Transcripts For CSPAN Key Capitol Hill Hearings 20150123

I was involved in the negotiation. I wrote the stupakpitts amendment. I know what the compromise is with the socalled executive order. Its full of loopholes. The Hyde Amendment does not apply to the Affordable Care act and i yield the balance of my time to the distinguished gentleman from pennsylvania another prolife champion, the time such as i may consume. He may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman om pennsylvani. Lyis recognized for two minutes. Mr. Kelly i thank the gentleman. Mo dam chair, make no mistake what madam chair, make no mistake what this debate is about. The real debate on the floor today is about life. Were talking about life on the in the peoples house, on the floor of the peoples house. Were talking about a gift from god. Were talking about something that was so well put into our declaration of independence talking about the life liberty and pursuit of happiness, the first rule being life. I understand theres a seris debate about that and there are times that people say, listen, were not really ready right now for this child. But mothers and unborn children have to be protected. In a nation that recoils as the news around the world at the news around the world at the loss of life and says this is horrible whats happening in syria this is horrible whats happening in the middle east this is horrible whats happening, we want to go there and rush to help people because there is a loss of life. And then in our own country we have turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to the lives of 56 million unborn children. These are lives that were lost that did not have to be lost. I know there is a law that says they have the right to make that decision. It may be legal but i dont think its right. As far as giving a gift to the half or million or million half a million or so people who are in washington today for the prolife march this is not a gift from the Republican Party to these people, this is a gift from the creator himself on reproduction. How we have demeaned this and reduced it down to a political discussion is absolutely abhorrent. Never, never has this country ever turned its back on the most vulnerable. I have been there for the birth of my four children. I have 10 grandchildren now. I have also held the hands of my mother, my father and my sister as they died. There is nothing more precious than life. There is just nothing more precious than that. I ask all my colleagues to vote in favor of h. R. 7, to answer the American People who say we do not want to fund abortion. End this debate and lets move forward. I thank you and i yield back my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. All time for debate has expired. Pursuant to House Resolution 42, the previous question is ordered on the bill. The question is on engrossment and third reading of the bill. Those in favor say aye. Those opposedno. The ayes have it. Third reading. The clerk a bill to prohibit taxpayer funded abortions. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from wisconsin seek recognition . Ms. Moore i have a motion to recommit at the desk. I am opposed to the bill in its current form. The speaker pro tempore gewan qlies the clk will report the motion. The clerk ms. Moore of wisconsin moves to recommit the bill, h. R. 7 to the committee on the judiciary, with instructions to report the same back to the house for thewith with the following amendment. Add forthwith with the following amendment. The speaker pro tempore for what purpo ds the gentlewon omenss sk recognition . Mrs. Blackburn i reserve a point of order against the resolution. The speaker pro tempore a point of order has been reserved. The clerk will read. The clerk title 3, rule of construction, section 301, protecting the medical privacy of women, including victims of rape an incest. Nothing in this act shall be construed to authorize any party to violate directly or indirectly the medical privacy of any woman, including the victims of rape or incest with respect to her choice or use of comprehensive Health Insurance coverage. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from wisconsin is recognized for five minutes in support of her motion. The gentlewoman is recognizeded. Recognized. Ms. Moore thank you very much, madam speaker. This is the final amendment to the bi a iwi not kill the bill, nor send it back to committee. If this amendment is adopted, it will immediately proceed to final passage if this bill were amended. As the clerk has indicated madam speaker this motion to recommit would merely protect the medical privacy of millions of women including those who are victims of rape and incest. It would ensure that nothing in h. R. 7 the underlying legislation could be construed to allow any entity to violate the medical privacy of any woman including these victims, when it comes to her choice of comprehensive health care services. Madam speaker we have heard a great debate here today and we have heard, madam speaker, the Majority Party insist that we need to codify the 1976 Hyde Amendment prohibiting poor women from having abortions. I can assure you that as we have looked over the past 42 years here on the anniversary of roe v. Wade we have seen that low income women, particularly women of color, have been disproportionately impacted by the very successful implementation of the Hyde Amendment. Women have been forced to choose between food and shelter. They have been forced to choose between the best interests of their health. And they have given birth on many occasions, even despite their poor health status, their poor economic status, their poor emotional status, to children who are poor. We have heard these data and statistics about the numbers of unborn persons as a result of abortion. We have not heard one single statistic about the numbers of children who are born in dire poverty. Only madam chair, to be humiliated in this chamber over and over again being called products of the culture of dependency and killed by cuts, death by a thousand cuts cuts to food stamps, cuts to w. I. C. , cuts to head start, cuts to educational opportunities. Death by a thousand cuts. We have not heard any on the other side speak about that misalignment. But what this legislation does, its not enough to stop low income women, poor women, particularly women of color, africanamericans asians, native american women, latinas its not enough to prevent them from abortions, some of them who have been have become pregnant because of rape and incest and forced trafficking, who have diabetes and other Underlying Health problems, thats not enough. This legislation is so nefarious and to try to prevent women who have been lucky enough to get a job in a Small Business, lucky enough to be able to afford to buy insurance, and use their own money to buy insurance, they have been lucky enough to do that, to prevent them by some extraneous nexus supposedly health care funded payments through the Affordable Care act , to seek this health care. This is really, really a backdoor approach to really trying to undermine the law of the land roe v. Wade. Many women, madam speaker, know on a personal level the history of shame and stigma that come forward when theyre trying to seek the best remedy for their lives at that time. For whatever reason that they need to have an abortion. I know personally, madam speaker, of young women who have been 13 years old and who have become victims of statutory rape. And the best solution for their lives at that time and for their health is an abortion. That their life is truly in danger. And this is the kind of bill that would prevent them from having that opportunity. Madam speaker i would hope that you would accept this motion to recommit and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker p tpo the gewan te s pid. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from tennessee seek recognition . Mrs. Blackburn thank yo madam speaker. I withdraw my point of order and i claim the time in opposition to the motion. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewomans point of order is withdrawn and the gentlewomans recognized for five minutes. Mrs. Blackburn thank you, madam speaker. You know, we have heard a lot of charges and accusations that are made by some of my colleagues as they have chosen to describe the bill before us today. H. R. 7. So i want to be clear about what the bill before us does do and does accomplish. This bill follows the long standing principle, as my colleague said going back to 1976. That principle that the American People and members from both sides of the aisle in both chambers of congress have supported for decades. And that is that taxpayer dollars should not be spent on abortions and abortion coverage. The vast majority of my colleagues voted for this exact same principle in countless appropriations bills. Including a bill that we passed out of this chamber last month. Yet today some members are fighting the widely shared belief that taxpayer dollars should not be used to take an innocent life. The bill before us today also provides much needed transparency regarding which health plans on the exchange pay for abortions. The Obama Administration promised to provide congress and the American People a list of plans in obamacare that covered abortion. Yet they refuse to live up to that promise. They forced congress to act and indeed the g. A. O. Has informed us 1036 plans include abortion coverage. There is no excuse no excuse to hide information about abortion coverage from the American People. 68 , a majority, vast majority of the American People believe there should be no taxpayer money used for abortion and abortion coverage. H. H. S. Has forced congress to act on this issue. The commonsense transparency requirement that is in h. R. 7 is needed and it is supported by all members. So thats what this bill is about. Following an established bipartisan principle and providing transparency. I urge my colleagues, each and every one, to vote to protect life, to vote to protect taxpayer dollars and promote transparency by rejecting the motion to recommit and supporting the underlying bill. I yield back the bal coming up the march for life rally on the anniversary of the roe versus wade decision. Leaders from around the world in politics philanthropy, and business our meeting in switzerland our meeting in. Most in switzerland. John kerry addressing the forum. He met with the Prime Ministers in london on thursday. We will have live coverage at 10 40 eastern. Here are some of our featured programs for this weekend. On cspan two, saturday night at 10 00, former governor Mike Huckabee on americas political and cultural landscape. Sunday night at 11 00 gillian investigates Lyndon Johnson and the great society. On cspan three, the university of california davis professor on the role of the British Royal air force and allied strategy, and the archivist at the purdue collectivist Division Tour the millionaire heart collections which houses the largest collection of papers related to the aviation pioneer. Find our schedule and let us know what you think about the programs you are watching. Alice, email us, or send us a tweet. Join the conversation, like us on facebook, follow us on footer. Call us, email us, or send us a tweet. Next, the rally on the anniversary of the roe versus wade ruling. And the home of the brave thank you. Good afternoon afternoon, and thank you for your wonderful performance. And youre stirring rendition of the national anthem. I am honored to serve on the chairman of the board of the march for life. I would like to welcome you to the largest and most important civil rights demonstration in the world. The theme of this years march is clear simple, and beautiful. Every life is a gift. We are here because we believe that every life is a gift, a gift to be cherished and protected. Before we begin, let us join together in the pledge of allegiance, led this year, by Daniel Tillson from the knights of columbus counsel at george mason university. [cheering] 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. Thank you, daniel. In thanksgiving for the great collaborative witness of the Roman Catholic and orthodox bishops offering our opening prayer each year, i would like to welcome to the podium, the most reverend joseph kirtz, the Roman Catholic arch bishop of louisville [cheering and applause]. He also served as the president of the United States congress of catholic bishops. Arch bishop kirtz will be joined on stage together with his brother, Roman Catholic bishops, as well as the Greek Orthodox diocese of america, the Orthodox Church of american, the christian arch diocese of north america and the serbient Orthodox Church of north and south america. Your excellencies. Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for standing up for life. My dear friends, it is my humble privilege to open this march for life rally in prayer with the great assistance of my orthodox brother bishops and my catholic brother bishops as a sign of our unity in an effort to uphold the dignity of every human life, the orthodox, and catholic bishops take turns each year leading this joint opening prayer, and so i ask you to join me as i say, let us pray. Heavenly father, we stand before you this day and ask your blessings on this National March for life. We thank you for each and every pilgrim who has made the trip to our nations capitol, help us to be joyful witnesses to the gospel of life, not just today, but at every moment of our lives. Guide us to be loving and welcoming, even to those who might ardently disagree with us, in particular, father, help us to be compassionate to anyone suffering from the loss of a child through abortion. May we be a bridge that connects them to hope and healing that can be found in you alone, direct all of our thoughts, our words and actions this day to be effective in defending the lives of unborn children. Help us to be missionaries of peace. The lord bless you and keep you. The lord let his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The lord look upon you kindly and give you peace, amen. Thank you, arch bishop kirtz. When i look out in the enormous crowd, i see a tide turning in america. Hundreds of thousands of you have come to washington to make a difference and to deliver a profound message, every life is a gift. The march for life is getting bigger and younger every year. History is on our side, because history is always on the side of those who fight for Human Dignity and human life. We are here because we know the truth. We know that every life is a gift, and we know this truth is not just a catholic thing or an evangelical thing or a jewish thing or a mormon thing. Of course, its all those things, but its also a human thing. [cheering and applause]. Every human is a gift, and so we march. We march in what has become the largest human rights demonstration in the world. We march because we have the courage to think for ourselves and to face the truth about human life. We march because the little lives matter, the lives of babies matter. Vulnerable, imperfect lives matter. We march to be the voice of those who do not have a voice. We march because the march for life is their voice. Their voice in washington and around the world. We march because every life is a gift. Our goal at the march for life is not only to come together once a year but to connect with you 365 days a year, and to work with you every day to build a culture of life. There are extraordinary things happening at the march for life, and all of this is taking place under the skillful guidance of one of the most dynamic, young, prolife leaders in america. Please join me in welcoming that leader, the president of the march for life, Jeanne Monahan mansini. Good afternoon what do you all think of this weather . Its impressive, huh . All right. Well, i have to say, it is, as always, such an honor to be here with all of you. Its an honor and joy, and some of you have traveled a lot farther than me this morning. Im so grateful for so many of you who have come internationally, who have come from all over the country, who have really made a pilgrimage to the march for life. Thank you. [cheering and applause]. You all know our theme this year. Its every life is a gift. And i want to make two points about that. I want you to remember these points. The first one, this is a little sad, and stick with me, and were going to talk about why were here, right. In our country, in the United States of america, every single year, 1. 1 million babies are lost to abortion. One out of every five babies is aborted in our country. Its a 19 abortion rate. For babies that receive a difficult prenatal diagnosis, Something Like Downs Syndrome, an encephaly, spine abifidathat, rate goes up to 85 . So heres what im telling you, eight or nine out of 10 babies that have a serious disability are aborted in our country. And you know what . Thats just wrong, isnt it. The truth of the matter is that every life is a gift. Every life is a gift, regardless of if we have a disability or not. And lets be honest. All of us have disabilities. Some of us are a little more obvious than others, but no ones perfect. Were really missing out on an entire population of people so at the march of life, we want to focus on the inherent beauty in every life. Theres an irony, our country is celebrating a wonderful thing this year, its called the americans with disability act, the a. D. A. Its the 25th anniversary of that signing. So theres this irony, that in this day and age when there are more resources to people available with disabilities in our country, its less likely that those people will be actually carried to term. So i need yall to do something about that, okay . [cheering and applause]. And let me talk to you about something you can do about that. This is the second point i want to make about that. Back to our theme, every life is a gift. You know who elses life is a gift besides the life in the womb . Your life is a gift. Your life is a gift. Every single one of you out there, all of you, and there are a lot of you, every single one of you is a gift to our world. I know this is me and im speaking to a huge crowd, but i want every single one of you know that im speaking to you personally right now. Your life is unique. It is unrepeatable. There is a mission that you have that no one else can live in this world. You are part of a larger plan. Theres a wonderful thing. Its one of my favorites, be who you are and you will set the world on fire. [cheering and applause]. I want you to be who you are. We need to set this culture ablaze for life, and lives depend on it, so i want you to look deep into your heart and reflect upon your call and then say yes. And there are two ways you can do this immediately and then im going to turn it over to our next speaker. One, social media is a huge part of getting the prolife message out, right . How many of you like to use social media out there, yeah . Okay, so i have two asks for you. Two things im asking for you to do. One, i need to you take pictures today. I need you to take pictures of the crowds and let the world know about the march for life. Let them know about the dignity of the human person. Let them know that the abortion is the human rights of today, and were not going to take it any longer. Take pictures of all of the people here, and then i want you to post on some social media with the hashtag whywemarch. Start a conversation. Let people know why you march. Thats the first thing. The second thing i want to you do is i dont want to you go home and forget about the march for life. We need to you march yearround. We need to you go home and build a culture of life in your community all year long. Heres what i want you to do. At the march for life, were going to give you tools to continue marching throughout the entire year. Every month, were going to send you a different message about something you can do to build a culture of life in your area, so he apparently likes our theme. He tweeted out today, every life is a good, marchforlife. [cheering and applause] take a minute to tweet the pope thanks for coming out today. We have an amazing speaker, so im going to move on here. As always, we are honored to be joined at the march for life by several members of the United States congress who are fighting to enact prolife laws and happy to be joined by prolife leadership. Representing that Leadership Today is congresswoman Cathy Mcmorris rogers, the chair. She represents the eastern part of washington state, and is the founder and cochair of the congressional Downs Syndrome caucus. I cant tell you how pleased we are to welcome to the stage congresswoman Cathy Mcmorris rogers. Thank you for being here, from every corner of america to help us celebrate life today on the national mall. What a great day. I am excited to be here, im excited to join my colleagues, in committing to you that we are here to help lead the effort on capitol hill to ensure that every life is protected. Im proud to be a prolife leader and a prolife mom. [cheering and applause]. And later on today in the house of representatives, we will be passing the no taxpayer funding for abortion. We are going to hold [cheering and applause]. We are holding the federal government accountable to prevent your taxpayer dollars from funding abortion. [cheering and applause]. Using taxpayer dollars to fund is an unthinkable act and is a violation of the public trust. Let me be clear. As a prolife advocate, our work is never done, and we remain committed as i stand here today, to passing the unborn Child Protection act in the house of representatives. We remain committed to passing the Health Care Conscience rights act in the house of representatives. The pain capitalable on unborn Child Protection act is so important because it shifts the debate of prolife all across this country and makes it very clear, the pain an unborn child feels is very real and very wrong. Some of you may know that brian and i have are a son, cole, whos seven years old who was born with a 21st extra chromosome. When we received that news, it wasnt what we expected. And we were told and given a long list of possible challenges, chances of heartache. And you know what, that extra chromosome has brought my family a whole bunch of joy. [cheering and applause]. Cole has recommitted my effort and reminded me the value of every human life and the connection every human life can make to this world and today, i am more passionate because of cole in my life, and i am more committed to making sure that people in america understands and celebrate the fact that every child is, and every life is a gift. Today, cole is seven years old, enjoys reading, peanut butter, basketball. If you ask him what he wants to be when he grows up, he says he wants to be a firefighter or football player. Go seahawks i am so inspired to be here with you, and so many young people, its such an honor for me to speak. [cheering and applause]. The next generation of prolife leaders right here. Thank you for being here. Keep taking a stand and sharing your story. Keep sharing the powerful and compelling facts that every life is a gift. Together, we will accomplish great things. We will carry the torch forward and make sure that everyone in america recognizes the gift that every life brings. Thank you very much. Thank you for sharing your inspiration with us. I have one thing, there is a sixyearold boy who is lost behind the stage. If youre looking for your little sixyearold, please come back here. Joining us this morning from the United States senate is another great prolife leader, senator tim scott has served the people of South Carolina in the senate since 2013. And represented South Carolinas first Congressional District prior to that. Please welcome to the stage senator tim scott of South Carolina. [cheering and applause] thank you. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with the house as you move forward to protect legislation life. [cheering and applause] i remember way back when i made jesus christ the lord of my life [cheering and applause] yall gon make me drink up here. I said, all right, all right, all right let me just say, accepting jesus christ as your personal lord and saviour helped me understand the importance of life, and i will tell you that being a protector of life is not simply an elected officials responsibility. I believe it is the responsibility of every single american in our country. [cheering and applause] and we will win the battle for life from coasttocoast. We march always for life. Ill tell you a very quick story, and i know im a politician. My momma wented wanted me to be a preacher so this may not be as quick as some would like. As a Small Business owner, i have several employees and one of my employees several years ago had an unplanned pregnancy, and i had been involved in Crisis Pregnancy Centers in South Carolina the past 20 years so i did what i thought was the right thing to do. I took her to a crisis pregnancy center, and because of the love, the affection, the counseling that happened on that day, she gave birth to her little one. [cheering and applause] and i will tell you, in her words, not mind, she said she thought choice should have been her option. The more she prayed, the more she listened, the more the counselor spoke, the more she understood that her only choice was a choice for life, and she is so happy she made the only choice. We stand here shouldertoshoulder because you are our backbone, because we pray together. Our nation will rise to the occasion and continue to be a force for good, a force for life. [cheering and applause] thank you, senator. I am now very happy to introduce congressman crisman of new jersey. Hes part of the prolife caucus. Congressman smith has been the chair of it for three decades and a prolife leader. Please join me in welcoming congressman smith. Thank you for coming together to witness the value and the dignity of every human life because every human life is a godgiven gift. On behalf of my wife maureen and i, i want to say how grateful we are for the lawmakers. Ive been in congress 35 years, we have never had more prolife, more effective lawmakers than we have today and a leadership that is secondtonone. [cheering and applause] ill be brief. You and i are here today because we have a compelling duty to protect the weakest and the most vulnerable from the violence of abortions. You are part of the most important human rights cause on earth. You and i are working, praying, even fasting for the day when every life is cherished as a gift. Every life loved, despite ones disability, race, sex, color, religion, dependency or condition of dependency, and every life welcomed, no matter the inconvenience. A prenatal diagnosis of disability should mean empathy, love, concerns for the child, so wonderfully exhibited by Cathy Mcmorris rodgers for her son, not a death sentence. [cheering and applause] and i have to tell you, maureen and i have been in the Pro Life Movement for a combined 82 years, got involved in 1972. It is encouraging to see many young people. Tom brokaw talked about the greatest generation, certainly the world war ii era was the greatest. You, the millenials, are the next greatest generation. Thank you for your witness. Right now, you know, were all getting back to vote. H. R. 7 and no taxpayer funding for abortion act, cosponsored by every one of us here, will get a vote in an hour or so. That legislation is historic. It would end our forced complicity, our funding of abortion. President obama in september of 09 came to congress and said, under our plan, no federal funds will be used to pay for abortion. He put out an executive order saying he would comport with the Hyde Amendment. Those promises have turned out to be untrue, a lie, and now we have a situation where over 1,000 obama care plans on the exchange are paying for abortion on demand. This legislation, and i know the senate, will do its best to pass it. We will not quit until we take abortion out of obama care and make the Hyde Amendment proud. [cheering and applause] finally, Cathy Mcmorris rodgers, our conference chair, said a moment ago, the legislation will be on the floor. We know that children at 20 weeks gestation suffer horrific pain. Dismemberment abortions cause agony beyond our wildest belief. This legislation will at least protect those children from the 20th week on, and our leadership is true, they are faithful, and they will bring that legislation to the floor, and we will pass it. Thank you, and god bless you. [cheering and applause] thank you, congressman. Now im honored to welcome the other cochairman of the prolife caucus, dan lipinski from illinois. Please join me in welcoming congressman dan lipinski. Thank you. Im from chicago, im a democrat, and im prolife. [cheering and applause] we all need to come together across parties, across faiths, those with no faith, across the country, across races, ethnicities. We all need to come together to protect life, because the babies need the protection, and because Women Deserve better than abortion. You all are here serving as special roles as witnesses to washington, to the country, and to the world, to show the force of the prolife movement. We hear so much about how the young kids, well, theyre not prolife. Well, you are here, youre the proof. You are the ones who are going to change the heart and minds and help us to change the laws of this country to protect life. You are the prolife generation. [cheering and applause] you are going to help us do it, and we can only do it together. So thank you for being here. Keep on working, keep on fighting. Keep on praying, and we will change the laws of this nation, change it to protect life in this nation and around the world. Thank you. [cheering and applause] thank you, congressman. After you complete the march today, im sure that you it would be wed very much appreciate it if you go to your member of congresss office and tell him or her that you represent many prolife people back in their home district. This afternoon, we are honored to be joined by a number of prolife members of congress on stage. Ill just take a brief amendment to recognize them. Senator jim demint is with us, senator jim lankford of oklahoma. Andy harris of maryland, Tim Huelscamp of kansas. Congressman Bill Huizenga of michigan, pete olsen of texas, representative steve pierce of new mexico, representative Robert Pittenger of north carolina. Representative Thomas Rooney of florida. Representative dan benishek of michigan. Representative bill flores of texas. Congressman tom reed of new york. Keith rosthfus of ohio. House majority whip, Steve Scalise of louisiana. Representative Marlin Stutzman of indiana. Representative Daniel Webster of florida. Congressman Brad Wenstrup of ohio. Congressman Bruce Westerman of arkansas. Congressman tim walberg of michigan. Representative Jackie Walorski of indiana. Okay. Just a little reminder, weve got lots of media here, so if you can keep the banners and signs down a little bit so the cameras can take some pictures too, that would be great. And judging by your signs and banners, i have a feeling that many of you might actually know our next speaker. Elected supreme knight of the knights of columbus, and maker of many of the signs we have here, in addition to many other wonderful things, Carl Anderson has led the Worlds Largest catholic Family Organization to new heights, in Charitable Giving and prolife advocacy. Please welcome to the stage a true prolife leader, supreme knight Carl Anderson. Jeanne, thank you very much. Pro life america is here, and thank god so many of prolife americans are in the congress this year. [cheering and applause] thank you so much for your witness and for Standing Firm for life. This year, we face some new threats, right . Doctorassisted suicide, to legalize it in so many states, but we will stand up for those at the end of life just as we do for those at the beginning of life. [cheering and applause] we must build it for all those who are vulnerable or who suffer. Their life is a gift. Today, we celebrate the gift of every life. More than 40 years after roe v. Wade, america is becoming prolife. [cheering and applause] the prolife culture is growing stronger in america. Our knights of columbus meris poll, this year shows that more and more americans are coming to our side. 84 of americans want significant restrictions on abortion. [cheering and applause] 84 of americans say our laws that can protect both the life of the mother and the life of her unborn child. 2 3 of americans say the nations abortion rate is too high, and a majority of americans believe abortion is immoral. [cheering and applause] so why is america becoming more prolife . Because of your stance in defense of life. [cheering and applause] because no amount of propaganda can change or cover up the pain in women who regret their abortions feel every day, and because women who know the truth choose life. Women have a right to the truth. And thats why over the past five years, the knights of columbus has been putting in over 500 ultrasound machines in crisis pregnancy counseling centers. [cheering and applause] we know that almost every mother who sees her child in an ultrasound chooses life, and we know something else. The number of our machines is 500. The number of these children these machines change is over 50,000 a year. The cost of the machine is 30,000. So the cost to save each one of these lives is only 300. And the value of each of these lives, you and i know, each life is priceless. [cheering and applause] so thank you, god bless you, god bless our children, and God Bless America. [cheering] thank you, Carl Anderson. In 2007, Kathleen Wilson and two friends cheering] okay. For some of you, kathleen needs no introduction. For those of you who havent had a chance, let me tell you, she and two friends started a Maternity Home in their home town of frederiksburg, virginia. [cheering and applause] in the past eight years, kathleen and her team have transformed their ministry from one small house to four houses in the greater fredrixburg area. Please join me in welcoming to the stage a true prolife inspiration, kathleen. [applause] thank you, thank you. Marys shelter, our home for women in a crisis during pregnancy in frederiksburg, virginia. Since opening our doors in 2007. Speak a little more into the mike. Sorry. We are honored to represent the approximately 400 Maternity Homes here in the United States. We exist to help women in desperate need, women who have lost hope, have low selfesteem, and dont believe that their life could ever be a gift to anyone. Many of these women come to us because theyve been put out by their families or boyfriends who want them to abort. Theyre told that they cant do this, they shouldnt have another child, and theyll never be able to give them what they need. They are strongly discouraged from raising a baby, and the last thing in the world on their mind is that the life in the womb is a gift with a godgiven mission. One of our residents, angela, is a young, quiet and uneducated young lady. She became a victim of a horrific crime that left her pregnant. With no Family Support or place to live, and the few friends she had pressuring her to abort, she came to marys shelter where we loved and helped her through her pregnancy. Today, she has a baby girl, and that child has brought her absolute joy. Shes working and plans on continuing her education, and she asks, if not for marys shelter, what would i have done . That childs life is a gift and part of gods creation and plan. Against all odds, women like angela have chosen life, and we are honored to be standing there with them. So many of the moms, after giving birth have cried, they feel so much pain of what might have been and knowing that the people they love and trust didnt want their baby to be born, they know their childs life is a blessing. The need for shelter for women in crisis during a pregnancy continues to grow. At marys shelter, we work at assisting Maternity Homes all over the country to open successfully. I encourage you or others in your community, if youre interested in helping women but not sure how to start or what to do to call us, we can help. Your life is a gift too. Please always continue to be witnesses to the gift of life. Thank you, god bless. [cheering and applause] thank you, kathleen. Our little boy who was lost is now found. We all know that Ultrasound Technology is a gamechanger. The moment when a young couple first sees the ultrasound image of their new baby is truly an awesome moment. Our next speaker is a radiologist who shares this very special moment with mothers and fathers every day. Please welcome dr. Gracie christy. [cheering and applause] hello. As you just heard, im a radiologist, and i get to be there for that awesome moment when a mother and father see their baby for the very first time. Ultrasound has opened a window into the mystery of life before birth when we are small, but very human and very alive. The humanity of the unborn child, which is a medical and scientific reality, is now playing for everyone to see. But ultrasound has a dark side. It has given us the ability to selectively abort children who have an undesirable trait and defects, no matter how small, has become a reason to simply abort and try again. Sadly, in my own practice, i have seen parents seek an abortion for something as minor as a cleft palate. This is the world we are now living in. Children are choices commodities, and those that are deemed effective are being eradicated before birth. When i examine a baby in utero and i detect Downs Syndrome, my heart breaks, because nine times out of 10, this is a death sentence. The mother and father will never know the life that god prepared for them when he created their son or their daughter. Instead, the life of a baby that is typically well over 20 weeks old will end in violence and pain. I have seen very young premature babies in the i. C. U. , and no doctor would think of performing a procedure on these babies without administering anesthesia. Yet, our laws allow the destruction of children inside their mother who are the very same age for no reason at all. These children that are rejected and aborted, they are as perfect as any one of us gathered here today. [cheering and applause] they have hearts made for joy, a soul to cherish, and the humble right to simply exist. Let us resolve today, here and now, to teach the world to acknowledge the humanity of every child, to welcome all gods children into this beautiful challenge we call life. And if i may say to the prolife people out here. [speaking spanish] thank you. Hello, prolife america. My name is tim sosa and proud to serve on the board for the march for life. Im also proud today to be able to recognize our student contest winners. This year, our contest was called, every selfie has a story, and we asked everyone to send us a selfie with an essay, talking about their prolife experience and their prolife volunteerism. The entries from this years contest were all fantastic, and im happy to be joined on the stage by this years winners who are true prolife leaders for their generation. Our middle school winner, Madeline Romberg from dubuq, iowa, and our high school winner, allison burt from bloomington, indiana. If you want to see their winning entries, visit the march for life website at marchforlife. Org or friend us on facebook, follow us on twitter or instagram, and make sure that youre tweeting today as well using the hashtag whywemarch. Welcome back to the podium our president , Jeanne Monahan mancini. Thank you. For our next speaker, im so excited to introduce you to her. She is one of you. When we heard that shorthandley high school. [cheering and applause] when i heard that shandley high school in fargo, north dakota, would close down school and travel and bring their entire student body on more than a 1300mile journey to the march for life, we knew we had found the school to carry the iconic march for life banner. Here to offer a few words on our prolife experience, please welcome Stanley High School student, julia johnson. [cheering and applause] thank you. As was mentioned, my name is julia johnson, and i am a senior at Shanley High School in fargo, north dakota. And as a school, we are humbled and honored to have been selected to carry the lead banner in this years march for life. To the youth of america, it is our responsibility to end the scourge of abortion. [cheering and applause] at shanly high school, we are doing just that. We have had a Prolife Group for many years. We have decided to bring our entire high school this year. Including students and teachers, we crammed over 800 students into four busses. We have traveled to d. C. To be a witness to life in our nations capitol. We are the prolife generation [cheering and applause] to my fellow youth, our cause in defending life is a noble one. It is noble because we are living in a modern day holocaust, a holocaust that on average takes the lives of more than 3,000 babies each day, which amounts to over 1 million babies a year. The silent horror of abortion has imbedded itself into society and has targeted the most vulnerable and precious of us all. But we will not remain idle. We cannot. It is our job to protect our brothers and sisters in the womb, and their right to life. [cheering and applause] it is our obligation to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. For ones value is not determined by size or by age. As i look out, i see hundreds of thousands of people who are willing to stand up for what is right and true and virtuous. Our generation has stared through the smoke of lie and deceit, and we have seen the truth. We know that human life is present in the womb, and we are willing to fight for it. [cheering and applause] we refuse to stand by and watch the lives of innocent children be discarded as nothing more than medical waste. This is why we march. We march to stop an injustice that has taken a lives of a third of our generation. This prolife revolution was not born out of hate for our neighbors, but out of love. [cheering and applause] and as we walk today, i look forward to experiencing the joy that comes from being part of an event that is bigger than ourselves. I am privileged to march with each and every one of you. For together, we will achieve victory for mothers and their babies, for our country, and for our god. God bless. [cheering and applause] wow. Thank you, julia. And its a very, very critical part for prolife work, women who regret being involved with an abortion. For more than a decade, silent no more Awareness Campaign has brought messages of hope and healing to hundreds of women in these situations. I am most grateful for our following speaker and for her courage that she would be here with us to share her story, the chicago regional director of silent no more, nancy cruiser. Hello, my name is nancy cruiser, and i am louder. My name is nancy cruiser and i am a regional coordinator with the silent no more Awareness Campaign, a project of priests for life and anglicans for life. We have been impacted by abortion and seek to heal the shock waves felt by everyone involved. When i was 5. 5 months pregnant, i was told by my doctor that my baby had water on the brain, and my doctor advised an abortion. I was in my second trimester, and it was a twoday procedure. At the abortion clinic, no one asked how i was, explained what was happening to me. I felt afraid, alone, and devastated. I cried, but no one acknowledged my pain. I left the clinic with nobody to bury. No grave, no funeral. I vomited in the parking lot and rode home in silence. No one brought meals, sent cards, no one called because i had been too ashamed to tell anyone what i had done. I tried to bury the memory of my abortion and i didnt recognize its scars. I thought i was fine. But i was fearful and would awaken from repeated nightmares of running from something so horrible. After 15 years of living like that, i gave my heart to christ and he healed me from the pain of my abortion. [applause] i didnt feel alone anymore. Gods loving forgiveness has transformed me. I named my daughter melanie. I have her ultrasound picture on my dresser with the pictures of my other children. Today, when you march by the Supreme Court, stop and hear more silent no more testimonies and visit silent no more. Com. Every child is a gift. I deeply regret my abortion and that is why i am silent no more. Thank you. [applause] thank you, nancy, for that moving testimony. Next, i am very happy to introduce the president of students for life of america. Kristin hawkins time as a pro life advocate began in high school and continued in college. Kristin has the opportunity to share her zeal for pro life leadership with more than 800 college and High School Pro life organizations across the United States. Please join me in welcoming kristin hawkins. [applause] you know, ill never forget the day that my sons doctor called and he told me my son had tested positive for cystic fibrosis. A genetic and incurable disease. Everything had been changed. It was a moment that every parent begs god that they will never have to face. The past six years, my life has been dramatically changed by gunters entry into this world. Things that i thought were important are no longer. My husband and i have had to sacrifice a comfortable life just to afford medications. Weve had to move halfway across the country away from our family and friends to be near gunters care team. We have both personally had to transform our career goals, but you know, it is all worth it because gunter has had so much joy and so much light to my family. He is smart and inquisitive, earned the hearted big brother. Every day i am reminded that his time and my time with him is precious. Today i speak to you pregnant with my fourth child. My first daughter. [applause] my first baby girl, gracie. I pray she is not born with this same genetic disease. But i know if she is, she will have a big brother wholl be there for her, to answer her questions and help her with her treatments and she will have a family that loves her unconditionally. Caring for and raising a child with special needs is not easy. And i have personally felt the push in our culture to create perfect babies. What may be more perfect through Therapeutic Abortion and every destructive i. V. F. Technique. Im here to implore you as leaders of the Pro Life Movement to talk about this issue in your churches and parishes all over. Go to facebook, go to twitter. Post pictures of children who have been born with genetic disabilities. Go to your statehouse and lobby and help those families in need. Having gunter has affirmed my calling. I wonder if i hadnt lived by my pro life beliefs in high school and college, would i have been convinced to abort him . Would i have thought that was the humane way to go . Thats why our work with the Pro Life Association is so important because i know every child that is born is precious and is a gift. Men and women, i come to you today with hope in my heart that we will abolish abortion in this lifetime. [applause] my question for you this. Do you believe it . Do you truly believe that . [applause] i believe in a mighty and awesome good. The maker of all things. Do you believe . [applause] if so, it is time to act like it. For we are the pro life generation [applause] ok. Is everybody ready . As we come toward the end of our rally, im just going to say one thing. Have you texted the word give life. Good. Ok. As we come close to the end of our rally we want to take a few moments to recognize the many, many, many and wonderful pro life organizations that we work alongside throughout the year. We all take different approaches and have different constituents but we all share the conviction that every life is a gift. Im just going to read through. This is quite a long list. Stay with me. First of all, 40 days for life. Ok. We have a really long list here. Alliance defending freedom. American life league. Americans united for life. Care net. The center for ethics and culture. The center for bioethics and Human Dignity. Christian medical and dental association. Concerned women of america. Crossroads for life. Eagle forum. And then there were none. Family Research Council. Family Research Council action. Generation joshua. Heartbeat international. Heritage foundation. Legal defense fund. Human life international. Justice house of prayer. Knights of columbus. Let freedom ring. Manhattan declaration. Republican national committee. Patriots voices. National black pro life union. National family and pro life institute. National religious broadcasters. Online for life. Operation rescue. Priests for life. Radiance foundation. Ethics and religious liberty commission. Silent no more. Stand true ministries. Students for life of america. Tradition family property. Reconciliation Community Church and last but not least, the United States catholic conference of bishops. [applause] thank you for all of your very hard work, folks. Thank you very, very much. Ok. Now we can go. Thank you very much, pro life organizations. And the president of the National Hispanic christian leadership conference, our next speaker oversees the largest christian hispanic organization. He is an awardwinning author. A loving husband. A proud father of three. Please welcome to the stage to share with us his story and then to lead us in our closing prayer. Reverend samuel rodriguez. [applause] we gather today, not as blacks, whites, yellow or brown. We gather today as children of the living god. We gather today with a commitment to reconcile righteousness with justice. Sanctification with truth and love. We gather today with biblical conviction and courage to speak to the spiritual forces that exacerbate the death of innocence in the womb. We gather today to speak to the spirit of and to declare the following. We declare the following. For every pharaoh there will be a moses. For every goliath, there will be a david. There will be a daniel. There will be an elijah. For every hero, there will be a jesus. And for every that rises up against us, there is a mightier god that rises up for us. The right to life stems not from the executive branch, judicial or the legislative branch. The right to life does not stem from a Political Party or apparatus. It does not come from the donkey or the elephant. The right to life comes from the man that is on the throne. His name is jesus. Remind our nation and our fellow citizens that uncle sam may be our uncle, but he will never be our heavenly father. \[applause] lets pray. Heavenly father. We pray that this generation will recognize the image of god in every human being. We pray the followers of christ will no longer hide as mighty heroes of righteousness and justice. We pray that the children of the cross realize that todays complacency is tomorrows captivity. That moral stagnation leads to spiritual atrophy and that there is no such thing as comfortable christianity. We pray that children will not be aborted. That marriages will thrive and religious liberty will prevail for generations to come. We pray that truth will never be sacrificed on the alter of expediency, that love will overcome hate and that the prophetic will silence the pathetic. We pray that the strength of the father, the grace of the son and the anointing of gods spirit to equip us in order to advance your agenda and protect the innocent and unborn i will all while we do justice, have mercy and we pray all of this in the holy righteous triumphant victorious name that jesus christ, our lord and savior. Amen. [applause] thank you. Ok, everyone. Were about ready to start marching here with just a couple of favors. First, if you have any trash there is a dumpster in the trash area on the way to where youre going to start marching. So please dump it in there. If you see any on the ground also please pick it up. Also our knights of columbus from virginia will be collecting donations along constitution avenue. Please be generous. However, before we begin our march, i would ask everyone to welcome back marie miller, back to the stage to close the rally by singing God Bless America. Marie miller. God bless america land that i love stand beside her and guide her through the night from the light from above from the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam God Bless America my Home Sweet Home God Bless America my Home Sweet Home thank you. God bless you all. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, there is one more announcement. A 9 year old is looking for her parents from north dakota. So you see anyone, they are right over here by the gate. Nancy pelosi talked about the invitation to benjamin not new to address Congress Invitation to invite Benjamin Netanyahu to address congress. Then Angela Merkel talks about the european union. Then the french president live from davos switzerland, at 5 30 eastern. On the next washington journal Mark Ginsberg talks about the terror attacks in paris and the resignation of the government and yemen. After that, author edward klein barred on his new book, how government should spend our money. Plus we will look at for your phone calls and comments and tweets all on washington journal. This saturday live coverage of the iowa Freedom Summit begins at 10 00 a. M. Eastern. Speakers include the 2016 president ial candidates, governors rick perry, scott walker, and chris christie. Former governor Mike Huckabee, donald trump, and dr. Ben carson, as well as 2008 Vice President nominee sarah palin. The iowa Freedom Summit this saturday on cspan. Here are a few of the comments we have recently received on the state of the Union Address. I am very excited by the president s state of the Union Address. And i would have liked to hear him talk more about job security. Now that unemployment has gone down i would like to hear what policies are going to be in place to help people to hold onto the jobs they have an people who are having a difficult time finding work. Well, i was, actually unimpressed. Maybe im a little old school, but to me a universally paid, Even Community college, really takes away the initiative out of the student. And i do not know, maybe back in my era we had to work our way through college. Our parents did not provide. We found a way to get through college. For those that have nothing that are flat broke potentially there should be some help. But i think we have got to be cautious and judicious on how we are throwing that money out. On not just from a budgetary standpoint but what it does or does not do for the recipient. The republican from iowa, she did make a comment that said you do not need to come from wealth and privilege to understand what is right for this country. I just wanted to let everyone know that i am a firstgeneration american. So i do understand what it means to build from nothing, to come to something that you can be proud of. We need to let go of old ways of thinking and embrace where we are as a country today and where we are going to we need to continue to salute our troops and their sacrifices and embrace where our future is headed, but i also wanted to say that we still have so much ahead of us. History has proven that we can be judgmental of our leaders and history proves that differently. I just hope that in the next two years we can hold tight to our values despite party lines to continue to grow our country and our future generations. Continue to let us know you think about the programs you are watching. Call us at email us comments cspan. Org. Like us on facebook and follow us on twitter. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says she disagreed with speaker John Boehners decision to fight israels Prime Minister to address the u. S. Congress. She also talked about the house passed a portion legislation in a 20 minute briefing. Good morning. Thank you for come early as we gather. Votes are beginning on the floor. So lets get right down to it. Were very proud of president Barack Obamas state of the Union Address. He put forth an agenda for middle income economics, middle class economics in sharp contrast to the trickle down economics that republicans had been advocating. He put forth the agenda of bigger paychecks, better infrastructure, which is something that the American People have told us they want and that was reflected in the opening day statement here for the house democrats. He put forth an agenda when women succeed, America Succeeds about equal pay for equal work raising the minimum wage, about paid sick leave and family medical leave and also about a very strong statement on child care, affordable, quality child care. These are transformational in terms of the power of families not only when you put families in the workplace. We were very proud of the president s statement and again, a blueprint for success for americas working families. Again, in sharp contrast to the trickle down tax cuts to the rich, let trickle down, if jobs are created, so be it. Not a way to increase the paycheck. You have heard the expression, it is the economy, stupid, it is the paycheck, genius. This is really what it comes down to. We need more purchasing power for americas middle class. The middle class is the job creation machine of our country. To the extent that they have disposable income to consume as a consumer in our economy, the better off our economy will be. That is what has stood in the way of a full recovery from a near depression, deep recession that the republicans took us to this 2008 and the same policies they want to put forth now. They are not even trying. Instead of putting forth some illusion of a Jobs Initiative today on the floor of the house, in contrast to talking about job creation and a bigger paycheck they are putting a bill on the floor that undermines the health of americas women. The bill is worse than the bill that pulled from the floor yesterday. That affected thousands of women maybe. This affects millions of women. It not only affects their health, it affects their personal decision on how they spend their own money for Health Insurance. Thats what well be voting on now. It is hard to imagine with all that is going on and all the talk about middle class and bigger paychecks, thats what the American People want us to address, that they go down this path. They didnt even have their act together. They had to pull their bill last night and come back with an even worse bill. At the same time, as you know in december, they refused to put forth a Border Security bill funding for a Border Security bill for a year. They said they would do it in january. In january, paris occurred. The whole world was galvanized around the point of Homeland Security and each persons country. It seemed like the House Chamber was a hermetically sealed chamber. That was oblivious to everything that was going on in the world in terms of protecting people from terrorism. Once again they came forth with a bill that was ridiculous and irresponsible in terms of meeting a bill that could pass and get signed that really did the job for funding Homeland Security. And next week, they will even make matters worse with a authorization bill, a border bill. They had a bipartisan bill that passed overwhelmingly, unanimously out of committee. We hoped it would come to the floor. Now they have taken another path on a bill that again cannot become law. It is hard to understand why they dont understand the priority that safety is. We take an oath to support and defend and that protection of the American People is our first responsibility. So whether it is their Economic Security or Homeland Security, the republicans have been delinquent in all this. But on the positive side, were very thrilled with what the president put forth with great confidence to grow our economy in a way that had prosperity and an economy that worked for everyone, not just the few and forward thinking bold and in areas that by and large we have had bipartisan support all along as we have worked together over the years. I thought it was particularly useful that what the president proposed is supported by large numbers in the public in a bipartisan, nonpartisan way, but not on the floor of the house of representatives. Any questions that you may have . Yeah. [inaudible] well, the fact is some women said they would vote for the bill and now the bill that has come back is worse. I dont know what to make of it. Millions of women will be affected and their Reproductive Health will be affected by what is happening. Obviously we will be strenuously opposing that legislation. I dont know if that was about politics, but in terms of policy, what they are bringing to the floor now is worse. Well see how they vote. During the state of the union, the president again double downed on his threat to veto sanctions in iran. I was wondering how you react to speaker boehners and also i wanted you to touch on your experience as speaker. Well, ill get to your second question first because the first part is much more important. Negotiations on iran. When i was i was minority leader and became one of the four leaders, it was clear always, that if we had a suggestion about a head of state, it was something that had to be passed around the top four leaders. For example, one of my when i was minority leader, before being speaker, one of the people that i hoped to invite was the woman president of liberia. I knew that she would be a spectacular guest for the house, but for the congress, a joint session. I talked to the senate first. I talked to the leadership about would that be ok . And they agreed that it would. The concern that people had going back then was will those members show up . They are not always enthusiastic about attending these joint sessions. So that was my introduction to it. You have talked to other three there is some consensus among the four. Im not saying that it is a big challenge. People usually would cooperate. They have raised their concern about attendance, this or that. I know we would be bursting at the seams. We were with attendance. Again, i think everybody recognizes that we have to have our own im not going to go to them if we dont have our own agreement. So when i was speaker, we had King Abdullah of jordan, president sarcozy of france, taoiseach ahern of ireland chancellor merkel of germany and president calderon of mexico. It was initiated by congress but agreed to by all four leaders. So it is out of the ordinary that the speaker would decide that he would be inviting people to a joint session without any bipartisan consultation. And of course, we always our friendship with israel is a very strong one. Prime minister netanyahu has spoken to the joint session two times already. There are concerns about the fact that as i understand it from this morning, this presentation will take place within two weeks of the election in israel. I dont think that is appropriate for any country that the head of state would come here within two weeks of his own election in his own country. The more serious part of your question is about the sanctions. Yes, the president was correct in his presentation on the strength in which he presented his appeal to congress that we not have sanctions at this time. Putting it in perspective, this administration, working with our allies, the permanent five, that is the p5, the permanent members of the Security Council plus germany, that includes that includes france, italy, u. K. , russia and china. Think of the challenge to bring consensus on a negotiating position with those five countries and then plus germany. The p5 plus one. They came together, very delicate negotiations. The success of the Obama Administration to have that happen. It took time. It has strength. And those negotiations have taken place. They needed an extension to see what was possible. We all agree that iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. That is important. That is probably the most important item, to stop the proliferation. Of weapons of mass destruction an Important Pillar of our Foreign Policy and a shared view of our allies on this. So these negotiations have gone on for a long time. They are delicate and we made it really clear that a bad deal is not anything were going to accept. We have also made it clear that there are sanctions at work that are multilateral with these same countries and also we have bilateral sanctions and that has been a force to bring iran to the table. So is it necessary to show what we can do . Everybody knows that congress can pass sanctions any time. So what is the point . What is the point . The problem is that it could seriously undermine the delicate diplomacy that is at work. I see in the post today that four Foreign Ministers, france germany, u. K. Plus the e. U. Have written not to do the sanctions. So our president has a plan. It has so far taken us down a path that has frozen the capability in iran thus far. It may or may not succeed. But we cannot have it fail because Congress Wants to flex its muscle unnecessarily when these negotiations should rise and fall on whats happening in those negotiations, recognizing the strength that that Diplomatic Initiative of p5 plus one brings to the table. And so what is the point of sanctions . And if that is the purpose of Prime Minister netanyahus visit two weeks before his own election right in the midst of our negotiations, i just dont think it is appropriate and helpful. Yes . [inaudible] you know what . Something that says politicians should determine what affects the health of a woman, her life, her health and the rest. I dont think it is up to politicians to do that. Thats why we are very overwhelmingly opposing what is going on the floor of the house. Do you think youll block it . I dont know if we will block it but we could have a veto. You said that you think boehner was inappropriate in inviting netanyahu. You think it was a mistake in diplomacy or protocol . It is out of order in terms of the protocol and respect. The speaker of the house has awesome power. I know that. Ive been there. The fact, though, is that that power is not to be squandered. We live through a period of time now under Republican Leadership where they have gone outside and said were open and transparent and all the rest when in fact that is not the case. We had bills on the floor this week that had one rule. They dont want to have to debate. They dont want to have to have the discussion, the transparency that bringing each bill would enable in the course of forming the committee. The speaker has unilaterally cut the size of committees since he has become speaker. Can you imagine if i ever did that and decided that the committees were going to be smaller, what the reaction would be. Somehow the press has chosen to ignore that. That is not right. They dont have diversity. We do. We need representation on these committees and the speaker cuts them. There has been a series of things, just unilateral action that doesnt have to be that way. Maybe we will all agree that certain committees are too large or too small. Just to decide that my members dont want to serve on education so your members cant either, so were cutting the size of the committee. When the speaker did this is anything a surprise around here . No. Its hubris to say that ill rule. Ill decide. The election is taking place within two weeks. The invitation is for march 3 and the election is the 17th Something Like that. And also the fact that what is the purpose of it . The purpose to come and talk about sanctions, to talk about a policy and opposition, to the policy that our president has just put forth in his state of the Union Address and that has been in operation for many months. Whatever the outcome of these talks, make no mistake, the president has taken no option off the table in stopping iran from have a nuclear weapon, a weapons of mass destruction. But his hand is strengthened if he exhausted every diplomatic remedy, but to jeopardize that diplomatic remedy will lose credibility worldwide in that regard. Yes, maam . The abortion legislation that was going to be on the floor. Did it surprise you at all that there was this backlash from some of the women and again, just putting on your old speakers hat. Speaker bohner sometimes has had difficulty corralling his members. Do you have any advice for him . Let me just say this. I dont know all the particulars because this is happening we found out last night that they were pulling the bill and now they are putting a bill out there that makes matters worse. So when you say this isnt about any improvement because of the actions that were taken yesterday. And the improvement in the policy, it makes matters worse. It makes permanent the Hyde Amendment. We havent done that before. It undermines the ability of a woman to use her own money for her own insurance for reproductive services. This affects millions of people in our country and this affects the district of columbia. This is a much broader bill. This will look bad to the young people that were hoping to attract if you have a bill like this that was worded the way the bill was. For cosmetic reasons, they thought that wasnt a good idea. Now they are going to a much worse bill. I dont know what the progress is and how moderate the influence was there. But ill not inside their caucus. Youre just going to have to talk to them about all of that. This was not a success for women and their Reproductive Health. Yes, maam, one last question. On the abortion issue, i understand your position on the legislation, when it comes to the matter of whether or not an unborn child is a human being at 20 weeks gestation. What is your personal opinion . What do you believe it is . It is really interesting that you would come to these meetings to talk about it. The fact is what we have said. The life and the health of the mother is what is preeminent when a decision is made about womens Reproductive Health. It isnt an ideological fight. It is a personal health issue. As a mother of five in six years, i have great understanding of this issue, understanding of it more than my colleagues. In fact, one day, many years ago, maybe before you were born, when i was a new member of congress, as a catholic and mom of five, opposing some of the initiatives similar to what in the same vein of what we have today when the republican members got up and said nancy pelosi thinks she knows more about having babies than the pope. Yeah. Yeah. That would be true. [laughter] so in any event, this is up to women. Their conscience, their god, their doctor, their health their faith, survival, that is about what the decision should be. Decisions about womens Reproductive Health should not be made by politicians in washington, d. C. , but should honor the decisions that have been made by the Supreme Court the decision made by the Supreme Court, recognizing the right of women to have that choice. Thank you all very much. Byebye. Nancy pelosi talking about the house speakers invitation to the israeli Prime Minister to address a joint session of congress. Prime minister netanyahu is scheduled to be in washington, d. C. , on tuesday, march 3. And coverage of the u. S. Conference of mayors meeting in washington continues friday. We will hear from former mayors. Including three cabinet secretaries at 9 30 eastern on cspan 3. Here are some of our future progress for this weekend on the cspan networks. On cspan 2, saturday night on book tvs afterwards, my cuppa be on americas cultural landscape. Sunday night at 11 00, Preston University historian gillian belzer julian zelizer. On cspan 3 saturday 8 00 p. M. University of california davis professor on the role of the British Royal air force and allied strategy during world war ii. Sunday evening at 6 00, american artifacts. Sammy marks an archivists tours the schools amiri ehrhardt collections. Amelia ehrhardt collections. Let me know what you think about the programs you are watching. Call us at email us at comments cspan. Org, or send us a tweet. Join the cspan conversation. Like us on facebook. Follow us on twitter. Leaders from around the world and politics, philanthropy, and business our meeting and davos for the World Economic forum. The french president will address the conference this morning and is expected to talk about the terror attacks in paris. Live coverage at 5 30 a. M. Later, john kerry addressing the form. Secretary kerry met with the british and iraqi Prime Ministers on thursday. Live coverage of his remarks at 10 40 eastern. Next german chancellor Angela Merkel on the need for economic reform and the european union. She talked about the ongoing conflict between ukraine and russia and greeces future membership in the eu. Her remarks at the World Economic forum ran 25 minutes. This may well be one of the most important messages that we need to bring to citizens, that we need to discuss with them the principle of democracy must be our answer to terrorism. It is not something that can be imposed from above. It has to be filled with life through the freedoms that the citizens ahve. Have. Freedom means being free to do something to show responsibility where he or she stands. And in this 25th year of german unity, that is important to us we will celebrate the 25th anniversary of unity this year and we will not only Pay Lip Service to this, we will try to fill this printable with life. Last year, we were confronted in a different way with problems that we have not actually expected to this extent the conflict between russia and the ukraine. We had the ukrainian president here. He explained how he sees the situation. On behalf of my government and as german chancellor, there is one thing that we hold very important, namely the fact that this here elementary principles of the european peaceful order were violated. The annexation of crimea is not just any kind of annexation but it is a clear and flagrant violation of what has made us live peacefully and coexist peacefully together in europe after the war respective our borders. And this is so important because ukraine gave up ists Nuclear Arsenal because there was a budapest memorandum. Aof russia and the United States as a guarantor for the territorial integrity of the ukraine. Which other country waited give up its Nuclear Arsenal . If you give that up then you are making yourself weaker and more vulnerable to this kind of attack. But we also learned from the world wars in eurpeope that a military response to such a challenge cannot be successful. There is no military solution to it. This is why sanctions were unaffordable. They could also be lifted if the reasons for why they have been imposed are no longer there, that we are not there yet. I would like to underline here the whole of europe, but we in germany, time and again together with the french president try in the normandy format to bring about the diplomatic solution. The Foreign Ministers of this normandy format met yesterday. There are certain small steps towards progress. Although there are many setbacks. Tthehe minsk agreement is they basis. Apart from these challenges, there are also challenges of an economic nature. And challenges as a whole. This year, germany is in the chair of the g7. The Sustainable Development of our world is we wish protection of the climate, reduction of poverty, the fight against microbiological resistance, and i take this issue to heart empowerment of women to set up their own businesses. What is also important is to make the world stronger economically speaking. Europe continues to be confronted by greater challenges. We quite often talk about the debt crisis and the crisis in the euro area. We have this is somewhat under control, but we are not out of the woods yet. We have not overcome it. Europe has not really regained sufficient trust. Regained sufficient competitiveness. I am always for market. Painting matters of black and white. Quite often i is pitted against the growth model. I think this is totally wrong. We need a growthoriented sound fiscal policy. We need investments. We need investments by the state, but first and foremost we need an environment which encourages private investment. If today in these minutes we expect a decision by the European Central bank, then this will be a decision that will be taken totally independent. Let mstate we have a long tradition of stressing that the ecb is independent and should be independent. As a politician, no matter what decision to ecb will take, we should not become diverted from the fact that we need to put a necessary form work framework in place for recovery. We have very clear reform efforts. In italy, we finally have the italian Prime Minister here addressing you. In france, there is a new coursem whi