure to yield the floor to our guest bruno rodriguez. Mr. Rodriguez good afternoon. Sorry for being late. We just had a respectful meeting with secretary john kerry, with the secretary of state we had an exchange on the issue discussed between president raul castro and barack obama during their historic juncker encounter in panama. The current status of the bilateral relations and the progress achieved since the announcement of december 17 2014, including cubas removal from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and the expansion of official exchanges on issues of common interests and the establishment of diplomatic relations and reopening of embassies. I conveyed the recognition of our people and government to president obama for his determination to work for the lifting and urging congress to eliminate and his willingness to adopt executive measures that modify the implementation of some aspects of some of these policies. The scope is Still Limited but it is headed in the right direction. We have emphasized in the meantime that the president of the United States can continue using his executive powers to pay a significant contribution to the dismantling and not to pursue changes in cuba, something that falls under our exclusive sovereignty and attends to the interest of u. S. Citizens. I emphasize that totally lifting , the return of the legally occupied territory of guantanamo and the full respect of cuban sovereignty and the compensation to our people for human and economic damages are crucial to be able to move forward in the normalization of relations. We both ratified our interest in normalizing relations knowing that this would be a long and complex process which will require the willingness of both countries. There are profound differences between cuba and the United States with regard to our views about the exercise of human rights by all persons all over the world and issues related to International Law which will inevitably persist. But we strongly believe we can both cooperate and coexist in a civilized way based on the respect for these differences and the development of a constructive dialogue oriented to a wellbeing of our countries and peoples and this continent and the entire world. I expressed to the secretary of state that he will be welcomed in cuba on the occasion of the ceremony to reopen the u. S. Embassy in havana. So, mr. Secretary, i will be waiting for you. [speaking spanish] translator we have just had a respectful and construct of eating with secretary john kerry. It was interesting to see that the cuban flag was raised for the first time in years. We would not have been able to make it through these date without the historical leadership of the revolution headed by fidel castro and without the resistance and selfdetermination of the cuban people and the Firm Determination to continue walking down the path that was sovereignly chose him. We have been able to make it with the support received from latin america, the caribbean the majority of countries around the world, u. S. And cuban patriotic citizens to reside in this country and who persevered for so many years in their efforts so that cuba and the United States could have better relations. With the secretary of state, we have an exchange of issues from president raul castro and president barack obama during their time together in panama at the conference of the americas. Including cuba removal from the list of states state sponsors of terrorism. A place where cuba should have never been included, and the historic meeting between president role castro and barack obama on issues of common interest. I can take the recognition of our people to president obama for his determination to lift the blockade and having urged congress to eliminate it once and for all and his willingness to adopt executive measures that modify the implementation of some aspect of these policies. Although the scope is limited these are steps taken in the right direction. We both emphasize the president of the u. S. Can continue to use executive powers to pay a significant contribution to the blockade with the purpose of eliminating it. Not seeking changes in cuba which fall under the assumed sovereignty of the department of cuba and cubans, but rather to attend to the best interest of americans and the lifting of the arcade is essential for moving on stabilizations of i laterally i laterally relations. As well as the full respect of cuban sovereignty and the compensation to our people for human and economic damages. We reiterated our invitation to all u. S. Citizens to exercise their right to travel to cuba as they do to the rest of the world and to take advantage of an equal footing of the opportunities offered by cuba. The secretary of state and i ratified our interest in normalizing bilateral relations knowing this will be a long and complex process. I reiterated to the secretary of state the cuban governments willing to move on in the process toward normalizations with relations on the basis of respect and sovereign equality and without any interference in our internal affairs. It is true there are profound differences between the governments of cuba and the United States with regards to our views about the exercise of human rights by all citizens and in the whole planet and also when it comes to International Law, which will inevitably persist. But we strongly believe we can cooperate and coexist in a civilized way based on the respect for these differences and the development of a constructive dialogue to the wellbeing of our countries and people and the entire world. I express to the secretary of state that he will be welcoming that she will be welcome in havana on the occasion to celebrate the opening of the u. S. Embassy. So i will be waiting for you and i thank you for your hospitality in washington. Thank you. Our first question comes from Andrea Mitchell at nbc. Mr. Foreign minister, mr. Secretary, the foreign minister said today at the opening of the embassy that the continuing hold on Guantanamo Bay on the naval base is in the various consequence of u. S. Attempts to dominate hemisphere and only the lifting of the trade embargo and the return of Guantanamo Bay would lend meaning to todays historic events. Can you respond to those comments and what they foreign minister just said come which seems to indicate does of the preconditions and he did not want any interference by the United States in the domestic policies of cuba. And what would you like to see in terms of human rights changes or other policy changes, even absent those changes which are congressionally mandated . Mr. Foreign minister, welcome to the United States and welcome to the state department. For all of us who have watched the relationship for so many years, this is truly an historic event. But you seem to be indicating that there are preconditions including the lifting of the trade them are go and the return of guantanamo. Do you see any other changes cuba might be willing to afford under the request or influence of the u. S. Prior to those events taking place . Thank you. Mr. Kerry ill go first. It is absolutely knows the price because it has been a subject of discussion over the course of the time we have been examining our relationship and working toward today that there are things cuba would like to see happen, there are things the United States would like to see happen. We both have been Crystal Clear with the with each other there has been no pulling of punches. That is one of the reasons we told up and ability to be able to get to this moment. With respect to the embargo president obama could not have been more clear the president has called on congress to lift the embargo. It is our hope that over the course of the development of the relationship in these next weeks and months and years, and hopefully not too many years people will see the benefits that are emerging in both countries as a result of this change today. We would hope, obviously that the embargo at the appropriate time will be lifted and a great deal more foundation can be built for this relationship. With respect and obviously that is going to take more time. We all understand that. At this time, there is no discussion and it tension on our part at this moment do alter the existing lease treaty or other arrangements with respect to the naval station, but we understand cuba has strong feelings about it. I cannot tell you what the future will bring, but for the moment, that is not part of the discussion on our side. On the other hand, both sides have fairly have very strong feelings. We will always express because it is part of the United States Foreign Policy as part of our dna, and that is our view of human rights and our thoughts about it. We have shared good thoughts about it and have had good exchanges. Part of this arrangement that took place involved an exchange of people as well as the release of some people. Our hope is that as time goes on, we will continue to develop that. What we did talk about the relationship and through a creation of a Bilateral Committee that might Work Together to put focus on these issues so that we can make the most out of this moment and not lose the future with respect to the embargo and other issues. We are going to work at that. Today is the beginning of a constructive effort and that is the way we want to keep it. Translator we have completed the exchanges to reestablish diplomatic relations as we open the embassy. We have managed to achieve something very important in the last few years and the u. S. Government has recognized the embargo against cuba is the wrong policy, causing isolation and bringing about humanitarian damages and deprivation to our people and has committed to engage congress in a debate with the purpose of lifting the blockade. Second the president of the u. S. Has adopted some executive measures which are limited in scope, but which are headed in the right direction. I have had an exchange with secretary kerry with regard to the purposes for the following time for the normalization of bilateral relations. We have not spoken about conditions, but rather the need to move on through the dialogue through sovereign equality and each will respect and create a civilized behavior despite the profound differences that exist between both governments to better attend to the interests of our respective people. To me, it is very important the fact that today, and embassy was reopened in washington and the diplomatic and chairman could be created to carry full mutual recognition, which is a practical contribution to the development of i lateral dialogue. To cuba, the normalization of principles through a series of attending problems. Among them is the cease of the blockade against cuba, the return of the territory of guantanamo, and the full respect for our country. We have confirmed there are conditions so that a dialogue can be expanded with the purpose of expanding mutually beneficial cooperation between both countries and of course taking into account the fact the situation between the u. S. And cuba is asymmetric because our country has not implemented any policy against american citizens or enterprises. Cuba does not implement any unilateral course against u. S. And cuba does not occupy any piece of u. S. Territory. We are looking at the proper conditions to move toward the normalization of relations. I can say i have been lease with the exchange with secretary kerry and as to the announcement of december 17, we have been able to establish diplomatic relations, we have been able to reopen the embassy and now i have the opportunity to welcome secretary kerry to havana for the opening of the u. S. Embassy there in the next two weeks. Thank you very much. I would like to know what are the advantages that are now in place if the blockade is still in place and what are the advantages now that we have an embassy. And secretary of state john kerry, the government of cuba has said several times in the past that american diplomats in havana have violated the conventions on relations with cuba. Is it going to be like that in the future . Translator the fact that diplomatic relations have in established shows the initial willingness to move on toward the improvement of relations between our countries. New instruments are created to further deepen this dialogue under the circumstances i have described. During the process of our previous conversation the historic letters exchanged between president role khosrow role castro and barack obama function for the omatic missions for the purposes and principles in the u. N. Charter of International Law. The regulations containing the conventions on omatic and popular relations, therefore we have reached agreement in these areas and i can say cuba would absolutely respect those provisions. Cuban diplomats will strictly abide by those rules and create in cuba every necessary condition for the functioning of the new u. S. Embassy in our country. Mr. Kerry let me reinforce what renault has said. Part of the negotiations leading up to the opening of the embassies was a matter of coming to agreement with respect to all the diplomatic functions. We spend Time Assistant secretary jacobson was negotiating with her counterpart and the Prime Minister and i then met and signed off on an agreement which is in accord with the vienna conventions and meets both of our countries understandings of what is needed at this moment in time. It could be subject to change but we are satisfied and we are living within the traction within the structure of the vienna conventions. Good afternoon. Welcome foreign minister rodriguez. In your discussions today, did you establish any sort of roadmap for talks Going Forward . If so, what are your priorities . Do you envision a political opening like greater freedom of speech and assembly and the legalization of opposition parties . And, secretary kerry, if i could ask you about iran nuclear, the u. N. Security Council Voted and critics are saying of the nuclear deal that this vote will lock them in because it has taken place before congress has had the opportunity to debate the deal. What is your response to this criticism . Mr. Kerry let me remind you that in the case twice of going to war in previous administrations, the un security Council Voted before the congress. But more importantly, in this particular case, with respect to this agreement, we took pains to protect the prerogatives of congress. We got our colleagues in sovereign countries who had no obligation to the congress to agree to accept 90 days of no implementation of the resolution they voted on today. It is all well and good for congress to interact with the executive department and require us to do things, but frankly some of these other countries were resistant to the idea as sovereign nations that they are subject to the u. S. Congress. We did so in a way that fully protects the prerogative of the United States congress to review this for the next 60 days. We put a 90 day time frame in during which there will be no implementation. Knowability of the congress has been impinged on. The rights of the congress to make its valuation have not changed. On the other hand, when you are negotiating with six other countries, it does require obviously, a measure of sensitivity and multilateral cooperation that has to take into account other nations desires at the same time. They were insistent the vote take place because they were negotiating under the umbrella of the United Nations and they thought it was a row. When they completed their work for the United Nations to make its judgment. I look forward to having discussions and testimony in private meetings in whatever form is necessary to help convince the congress that this deal does exist. That is prevent the possibility of Nuclear Weapons from falling into the hands of another country while simultaneously opening up the opportunity for the United States to at this moment in time put to test the verification measures and all of those things iran has agreed to rather than choosing today to force the potential of a conflict almost immediately which is what would happen if congress does not accept this agreement. Translator my plans are to welcome mr. Secretary kerry in the next the weeks to havana and continue our talks to establish the appropriate mechanism to expand the dialogue in areas related to bilateral cooperation and not really think our thoughts about the essential aspects of the bilateral agreements. I have mentioned i am determined to move this process forward to see the normalization of relations and the political opening in cuba happened in the year 1959. The flag we raise in the Cuban Embassy waited for 54 years to be back to the flagpole to be put up and we cubans feel happy for the way which we manage our internal affairs and feel optimistic when it comes to our duties and we are serious about our sovereignties, so we will maintain permanent based on the sovereign and willingness of the cubans. I have to emit i have to admit im a little lost with the language because i hear secretary kerry speaking perfect spanish and mr. Rodriguez speaking perfect english. The lets start with secretary kerry. Do you think this new era of relations with cuba is the recognition that the u. S. Policies of isolating policies differ from your political views do not work . Do you think recent trips to caracas is the beginning of trying to rebuild the relationship with venezuela and translator is it possible to have relations when the u. S. As it is not going to lift the embargo and for those skeptical people who really see as a change in strategy they are now implementing a creative way to try to change cuba from the inside. Thank you. Translator i can say that the fact that diplomatic relations are reestablished and opening both embassies is a show of the mutual willingness to move on for the implementation of bilateral relations. On the 14th of december last, we heard the president of the United States, barack obama announced the policies against cuba had been wrong, causing damages and causing isolation to the u. S. Today, we have open than them the and all the countries recognize as a sovereign country , though this is a small and neighboring island. The reestablishment of diplomatic relations is apprehended in my country as a ignoble toward a process of civilized relations despite the differences and if the blockade is lifted if we are able to implement this type of relationship between the u. S. And cuba different from what has existed all along and history in fact feel the recognition of the need to lift the blockade against cuba, the fact that during the talks we have had, we have perceived respect for cuba us independence to feel the determination of our people and that we can now talk as the secretary and i have now talked with absolute sovereignty despite differences show that the u. S. And cuba, by the American People and cuban people are conditions to move toward a future of relations different from the ones accumulated throughout our history responding precisely to the best interest of our citizens. There is an International Order International Law recognized as the civilized behavior to be adopted i states. There are universally accepted principles and these have allowed us to reach this date. Mr. Kerry i have learned through my public life that there is nothing harder than trying to change deeply ingrained attitudes and beliefs that are based on personal experience with the case of many people. I learned obviously in the experience of where i joined with senator john mccain in a 10 year effort to try and change our relationship with the it not with vietnam and try to make peace and and the war more than 20 years after the award allegedly had ended. But there were still deep battles in our own country over that issue. Over time, with a great deal of effort, we were able to slowly work and show the people that there was a better path. Just a week or two ago, the Party Secretary of the communist party of vietnam was here in washington visiting with the president and we are today trading and working and things are changing rapidly in that country. Maybe not as rapidly to some peoples desire as they might want, but they are changing. So it is in many ways with cuba, where passions run deep and the United States. There are many cubanamericans who have contributed in so many ways to life in our country. Some of whom are still opposed to the change and some believe it is time to change. When i served in the United States senate, there were many of us who believed that over time, our policy of isolating was simply not working. We are isolating ourselves in many ways. We felt after all of those years, it was time to try something else. President obama is doing that now. The president said when he announced this shift of policy if you are digging a really deep hole and you keep getting in deeper but youre not finding what youre looking for, its time to start time to stop taking. It is clear we have chosen a different path. Already, people tell me when they visit cuba they feel a sense of excitement and possibility. I am convinced as we work through these issues, we are going to find a better path forward that speaks to the needs of both peoples in both countries. That is why the president has set us on this course. For years and years and years, it was his perception that the people of cuba were paying the highest price and we were not achieving the kind of relationship we hoped to have. With respect to venezuela the counselor of the state department, ambassador tom shannon, has had several conversations with venezuelans. We had a very productive conversation prior to the summit of the americas in panama. The United States has said many times, we would like to have a normal relation with venezuela and have reached out in an effort to try to change the dialogue, change the dynamics. There are differences we have with the president and his government and we raised those differences and talked about them. Just today foreign minister rodriguez and i talked specifically about venezuela and our hopes that we can find a better way forward because all of the region will benefit if no country is being made a scapegoat for problems within a country and in fact all countries are working on solving those problems. That is our objective. We hope to continue the dialogue with venezuela. We hope our diplomatic relations with cuba can encourage not only greater dialogue with venezuela, but perhaps even efforts to try to help colombia to and its more than 50 years war and perhaps even other initiatives. We are not going to be overflowing with expressions of excessive optimism about where we will find this capacity. But we do know we are going to look for it. We do know that it makes a difference and we are going to try to work at it. Thats the ultimate in a fit that comes out of today with the beginning of diplomatic relations, we are alleging to engage with each other, to talk about our differences, to find places of common endeavor and to try to build a relationship that benefits the people of cuba, the people of the United States, the people of the region. Thank you all very much. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2015] there we have secretary john kerry and the Cuban Foreign minister wrapping up about a 40 minute or so joint News Conference. Heres how the Christian Science monitor is reporting todays news, talking about the reopening of the Cuban Embassy. They said the countries have been in symbolic and ideological loggerheads through five presidencies. Even as cubas political significance way and after the end of the cold war. In december, the countries agreed to resume normal diplomatic relations and that came into effect just after midnight on sunday. In that instance, diplomatic interests were upgraded to embassies. They go on to write if the u. S. State department at the state department, a Maintenance Worker hung the cuban flag between the croatia and cyprus flags and also right that while there have not been any physical signs of normal relations between cuba and the u. S. , that there were several on social media. Shortly after midnight, the cuban intersection in washington switched its twitter account to say embassy. In havana, the u. S. Intersection there changed its profile picture to an end this to an image that says u. S. Embassy cuba. The deputy chief of mission to cuba just tweeted that he made the first home call from the United States embassy in havana. It did not exist in 1961. You can comment and give us your thoughts on facebook. Go to facebook. Com cspan. Tonight, the nigerian president delivers a keynote speech on his nations relationship with the United States. This comes during dinner at the u. S. Chamber of commerce in washington. With one of africass this growing economies and a booming oil industry, nigeria seeks better trading relationships with many trading partners including the u. S. But with many factors, including internal strife with military groups like boko haram, the event is expected to last about 45 minutes. We have that live at 8 15 eastern tonight right here on cspan. Tonight on the communicators we will speak with the wall street journals information journalists on why he thinks washington is a danger zone for information. If you go back to technologies like railroads and the ma belle telephone monopoly, those were regulated, they set prices, they set terms, they said. And we all know what happened. There was very little innovation and railroads and in trucking and in telephones until they were all deregulated. All those common carrier statute essentially undone by congress. It was so clear that innovation was being suppressed and the u. S. Was following was falling behind in its competitive us. That was the backdrop for the bipartisan consensus in the 1990s that the internet was going to be different. This was during the Clinton Administration a clear consensus, democrats and republican, that unlike those earlier technologies, the internet was going to be unregulated. Tonight at 8 00 eastern on the communicators on cspan2. Seized and gives you the best access to Congress Live coverage of the u. S. House, congressional hearings, and News Conferences, bringing you events that shape public policy. And every morning, washington journal his life with elected officials and policymakers in your comment by phone, facebook and twitter. Cspan, brought to you as a Public Service by or local cable or satellite provider. Our road to the white house coverage now with remarks from former Florida Governor jeb bush. He was in tallahassee earlier today to talk about his campaign priorities. This is just over half an hour. [applause] mr. Bush good morning. Good morning everybody. Thank you all very much for coming. On a beautiful florida morning. I get to travel around all the places. Last week i was in las vegas and they always talk about dry heat like its some really cool thing when its 110 degrees. [laughter] i like humidity myself, being from florida and its good to be back in tallahassee and see so many friends. Where is ed burr . The chairman of the board of trustees. I saw alan the former member of the board of trustees. Thank you, alan. [applause] got a chance to see your great president who is back there. [applause] it is good to be here. Im really excited to be with my friends. We are in the early days of a long campaign. By making my case to the voters across the country and of having a blast doing it, by the way. It is with such joy that i get to campaign for the presidency of the United States in the greatest country on the face of the earth. [applause] people are ready to choose a new president. Among republicans, theyve got a lot of choices to choose from. They want to know, the voters do what we believe, but also what we have accomplished. For me, that story begins right here in tallahassee. In my years in office, we didnt just mark time. We filled those years with hard work and real reform. It was not always a smooth path. In fact, the city was called mount tallahassee because it was remote from the people, caught up in the subtle ways of a comfortable establishment. I was a governor who refused to go along with the establishment. I was not a member of the club and that made all the difference. Should i may should i win this election, you will not find me referring to the ways of washington. The overspending, the arrogance, the sheer incompetence of the city are sometimes treated as though it is a fact of life and nothing can be done about it. But a president should never accept that and i will not. We need a president willing to challenge the whole culture in our Nations Capital and i aim to do it. Name any excess or group in the federal government in these past six years that has gotten worse. The rush to take over health care when they couldnt even put up a lousy website to go along with it. They cannot even keep the basic commitments like caring for veterans at the v. A. Veterans died while waiting for care at the va hospital lest year, but only two people were fired for lying about the weight times. We trust veterans to fight for us, we should trust them to be able to choose their own doctors and reforming v. A. Will be a high priority. [applause] the partisan abuses of the irs and the coverup that followed, all of which to this day have gone unpunished. Then there is the wholesale loss of personal records and security information, the cyber hackers. The political hacks in charge of opm ignored official warnings. You remember the Inspector General report we always got in our department . There was one for opm and it said we have lax security and were going to have security breaches. It had already happened i the time that report had taken place and today, we know 22 Million People were affected and the information taken includes intrusive questionnaires used to vet people for security clearance. I found out the vetting process is 100 pages long with all sorts of information, a treasure trove of information for a country seeking to gain an advantage over our country. What does it say with all the resources the federal government has that they cant even protect vital data from a hostile actor . Rarely has incompetence carried such pricing government. Ineptitude of this order is enough to sound the alarm all by itself, but when it comes to the norm, when theres no accountability and a few even expected anymore, that is when we really need to worry. We have come to the point with a Current Administration and the entire washington establishment that it so perfectly represents that its like Alfred E Newman what, me worry . The net result is we have a challenge in our country. I believe it can. I have not so fond memories, but times of my government here when it was not that is the part of being a leader, accepting responsibility. After the 2000 election recount we moved to improve election laws and they are Voting System the envy of the nation. When youa strategy occurred among working with the florida legislature, we step to our commitment to communitybased care and make the system more responsive to children in need. When senior people in my administration violated trust, they were removed. When these problems occurred, i took responsibility. That is what floridians deserve and that is the leadership like in washington and the leadership i will bring to washington, d. C. For anyone who wants to see the government bigger and further removed from those that it is supposed to serve, the other party will offer that option. I offer a different agenda. It will be my intention to not preside over the establishment but in every way i know to disrupt that establishment and make it more accountable for the people. The ultimate disruption is rejecting the whole idea of government forever growing more, are writing borrowing more. I have no illusions about what reform takes. Next president has got to confront thise spending vulture in washington, and i promise i will do it. We have learned that you can have a fastgrowing economy or have a fastexpanding government, but you cannot have both. You have to choose, as i did when i was governor of now the Third Largest state. Floridas economy expanded more than 4. 4 . At the same time Government Spending as a percentage of the economy went down. Djibouti aspirational goal for the United States in its federal budget. Economic growth growing faster than the size of washington and its budget. We balanced our budget every year. We increased our states reserves by 8 billion. Perhaps we will have hurricanes, to be able to reserve for a rainy day seemed to make sense and we were rewarded by being upgraded to a aaa bond rating. Compare that to where the federal government had a downgrade, its first one. I vetoed more than 2500 spending items. That was not punitive. I think the speakers my degree i was an equal opportunity retailer vetoer. This was to create a process so we could have 9 billion in reserves, where we could have a government that did not grow faster than peoples incomes in the state, a process based on conservative principles, and we the same thing in washington. We should have the idea of corleoene we need to bring that to d. C. I cut the state bureaucracy by more than 10 , trying to live up to the promis to make buildings in tallahassee i believe a selfgoverning society does not need the government we need, and if you can build capacity for people to achieve success, we will become conservatives, because demands on government will subside. From the offset tests out that as president , i would single a new direction by supporting fundamental reforms go to the heart of the problem. We have to confront and end the practice of deficit spending. As long as deficits are an option deficits will be the reality. The remedy i will support is a balanced Budget Amendment. To be clear it has to be properly designed so it is a tool to limit government, not to raise taxes. Americans in every party are worried about the physical integrity and solvency of our government. It needs the fixed. I will urge congress to submit a balanced Budget Amendment to the states and the people decide. Second, it is time to revise vi to corleone. The president should have a line item veto, such as the version paul ryan has recommended. Overspending is one of the problems where the president has to assert a National Interest. The power to veto irresponsible spending is part of that duty is part of that duty, and i know how to accept it. The third spending reform is government procurement. Federal agencies spend billions of dollars every month on equipment and services, following procedures that no company would use in a competitive environment. The process holds no one accountable for being over budget or behind schedule. One of the most tragic examples ive seen on the road is hospital that has been many years in the making was supposed to cost 200 million, and now the last estimate for its completion in denver is 1. 8 billion dollars. It is hard to imagine how incompetent and complicated process would be to yield that result. Military procurement is one area where our system processes are feeling. The Defense Department is operating by the methods of the cold war. In some cases, by the time you equipment reaches our troops, it is almost obsolete. Here you are the pentagon having to cut equipment, pay, and health care of while losing billions in backward, wasteful procurement processes. The Pentagon Acquisition system is so swap with regulation, on a handful of contractors can compete for the larger contracts. That is what i support initiatives by john mccain, a real hero, by the way. Senator mccain and others in the house, to reform the process to make it more transparent flexible, and more competitive. Competition reduces costs and interest trips have Quality Equipment that keeps them safe. It is not too much to ask for the people who defend our country that we eliminate waste so we invest in them. These problems are not unique to the military. The procedures used to purchase Information Technology are forthwith delays and outright failures. Over the past five years, United States Government Accounting Office has made more than 700 recommendations for reforming the system of procurement in washington. Only 23 of than half been fully implemented. We can apply these pretzels we used to fix the defense these principles we used to it the defense acquisition to fix those on the civilian side as well. Actually having the handson leadership skills to take an idea to put it into reality to make sure there is accountability around it go from beginning to end eventually transform how our government works. I just got a plot by ben watkins, who deserves a lot of credit. This is one state that has reduced its burden in a way to rest of the country should follow. Ben, you have done a great job doing that, along with governor scott. I do that because he is a great Public Servant and is and there is right now that i mentioned him. [indiscernible] mr. Bush budget decisions, we need to deal with real numbers. The current level is the starting point for future spending. They slime h baseline here looks like this. Baseline in washington lets like this. Looks like this. Pulses and is designed for making government grow at a rate that is far more than our ability to paper. We can no longer afford to using that as an assumption, and i will work to change it. You have a problem when standing accounting principles like a subversive idea. It is a great system to make government grow. Where you start with zero and you observe boundaries. It is not as fun as working with makebelieve numbers, but it can get you out of trouble. Realworld budget would mark a step toward national solvency and it might administration it will be the rolule, rather than the exception. This that you may remember this is coming up. Any given agency asks for more Budget Authority and should be required to support with justifications why they needed and to propose offsetting cuts. The short of it is were going to turn off the automatic switch of Discretionary Spending increases. Too much federal government runs on automatic. This means things are happening with no one stopping to ask why. You see this in way the Civil Service system operates. People are hired given pay increases that regard to performance. It is rolled by inertia and unaccountable to the people. With 2 million Government Employees on the federal payroll, these programs and these problems carry a heavy cost. If you sir is reforms will go a long way. My first will be to place the freeze on federal hiring. We can expect more than 10 of all current workforce will retire over the next five years. It is a safe bet not everyone believes needs to be replaced. Go with a single three out one in rule, only one new hire for every three the. This policy can on its reduce the size of the bureaucracy by 10 over five years. With other reforms, which are more than possible as well, we could reduce your perceived by more than 10 within four years my first are as president. This saves tens of billions of dollars without adding to unemployment. We made those cuts in florida and under forms leaving top Level Management more accountable by defining them as atwil employeesl. The effect was to everybody upys g weather isame. Company employees or the government workforce, the idea of management as you are for good performance and make the best the standard. Is the system we have in washington. Much of what we have is a relic of the 1970s. Lets say they did not have the text her taxpayers interest in mind. It does not matter who is the cause of this. It is time to reform these things to make government smaller so we can rise up as a nation. The system assistant they have left us rewards longevity the system they had left us rewards longevity. Compared to private sector employees, federal employees earn over than 1500 more in wages and nearly 16,000 a year in benefit. There are a lot of exemplary employees in the government, but they are treated better than bad ones, and that was our impossible to remove. And that dad ones are impossible to move. Every employee he moved along. The system is so broken that in 2013 the number of federal employees terminated for cost actually fell to. 18 , so i will put in motion some long overdue reforms. Federal employees should retain civil rights and was protections, but beyond that the time fixed remove an unproductive employee should be measured in weeks. Compensation should on the work and the quality of work. If the aim is to bring out the best in Public Service and improve morale, we have got to get the incentives right. No more races across the board. If we respect dedication as we see them, we will see more excellent in the ranks of the Civil Service and attract new talent. I will propose along with merit pay enhanced incentives for managers whose skill and planning actually reduce spending. When employees are found slaughtering money, we should call them out on it, and when they find ways to save money, we should reward them for it. In florida you know the davis productivity of war, a great model we should bring to washington to reward people who are focused on shrinking government. The surest way to protect the money is not to take some of it in the first place. The best way to government accountable is minute its power to regulate our economy and lives. I will be setting forth my plan for tax and Regulatory Reform on a scale not seen since the reagan years, and i will outline my ideas to reform major entitlement programs to provide a replacement for obamacare. Not to keep you in suspense not to keep you in suspense, the objective to bring Government Back with the consent of the governed so it truly deserves the National Interests instead of catering to special interests. It is the relentless expansion of government that made lobbying washington a premier growth industry. Spending has risen more than 45 in the last they came from to 12. 5 million per member of congress. Yeah. Restrain federal spending and the meddling and we will disrupt the culture that thrives on the government. I know how that culture works. I saw it in tallahassee. Legislators grew too comfortable in each others company, cutting deals. So long with the other changes, the Legislature Passed a law that i signed that create district strictest lobbying reforms the country, and i was proud to sign that, and the system is better after that law was passed. Before i took office, i signaled a new way of doing business by forbidding lobbying by any member of my team. We ended the practice of lawmakers accepting gifts from lobbyists. The reforms i signed into law also required lobbyists to disclose information about compensation. I have noticed it is actually turned into a competitive deal. They showed they had more business and they are part of the fact that they have a thriving business. Interesting how markets work. In that spirit we need to reform disclosure laws in washington. Every time a lobbyist meet with any member of congress, that should be reported online every week on the members website. Budget include the gross class of consultants who lobby call it something is. The definition of the term lobbyist should expand to address the country of Government Relations and fears specialist and affairs specialist. The pattern so many members of outgoing members who become lobbyists themselves them as moving on to the business and the same enterprise. We need to help politicians rediscover life outside of washington which might be a pleasant surprise for them. The great majority of the people that serve in these positions do it with great talent and with integrity, and they can make a huge contribution to the communities in which they were suffering, and i believe they should be doing that rather than translating this and staying in washington and translating into high gain. I lose all my infants to enact into law an immediate sixyear ban on lobbying, a full senate term forex f numbers of for exmember of the house and senate. S will take several members measures at the white house. In all of these reforms that it matters what example is set by those in elected office. It is easy for officials to the outstanding for others, but what are the standards worth is not apply to themselves . Consider a pattern of commerce remembers regard attendance and voting is optional, something to do with time permits. Congress is in session for typically three days a week, when they are up there. It is not asking too much that every member be there and work on each day, and if it is an incentive, how about one every worker in america has in their job . You do not show up, you do not get paid for the timel you miss . A bill to adoptdock may not pass but we wouldpay get therem the forre them on the record. If i have learned anything as governor, it was never did take time for granted. I kept on my desk where i could see it a digital clock counting down the time left in my term to the last hour. I might bring that clock along should i have the honor of serving the 1461 days of the next term. Our leaders can be so immersed in campaigns and legacies as to lose sight of the present challenges. Work needs to be done now. Things delayed in washington have a tendency to never get done. In this era of excuses, were drawing it to an end. Theres no way to make up for lost time. The can no longer sees the way what our system does not work. More people are disaffected by washington, and i get this and understand it because all of us feel that way. We can fix these things. We didnt in tallis we did it together in tallahassee. I know in my heart that real sustained Economic Growth is possible. I has set an aspirational goal of 4 per year. I believe this country will be the first developed country to be able to renew ourselves and grown at a sustained rate where people can be lifted out of poverty and where the great middle will get a raise for the first time in 15 years. The driving force will be president ial level leadership. To challenge the culture of spending and reform the things that are broken in washington. This is essential, and i believe it is achievable in one term. Do not let anybody tell you otherwise. Do not let the synnex narrow cynics narrow your aspiration. We should do everything to make this happen. All this is on the case i didnt make across the state. Of florida is important in the primary. And in our country. Im getting this place my all speaking to every voter of every background and being true to what i believe. Here is what i believe and know. For all of us, coming years can be and will be the best time ever to be a live in this country of ours, and i am ready for the challenge. Im ready for the challenge. I am asking for your vote, and i am asking for your help. It is great to be back in tallahassee. Thank you. Announcer cspan partnering with the new Pension Union leader. It takes place at 7 00 p. M. Eastern time at a college in manchester. We have it live on cspan, and you can listen to it on cspan radio or watch the reairs on www. Cspan. Org. If you go back to earlier Technology Like railroads and telephone monopoly, there is those were regulated as common carriers, they set terms rules, and we know what happened. It was little innovation in railroads and trucking and telephones. They were all deregulated. All these statutes were essentially undone by congress when it was so clear that innovation is being suppressed and that the u. S. Is falling behind in its competitiveness. That was the backdrop for the bipartisan consensus in the 1990s that the internet was going to be different. This is the Clinton Administration. A clear and sentence a clear consensus that the internet was going to be largely unregulated. Announcer tonight at 8 00 eastern on cspan2. Announcer today in new york the un security Council Voted to endorse the koran Nuclear Agreement ir Nuclear Agreement. An the Year Agreement the European Community also endorsing the agreement today. This is about 90 minutes. The 7480 meeting of the Security Council is called to order. Their agenda for this meeting is nonproliferation. The agenda is adopted. In accordance with rule 37 of the rules of procedure, i invite the representatives of germany and iran to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. In accordance with rule 39 of the provisional rules of procedure, and white his excellency, head of the delegation of the european union, to the United Nations, to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. The Security Council will not begin its consideration of item 2 of the agenda. Members of the council have before them the document that is a draft resolution that. In the councils prior consultations. The council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I would like to thank all Council Members for cosponsoring the draft resolution, which is now a president ial text. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. All those in favor, please raise their hand. The result of the voting is as follows the draft resolution saved 15 votes in favor. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2231 2015. I now give the floor to those members of the council to wish to make statements after the vote