Transcripts For CSPAN2 Key Capitol Hill Hearings 20150318

Its just simply shocking that this is going on to the extent it is in our country right in a ribald way on the internet. Law enforcement officials and antitrafficking organizations say there are a number of key indicators that allow them to identify ads that are likely for Trafficking Victims. In this advertisement we see three key of those key indicators. First, the title states the victim is new to your city. Antitrafficking organizations say this is code for being underage. You may also see girls in ads described as young fresh or new in town, to indicate they are underage. Second we see a victim is listed from outside the area. Here she is listed as from miami for a posting thats in the houston area. And third the victim also has an outofarea phone number. Those are three indicators of what this ad is to sell sex with children. Law enforcement and experts confirm this point. The Cook County Sheriffs Office in illinois found that 100 of women claiming 100 of women claiming to be massage therapists or platonic escorts on one web site, backpage, were being sold for sex. This isnt my this is the Cook County Sheriffs department. The Sheriffs Office set up socalled dates with 618 girls via backpage. All 618 agreed to provide sex for money. The Sheriffs Office concluded and this is a quote this presents irrefutable evidence that backpage is indeed a haven for pimps and sex solicitors who are victimizing women and girls for their own gain. Any notion that backpage employs a legitimate Business Model simply does not stand up to the facts, end quote. This is a direct letter from sheriff tom dart, cook county, illinois and i would ask for unanimous consent to place the letter in the record. The presiding officer without objection. Mrs. Feinstein a study of ads placed during this years super bowl held in phoenix concluded that 65 of the ads placed on backpages phoenix web site around the weekend of the game had indicators that the ad was for a victim of sex trafficking. 65 of the ads. Simply put there are Internet Companies that are profiting and purveying the rape and abuse of children. This must stop. One way we can combat sex trafficking over the internet is to make it a crime for a person such as the owner of a web site to knowingly advertise a commercial sex act with a person. As i said, senator kirk and i have introduced such an amendment. It would create a new offense of knowingly advertising a commercial sex act on the internet. The amendment is identical to a house bill that has 52 cosponsors and passed that chamber by voice vote. If we come to a point where we are voting on amendments to senator cornyns bill, i would urge my colleagues to support this amendment and i know that senator the senator and i will bring it to the floor senator kirk and i. Last october 53 attorneys general authored a letter to the Senate Judiciary committee in support of a bill that senator kirk and i introduced last june that is similar to the amendment. And heres the list of the a. G. s and i would ask that that list be placed in the record at this point. The presiding officer no. Mrs. Feinstein thank you mr. President. The attorneys general wrote and this is a quote the use of the Adult Services sections on web sites such as backpage. Com has created virtual brothels where children are bought and sold using euphemistic labels such as escorts. And the quote from the letter to this effect i dont want anybody to think its what im saying its what they are saying the use of the term this is a quote Adult Services sections on web sites such as backpage. Com has created virtual brothels where children are bought and sold using euphemistic labels such as escorts. Put simply, if you have knowledge that an advertisement placed on your web site is for commercial sex with a minor then you should be prosecuted. Thats what our amendment would do. I have no doubt that prohibiting this conduct by a web site owner is constitutional. As the Supreme Court has held on several occasions quote offers to engage in illegal transactions are categorically excluded from First Amendment protection end quote. In fact, the Supreme Court in 1973 wrote and i quote we have no doubt that a newspaper constitutionally school board per gidden forbidden to public a want ad proposing a sale of narcotics or soliciting prostitutes end quote. This amendment targets illegal conduct, commercial sex with minors that would not be protected by the First Amendment. It imposes liability on web sites who know that their sites are being used to advertise minors for sex. In conclusion, mr. President the internet has made this industry what it is, the second largest criminal industry in the world, second only to drugs. And its up to us to do something about it. One of our duties in this body is to protect the most vulnerable of individuals. That that is what that amendment does. Others say other parts of the bill will stop sex trafficking and we dont need to touch the internet. That makes no sense to me. 76 of sales of sex Trafficking Victims begin on the internet. So you can touch just a small part of it. This touches 76 of victims. We cannot allow these web sites to continue to operate with impunity. Its time we take a stand stop these ads and stop the exploitation of children. So i look forward to senator kirk coming to the floor presenting our amendment assuming we can get past this block time. This is so much more important than putting the Hyde Amendment amendment, cloaked in difficult language in this bill when the house bill doesnt contain it. The house understands that its going to have difficulty passing in this bill. Why isnt that recognized in this house . You take that out and this bill swims through. A senator would the senator yield for a question . Mrs. Feinstein i sure will. Mr. Cornyn i was in my office and watching the senator on tv. So i thought id come down here and maybe we could get to the bottom of this. There seems to be ships passing in the night it seems to me, and i know the senator from california cares passionately about this issue and i dont question that for a moment. Its very clear to me. But i would just ask the senator from california she graciously agreed to cosponsor this legislation. She voted for it in the Senate Judiciary committee that passed unanimously. It does contain on page 50 and 51 of this bill the language that the senator referred to, i saw it on my tv screen in my office. Which incorporates the limitation that was contain in contained in the consolidation act of 2014, incorporates it into the bill by reference. Not only i believe the senator voted for the bill in committee and cosponsored it, the senator voted for that legislation in the consolidated appropriation act of 2014. This is the same or similar language to what was contained in the Affordable Care act contained in Defense Authorization bills and contained in literally every appropriation bill since 1976. So heres what i would love to have my friend and the senator from explain to me. Why is it that it all of a sudden becomes objectionable on this legislation when you care and i care so passionately about getting help for these victims that this is the reason to derail the legislation . Mrs. Feinstein because of what this legislation is. This legislation is the raping and the misconduct sexually with young girls girls 14, 15, and 16. What if theyre impregnated . Should they be entitled to be able to go and get an abortion . Does this body really want them to be forced to bear somebodys child . And so this offers the opportunity for some funding. These arent wealthy girls. They dont live in Beverly Hills or hyde park or any of these places that are prominent. Theyre on the streets. Theyre lost, maybe lost mentally lost physically, they may have been abused, and now theyre caught up in an industry where theyre held hostage at night ive read of some in a neighborhood of my city being handcuffed at night stripped so they dont have clothes and cant run away, theyre put out on the streets theyre watched theyre moved around it becomes too hot in one area, theyre moved to another, theyre moved to another state. They come from other countries. And it just seems to me to have this in this bill and senator, i have Great Respect for you. I have wanted to work with you on this. I know you are sincere. Its not in the house bill. So maybe the house understands this. I cant speak for the house. Mr. Cornyn mr. President , i would ask unanimous consent to engage in a colloquy. The presiding officer is there objection . Without objection. Mrs. Feinstein i would be happy to. I think we ought to discuss this. Mr. Cornyn otherwise well have to keep addressing questions to the chair and asking permission. Id like to have a chance to have an honest conversation with my friend. So it is clear that the senator from california that has voted for this restriction on the use of taxpayer funding for abortion previously correct . Mrs. Feinstein not to my knowledge. Let me put it that way. Now, you can blame me and you can say i should have known. Mr. Cornyn im just mrs. Feinstein im not the only one in our committee who is in this position either, who communicated with your staff and was under the impression that the bill was identical to last year. Mr. Cornyn i mrs. Feinstein with the exception of seven pieces which is not this. The seven were detailed to us. Mr. Cornyn im not going to engage in a debate about whether you should have known or how you voted in the past. I do believe the record would demonstrate you among others voted for the Affordable Care act which actually the National Abortion Rights Action league says is an expansion of the Hyde Amendment. But let me ask the senator you rightly point out that these child victims of Sexual Assault will have been raped either statutory rape, theyre below the age of consent or theyre adults and have been assaulted criminally assaulted. Isnt it your understanding of the Hyde Amendment that the exclusion to the Hyde Amendment would still allow them to gain access to the services that you believe they need and deserve . Mrs. Feinstein yes i think thats correct and i suppose we could change this to have a rape implication. But the gantlet has been thrown down and its not up to me alone to remove it. There was no open discussion in our committee when we discussed this that there was a highly sensitive in it, senator. Now, you can say and ill plead mia culpa and guess what, i will wave a whip and get my staff, they will look henceforth at every code change and you know and you and i know that occasionally things slip through. I will plead mea culpa on that but once i found out i had an obligation to do something about it. And so i am pleading with you lets just take it out. Lets just pass this bill. Lets put the kirkfeinstein amendment, lets go after the internet purveyors lets go after 19 sites who put pictures of girls 12, 13, and 14 to be sold all around the united states. To be sold after big Football Games in various areas of the country. Lets go after them. Isnt that more important . I ask you a question. Mr. Cornyn thats the reason im so confused by the filibuster of this legislation by people, including my friend who were the cosponsor of the legislation who already voted for it. And im not about pointing fingers in terms of what staff or members should have read or understood by the legislation but i believe the reason why it was not debated at the Judiciary Committee level is because it had become a routine matter since 1976 when the Hyde Amendment was passed. Every appropriation of laborh. H. S. Or other funding that could argue arguably used tax dollars for abortions has been limited by the Hyde Amendment. I have a couple of senators . My office who are proudly prochoice people proudly pro life. But even they said taxpayer funds should not be used for abortions except in the case of rape or to protect the health of the victim. Mrs. Feinstein may i ask you a question respectfully . Why, then, isnt it in the house language . Mr. Cornyn i would say to my friend i cant vouch for the houses product. I can just tell you what the congress as a whole has done since 1976, and its to limit expenditure of funds for this purpose under the terms of the Hyde Amendment. That was the reason why we referred in the legislation on page 50 that youve blown up here, referring it to the language in the Presentation Committee which im confident my friend, the senator from california voted for just like you did in the limitation that was contained in the Affordable Care act and all the other times that hyde has been part of our process. This has become so unremarkable and so routine that it hardly seems like something you would point out because this language doesnt change the status quo at all. So i would you know, weve talked about ways to get past this impasse and i would just have to say that i think abandoning the Hyde Amendment would be a dramatic and mistake and something im not willing to be a part of. Its become this one area in a divisive area of abortion where there has been bipartisan consensus. For 39 years at least to the point that its remained the law of the land effectively. So to take it out and say somehow were going to depart from that today or this week would be a dramatic expansion of taxpayer funding for this purpose i cant support. I would say if there are ways we can deal with this fund as a fund that can be appropriated on an annual basis subject to the normal restrictions, i talked to the Ranking Member our friend from vermont about that possibility. I think theres ways that we might be able to get to a solution. But stripping out this limitation which has been the law of the land for 39 years is not acceptable because it would represent a huge expansion on the use of taxpayer funding for abortions in ways that many of my prochoice friends dont support. Mrs. Feinstein well, see i guess i disagree with that. Those of us that believe that a woman should control her own reproductive system, in concert with her family and her doctor, really have objection to the government getting involved and telling us what to do. Its actually not your reproductive system. And i say you general naturecally as a man. It is our reproductive system fl and so, in a sense this has been a battle for our identity. I sat on a termsetting authority in california in the 1960s when abortion was illegal illegal. I sentenced women to state prison for abortion. It had then an indetermined sentence of between 6 months and 10 years. I saw abortion come bam back to prison. I asked one when i was setting the sentence, why do you keep doing this . Her name was anita. And her answer was because i feel so sorry for the woman. And that was the way it was. I remember passing the plate for a young woman to go to tijuana for an abortion. The morbidity that was done to women through backalley abortions. Youve opened a pandoras box of big, emotional issues for women. And the Hyde Amendment you know there either is rape, if you can approve it, thats right, and then there is a 12yearold, a 13yearold thats out on the streets as a prostitute. Its a different thing. Sort of the same, but sort of different. And the overwhelming evil of this trade overcomes any of this because you take a young woman and you probably change their life for the worse for the rest of their life. Can you imagine your daughter being out on the street . My daughter being my granddaughters being out on the street like this, and what it does to them being handcuffed and moved and traded around the country and girls brought from nepal, through india all over europe . This is whats going on in the world today. So were sitting here arguing essentially about the availability of an abortion in this area, and to me, that is so secondary to the enormous harm thats being done. And so i really beg you know, i have Great Respect for you. You have been a very distinguished jury nist your state. You make sense when you speak on the Judiciary Committee. Weve listened to each other for more than a decade now. Let this drop. Let us get on with the work of this bill, the work of this bill isnt completed until we get some of the amendments that relate to the bill. And then i think we can debate this another day. I would say i would plead a may culpa. I wish i knew. All i can till can it will you is, i did not know. Is that my fault . Probably. But i did not know. So if you did not know and you make a mistake isnt the right thing to try to set that right . And thats what weve tried to do. And women on our side, and some on your side, feel very strongly about this. And you know over the years weve lost voterly every battle thats been on this floor. And were tired of it. So were taking a stand and were going to hold that stand. Mr. Cornyn mr. President i obviously dont agree with my friend from california, but i respect her for answering the questions that i have posed here today. I just find it a terrible shame that were going to relitigate the whats been the law of the land for 39 years on this bill in a way that would block help to the very people that i know that the senator from california cares so passionately about. Because thats if were going to if were going to undo the Hyde Amendment which the senator has voted for in some form or another repeatedly over the years then were not going to make any progress. If we can 2350eu7bdz find some other way to structure the funds so the appropriators will have a more direct role in appropriating the fines and penalties paid into this fund on an annual basis then i think theres maybe some room to talk. But i thank the senator for her courtesy in answering mew answering my questions. Im sorry that we find ourselves at this loggerheads but i hope that some point fine fiewn maymrs. Feinstein may i say one more thing to you. It is my understanding breaking news coming here that there is no language in federal statute on sex trafficking that defines a trafficking survivor as a victim of rape, so the victim would have to approve that she is a victim of rape. Now, look at what happens i dont know if in your legal career it took you close to victims very young victims of this who cover up, who dont want to let people know. You know all of the vicissitudes. You know the hard life. Asking someone who she has to prove it. I would say tomr. Cornyn i would say to my friend when i was attorney general of texas for ten years i administered the Crime Victims Compensation Fund and we worked very directly with victims groups including those that took care of very young girl that had been sexually assault assaulted. But can i ask the senator just one last question. Of course the procedural vote weve had here on the floor twice now where democrats have blocked our ability to both vote on amendments, including amendments that the senator may have with the senator from illinois senator kirk. Why is there an objection to processing those amendments and allowing the senate to work its will . Why cant we vote on it . Why cant the democratic minority take up the majority leaders offer for a vote to strip the language out that you object to . Mrs. Feinstein can i answer that as honestly as i feel . Mr. Cornyn i would appreciate it. Mrs. Feinstein because there are many of us that believe this is one small step for womankind. Its one battle that we can win and we have had loss after loss after loss. And you know, many of us ran on the right to choose. I was one of them. Im old enough to have seen the way it was before, to have sentenced women who committed illegal abortions with coat hangers. And that is sort of the systemic root of all of this. Its our history senator. And were trying to change that history, and we keep losing. So theres one small thing in this. Right youre right. We didnt see it. And we have to live with that. I understand it. But now we see it, and were trying to do something about it, and thanks our party is standing up with us. So we say make that small change and we pass this bill and maybe we can even strengthen it in amendments, and you have done a superior job in putting the bill together. Let it go. Mr. Cornyn mr. President , i would just say this conclusion that i think its a terrible shame that your side of the aisle has decided to take this bill hostage to try to litigate something thats been the law of the land for 349 years. And for 39 years. And i understand that you feel passion fatlypassionately about t but why in the world would you take hostage a piece of legislation thats going to help those 100,000 children that are sextrafficked each year . Why should they suffer so you can make a point on this particular piece of legislation . I dont understand that and i think it is a terrible mrs. Feinstein well, let me answer a question with a question. Why dont you just take it out . Its not in the house bill. Then we dont have to conference it we dont have to have another fight, we can get the amendments in the bill to strengthen the bill, and we can move on and the two parties together can do something thats right for the nation. Why dont we do it . Mr. Cornyn well, mr. President , i would say to my friend shes i dont blame her for asking, but why in the world would we change the law for 39 years just in order to accommodate the minoritys view on this bill and to change the like i said, what has been the law of the landed . I dont mrs. Feinstein because mr. Cornyn since the senator voted for this very language previously this very year in the Judiciary Committee, since you cosponsored it i dont understand it. Since you voted for the legislation that is referred to that has that amendment do you see this as breaking new ground . Are you trying to expand or eliminate the Hyde Amendment . Mrs. Feinstein i see it as standing up for a principle. I know something about these girls. I know something about the history of abortion in this country. Im old enough to go have gone through it and know that i dont want to go back to those days. I dont want young women who take the law now so much for granted to have to return back. This is just one small step and you know, theres nothing wrong with accommodating the minority. Son what is a relatively small point. Obviously its not in the house. Its a relatively small point. Youve got 435 people over there that didnt want it in. So why not accommodate the minority . Youd just come out a bigger person. Mr. Cornyn mr. President i say to my friend, i appreciate hur courtesy and her indulgence in having this conversation. I also feel on principle that this limitation on tax dollars is an appropriate one. I understand the senator disagrees and shed like to eliminate this from this point forward, but im unable on principle to accommodate the senator on that request. As i said, i do appreciate your courtesy. Thank you. Mrs. Feinstein i appreciate it too and i appreciate the discussion. And you know, principle doesnt know minority and majority. Principle is deeply held. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, mr. President. I yield the floor. I note the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call quorum call mr. Mcconnell mr. President . The presiding officer the majority leader. Mr. Mcconnell i ask consent that further reading of the quorum be dispensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell i understand there is a bill at the desk and i ask its first reading. The presiding officer the clerk will read the title of the built for the first time. Of the bill for the first time. The clerk h. R. 111, an act to amend the Internal Revenue code of 1996 to make sure Emergency Services volunteers are not taken into account as employees under the shared responsibility requirements contained in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care act. Mr. Mcconnell i now ask for a second reading and in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule 14, i object to my own request. The presiding officer objection having been heard the bill will be read for a second time on the next legislative day. Mr. Mcconnell now mr. President , i ask unanimous consent that when the senate completes its Business Today it adjourn until 11 00 a. M. Thursday, march 19. Following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day. Following leader remarks, the senate resume consideration of s. 178 with the time until the cloture vote at 12 00 noon equally divided between the two leaders or their designees. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell senators should expect up to two roll call votes at 12 00 noon. If theres no further business to come before the senate, i ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order. The presiding officer the Senate Stands adjourned until 11 00 a. M. Tomorrow. Those same four democrats voted to advance the bill yesterday as well. We believe the next opportunity to vote on the legislation will come tomorrow. Democrats continue to object to antiabortion language. Today several passages will read from the book half the sky recounting stories of sex trafficking and other oppression against women worldwide. She plans to continue to read from the book until the measure is passed. More passed. More lives in a richmond members return here on cspan2. Join us tomorrow for testimony on the president s proposed authorization for the use of military force in the fiscal 2016 defense 2016 defense budget. They will appear before the House Foreign Affairs committee. This weekend the cspan cities to her has partnered with media come to learn about the history and literary life of columbus georgia. Right here inside the museum, the remains of a confederate ironclad the css jackson, it was built in columbus during the war. The oval shapes are actually the gun ports. The jackson was armed with six rifles. The particular gun was built specifically for the jackson it was cast at the salmon naval works in alabama and completed in january of 1865 the real claim to fame is directly connected to the fact that there are only for ironclads from the civil war that we can study right now. And the jackson is right here and this is why this facility is your. First and foremost to tell the story of this particular ironclad and to show people that there are more than just one or two ironclads. There were many. Watch all of our events saturday at noon eastern on cspan2 book tv and sunday afternoon at 2 00 oclock. The only Television Network devoted to nonfiction books and authors. Teewun, authors. Cspan2, created by the cable tv industry and brought to you as a public service. Watch us in hd hd like us on facebook, follow us on twitter. British Prime Minister David Cameron answered questions wednesday for members in his weekly question time in the house of commons. The labor leader and cameron kuester with the structure and changes made to the uk National Health service. Questions on the state of the economy dominated the session. This is about half an hour. Thank you, mr. Speaker. This morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the scouts i shall have further such hearings later today. When the chancellor said we are on this together we mean it. [inaudible conversations] when the Prime Minister and the chancellor came up with such a soundbite, did they do so before they decided . Before they attempted over for the attempted and failed to the minute the deficit . The honorable gentleman cannot hide from the statistics that shows that inequality is down, down poverty is down, 3 million of the poorest people have been taken out altogether. Most importantly, we have created jobs for tens of thousands of our fellow countrymen and women. And today we see the unemployment statistics with a Record Number of people and work, work, and in his constituency, which i thought he would want to welcome, the claim account has fallen since the election by 49 percent. That is what has happened. Happened. That is how we are beating poverty. Chris kelly. Thank you, mr. Speaker. [inaudible conversations] lessons. Passion cash payment. Once you have been returned what more will my right honorable friend due to ensure this is reduced further still. My honorable friend is absolutely right. This is an important line that has been increasing not least because of the value of the scrap metal. In my constituency. What we have done scrap metal dealers. Dedicated national. Have the ability to crack down on this supporting crime. [applause] mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised no topdown reorganization. In the in the words of the chairman of the conservative party, describe it as an over denial or simply a straightforward broken promise . What we did is to the bureaucracy out. Yes. We made two big decisions. Big decision number one was to put more money in. Big decision number two was to take the bureaucracy out. That is why we have neither the have thousand more doctors, seven a half thousand more nurses. I can see the shadow chancellor chuckling. He wants to be in the kitchen cabinet. He cabinet. He just does not know which kitchen to run up to. [inaudible conversations] somehow i thought he might mention. At least i paid for my kitchen. Lets get back. First broken promise. Next i refuse to go back to the days when people have to wait for hours on end to be seen. Now we learn the nhs will miss the target for the whole of this year for the 1st time ever. Which of his kitchens did he pay for . He literally does not know where his next meal is coming from. So far this year 93. I want us to do better. We invested in our Health Service. An emergency. The key issue was how long people have to wait to get treatment. Why did he break that promise . Let me bring him closer to home. [inaudible conversations] here are the cancer waiting times for his constituents. 95. 2 percent of patients. 97. 9 of 97. 9 percent of patients diagnosed with cancer began treatment within 30 days. The target is 96 percent. Target met. 87 percent of patients began Cancer Treatment within 62 days. Target 85 . Target met. The nhs met. On the nhs we put in the investment increase the doctors, nurses, and if he cant stand the heat he better get out of his 2nd kitchen. He has broken his promises. Lets turn to another. He promised a bareknuckle fight. He even did photo calls outside the hospitals units then closed. Why did he break the promise . I am very glad he has raised this issue. He stood there and produced a list of 27 hospitals seven of which were shut under a labor government. That is how incompetent he is as leader of the opposition. Just imagine what a messy messy would make if he was running the country. Stop the closure of services. Since the last election. Cancer treatment, amb. A topdown reorganization. The whole series of knew promises why should anyone believe him. Because we have a Strong Economy that can deliver. We promised more money. We promised more nurses, promise delivered. We promised more doctors, promise delivered. We said we would sort out. Promise delivered. Isnt it interesting, mr. Speaker five questions and not one mention of the unemployment figures today. The employment rate in our country is at a record level. Record number of people in work, Record Number of women at work, Record Number of vacancies. That is what this country is delivering. Worse off on his watch. That is why working families cannot afford another five years of them. Another five years of this government. Built by labor saved by labor and will only be safe in the hands of the next labor government. Every forecast he has made by the economy has been wrong. No jobs. We have record jobs. Would not would not cut the deficit, the deficit is down, the strongest growth for any major western economy. He has made misjudgment after misjudgment on every single question. We talk about longterm economic plans. It is about it is about changing lives, jobs livelihoods, giving people a chance at security. That is that is what will be on the ballot paper and 50 days time. Thank you, mr. Speaker. The prospect for the people of scotland is to be a successful part of the growing United Kingdom. The mission to shake this house to its foundations will deny recovery, jobs recovery, jobs, mortgages, and threaten both the uk and scotland. Uniting to deny this return. My friend makes an important. They want to break up our country. That it is why it is so appalling that although he has said he does not want a formal pack, he will not rule out a supply agreement relying on the s p and vote after vote after vote. We rule it out. What i am saying to the shadow chancellor, he threw both through both his kitchen sinks and still cannot win. [inaudible conversations] order. Order. I think the members of the benches. The honorable friend must be heard. Waiting over a week. The 3rd cannot even get through on the phone. 23 percent of londonannot even get through on the phone. 23 percent of london gp due to quit in the next five years. Will the Prime Minister take responsibility for the increasing crisis . Nationwide we have a thousand more in our own constituency. There are eight more compared to 2010 317 more in the london area. The college of gps who has often criticized this government has said now there has never been a a better time to go into general practice. Thank you, mr. Speaker. The Black Country economy has been one of the Fastest Growing local economies of any region in the United Kingdom over the last few years. With more investment with more investment in money high skill jobs got more exporting will the Prime Minister agree with me that as part of our longterm economic plan people in the Black Country that can be proud of this industrial revival and proud and confident to say that things are made in the Black Country and sold around the world. It is actually a remarkable statistic. Growth and value added is grown faster than in any other local Enterprise Partnership area in the entire country. If you compare that with what happened when private Sector Employment went down rather than up it shows that we are seeing a genuinely national recovery. Huge credit must go. In the last five years tripled their turnover doubled their sales and doubled their workforce for manufacturing in britain has grown command we should be proud of that. Thank you, mr. Speaker. They announced. It took nearly two months before somebody went in. The response was unsympathetic, unhelpful and anything but rapid. What has happened to the Rapid Response . And why have these workers been so badly let down . I agree with the honorable lady. They are to help employees when they are let go by their employers. That employers. That is what they are there for. I here good reports of what they do. In her constituency it has come down by 29 . The Overall Economic picture is good. Good. I would certainly look at the specific case. She talks about seamstresses seeing production being brought back on shore. [inaudible conversations] below 860 for the 1st time since 2,005. What my friend agree with me undone by the party opposite. [inaudible conversations] i think the honorable lady for her question. Todays figures question. Todays figures are remarkable. Employment is up by 1. 89 million. We used to talk about creating 2 million private sector jobs. Now 2. 3 million. Another figure that is fresh out today is the youth account is at its lowest rate since the 1970s. Fallen by 63 percent since the election. The plan is working and is not just dry and dusty. Getting a job a a job livelihood, security command that is what we want to keep going. The Prime Minister we will be well aware of the agreement. Disappointed as i am to to see the front page of the daily record. For smp counselors. One of whom was actually promoted. Actions for the party. Often disagree with each other about issues that to come to the right answer. It was an excellent report. The government after the next election. I asked if he was satisfied. There might have been a coverup. We learned they have identified as many as 14. The scandal within the word of the independent complaint commission, highlevel commission, highlevel corruption of the most serious nature. Went to the very core. I think my honorable friend is right. Also a separate a separate part of the metropolitan police carrying out an indepth investigation into what happened. Anyone who is worried about whether people will be prosecuted under the efficiency contact it is in everyones interest we get absolutely to the bottom of what happened. The Prime Minister able to show that the counter waiting targets have been met in his constituency. They obviously have an effective number. But the Prime Minister is responsible for the National Health service. And he will be aware that nationally the 62 day wait for treatment for Cancer Patients after referral has been breached in each of the last four quarters. So what does he have to say to the over 5,000 Cancer Patients including one in four people who are waiting months before they get any treatment . Everyone in this house those people have been affected by cancer. They have put an enormous amount of effort. We have made sure order. Members must here. Order. Survival rates are going up. Now i do think it is worthwhile, as well as looking National Cancer survival rates are going up. It is worthwhile looking at the constituency figures. I have them here. Obviously very effective. In her area they are meeting all three of the cancer targets. That is what is happening. More people surviving. Made the. That the Health Service funding was made possible. Can you tell the house what has happened to employment come a translation command the rate of minimum wage over the last five years. What i can tell him is that the minimum wage yesterday, the announcement was made it should increase. A real increase. Of course come after the great labor recession we did not have increases in the minimum wage. It lost its value. You will see the minimum wage go up. The guarantee i can give that we keep increasing get to be on a pounds. The labor proposal will mean a cut in the minimum wage. Someone said today, today, the 1st example and political history where you get less for more. Because of the independent living fund morally justify they may end up being institutionalized. The funding has been maintained, the vitally important disability benefit like the allowance. Does my right honorable friend agree that longterm economic plan is doing an outstanding job . Unemployment stands at 269. The 1st performance of any constituency in the country. Will he joined with me in thanking those running fantastic apprenticeships . The uk employment rate is in the largest rise of any peace p7 country over the last year. A million people, and nearly 2 million more. More young people have gone to work in the uk in the last year than the rest of the European Union put together. Mr. Speaker, despite the words and rhetoric the crisis many families in the northeast. We have unemployment at the highest level. Less than the national average. [inaudible conversations] apologize to the people. In his own constituency. More than a quarter. I thought this was the party that said how important it was to get young people into work. Every region of the country if we take the northeast it fallen fallen by 21,000 over the last year. Generating growth, taking the poorest people out of tax altogether. 3 million nationwide. I cant calm down when i i see the success that our longterm economic friends. [inaudible conversations] make sure the people who deliver this plan can go on delivering a plan is to the people who would wreck it. On that theme manufacturing military jets also bring along new talent by their ambitious apprenticeship scheme. Well scheme. Will he welcomed the 50. 6 millionpound investment in the Training Academy in next year when it opens only come and visit . [inaudible conversations] very grateful for the invitation. The site last week, a celebration of National Apprenticeship week and looking at the training and skills. The record for the systems doing well under this government. This government. This is absolutely vital work. We aim to deliver 3 million in the next. These manufacturing apprenticeships are particularly vital. I we will take him up on the invitation to come and open this excellent academy. The Prime Minister spoke at the unveiling of the magnificent Mahatma Gandhi statue. I observed him in deep conversation with the indian finance minister. Which meant offer you the best advice for the next election . Was it the person who presented the budget that would affect a fix for humanity or an actor whos acting tips might well help the Prime Minister in the tv debate . Very grateful. Grateful. The honorable gentleman was able to attend this beautiful ceremony a superb statue a superb statue and great turnout. Members of parliament, schoolchildren, and others. Quite right that he stand alongside churchill, manella in such an important square for our nation. In terms of the advice i was given these are private conversations. All i we will say is the knew Indian Government and the reformers that they are making opening up the economy will only make sure the relationship between our countries becomes stronger still. [inaudible conversations] thank you, mr. Speaker. The secretary of state reached theretary of state reached the conclusion that the station is in need of an upgrade. 80 Million Pounds and 1300 yards to make sure they continue. Ensure that we not only get a station but increase. Let me pay tribute to my honorable friend for the incredibly hard work he has put in. Following the visit there is 13 and a half million that has been secured through the local transport to fund this project. Because of his hard work this is going ahead. Absolutely essential. It can benefit from the growth were seeing in our country. The Prime Minister looking the other way when it comes to allegations of wrongdoing. He did it and is doing it now. Can he explain why he is being so quick to rule out an investigation into his own party . [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [laughter] steering this country in the past five years into economic waters never seen before. And really also agree with me that 765000 nomic waters never seen before. And really also agree with me that 765,000 people have started of their businesses the highest ever since the 1980s. Will he agree this is a good thing. [inaudible conversations] i think i think my honorable friend is actually right. Justice gothard is perfectly able to ask the attorney general as it happened with all previous. Make sure that no one can incriminate themselves. In terms of giving evidence the home secretary has given very clear guidance on that issue. In terms of disclosing to the press, highly unlikely he would ever be in the Public Interest for someone who did that to be subject to prosecution. I dont want to see anyone prosecuted for uncovering wrongdoing in this way and i way command i hope you will take that in the spirit in which it is meant. Order. Earlier today Federal Reserve chair janet yellen held a News Conference following the federal open Market Committee meeting. She talked about applications for federal funds rate increase and how that could impact the job market and inflation. Here is more. Returning to Monetary Policy as i noted at i noted at the outset, the committee reaffirmed its view that the current zero to 1 4 zero to one quarter percent target range for the federal funds rate remains appropriate. But with Economic Conditions improving and with further improvement expected in the months ahead we have again modified for guidance. In december and january, the committee judged that it could be patient and beginning to normalize the stance of Monetary Policy. That meant that we considered it unlikely that Economic Conditions would warrant an increase in the target range for the federal funds rate for at least the next couple of fomc meetings. Well, it is still the case that we consider it unlikely that Economic Conditions will warrant an increase in the target range at the april meeting such an increase to be warranted at any later meeting depending upon how the economy evolves. Let me emphasize again todays modification of the Forward Guidance should not be read as indicating that the committee has decided on the timing of the initial increase in the target range for the federal funds rate. In particular, this change does not mean that an increase will necessarily occur in june although we cannot rule that out. As we noted in our statement, the decision to raise the target range we will depend on our assessment of realized and expected progress toward our objectives of maximum employment and 2 percent inflation. We continue we continue to base that assessment on a wide range of information including measures of labor Market Conditions indicators of inflation pressures and Inflation Expectation and readings on financial and international developments. We anticipate that we anticipate that it will be appropriate to raise the target range for the federal funds rate when the committee has seen further improvement in the labor market and is reasonably confident that inflation will move back to his 2 percent objective over the mediumterm. Once we once we begin to remove policy accommodation we continue to expect that in the words of our statement even after employment and inflation are near mandate consistent levels, Economic Conditions may for some time warrant keeping the target federal funds rate below levels the Committee Views as normal on run. Places are just some of the comments made earlier today by Federal Reserve chair janet yellen. And News Conference here in washington dc. You can see her entire comments tonight at 8 00 oclock eastern here on cspan2. And tomorrow on washington journal, journal, washington congressman rick larson discusses military efforts in iraq and syria after the pres. s proposed president s proposed authorization for the use of military force against isis. After that utah rep. Chris stewart looks at the obama administrations Nuclear Negotiations with iran. Plus phone calls, facebook comments, tweets, all on washington journal live thursday at 7 00 a. M. Eastern. Also tomorrow, the House Foreign Affairs committee holds a hearing on those iranian Nuclear Negotiations testimony from deputies a qatari of state as well as undersecretary for the treasury department. The hearing comes as the end of march deadline nears for all parties to reach an agreement. Agreement. Live at 8 30 a. M. Eastern here on cspan2. Here are some of our featured programs for this weekend on the cspan networks. Join the conversation area like us on facebook. Follow us on twitter. The senate has wrapped up work for the night, but earlier members continued work on an anti Human Trafficking bill to increase fines and penalties for offenders were giving funds toward victims aid and restitution. Democrats have objected to the bill due to abortion language. Because of that senators once again blocked the bill from advancing. After that failed to vote california sen. Dianne feinstein and Majority Whip John Cornyn came to the floor to discuss the bill and their differences. This is 45 minutes. Pres. , as the sen. Has stated, i come to come to the floor to speak on the sex trafficking bill. I no it is now held up by certain language, language which i we will go into in the details of my remarks. Briefly, i would like to begin by describing the bills highlights. The bill clarifies that a person who buys a a sex act from a minor or other Trafficking Victim can be prosecuted under the federal commercial sex trafficking statute. The bill authorizes block grants for state and local government to develop programs to rescue Trafficking Victims and investigate and prosecute traffickers. The bill also includes nearly all of the provisions from the combat Human Trafficking act which senator portman and i introduced in january. I am grateful to the authors these provisions establish a minimum timeframe of five years of supervised release for a person who conspires to violate the commercial sex trafficking statute. It requires the Justice Department to train on investigating and prosecuting buyers come on seeking restitution, and on connecting victims with Health Services. It would require reporting on sex trafficking prosecution. It would expand wiretap authority to cover all Human Trafficking offenses and it would expand the rights of crime victims, something that i have been interested in since sen. Kyle senator kyle and i did the crime victims bill of rights. The bill which was not controversial should pass except for the surreptitious inclusion, and i use this were considered a provision that is known as the Hyde Amendment. The provision was included by language was not included by language but by crossreference provisions in another previously enacted appropriation bill. Here is what it says. Limitations. Amounts in the fund are otherwise transferred from the fund shall be subject to the limitations on the use or expending of amounts described in sections 506, 507 out of the division h of the consolidated appropriations act 2014 public law 111376128 statute 409. To the same extent as in amounts in the fund were funds appropriated under division h. This provision was not included in the bill that senator cornyn introduced last congress which i cosponsored. His staff approached my staff and staffs of other stack staff of other senators early in 2015 asking if i would cosponsor again. My staff my staff asked if the bill was identical. For an explanation of any changes that were made. Sen. Cornyns staff sent back via email a list of changes, seven changes in all. That list did not include the Hyde Amendment language that have been added. That language was not mentioned to my staff at anytime. In other words, in other words, an important and sensitive change was made to the bill was not disclosed upon request. Now, that does not excuse us for not catching this. But if you see the complicated and sort of obfuscated nature of this i am not saying it is intended, but the numbers are in this i think it makes it understandable. If the Hyde Amendment, which is, which is what this is if that language comes out this bill we will pass easily. Easily. Let me address for a moment the enormous problem that we are trying to address with this bill. Today high demand and easy access fuels a huge amount of sex trafficking. Human trafficking today is the 2nd largest criminal industry in the world. It is only behind illegal drugs. In 2005 Human Trafficking was a 32 billion criminal enterprise. Today some nine years later it is 150 billion. The estimate of illegal gains. At two thirds at two thirds of the proceeds from Human Trafficking come from sex trafficking. Children children as young as 12, 13 and 14 can be found on the street or over the internet. It it is no exaggeration to say that this is modernday slavery. These victims are moved against their we will to cities throughout the country and even to other countries wherever demand design. Trafficking rings are also run by gangs. In in san diego, for example, profits are so great and the risk of being caught so minimal that rival gangs dont fight each other over sex trafficking as they do when drugs are involved. Some traffickers involved. Some traffickers make as much as 33,000 per week. This is numbers gathered by the urban institute. Atlantic gross take per trafficker a week 32,833. Washington dc 11,588. San diego, 11,129. This is weekly gross cash intake per individual trafficker. Traffickers lure victims through promises of love and money or sometimes use an older traffic grow as a recruiter. These these criminals prey on the most Vulnerable Children in our society including those that are homeless or in the foster care system. A target children who have been victims of sexual abuse once they have a victim under the control they may traffic him or her from city to city based upon demand. For example, this is a slide of california. It is the Orange County Human Trafficking task force that shows the route the traffickers take to move victims around the state of california to meet demand. And you can see these circles from oakland to sacramento and then down into the inland empire and then from los angeles all the way around into the inland empire. The contract various routes. The Orange Center here is meant to be for Orange County. This particular task force is comprised of a number of federal and local Law Enforcement agencies. One thing is almost universal. Victims will be advertised on the internet. By one estimate 76 percent of child sex Trafficking Victims, 76 percent of them are sold over the internet. My staff and i have spoken with a number of Law Enforcement officials about the internet role in collecting connecting sellers of underage children with buyers. Nearly every single official we spoke with so said the internet is the primary means to connect sellers with buyers. So this is where we next must take decisive steps to stop sex trafficking. They must be held accountable. Senator kirk and i have an amendment that will do that. There are at least 19 distinct websites that accept ads relating to trafficking under age boys and girls. Here they are. Back page, as escort ads euro cents, ads, euro sets escorts in college, asian Escort Service my provider guide. Erotic mugshots. Exports phone list, rebounds, arrows. Romance. Nineteen websites act as purveyors of child sex trafficking in this country. They ought to be ashamed of themselves. This site that i am going to show you, backpage. Com allows a purveyor to post an advertisement for an escort or body rub. Nearly all of these are for commercial sex acts, many depicting minors. When you view an ad for an escort or a body rub you will see pictures of young girls often with few or no close on the renowned im going to show you two girls. The 1st is a missing 17 yearold girl. She is here as a runaway. This is a listing of mission of missing and exploited children a very legitimate organization, which i am fully supportive of entitled endangered runaway and it is information about her her date her her date of birth her age, her sex, race all of it. And where you can get in touch if you have information. Let me show you how this is also used. This is the same girl on that page look no further. I am 100 percent Great Service provider. I am very down to work warm, sensitive passionate and genuinely interested in giving you a great experience. It goes on and on. This is the same picture of this same girl and we blocked out the image and it is shocking. It is simply shocking that this is going on to the extent that it is in our country right on the internet. Law enforcement officials and anti trafficking organizations say there are a number of key indicators that allow them to identify ads that are likely for Trafficking Victims. In this advertisement we see three key three of those key indicators. First, the title states the victim is new to your city. Any trafficking organizations say this is code for being underage. You may also see girls and as described as young fresh, or new in town to indicate that they are underage. Second,. Second we see a victim is listed from outside the area here she is listed as from miami for a posting that is in the houston area. Third, the victim also has an out of area phone number. Those are three indicators of what this ad is to sell sex with children. Law enforcement and experts confirm this. The Cook County Sheriffs Office in illinois found that 100 percent of women 100 of women claiming to be a massage therapists or platonic escorts on one website, back page, were being sold for sex. This is the Cook County Sheriff department. The Sheriffs Office set up socalled dates with 618 girls the about page. All 618 agreed to provide sex for money. The Sheriffs Office concluded, and this office concluded, and this is a quote this presents irrefutable evidence that back page is indeed a haven for pimps and sex solicitors who are victimizing women and girls for their own gain any notion any notion that back page employs a legitimate Business Model simply does not stand up to the facts. This is a direct letter from sheriff Tom Dart Cook county illinois. I would ask for unanimous consent to place the letter in the record. Without objection. A study a study of ads placed during this years super bowl held in phoenix concluded that 65 percent of the ads placed on back pages phoenix website around the weekend of the game had indicators that the ad was for a victim of sex trafficking. 65 percent. Simply put the Internet Companies are profiting improving the rape and abuse of children. This must stop. One way that we can combat sex trafficking over the internet is to make it a a crime for a person such as the owner of a website to knowingly advertise a commercial sex act with a person. As i said the sen. And i have introduced such an amendment. Amendment. It would create a new offense of knowingly advertising a a commercial sex act on the internet. The amendment is identical to a house bill that has 52 52 cosponsors and past that chamber by voice vote. If we come to a time where a time where we are voting on amendments to senator cornyns bill, i would urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and i no that the senator and i will bring it to the floor. Last october 53 attorneys general offered a letter to the Senate Judiciary committee in support of a bill that senator kirk and i introduced last june that is similar to the amendment. And here is the list of the 80s. I would ask that that was be placed in the record at this time. Thank you, mr. President. The atty. Gen. s road, attorney generals road, the use of the Adult Services sections on websites such as back page have created virtual brothels where children are brought and sold bought and sold using euphemistic labels such as escorts. And the quote from the letter to this effect i dont want anyone thinking it is what i am saying. It is what they are saying. The use of the term Adult Services sections on websites such as back page has created virtual brothers were children are bought and sold using euphemistic labels such as escorts. Put simply if you have knowledge that an advertisement placed on your website is for commercial sex with a minor then you should be prosecuted. That is prosecuted. That is what our amendment would do. I have no doubt that prohibiting misconduct by a website owner is constitutional. As the Supreme Court has held on several occasions offers offers to engage in illegal transactions are categorically excluded from First Amendment protection. In fact fact, the Supreme Court in 1973 wrote we have no doubt that a newspaper constitutionally could be forbidden to publish a want ad proposing a sale of narcotics or soliciting prostitutes. This amendment targets illegal conduct commercial sex with minors that would not be protected by the First Amendment. It imposes liability on websites you know that their sites are being used to advertise minors for sex. In conclusion, mr. President , the internet has made this industry what it is, the 2nd largest criminal industry in the world. Second only to drugs. And it is up to us to do something about it. One of our duties in this body is to protect the most vulnerable of individuals. That includes children, and this is what this amendment does. Some say other parts of the bill will help stop sex trafficking, and we dont need to touch the internet. That makes no that makes no sense to me. 76 percent of sales of sex Trafficking Victims begin on the internet. You can touch a small part of it. This touches 76 percent of victims. We cannot allow these websites to continue to operate with impunity. It is time we take a a stand stop these ads, and stop the exploitation of children. So i look forward to the sen. Coming to the floor presenting our amendment assuming we can get past this block time. This is so much more important than putting the Hyde Amendment cloaked in difficult language in this bill when the house bill does not contain. The house understands that it is going to have difficulty passing in this bill. Why isnt that recognized in this . You take that out and this bill swims through. Miss mr. Pres. sen. Yield for question . I sure we will. I was in my office watching the sen. On tv. I thought i would come down here. Maybe here. Maybe we could get to the bottom of this. They seem to be ships passing in the night, and i no the senator from california cares passionately about this issue. And i do not question that for a moment. It is clear to me. Me. I would just ask the senator from california she graciously agreed to cosponsor this legislation. She voted for it in the Senate Judiciary committee. It does contain on page 50 and 51 50 and 51 of this bill the language that the senator referred to. It incorporates the limitations that were contained in the consolidated appropriation act of 2014 by reference. Not only i believe the senator voted for the bill in committee and cosponsor the senator voted for that limitation and consolidated appropriation act of 2014. This is similar language than what was contained in the Affordable Care act, Defense Authorization bills and literally every appropriation bills since 1976. Here is what i would love to have my friend and the senator from california explained to me why is it that it all of a sudden becomes objectionable when you care and i care so passionately about getting help for these victims that this is the reason to derail the legislation . Because of what this legislation is. This legislation is the raping and the misconduct sexually with young girls girls 14 15 and 16. What if they are impregnated . Should they be entitled to be able to go and get an abortion . Does this body really want them to be forced to bear somebodys child . And so this offers the opportunity for some funding these are not wealthy girls. They they dont live in Beverly Hills or hyde park or any of these places that are prominent. They are on the street. They are lost, they are lost, maybe lost mentally was physically, may have been abused. Now they are now they are caught up in an industry where they are held hostage at night. I have read i have read of some in the neighborhood of my city being handcuffed at night stripped so they dont have close and cannot run away, put out on the streets, watched, moved around. It becomes too hot in one area. They are moved to another, moved to another state. The come from other countries. And it just seems to me to have this in this bill and sen. , i have Great Respect for you. You. I have wanted to work with you on this. I no you are sincere. It is not in the house bill. Maybe the house understands this. I cant speak for the house. I ask unanimous consent to engage in a colloquy. Is there objection . I would be happy to. Otherwise we will have to keep addressing questions through the chair at asking permission. I would like to have a chance to have an honest conve