Transcripts For CSPAN Washington Journal 20150416

Is expected to sign that legislation. A gyro doctor from gettysburg, pennsylvania to the line of gyro copter from gettysburg, pennsylvania to the lawn of the capital. We would like to hear from you. The numbers are on screen. Send us a tweet. Send a comment on facebook or send us an email. Well be looking at the front page today of the Washington Post and the picture of that gyro copter as it was about to land on the west lawn of the u. S. Capitol. This is a picture taken from one eyewitness on the u. S. Capitol. The question is, how could this happen you and has is following the story from roll call joins us on the phone. Hannah hess works for all and is joining us on the phone. This is the most secure airspace in the world and he was able to penetrate it. Guest that is exactly right. And it appears he was working in concert with the Tampa Bay Times. They posted the story before he cuts down on the lawn. The reporters reached out to both the secret service and the Capitol Police, and there is an unidentified sergeant who said they knew nothing about this mans arrival before they came. Capitol Police Arrested him, but there were few answers for the press that was assembled yesterday on the capitol lawn waiting for the Capitol Police chief to address them about what Capitol Police knew, when they knew it, and how close they were communicating with the secret service and whether or not this could have been prevented. We even had senator Lindsey Graham come out yesterday and suggests this gyro copter should have been shot out of the sky. Host let me ask you about the tampa bay newspaper, because as you just indicated, the headline is paper is along for the ride are. Pointing out store is also Available Online at washington. Come. What are you hearing on that front . Guest its an important question to consider. Again, there are not really answers from the Capitol Police on how this would have been handled also handled. It is an intelligence question but its obviously important to think about what the newspapers responsibility is full survey could have shot down this plane. My sources tell me that the cop that was first seeing the fly come in was on the radio saying does this guy have clearance . Im seeing this guy landing on the capital lawn on the capitol lawn. There was a lot of confusion. And the woman who was confused on october 3, 2013, and drove her car into the security gate outside the capital. And in that case, lethal force was used and she was shot to death in her car. What is the appropriate response and how would that have changed if they had more intelligence about what was about to happen . Host let me give you some information about the gyrocopter did that weighs about 254 pounds and the range between takeoff and landing is about 70 to 80 miles. In drive, its about a twohour drive from washington, d. C. To gettysburg and in that entire time he was not stopped by anyone, despite the billions that we pay for norad and other security. And with other security concerns, there is a piece that the Washington Post points out and also some changes. What can you tell us . Guest i reported just a couple of hours before this gyrocopter landed that the office of police had received notice that one of the deputy chiefs would be taking over the resigning t retiring capital chiefs. He had submitted his letter of resignation to the Capitol Police board. Its still unclear if the sergeant at arms at the capital will act his resignation. They have also apparently challenged him to come up with some solutions for how to handle security concerns around the capital. The capitol. There is tension in the rankandfile of the leadership at it raises questions whether or not indication is adequate when there is an emergency. The results of a scare there was also a scare this past saturday. There was a suicide on the west front. It appeared to be unrelated, but also cost the lockdown of the capital. Host there are Security Issues desk covering Security Issues for rollcall, hannah hess, thank you for being with us. Guest thank you. Host we want to hear from you. The headline from the amended Atlanta Journalconstitution is senate oks medicare fix. The president is expected to sign the measure. Here is this tweet on the gyrocopter. Lets hear from you. Bob is first up, Houston Texas democrat line. Good morning to you. Caller good morning. How are you . Host fine, thank you. How are you . Caller ok. Listen, i have two concerns about our democracy and that is why i called in some concerns i have are gerrymandering and the money in politics. And that is why i called in. The two concerns i have are gerrymandering and the money in politics. It is no longer the peoples house. The last election that we had where only 30 of the people voted, the split between democrats and republicans was about 5050, but yet the house went to a majority of Something Like 40 more republicans than democrats. I think what we have is both parties not willing to do anything about it and both of them are participating in the gerrymandering. Then we have two cases now that the Supreme Court has heard about gerrymandering, one of them from alabama and the other one was from arizona about the legislature wishing to overturn a citizens prerogative where they went up and set up a nonpartisan commission to set boundary lines and the legislature wants to take that over. Host bob thanks very much for the call from houston, texas. The numbers are on the screen. A story by Jonathan Martin inside the New York Times as Hillary Clinton is wrapping up her visit to iowa with a vignette for business coders for Business Owners. When bill clinton loved his governorship in the 1980s and how he was able to come back in arkansas politics. The story is available atn ytimes. Com by Jonathan Martin. Sally is next. What is on your mind . Caller hi, thank you very much. I have a comment and eric west will stop and a request. I appreciate cspan and have abridged have listened to it for years, but im on a mission to amend the constitution to say money is not reach and corporations are not natural persons money is not speech and corporations are not natural persons so we can regain a voice our government. It seems to be completely unheard of now. And also, if you would have david cobb moved to amend on the washington journal who was a Green Party Candidate in 2008 and hes very informed on amending the constitution. Were doing another initiative in washington it and we are just starting to get signatures for it. Host sally, thank you. By the way, the head of the Libertarian Party join us on sunday. And we do all always cover the third Party Conventions leading up to elections. A friend of senator menendez just had indicted for Medicare Fraud where he pocketed over 150 million. Bernie republican line. Good morning. Caller good morning and thanks for taking my call. Very simply, if you want to reduce money in politics eliminate reelections. For instance, give the president one term of eight years, maybe 12, or maybe 10. And you can do that with everyone else. First of all, they will be fewer elections and less money required for elections. Also, if someone wanted a corrupt official, they could give them all the money they want but once hes elected and cannot be reelected, they cannot count on him to do anything that he doesnt want to do. That is my suggestion. Remove reelections from the senate, from the president the the presidency and the house. Host in the wall street journal a piece that is getting a lot of attention this country and in europe as europe is charging google over its searches. It could lead to broader action by the european union. And below that, Clinton Charity to keep foreign donors. Vicki, thanks for being with us. Caller my suggestion is for all human beings. The problem is, this is why white people treat black people like animals. Until white people realize that black people are human beings all minorities, we are human beings and then they can understand us and feel the way they are supposed to feel about all human beings. Host vicki from california. In politico. Com, this story says this senate names and entire budget panel to negotiate spending blueprint. The Senate Majority leader Mitch Mcconnell may need the entire senate. Skipping over some of the senior members who borrowed the gop who barred the gop from boosting the entire markup. It could make for some interesting talks. Senator pat toomey, for instance, would like to keep a higher threshold for defense money, even something his fellow senators want to trim. And senator bob corker is a big backer for delayed mandatory spending and using the spending hikes elsewhere. The full story is Available Online at politico. Com. In texas, democrat line, good morning. Caller good morning and thank you for taking my call. You are my favorite host. I have a favor to ask come up and im a little nervous so bear with me. Every time a hear someone get on your program, or any of the washington journal programs and talk about entitlements, they always call entitlements Social Security, medicare, and medicaid , and they are not the only entitlements. Any Government Employee or any government benefit that is guaranteed by the government is an entitlement. That includes all of their health care, their pensions, and i wish you would point that out when someone mentions that again. Host ok, bob, thanks for the call from texas. The headline of the front page of usa today after the pilot landed on the capital. Doug use is 61 years old. And a story that is getting attention is that the Tampa Bay Times new about this several months ago. Bruce, welcome to the program. Caller good morning. If you will give me a little bit of time to try to elaborate can i will try to be at concise as possible. As concise as possible. The first thing is illegal immigrants. I live in southeast baltimore. Mayor Rawlings Blake of the city barack obama put out an executive order to stop discrimination supposedly. But it was really to protect illegal immigrants. Im tired of it. My neighborhood has an awful lot of illegal immigrants, and when a lot of them moved here, a lot of hispanics moved here 10 years ago i always said they had the right to be here. But what i noticed is, they show no respect for the rest of the neighborhood, made no attempt to simulate to assimilate. And nancy pelosi, speaker of the house, hires them illegally and there is a lot of noise in my neighborhood and im sick of it. A quick segue, the guy that was talking about entitlements, i worked at a steel plant for 29 years. And because of what happened with pension benefit guarantee the corporation and took our benefits, up to 300 million the last 10 years and our representatives have done nothing about it. And mr. Ben corning then i went to that i went to a number of times about it, he seems to be more important more interested in Trayvon Martin and the ferguson issue than he is about all the steelworkers and the 30,000 people that work there. Im tired of it. Im going to tell you another thing. Im tired of the National Public radio stations, the guys like mark steiner and dan rogers that are always preaching racism. They always assume that white people are white supremacist. Im tired of it. Im openminded photo i except everybody for who they are. I believe in what Martin Luther king said about being judged by the content of the character. I am going to say this. I have to be careful. I do want to be offending anybody. The wainwright people are being treated, its terrible. Host we have a few minutes left and then to members of congress will be joining us. This story that we talked about earlier about the Capitol Police chief leadership question, this is the story that she posted back in february. Also posting concerns about the security at the u. S. Capitol and whether or not there are enough checkpoints in parking gorgeous. That stories from june of last year. Lets go to ken in virginia. Caller good morning. I worked on capitol hill, and im not disclosing what agency or work for. Of the fact of the matter is the newspaper didnt have the right to withhold information on something that is violating the law and there is a nofly zone, regardless of what when you are trying to make or how innocent it may seem to stop it may seem. It can encourage others to violate the law. Its very dangerous. There are quite a few visitors to the capital and a put a puts people in unnecessary fear and can cause panic. Host a story this morning says that the pilot landed on a different location at the west front, but was prepared for what was happening. But he did notify anyone. Caller that is correct, the plan was for him to land on these signs new the Supreme Court. But that did not happen. The east side of the Supreme Court. But that did not happen. It shows they were out to get a story. It shows the interest our media have over protecting our nation. Host thanks for the call. Story from the Washington Post is is the paper along for the ride . The front page of the l. A. Times, courtesy of the museum newseum. And also the front page of the boston globe, Aaron Hernandez guilty of murder. Mike is next from a hobby arizona mojave, arizona. Caller i have a couple of comments about Navy Recruiting advertising. A specific one where they have a person talking, probably an actress, that said she promises to obey those appointed over her. I think the proper statement would be to say she would obey the lawful orders of those over her, not just any. The second comment is that with made a commitment to go anywhere in the world to protect democracy. What is democracy here and what is democracy their . Democracy there . I think they were more advertisement than recruitment. Host thank you. The front page of the washington times, the selling of the new hillary. And governor Chris Christie travels across New Hampshire calling for changes in Social Security and the impact it has on the president ial campaign. They travel to nashua, New Hampshire for the first the nation leadership summit. Next is don from greenville, ohio, good morning. Caller good morning. I would like to talk a little bit about third party. Mainly, i think weve had five other parties run for president. I was like to say they should get together and call the new party we, the people of the United States. Without that you will never get campaignfinance reform. You will not get term limits. Because people, wake up. These two parties are not the same anymore. I would also like to see Bernie Sanders president of this new party. That is all i have to say. Host thank you for the call. From inside the washington times, obamacare customers feeling the tax pain. The tax bill came do for many obamacare customers yesterday with at least half of those who got Health Care Subsidies in 2014 having to pay money back to the irs. That does not mean they were not Horror Stories on april 15. The deadline to file, John Koskinen said was better than predicted. Here is a portion of yesterdays hearing. [video clip] senator mccaskill when we vent frustration by cutting funding who are replenishing . John kiskinen ultimately, you are punishing taxpayers. The people that get it worse are the people working in our call centers, whose satisfaction comes from helping people and they feel they have the resources to do that. Senator mccaskill your budget has been cut by 18 since the scandal has come up. What is the galway now for a taxpayer who has a problem . The call weight now for a taxpayer who has a problem . What is the average amount of time on the phone . Commissioner koskinen about 20 to 30 minutes. Senator mccaskill and once they answer the phone, what are the answers you are able to give after these are coney and cut these are coney and cuts . Commissioner koskinen about 60 of the calls are not going through. When the system gets overloaded and we know you are going to be there too long, you will simply get disconnected. You aggravate the problem because people will have to call back. On average, people are calling back to her three or four times just to get into the q2 weight 30 minutes. Just to get into the line to wait 30 minutes. Host the chances of being audited by our by the irs because of budget cuts are now less than 1 . Don from greenville, ohio, independent line. Youre on the air. Caller i just was on, but i must not have gotten disconnected. I was talking about another problem and i think this has to do with Supreme Court judges. I would like the people of the United States to be able to if they run and they like the president , the people of the United States should have the right to vote for them. I dont think they should be able to be put in there for the rest of their lives. Its very important nato get complacent in their jobs. A very important thing they dont get complacent in their jobs. Host bob, thank you. Here is a tweet. Is about the senator that traveled yesterday for equal pay for equal work. The deficit has come down during the last couple of years of his administration. Marco rubio, now one of three senators running for the president ial race, yesterday was joined by senator mike by the senator from utah for his own plans. [video clip] sinister rubio we no longer senator rubio we no longer operate on a national level. We operate internationally with Global Companies who are competing with us on investment, ideas, talent for stuff we want to make america the single best place to innovate. Part of that is our debt. A lot of it has to do with our regulatory systems in our country, which serve as a significant impediment, but our tax code does, too. We have talked about that repeatedly in past years. We have a tax code that has eyes combined Corporate Tax rate on the planet has the highest combined Corporate Tax rate on the planet. We cannot do that when other nations are going out of their way to become friendly for investment. It should not surprise you to open up the paper and see another American Company making decisions they need to make to be in a friendlier environment. We have taken steps in this proposal to be progrowth. We want our economy to be dynamic and progrowth. We wanted to be the single best place to grow jobs. We want a tax base that says the lord you invest in the american economy, the lower your tax burden will be. The more you invest in the american economy, the lower your tax burden will be. Host my revert set out tweet. My myland burke sent out the street. Jean is our last call on the republican line. Caller just talking a little bit about the illegal immigration problem im here on marthas vineyard. The Brazilian Community has basically taken over. No one talks about brazil, but its a huge problem here. The island people are losing their jobs every day. And the brazilians are riding around in new cars and new trucks with no drivers i no drivers license and taking the jobs freely, undercutting people that have been here forever. Host what jobs are they taking . Caller basically, anything they can do, the carpentry landscaping, painting, you name it. They advertise that we can do anything. Host takes for the call. And finally, you may not know the name, but you will most certainly remember the photograph, one of the most iconic photographs following the assassination of john f. Kennedy. There it is. There then pharaoh, who was at the time working for the john farrow, who was at the time working for the news. He passed away at 80, cause of death pneumonia. He was out of the daily news when he snapped that photograph. His obituary is inside the Washington Post. David cicilline is going to be joining us for about legislation for gay rights that he is working on. And later, representative Christopher Smith will talk about global hotspots. Yesterday at 2 20 p. M. Eastern time, a moment of silence across boston to commemorate the horror on the of the Boston Marathon probbombing. [video clip] senator markey two years ago three people were killed and others were injured in the running of the Boston Marathon. On the happiest day in boston, patriot day, two bombs detonated by two evil men took lives, linz, and livelihoods away. That day, we lost Martin Richard , anyyearold boy. Krystle campbell from arlington and luisi who came from china. In the aftermath of the attacks, officer sean collier of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Police force was assassinated by the two twisted individuals who bombed our city. Officer collier was not just protecting the best and brightest minds. He was the best and the rightist, an impressive and he was the best and the brightest, an impressive and loved officer on campus. I want to address my thanks to the Law Enforcement in massachusetts and around the net the nation for their unwavering dedication and courage and resolve to bring to justice those responsible for the Boston Marathon bombings. We are boston strong because we were boston ready with the best training and personnel available to save lives and seek justice. Many fire and rescue workers caregivers, and thousands more who through their caring expressions of compassion brought forth comfort and hope and promise of recovery. Today, under the leadership of mayor marty walsh, the city of boston is turning into a new tradition, honoring a resiliency generosity, and strength called one boston day. As maher walsh said, is the day everyone should come together, and we commit themselves to our deepest values recommit themselves to our deepest values. Maher walsh is right. It is a day to draw citizens together. They queue mayor walsh, for helping us know that that day should never be forgotten, but remembered in our lives everything will they. May it shine as an example of how our nation response in times of crisis. Washington journal continues. Host we want to welcome back david cicilline, a democrat from rhode island. You are putting forth legislation to really go against gays and lesbians. Outline the parameters of what you want to do and how difficult it will be in congress. Guest we introduced a resolution that really expresses a sense of congress, a statement of our values, this termination he against members of the lgb community in housing credit, education, jury service should not be permitted. The caucus is working hard to get support for what weve done. Over 100 members have already signed on. That is already a statement of our values. In addition, working on a piece on the senate side that will for the first time approach this in a much more comprehensive way the issue of dissemination against the Lgbt Community. And really says that you cannot disseminate against the discriminate against members of the community in each of these areas and then one strong statement of dissemination discrimination should not be permitted. I think it is where the country is. Fairness and making sure individuals are not discriminated against is a basic value. He added that people should be treated for who they are and not discriminated against because of their race, gender, or religious affiliation, or we would say Sexual Orientation or gender identity. The majority of states in this country, there are no protections for members of the of to be t community of the Lgbt Community to be protected from dissemination in housing and credit and other issues. This is an issue. We need to make sure that they are not discriminate against. The country is in a very different place than it was even three or four years ago. You look at all of the polling data and many people think it is already the law the land that you cannot discriminate against individuals based on Sexual Orientation. Host this is the latest in the washington journalnbc news poll that shows to your point support for samesex marriage is now increasing. I want to ask you about civil rights. As we look back 50 years ago when president johnson signed the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights act, the congressman who will join you will say that gay rights are not the same as civil rights. Agree or disagree . Guest i think my colleague congressman smith clarified what he meant. He was talking about the issue of Marriage Equality among which he does not support. But he makes an they some statement that was clear that gay rights are human rights. Individuals should be clear from violence and marginalization. Lgbt Community Members have the right to be protected from discrimination and violence and from being marginalized. That is the policy of this country and we try to take that around the world. Its not only about that being in important statement for members of the Lgbt Community. Its also a statement that the entire Community Benefits when every individual has the opportunity to realize their full potential, free from discrimination or limitation. We all benefit from that, hold committee. Not only the Lgbt Community, but everyone in the community. This is a very Central American value, the idea of quality, of the quality equality and fairness. Host i want to come back to that point in a moment. I want to remind our viewers and listeners that the lines are open. The numbers are on the screen. The Supreme Court is also taking up this case. Ultimately, what do you think they will decide . Guest i think at least in my mind, they will recognize that discrimination in this very Important Institution of marriage is not permitted under the law of the land. I think when youve seen the progress weve made as a nation, the Supreme Court has to recognize that we have really evolved and the rock the vast majority of americans believe that everyone should have the same access to marriage. I fully expect the Supreme Court to do the right thing. Host our guest is david cicilline, democrat from rhode island. Our first call is tony from texas. Caller good morning, mr. Cicilline. I, too, am a democrat, but i have two problems with this. One, i dont like it being equated with the Civil Rights Movement because you can change your Sexual Orientation, but you cannot change your skin color. And number two sure, everybody should be treated fairly and all of that and i understand that is true. The when you make that comparison but when you make that comparison, it makes me not want to hear anything else about it. And also, you know, more and more people are saying it is not what im saying, but what the bible is saying stop is saying. Host thank you, tony, for the call. Guest i appreciate his question but Sexual Orientation is not something that anyone can change. The reality is, and we should always respect the incredible struggle that gay and civil rights leaders have created. We continue to see issues that require our attention on voters rights and lots of discrimination in other contexts. This is an ongoing fight for the traditional Civil Rights Movement. But at its core it is about people being treated fairly and equally, and in a way that protects them from unfair dissemination. What thats unfair discrimination. What this bill proposes is to make sure there are protections for the Lgbt Community as other categories based on gender ethnic origin, religious tradition, and praise. I understand there are people who have religious objections or concerns but ultimately, this is about what kind of country we will be, whether or not we will respect all individuals ability to live lives free from discrimination. I dont expect anyone to change their religious teachings. But hopefully, they will open their hearts and minds to say you know, we are all gods children and we are all entitled to be treated with respect. I think that is where this country is moving and i think this bill will help to reflect that set of values. These are really deeply held american values. Host is there republican support for your legislation . Guest we have not introduced a bill yet. We have colleagues on both side of the aisle. I think its very important that this be a strong statement of our shared values on both sides of the aisle. But we will see when the time comes whether we have republican support. Host on the line is jay, from dry ridge kentucky. Good morning. Caller good morning and thanks for taking my call. I want to ask host go ahead. We can hear you. Caller ok, they give are taking my call and good morning. I wanted to ask my representative the representative, do you believe in god . Guest yes. Caller do you think god made mistakes by making people gay and lesbian . Guest i dont think god makes mistakes. I think god created us all as his children and i would not call anybody a mistake. Caller why would god put in the bible that a marriage is between a man and woman then . Guest well again, there are lots of religious traditions that respect and even recognize Marriage Equality, but again no one is asking anyone to change their religious beliefs. But i think fundamentally what god teaches us is to respect each other, to value each other, to treat each other with dignity. That is a religious teaching that exists in most traditions. And i think that is really the kind of america we all want, one in which we respect and value each other. Host my guess represents newport and parts of providence, rhode island. He is a graduate of Brown University and georgetown university. For you personally, you are one of about half a dozen openly gay members of congress. Is it difficult for you on a personal level and have you felt dissemination . Guest no, i have a wonderful have you felt discrimination . Guest no, i have a wonderful and supportive family and i believe in my work and what i fight for. There are many people in this country that have had a much more difficult journey. We are making progress as a country, but its still the case that there is too much violence and too much discrimination against the Lgbt Community. If you look at around the world, there are still many countries where it is against the law, punishable in some countries by death. We have a lot of work to do internationally to promote the fair treatment of members of the 02 bt community for of the Lgbt Community. But my personal experience, my family has been wonderful. My experience has been a positive one. It is in that case with lots of folks. Host from western rhode island, cd is next, independent line. Caller hi, top of the morning. I would like to impart a Little Common sense regarding the medical policy that seems to be in force with an iron fist by the fda. The physicians of this nation should be able to do their job without being commandeered by the fda. For one thing, they are supposed to be loyal to the hippocratic oath, which means do no harm. And with this very profitable seeing of thing of chemotherapy and radiation which cost a lot of money, they are being told to use these methods to treat cancer when there are plenty of natural means to treat cancer and a lot of other very deleterious disorders of the human system. Host thanks from a call. Is this an area that you can comment on . Guest i dont know enough about Cancer Treatment in terms of natural versus traditional. Host let me take it one step further, not on the colors point, but on the fda and how quickly or slowly are but to the callers point, on the fda how quickly or slowly they are in approving drugs and processes. Guest we want to continue to have copies of the country that when they approve something we dont have questions about his safety. We want things that were, but everyday that something that is ultimately approved is delayed is a day that someone may not have lifesaving treatment. We have to devote additional recesses resources to this and we want to make sure it remains a reliable them a trustworthy determination because we rely on the fda to do that because it is protecting the American People. Host the next followed sam manassas, virginia, republican line stop republican line. Caller are you familiar with the thought of and gomorrah . Also number two there are a blessing from his country. There are many things going wrong with this country, especially running with an all out. Number three, new orleans used to practice voodoo and witchcraft and all of that, and they drowned. You have to go back and look at the scriptures. There are no blessing, country congressman. That is all i have to say. Host do you have a question . Caller yeah, do you think doing this is the right way, going against gods word . Guest i am a member of the Foreign Affairs committee and the judiciary committee, and the more you travel and see the challenges and the other parts of the world, the more you realize the tremendous blessings of this country. I think it is a question of an acting protection to get to the place where the public already is. People understand for the most part this kind of discrimination is wrong and that there is no basis in law and it is contrary to our basic values as americans. We are a country that is built on principles of equality freedom, the individual respect for one another. Fairness. These are american values. I think that is what we are attempting to promote here, to ensure that we are not protecting scrim nation against individuals based on Sexual Orientation or gender identity. I think most people accept that as the rules of the game but there are still places across this country where there are no protections for the Lgbt Community and the consequences are serious were people who are fired from a job because they are gay or lesbian, denied housing, denied credit or denied services. There are in the majority of states no protections and i think that is wrong. I think that is not who we are as a country. Host we have a minute or two left. Comment from gary on her twitter page and one final call. He says, i believe in god, is not the governments job to legislate anyones beliefs. Guest we should respect religious traditions. I do not think im not suggesting that we would not honor people plus religious people possiblys religious traditions. Host this issue, front and center in indiana. Our final call is from indiana. Joanne, good morning. Caller good morning. I am calling to address the homophobic religious community. For some reason they have only brought out the sodom and gomorrah story the fact that man on man, woman on woman sexualities. They forgot about the depravity of the whole city and the disgrace of the way they treated each other as people. We are trying to go down that same road if we go along with the homophobic religious community. We cannot allow them to say that there traditional values of what they consider marriage, a man and woman. If you leave a family to cleave unto one, which these gays do cleave unto one, not a lot of one, each person that is out there has committed a fornication before marriage and they are not being condemned for that. They do not be condemned for the actual sins that god says there is, yet theyre going to take their tradition and lay upon everyone else in america. America wants to say that you have a right no matter who you are or no matter who people label you are. Host thank you for your call. Well get a response. Guest i think the caller is right. The religious tradition that i practice recognizes the value of every human being and the value of respecting each other and honoring that we are all created by god answer treat each other as neighbors with love. I think that is religious tradition. I think everyone will live their religious traditions in the way they understand it but i think what we are talking about is fundamental. We live in a country that prohibits discrimination against people as of who they are. It is not who america is. It is not the founding principles of this country. We benefit when we live in a place where every human being is valued respected. Where people are free from discrimination and are permitted to realize their full potential and become all they can be. To marginalize or discriminate because of gender identity not only harms that individual, it harms the community because it robs them of all that that person could be and become. We are better than that as a country. Ultimately, we will enact comprehensive civil rights protection and we will be a better country for it. Host wendy use best wendy you expect to formally submit your bill . Guest may. We have some more work to do. Im hoping it will be later this spring. Host thank you for stopping by. We want to ask you, who would be on your list of the most influential people in america or around the world. Time magazine has its list. Here are the numbers 202 7488000 four republicans. 202 7488001 202 7488000 for democrats. 202 7488001 four republicans. Washington journal continues on this thursday morning. We are back in a moment. At age 25, she was one of the wealthiest widows in the colonies. The revolution, she was considered an enemy by the british who threatened to take her hostage. Later, she would become our nations first first lady. This sunday night at 8 00 p. M. Eastern. Examining the public and private lives of the women who filled the position of first lady and their influence on the presidency from Martha Washington to Michelle Obama sundays at 8 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan three. President ial historians on the lives of 45 iconic american women. Providing stories of these fascinating women creating an entertaining and inspiring read. It is available as a hardcover or ebook. Washington journal continues. Host the koch brothers, the head of apple, scott kelly and Angela Merkel, on the list of the most influential people from time magazine. Who would be on your most influential peoples list . 202 7488000 is our light from democrats are line for democrats. 202 7488001 four republicans. Glenn goldberg is covering the story for time magazine. Thank you for being with us. Jorge ramos is on the list. How did you come up with the top 100 . Guest a lot of debate. It begins around november when we are beginning to take stock of the year that was and try to identify some of the most compelling and important characters. People who shape how we lived over the past year. We cast a wide net. We start with all of our correspondents around the world. These are writers and editors stationed in different bureaus. One of the special things is we also ask all of the alumni who been on the list for their suggestions. It really is a lot of vigorous debate and we read through it over the next few months. Host interesting people who write about these individuals former senator john glenn writing about scott kelly saying his Yearlong Mission aboard the space station is worthy of note and attention. Senator bob corker, by lamarr examiner called him a pragmatist. By lamarr alexander, called a pragmatist. Guest so much we want to do with the list is not just identify those who are influential over the Previous Year but really forecast influence for the year to come. As we begin to shape up earlier for the 2016 race, i think jorge ramos and what he means for Immigration Reform and the latino vote will be important. Host the president of ukraine writing of Angela Merkel and talks about the support that Angela Merkel has given the ukrainian people. In terms of the essays written about these individuals who comment on the top 100. Guest one of the most special things about the list. It functions as a time to hundred. In many cases as a time to 200. One of the things we look for are those who can speak to their influence on different dimensions. Angela merkel is a leader who knows what it feels like to be in the fire. In other cases, it is really about finding surprising comparisons desk surprising pairings that you would not see surprising pairings. I think john lewis writing about tim cook fits their in a completely different sector. Tilde swinton is thoughtful about amy schumer. Host pop culture as well, including kim kardashian. Guest these are the people who shape the world we live in. There are those who in a legislation, right monetary policy, but these are also the people who write the songs we cannot get out of our head or set the fashions that send hundreds of thousands of People Racing to stores. By that metric, it is impossible to overlook kim kardashian. Host ben goldberger, editor for time magazine. It can read the full list online at time. Com. Thank you for being with us. Who would be on your list . Tell us what you think. Zane is joining us. Caller good morning. Host you are on the air. Caller my most and my most influential peoples ill gates. Best is bill gates. He else the poor and the needy. Jo mo kenyatta during there is a lot of them. A lot of good people did a lot of things good in the past. Even George Washington what he did in this country to build a country like this. These are most and people, not today. The basic principles of the past help us to have a better country for tomorrow. Host thank you for the call. We go to robert in henderson kentucky. Caller good morning. My most into the best and most influence a person would be minister louis farrakhan. Mr. Farrakhan has reformed so many people. This is a student of elijah mohammed. If you trace malcolm x. , not lets was a criminal prior to meeting elijah mohammed. Mr. Farrakhan is never been arrested. The nation of islam has never been theyve tried to clean up the houses and reform men clean up dope houses and reform men. Mr. Farrakhan, i have followed him for 52 years and i think his influence that the world particularly on black mens responsibilities, he is one of the most influential persons in the world. Host we will continue your comments as we move to your list of the 100 most influential people. Time magazine has its list out. Buying from yukon, oklahoma. Bonnie from yukon, oklahoma. Caller Benjamin Netanyahu. He stands up for what is right. The bible says he also says that whoever agrees puts they are protective of his evil beads. His evil deeds. In gods eyes, it is sin. He loves man but he hates the sin. I think Benjamin Netanyahu is the best. I wish we had him as our president instead of the idiot we have now. Host janet yellen among the 100 most influential people. The house and senate both in session today. The Senate Passing what many call that is now headed to the president s desk. A permanent fix to the way doctors are paid for medicaid medicare patients. About vote expected later today to repeal the socalled death tax. The president talking about jobs, the economy and the quality pay in charlotte. The full event on our website at cspan. Org. [video clip] there are ways to afford in our budget what needs to be done to help middleclass families without blowing up the deficit. It requires making up choices. When i hear a proposal from the House Republicans to reduce what we call the trust Fund Loophole so that the top 1 10 of 1 are getting the tax breaks, fewer than 6000 families benefit from this. The way it works, you do not pay this tax until you have 5. 5 million or 11 million per couple. We will give those folks a tax break for 270 billion and all that money we could be spending, we could provide tax credits for childcare or kids wanted to go to college. You have to have priorities. It turns out that as president you end up knowing a lot of people, including a lot of rich people. Some of them are supporters of mine, good friends. Warren buffett does not need a tax break. He has too much money to spend. He cannot spend it all. Even with all the money he has given away, he still cant spend it all. Why would we be giving him a tax break when there are families who need help . Host the president in North Carolina yesterday as he talked about taxes on april 15, tax day. Were asking you, who would be on your list of the most influential people . Ruth Bader Ginsburg is on the list in an essay written by her colleague, antonin scalia. The full list on time. Com. Carlton is joining us from summerfield, florida. Democrats line. Caller good morning. First on my list would be barack obama and second would probably be Hillary Clinton. Host why is that . Caller barack has done what the country has set up to be as great. He has proved that anyone can become president. An interracial young black man who is proved this country is still great. Host rand paul writing about charles and david coke. Koch. Inside the business section of the New York Times is more on ben bernanke was going to work as a hedge fund advisor. For eight years been bernanke was the stewart of the Worlds Largest economy. He is signed on to head one of wall streets biggest hedge funds. It will become an advisor at the Citadel Investment group. He will offer his analysis of Global Economic and Financial Issues to citadels investment communities. He will also meet with investors around the globe. The latest and most prominent move by a washington insider into the financial industry. Tony is next from rosemont california. Who would be on your list . Caller Michelle Obama. I think she is very classy. I think she stays above the fray. Against criticism and everything. I want to point out, when people call in imposing their religious views on people, it shows their ignorance. There were several calls that imposed religious views on other people. I think it is very ignorant. Thank you. Host 202 7488001, our line for republicans. 202 7488000, for democrats. The most influential people. Jack nicholson writing about Lorne Michaels, the man behind s andnl. Cookie is from chicago. Welcome. Caller i want to say that i think oprah would be the most influential person. She started off with a difficult time but she had great determination and kept moving forward. I like the way she has shared her success with the whole country. She has done so much for black people and everybody. I also want to add the same thing the other caller just said. I think it is wrong for you to put your religious police. Police. I think we do need religious beliefs. I think we do need protection. Were moving in the right direction. Host mansi gives rights in time magazine, every year we hope the list will introduce you to influential people you might not have known before. Angela is next. Caller i think it would be the new leader of iran. He has brought, and less than four or five years, has helped us forget the crazy guy who was there before. The guy who used to say that israel should not exist. He has helped us change the narrative from that of war to peace, which is great. He is helping his people. I like leaders who advocate for peace. I know that someone else that netanyahu. I think we should have a different category for who is the person who advocate for war the most or the most manipulative. When it comes to people who were talking about gays and lesbians, it is amazing that these people are christians. I have not seen any group of people with so much hatred in their hearts as those christians who call and say jesus jesus. Who did jesus loved the most . The outcasts of society. You come on television and you say that there is something wrong with those people, who made them . Host thanks for the call. One of our regular tweeters says Lorne Michaels . How many times has snl jumped the proverbial shark . Vladimir putin is also on the list. Good morning. Caller am i on . Host yes. Caller influential people. A man named bill w. He founded alcoholics anonymous. Host john, you get the last word. Caller i would put elon musk on that list. He is reinvigorating our exploration of space. I think it is a forward thinking view. Actions bringing us out of 30 years of a stagnant approach. Host you can read the full list online at time. Com. We will take a short break and when we come back, chris smith the number two republican on the house Foreign Affairs committee talking about the negotiations over nuclear deal with iran. Also, the anniversary of boko haram and the kidnapping of those several hundred girls still missing. Washington journal continues. This weekend, the cspan cities tour has partnered with comcast to learn about the literary life of Saint Augustine, florida. May or may not have been searching for the fountain of eternal youth. A lot of people have said he was out for additional property for the king of spain and colonization attempts and gold which is decidedly true. We know thats de leon came to shore, took on water. This area present one of the few freshwater springs in the area around 30 degrees eight minutes. It is also the location of the 1565 first settlement of Saint Augustine, 42 years before the settlement of jamestown was founded and 55 years before the pilgrims landed on p summit rock. On plymouth rock. A man who was very little known outside of the state of florida. He was one of the wealthiest men in america. He had a cofounder of Standard Oil Company with john d rockefeller. He was a man who always wanted to undertake some great enterprise. As it turned out, florida was it. He realized he needed to own the railroad between jacksonville and Saint Augustine to ensure that guests could get to his hotel conveniently. The dream was beginning to grow. He was a man who had big dreams. He was a visionary. Watch all of our events from Saint Augustine saturday at noon eastern on cspan 2s booktv. Washington journal continues. Host we want to welcome back congressman chris smith. He is a member of the house Foreign Affairs committee. Good morning. Guest good morning. Host let me begin with comments of the iranian president in a story from inside the Washington Post saying he is not negotiating with congress, he is negotiating with major powers. Guest the major powers are negotiating. When it comes to implementation, the listing the lifting of sanctions bob corker did a tremendous job. This is not a treaty. The president has usually cuts congress out of the equation. He has ensured senator corker, the congress will have a role. It will review we will have 30 days, he wanted 60. He got 30 days plus additional days for a total of 52 if the president were to veto a resolution of disapproval. It is all about the lifting of the sanctions. The only piece of this that congress will now have. Many people forget when we pass sections of every stripe, whatever there is a sanctions regime, the president must always has waiver authority. The sanctions that we imposed it was bipartisan, have they can be waived by the president. That is the achilles heel. If the president buys into a bad deal, you might recall the Security Council resolutions that were passed made it very clear that there would be no enrichment under the framework enrichment is allowed. Unfettered access to inspectors. It is unclear, especially with the supreme ayatollahs statement that the terry installations will not be open to foreign inspections. That is where we are most concerned. The agreement has to have unfettered, instantaneous capabilities for inspections. Ascertain whether or not enrichment or in the case of turning plutoniumbased bomb that all of these things are inspected without delay. We have not learned from the 1994 deal. Now we know north korea has Nuclear Weapons. All the statements were made and now they have them. The other thing that was left out, Ballistic Missiles. We know iran is on a tear to procure the delivery means of a nuclear weapon. Over time, that means that washington, new york london, name the city could be put at risk of a Nuclear Explosion sent there by the iranians. As you just read, congress does have a role to play. The sanctions were crafted by congress. The sanctions is the only thing that got them to the negotiating table. I would have argued they should of stayed in place longer. They will have by june 30 almost two years to be enhancing and working toward a nuclear capability. Time has not been our friend and all of these delays have allowed i also met with this foreign minister. Within a that they would wipe israel off the map. I do think that has changed. The supreme ayatollah has said death to america and we just dismiss those glancings. They show a profound ugliness of spirit. I say to the foreign minister if you want to demonstrate to the world that things are changed in iran, cease your unceasing human rights atrocities. The torture, executions. I had two hearings on site. Host he is been held for about 1300 days. Guest these children cry for the father. Host he was a pastor who was setting up an orphanage. He has been subjected to torture by the iranians. That is like the canary in the coal mine. He cannot treat your people with respect i have asked secretary kerry repeatedly why is that not part of the negotiation . It is an insight into their soul as a country. The leadership, not the people. People are suffering at the hands of their own leadership. Host lets get some phone calls. Anthony is joining us from st. Paul, minnesota. Caller good morning. I would like to make some comments and ask a question of senator. We have to look back a few years ago when we went into and we did sodom saddam. If iran gets a Nuclear Program who was going to do the fighting . We already have young men who done five or six tors in war zones. You cannot allow israel to do it because then you start a bigger problem with all of the different arab groups. Do we have another space for isil to grow . Guest thank you for that question. Saddam hussein had and deploy chemical weapons. There were different kinds of weapons of mass destruction. While no Nuclear Weapons were found, he used chemical weapons against the kurds and iranians. I think diplomatic means is preferable. The sanctions regime has given more time it got the iranians to the negotiating table. I think they have been gaming the system. They were bought almost two years when the june 30 deadline is reached to spin those centrifuges to create that capability. They did not have access to personnel and certain areas where they had access they said, comes up but that is the game that is played. That is the game that was played by the North Koreans where they would allow certain onsite inspections that preclearance insured that nothing would be ascertained or observed by the inspectors. The fact that the russians have already said theyre going to sell now that this Framework Agreement has been advanced advanced surface to air missiles to the iranians. When you have the supreme ayatollah saying the New York Times had a big story on this in early april. The sanctions have to be lifted immediately upon signing, not whether or not they live up to the agreement. We want to make sure they mean what they are saying. As Ronald Reagan always said, trust and verify. The verify suggests a lack of trust that the idea is to say we want unfettered, immediate access and the ayatollah says, you will not have access to military installations. Hes broadcasting to the world and then a dispute resolution board created by this framework and ultimately, if it is it will be in the document, will have a resolution process. More time to delay. More time to him and on while they are creating Ballistic Missile capability just like north korea. Host we sat down with senator corker tuesday afternoon for cspan radio and he said by late morning the white house and secretary of state carry still threatening to secretary of state carry still threatening to veto the legislation. What changed . Guest the fact that it was totally bipartisan. It was unanimous, the ability to override a president ial veto is there. This president can tally the numbers. Secretary kerry can count it. It should have been an embrace of congressional input. The over citing that congress does is indispensable to trying to improve the deal and hopefully avoid a flawed deal. Our big fear is that the secrecy , rather than a treaty or congressional executive agreement there is an exit central threat to israel. That is what Prime Minister netanyahu came and presented his case before the congress. This is very serious stuff. This country has said they will wipe israel off the face of the earth. When they have a nuclear capability, that becomes more achievable by this dictatorship. Why are we not listening to what they are saying to their own people . Death to america from the Supreme Leader of iran cannot be dismissed as placating. He does not get elected. They have gamed the system. Ballistic missiles, part of the Security Council resolution. Made it very clear they needed to be on the table, they are not even in the agreement. In richmond enrichment, that is so important. The infrastructure for creating a bomb remains intact. Maybe diminished and how much can take place. When you juxtapose that with the ayatollah saying you cannot come and look at military installations, where do you think theyre going to do it . During the clinton administration, our member all the hearings we had. I remember all the hearings we had. An enhanced ability to have unfettered access. It is like a reprise, this parallels north korea. X essential threat to israel but also to the gulf states. Host i apologize. We have a lot of people want to talk to you. Well go to michele from wisconsin. Caller my concern is that iraq will get nuclear power. I do not think that is a good thing. Not only does it threaten the gulf regions over there and everything but it can also be a threat to us also. I dont think any of those countries over there should have any nuclear powers. It is just too threatening for everyone around. It is not a good idea. I trust the president as far as Everything Else and what he stands for and what he is trying to accomplish but i dont i hate to say this but i do not think he sees the whole picture. As we go back to 9 11 host she made reference to iraq, but she meant iran. Guest this is going to prevent an arms race. Because of the shia sunni divide and the fights that are occurring matches in iraq and syria but also now yemen where there is pitched battles. You are being slaughtered on both sides. Christians caught in the middle. This arms race idea as a matter of protection. What kept the peace to some extent between ourselves and the soviet union during all of those cold war years was the mad theory, mutual assured destruction. If onesided tax, the other will if onesided attacks, the other will retaliate in kind. Im concerned that iran might not have the same in the visions when it comes to first strike in the use of Nuclear Weapons. The point about nuclear power, a country that is exporting oil part of the lifting of some of the sanctions regime was that they could export more of their oil. They been exporting to countries like china which i thought was a safety net to the Iranian Regime even during the toughest imposition of shanks sanctions. In oilproducing country like that does not pass the straightfaced test to say they need Nuclear Energy to power tehran and other cities. They have fossil fuels in excess , so much so that they export them. The ability to debord a peaceful the ability to divert and allegedly peaceful Nuclear Program to a Weapons Program is what has led to the world being a guest of what is in the process of happening aghast of what is in the process of happening. If we do not have unfettered inspections, we are sowing the seeds of an ominous future for the region and perhaps the United States and europe. Host our guest is congressman chris smith. Matt from concord, New Hampshire, good morning. Caller i followed your career numerous years. I have a brother who is in the sandbox. Because of what he does for the military, i dont want to get into that further. Our president asked for an imf two years ago. Constitution states that congress has the power of war. My brother puts his life on the line every day of the week. I think our congress should vote on this matter. It should be voted on and revote on every year. Im with the iran situation. We listen to bellicose and relevant and rhetoric from our enemies for years. Diplomacy will work. As far as israel, under an exit central threat under an axis then show threat and x essential threat, israel has a better Defense System than saudi arabia and saudi arabia has a great military, we sold it to them. We have given and given. As far as intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, we had that Problem Solved in the 70s in the 1970s. Host thanks for the call. Guest i appreciate your wellthoughtout questions and concerns. I would take exception that we have the ability to target and destroy incoming icbms. We know that when hamas was firing missiles at israel that our ability to bash iron dome iron dome, the ability to intercept those missiles was successful. Icbms are illegal their own. Our member during the Reagan Administration we announced ways of trying to mitigate the threat to add to our defensive nonnuclear ways of shooting such down. One missile with multiple reentry vehicles, bombs going all over the place to different targets. To the best of my knowledge, we do not have the ability to stop those incoming in a way that would give any kind of assurance that cities, countries are safe from Ballistic Missiles. The fact that even though un Security Council resolutions may clear that Ballistic Missiles need to be on the table, they are not on the table in the framework. In terms of china, i would also i went to china several times. I have health i will be holding my 50th congressional hearing on china in a couple of weeks. The abuse of human rights in china is almost without magnitude as well as intensity. Without comparison anywhere in the world. The leader of that country is a dictator. He was not elected by the people in his click is torture, murder, executions of christians and anyone who gets out of hand. Labor rights activists. They are the gulags state. When president clinton dlink human rights delinked human rights status he did it on a friday afternoon. I predicted that we have put profits above human rights and that the rule of law and ability of this dictatorship to project power all over the world, which is exactly what they are doing now. What we should have done and can still do they need United States markets for their products, is to ensure that there is linkage to human rights. How you treat your own people is the harbinger for how you treat other nations. That is the argument in addition to their Nuclear Weapons ambitions for iran. If they use torture as a means of statecraft domestically, why do we expect any other kind of view when it comes to nations in proximity to them and the hatred of israel has no bounds. Israel does not hate iran. They want to live in peace in a difficult neighborhood in the world. We do not have the capability or protection a false sense of protection some have what it comes to Ballistic Missiles. Host boko haram and the photograph of the first lady. More than 300 girls kidnapped. Boko haram has killed more than 6000. Controls and area of the country that continues to be of great concern. Unicef reporting that 1. 5 million nigerians have fled their homes. Guest it is a refugee and displaced persons nightmare. Ive been to nigeria twice in the last 10 months. Host is the u. S. Doing enough . Guest no. For three years we have tried to get boko haram designated as an fto, a foreign terrorist organization. That was dismissed. They are now so designated but the biggest issue, cooperation with the nigerian government. Training human rights that it nigerian personnel in the best counterinsurgency tactics. Unfortunately, that was suspended last december. There ought to be a dozen battalions. There needs to be a robust effort to give the tools so that the Nigerian Military who have been outstanding all over the world, whether it be in the balkans as well as and are for darfor. Boko haram has identified with isis and has expressed solidarity with them. This is a global islamist effort. The nigerians need our assistance in a big way. Host according to abc news about a dozen square miles in northern nigeria. Guest i met some of those young girls. They have been so traumatized. Their friends have been sold as slaves. We believe, nobody knows for sure. The kidnapping of girls and slaughter of young men particularly in schools that teach values like western education are targeted. Not enough has been done. Host lets go to jean joining us in arizona. Caller good morning. I met mr. Smith a few years ago in arizona. He was with congressman rick ramsey. At the vfw hall. Guest i do remember. Caller im a disabled vet. 76 years old. I think the president is trying to do the right thing and keep us out of war. God bless america. My son has been in the military 26 years. He will be much hiring this november he will be retiring this november. I think the president is trying to do the right thing. Hopefully things will work out. Bless america. Bless god bless america. Guest thank you for your service. I think the president and Congress Want to keep us out of war. We also want to take diplomatic efforts and initiatives that make that likelihood more probable. I have been in congress 35 years now. I have argued that if you get the human rights peace right in a nation, that country is less likely to be a dictatorship. Theyll have balance of power independent judicial system and their dissonance in czechoslovakia, the same thing happened. That is what we want to encourage. Matriculation from dictatorship to robust democracies. That happens if we apply aggressively but human rights policy. A row trafficking victims protection act. I wrote the trafficking victims protection act. We now are holding countries accountable on that front. I just reintroduced the International Religious freedom act. It builds on the great work covers and frank wolf did with the original bill. I worked with him on that. If you get religious freedom writes and allow disparate faiths and people of no faith if that is what they choose you are less likely to have aggressors like iran, like these other brutal dictatorships that slaughter people because of their faith. Human rights is a major component and it has been sidelined, and i say this with sadness, by this administration limit comes to china. I have a hearing with five young daughters of dissonance. They said, mr. President , please meet with us. Our dads are being tortured in china. One ofeloquent testimony. The Washington Post did a beautiful oped about the young girl who sent over requests to the president. It will change her heart when you talk to xi jinping, youll have those thoughts on your mind. Month after month, he still has not met with them. Im going to have another hearing with the five daughters. Mr. President , you are the face of america, human rights cannot be page six. It has to be front and center. Host have you had a oneonone meeting with the president about these issues . Guest no. I have never gotten it. Host our guest is Christopher Smith. Republican covers men from new jersey. Youre talking about policy challenges we are talking about policy challenges. Caller i was wondering, is there a chance that since iran, russia or any of them to have nukes, will there be any chance at all that we will create to stop an emp from possibly knocking our power grid out. Everybody was worried 16 years ago about the y2k bug. Guest the idea of an electronic pulse, it takes out electronics all of our reactors. A serious threat to america and every other freedom loving country. The chinese especially have an Aggressive Program on trying to develop the capability. Others do too but they seem to be several members of congress Roscoe Bartlett for example did work on trying to alert people to the nature of that threat. It is still there and we have reason to be very concerned. Host carol. Charles, alexandria virginia. Well going to grady. Caller good morning. Im concerned about a lot of things. I watch our watchword should be peace but we put a lot of emphasis on trust. Trust has to be mutual. Trust has got nothing but two wars. Were still fighting them because of trust. We failed the trust test a long time ago. We have to keep in mind, we put all the emphasis on israel. Israel is our ally but we have to realize that iran has russia, china, pakistan, people with nukes as their ally and we need to be fair with everybody. We are talking i heard you say israel wants peace. It is sad that they cannot make these with the People Living right next door to them, the palestinians. They dont want the two state solution. That does not seem like the want to make peace to me. Host let me take up one point. Vladimir putins dangerous moves regarding estonia and latvia and now selling acquittal to iran. Now selling equipment to iran. Your comment . Guest the socalled reset which turned out to be an oxymoron. The former secretary of state misjudged russia. I think we have been far less engaged with ukraine. When poroshenko came and spoke to a joint session of congress one of the takeaways is you cannot fight a war with like its. With blankets. Other parts of ukraine are at grave risk. There has been an engagement but at this engagement at the same time on the part of the president. We should be talking to putin almost nonstop during a crisis. It is more important now than when things are going well. I was in the republic of georgia a few days after the russians went into georgia, we have some of my own constituents behind the russian lines. We had some of my own constituents the russian lines. The tanks would go back. The territorial ambitions of putin are very real. Sovereign nations are at risk. Nato as be united. The New York Times concluded with the point that unity the president when nato top brass was here, he did not have time to meet with them. We are vital to nato. You are singing at the germans and the french you are seeing that the germans and french have b gotten more engaged because there is less of a u. S. Presence. We have reason to be concerned. These provocative flybys getting close to our airspace. What is he doing . I worry about war by miscalculation. Wear something happens and it triggers. Please be talking about that. Host guest i introduced the bill yesterday. That says we should only be looking to take the next steps when the ease up on human rights. Hello people to return allow people to return. She has safe harbor now in cuba. We are following a different model. Host need to leave it there. Thank you for your time and we take you know to the floor of the house of representatives and speaker john boehner. Let us pray. Almighty god of the universe we give you thanks for giving us another day. We thank you that you give us a share in your creative work, having endowed each with unique and important talents. On this day we ask your blessing on the men and women of the peoples house who have been entrusted with the care of this great nations people. Because of the great blessings you have bestowed on our nation, may we embrace this opportunity to build a better world beyond our borders as well. As they return to their home districts, may they bring discerning ears to hear not only what they are inclined to hear but those words that might be unwelcomed but important to hear. May all citizens help to make their representatives better as legislators and as people as well. May all that we do and all they do this day be for your greater honor and glory. Amen. The speaker 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. The pledge of allegiance today will be led by the gentleman from georgia, mr. Collins. Mr. Collins please join me in the pledge. 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 speaker the chair will entertain up to five requests for oneminute speeches on each side of the aisle. For what purpose does the gentleman from california rise . Mr. Speaker, request permission to address the house for one minute. The speaker without objection. Mr. Speaker, with Great Sadness i rise to mourn the passing of jim mcneil, a california business and civic leader who for decades guided one of the largest and oldest independent Ambulance Companies in california schaefer ambulance. Mr. Mcclintock his work ethic was legendary. At the age of 83 he was still running the Family Business. For all those years he struggled with the challenges against challenges competing against his own tax dollars, facing and fighting government double standards at every turn and i know all about that. Id get an earful from him every month or so. Jim mcneil was a patriot who served in the korean war believed in freedom as a gospel that he would preach to everyone he met. During his marriage of 53 years, he and his wife louella raised three children and had six grandchildren. Their familys grief today is shared by all who knew him. Our country has lost an exemplary citizen and his family a devoted patriarch. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from florida seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Speaker today i rise to recognize warrior beach retreat, a north Florida Charity dedicated to supporting our combatWounded Warriors, their families and caregivers. Ms. Graham the organization was established by linda cope after her son Sergeant Joshua cope, was severely injured by an i. E. D. Blast in baghdad, iraq, on november 12, 2006. The cope family turned tragedy into triumph and twice a year warrior beach retreat welcomes 50 Wounded Warriors and their caregivers to panama city with a parade and a weeklong retreat dedicated to honoring their service and sacrifice. I wish i could be with them today in panama city to welcome these brave Wounded Warriors but unable to do that, id like to officially recognize warrior beach retreat in the record and thank them on behalf of our north Florida Community for all the hard work they do for our veterans. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back. For what purpose does the gentleman from georgia seek recognition . Mr. Collins to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Collins im entering a bill that is a bipartisan effort to make communities safer by improving access to Mental Health services for people in the criminal Justice System. U. S. Jails have replaced inpatient Mental Health facilities as the largest institutional treatment provider for adults with Mental Health disorders. Each year theyre booked into jails as well as millions more coping with less serious Mental Illnesses that jails are nonetheless required to address. This is not right. Our jails are not Mental Health facilities. We can do better with the way we treat the mentally ill in the Justice System and we can do it while increase decreasing cost. At a recent talk, ruby wax said, how come every other organ in your body can get sick and sympathy except your brain . We can show some compassion improve lives, reduce recidivism by properly responding to the Mental Health needs for those in the criminal Justice System. I ask my colleagues to join me in cosponsor of this effort and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. For what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, i want to take a moment today to highlight the contributions of the Oncology Nursing Society to cancer care in our nation. Oncology nurses care for Cancer Patients during the most critical and challenging times of their lives. As Cancer Treatments have become more complex, oncology nurses have been called upon to acquire new knowledge and skills while continuing to provide Compassionate Care and emotional support to their patients. Mr. Doyle and this is where the Oncology Nursing Society comes in. Since 1975, the Oncology Nursing Society has worked tirelessly to lead the transformation of cancer care and ensure that our nations oncology nurses are well equipped to tackle the Health Care Challenges of the future. Next week the Oncology Nursing Society will hold its 40th annual congress. I want to commend the Oncology Nursing Society for its commitment to the highest quality care possible for Cancer Patients, and i want to offer my congratulations on its 40th anniversary. Thank you mr. Speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. For what purpose does the gentleman from georgia seek recognition . To address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you mr. Speaker. Before my time in congress i operated a Small Independent Insurance Agency for about 20 years. I was also fortunate to spend a number of years working with my grandfather on a small cattle farm that we owned and operated. Through both of these experiences i experienced firsthand how a tax code can make or break a Small Business or family farm and how the death tax in particular is very harmful to harms farms and businesses and the families who own them. Often the death tax would force families to pay their tax bill by selling vital equipment, laying off vital employees or selling off the farm entirely. These are hardworking americans who work from generation to generation to build these farms and businesses that are the backbone of our communities and our country. Instead of incentivizing the pursuit of the American Dream, this tax shuts down our local tractor dealers, peanut farmers and Grocery Stores which is why i applaud my colleagues for joining me of appealing the tax death, not just in georgia but across this great country. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. And i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. For what purpose does the gentleman from nebraska seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to express my unwavering support for the plight and uncertainty that dreamers face in nebraska and across the nation. Mr. Ashford let me start by stating that i unequivocally support the dream act. In nebraska the notion of immigration is a bipartisan is as bipartisan as the legislative body itself. As evidence, republicans and democrats in the state capital are back lb623, introduced by state senator jeremy norquist. It allows drivers licenses for thousands of nebraska dreamers. I wholeheartedly support and endorse this bill. My good friend from across the aisle, state senator john mccolster, is making these licenses his top priority. By the way, if the name mccolster sounds familiar it should be. In the early 1970s johns father, served the people of nebraskas second Congressional District with distinction. His son continues that tradition as he reaches across the aisle in lincoln, nebraska, to give our dreamers a better life than their parents have had. Again, i pledge today, as i have in the nebraska legislature, to support the dreamers. I ask my colleagues in this body and in the senate to work towards a comprehensive reform package which includes a permanent and certain path for our dreamer youth. Mr. Speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. For what purpose does the gentleman from arkansas seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection the gentleman from arkansas is recognized for one minute. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today to pay tribute to my friend and in fact a friend to all of northeast arkansas ed way. In february ed passed away after a short battle with brain cancer. Hes survived by his wife, his soninlaw, daughters and two granddaughters. But ed is also survived by his legacy, an incredible footprint of good works that wont soon wear away. Mr. Crawford he was an ambassador for northeast arkansas. Whether it was the flyin or road games. Ed was a willing and eager promoter all that northeast arkansas has to offer. But eds influence extends far beyond my own experiences. Countless others working with ed recognized his leadership and good humor. His service with civic clubs reflected his desire to give back. He served as a deacon of his church and was active with the arkansas red wolves state foundation. We celebrate the lives of our most inspiring leaders and truest friends. Because of eds life was a long road of community service, the best way for us to honor his memory is through the continuation of that work. His joyful devotion to our region set the Gold Standard for others to follow. By consistently striving fward that standard, we honor the community he loved toward that standard, we honor the community he loved. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentleman from california rise . Mr. Garamendi to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Garamendi earth day 2015, is rapidly approaching. Id like to draw attention to the reality of Climate Change, global warms real. Take a look at california. Were in the midst of a fourth year of a very severe drought. You can debate whether the drought is or is not the result of Climate Change but you can you cannot debate the fact that co2 in our atmosphere is approaching 400 parts per million, highest its ever been in over 800,000 years. You cannot debate the fact that its a heck of a lot warmer in california in the last decade than its ever been in recorded time. You cannot debate the fact that the snow level in california is rising up the Sierra Nevada and sisquew mountains. This is a real problem. We need to address it with strong, powerful legislation here in congress, most of which has not been done. We have a challenge out ahead of us. I hope and pray that well meet that challenge. I yield back my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. For what purpose does the gentleman from florida seek recognition . Request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, Florida Southern College is a liberal arts college necessaryled in my hometown of lakeland, florida. Its known not only as a great Academic Institution but also contains the largest frank lloyd architecture in the world and was selected the most beautiful campus in the country. However i recognize another important distinction. The moccasins Mens Basketball Team captured the Ncaa Division ii championship. Mr. Ross they defeated Indiana University of pennsylvania capping off a remarkable season with a 361 record. Led by senior guard and twotime Sunshine State conference player of the year kevin capers, they closed out the year by winning a School Record of 25 consecutive games. I have watched Florida Southern College flourish before my eyes. The president has done a wonderful job with this college and this win is a terrific achievement, not only for the school but also for the community. Go mocks. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. For what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Since taking off in january i went on a jobs tour to meet with Small Businesses, Community Leaders labor representatives and job seekers about what we can do in congress to put the empire back to work. After having many conversations with residents and Business Owners, today im releasing a jobs plan, a strategy for how we can get the inland empire economy back on the road to recovery. Mr. Aguilar my plan gives Small Businesses the tools they need to grow and thrive, to create 21st century jobs in emerging sectors like Renewable Energy and biotechnology. Connecting employers with job seekers and supporting job Training Programs and investing in our infrastructure to spur economic development. We have a lot of work ahead to do, but if we focus on these areas we can strengthen the inland empire and the california economy and to put our residents back to work. Thank you and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. For what purpose does the gentleman seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent that the question of adopting a motion to recommit on h. R. 1105 may be subject to postponement as though under clause 8 of rule 20. The speaker pro tempore without objection, its so ordered. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 200, i call up the bill h. R. 1105 and ask for its immediate consideration in the house. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk Union Calendar number 33, h. R. 1105 a bill to amend the Internal Revenue code of 1986 to repeal the estate and Generation Skipping transfer actions, and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to House Resolution 200, the amendment in the nature of a substitute is recommended by the committee on ways and means presented in the bill modified by the amendment, printed in part b of house report 11474, is adopted. And the bill as amended is considered as read. The gentleman from nebraska, mr. Smith and the gentleman from washington, mr. Mcdermott, will each control 30 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from nebraska. Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on h. R. 1105, the at the time tax repeal act of 2015. The speaker pro tempore without objection, so ordered. Mr. Smith mr. Speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Smith thank you, mr. Speaker. I appreciate the opportunity to stand here today. I rise in support of repealing the estate tax. Repealing this death tax is a top priority for nebraskans, farmers, ranchers, and Small Business owners. Not just nebraskas farmers, ranchers, and Small Business owners but folks all around the country. Agriculture, particularly raising cattle and crops such as corn, is a land and capital intensive process. These nebraskans arent sitting on piles of cash. Their assets are the land and the equipment they use to help feed our nation and feed the world. They pay income taxes on what they earn, and they pay high property taxes on the land on an annual basis. They take great pride in this work and want their children and grandchildren to continue in their livelihoods. We shouldnt have to jump through the hoops to ensure their descendents can continue their work when they pass on. The death tax doesnt penalize the wealthiest americans. They probably dont even feel that penalty. They can plan their estates and give away their wealth as they see fit. It penalizes those who have worked all their lives and reinvested in their Family Businesses to ensure their families and neighbors have every opportunity to be hardworking taxpayers. I certainly urge a aye vote to give growing opportunity in the u. S. And support that growing opportunity. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from washington is recognized. Mr. Mcdermott mr. Speaker, it appears that the bipartisan good feeling of the last few weeks are done. After reaching across the aisle to pass important legislation like the doc fix, my republican colleagues are back at their ole tricks of handing out tax breaks to the few at the expense of the many. Todays vote to repeal the estate tax is just the republicans last attempt to tilt the u. S. Tax code in favor of the ultrawealthy campaign donors. This weeks target is the estate tax, a tax i would mention dreamed up by and championed by Teddy Roosevelt, the same guy the republicans like to hold up as one of the greatest the party ever produced. To help the rich has gone too far. This repeal of the estate tax is nothing more than a massive unfunded tax break for a small sliver of the of americas wealthiest families. And is usually the case, this repeal would do nothing to help hardworking middle class families. In nebraska, 52 households would benefit while there are 202,000 People Living in poverty. The fact of the matter is the estate tax is only paid for by about 5400 families or the top. 2 of the states in the country. The estates worth less than 5. 4 million pay nothing. And what is the cost of providing a tax break to the top 5,000 families . A quarter of a trillion dollars. 269 billion. These are the deficit hawks that were talking last week about we got to worry about the deficit, the deficit, the deficit. They are standing here with a straight face putting 269 billion more on the deficit. Instead, we should be using the money to extend the child tax credit. Or the earned income tax credit. Tax credits that would actually help main street america. The real drivers of the american economy. Or we could fund universal prek or build new bridges and roads or provide Free Community college to nine Million People. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle will try to tell you the estate tax hurts family farmers. And my colleague who began this debate is talking about that, mr. Speaker. They tell you the estate tax forces farmers to liquidate in order to pay the estate tax. Well pressed to provide examples as we did, family farms being forced to liquidate, my republican colleagues pointed to a 15,000 acre farm they say had to be broken up for the estate tax. Let me put that into context. Most people live in sitous dont know how big that is. Thats 15,000 acres is the equivalent of 23. 5 square miles. Thats a five by five square mile farm. Thats more than the island of manhattan. Manhattan isnt that big. And its which is home to a Million People. I think most of the people who work hard are pressed to believe that 23 square miles of the family farm. As a farm at the very top of the income scale experience unprecedented wealth and prosperity, some may call the second guilded age. Republicans are helping the rich get richer. They want to talk about we are going to help the middle class and we are going what are theying to . Shoveling a quarter of a trillion dollars out the door to the richest. Repealing the estate tax will surely sow the seeds of the a permanent aristocracy in this country. We learned from britain what a permanent aristocracy gets you. So we are prepared to take this vote, i would ask my colleagues, whose side are you on . Are you on the side of working families and communities across this country who are struggling to pay the bills . Or are you on the side of the ultrawealthy heirs who dont feel they need to pay taxes on the millions and billions that they were handed by their ancestors. Wealth has never been taxed. That land the accumulation of wealth in it, has never been taxed. Now, i vote for the working middle class, and i hope that youall vote no. I reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from washington reserves. The gentleman from nebraska is recognized. Mr. Smith mr. Speaker, i request unanimous consent to allow mr. Brady of texas to manage the time for the ways and Means Committee. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Brady thank you, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas is recognized. Mr. Brady i appreciate the gentleman. I yield myself such time as i may consume. I thank the gentleman from nebraska for his leadership on ending this terrible tax. Can you imagine working your whole life to build up a familyowned business or a farm and then upon your death uncle sam swoops in and takes nearly half of what you spent a lifetime building up for your children and grandchildren. Can you imagine in this case, my friend from washington talked about this was a farm that had been in this family since the 1880s, five generations. It didnt start that size. It started small. They built up over years and years and generations and generations. When the young woman went back to texas, she worked up here, went back to texas to settle her aunts estate. She and her brother were forced to sell off 2 3 of the farm that they had had for five generations. They had to sell off 2 3 of it to pay uncle sam. Just to try to keep some small portion of what their family had worked so hard to dofment these are real life examples of how the death tax is the wrong tax at the wrong time and hurts the wrong people. Its the number one reason familyowned businesses and farms arent passed down to the next generation. It is at its heart an immoral tax. The and it is a tax and it is an attack on the American Dream. Especially more so for our newest startups in america, women and minorityowned businesses, Building Wealth for the first time hoping that they can create a nest egg, that they can create a business for their children and grandchildren, so they have greater opportunities in this great contry. Country. I really want to thank my democrat leader, sponsor democrat, congressman Sanford Bishop of georgia for his leadership to repeal the death tax and his belief that you shouldnt punish success. I want to thank my colleague on the ways and Means Committee, representative kristi noem, long time champion, congressman mack thorn berrirk and former colleague of mine on the ways and Means Committee former representative hulshof, who carried this legislation for so long. The superrich they dont pay this tax. They have a legion of lawyers and tax planners they have charitable trusts and foundations. They never pay this tax. These are family owned, hardworking, risk taking determined americans who are building their business, their farm, their ranch. These are not, as well hear today, the paris hiltons and robber barons of the teddy ruse investigate days roosevelt days. They are often forced back for a loan or cruelly forced to sell their land and business just to satisfy thistist the i. R. S. This is about income and equality, but it ourns out according to the federal reserve, former vice chairman, that only only 2 is related to what people inherit. In america, turns out we do build our prosperity. We pull ourselves up in prosperity. Some people say, look, this thing generates 200plus billion dollars. Let me put this in perspective. For all the damage it does, for our family owned businesses and farms, the damage it will do to our womenowned businesses and minorityowned businesses Building Wealth, it generates less than two days of federal spnd spending a year. In a day, this is the basic question. Is this your money and your hard work, or is this the governments money . Who has a claim over all the years you spent working . And why at the end of the day are we punishing success . So look lets give children lets give our families their shot at the American Dream. And a better nation than the one we inherited. Thats why today we rise to bury the death tax once and for all. With that mr. Speaker, i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas proifs. Reserves. The gentleman from washington is recognized. Mr. Mcdermott mr. Speaker, i remind the gentleman from texas that 292 households in texas will do nothing for the 4. 4 million People Living in texass poverty. I yield three minutes to the gentleman from california, mr. Thompson. Mr. Thompson i thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, i rise in strong support of estate tax reform and in strong opposition to this wrongfully and inaccurately titled death tax repeal act. Whenever you hear somebody said death tax, know right away they are not talking about Public Policy and they are not talking about tax reform. They are talking about politics. There is no such thing as a death tax. You wont find those words anywhere at all in the tax code. Its partisan jargon. After you die, you dont have to pay taxes. You dont have to take out the garbage. You dont get called for jury duty anymore when youre dead, youre debt. So there is no such thing as a death tax. Today my republican colleagues are pursuing a full repeal of the estate tax under the guise of helping family farms and Small Businesses. I wish this were the case. But the rhetoric is simply disingenuous when you look at the policy. I agree that the estate tax is a real issue for family farmers and for ranchers. The first bill i introduced when i came to congress was a bill to reform the estate tax. Folks in my district where Farmland Values have reached as high as 300,000 an acre are often land rich and cash poor. There are middle class people who work their land every day and pay taxes on the income they earn from that work. They arent people who the majoritys bill is designated or designed to help. Their full repeal is not the answer, it costs too much money. Its not paid for. 269 billion not paid for. And it helps people who dont need the governments help. A more commonsense and targeted approach would be to pass the bill that i referenced earlier. My bill exempts farmlands and related assets from estate tax as long as the family that inherits the farm continues to farm the land. They stop farming the land, the tax kicks backs in. It addresses some of the issues the farmers have today. The high volume of farmland we are losing, more than an acre of farmland is lost every minute of every day. Its important that we help farmers preserve farmland for future generations which will benefit our food supply and our environment but it needs to be done the right way. So once this political exercise is over, i hope we can get down to business and Work Together on a proposal thats actually aimed at protecting our family farms and our familyowned Small Businesses. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from washington reserves. The gentleman from texas is recognized. Mr. Brady yielding myself 15 seconds. I know the gentleman from california is sincere but his approach was tried before. It failed so miserablely to protect farms it was repealed, i think, three years later. No more gimmicks. Lets help these family farms and businesses. Im pleased to yield two minutes to a gentleman who understands the importance of familyowned farms and businesses and rewarding success, the gentleman from wisconsin mr. Duffy. Mr. Duffy i appreciate the gentleman from yielding. I come from americas dairy land, central and northern part of wisconsin and we have a lot of small dairy farms. 300 500, maybe 1,000 acres of small family farms and this death tax when dad dies isnt paid by dad because hes gone but the kids who inherit the farm are the ones who pay that tax. And they end up not being able to pay it so what do they do . They sell to the corporate farm. Repealing the death tax is the ability to keep the American Family farm and not transfer these farms to the big corporate conglomerates. If you want to stand with the little guy, lets repeal this thing. But its not just farms. I have a family in my community in wisconsin that employs hundreds of families. Theyre a manufacture. Familyowned business. They asked me not to use their name. But they understand that this tax if two or more of them die at the same time, they cant pay it. And so what they would be forced to do is sell the business, which would more than likely mean theyre going to lose these jobs to some other part of the country or some other part of the world. So now this family, because they love their community they love the people that work in their company, many for 20 and 30 years, what they wont do is they wont travel together. They wont fly together. They wont drive together because god forbid if there was an accident and two of them die they have to sell a major employer in our community. They dont travel together. Family members. Because of this tax. I hear my friends across the aisle talk about this helping the big wealthy guy. I agree with the gentleman from texas who has done such great work on this bill. They dont pay this tax. They dont pay. They have great lawyers, great estate planners. Its the guys in the middle that are that are employing folks in our community that pay this tax. That means jobs for middle class americans. So i think we should all stand up in this house and we should stand with the middleclass americans, the middleincome americans and lets vote to repeal this bill to make sure we have a vibrant, prosperous middle class in america. With that i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas reserves. The gentleman from washington is recognized. Mr. Mcdermott mr. Speaker, id like to remind the gentleman from wisconsin that 63 households will benefit in his state. There are 618,000 People Living at the Poverty Level. Thats 18,000 for a family of four. Now, one of the things about these kinds of debates is the political rhetoric gets a little overheated. If you die and you have this Great Big Business you have five years to pay that tax. You dont have to pay it the day that they bury the body of your grandfather or your mother, your father, whoever. You have five years to pay it, and then its 10 years deferred. So you have 15 years before that tax has to be paid. It isnt like somebody shows up at the house when youre having the reception after the funeral and says, heres the money or were taking your property. Thats not what happens in this country. We have laid it out to give people time to figure out how to do it financially. Anybody who has that much money probably has enough money to actually hire a financial consultant, it would seem to me mr. Speaker. Id like to yield two minutes to mr. Pascrell the gentleman from new jersey. Mr. Pascrell i heard Better Stories mr. Speaker, in the bada binge club in new jersey. Im Bada Bing Club in new jersey. Im listening to the accounts of all these poor people. Let me tell you what were talking about here. You see this big chart . Thats 99. 85 that get nothing out of this legislation in the United States of america and heres. 15 get 270 billion of a tax cut. Here, let me use a magnify glass so we can see what were talking about here. The orange slash right there. Youre telling me that helps the common good . My friends on the other side of the aisle and when i use the word friends, i mean it. Recently take it theyre talking about the lack of wage growth in this country yet here we are today considering legislation that will add, mr. Speaker 294. 8 billion to the deficit for people who dont work at all. This whole idea that the estate tax hurts middleclass americans in income thats already been taxed is simply not true. Much of this income has never been taxed. Repealing the estate tax in full would result in a massive tax cut for the wealthiest of the wealthy. It hits 5,500 households in this whole country. The whole country where the estate is worth more than 5 million. Thats the law. Im not making this stuff up as i go along. This bill already exacerbates our upside down tax code. Our tax code is stacked up against hardworking labor income and this bill would make it even worse. I sit on the House Budget Committee as well as ways and means and after sitting another minute at least . Mr. Mcdermott mr. Speaker, i yield an additional minute to the gentleman from new jersey. Mr. Pascrell thank you. After sitting through 13 hours of our budget markup, i could tell you that this 294. 8 billion go a long way in making up for the devastating cuts that the other side of the aisle has inflicted on the other class. Its also important to note that budget the budget does not assume, mr. Ranking member, the repeal of the estate tax, where the heck are they going to get the 294. 8 billion . It assumes a revenue neutral i like it when they say it a revenue neutral reform. It assumes that revenues will be exactly what c. B. O. Projects under current law for the next 10 years. We really have only two conclusions. Either this bill is directly contrary to the budget or its not paid for today. Congress will at some point have to sit down go down the road pass a tax hike to pay for this massive deficit. You cant have it both ways. Id like to hear from my good friend, the chairman, what his path will be to make up for this 298. 5 billion. Thats a lot of money mr. Speaker. Where the heck is it coming from . I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from texas is recognized. Mr. Brady mr. Speaker, yielding myself 10 seconds. Id point out, studies show we would generate more money by repealing this tax than keeping it because people wouldnt put their money into tax shelters and other things and instead would put it back in their business and to job creation. Im proud to yield two minutes to a gentleman whose father started their business by the sweat of his brow, the gentleman from pennsylvania, leading member of the ways and Means Committee mr. Kelly. Mr. Kelly i thank the chairman, mr. Speaker. Its interesting to sit and listen to the rhetoric and i think sometimes if you drink the purple cool aid long enough you start to believe it. That chart is a great chart thats up there because what were doing again is were starting to separate america. Were saying that because it only applies to this very little sliver that we have to go after these people. I want you to think about something. The entire produce of a woman or mans life after they paid their local taxes, their state taxes, their federal taxes, all the sales taxes over their life and the way theyve contributed to build their communities, at the time of their death i know we dont want to call it a death tax but its triggered at the time of their death, god forbid these hardworking american taxpayers are allowed to pass on to the next generation that which they were able to accumulate. Now, the chairman made a reference to my parents and its not just about my parents. My dad was a parts picker in a chef warehouse. He married a girl that ran the switch board. That was my mother. He went off to world war ii, came back home and started a car dealership. One car showman built into something he was proud of and was able to pass on to my brothers and i. Now, we want to go after these folks, not because they were successful but because they died. Because the government cannot live within its means so when we go to the viewing, we go to the funeral home and we go to pay our respects we also tell them, thanks for all your hard work. Did you a great job you contributed so much and now the government wants to take some of that produce of your entire life because they cant live within your their means. You live within your means. You tightened your belts when you had to. You made more with less, but no thats not good enough because we cant rein in spending so we cant stop taxing. That is egregious. In the United States of america to sit back and look at all those who have done so much and paid so many taxes in their lifetime and yet to say upon their death they are not allowed to pass this on to the next generation. I love the chart because you really specify exactly whats been going on here for too long. Youre separating the country. Youre dividing the country rich versus poor. Thats egregious. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore members of the chamber are reminded to directs their remarks to the chair. To direct their remarks to the chair. The gentleman from texas reserves and the gentleman from washington is recognized. Mr. Mcdermott mr. Speaker, i hope you would remind the gentleman that the country is already divided into rich and poor. Theres no question about that. In pennsylvania 144 households will get the benefit and 1. 57 Million People in pennsylvania live in poverty so theres already a bit of a division here. It might be more acceptable if this bill recouped all the money we spent in farm subsidies over time. Maybe when people die they ought to give their farm subsidy back to the government like my grandfather did when he did. The state of illinois came back to get the public assistance money that had been given to him during his life, his last years. Now i yield two minutes to the gentleman from wisconsin, mr. Kind. Mr. Kind i thank the speaker for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, i rise in opposition to this legislation and perhaps for no better reason its a 270 billion cost that Congressional Budget Office showed with no payfors, no offsets in the federal budget. My republican colleagues want to move forward on this policy proposal. At least they should show the courage to the American People to tell them how theyre going to pay for this 270 billion bill or to admit that its just going to be added to the annual structural budget deficits. A completely irresponsible fiscal approach to trying to reform our tax code. And lord knows we need to get the work to work on that. But a larger point, and to speak to the last speakers point that he just made on the floor. What is somewhat problematic and troublesome to me, it seems some of our republican colleagues seem very comfortable with the income inequality in this nation which is only growing worse. But heres the main point that this income inequality in our society absence absent opportunity, absent hope is just a cast system. Its just a cast system where both birth equals outcome. Thats why one of the richest people in the world, warren buffett, who opposes repealing the estate tax, says that our fate in life should not depend on whether we win the birth lottery or not. Its no longer good enough for the other side to continue to deliver tax relief to the wealthiest 1 . Now its got to be the wealthiest. 2 . Because thats what this legislation affects. 2 of the wealthiest households in america. But they say dont worey well address this later, we have a spending problem in washington. What weve seen from their budgets where they go for offsets in spending, its in pell grants, its in work study, its in broadband expansion that we need in this nation, its the basic Research Funding that has to take place its the Infrastructure Modernization that we need. Its those things we need to be investing in to keep america competitive, and those are the type of programs that help with mobility, that help with opportunity that help with hope. Can i have an additional 30 seconds . Mr. Mcdermott i yield the gentleman from wisconsin an additional 30 seconds. Mr. Kind i thank my friend. Thats whats so onerous behind this legislation. They have become very clever piling up debt convincing the American People we have a spending problem. What they try to target are those that help the least the most. Those that provide upward mobility of all americans. Im a product of that. Im a kid who went to school with pell grants, work study program. There is no way i want to be a member of congress thats going to pull up the ladder behind me and say tough luck to the lower income classes of this contry. Thats what this leads. To i encourage colleagues to oppose it. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from washington reserves. The gentleman from texas is recognized. Mr. Brady yield myself 15 seconds. Lets have the courage to stop hiding behind warren buffett, the superrich. They dont pay this tax. They have lawyers and Tax Accountants they have charitable trusts theyll never this is a familyowned farm and businesses. Im proud to yield one minute to the gentleman from texas, Second Generation Small Business owner the gentleman from the gentleman, mr. Williams. Mr. Williams thank you, mr. Speaker. In 1939 a man started a car dealership to realize the American Dream. When he died it was passed to his son and so was a death tax liability. The i. R. S. Was three days later after the fathers death wanting the money. 55 of the value of the business. His son nearly declared bankruptcy. Fortunately, he was able to pool resources together to keep his familys profitable dealership afloat and save jobs. He still runs the dealership to this day and has more than 100 employees. That son is me. Mr. Speaker, today the house will vote to repeal the death tax, the most unfair devil taxation double taxation on job creators we have ever seen. The death tax is a tax on savings that have already been taxed before, but the tax provides less than 1 of federal revenue. According to the Tax Foundation repeal of the death tax would boost g. D. P. Create 139,000 jobs, and increase federal ref nue. Thats right, ironically by killing the death tax, the u. S. Government would earn more money and more opportunities. Mr. Speaker, my Second Generation and many other Second Generation Business Owners do not have the means to hire teams of accountants and lawyers to navigate the costly obstacles to save the family farm and save the Family Business. As a Small Business owner the speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Brady an additional 15 seconds. Mr. Williams as a Small Business owner of 44 years i have seen business colleagues lose gains from a lifetime of work because of washingtons greed of failed policies like the death tax. We must repeal this unfair policy that does no good to the federal government and life changing harm to american job creators and families. We must make sure this bill this law goes through. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from texas reserves. The gentleman from washington is recognized. Mr. Mcdermott mr. Speaker, i yield the gentleman from texas, mr. Doggett, two minutes. Mr. Doggett thank you. I rise in strong opposition to this brady borrow to benefit billionaires act. I dont believe it is in the interest of our country to borrow another 269 billion from the chinese, the saudis, or whoever we can get it from in order to benefit about 5000 or so of the wealthiest families in this country. That is precisely what this legislation does. If ever our people become so sordid as to feel that all that counts is money, prosperity, ignoble wellbeing, effortless ease and comfort, then this nation shall perish. No advantage comes either to the country as a whole or to the individuals inheriting the money. By permitting the transmission in their entirety of the enormous fortunes which would be affected by such a tax. Those are bold words, bold words of a different kind of republican than we have today. They are the bold words in 1907 of president Teddy Roosevelt when he originally proposed the tax that has been mislabeled today as the death tax. President roosevelt thought that it would be the death of our country if we had a permanent, leisure class elite of the type that dominated so many european countries. And he thought that a reasonable tax on inheritance of the wealthiest, most prosperous members of our country would be in the national interest. Indeed, essential to the future of the country. I think his approach was right at the beginning of the 19th century and it remains true in this crentry. Because this is really a billionaire protection act. When he introduced this legislation, mr. Brady said what kind of government swoops in upon your death and takes nearly half of the nest egg that you spent your life building . Well, the answer is not the american government. Because our government does not do that and does not touch the estates of any but the smallest smallest fraction of the wealthiest 5000plus households in the country. And im concerned does the gentleman have another 30 seconds . Ill take 30 minutes. Mr. Mcdermott the gentleman from texas has 30 seconds. Mr. Doggett the anticompetitive effects of this bifment while this money could be used to address the size of our national debt, and that might be appropriate place for it think about the size of 269 billion and what it could do. We know that our infrastructure is crumbling. That would be more than enough. To cover over the next 10 years the shortfall that has been estimated in dealing with our transportation infrastructure. Think what dollars that size would do for strengthening as a competitiveness of our work force from prek to post grad. Its a bad investment to help those who have already gotten what they have gotten. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from washington reserves. The gentleman from texas is recognized. Mr. Brady i am proud to yield one minute to a fifth generation, proud resident of the great state of montana, mr. Zincle. Mr. Zinkey while some americans look forward to a refund many families in my state and across the nation are reminded a looming debt, their children and grandchildren will face. The death tax jeopardizes the future of 28,000 montana farms and thousands more of small familyrun businesses. This is not a leisure class. These are hardworking americans that spent their whole life, generations, building their future only to see it threatened. This tax punishes americans that worked hard, played by the rules, and want to pass that legacy on to their children. The death tax is a tax on the American Dream. Im a proud cosponsor of h. R. 1105, the death tax repeal act of 2015, and i urge my colleagues to support this measure in order to preserve American Dream for farmers and small ranchers. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from washington. Mr. Mcdermott mr. Speaker, i would remind i hope youll remind the gentleman from montana, hes talking about 19 families in montana when you got 145,000 people who live below the poverty line. I yield two minutes to the gentleman from california mr. Becerra. Mr. Becerra i thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker it could be very confusing trying to understand whats going on, and i see in todays gallery a lot of young americans, our future leaders, and they are probably wondering is this something that might affect me in the future . And because i think everyone in america has this dream this hope, that our country makes available of making it in america, we all aspire to do well. I know my parents, my father didnt get more than a sixth grade education, aspired to see his kids do more. I know they are very proud of what their children have been able to accomplish. We all want to make sure that we make it in america. We all want to make sure that we have what we need to buy that first home, to send our kids to college, to save up enough for retirement. Most americans would say, i have made it. Thats the American Dream. If i could guarantee those things and know my kids are going to have an opportunity to do better than me, thats great. Can i do more . Id love to do more. But i dont think most americans say that we have to give a tax break to the wealthy not to the megawealthy, not to the ultramegawealthy, but to the uber megaultrasuperwealthy, a tax break that would cost us all taxpayers 270 billion because this bill is not paid for when at the same time that 270 billion would pay for the same amount of coverage for an entire National Institute of health to do all the research that we expect it to do to help us cure alzheimers, parkinsons, diabetes, lung cancer, heart cancer. All that research that the National Institute of health is doing with all those great scientists and all those universities today in america cost for 10 years the same amount that this bill would cost to give not 1 of the wealthiest. 1 of the wealthiest americans a tax break that costs 270 billion. So every time a proponent of this legislation gets up and says we want to protect family farms would the gentleman yield another 30 seconds . Thank you. Every time a proponent gets up and says we want to protect the family farmer, they have to say well we need the. 1 of the wealthiest americans may be a family farmer. I guarantee you that guy is not going to have calluses on his hand if hes a family farmer. Lets be real, we have priorities. We want to make it in america. We want to buy that house. We want to send our kids to college. And we want to be able to retire securely. You dont have to be the. 1 richest american at the cost of 270 billion to all the other americans, especially every one of those folks sitting in this gallery today, to say we have to give a tax break to the uner wealthy. Lets not uber wealthy. Lets not vote for this bill. The speaker pro tempore the chair would remind members to avoid references to occupants of the gallonry. The gentleman from washington reserves. The gentleman from texas is recognized. Mr. Brady yielding myself 15 seconds for those listening today, young people included, ask yourself a question. You want a government that guarantees you food stamps and welfare checks . Or an opportunity to build your American Dream . At the end of your life, all the years of hard work, all the sweat, all the sacrifice, do you want to pass that down to your kids and grandchildren, or should uncle sam swoop in and take nearly half of everything you worked a lifetime . Im proud to yield the speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Braddy im proud to yield two minutes to the gentleman from minnesota, a keep member of the ways and Means Committee, mr. Paulsen. Mr. Paulsen i thank the gentleman. We love hearing about american success stories. Might be that startup that begins with an idea. A couple of dollars, and a lot of hard work that grows into a business that can support a family that serves a community and provides for the future. Many family Business Owners, ranchers, and farmers they do hope to keep that success going by passing it on to the next generation. However, for too many, the dream of taking over the Family Business can quickly turn into a nightmare. While having to cope with the loss of a loved one, relatives are often forced to make tough decisions in order just to meet the estate Tax Obligations under law. It can mean taking on large amounts of debt. It can be mean selling off critical assets. It can mean closing down the business and being forced to sell the entire family farm or business just to pay the taxes alone. The truth is, that average americans can be negatively affected by this tax. Not only are businesses not being passed down to the next generation, but they are also being forced to lay off other employees that are currently employed. When a Small Business shuts its doors and lets those employees go, it can have a very profound effect on the community. Farmers can be affected by impact impacted by the federal estate tax simply based on the value of the farmland alone. That doesnt take into account, mr. Speaker, the buildings, the equipment, the livestock, and other nonliquid assets present. I spoke to a minnesota Family Business who was forced to be spending 20 , 20 of their net income on an expensive Life Insurance just to fund their future death Tax Obligations. Thats money thats not being used to expand and grow the current business. We have to ask ourselves, mr. Speaker for a country that prides itself on the American Dream, that we all agree on, and the idea our children will be better off than we were, doesnt make sense to penalize success. I ask for support of this legislation and i commend the gentleman, mr. Brady, for his leadership on this legislation and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas reserves. The gentleman from washington is recognized. Mr. Mcdermott mr. Speaker, may i know the time thats remaining on both sides. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from washington has 9 3 4 minutes. The gentleman from texas has 15 1 4 minutes remaining. Mr. Mcdermott thank you. I yield two minutes to the gentleman from illinois, mr. Davis. Mr. Davis thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, i rise in opposition to this bill that would add hundreds of billions of dollars to our deficit to deliver a windfall to the heirs of the wealthiest estates in the country. Although the republican budget holds that we must make draconian cuts to domestic programs, in the name of physical can prudence, proms that help the middle class, infirmed, the Republican Leadership lauds a bill that would provide inequality in our nation and give an average tax break of 3 million to the most secure. In my Congressional District the Median Income is 48,481. The Unemployment Rate for africanamericans is 24. 5 . The Poverty Level for children is