Required to come back in. You can watch the house lye when they return tomorrow morning at 9 00 a. M. Eastern. Well take you back to the briefing we were watching before the house gaveled back in. Robert they have filed charges against hundreds of members of ms13 in el salvador. Many of the members are of those are members of the clique who are centered in the la Paz Department of el salvador. Earlier, members of this clique committed several high profile murders in el salvador. The shooter in those fled to the United States and is in i. C. E. Custody this prosecution showcases how closely we are working with our partners in el salvador to combat ms13. Specifically, u. S. Law enforcement agents with i. C. E. , on the ground in el sal var do el salvador are coordinating with their counterparts to ensure the shooter is remove fled United States to face charges in el salvador. This investigation is being handled by salvadoran gang prosecute crorses, trained and mentored by prosecutors in el salvador and others who are trained and mentored who are by the f. B. I. At the request of salvadoran prosecute dwhrorks Justice Department arranged to have an essential witness to the murders transported to el salvador for court proceedings. U. S. Law enforcement recently targeted leaders and members of the same clique operating here in maryland. Charging 16 defendants with racketeering offenses involving murder and attempted murder. The last of whom was sentenced this yore to life in prison to life imprisonment. These are significant blows to ms13 and are made possible by our close cross border coordination. Weve also revitalized the Institutional Hearing Program which brings imgrigs judges to Bureau Prison facilities to adjudicate the immigration status of federal criminal ail general inmates while theyre incarcerated. This results in much quicker deportation after the criminals serve out their prison sentences here in the United States. Finally, we are also holding sanctuary cities accountable for their lawless conduct. The attorney general will not allow sanctuary cities to become sanctuaries for criminals. Earlier this week, the attorney general announced new grant conditions. Cities and states may only receive byrnejag grants if they comply with federal law, allow federal immigration officials access to facilities and provide 48 hours notice before they release an illegal alien wanted by federal authorities. Taking on ms13 is a top priority of the administration and this Justice Department. We will not tire and will not fail. Im humbled to once again be in a position to work to reduce and ultimately desecrate this decimate this gang to make our Community Safe for all americans. Thank you. Tom today amp, im the acting director of u. S. Customs and immigration enforcement, known as i. C. E. Targeting and removing members of the gangs like ms13 sends a clear message to enterprises around the world, you are not welcome to the United States and you will find no harbor here. President trump made it a priority to get these criminals off our streets and out of our country and thats what the men and women of i. C. E. Are going to do every single day to help keep america safe. I. C. E. s Homeland Security investigation, known as h. S. I. National gang unit, leads our efforts along with our deportation officers to identify and arrest fwang members while working to dismantle the organizational structure that supports them. Gang members are involved in a broad range of criminal activities, including murder, narcotics traffic, weapons trafficking, human smuggling and other crime with a nexus to Border Security. Since the beginning of january this year, i. C. E. s Homeland Security investigation has arrested 3,311 gang members across the country in a number of targeted operations. Ill speak just about two. Project new dawn a recent gang search led by i. C. E. Led to 1,37 gang arrests. Operation matador up in new york state, since may 9, has netted over 100 gang members and fi a23il8 affiliate, vast majority ms13 members. Make no mistake, organized violent gangs threaten our communities not just in major metropolitan areas but in suburbs like suffolk county, new york, where ill be joining the president tomorrow to discuss this issue. Let me share just a couple of examples that demonstrate the violence of these criminals. Recently, two ms13 members who were juveniles arrested as part of operation matador have been implicated in a quadruple homicide of four young adults in new york. An additional ms13 arrest admitted to be complicit in homicide to two juvenile females. Multiple other matador ms13 arrests have led to arrests on narcotics trafficking, weapons smuggling and intelligence on other unsoevered crimes in the region. The proliferation of ms13 remains an on gink challenge to awe Law Enforcement everywhere. Our work is more effective then our partnership with local Law Enforcement is strongest. Our operations are more effective when there are strong local partnerships supporting them. Sanctuary city policies only make it more difficult, if not impossible, for i. C. E. To remove gang mebs and other known criminal ail generals from the country. As i said when i was here months ago, cooperation is critical. It is often state and local Law Enforcement, not i. C. E. , that first come into contact with transnational gang members. Together, through partnership, we can keep our streets safe. Together, our gang is bigger than theirs. In addition to making our Community Safer, the intelligence gathered from operations targeting ms13 help ours agents and investigators continue their efforts to fully december mantle these global criminal enterprises from the command struck you are from structure in el salvador to those in our communs an everybody in between. The progress we make would not be possible without the brave and dedicated men and women of i. C. E. These are professionals. American patriots. Who leave the safety of their homes and families every day to help keep us safe. To keep people safe theyll never meet. And i am honored and proud to represent them here today. Ith that, ill ta ill take questions. Reporter theres been ms13 activity, when they prosecuted there they have said members of ms13 some of them are citizens. And to get help from the immigrant community where they are being where theyre plaguing if the plague is on the immigrant community that they have not been successful because theyre afraid of being taken out of the country, that youre going to deport them. For those in the immigrant community who are being taken advantage of, do you guys are you going to offer any type of support for those who are not involved in ms13 who come forward to assist Law Enforcement . Local Law Enforcement said thats the biggest problem theyve had. M the missed message that i. C. E. Is doing neighborhood raids and things we were being accuses of doing. I. C. E. Prioritizes based on criminal threats, national security, those who violate immigration laws. However if theyre a victim or witnesses, were not looking for victims or witnesses. I believe, especially ms13, they victim those where they live. If the immigrant community is being victimized they dont want them in the community. They should be safe to go to Law Enforcement, report the cyle. We dont target victims of crime. As a matter of fact theres benefits to victims of crimes through the immigration process. So they should feel safe to go and report criminal activity and well were going to target the most violent criminals, not the witness, not the victims, remove them. We need your help. We need the communitys help. Most importantly we need local Law Enforcements help, especially county jails that will have an ms13 book in that in a ut theyre located sanctuary city, theyll be released back to the streets. Pointblank, youre not going to take advantage of the immigrant communities who are victims, right . Tom were theyre not going to be deported. Tom we need the immigrant community to assist us in identifying the most the individuals in ms13. If theres a victim of crime and they come forward, were not looking to arrest the victim of crime. Were looking to arrest the bad guy. Right . Let me make this clear. My saying theres a population of illegal aliens off the table, im not saying that. But victims of crime have certain protections and need to take full advantage of the protections. Reporter do you have a count for how many people are actually in ms13 across the country . And what has the reaction been from sanctuary cities to the new policies announced earlier this week by the attorney general . And if you could speak broadly about obviously the president has been critical of the attorney general. Has that in any way impacted your job . Tom. I can tell you that thousands of ms13 members are in the country that number changes every day depending on who we deport and who neeks . Sneaks. In. As far as sanctuary cities, i dont know how they feel about recent legislation. But ill say again, sanctuary cities are criminals biggest friend. If youre an alien smuggler, smuggling people into the country for a live, thats one sales pitch, get you to a sanctuary city where that city will help shield you from immigration. I said it, i heard every time i speak i say sanctuary cities need to help us keep the city safe. Sanctuary cities not engage public safe by but they endanger my officers because when we cant get a violent criminal alien out of jail, it means one of our officers has to go knock on a door which is one of the most dangerous thing to do. So rather than arresting the violent criminal in the safety of jail, we have to go knock on the door. Our officers are put at risk, the public is put at risk, the suspect is put at risk. We have lost many at the hnds of violent criminal gangs. Weve got to join forces with the cities. They have to work with us to keep their communities safe. Reporter the fact that the president criticized the attorney general recently, has that affected your ability to do our job . Tom i. C. E. Will continue to do our job. The attorney general is a strong supporter of doing our job. Nothing is going to change the way we do business. We follow the law. Reporter the administration also prioritized criminal what is different about your approach as opposed to the previous administrations approach . Tom the Prior Administration the difference is that for those criminal aliens get booked in a county jail. Under the Prior Administration they needed a conviction before we can put them in our custody. Thats not necessary anymore. If you been arrested for a serious crime and youre in a county jail, were going to take the person into custody. What does that mean . Were asking will call jurisdictions to hang on to them until we get there to take custody of them. Has that proven effective . Tom yes. I think we got more jurisdictions coming to the table now. The story is, sanctuary cities here and there but more jurisdictions, more Law Enforcement is coming to the table now. Weve doubled agreements under this administration. I expect to trip they will agreements by the obed the year. Most Law Enforcement agrees with me. They want to work with us and identify the threats to the communities. These people local Law Enforcement is teaming up with us. All these jurisdictions want to get the criminal element out of their neighborhood. The imgrant communities themselves dont want these people in their communities. We should all be on the same page here. Again, new york city. One of those places where, you know, we cant get records and put our hands on people who are here illegal. Gang members walk out of county jails every day across this country. Thats what needs to change. Reporter how are gang members being identified for i. C. E. Enforcement . Is it just through local Law Enforcement . Are the databases how do you know how to find these gang members . Tom local Law Enforcement, theyre usually the one that ones that, they have the most intelligence on gang members. As far as what we look for to find fwang members, id rather not discuss that because i dont want to share the information with gang members who may be watching. Theyll say well just do this a little different. Theres a myriad of factors. We dont arrest people on how they look. Ive seen media accounts of people with tattoos and clothing. Thats one of many, many things we look at. Its a matter of how we identify, target and locate gang member. The moves i. C. E. Are well trained, they do this for a living. Theyre professionals, look at a lot of factors. Id rather not share the factors we consider, id rather not share that with you. Or with the criminal element who may be watching this program. Reporter you said victims of crimes who are imgrants would not be targeted. In february your agency detained a woman in el paso, texas, who was seeking a protective order against a domestic abuser. Can you say now that your agency will not be doing that again . And if its been tone in the past, why why should we believe that it wont be done in the future . Tom that case youre talking about, you dont know all the facts that i do. Thats not the way theres much more to that story than youre presenting here today. I can tell you that was a solid arrest. Its under litigation, i cant give you the all the information i have. Its a good arrest, that was a Public Safety arrest, i cant say anymore because its in litigation. Reporter the president will focus on the most violent gang, ms13, suggesting thats what i. C. E. Is focused on. Im reading a story from last number, that says the biggest numbers that i. C. E. Arrests are up and the biggest spike is for noncriminals. I think the other side of the issue would say that i. C. E. And this administration really is going after noncriminals and using these moments to suggest otherwise. What do you say about that . Tom its ridiculous. When under Prior Administration, noncriminals were not a priority. So when you go from zero to 100, youll see the biggest rise in that. The executive order, no population is off the table. So noncriminals, yeah, those who get a court order from the judge who refused to leave, were looking for them. Those who entered the country illegally, its a crime to enter the country illegally. When they get their due process at great taxpayer expense, money is spent on immigration court, detention. When they get due process and the federal judge orders them removed, that order needs to mean something or the whole system has no integrity. Nowhere else in Law Enforcement has anybody asked Law Enforcement agency to ignore a judges order from a bench. Theyve had due process, our job is to enforce the orders. For people who say that we concentrate too much on those who are not criminals beyond committing the crime of entering the country illegally, they should no they have not committed another crime, you should ignore them, let them go. That drives what happens in san antonio. That message drives what happened in victoria, texas that i investigated back in 2003. If we send the message that if you get into the country, you get by the Border Patrol and dont get arrested by la call Law Enforcement and no one is looking for you, thats a magnet. Its a pull factor. Weve got to stop that messaging. Weve got say its not ok to violate laws of the country. You cant have it both ways. Until we get that message clear, that there is no safe haven here, and if youre in sanctuary cities, thats where well send Additional Resources to look for you, were going to enforce the law. Weve got to stop sending the message that people who dent commit yet another crime should be forgotten. Reporter the previous question you said you need the help of communities, President Trump the other day called in a speech in ohio twice referred to criminal gang members as animals. I think theres some who would say thats sort of an attempt, another attempt to paint a broader swath of immigrants as criminal and violent. He wasnt that specific about who he was talking about. Im wondering if you think that rhetoric is appropriate or whether that could potentially set back some of your efforts in trying to convince Community Members to work with your department. Tom as a career Law Enforcement officer, i can tell you criminal aliens are a threat not only to peculiar safety but national security. We have to enforce the laws. The men and women of i. C. E. Are doing it in a professional manner. I shared with you last time i was here why its so important to let those in Central America and mexico, let those who want to come to the United States, to find themselves in a sanctuary city, why its so important that to send the message that they should not make that dangerous trek. These are criminal organizations that transport these people into the country. The same organizations, same pathways that struggle drugs, smuggle weapons, smuggle people that want to do harm to this country. And by continuing to ignore that segment of the illegal population, we are bankrolling these criminal organizations. As i said earlier, sanctuary cities, thats a smuggle ears best friend. Thats their advertisement, well get you to a sanctuary city. What ive seen in my career, ive seen people that were killed for not paying their smuggling fee. Ive seen weve talked to women that have been raped, children molested, people have been killed. I shared in a meeting yesterday in phoenix, arizona, in the hostage crisis, people couldnt pay their fees. Fees would double when they get here. We rescued one man who was duck taped from head to toe. His whole face and head were duck taped. Had a hole poked in the mouth so he could breathe through a straw. In victoria, i worked on a case with a tractor trailer, immigrants and that 5yearold. What do you think that 5yearold went through the last of his life . Or his dads last 30 minutes not able to help his child . So are you calling the animals . Tom there are millions who enter this country the right way. Theres a legal way and illegal way. Weve got to be pushing the legal message out and stop sending this message that if you dont commit yet another crime beyond the crime you committed when you came to this country, that its ok to be here. Its not ok to be here illegally. Its not ok to violate the laws of the country. Were going to enforce laws. With everything youre read, all these horrific events, thats why we need the 10,000 officers that President Trump promised so we can go after the gangs even harder and the criminal alien population. We need the border wall. Its one more tool in the toolbox that might prevent some things from happening. Thats why President Trump is asking us to do, hes proposing for Border Security makes sense to the Law Enforcement community. Not just i. C. E. But the 20,000 men and women who work at i. C. E. , those who wear uniforms every day, we need this help. We need this to make sense of hat we do every day. Sarah thank you, tom. Rob. Just like the dedicated men and women of i. C. E. And d. O. J. Who are unquestionably producing results every day in these fights against crishes cartels, Senate Republicans now have an opportunity this evening to deliver on one of our biggest promises to the American People. On the hill the senate is gearing up for a series of votes on the republican plan to finally repeal and replace obamacare and replace it with the Freedom Health care bill. Congressional republicans have been telling the American People that given the chance, they would save them from this increasing damage of this disastrous law. After seven years of skyrocketing premiums and dwinleding health care option, now is their chance to act. The president looks forward to seing the senate fulfill that promise later tonight when they repeal obamacare and end the nightmare that its caused for American Families and businesses. I hate to start the q a off on a low note but i want to get ahead of some of the personnel related questions and just let you guys know ahead of time that no, i cannot confirm whether or not sean spicer will be on dancing with the stars upon leaving the white house. And with that, i will take your questions. Jonathan. Reporter does the president have confidence in his chief of staff . Sarah i think ive addressed this question. When it comes to staffing and personnel many times. If the president doesnt then hell make that decision. We all serve at the pleasure of the president and if he fwets to a place where that isnt the case hell let you know. Reporter you cant say if he as full confidence in reince priebus. Sarah this is a white house with a lot of different perspectives because the president hires the very best people. Theyre not always going to agree. There are going to a lot of different ideas. Unlike previous administrations this isnt groupthink. We all come and have a chance to voice those ideas, vose their perspectives and voice those perspectives and have a lot of healthy competition. With that comp tillings you get the best results. The president likes that type of competition and encourages it. The people that are here are here because they love the president , they love this country and they want to see the best things happen and sometimes your going to have different ideas come to the table. Thats all im talking about. Reporter public hue mailuation of the attorney general and the chief of staff, must kind of wonder about their own faith and status. Sarah i dont know that the president has spoken about that particularly on attorney general sessions. Hes been clear he was disappointed with his decision to recuse himself but at the same time as ive said, look, attorney general sessions knows better than anybody that the president and his campaign had nothing to do with russia and his decision to recuse himself was disappointing to the president. At the same time, the president wants him to do his job, do it properly, wants him to be tough on the Intelligence Leaks and he wants him to move forward. Reporter Lindsey Graham says herell be holy hell to pay if attorney general sessions is fired. Does he have any comment . Sarah i have not asked him about that. Eporter were told the policy on transgender in the military hasnt been changed, they have to issue an order to do so. Sarah as i said yesterday the white house will work with the department of defense and all the relevant parties to make sure that we fully implement this policy moving forward. And do so in a lawful manner. Reporter what is the policy . Was the president aware he cant make policy changes via twitter . Sarah i think he was making the announcement of the policy change. Reporter the policy hasnt been formulated . Sarah theyll have to work out details on how to move forward to lawfully make that policy change from this point. Reporter moving on to health care. You talked about how Senate Republicans have the chance tonight to really undo obamacare but it seem like the thing thats most likely to get through is the skinny repeal and that would just kind of tissue it would maybe get rid of the mandate, some other things, but its not the massive overhaul that had been promised. So would the white house support just a skinny repeal being signed into law . Sarah we support progress moving forward. Thats what were seeing taking place in the senate right now. And i think that thats the place where weve been since we started this is were looking for moving the ball forward down the field, repealing or replacing it with a Better Health care system. This is one step within that process. Does the white house believe a skinny repeal on repeal on its own would be enough to address the issues of premiums, rising premiums and deductibles and things like that . Would the president sign just a skinny repeal . Sarah weve got to see what they get to tonight. We havent seen a final piece of legislation. Were continuing to work with the senate to make sure we get the best health care we can. Reporter i want to ask two questions, one about the president s management style and one on immigration. Is the president aware that on days like yesterday when you have a big announcement to roll out, his seemingly impulsive decisions to make an announcement on transgender troops stepped on his own message. Is he aware of that die nam exand is he interested in changing it . Sarah i think the president is aware he can walk and chew gum at the same time. This is a white house that takes on a lot of Different Things every day, not just one, and were going to continue to do that moving forward. Reporter on immigration, i have a question on immigration enforcement. When the president spoke in ohio, he spoke about ms13 and gave a litany of the violence theyre capable of and then he said, our guys are rougher than their guys. What did the president mean by that . Sarah. I think the president means that our guys are going to do whatever it takes to protect americans, protect american lives, protect our borders. Reporter is that a license for the use of more force when it comes to making arrests . Sarah the president wants people to do their job. Not go beyond the scope of what they should do. But he wants to protect our country and wants to protect the American People. And hes asked the Law Enforcement agencies to step up and help be part of that process. As i think we would all expect for them too. Does he want Law Enforcement agencies to change the rules about the use of force . Sarah im not aware of specific changes. Reporter talking about reince priebus, he said, if he wants to prove hes not a leaker, let him prove it. Does he think that priebus is a leak ore does the white house think that . Sarah im not going to comment on anthonys suggestion, ill let him answer for himself. I think ive made clear the where the president is. Reporter does the president believe the tax overhaul should increase the budget deaf sis deficit or be revenue neutral . Sarah were continuing to make announcements on the tax reform plan. Were making a hot of a lot of progress on this front as we get closer to lining out the final details, well certainly be putting those out in front of all of you. The big pieces are simplification, and helping take off relief for the middle class. Those are big places were focused. Well continue to do that. The border adjustment tax was taken off the table. Thats another big step forward in the process. Reporter can i ask about Anthony Scaramucci. Has he taken an oath of office. Sarah not that im aware of. Rerter is his security clearance gone through . Sarah we dont discuss security clearance. Reporter is he a member of the staff . Sarah he is working with the white house. Weaver going to one question thursday were tight on time. The president has got to open let me ask about the boy scouts. Im going to john, sorry, peter. Reporter i have to ask you about the health care bill. Many who are in the Freedom Caucus say that they would oppose the skinny repeal that was referred to earlier that if a measure came out with just ending the mandates and ending the tax on medical devices, that that would and not addressing anything else, they would vote against it. Is the president aware of this . Is he making any calls for specific parts to the repeal effort . Sarah the administration has been working hand in hand on pushing repeal and replace of obamacare. We actually like the term freedom bill better. We think it addresses what this bill. Is it removes a lot of those mandates that allow people to have the type of freedom that they want. And that was one of the big priorities for this administration. Were happy about that progress. Were going to wait and see where this bill ends up later this evening. Reporter just to follow up on what he just asked you is the president picking up the phone, is he calling the seven or eight republican senators, making the case to them that this may be their last, best hope for repealing and replacing obamacare . And if he is, whats his message to those senators . Sarah the same one hes been making all along, lets get the job done, lets replace a Terrible Health care system with a better one. Hes going to be engaged, ill keep you posted on any specifics and people he talks to. All the republican senators here at the white house last week sarah were tight on time. Im going to keep you to one question. Be polite to your colleagues. Reporter there was rumor that the president might veto the russian sanctions bill even as senator corker has withdrawn an objection to the same version from the house that will be up for the senate vote. Is that possible . Would he veto a bill that passed with just three negative votes in the house and two in the senate . Sarah as i said yesterday, the president and administration supports sanctions against russia, iran and north korea, continue to support strong sanctions against those countries. Well wait and see what the final legislation looks like and make a decision at that point. As soon as we have a final piece of legislation well let you know. Reporte working with the d. O. D. On the new policy, when will you find out the details . Sarah i dont have a specific timeline. Well keep you posted a as posted as the details come out. I dont have a specific timeline on what that looks like. Theyre ready to start moving and work on that implementation. Reporter several republicans have sent signals to this white house, one, dont make a recess appointment, were not going to allow it. Two, theres not going to be a confirmation hearing if theres a new attorney general nominated. Theres a signal being sent, dont do what we fear you might be contemplating. For you, for the betterment of the senators working on this, could you put to rest the status of the attorney general, that hes not going to be fire department, there wont need to be a recess appointment. The republicans appear to be anxious about this prospect. Sarah im not sure how many times you have to lay an issue to rest, ive tried many times. But when you dont say the president is confident and the president says time will tell as he said earlier this week, im only telling you what senator republicans who are in a position to deal with. Sarah i have answered your question, and yesterday you probably saw a statement come out from here that that was more fake news from the Washington Post on the fact that we are considering a recess appointment. I think that sums that up pretty clearly. Reporter this is a little, maybe just a little bit off topic but i want to run it by you anyway. Is the president aware of the story sarah good to mix it up a little bit. Is the president aware of the story of the i. T. Staff, congressional i. T. Staffer who most recently worked for florida congresswoman Debbie Wasserman schultz, who was recently arrested trying to leave the country, though he said he wasnt trying to flee the country. Is the president aware of that particular circumstance and is he satisfied with the pace of the investigation . Sarah i havent had a conversation with him specifically about that but i do think it is something we should fully look into. And there should be a thorough investigation. Report er since we only have one question, i want to ask about this. He wrote this to family members. I want to extend my sincere apologies to the family who were scouting family who were offended by the political rhetoric that was inserted in the jamboree. We sincerely regret a politics were inserted. Does the president owe the boy scouts an apology . Sarah i saw nothing but roughly 40,000 to 45,000 boy scouts cheering the president on throughout his remarks. And i think they were pretty excited that he was there. And happy to hear him speak to them. Reporter the boy scouts acknowledge theres a problem, parents felt the need to write a letter about. Does the president owe them an apology . Sarah i was at that event and heard nothing but a lot of cheering and probably one of the most energetic crowds ive seen in front of the president. So i dont have anything to add. I havent seen the statement from the boy scouts so i cant comment any further than what i saw firsthand and that was a lot of individuals, roughly 40,000 reported, cheering the president on. Reporter two for you. Sarah one, theres a rule. Reporter Anthony Scaramucci said he had a conversation about attorney general session about the leaks, that appears to violate the d. O. D. Guidelines. Secondly, out of alaska today, local paper there is reporting that senator mcclasskey received a phone call from the secretary of interior threatening the federal dollars spent toward the people of alaska on if she voted a certain way on the health care bill. Can you confirm that and whether that conversation sarah. Ill answer both of your questions with one answer, to keep it intha fair. Im not going to speak about conferrings between cabinet members and other individuals i wasnt a part of and havent had a chance to talk to either individual about. Reporter you suggestion jest the president continues to have priebus, in reince and Anthony Scaramucci, but based on what weve seen playing out publicly, does he think they need to get whatever this is out of their system and start off on the right foot . Sarah i dont have if i dont know if he has an opinion on what they should do the president enjoys healthy competition and conversation. The sees that as such. I have to wrap up here, because the president is getting ready to do an event which i know you all want to attend. One last thing before i close out on an important development. You guys love to talk about russia, theres been nonstop coverage, and the one day there might have been a question on russia there wasnt. Often we have a lot of media with russia first and tissue but today there was public testimony that further discredited the phony dossier thats been the source of so much of the fake news and conspiracy theories and we learned that the firm that produced it was also being paid by the russians. This is yet the latest piece of evidence that vindicates what the president has said, that this is a witch hunt and a hoax. Its a shame that the president and the country have had to go through this charade continually and hopefully this will help us move forward in that process. With that, thank you guys so much. Well see you tomorrow. Whats the definition of healthy competition . Are they going for that same job . The New York Times reporting that with new sanctions, the senate has forced the president s hand on russia, passing sweeping sanctions and forcing President Trump to decide whether to accept a tougher line against russia or issue a veto that could hurt him politically. As investigations continue into ties between his president ial campaign and russian officials, the Senate Passed the sanctions by a vetoproof number, 982. Earlier this week, the house voted to punish russia as well as iran an north korea and sharply limited the president s ability to lift sanctions. The administration argued it needs flexibility in diplomacy with russia. You can read more at the New York Times online. The senate in for whats expected to be a late night tonight. A look here at the senate floor. Senator lankford of oklahoma speaking about health care and the health care law. Debating the legislation and possibly voting on a skinny repeal which would take away small portions of the Current Health care law but keep much of it in place. Democratic leader in the house says they could even see a bill come over from the senate for a vote as early as tomorrow. We heard from g. O. P. Senators earlier today on where the Health Care Legislation stands. Take a look at their remarks now. Mr. Graham hes back. So the third amigo. Heres the state of play. All three of us support the idea of continuing the process to get a good outcome for the American People when it comes to replacing obamacare. To find a product thats better for the American People. I have a bunch of ideas. Everybody has ideas. Weve been asked by our leadership for days now to vote on the least common denominator, the skinny bill, because the pitch is if you vote for this skinny bill, then we can go to conference and we can get my bill scored, we can get ted cruzs bill scored, we can get other peoples bills scored that has promise of maybe bringing us together. But theyre not scored yet. That makes imminent sense to me with one condition. We actually go to conference. Theres the increasing concern on my part and others that what the house will do is take whatever we pass, the socalled skinny bill, not take it to conference, go directly to the house floor, vote on it, and that goes to the president s desk with the argument, this is better than doing nothing. Heres my response. The skinny bill as policy is a disaster. The skinny bill as a replacement for obamacare is a fraud. The skinny bill is a vehicle to getting conference to find a replacement. It is not a replacement in and of itself. The policy is terrible because you eliminate the individual employer mandate, which we all want eliminated but we actually have an overall solution to the problem of obamacare, so youre going to have increased premiums and most of obamacare stays in place. If the skinny bill becomes law. Not only do we not replace obamacare, we politically own the collapse of health care. Id rather get out of the way and let it collapse than have