Transcripts For CSPAN2 Key Capitol Hill Hearings 20150225

That pushes down Interest Rates in many parts of the world that spills over to the United States so there are many channels that it affects the u. S. Outlook but all in all two factors those into account while there are risks positive and negative stemming from Global Development we still think that the risks for the u. S. Outlook to have sufficient a strong growth by consumers and businesses that the recovery looks to be on solid kid ground but just as i mentioned in my testimony to have day strong growth to analyze the factors to impact spending we california not as strong as as we just had but nevertheless growth that factors the global consideration. But they will affect your decision. They will. With the comments to be sure that we deal with currency manipulation but that appears from one to another. Monetary policy oriented toward domestic goals like price stability or price stability and maximum employment, this is a very valid use of a domestic tool for a domestic purpose. It is true that the use of that tool can have repercussions on exchange rates, but i think it it is not right to call that currency manipulation and to put it in the same bucket as intervention to the Exchange Market that are really geared toward changing the Competitive Landscape to the advanthehehehes i want to make the. That one of the things that has been absent from this discussion today has been we have talked a lot about your work, not as much about our work and need to still address our own fiscal policies. I i would simply. Out that because of the extraordinary remittances from the expanded Balance Sheet we see north of 420 billion in netitional revenue that has diminished our deficit which is not something that can be projected onto the future. As we talk about the times of raising Interest Rates i simply. Out the hundred basis. Increase in Interest Rates adds a hundred and 20 billion a year on debt service. Even cbo projections we will show that debt service with our current 18 trillion in debt we will exceed total defense spending or total domestic Discretionary Spending in ten ten years which is not a Good Business plan for our country. Absolutely true. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you for being here. Here. As you no wall street banks could profit handsomely if they knew about the fed plan that is why any leak of confidential nation results in serious penalties for the people responsible. Apparently theyre have have been no consequences for the most recent week. According to recent reports got out perez was put in charge of investigating leak from the september 2012 meeting of the federal of the markets committee nearly two and a half years later the results of this investigation have not been made public and know action has been taken. On february 5 congressman cummings and i sent a letter to mr. Alvarez requesting a briefing in advance of your appearance hear today. So far we have not received one. Can you assure us congressman and i we will get a briefing soon . If i might by way of background. I just want to be able to get a briefing on what has happened . Weird trying to work with your staff. Of take that as a yes as we successfully blew a whole in dodd frank by attacking the appeal to must pass Government Spending bill , that repeal written by lobbyists we will allow the biggest banks in the country to continue to receive Taxpayer Protection for some of the riskys derivatives and swaps. Now, a month before the repeal mr. Alvarez mr. Alvarez spoke at a conference of the American Bar Association command organization that includes many lawyers who represent the banks affected by the feds enforcement of dodd frank. Mr. Alvarez openly criticized the swaps push out role saying you can tell was written credit waiting agency is more constraining and is helpful. As mr. Alvarezs criticism of these two rules reflect your view with a view of the federal board of governors . Let me just say that over the years we have had feedback that we have given on various aspects of dodd frank. These are specific criticisms he has made of dodd frank rules that govern the largest Financial Institutions in this country do his criticisms reflect your criticisms or the criticisms of the federal board . I think i personally consider dodd frank to be a very important piece of legislation that has provided a roadmap for us to put in place regulations. I appreciate that mdm. Chairman, but i just need a yes a yes or know. Do his criticisms reflect yours . I am not speak not seeking in any way to alter dodd frank at this time. Let me bring up the question differently. Do you think it is appropriate that mr. Alvarez mr. Alvarez to public positions that do not evidently reflect the public position especially before an audience that has a direct a direct financial interest in how the fed enforces its rules . I think the feds position in my position is that we are able to work very constructively within the framework of dodd frank to tailor rules that are appropriate to the institutions we supervise and are not seeking to change that. I appreciate that. You know, we know that the fed staff plays a a Critical Role in shaping dodd frank rules and enforcing them. In the case of the swaps push out, Congress Passed the law in 2010. The fed and the occ delay the Effective Date until 2016 giving and other big banks time to get the ball repealed before it ever went into effect. Did mr. Alvarez provide input into the fed decision to delay the Effective Date . I do not no. We usually have complicated rules that require adjustments by financial firms. This is been through all the rules that we have put into effect. I think this might be worth looking into. The fed is our 1st line of defense against another financial crisis and the fed general counsel or anyone at the fed staff should not be picking and choosing which rules to enforce based upon their personal. We personal. We urge you to carefully review this issue same pages the Federal Reserve board. Always last, hopefully not least. I want to 1st thank you for your patience and your responsiveness, and i was tempted to ask one question. I wont do that today. I want to to look to the future. Senator warner really outlined one of the concerns that i have. We always simply fighting the last economic war in the you are a astute and respected student of the American Economy. I we will give you a chance. You have heard a lot of opinions and received a lot of advice the panel. I am going to give you a chance to give out some advice. When you look at leading and lagging indicators what troubles you and keep you awake at night that the American Economy in the next ten to 15 years . What advice would you give to the United States congress and addressing those concerns that you have looking right now that those in the caves . As i said in a number of occasions with the rise we have seen inequality in the United States its of great concern to me. We discussed is the last time you were hear and you offer know solutions. I think there are a variety of Different Things that the congress to consider in policy measures that might be appropriate. This really is a domain for congress to consider so that one of the concerns that i have. No advice . Im not going to weigh in on things that really are in your domain. I think it is important that would Say Something also is longer run issues with the federal budget. Congress has made painful decisions that have now really stabilized what brought down the death deficit from it stabilized for a number of years the debt to gdp ratio. Eventually debt to gdp will begin to rise and deficits we will increase again. As as the population ages and medicare, medicaid Social Security get to be a larger share a larger share of gdp theyre are a lot of ways in which is about all for a long time. I worry that if we were to again be hit by an adverse shock that theyre is not much scope to use fiscal policy. Its questionable how much scope we would now have to put in place even on a temporary multi year basis the expansionary fiscal policy and it is important to deal with these issues. What you are concerned about scope and it does not believe lead you to believe that Interest Rates should be adjusted at this. To give you the flexibility to use Interest Rates should we receive another shot . Well the fed would, of course, use course, use the tools that we have to try to achieve domestic ends. But i think having fiscal policy is important as well. If we look today at the American Economy and some of the challenges and you and i have spoken privately about this, the millennials and saving patterns and consumptive patterns, the shared economy, what concerns you about that now eight ill eight years of change behavior consumption do you see those changing longterm consumptive patterns that may present some interesting patterns for the American Economy . We are just beginning to understand how the millennials amazing. They are certainly waiting longer to buy houses, to get married. They have a lot of student debt and seemed quite worried about how to the housing. They have had a tough time in the job market and exactly as the economy strengthens i expect more of them to form households of their own in my home we have yet to see how this is going to affect the generation. Within may have experienced a change and consumptive patterns that we will present some unique challenges the whether sharing automobiles, in fact not buying homes doing the things that they have now done to accommodate there economic challenges is the longterm. And i think that that one of the things that we need to do much more carefully is begin to look at not just having a discussion about monitoring policy the looking at fiscal policy where it is tax reform or taking a look at what we were doing with the Mortgage Market to begin to develop an economy that the millennials we will fully participate in. I hope you continue to think and provide provide us the advice that is extraordinarily valuable. Thank you. Thank you, mr. Chair. The chair thank you for your service. I have had to go in and out of other committees and out of the subject is been brought up. The issue of wage stagnation that we have seen and the other piece of student debt when we look at the student debt and the numbers are so high and it is been a lot of time, when i graduated college you could basically work an entire summer wind up paying off half of your tuition. How big a drag but one of my great concerns is been in some areas of the country how you build of the Housing Market with the people who want to buy a house the money i saved up for that. In many cases go off the student loan and its a a box that you can never get out of. Its a little bit hard to tell. The Housing Market has not recovered in the ways that i wouldve anticipated. It has been slowly improving but household formation has been extremely low in the United States. Its hard to tell me you have many young people who are living with their families still student debt because of a weak job market. My guess is the economy continues to improve. Well improve. Well see an improvement in household formation will see many young people decide that they prefer to read rather than buy homes but that we will give rise to a boost in multifamily construction even if not somewhat singlefamily construction that the Housing Market has been very depressed. Nevertheless in spite of that the economy as a whole and the job market has had sufficient strength to recover. My other concern in that area is what you see a young person who looks up and is doing the hundred thousand and student that. Those dollars or dollars that are never used to go to a restaurant, never used to buy a car, never used to travel somewhere. Overall job wise it seems to hit and make it more difficult and all those areas. It is true, but it also remains true that a Higher Education boosts income and is tremendously important. It is not always the case for every individual that it is a good investment but certainly on average it has been a very important and worthwhile investment. To my mind, that is the other side of it. I completely agree what a wonderful investment it is. I just want to make sure that we can get that wonderful opportunity without basically settling herself for years and years. It has increased a great deal. One other area i wanted to ask you about is cyber security. I no that the fed has certain things i focus on. In the area of cyber security, it is from all all the Financial Organization one of the biggest concerns for the companies, how big a risk. Its on everyone topless the top of the list of concerns that we have that the Financial System the problems facing Financial Organizations. It is a top concern world given the importance of her own systems functioning of the patent system. Internally if a great deal of attention to make sure were addressing ever escalating threats to our operations. Debates the elusive prize very attentive experts to work with those banks to make sure they are attentive it is it is a larger problem is one where retailers others involved in the Financial System. I we will conclude with this. The state area because of currency manipulation among many other areas in the no this is been mentioned but i would like to make sure you keep a close eye on this the ability to be competitive and all that was said to be if it is a fairfield we will do fine but if the game is rigged i dont know how we win that. I have always have the same feel that my leg member right next to me in ohio has dealt with this a lot. Its been manipulated against the company. I would just ask that you keep that in mind thank you for your service. Thank you. Mdm. Chair. You mentioned that the current unemployment is listed at 5. 7 . However, one alternative measure that seems to fully capture a better sense of Labor Force Participation is the use six measure that lists total unemployment and underemployment is 11. 3 percent as of january 2015. This measure has not dipped below 10 percent unemployment since before the crisis. According to the bureau of labor Statistics Data there are now 12 million more americans no longer participating in the workforce. Do you agree that the unemployment number that you cited in your Opening Statement paints a rosy or better picture of the true Unemployment Rate . Sen. Senator, it is a broader measure of unemployment. It includes marginally attached and discouraged workers in also an unusually large number of individuals who are working parttime who would like. Like fulltime jobs. So it is a much broader indicator of underemployment or unemployment in the us economy and while it has come that it is become 12. 1 a year ago and has come down to 11. 3. It definitely shows much rosier picture. And i do mention that we dont at this. In spite of the Unemployment Rate has come achieved to achieve socalled maximal employment part of these very reasons. Labor force participation has come down has been trending down from the something we will continue for demographic reasons. I did i did not expect it to overtime, but i do think abortion of the Labor Force Participation reflects cyclical weakness stronger job market. But you basically concede that 11. 3 percent of underemployed people that is not good. That is an abnormally high level and signifies week weakness that would be good to address including completion of capitol framework for you to. The Federal Reserve is a a member of the Financial Stability board. Given the Financial Stability board is not accountable to congress or any branch of the Us Government to my knowledge where do these Financial Stability board reforms fit the us regulatory system . Does the Federal Reserve truth and resume data directives or suggestions or what . And what statutory basis does the fed have to implement the Financial Stability board form verbatim . Do you think further the decisions are important enough that they should be fully vetted by the fs oc before being implemented . You can see the participate, including the administration of the regulators. Nothing that is decided has a factor in the was relevant agencies proposals which are publicly that it to normal Public Comment process. Those recommendations have no force. Unless we go through old rulemaking process but theres a good reason for us to participate these international forms. Financial markets are global. If we take actions to stiffen supervision and regulation states and other Major Financial Centers that packets to get similar ways we just see activity out of our borders to other parts of the consistent systems so we do want to buy discussions that lead all countries to work harmoniously together to try to raise standards and maintain a level Playing Field which explains why we participate. And i think we play a lead role organization. But you dont need to accept that recommendation verbatim, do you . We do not. And often we put in place separate standards. Thank you. The wall street journal recently reported the Federal Reserve surcharge of the largest banks is hurting us banks because it is not on par with what form regulators are applying to foreign banks and indicated the fed proposal is going beyond an international standard, roughly doubling the surcharge. We all want our banks wellcapitalized. Does the fed proposal indicate its belief that foreign banks are not adequately capitalized . That has been said before. They are in deep stress. I will proposal embodies our analysis of the cost to our economy and Financial System of possible distress the largest and most systemic organizations. We chose to propose surcharges capitol surcharges is about that we are agreed to internationally because we think of this we will make a Financial System safe. There are other jurisdictions that have similarly put in effect super equipment regimes. Switzerland is an example and theyre are other countries that have gone a similar group. The proposal is out for comment and we look forward to seeing what happens but we think it is important for the most systemic institutions to distress. Mdm. Chair, some of of the large foreign banks that do business in the us do you hold them to the same capital standards you do our banks . If not, why not . We have just put in place a rule pertaining to foreign banking organizations that as theyre are sufficiently large things that required to form intermediate Holding Companies that we will contain their activities. As a way to subject the the same standards is standards as us firms doing business in our markets. In other words the foreign banks should not have an advantage with lower capitol standards that our banks doing business in. To the extent they are doing business in this country we are going to subject them to the same standards. I appreciate your bringing attention to those issues with taxpayer workers we will benefit. Trade trade is another one of those matters. Ohio manufacturers are similar to Indiana Manufacturers must compete against foreign competitors subsidized. This needs to be addressed. The fdic seeing position to the plant oils as a nations largest banks not sufficient instead they step back and together you asked for re submissions of july. I have a couple of questions. I you prepared to declare a living we will submit is not credible, and what actions we will you take if they are deemed insufficient . We have worked closely to give guidance in order to there original. Theyre are significant changes have asked for some pertaining to the legal structure of critical operations that support an entire organization to remain available to the firm in the situation of distress to simplify and make sure that they have a Holding Company structure that would be functional promote an orderly bankruptcy. We are working with the firms 1st make sure they can you expect. We we expect to see the submissions of these plans by july to july of this year are you unwilling to accept any of these . You have given us enough information on what to do to comply. And if we dont see the progress we expect we are fully declared to declare living wills to be not credible. Good to here. Earlier this month the major story broke of the account holder dated data reveals that this was baking collaborated efforts by killed holders to engage in tax evasion. I asked ms. Coulter with steps have been taken. I gather some had been undertaken. Last week prosecutors raided the private bank offices has as part of a knew moneylaundering investigation. Have a history of major us sanctions and Money Laundering violations and charges of facilitating tax evasion. You may be unable to address details, but summarize for the committee if you would with the fed would normally do to pursue allegations like these regarding tax evasion by a major financial institution, how long you would expect it to take, again, not specifically here, but how you would normally do it how long it takes, steps you would normally take. We would have some responsibility for this fit effectively operations of a a bank in the United States. In this case the information has been provided for the Justice Department. The Justice Department has primary enforcement responsibility related to us tax laws along with the irs and the Justice Department normally cooperates with us and provides information to us if they think that we would have jurisdiction for the banking was a been violated the United States and that we should take action on the in this case the Justice Department has not provided this information. Do you ask them or must they make the 1st move . We have not been privy to any of this nation and if they thought it appropriate, we would expect them to reach out to us quex. Biz reports suggest that theyre is no harm but perhaps reason for you to ask the Justice Department for some of this, any of this information. This is pretty recent reports. Okay. Thank you for appearing before the committee. We look forward to further appearances. This we will conclude the hearing. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] it was clear i had an issue in public trust. Regardless of the fact i stand and say use of force is down the lawsuits are down. Officer involved shootings are now people and communities said do not believe it. Sunday night at 8 00 oclock eastern and specific eastern and pacific. Speak for 15 minutes. The presiding officer without objection. Mrs. Boxer mr. President before the senator from illinois leaves the f i just mr. President i want to thank him for his lead on this issue of immigration. He and i share a similar background because my mother was. The thought is tenable and we will not let it happen and i want to thank you because he has been been, i would say, the grandfather of the whole movement. Thank you, senator. Mr. President we all know that its widely used in of the 2014 election and took over the United States senate and run it or are at least trying to run it. Lets be clear, less than eight weeks after they took over were facing a shutdown of the very agency that protects the health, safety lives of the American People the department of Homeland Security, we are four days away and even if they of the continuing resolution they are shutting down part of the funds us. So anyway you you look at it, this is a national disgrace. Think about friends abroad and those were not friends endangered have to go to combat ground that there ability to shut down the department that will protect americans from terrorist attack. This is a selfinflicted crisis made up by the republicans and dangers irresponsibility. The very same week that terrorists are threatening our shopping malls that we would shut down the very Agency Charged with protecting those models. How does it make sense of time what were facing serious the to further 30,000 department of Homeland Security workers and to force more than 100,000 the line Homeland Security personnel to work without pay . None of these senators go about there pay. You want to come to work every day instead of their and look for threats to our . Worry about how you will pay the bill for your kids . Go without pay you tell me how to make sense not to pay people were in charge of security packet is a disgrace. Give up your pay for give benefits if this is so important. How does it makes to shut off us to shut off grants the project cities in porch terrorist attacks and stop local communities being able to Hire Police Officers and firefighters. The department of Homeland Security is large. When it was created, i was troubled because it included so many important things in one department including fema so that when we have a Natural Disaster that is the deals. How deals with it. How does it make sense to distract Disaster Recovery operations to recover from our devastating fire. Not fire. Not only are they disrupting Homeland Security and the protection of our targeted places in america but the disrupting recovering from Natural Disasters and god forbid we. Here is the reason. They are throwing as if it because the pres. President stepped in and have the policy to take care of the nation. Why did he stepped that . Because republicans refused to take up a bipartisan bill and take care of the immigration problem the way they are supposed to. They are paralyzed. They cannot do it. We had a bill. All all they have to do is bring it up. It will it we will pass by an overall majority. The president we will sign it which would make his executive orders unnecessary the only reason he issued executive orders is were facing a crisis. 11 million undocumented folks some of whom are dreamers the most important category young people brought here when children and that no other home. All they want to do is stay hear and give back. We want to deport them, and want to put there parents and the parents of american citizens. I thank god people are not in charge of congress because it might have deported my mother. What if they had passed Something Like that . For the party of family values show me where that is true . I i thought they were the party of american prosperity and show me how that is true we dont study after study of the greatest things we can do for our economy and job creation is to get out of the shadows so that they can go buy a home and told a good job. They cannot will not pass an immigration bill. It we will not do their job. The president steps and does his job they say this is terrible but shut down on related department. Now, again i say lets look at fiscal responsibility. According to the subject for American Progress and cost more than 50 50 billion to support the entire population and here is the deal. I never heard of republican and i stand corrected i never heard of republican complaining president eisenhower used this executive order power. President nixon to the same thing to attract to have protect protect its president george bush senior project immigrants when george w. Bush protected immigrants. Show me one. But pres. Obama and they are annoyed because he won twice he is the president it is doing the right thing for america. He understands that these are going to help american move on. Here are here are the people republicans want to support a 21 yearold student of the oldest of three siblings for the younger to born in the us but he was not. They want they want to rip away the oldest child. As for workers. Alexis received immigration and transferred to uc san diego this fall where he will pursue his dream. How is our country better you the port vietnam like this . Gives the to use his education to help viewers if they had there way they would deport people who left mexico at aj aj with her younger brother and sister. Her parents worked 11 hours a day has tremors were Landscape Company in downtown los angeles. She felt confident to begin applying for jobs and is now finishing her final year. Tell me how does it make sense to the port people in all they want to do is contribute to the country . Because you are to too to hold about their immigration. You want to kick out of the country put it to a vote. Before i dont do just values our National Security is at stake. Simply values are at stake next our economy is at stake get get over the fact that you didnt. You can. Too bad for you. You are in charge is. Do your job. This is a bipartisan bill funding for the most think were doing today. Let it go. Do not do not hold hostage to your hatred of this pres. And i use that word because it is what i think. In california alone the pres. s executive actions to president s executive actions to boost californias a, as much as 27 . 5 billion. The pres. s action aid our economy raise the nations Gross Domestic Product and 90 billion over the the next few years from expanding the labor force allowing immigration workers the flexibility to seek knew jobs. Why is that the case back the reason is simple. This come out of the shadows wages rise [counts can buy homes start businesses come and spend money in the committee. I say to theyre is a president ial race coming. Forget this last lets Work Together. Served with five president s. I respect the office of the presidency. If i did not agree with Ronald Reagan i came down hear and said it can but we had to respect. But with both ways. I no what it is not like the policies of president. I get it. Do not overdo it and make it so person. Get on with with it will do your job. Have respect for the office of the presidency. Do not suddenly say executive orders or about of the president you do not like does it and not one word republic is business. It does not pass the smell test. Three things could. We need to fund our Homeland Security, especially at a time at a time when we face serious threats to our security. We need to uphold family values and not split up loving families command we need to protect and grow our america big do we can do this in the simplest way. Bring up in the house is under because the constitutional spending bill start the house. Send us a clean bill that everyone supports. Send it over clean. Lets Fund Everything in the bill to protect shop involves shopping malls, give grants to 1st responders to give grants to local police and fire can send it over. We will pass pass it immediately following is an immigration bill. We have got it already. It passed with 68 votes. And the president and his executive orders we will not be necessary because taken this to ourselves. Lets stop lawsuits. Lets keep this out of the court do our job. The selfinflicted crisis. The shadow in the nation do the right thing we can protect our grow our economy. Hope of the human said a a shutdown of one of the most important department. This is a disgrace selfinflicted. All you have to do is talk to the speaker, seven over clean bill and the sake of tuition and show us all of your great ideas. We we will have a vote. We want to kick 11 Million People have . We we will have a a debate but do not hold the department of Homeland Security hostage to this issue. There is one thing of the American People hate more than anything else, attaching unrelated matters to spending bills. I do not care if they are conservative or liberal or independent voters. They they think it is the dumbest idea. They do not understand it. Pass your spending about your ideological issues. Do not hold these departments hostage to your decision that president obama did the wrong thing. If you do not like what he did put forward your own bill. Ive been here a long time. Ive never seen anything like this. A selfinflicted. Who gets hurt . Not the publicans but the people that we trust and caps on and the families that thought they could Stay Together on the verge of that. This is what this party the grand old party, party the gop this is what they have brought. The speaker can pass the funding bill. Send it over here. Pass it returned turned to immigration and have it out on that subject. It is worthy of debate but it is not hold an important funding bill hostage. Is ridiculous and unnecessary, destructive and cool. With that i yield the floor and no the absence of a quorum. My colleagues have known for weeks now Senate Democrats have repeatedly blocked the United States senate from even considering a 40 billion funding bill for the department of Homeland Security bill would extend to the end of this fiscal year. They they have done it not once twice, three times four times. Four times four times the filibuster this type of Homeland Security funding bill that would pay the salaries up of men and women attacked our ports, airports and borders. Meanwhile our friends across the aisle are telling the American People it is not us that is blocking is funding. It is. Well, i beg to differ between the house of representatives has passed a Homeland Security appropriations bill that we tried to get on four different times and the democrats do not see satisfied with the ability to offer amendments to change or modify in any way. Their attitude is where not even going to consider it as we get everything you want right up front. Well, i guess i can kind of understand why they are of that friend of mine. In the last few years the United States and has become completely dysfunctional where under the previous majority leader theyre was not any opportunity to offer amendments and get votes on those amendments on legislation. It was my way or the highway what i am saying is the senate was broken. And after years of running this event as an incumbent Protection Program voting on poultice messages of blocking amendments the American People said last november that enough is enough. No more dysfunction. Lets have lets have a significant congress that represents our interest not those of protecting incumbents. So i think our colleagues who have blocked consideration of this funding should be frankly ashamed of himself. It does not seem like them got the message. The senior senator from new york my friend told the Huffington Post recently that it is fun to be in the minority. I guess he means it is fun to block Homeland Security relations bills not once not once not twice about three times four separate. Filibustering is critical funding is not my idea of fun nor is it i suspect for the thousands of men and women who work in the department of Homeland Security from the coast guard to the Border Patrol to all of the people who work day in and day out to try to help keep us safe. Given the opportunity for times of terms of the last few weeks to fully fund the Homeland Security while rolling back the pres. s unconstitutional executive action 4x7 democrats have taken the low road and continue to obstruct. We pointed out over the last several weeks to talk with came from democrats last fall when the president issued his executive action immigration back with the pres. Made clear his intent to follow through with a series of unilateral actions that he had previously said on 22 different occasions did not have the authority to do. Twentytwo times he said he did not have the authority to do. Last november he went to. As i noted before our colleagues expressed concern at the time saying that it made him feel uncomfortable. Some said, said i wish you would not do it. No kidding president usurps authority and seeks to get caps off the power to unilaterally change the law they should feel. The same folks who are so concerned and so uncomfortable come down to the fore noted in lockstep in effect to reaffirm the president s actions. We had the for this time to. We have a Pretty Simple to our democratic friends. Were Pretty Simple straightforward message to our democratic friends. This week the senate will take up a bill that would address the president s executive actions last november. The majority leader made clear last night that this targeting bill is not tied the Homeland Security funding. Under the regular rules of the some of the process that is that in order last night will come to fruition on friday, the time for our colleagues on the side of the aisle and the ones on the side to express disapproval of the president s executive action to vote for a bill that expresses that disapproval. Now, my strong preference for bid to pass the house bill that has been filibustered four separate times by our democratic friends is it fully funds the department while reining in the pres. s reach but since the democrats have refused on four different occasions to follow allow the excuse that it is time to the department of Homeland Security and were funding were going to give them an opportunity to times that the president himself said he did not have the authority to issue this executive action well, we now no during the recess that a federal federal judge in texas has given us one more reason. A week ago the us district judge in brownsville texas court ruled in a lawsuit brought by 26 to states including taxes that what the president did was illegal and issued a temporary injunction blocking implementation. If that were the end of it in the amount of money appropriated by congress to fund the department of Homeland Security could not legally be used to fund the pres. s executive presence executive action because theyre is an injunction in place issued by a federal court this is you cannot do it. Indeed, the administration has acknowledged that but have now come back and ask 1st day of the judges temporary injunction saying if they do not get that they will go to the 5th Circuit Court of appeals in new orleans and that the Appellate Court to stay the judges temporary injunction. The judges ruling reinforces reinforces what i and many others have been saying for a long time that the president acted outside of law when he went around congress to unilaterally change our nations immigration. The judges ruling gives to a broader issue, and there is one part of it i find particularly important. In writing his opinion explaining is what the judge looked at the obama administrations case and imagined how you can take there argument have applied across the board. It is easy to overlook and overreach by the president if you agree with what he actually accomplished which is in effect to give legal status to roughly 5,000,000 people. If you think that is a good idea your likely to turn a blind eye to the way that the president did it. But if the courts established the precedent that this president or any future president republican or democrat cant pick and choose which laws to enforce what could end up happening . It does not take a lot of imagination. Judge hated rights lack of resources, the argument made by the administration would be an acceptable reason to cease enforcing environment laws of the Voting Rights act or even various laws to protect civil rights and equal opportunity. That is what the judge said in his opinion. What kind of dangerous precedent precedent it would set if accepted by the court as legal. But the only one who does not want to see our country head down that loans the laws do not make a difference. It is the preference of whoever is president that determines the direction that the country should take. That that is a dangerous path and inconsistent with who we are. Now that now that the president s actions have been settled in the court of Public Opinion my friends from the other side of by a court of law my friends from the other side need to take note. They can continue to give excuses for their filibustering or they can put the money where there mouth is to stop the president s 2014 executive action separate and apart from any issue of funding of the department of Homeland Security. The end of the day the senate will make sure the people who protect our borders and ports is guys get paid it is known as the responsible thing to do. Senate democrats who were so concerned and so uncomfortable with what the president did last fall out of excuses and we will have a chance to vote on the collins amendment on friday or at some other time mutually agreed upon by the majority minority. I yield the floor. The assistant democratic leader is recognized. Moment if he would join me and walk out this door take a sharp left and stop at the staircase and look up and youll see this amazing portrait that has been copied and referred to over and over again. It is an incredible painting that shows president Abraham Lincoln signing the amens paying proclamation in the midst of the civil war surrounded by his cabinet. This proclamation freed three million slaves in america from involuntary servitude three million. Was the president signing a bill that had been passed by congress . No. He was signing an executive order. The same type of executive order used by president obama to address the issue of immigration. All right senator durbin, youve found one moment in history, there couldnt be very many more according to the arguments youve heard on the floor. Lets fast forward to the late 1940s with president harry truman. Harry truman after world war ii by signing a law passed by congress . No. He signed an executive order ending discrimination and segregation taking place this of military. I dont argue that president s can exceed constitutional powers but to argue that the executive orders that have been used after president after president are inherently a clause is to show he had half denies any actor reading of history. The immigration system today is broken terribly to the point we may have trouble for 30 million undocumented people in this country and our borders are stronger now than ever does still have to be fortified to make sure we dont have a necessary migration of people into the United States with the legal status. Theres so many things we have to do to fix this system. Two years ago eight senators came together to use it down for a month to wrote a comprehensive Immigration Reform bill m product to the floor after considering 100 amendments and passed with 68 votes left of bipartisan bill supported by the aflcio and sharecroppers and those across america a pretty good work for congress that is claimed to be obstructionist. Sent to the u. S. House of representatives where it languished for almost two years and never being called for a vote. Never. At that point the president stepped forward to say have to do something to do with the problems of ill Legal Immigration in america. He proposed to the savings if you are here in america as a parent of a child who is a u. S. Citizen or a and the bold resident alien, you can come forward pay 500 fee is subject yourself to a criminal background check, and if you clear it, then you can have a temporary work permits we want to know who you are in a rare you live the members of your family and where you work. That is what the president proposed and that is what they want to stop so we continue the Current Situation with millions of undocumented people working without any registration and so we know there whereabouts that is what they want to end. Touche said of the process republicans had a chance to pass the comprehension bill but the president is trying to make sense ever broken immigration system ellerbee better if the republicans would join us but the last point is one of the most heartless things i have seen in my time in the house for republicans to end of protection to said dreamers battered children brought to america, infants or toddlers brought by their parents who grew up in american went to school with no serious criminal issues that simply wanted the chance to be a part of americas future. The president s executive order gives them that and republicans want to eliminate the order. I dont understand it if they take the time to meet these people they realize what a waste it would be of scale and talent of america. We are a nation of immigrants our diversity is our strength. The people who are willing to work risk everything to be part of the Great American experiment and have an opportunity to have a better life that is what defines the sale of who we are. I say here as the son of an emigrant brother brought here by the age of two and was the first trigger in my house and raised a son presented his state senate. That is our story in the merry coz story it is time for us to fund the komen security bill then have an honest debate consistent with americas values. I yield of four. Mr. President went to thank the senator from illinois for his passion remarks to be so true for all of the sale and also for his work on the jury react to make sure people have the opportunity that all of us do. As we count down the final days before funding runs out i want to take a few minutes to talk about how we got to this point because as the deadline he gets closer and closer i. M. Reminded we have been down this road many times before and it is a manufactured crisis and it is no different than others we have faced over the last two years because what is happening is not a debate over policies or priorities priorities, it is not a debate over how the department of homeless security should function is certainly not about security but a political fight republicans are having a with themselves across the different factions of the republican party. That is not the case for every republican but clear debris should fund the department of homeless in security with no Strings Attached but the fact remains that some are making it clear that theyre willing to hold hostage the basic operation of the our government over rightwing politics and while the process may seem complicated it is very simple. Democrats with National Security experts experts, lawenforcement experts and state and local officials and three former secretaries of Homeland Security including two republicans want to do nothing more than fun to the department of Homeland Security cleanly. With no strings or unrelated amendments attached. But because theyre so angry of the president s actions to improve the immigration laws some are demanding to pass a bill that would tear apart families that are working hard to make as blood our security arresters seriously threaten all the work we have done including the of budget agreement i reached with congressman paul ryan to keep government functioning. It doesnt make sense. The bill passed by Speaker Boehner would be devastating to families across the country to make daytoday operations needlessly difficult tsa agents who work to keep airports safe and secure would be forced to work without pay. These men and women should not worry about doing their job is not if they cant pay their bills gore put food on the table. But because of political pressure from extreme right wing that is what the leaders are demanding. This shutdown has become nothing more than the collateral damage. The National Impact of not funding the department of homeless security has been discussed for weeks. But also causes all the way down to individual Fire Departments in our local community. Right now Washington County district located in my state , one number number the seattle applies for assistance that is funded through the department of common security. They only have to fly and chief with the for some 16 they have applied for a very small 24,000 federal grant to replace the heavily used and outdated equipment from bruce to helmets and gloves and over 11 years older i have been working with them to get the equipment that protects the of volunteers to put their lives on the line to save others. If congress does not front that they are at risk and is unacceptable. It is true it is not a hypothetical problem but will have a real impact in all communities across the country. My colleagues will not give in to let them play politics. For years now we see it only holds us back and i am encouraged the majority leader has said theyre willing to break up of clean appropriations bill to use of floor we need to save a commitment from the house time is running out we need to fund a Homeland Security. I yield the floor. Were going to get started. If you have us all flown please turn it off or pointed on bribery. Welcome to the president s task force on to differ Century Policing. First we have the final panel you have to is be careful to say best for last but all panels are outstanding because i will leave it to the cochair with the thought process why weigh close out the session in this way but it is an outstanding way to close out. 2014 obama announced his intent to create a task force for 21st Century Policing to deal with the issue of the trust between employees and many communities he wanted to put together a Task Force Led by two distinguished cochairs for George Mason University of the left and also for Justice Programs and also of charros mca but also the former police chief said washington d. C. Said refit the task force to join them the it does so did a manner over the last 20 or 30 years. But the report on march 2nd is next monday we have 90 days to put this together. We have had a series each one is outstanding, means we have heard over 150 witnesses and even more written testimony and after todays panel we can Work Together to deliberate to come up with the recommendations. So today is the last public listening session as far as Panel Discussions so there is no better way to end it. Let me say this first. Is the back of the room is a lot of staff. The cochairs have been very gracious each and every session but as a close out on those due notice when read talk about the Office Supporting it so when he created the task force to identify the department of justice to make sure it has what it needs but to support such a of a greedy man to but if you think of what has been accomplished thus far it has been truly amazing. So from the bottom of my heart thank you for your of leadership, a commitment, a dedication and for the work that is yet to come. Thank you for that. With that i want to return to the cochair of the dynasts into the process i will start with charles ramsey. Thanks to all of you for being here this morning. It has been a very fast process we have embarked upon over the last 90 days but it seems like one week. Just to sing backup compresses has been but also to say paul of view for your testimony to david those suits testified before your submitted written comments or participated in the audience it has been helpful with the final recommendations we will present to the president next week. I will not go over anything in terms of policy and as was already mentioned chuck ramsey i have the honor to be a cochair along with Lori Robinson we make up pretty good team over the past two months. Currently and the police chief of philadelphias seven years serving in that capacity prior to that of his police chief in washington for almost nine. Started as the 80 yearold police cadet so i have been around for a while and i have seen a lot of changes over the years with a very dynamic profession and in a period of time when we have challenges and as read discuss things that assist us to better serve the public today real wanted to put together a panel for what lies ahead in that is why you are here today. Thank you very much now i will turn it over to Lori Robinson. This has been sent to of pleasure to work on this panel as a task force particularly with my cochaired chuck ramsey. I have been in this field more than 30 years working with the American Bar Association coming 10 years from the department of justice and from academia. Our time on the task force is remarkable with the opportunity to hear from so many witnesses pregame expertise before us. But our intent is to look ahead and i would characterize as a Superstar Group here. I am looking forward to introducing the panel but before that i want to give the Task Force Members who have said wonderful to work for its by the way to get the chance of what i would describe as a bunker mentality as we move ahead and some say i will think about the rest of my career with the opportunity to work with them. I will start at the and then moved down the line. Robo . Good morning. Ion the chief of police for the city of tucson arizona and it grew up there is 35 years in chief for the past six a. It is the culmination experience for my career to have the al opportunity to provide a and receiving and plucked at this level from such distinguished members as yourself to work with this group here instead of attending would have to 50 different schools you could be awed by the information they gave then i think would go toward providing a framework of prospectuses. Is a wonderful experience and were excited to get do todays work of deliberation hopefully we can come to consensus on the topics. Thank you. Of mourning i of the director of the equal Justice Initiative for a private attorney for fighting Vehicle Services to pour people convicted of crimes and facing conviction. I also want to express my a gratitude for the remarkable leadership provided to those to organized those on the task force to be insightful and educated we appreciate those setter here today to help us complete the process i am looking forward to working with the members to do what we cant shoot at to the country to encourage the debates in dialogue to make policing what they can be an end to express my gratitude to you to be years in elected morning and the director and chief counsel in the treasure of the National Association of police organizations. Over the last 20 years indicate blood dash dedicated my life to rankandfile Police Officers including the four legislative bodies are at the bargaining table. I am especially excited about the panel today because i came up as a student of crawled justice and it is when is stars to filter out to the country and surveying my career as the practitioner and an advocate i had the opportunity to see the a better flow of Community Policing of departments of all sizes even a place like granite city eleanor a. So really i am excited and encouraged the of the like to express my gratitude choose the president to channel the task force in there was courageous in the right thing to do and he put together a tremendous team that was served with the rest of my colleagues on the task force looking forward to closing an hour listening session today looking to the future. Thank you. Good morning. Starting my career in Law Enforcement 35 years ago as said Deputy Sheriff some lights on the like swimming canada and Richard Hutton area around seattle i never thought i would have had the opportunity you like this. Is anybody having to be a part of the panel is amazing to have the greatest minds in the mind that says the federal government . Not on this task force. [laughter] it has been quite a miracle and a privilege to be a part of the movement and i am very optimistic about the future as we are at a crossroads with good people and good will and great ideas. Thank you selected morning everyone. I have been for the last 20 years a legal academic at the university of chicago now at yale. My research has focused on criminal law policy to understand the dynamics of neighborhoods and how to redress it the gore recently focusing my attention on issues of procedural justice some of this works over the last six weeks to be extremely a gratifying professionally for me but it has been an amazing opportunity to have voices from the community from those who have lost their children or struggle every day to deal with those issues of crime in their community and how to best come up with the strategy to have lawenforcement be accountable to them so i extremely glad were ending with a panel because it is my hope is a book be a launching pad for a change. Good morning. 200 days ago today a way you never would have convinced me i spent the last six months standing on the streets close to my childhood home standing up for justice sora the 20,000 young people that i served as executive director for teach for america to stand up for young men and women and trying to create change from tragedy. This is not the only working in that round but i am deeply thankful to be a part. I never knew as an educator our witnesses much about policing. I am hopeful but i am feeling urgent and i thank you for turning this run dash joining us. Good morning i am of the organizer of the organization and based din they york that combines social services thank Community Organizing to work with there 60,000 members to read various Public Policy at the city state and national level. Were also a matter of cpr but the use power project is currently in the final stages with the partnership of the Graduate Center where rework with one dozen news researchers to study the impact on young people between the ages of 14 and 24 so thank you for being here. If morning and welcome i am currently the safety director and also served as a National President of lawenforcement executives. My career started to 1970s seven in florida the tallahassee orlando were i left 1982 decided to go back to school to be a clinical psychologist and Still Deciding if that was a good idea. But nevertheless it has helped me a great deal to move to use this procession embed with fat being said cavuto for the last 35 years the riots were during that time and they grew out of a lot of years of distrust and quite frankly Police Brutality that has been occurring throughout that community for a long period of time and the reaction after a loss of life at the hands of Police Officers change the course of that community and the Police Department in to be an alumnus of miamidade best then touche in into blood exist in this is community but there is plenty of opportunity to progress but as often to hear ron davis say he was brilliant i a good like to say thank you in them look forward to is a dialogue this morning. Thank you. Now let me go back to ron davis. Once again they keep for your patience as they go through the process. I also have to apologize we also brought on board nattily the outstanding cop staff the touche Technical Advisor is sitting at the table who are behind the scenes but a viable assistance to is the task force of thank you for your participation. Also this is live stream web cast were encouraging comments from the community at large there is an icon you can click on because a recommendation is for the test and we also have comments through twitter so please take advantage to do so. Given orders to the time i were a just make very brief injections are on the cops will decide. If i go into the full bio river take up the entire hour and a half. Theyre very distinguished and accomplished individuals and unfortunately we dont have time to go into their fold background but we will start off with dr. Phillips who is a professor at ucla. We look forward to your comments. Thank you to the madam cochair and the Task Force Working behind the scenes it is my honor to be here today. For the past decade my work as a researcher has often had to breached social sciences have meritorious and what they negotiate daily benes starter evidence based with the incorporation of social science to assure fairness in the area particularly the social science can set the table for adversarial forces to come together to move toward the future. As a scientist it bothers me to no end and there is an important question without a satisfactory answer and i have never been more bothered them that tendency than september 2008 as there was writing a piece on Racial Disparities of Law Enforcement as the son of Reference Library and i am good at finding a things i began a 10 00 at night than 13 hours later ahead to you take a break to go to lunch and their Research Departments i called my mom and she could not find anything because there are known National Data of police use of force or Police Behavior in general. So what stopped me in that moment was not the lack of data and how that affects the community. Well we know more about the end anything else. Hamlet to see what we did differently. The first since has revealed for quite some time the way we feel about ourselves. Much more than them. Sue are much more likely to make the commitment to a partner because they feel good about you than you being attracted to them with social justice context it shows concerns of though you might appear are frequently more important thing in a level of prejudice so what that means is we dont just put it in of this is some procedural justice but the perception of Law Enforcement is fundamental. Social scientists have known attitudes predict 10 of behavior at best that include its of the ratio but that best fit leaves and the two meister is there are more powerful predictors of behaviors them carrots. To take it inside seriously in addition to focusing on training we would focus off the of policies and understanding weltys to chronic situation is making people vulnerable to their own stereotypes. Our goal has been to make peace seriously and the most notable success is by a federal National Database to aggregate the use of force injury now cover 25 percent of the population of those that are committed to that but more important is the way it came about that executives came together to say we need this and they asked for our help. So what would i asked them to do . Again i would ask them to encourage federal funding to aggregates National Statistics on policing. Would encourage stakeholders who are more opportunities to learn from social scientist and vice versa whether though nasa task force to recommend a Financial Assistance the lack the means to follow through ct is never take money barrier, so we approached by the department that cannot even afford to task a lieutenant with a project liaison i hope the task force will recommend there the means to accomplish that. But i do not believe in social sciences is the answer but it helps to define with those answers would be. Fate you for your time. Thank you. The next witnesses the chef the sheriff of the l. A. County. I am honored to be here today fate you for allowing me to address you today i was sworn in as a 32nd and sheriff the first in over a century elected from the outside the sheriffs department. Thousand took command of an agency that has flown below the radar natalies acknowledged for its caddying said janet to mark soleus speak up about the need for change as well as somebody who is fiercely proud of the organization i am privileged to lead. It is the largest in the country in the second largest policing agency we have 4,000 square miles with a population of 10 million. We also run the nations largest jail system to protect the safety of the largest corpses system. I want to focus on what may initiate complex system has taught us about opportunities facing policing per barrel we are equally it naida strategy is to help us rethink has agreed to sell the web provides housing for 20,000 inmates were facing challenges that include rival gang members. Lowes facilities are integrated. To results in an acceptable of pusan recidivism rates are too high. Many to be separated from society because society has left them behind the effort to eliminate it is a default placement and while we have saved these challenges to it we also have a drug treatments programs but that is the environment dash of which we you were pro he that taketh then alone. We need support that enables us to redress hoffman to hoof but the reentry plan that we could to Largest Mental Health a subsidy in the of our june from put this population with to mingy sapporo a helpful hints and to a crisis intervention and training so wherever possible to divert from the justice system. Support from communitybased Resource Centers to have a Committee Response to those in crisis and the strategies to focus on the alternatives and finally with a to focus on the next generation those exposed to a trauma and violence to many are exposed to that of dray warriors alone. But there Law Enforcement raises trade in fish and community to feel safe and in and a hint the pianist realist to your shoes and horace them but it shapes the future growth and individuals and a engaged in to your hubby need to talk to a. J. Shares stick could to the beth ive butted say pressure to a the school into the justice system. With say hits in his budget in reminds us whenever authority we had is granted to us and to is not something we do on this side but how we should operate and paid must acknowledge we need help. Thank you for your work and your wisdom and i welcome any questions. Thank you for this opportunity