Hearing. [inaudible conversations] this hearing is open, and ask as you know and as you know, my name is richard blumenthal, im senator from connecticut, and i am here, regretfully, in place of chairman rockefeller who has an urgent intel, intelligence matter and, therefore, could not be with us at the opening. I dont think hell be able to join us, but his absence is in no way a sign of any lack of interest in this subject. In fact, ive talked to him in some detail about this hearing, and i know that he would be here if he could be. I want to welcome all of our panel here and all of the folks who are attending. This subject is one very, very close to my heart as a former attorney general for a couple of decades in connecticut. I had First Experience with cramming, both wireless and land line, and worked with at least one of the members of this panel, attorney general sir rell, and ill be introducing him in just a moment. As many of you know, the telephone industry decided to get into t
Electricity generation already and we hope to build on the progress that is currently going on and frankly has been going on for years at the state and local level. States are already participating in their own market based programs to cut pollution. From carbon. I should make sure that everybody says when i mean carbon, it means more than 35 states have clean energy targets. More than 25 have already set Energy Efficiency goals and have cut their energy waste and over 1000 mayors across the country have signed agreements to cut Carbon Pollution. Clearly, states and local communities are doing their jobs as incubators of innovation leading the way to cleaner, more affordable, more sustainable energy. Fighting Climate Change makes Good Business sense. Thats worth repeating. Climate change just makes Good Business sense. As the president has pointed out, more than 500 businesses, including gm and nike, called this and i quote, one of the greatest opportunities of the 21st century. So we
The socalled direct Carrier Billing method of payment could benefit unbanked customers. And other people looking for an alternative way to shop or make a charity contribution. But the reality of thirdparty charges on telephone bills is a different story. A profoundly different tale and it hasnt lived up to its potential. As soon as the phone Company Opened up outside scammers found a way to scam the system. They have added charges to peoples bill and are relentless in doing so. Many dont understand, including colleag colleagues, that their phone bill have charges for things they never bought. And they are paying for things they never bought. And it is an unwelcome surprise to them especially when they discover that they have trouble they turned their attention to the market was purchasing through the text message service. The Commerce Committee staff and i really want to thank them for their work has prepared a new report documenting how crammers exploited the weakness in the premium m
Community. During my years as and americorps vista at the Los Angeles Free clinic i realize that where a child eats, sleeps, place, and goes to school profoundly impact self. I felt the gravity of poverty. I learned the power of resilience. My experience fundamentally changed me. I am now a pediatrician at uc s f Childrens Hospital oakland. [applause] i served a love. Twenty years ago i took a place to make our communities safer, smarter, and healthier. I carry this place with me every day. S. Americorps we elevate our nation by being an indispensable force club promoting resilience in the face of adversity. Together we strengthen american. As americorps and americorps alums we get things done. [applause] my experience and that of nearly 900,000 fellow americans would not have been possible without the wisdom of vision, and perseverance of president bill clinton. [applause] our nation is so grateful for his lead. It is my extraordinary honor to introduce the inspirational president bil
Alleviate overcrowded prisons and address racism in the Justice System. As we come together, we need to discuss although incarceration has a significant role to play in our Justice System, it can be ineffective and unsustainable. It poses a significant uneconomic burden. It comes with human and moral costs that are impossible to calculate. Michael the attorney general. The defendants with drug charges but no ties to large scale drugs organizations will be able to hold draconian mandatory minimum sentences. Eric holder comes after one month after 1,000 inmates in california initiated a Hunger Strike to protest conditions there. They said, quote, overcrowded prison versus been increasingly president bush. In 1978 the u. S. Held over just 300,000 prisoners. In 2009 we reached a high of 716 million prisoners. That is an 800 increase. Crime has not increased by prison incarceration has. The u. S. Holds 25 of the worlds prisoners even though we only have 5 of the worlds population. This morn