Transcripts For CSPAN2 Key Capitol Hill Hearings 20160802

Mitigation constraints, from Law Enforcement perspective this affect needed training and equipment for bomb teams essential opportunity to train and purchase equipment needed for adequate response, this was a critical component to the polls nightclub, in 2015, a need to purchase a tactical robot for our swat teams and refurbish one of the aging regional bomb robot, due to lack of funding these projects were not funded. Finally, for the last years we have seen funding through Grant Programs to conduct swift assisted victim extraction or training for the region. The critical training teaches Law Enforcement and fire Service Necessary to save lives, and fire personnel will stage a safe difference from the scene until Law Enforcement declares it is clear even though Law Enforcement is confident they captured and contained or killed suspects. This course is designed to teach lawenforcement officers and the Fire Department the tactics necessary to enter a semisecure area which will reduce time to render aid to victims and save their lives. Without continued training these perishable skills would surely deteriorate. In closing i would like to bring to the attention of the committee the paradigms of traditional terror attacks changing. In the past, identified Critical Infrastructure and obviously still are targets of terror attacks. Based on the horrific events we experienced at the orlando polls nightclub and that of the brave Dallas Police officers who gave their lives when protecting innocent civilians last week i urge the committee to consider these attacks are becoming more frequent at venues identified as soft targets. I asked the committee to review relative risk formula to better address the risk profile you need for the Orlando Kissimmee sanford nsa. I would like to thank congressman mica for his continuous unwavering support not only for the pulse assistance but your assistance in Grant Funding and thank the committee for allowing me the opportunity to give my Statement Today and i look forward to questions. We will hear from our last witness, walter purdy of the Terrorism Research center. Thank you, chairman mica. Ranking member lynch and other distinct members of the committee, thank you for inviting me to testify about this important issue. The terrorism threat in america is one that is constantly evolving. In the wake of the terrorist attacks in nice, previous attacks in paris, brussels, boston, charleston, chattanooga, San Bernardino, orlando, the last thing we should be doing is reducing the levels of funding to certain cities that need these funds to protect america. It is on think of let this time that president obamas 2017 budget reduces the level of funding for Homeland Security initiatives through the urban Area Security initiative and other funding mechanisms to protect the homeland. The threat to america from terrorists has not gone away and is constantly evolving. The director of the fbi, james comey has warned the fbi is investigating isis suspects in 50 states with 900 active investigations. Just this last week on the front page of the Washington Post adam goldman wrote an article talking about 92 isis individuals in the United States. Even the funding for state and local antiterrorism training conducted through the department of justice has been reduced and cut back. Fog talking to an individual at the bureau yesterday, they said im not sure what we are going to do to help lock a Law Enforcement the needs is critical training today. The terrorism threat to america seems to continue to grow. Last week the secretary of Homeland Security said testified at a Senate Hearing on funding for Homeland Security. He said he was constrained by the budget agreement, wasnt happy, had to make hard choices. We all know budgets restrain people but we have to think about how we are spending those resources and giving those communities, cities, counties and regions that need them the tools and resources to do the job to protect american citizens. As you just heard, all the tourists visit the orlando area. The terrorism threat to america was reduced to going away, i would be the first to support a reduction in funding. The department of Homeland Security, we all know this threat is not going anywhere. It is increasing. Today we see homeland radicalize terrorists conducting attacks as we saw in San Bernardino. We see individuals, one. 2 miles from my residents in fairfax, virginia getting locked up last friday. We see in sterling, virginia, individuals inspired by isis going and purchasing weapons, seeking to attack targets in this particular region. We need to be funding local Law Enforcement. They are the First Responders, the police and Sheriff Department and offices in orlando bravely dealt with that particular critical incident. Yet we are asking the Law Enforcement community and First Responders, firefighters and others to deal with the evergrowing complex challenge, funding levels in places get cut. We cant expect Law Enforcement as a community is going to be prepared to deal with these changing situations over time when we are starting funds. Homeland security programs, congress has heard from mayors chiefs of police, sheriffs across america that have lobbied for a departure and reexamination of how the funding takes place. The threat is real. I ask you to change the direction and approach in which these funds and mechanisms provide Critical Resources and assistance to those First Responders in america. Training is critical. It is a critical step to getting individuals so they can respond effectively to this growing threat. Thank you for the time, look forward to answering questions. I want to thank our Witnesses Today and i will go directly to questions. We have a program in place, it has been in place since 2003, many years, we provide 1 billion a year in funding. What we have got to do is make sure we dont leave any American City or Community Behind. My dad used to say to sheriff demings and me this morning, my dad used to say it is not how much you spend. It is how you spend it and get money out. Unfortunately we are involved in this even before the horrible terrorist massacre. We were looking at trying to see what was wrong with the formula, why we were denied. We found several things. In the response, i dont know who signed this, but came back from fema to me before february 19th, this is from you. You said dhs office of intelligence and analysis uses a holistic approach to analyze threat information and juxtapose its review of intelligence community. Again, we have different agencies doing different things, you are relying on information you are getting from them. Im told some of that information is outdated. In orlando, they are using assessment data that is from 2011 other tourism visitation, hasnt been updated since then. Did you know that . That is not accurate. We have more recent data than that. We were told that was what was used, there has been an uptick. We were told again the information they have is not up to date. They do that. You analyze their data and intelligence and what they supply to you. The reason we use the term holistic is a partnership between us and the office of intelligence and analysis for the threat piece of the formula, threat vulnerability and consequence. The threat piece looks at active terrorism, credible threats, reporting. The information we have is the data on which you based it, orlando was outdated, that is one. Mister purdy referred to it, we are missing the mark, we missed the mark dramatically in orlando. Mister purdy said we had San Bernardino, boston, my community, they are hitting soft targets. We went back and tried, as you heard, we found out the basis in which you analyze this is orlando doesnt have a port. Many went to tampa and many went to miami, they have ports. We tried to change the area to Volusia County and brevard county, they were denied that. My point here is somehow the threat assessment isnt dealing with the reality of what they are doing, they are coming at us in soft targets, and we said we are a soft target, we have Great Security at sea world, and these big attractions. Look at the death toll from orlando. These people are from all over, young ladies, a good place to go which was the pulse nightclub in orlando, philadelphia. Look at the roster, where they came, they came to a soft target. This guy scooped this as they came back and slaughtered people. We are missing the mark. And give the secretary to more discretion, and leave no Community Behind and divide billion dollars between everybody, orlando, Central Florida, the biggest terrorist attack in the history of the country since 9 11 got 0 the last two years. Dont you think something is wrong . I will address a number of things you raised. In terms of leaving or city behind the billion dollars you are referencing goes through two programs, state Homeland Security program, 402 million this year. The District Of Columbia and us territories, that is a baseline of Homeland Security funding. Maybe you are not here to speak on behalf of the secretary of dhs and beyond, and we are not getting it right. Just for the record, this is provided by you, daily visitors, the data saves 2011201213 survey data. This is what you gave us, dont say i am incorrect. Sheriff demings summed a lot of this up, for whatever the information we have in intelligence, we have got to go back to Getting Better intelligence connecting the dots. We are only talking about this program. And with these particular terrorists was identified multiple times, put on a watchlist, taken off a watchlist, sheriff demings, you have got to have that information right to know who poses a risk coming into the community. Congressman mica, you are correct. We have a wonderful collaborative effort in federal state and local Law Enforcement in orlando, and the Intelligence Exchange and classified and unclassified information goes through the center that assists us, in responding to counterterrorism efforts as well as daytoday crime prevention. You said we have to change the paradigm, the orlandos, the chattanoogas, bostons, they are done with us. This is not over. We have a responsibility. If we spend one penny, it has to go most effectively and i am calling, we have 1 billion sitting there. That is another issue, since 2011 we have to get that money out. It should be here. And it goes to where people can use it. Something is wrong and we got to change it. My time is over and extended. Let me Ranking Member mister lynch. Mister kamoie, the chart shows a third of the resources that were authorized and expended. And half 1 million and spent, could you explain to me why the allocation, one might be the amount of resources that were allocated. And whether you deploy the resources to protect the people. The word chairman mica used was the money was idle. The first is it is one year funding provided to us by congress meaning we need to make award in the fiscal year. We announce the awards. If that is the case, if that money is spent that is what you tell me. The money is all booked against projects they are spending against. The budget at the beginning of the month, put on the ledger on the 25th, and it doesnt get paid. I appreciate that, we are going to spend that money later but it hasnt been spent yet. What about the factors we are using here, orlando, disney world and all that going on, they have huge fluctuations, manhattan the same thing, very little population on a saturday morning but then that is a huge problem. In the formula do we consider the inflow of areas in orlando when they get swamped with people. People who live there, who are visitors overnight and commute during the day and leave, we count those folks and the infrastructure you are familiar with in orlando. It was surprising to me the pulse nightclub in orlando was attacked. Who could predict that . Similar thoughts, the marathon a couple times. And even think after that, if we are going to protect soft targets, the list is endless, opportunities are endless, you have this whack a mole situation or guess where they might strike next. Or anything short of fullspectrum surveillance of American Society that could even approach addressing that problem. As far as something problematic, giving people money across these jurisdictions to make sure nothing happens, i dont know. It is a tall order for Law Enforcement and intelligence services, just wondering if there is a better model out there. The british put a lot of money into surveillance, especially their transportation systems. We havent done enough of that but is there another model out there that offers hope. I will defer to the sheriff and the police chief on what the tactics are to address the threat. On the financing and funding levels you point out something important in your Opening Statement which is the Direction Congress gives the secretary of how many jurisdictions, how far to spread the funding, secretary takes that guidance very seriously, congress has a choice about the breadth of jurisdictions you wish the department would cover with funding so i would encourage you to have discussions among the committee with appropriators about the appropriate intent you would like to convey. From my own experience in boston the fact that we had a very robust safety infrastructure, we had a superb police department, Fire Department, emergency medical services, hospitals, they were all on site and we were all on site. We had a great joint Terrorism Task force where fbi, dhs, state police, a lot of people were saved that day because we had medical tents set up and infrastructure in place, great leadership and that continues to this day so that sort of the first line of defense and what we are doing with special program so we have to support the sheriff and chief in their basic jobs plus that up with enhanced resources at this level. Thank you for your courtesy. I yield back the time that i have. I think my friend from massachusetts, i recognize myself for five minutes. Sheriff demings, the amount of people coming into Central Florida every year, what is the ballpark estimate of how many people come to visit . In 2015, 66. 1 Million People came to visit. In my county, permanent resident population was 1. 3 million. Effectively on any given day, the population doubles. That is the population we have to deal with. Those figures put orlando in the top 5 in the country for visitors. Is that your understanding . It would move us up from number 34. You combine the huge influx of people, a lot of different soft targets. People think they go to disney world, that is one. There are a high number of soft targets and probably more soft targets in other. An attack in orlando, we will remain at risk. And we want to be prepared for something occurring. We want to respond quickly. A huge number of people and soft targets come a were not really reflected in how fema analyzes this. There are some factors, we are seeing a paradigm shift and terror suspects identifying the targets as chief mina indicated and they are soft targets. How would the funding, say this changes and you are getting more funding, your first order of business to use that in terms of terrorist preparedness . Going back to the formula and amount of visitors, we believe since it is such a target that the number of visitors, would create weight but that funding has provided us with muchneeded training for our response and muchneeded equipment but training skills parish and equipment is needed to be replaced. Looking at the pulse incident there is so much more equipment, thermal imaging to see what was behind the walls. I met with officials from france to discuss the paris attacks, they have protection for face shields, there are all kinds of equipment. The Dallas Police used robots to deliver a bomb to kill the guy shooting the cops. You have access to that technology. We have a similar robot but again we havent had training to deploy such a device to kill a suspect in that situation. That is again training that could be provided with that funding. Sheriff demings, you talk in your testimony about having brevard and volusia being included in that. Why is that important . It is important because it speaks to how the metropolitan area functions. The infrastructure, the roadways, the way we advertise our tourism investigation, commuters travel to and from work. We are truly one metropolitan area. Whenever there is an incident in volusia we support the efforts. When there is something going on at the Kennedy Space center we support the efforts there as well. Even with the pulse incident we had a regional response. There were Police Agencies and sheriffs offices throughout the region and question who responded to assist us in recovery efforts. I agree, chairman mica, supporting your efforts to get that changed. On this particular subject there has been a lot of issues going on in our society, the dallas shootings. How is the more row with the Orange County Sheriffs Department . Are they feeling the support they need from the community and the public . For the last two years Law Enforcement across the nation has been criticized mightily, sometimes justly so, sometimes unjustly so. What we saw happen immediately after the pulse incident was tremendous outpouring of support and love that was shown to all First Responders, not just Law Enforcement officers and various random actss of kindness for what has continued to today and i am sure chief mina could echo my comments in this regard. Tough times for Law Enforcement, the more row is good because of the great support from our community. We are lucky to have a rich history of Community Engagement with our community. There has been a huge outpouring of support from the community. Any time a Police Officer is targeted for wearing that uniform, it is very concerning to them. They are very en garde and aware, concerned about their own safety but their morality is good and they feel support from our people. Thank you. I am done and will recognize the gentleman from alabama, mister palmer, for five minutes. I think the witnesses for being here and echo the sentiments already heard here about support for Law Enforcement and First Responders at every level. We appreciate guys helping in any way you can. Mister kamoie, does fema have the capabilities to do the evaluation . We do. We have expensive reporting by records against core capabilities for preparedness. We have done a great many things to advance our assessment of preparedness. How long have you been doing this . The president issued president ial policy directive eight on National Preparedness in 2011. We have worked on identifying core capabilities working with state and local partners to align investments of grant funds of those capabilities. Considering the high profile of the orlando attack, and of that region, was there a preparedness evaluation for Central Florida and specifically orlando . As an urban Area Security, orlando has reported to us. That the program yes. One of the goals is to make sure that these regions are prepared and what i find stunning, and i was at the classified briefing with mr. Mica, laid some documents on the stage for secretary johnson. Its stunning to me that more wasnt done to prepare orlando for this, to view or land as a target. Its stunning to me that orlando was turned down for the grant. And particularly considering the threats that we face and its been in an escalating nature. I mean, its not like one happened five years ago and then Something Else happened. These things are escalating. Its almost as though the federal government, particularly this administration, is tone deaf or blind to it. I just dont understand why theres a billion dollars that wasnt used. I heard your answer i while ago there are other things going on, but there are critical needs and orlando should have been one of the top areas for this. What accountability and oversight is fema exercising to ensure Program Funds within just effectively . We monitor 100 of all open awards and where we see indications that additional marketing is needed, we do site visits both on the program to and to make sure funding is spent for the purpose of it is appropriated. When you look at the fact that over half a million, 662 million, half the billion dollars that was unused from 2011, and you couldnt come up with some the award i met with 662 million. The balance was youre right. Theres half a billion, 1. 1 billion thats left over. Its the king leonard over that time. Thank you for pointing that out. Its not or left or. The grantees are 2015 have three years to spend the money. So they are in progress without 585 million. They will spend against it until 2018. In 2014 they had a twoyear period of performance. They have until august of 16 to spend out that funding and when they complete large projects they can request reimbursement. Are using most of the funding is spent on the backend of that . Im saying that time for which the request reimbursement can accelerate toward the end of the period of performance. Its a reimbursement grant. So they said that builds to us, we pay them. So that 585 million is ongoing. The 445 million will close in august. Some projects will get legitimate extensions because they are still in progress. That billion dollars is very actively being spent right now. Its not left over. What i was asking is, it looks like a lot of this is spent on the backend. If youve got 2014 funding utah 445 million left and it closes out in august. So whether it spent, we reimbursed by the backend, yes. As we are closing the grants, jurisdictions submit a large number of bills to us. I want to look into this a little more to make sure i fully understand how this is done but i want to get back to this to understand this unit positive oversees the allocation implementation of uasi funding to determine priority actions for increasing the regions were prepared as the response capabilities. As well as reducing vulnerability to terrorist attacks. The group is comprised of senior Emergency Management officials from the District Of Columbia, from maryland, from virginia. Why isnt there more diversity in the context of regional representation . Or is there . Am asking this in the context of im trying to learn something spewing the policy group for the District Of Columbias urban Area Security initiative . No. Senior policy they oversee the allocation implementation of the uasi funding, and to determine the priority actions. Not nationally. In every urban area theres an urban a working Group Whether a jurisdiction calls it a Senior Policy Group or by some other name but every urban area has a government structure to determine the priorities among the jurisdictions. But i have no Senior Policy Group from those jurisdictions that govern nationally with the programs priorities are. That came from the gao report and indicated it was for the whole country, the whole uasi. We will take a look at that. Im not familiar with the Senior Policy Group. You are not familiar with the group . Theres no Senior Policy Group that sets the urban Area Security Initiative Priorities nationally. I think that is likely referring to a specific urban area jurisdiction. Okay. Then who does determine it . I go back to the president prepared as policy, identified 32 core capabilities that are the priorities how this administration defined preparedness against which all of the grant investment should be invested. They are very broad. They range from convention capabilities such as information sharing and interdiction, search and detection, all the way through to response and recovery capabilities. We have as an administration determined priority for preparedness Grant Funding. We work with grantees to make sure funds are spent against those priorities. We monitor have the funds are spent. Of course the departments Inspector General audits grant recipients and wher when we fint funds have not been used properly, we take enforcement action. Im going to figure out how to make a determination which would result in orlando and Central Florida not getting a grant. Is there a ranking process . Is there a committee or is it an individual . I tell you what, for sake of time, and ive got over my time, could you give us a report on that that outlines how this is done . Absolutely. Mr. Chairman, youve been very generous with time. I yield back. Thank you. Appreciate your questions and participation. Let me yield now to the Ranking Member, mr. Lynch, additional questions. Mr. Kamoie, were getting hung up again on the allegations and the unspent amounts. What happens, weve already, we are joining in a letter to the Inspector General look at this and see how much money has been lingering. Obviously, if something is been sitting there for five years and hasnt been spent, kabul we not going to get spent. If we could somehow we allocate to our risk of jurisdictions, that might help some the problems weve identified. Thats what i mentioned the money to us it is one your money. I cant wait allocated if they grant recipient doesnt spend it. I dont have the authority. We need to do that. We have provisions in our general transportation budget that if you dont lose money we take it back after certain period of time. We could have a similar provision in this, in this Grant Program that either puts the money back in the pot for we issuance or automatically goes to these underserved jurisdictions that dont have a robust Security Apparatus that some others do. How much control does the state have . You know, my government is pretty good on this stuff, but in terms of allocation within areas, how much involvement does the state have in the way to allocate the resources, any of that tied in with the government . In the state Homeland Security program, governor designates a state Agency Administrator and they have control over the state program fund. There have been funds passed through the state which by statute has led to keep up to 20 of the funding. And then passes the 80 down to the urban areas who i can are the air marked, all of those urban areas . They are directed to the urban areas and an award is made to our letter, it goes through the state to orlando. They can take 20 for administrative costs . For activities and projects that benefit the urban area or benefit statewide. I. C. , okay. In the of you have, ive a few seconds left here. Any other point you want to make . I would just go back to something you mentioned in your Opening Statement, cox and which is a guidance on the number of urban areas that the secretary divides the funding to is critical. Because congress has a choice to make as to where the line is drawn in the top 100 metropolitan statistical areas. Congress can provide discretion to the secretary to draw the line. Thank you. I yield back. Thank you, mr. Chairman spent again, i thank you mr. Lynch, and mr. Desantis participating, and other members today as we wind this up. Let me go back and ask sheriff demings, if theres any points he would like to make, having heard what has transpired and the information about the program and will go to chief mina and in mr. Purdy. The last comment by mr. Kamoie certainly has merit, in which some discussion should be given to the secretary to determine where the line is drawn. Because if the secretary has discretion, perhaps the secretary can make that come use that discretion is on Current Events and what is happening today, and not what occurred one, two, or three years prior. Chief mina . Just again, that would ask that more weight be given and avoid the to the 66 million visitors. Also i think its important mention the orlando has run out of tampa, so the investigations and intelligence received through orlando are actually attributed to an out of the town office, so we would like that to be looked at as well. Mr. Purdy . I think one of the issues here is metrics, factors, formulas of risk and threat. And maybe if the secretary of Homeland Security had more discretion, maybe some of those funds would then be able to be allocated to maybe those turn 11 cities that need some of these. Congressman lynch was spot on when he talked about soft targets. Terrorists are looking at targets. We harden stuff with uasi money. A look at nightclubs, stadiums, restaurants, a concert hall. So they are also looking to see what were doing, and they are very adaptive. So we spend money to harden something but we also to think of an evolving process. Maybe the secretary does need more discretion and congress can give him back. Thank you. Any quick comment, mr. Kamoie . No. We look forward to continue to work with a share, with the chief of police, with the Orlando Committee and the other jurisdictions to secure our communities. We always have these hearings but then people wonder what, whats coming from it. I want to thank mr. Lynch. Hes egregious i am with myself, chairman chaffetz last night agreed to be a cosigner of the letter to the Inspector General. We are going to ask or three things to follow up this evening. One, we are going to ask for our review of the assessment process. Somewhere we are missing the mark. The assessment hasnt caught up with what the terrorists are doing, and hitting us in the soft targets. So somehow weve got to do that. We also have the issue of the discretion for the secretary. We need to look at that congressionally. We do have with the and admit that ive offered, which is in the dhs appropriations bill, some looksee from congress but we would not we may want to go beyond that. The second they want to do the Inspector General to look at is the leftover money. We have money back to 2011. Maybe if you dont use it you lose it or it becomes redistributed. When i saw the chart again this morning that theyd show me when they did the final analysis, we cut about a third of the money, over a billion dollars sitting behind. Thats not acceptable. These people are after us. Weve got to stay ahead of them with every resource possible. It cant be sitting somewhere. So thats the second thing. Then weve seen some wasteful spending. Plasterboard was 2012. We want the updated. People can waste the money. It has to be effectively extended to target our needs to combat terrorism and get the funds to the local governments. We cant afford not to get it right. Weve got to get it right. There have been multiple federal failures. This hearing only looks at one of them. I had a letter and will make it part, without objection i hope, to chairman goodlatte, and also to chairman chaffetz, to look at the elements, that i dont have jurisdiction. Your subcommittee might, but under the judiciary, look at the fbi and some of the failures they are, our watch list that failed. The identification of somebody who posed a risk and months of investigation, and then nothing done to track them. Weve got to get that right. Im going to put in the record, a letter that i submitted on june 29 to chairman goodlatte and also chairman chaffetz to follow up so we look at. Other items. I just wanted to put into the record, people wonder sometimes what me and mr. Lynch and others are doing to combat terrorism. I got this just this week, a summit of the Homeland Security committee. These are selected counterterrorism bills. Every one of these bills, there must be 20 of them, i want to put this in the record. These are bills that we passed, we voted on to deal with terrorism. Unfortunately, many of them are sitting in the senate, but we have not neglected trying to change laws in our approach from logistics standpoint. So without objection i want to come up would like to put that in the record, thank you. Finalt released this is for official use only. If we can put this in the record, ill refer to it. This is the 2016 allocation of urban security grant funds and threat levels. This was just released a couple weeks ago. Orlando, not on the list. Weve got something wrong that needs to be corrected. We have some challenges. People are counting on us. Our nation is under attack. Opportunities are under attack. I cant and the hearing without backing my to local Law Enforcement guys. They had been there, even before that attack in orlando, the worst terrorist massacre since 9 11. They were there. They warned us, the federal government didnt hear it. And now we will probably get something. We will probably make these changes, but 49 people are with us and their families are suffering, and we missed the mark in boston. We missed it in San Bernardino is another, so weve got to do better job. I think everyone of you on behalf of the committee come on behalf of the congress for coming, testifying at working together. Im very confident we can get it right to meet this challenge. There being no further business before the joint subcommittee hearing today, again, thank you. This hearing is adjourned. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] coming up at 1 p. M. , religious leaders will discuss a new Program Designed to turn out voters and raise awareness about racial justice. A faithbased organization is hosting the event. Live coverage at 1 p. M. Today on q a, on the life of american businessman and philanthropist Julius Rosenwald who is best known as part owner and leader of the Sears Roebuck and company. Thats at 7 p. M. Eastern. Tonight on booktv some Summer Reading picks. All this tonight on booktv prime time on cspan2. Antiabortion advocates speak at the national right to Life Convention on how right to life issues will impact the 2016 election. They discussed competitive house and senate races in november and where president ial candidates donald trump and Hillary Clinton stand on abortion issues. Welcome. Welcome to national right to life session, the battle before us. It has been an amazing year full of surprises. And we have learned not to take anything for granted. The presidency, the house and the senate are all in play, and we need the help of every one of you this year. We have a panel of people who work every day in these areas here, and i will introduce them briefly. I think you probably know that all already. Doctor david osteen, our executive director, our president carol tobias, and our Political Action Committee Director karen cross. [applause] national right to life makes a recommendation on a candidate. When they do that, they take their time to collect all the facts and make the best possible decision on the life issue. Dont let the media tell you how to vote. Dont let your favorite commentator tell you how to vote. All of these people have lots of issues, and these issues, a whole range of them, are influencing their opinions. You need to look at a candidates record on life, the candidates statements on life, and whether or not they have a real chance of winning. Because you shouldnt throw your vote away. And then what and rlc has learned from the research on the candidate. We are a group totally dedicated to the life issue. We want to help you compare candidates and make the best decision for life. This session is designed to help you do that. And so we have been sent by congressman peter roskam a video, which is very appropriate, because he is the successor to congressman henry hyde. This is the 40th anniversary of henry hydes momentous amendment. [applause] so we would like to hear from his successor, congressman peter roskam. He hoped to be your in person by the sense of he did because he is unable to be here. I am cognizant peter roskam from suburban chicago i want to say hello to everybody to the convention. I want to get a quick story. It was a couple of years ago and im in chicago and ive been invited to be one of the speakers for the march for life at a downtown chicago. Its a cold and a that i got a little bit early and i was waiting and just waiting for people choke. Off to one side there was a abortion protesters. These were proabortion protesters and it was a small group. They looked miserable. Their signs said terribly ugly things that i felt really is sorry for them because they just seemed lost to me. As i was waiting i began to hear some music. And over the course of the next couple of minutes the music got louder and louder and louder, and more and more joyful. And then all of a sudden around the corner came thousands of prolife advocates. They had flags and they were dancing and they had balloons. And the contrast between these two groups literally took my breath away. Here you have on one hand this pathetic group there really is articulating a lie, if any of a group that is articulating the truth. And im telling you, the witnesses that the prolifers were bearing, that is, the witness that life is a gift from god is one of the more powerful images that ive come across in my entire political life. We are on the side of the angels, literally. Weve got a lot of work to do but theres a lot of people that have been persuaded to see things as we see them. I just want to let you know deeply appreciative i am of the witness that you were bearing, that life is a gift from god and the life is worth defending. Thank you. [applause] and now you will hear from our president , carol tobias. [applause] thank you all for being here. I had my remarks prepared, and yesterday we found out that theres going to be a vote in the u. S. House of representatives next weeks i need to spend a few minutes telling you about that vote and encourage you to get your grassroots people back home supporting this bill as well and getting contacts, calls, emails, whatever into your representatives office. As the Obama Administration has approached the end of its eight years, president obama and his appointees have become more and more brazen in trampling of the rule of law where they have an ideological goal that congress has not enacted into law, they manufacture their own laws in the form of executive orders and directives from various federal agencies. Where there is a lot that they find ideologically distasteful, they refused to enforce it, or they get it by radical reinterpretation. And that is what is happening now. Two years ago the California Department of managed care issued a decree mandating that nearly all health plans in the state must cover all of portions. Well, we said they cant do that because since 2004 weve had a federal law, the weldon amendment by david weldon from florida at the time, since no State Government that receives any federal health and Human Services money and, of course, the california gets all kinds of that money, but no agency may discriminate against any Health Care Provider for refusing to participate in providing abortions. The law explicitly includes Insurance Coverage and explicitly covers health plans. Various churches of religiously affiliated schools filed complaints with the Obama Administrations department of hhs asking that the administration enforce the federal law and thereby compel california to withdraw the state mandate that was forcing these churches and schools to pay for the killing of unborn children. For two years the administration did nothing, despite many urgings and drawings from members of congress. Finally, just a couple of weeks ago on june 21, hhs took action but it did not compel california to withdraw its abortion meant it. Instead, the administration sent letters to the people of california who had complained, announcing that no violation of federal law have occurred. The letters written by government lawyer whose previous job was Vice President of april abortion legal organization. She announced hhs had decided the weldon amendment only applied to those who file objections to abortion on religious or moral grounds. And said the department had decided that Insurance Companies in california did not have such religiousbased objections. The churches of religiously affiliated employers who filed the complaints that have religious objections, but they were not Health Care Providers and, therefore, they were not covered by the law. There is no language whatsoever in the weldon law that imposes a religious test. The weldon amendment explicitly concludes health plans within its scope. So on its face the california decree was as blatant a violation of federal law as could be imagined. To avoid this conclusion the administration had to engage in its own blatant fabrication. In order to achieve its ideologically dictated end. For good measure they suggested the weldon law, which does no more than protect against government and build participation, impelled participate in the killing of unborn children might be unconstitutional. A suggestion that is not supported by any federal court decision. In the face of this outrage, paul ryan can speak of the u. S. House of representatives has announced that next week, but on wednesday the house will vote on legislation that would prevent states from requiring Health Care Providers to participate in abortion. This legislation, a conscious protection act, and thats what you need remember, the conscience protection act would prohibit any level of government from mandating that Health Care Providers such as doctors and nurses and also entities such as hospitals and health plans and their clients would be covered. It provides for people who are affected by abortion mandates to file private lawsuits in federal courts so that cooperation of ideologically hostile activists drawing paychecks at the department of hhs would you longer be necessary. This legislation is urgently needed. And agency in new york has already adopted an abortion mandate similar to this california one. Requiring Small Group Employers to cover all kinds of abortion. On the very same day that the Obama Administration gutted the weldon amendment, a court in Washington State ruled that Public Hospitals must provide abortions if they offer maternity care. I urge you to visit the legislative action site on our website, nrlc. Org. From there it is easy to send a letter to your representative. You can put in your zip code and well tell you who your representatives if youre not sure the conscience protection act will be voted on in the u. S. House of representatives suite to make sure you do people contacting their representatives to support this bill. Nobody should be forced to participate in the brutal acts of abortion. Governments should never require doctors, nurses, hospitals, insurance plans or employers who pay for insurance plans to participate in abortion. So please get, do it today if you can, do tomorrow, whenever you get home. Just make sure that your people are letting their representatives and no people have a right to object to killing unborn children, health plans and tax dollars should not be involved. All right. Of which are legislative update right from yesterday. So my remarks, did you know that there is an election this year . Yes, ma surprise. Of course, you did. On the ballot of course theres a lot of attention placed on the president ial race. On everybodys vote will be the chance to vote for president but in 34 states you will have a chance to vote for a United States senator. Also on the ballot in many states will be a chance to vote for governor, attorney general, secretary of state. Everyone will have a chance to vote for a u. S. House of representatives member, and many of you will be voted on state legislative races as well. I want to take a couple of minutes to look at the president ial candidates. Donald trump for many years has said, weve got, of course theres the videotape that he is prochoice and hes been out there publicly saying that. But he wrote in his column earlier this year, and i want to quote, let me be clear. I am prolife. I support a position with exceptions allowed for rape, incest, or the life of the mother being at risk. I did not always hold this position, but i have a significant personal experience that brought the precious gift of life into perspective for me. Know, donald trump has expressed his support for the pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act come has expressed his opposition to taxpayer funding for abortion and Abortion Providers and said that he would appoint prolife judges. Hillary clinton, having been in elected office and just having been around for a very long time, has a much longer record. As a u. S. Senator Hillary Clinton voted 100 against the babies. There was no limit on abortion that she would accept. We had a 12 year battle to ban a particular abortion method, a partialbirth abortion procedure. In this procedure, the abortion grabs the unborn babys legs with forceps and pulls the baby into the birth canal. The abortionist delivers the babys body all but the head. He jams his scissors into the back of the babies had, open to this is to create a holcomb inserts a suction tube, pulls out the brains, the head collapses and then he removes the head from the body of the mother. Horrifying . Absolutely. Gruesome . Definitely. Hillary clinton voted repeatedly to keep that procedure, partialbirth abortion, legal. Thankfully in 2007 the United States Supreme Court banned the procedure and is no longer allowed. More than half of the states have an effect laws that require parents to be notified if their minor daughter is pregnant and considering an abortion. But there are some who think parents should not be involved, shouldnt get to be involved. There was an effort to take minor cross into other states to avoid or circumvent the laws of that state that there to be notified or maybe even have to give their consent before their daughter can kill the grandchild. Congress tried to protect the rights of the parents in saying you cannot take the girl across state lines. But Senate Democrats including Hillary Clinton block those bills. Clinton did not care about your rights as a parent. She apparently has no problem with someone taking your daughter into another state to get an abortion with you not even knowing shes pregnant. Lets look more at her record. Estate jobs Health Insurance program, or schip, is a federal program that provides funds to states primarily so that they may help provide Health Services to children and low income families. In 2002 the Bush Administration issued a regulation giving states the option of covering unborn children under this program. A policy known as the unborn child will. Since this was an administrative rule that could be changed by a future administration, the senate in 2007 how they vote to codify the unborn child rule. The amendment wouldve been explicit language into the schip program to guarantee that a cover child includes at the option of a state the unborn child. Hillary clinton voted no. This woman who wants us to think she cares so much about health care, remember hillary care back in the 90s . Why she didnt think unborn children should get health care or be allowed to be provided under this program. Last year the trend house of representatives voted to pass the pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. They said if an unborn child is developed to the point where he or she can feel pain, abortion should not be about the Hillary Clinton issued a statement saying she opposed the pain capable unborn Child Protection. She thinks its okay to kill babies who develop for a long, far enough along in the pregnancy that they can feel pain. And, of course, Hillary Clinton is planned parenthoods favorite candidate. The nations largest Abortion Provider announced they will spend about 20 million to elect Hillary Clinton and proabortion senators. When bill clinton was president , he said abortion should be safe, legal and rare. Hillary doesnt use that anymore. She just wants the legal. Effect she is not met by restrictions are limits on abortion that she would approve the. She says the unborn childrens no Constitutional Rights right up until the date of birth. In April Chuck Todd on meet the press asked mrs. Clinton, secretary clinton, wind or if does an unborn child have Constitutional Rights . She answered, well, under our laws currently that is not something that exists. The unborn person doesnt have Constitutional Rights. Two days later on the view, paul affairs said second ago i would ask about some comments you made over the weekend on meet the press regarding abortion. You said quote the unborn person doesnt have Constitutional Rights. My question is, at what point does someone have Constitutional Rights . And are you saying that a child on its due date just hours before delivery still has no Constitutional Rights . Clinton responded, under our law that is the case, paula. I support roe v. Wade. When you think Hillary Clinton, think abortion for all nine months for any reason. No limits, no restrictions allowed. Now its not just the president ial candidates that will be on the ballot this fall. Last week the Supreme Court overturned a fifth Circuit Court of appeals ruling on the case out of texas. It was a win for the abortion industry. All excited about this victory is planned parenthood on wednesday nationwide campaign. They will work to reveal prolife laws, passed proabortion laws. They didnt say pro abortion but thats what they are. And enact proabortion laws to pursue litigation to strike down laws they consider to be unjust. I will admit i was a bit amused by that. Im thinking you have not been able to pass prolife laws in most of the states in how many years, and yet all of a sudden you are going to do that . Weve been passing prolife laws in state after state after state for year after year after year. And they think they can waltz into just repeat of them . They dont have the people. They dont have the Popular Support your they have not been electing legislators. You have been electing legislators are you have been passing prolife laws. Its not going to be as easy as they think to challenge this group when you go home and you work with your people and your elected this prolife legislators. Its not going to happen. Good luck to them but it aint going to happen. [applause] that are, i will say there are a handful of states that they have been able to get some other legislation through, that theyve been able to dominate. The way the abortion industry has been able to accomplish what they accomplished is through the courts. Because they are not electing legislators. They are not passing bills. There is one thing in particular that they have a good firm grip on, unfortunately that is california. I just talked about the conscience protection act where california is telling Insurance Companies that they have to cover all abortions. Last year to pass another draconian law. They are telling Pregnancy Resource Centers that when a woman comes into your facility you have to give them information, telling them that the state can provide lowcost prenatal care, Family Planning services and abortion along with a notice that if they want the abortion the state will probably pay for it. Now, can you imagine a state governed telling taco bell that they had to tell customers coming in their door that we serve pepsi products. If you want told you have to go down to the mcdonalds, station on the corner . Telling a honda dealer if someone walks in the door looking at the cars, they have to tell them what they can also go look at ford cars . Pregnancy Resource Centers have a moral objection to telling women what they can go to kill their unborn child. I think this law is horrible. Its in the course and i would intrude you all to be praying that it be overturned. I can see Resource Centers are outnumbered the abortion facilities by three or four to one in this country, giving women choices, giving them options. [applause] the problem is the abortion industry cant stand competition. I would say to them when you only allow one option, you cannot call yourself prochoice. [applause] i am a tremendous admirer of winston churchill. He was the right man in the right place at the right time to quite frankly save the world. If it had not been for his determination and indomitable spirit, we can know how much of the world adolf hitler would have been able to conquer. To express this countrys appreciation, in 1963 president john f. Kennedy made churchill an honorary american citizen. I think welldeserved. But in the book the last lion, defender of the realm, churchill says that hitler was out killing even his teutonic ancestors. And not since the mogul skiing in the 13th century had europe seen such methodical, merciless butchery on such a monstrous scale. We are in the presence come he concluded, the crime without a name. Ive read that and i thought wow, methodical, merciless butchery on such a monstrous scale. We are in the presence of a crime without a name. I know you are all thinking the same thing i was thinking. That is what we are in right now. Methodical, merciless butchery. 1 million unborn children every year killed by abortion, having their arms toward off as the are dismembered, bleeding to death as limbs are torn off. Being scraped out of the uterus with a metal cure it. Been vacuumed or suction out of the uterus. This is merciless and methodic methodical. Except to describe does have a name and it is abortion. We must do everything we can to stop it. About before us is to elect prolife candidates who will continue to pass prolife laws so that we may once again in this country protect our children. Thank you. [applause] thank you, carol. Once again she has given us great things to think about. And now our Political Action Committee Director, karen cross, will begin to talk to us about the battle i had and what we have to do politically. [applause] good morning. Every Election Year brings with it new challenges. And its not an exaggeration to say that this election has been the most unpredictable Election Year of our lifetime. But there do remain constants. Every election prolife leaders take their training from the national right to Life Convention and use it to rally the grassroots troops in preparation for the battle ahead. Every election we encounter those who are so discouraged with how some races are shaping up, that they hide behind their anger and sacrifice their right to vote. And every election we make decisions that will have consequences for good or ill for generations to come. Yes, and politics we always have to be looking forward being watchful and vigilant. In a field that is costly changing but we cant just look to the future. We must also learn from our past. Been ever mindful to not repeat historys mistakes. Its no wonder then that ive always been fascinated by history or reading over the of our country, especially those willing to fight the necessary battles, eating up their lives and their happiness for the opportunity to give us the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness of our own. I often find this selflessness reflected in the Prolife Movement. We dedicate our lives fighting for the rights of people, we will never meet. Making sacrifices so that others might live. As prolifers were constantly on the battle lines are we battled for the hearts and minds of americans. We are on the front lines in a spiritual battle as well. And we find itself battling to keep prolife leadership in the United States house of representatives and the u. S. Senate so that we can pass protective prolife legislation that saves lives. We hold these truths to be selfevident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. How many times have we heard these words . Too many of us have become nonto the profound history behind them. We forget that these words represented a truly radical idea of the time. They fought on the front lines of history, incapable of knowing the Ripple Effect their efforts would have on future lives. But then you that these ideas, life, liberty, were worth fighting for. Each time you enter the voting booth, you have a Ripple Effect that will impact the entire country. You will be electing senators and representatives who will determine the direction of our nation and will decide the next members of our Supreme Court. You will be electing local representatives who will decide whether your state represents respects life or passes laws that permit on the vulnerable. Those local representative of wo mutilate they eventually run for Higher Office and so the cycle continues. Each vote we cast, or do not cast, will have consequences. You may be tired of hearing be so each election is the most important weve ever seen, but with each election comes new opportunities, new dangers and fresh faces. Each election is a chance to protect mothers and their unborn children. At each election, i will sound the call for you to take out your arms and work for political leaders who will represent all of us, born and unborn. The freedom to vote and the opportunity to have an impact of this magnitude is a great responsibility we all bear it as a look to the upcoming Supreme Court nominations, perhaps the greatest responsibility we in the political field have right now is to ensure we have a Prolife Senate that will confirm prolife nominees and block judges who would entrench roe v. Wade. There are a lot of races we would need to work on to college this but i know that armed with this information you will go back to your communities and rally the necessary troops to see this through. As we discuss the senate races ill be talking a lot about the nations largest Abortion Provider, planned parenthood. And the extreme proabortion active only works for democrat women who support abortion for any reason, emilys list. But i dont like repeating myself someone to give you your first and easiest task in the upcoming battle so you need to wake up because i need your help. When i say planned parenthood, you say the nations largest Abortion Provider. Good job. Next, when i say emilys list, you say the extreme proabortion pac. Got. So this year the are 34 u. S. Senate seats up for election. I think we need to go to the next slide. 10 democrat seats and 24 republican seats. All of the democrats up for reelection are proabortion. According to Cook Political Report eight of the 10 seats are currently safe while 13 of the 20 for concedes are actually affordable. Democrats need a net gain of five seats to regain control of the senate, or for if they win the white house. In order to maintain prolife leadership we cannot afford to lose any prolife senators in 2016. And the Senate Elections will be tough. Please do not fall into the trap of thinking that if you dont live in one of those tossup states, that this election does not affect you. Remember, we are all in this together. We need to support each other regardless of our location. If you are nowhere near a raise, find out how you can support your colleagues via social media. Reached out to your friends and family who may live in different locations. Never stop looking for an opportunity to make a difference. We are all responsible for these races and for the future of our country. So with an eye towards how you can make an impact in the battle before us, lets review the most pressing senate races we face in november. Just last month many of us breathe a sigh of relief when the lights in the marco rubio announced he will run for a second term in the senate. Senator obey has voted prolife on every occasion. [applause] following the august 30 primary, rubios the but will likely be either proabortion represented alan grayson are proabortion representative patrick murphy, who is so extreme on the life issue he even voted against the bill to care for babies who are born alive during an abortion. And he voted to continue funding planned parenthood. The nations largest Abortion Provider. Prolife congressman joe heck will face the abortion for attorney general Patrick Cortez for nevadas open secret congressman heck voted for the painCapable Unborn Child Protection Act and he voted to defund planned parenthood. The nations largest Abortion Provider speak in contrast cortez is supported by prochoice america. And emilys list. Proabortion back spent in New Hampshire prolife senator kelly ayotte who has a 100 prolife voting record is being challenged by proabortion governor maggie hassan, another candidate supported by emilys list. The extreme proabortion pac spent in ohio prolife senator rob portman is facing a challenge by former proabortion governor ted strickland. Portman has a 100 prolife voting record while strickland had a dismal voting record in Congress Voting against the prolife position nearly 80 of the time over a 10 year span. Strickland has been endorsed by planned parenthood. The nations largest Abortion Provider. In pennsylvania prolife senator pat toomey is facing a challenge by katie mcginty, another candidate from emilys list. The extreme proabortion pac spent in wisconsin prolife senator ron johnson faces proabortion former senator russ feingold. Senator johnson has a 100 prolife voting record. And contrast, former senator feingold supports the current policy of abortion on a minute and vote against the partialbirth abortion ban every chance he had. And is endorsed by planned parenthood. The nations largest Abortion Provider. North carolina prolife senator robert byrd is facing a child by former assemblywoman deborah ross, a candidate supported by emilys list. The extreme proabortion back. In arizona congresswoman and kirkpatrick, a candidate from emilys list the nations largest speed and the extreme proabortion back is a challenging prolife senator john mccain. Senator mccains prolife record contrast greatly with kirkpatricks, who voted against the pain capable legislation and voted to fund planned parenthood. The nations largest Abortion Provider. Prolife El Paso County commissioner daryl glenn is challenging proabortion senator Michael Bennet in Colorado Senate race. Michael bennet voted against the pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act and has been awarded a 100 lifetime rating by planned parenthood. The nations largest Abortion Provider speare spent prolife congressman todd young will face former congressman aaron hill for indianas open senate seat. Todd young has a 100 prolife voting record while baron hill has a mixed record on abortion. Including votes to continue funding planned parenthood. And planned parenthood. The nations largest Abortion Provider. Good job. [applause] as you can see there is a lot at stake for babies and their moms in the senate in 2016. If you look at the screen you will see the current list of competitive house races democrats need a net gain of only 30 seats to take a proabortion control at the u. S. House of representatives. The control of the house and the senate will have sweeping implications for the future of the Prolife Movement. The loss of a prolife republican majority would be devastated to life issues. I began this morning by talking of the importance of reflecting upon where we have spent so was not to repeat the mistakes of the past. A radical idea of the 1700s that we have the equal right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness carries us through our actions today. But today we make history of our own. Today we make choices for future generations to reflect upon. Will they look back at 300 years of our choices to stay silent in the face of evil . Or admire our diligence for the week and the vulnerable . Will they wonder why we didnt do more . Now. They want to. They will not. The last one is off the table. We will do all we can. [applause] we will fight with our last breath for those who cannot speak for themselves. As long as there is of violence of the injustice of abortion there will be those who stand against it. And work to protect all of our unborn brothers and sisters. Abortion is the ultimate human discrimination and we will not stay silent. [applause] than to remain silent and indifferent there are soldiers and every soldier needs their marching orders. These are theres. Do not stay silent. If do not be discouraged. Do not let fear or allow freer to guide your steps the stakes are too important an ever every voice will be needed. We must hold the senate. You must hold the senate. If you leave here today and do nothing, we will fail. You must take this information and reenergize the troops at home who were not able to join us today. When the grass roots march is one we will succeed in with our success will, a culture that makes good on the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. For all. [applause] and now a, of a like to present to you for the next beach, i hesitated for a moment because he gives us information with a slide show also. And as many of you know, he was a professor of mathematics and understands the figures and they are very important to west to tell us how they could succeed in what is happening [applause] pour it is god who works as a will to do that you shined the light in the World Holding forth a the world of life though world of life. Holding forth the word of life. Those words were written almost 213 years ago had after the described, as spoken to end spoken about many good men and women who fight against evil. Certainly there are no people today that more aptly described that speak to and speak about the and you. Shining light in the world with the word of life and you have had success with the challenges facing right now but lets reflect on what you have done. There are 600,000 fewer babies killed today a new leak in the United States banned at the height of the abortion epidemic. [applause] think of the blessings you have how many people have actually saved a life . Through your work and sacrifice you are saving lives. Today when you go home despite the administration raid against us in the billion dollar per year Abortion Corporation planned parenthood against us, were continuing to make progress. More states base and dismemberment abortion. [applause] to more states stop abortion when the baby could feel pain. [applause] the pro Abortion Forces are reveling in the victory at the Supreme Court and they are energized than planned to move forward. They hide behind a judges not legislators. They can think what they wanted what they are overjoyed about this says something about proabortion they want the right to operate clinics so shabby it cannot meet the standards of other Surgical Centers they want the right to have socalled doctor setter so bad they cannot get privileges in the hospital. What a great victory we can share these clinics with the worst doctors that is the proabortion movement. They are so energized they think they will defeat us this year because they believe there should be more abortion clinics in more abortions that is not as rare as it should be the Hillary Clinton is not happy i hope he is happy were trying to do it they mention taking away that Hyde Amendment and we want to talk about that. They think they will use your tax dollars to pay for abortion, planned parenthood is already getting hundreds of thousands of your tax dollars a newly anyway. But they want that directly to pay for abortion. We will stop them. It is no accident the Prolife Movement can pass this legislation because of those ive had the pleasure to meet with they have never ever had the American People for what they stand for unfettered abortion on demand for any reason using tax dollars to pay for that they dont have it today it is no accident the house of representatives which is the most representative bridge of the federal government year in a and year out had a prolife majority. And now those that were here before this was a poll just released by gallup. He think they should be illegal an allout all circumstances . Or under any circumstance . Notice 56 percent believes how should only be allowed in a few circumstances but only 29 percent but not our pulled up in expose shows we essentially the same results and i can show you several to validate the first. Again, a 54 think abortion should always be legal only in a few circumstances only 29 percent agrees with the position of planned parenthood. With respect to the abortion issue would you consider yourself to be prochoice or prolife . All of these labels there is parity between prolife dash prochoice position. This gallup poll shows 46 percent adopting the label prolife how the others prochoice but many prochoice dont know what though label means according to planned parenthood. On the next line we see 57 percent of the population believes abortion should be permitted to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest. Only 20 percent of the population will allow abortion after the first three months of pregnancy and 24 percent of the population would allow in the first three months. So you find among prochoice 44 would only allow abortion in the first four months of pregnancy meaning they would support the unborn Child Protection act. Remember the candidates running with emilys list or planned parenthood they have to pledge. They keep a lock on them just like this they have to pledge in favor of dismemberment abortions for the babies torn apart form by arm and leg by make. They have to pledge to use your tax dollars to pay for abortions and according to this 32 agrees with that position so it is important youre prolife candidate not allow the selection to be decided of labels to make sure that people understand that their opponent is so extreme that they believe in abortion for any reason and it is perfectly okay to kill a kid who fears that paid by pulling off its arms and legs while alive and use our tax dollars to pay for it. That is a planned parenthood position so it is important the prolife candidate articulate that in on the question of using tax dollars for abortion if they want to make that the Campaign Issue this year, bringing on. 49 of the prochoice oppose using tax dollars to pay for abortions lets make that the issue this year. The gallup poll i asked does a candidate have to agree with your position . Twenty of the population says the candidate must share their view on abortion. 49 say is important. I will look just at the hard prolife single issue voter 20 percent of all respondents say the candidate must agree with their position on abortion, a 23 of prolife is 70 percent of prochoice. If you do the math, the percentage of prolife against those who selfie identify as prolife this is the same poll, you find ted and a half percent are prolife they have to agree with their position on abortion and 8 percent say they are prochoice and they have to agree with their position that gives 2. 5 so that is consistent with what we have had in past elections going back to 1994 i have told you before if the candidate will lose by six or nine points that cannot put them over the top but most are won by a point or to end if we have the resources we need the billion dollars or the 20 million but if we have the resources to reach prolife we can provide a hard edges tour three points we had the election after election after election and that is what we will need. I will show you where we stand with the tough senate races i will show to the closest. Remember we have more of the good guys and the others this time. In arizona showing between two and nine points. This is one before senator rubio came in weve had people since then this is pitting him against to be leading for the democratic nomination congressman gray said may win this and we would do better against him but rubio and murphy is leading by one. In iowa grassley is ahead by seven and the head by one you cannot take this for granted. In New Hampshire, four of the polls he is winning by two and losing of the two it is a tough race. With two or three points will make the difference in New Hampshire. North carolina. Always competitive we usually win and we usually have to do everything. We were ahead in the last three polls now it is by 1. In ohio can you get any closer . Vera up by one in down by one and tied that big expensive state. Pennsylvania. The last three polls up by one. Up by one. Up by one which is all within the margin of their. In response to we are trailing against someone who voted every chance he had in favor of police and children and out of the boom alive and stabbing them in the head and suctioning al their brains and a partial birth abortion. In every election between 2004 and 2014 the national right to life when we ask the whole population if you heard anything from national right to life did you get a piece of mail or literature . Over 20 percent of the population said they heard from national right to life we didnt have 20 million to do that. We have to produce that began. We have to have some resources and we dont have 4 million. That this has been the toughest year for the political fundraising it has been topsyturvy and those that would normally dont. It has been discouraging to some people. We have to have the resources to do it leads you please pass the plate would you please contribute anything you can . I know it costs to come. But think of your expendable funds. Write the largest tin checking k and to the right to life to make a cash contribution right now to support our activities. We are, and i think i hope i have people passing baskets baskets, whatever you can donate. As large as you can, of whatever you can. Give us a note to give you a call. Anything you can give because we are short we have to get to that prolife increment. What ever you can do. Then i want you to do Something Else. Prolife victory 2016. Com i not only want you to go there and donate coming anytime you feel moved between now and the election, but how many if you are on facebook . How many are on twitter . Email . Friends . [laughter] i hear these people say i have 2,000 friends i have 1,000 friends i think i have three. I have 15 or 60. [laughter] but you can do this if you put this on your Facebook Page and ask your friends to donate and ask them to put an arm theres a and you can do that. That is a few clicks. Tweet this out and say to the prolife candidates kine email to your friends . Everybody here can reach thousands of people so please do that to help us we will ask you to help pass out prolife literature and ask you to speak with a tremendous challenge in front of us and we are not guaranteed we will have every victory this year we have done far more than the pro abortionist ever thought we would i was teaching at a college in minnesota in there was a biology professor that i would debate and much better debater than i was but i remember clearly him telling me after one debate you know, you have lost this is over. In just a few years it is settled well thank god he was wrong. [applause] in thank god for everything you do and to make your life shining brilliantly major word of life occurred strongly and clearly in november. [applause] i have never been prouder as we have a great job to present doorcase go forth and take of the forces i want to say of evil. [laughter] and they think they are evil because i cant imagine a greater evil in the world the and killing a helpless little baby you have a great job go forth in do it. [applause] talking about the documentary on the life of the american businessman and philanthropist that is best known as part owner and a leader of Sears Roebuck. Tonight Summer Reading packs with Patricia Bell scott and the struggle for social justice the news from capitol hill as a representative in vienna became the first republican in congress to vote for Hillary Clinton for president. He is retiring at the end of the congress harshly criticized donald trump and convincing women to vote for the democratic nomination. Trumpets the embarrassment while i disagree with her on many issues i will vote for her is not simply be enough and they cannot leave the country. Next a portion on washington journal we will show you as much as we can until the start of the Voter Participation in event. Good mo. Ho also an author of theguest book could according. What position does this take and what is your rolethis is owl specifically . I am one of two Senior Editors this is owned by a town Hall Media Group so were in a forprofit area we make what we learned and what we hope is a rational approach to conservatism and basically whatever strikes our fancy. Nto id as we banter back and forth. Hotair and with the politics of the day. So with your colleagues and donald trump be the republican nominee . Good question. There is a slightly different approach that Larry Oconnor embraces donald trump and is very skeptical in he is looking for a good news articles. As far as the skepticism what are you skeptical about . Cry and skeptical exactly how he is to supporting republican ideals orru conservative ideals. He has been in the business of donald trump for a very long time he is a great transactional person in whatever benefit that is where he will go in and we have seen some of that on the campaign trail responding to personal criticisms he forgets he is running for president in he focuses on these attackdamage. I am sthat doesnt benefit the party i am to fully really n implement but really i think he is justin this for himself. Host we had 70 initiall people why did we end up with donald trump . That is a very good question i have all sorts of different answers for that. Poli. But the American People are disappointed by traditional politics it with both parties my use of Bernie Sanders do so well and that dynamic that people dont trust from either party and dirty sanders is an outsider. Mp he was a democrat before he ran for a the presidency donald trump had a brief foray now decides to jump in with both feet i think they were looking for destructors and massive change. With the Republican Party they got the nominee that does that and almost with the Democratic Party. Th host you talk about how you reach out to people with these voters to make these changes but what is your take on that . What message to deliver . I take it is less about the message but it is more about getting to know people at the ground level this is something barack obama did very well and it carried him in 2012. You have to do what republicans are doing successfully at the state legislative and congressional level to have a campaign in gauging people in the communities with eachch of the different issues and without broader agenda so as day understand why voting for republicans would make their lives better are voting for a conservativee their lives specifically in barack obama was very good doing that on the progressive side. Republicans have stuck with the 30,000 ft the onesizefitsall messaging that doesnt make want people especially with the swing voters and to demonstrate why they keep putting in these counties. Talking about these issues also the Senior Editor of hot air. Com the web site you can find post from his and his colleagues. Handled this issue but the way that donald trump has handled this with mr. Khan does is to longterm impact . I think a lot of independents have gone bankrupt to make predictions of Donald Trumps campaign so i will not go that far but i dont think there is any upside theyve made a very impassioned in very critical speech of donald speech trump at the Democratic National convention but them onl anybody who has decent political instincts wouldp have understood italy list them up that is the whole point that you dont go after people who are your opponent or political or the opposite political party. And that is exactly what he did. Urnd and it is a powerful story but he turn this into a five or six day story set everybody talks out donald trump is going after the parents of a u. S. Army officer who died. Items see any upside to that whatsoever the Washington Examiner has said he hasnt mentioned that he is dropping bad idea from his stump speech and not realizing it is a bad idea but this is what i was talking about earlier donald trump is about donald trump he has to respond to a matter with the criticism comes from and whether or not it helps about this is another example. Host you are on with our guest goahead. Caller good morning i tell you i am truly an independent and every time i want to vote republican in something that comes out of that i just cannot do that. Wh donald trott is from new york he has a big mouth that is fine but his followerss amai that they will not accept anything but a label called her a liar to the family whod died in war. But those that follow him it is mindboggling. Sed for where e we would believe anything anybody says and i am solk aboue embarrassed just to talk about bill whole thing with russia honestly they want him to win. But people need to look at the big picture. That is a war we were not prepared for. Host we have got it. Theres that is the great call. One is the called the personality republicans are complaining about this is in 2008 with Barack Obamas well. There is videos of people seeking songs and any criticism was a prime facia h case of racism on the right so with cuts both ways but i agree it is a problem. That cult of personality talking to this is what i am going after you counter that to towards themselves. Nderstand their politicians are Office Seekers and are more in tune to people than to themselves. Merican politics and that cult of personality is in american politics and they always will that is the verge of unity but what we are talking about is the small slice of donald trump they just happened to be vocal and the most interesting on television or media. So it may be little less of an issue. That issue about russia you have donald trump and Hillary Clinton have ties to russia go back to when sheru was secretary of state read russia control the good deal of the radium and giving speeches to the banks involved at 500,000. I would say putin is looking at this at either one of the two candidates. Am f i am not as worried about voting with putin as a policy here in the unitedin states. Host up next the independent line. Caller good morning. Mr. Trump said bill clinton signed nafta. That is true but reagan and bush that push that to the goal line. This is strictly a republican idea so why is this candidate trashing that . I dont understand. Guest first, bill clinton was a fan of after he endorsed it and a lot of democrats did as well because free trade has a pretty strong history ofso both parties but also on thehe Democratic Party and the nafta is a net positive for the United States. Been a lot of america while that this is theg to lift problem the american policy makers if they were hurt byvastf a United States be taken by the vast majority of americans who work there. That is the idea to drive that populist fervor and has been coming for some time. Partio since you have that coming along youll have politicians from both parties responding donald trump found that very early he was talking about this for years ago and did it very early in his message really spoke to those who felt left out of the economic benefit from free trade that is the reason why donald trump is talking about it, Bernie Sanders you dont hear Hillary Clinton talking too much because her husband signed nafta and she structure the Trans Pacific partnership that treaty in the pacific that has been such a controversy now with the democratic and Republican Party as well. Reetrd ther so you have a tradition of both parties and they are finally starting to respond to those that say we are mind out. Host regardless of donald trump with a sword not if you have that mindset is that hard to change . Will we see that in the next cycle with . The policymakers to address those issues are find ways to spread the prosperity out in the regions that have been hurt by free trade then this will continue to bubble up and expand and people will start demanding different trade policies as they already have been as he saw at the Democratic National convention achad all linkups science of the delicate floor there is a lot of people that are very unhappy about the idea of tpp andave sha ne freetrade even though economists have shown it is a net positive for the United States. Host the republican line good morning. Caller the bottom line is if they have such had big electorate obviously it 2006 it was obvious progress was taken over we would have an incredible amount of restrictions put on us and everything started to go downhill people do not understand all the nafta deals have a caveat that should be revisited nobody checks to see if theyre working or not the end then they go ahead to make it look like nothing like a child protecting us but they are not the only people in the world for ago but they use this, democrats used this then the press runs with it. Shows you in the administration and by bush shows you what we get. This is what we get when they run amok. New regulation salah unwanted hands and nots then we have to pay for this with 16,000 new regulations that are beating the daylights out of thehe Business Owners and bus workers that is why we want tromp for finally somebody to stay and fight back that were getting the heck beat out of us here in the real world. Guest that is a great call. Exactly where i am talking about. Left. That same passion and driving the Bernie Sanders miste movement on the left. Refer to vr i stated is a mistake to refer to voters as an educated because they donte ary feel they need to be obsessed with politics. Am looking at these great detail as they watch out for his interest in what im going around to the different communities i heard this over and over again i want somebody who wants to get rid of the idea there are things that need to be fixed the rate to start fixing things thatwa people are perceived as an obstructionist the what w things to work great but not what people telling them how to live. For the conservative message to come through to make those emotional connections but the republican president ial candidates dont make that effort. But obviously he may be able to fill the gap that way. You does Donald Trumpto demonstrate to you movingg forward as they pull together to get elected . I am not sure that hurts donald trump of the republican establishment is critical that may not hurt him but i think what it does show is it anticipated some of this but a target thats is useless to donald trump it opens up the gap of that apparatus but i see that fat is the net positive he didnt need to have thatmaker, a fight. Host mr. Morrissey there is a story today that the Republican House out of new york stated he will vote for Hillary Clinton. Yes. So in some level. Guest im sorry a member of the house . Yesterday you saw Sarah Bradshaw who is a republican sag she activist as successful gubernatorial campaigns im sorry it is sally bradshaw. Ey ad but to find democrats they think those stories will bubble up as well. I think there is a certain have expectation of people who were involved in the process and they dont see donald trump is having that and that is what concerns them then you would expect that to see that that you dont pick fights that you dont need to pick of the third zero or fourth level that is what is worrisome. Host to use the you will see more depth or items and more specific to be talked about . So bad is a decision that there was just talking about. He is policy rich. He ended up addressing there. Economy to say anybody can stand up to say anything sacrifr about politics and then do change the subject is so ready brings that policyf yo depth. Joining us from the website hot air he is the Senior Editor mr. Morrissey mr. Morrissey, now the democratic line from california. Caller mr. Norris a i would like to get your opinion but we will focus on the staff and also a retired colonel. And the opinion of mr. Trump is that he is out to destroy the Republican Party and is to begin by pulling back the curtain of the dark black core of the republican d party. And i am a democrat now but and i have to tell you more conservativism than the Democratic Party these days. But more specifically what is your opinion on that idea . By the way i dont believe that anything donald trump says. Is just to destroy the Republican Party. Is great to hear from california. I think that is way too ish. He has his groupies it really is that simple. St in to be shot at the republicans but i think that is over thinking things. Both parties have theirand repua extremes and republicans and conservatived libertarians ever since i can vote and a conservative ever since i can vote. If i thought that i would take a look at that that is the best vehicle. So we but it is conservative fills a just one eye number of factors rigo launder have the leadership in that is because the conservatives got complacent and to make a better argument we have to get on the ground to build that support. Ic and greg Bernie Sanders it is ve a cheaper plan donald trump is pretty straightforward that is pretty simple. Talk about what type of content that you find. I contribute about 70 posts per day. Ent things. Were also doing other issues videos of twice a week the yestreen talkshowmorea but it is entertaining sought we have a very diverse perspective. Caller good morning. What is it that a conservative is trying to conserve . Guest that is a true it is a good question. [laughter] conservatives there try to conserve traditional familyertyr first of the social structure they are trying to conserve individual liberties rather than of the collective action and find that original intent from the United States constitution. T there are those that can do this much better that is at the heart of the conservatives of those liberties in those traditional social structures. We are here today as religious leaders to launch a historic voting effort called together we vote. We are here with Pico National Network and her allies and partners to announce to you a national multiracial multiphase of education and turnout effort that focus on racial justice. We are here as religious leaders not only to speak out but to speak with. We will tell you today about all of the conversation were going to have you with voters across the country. We will be talking to over 1 million voters in conversations with people that regularly been bypassed by conventions and parties and candidates. We are going to turning out hundreds of thousands of voters in key swing states including florida, colorado, ohio, indiana, pennsylvania. We are doing that because we wanted to create, lay the groundwork p