Watch booktv this weekend on cspan2. President biden has picked Denis Mcdonough to head the Veterans Affairs department. He previously served as white house chief of staff during the last four years of the obama presidency. His confirmation hearing he was asked about veterans access to healthcare, modernization efforts in the das responds to covid19. This is just over two hours. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] i i want to call this evening to order. I want to welcome everybody. I appreciate all that are here, all those that are online. The purpose of this hearing is due from the i president s nominate to serve as secretary of Veterans Affairs, Denis Mcdonough. Before i talk about him i just want to say i appreciate this committee all the reasons we sat on this committee thats been bipartisan and its been nonpolitical, and we tried to do the best by our veterans whether you are the republican side for the democratic side of the aisle. I particularly appreciate the re
Of land with locations in every state. More than 325 Million People visited these sites last year. Over the next 90 minutes, well feature a mixture of Natural Beauty and history at eight different parks around the country. We begin outside of cleveland. Well learn how the canal plays a major role in western expansion. The ohio canal is part of a twocanal system that was put in place in the early years of america, built between 1825 and 1832. And basically its a water transportation route that connected lake erie with the ohio river which is part of a large idea, a National Water transportation route. In the early days of america, we had 13 colonies all situated along the atlantic seaboard. And our leaders at that time saw a problem. That problem was we needed that country to expand westward. However, there was a big obstacle. The appalachian mountains. Our first president , george washington, happened to be a canal engineer, had an idea. That idea was to create a transcontinental water
Get us into even more trouble. The Washington Post reporting, quote, as daily covid19 deaths climb to levels not seen since early in the pandemic, nine states have hit one more grim marker. More than one in every 1,000 people dead of coronavirusrelated causes. On friday south dakota became the latest state to reach that unwanted marker, including new york, new jersey, and neighboring north dakota which currently has the highest covid Mortality Rate in the world. Its Early Morning here outside the badlands region of south dakota. Were traveling to key locations across the country, areas that have been hard hit by the coronavirus, even before the arrival of covid19 Native Americans had the countrys lowest life expectancy. Now south dakota is reporting some of the highest deaths per capita. Residents are fighting for their very lives. With a Positivity Rate of 24 , south dakota and neighboring north dakota have the highest incidence of covid19 cases nationwide over the past week, a stark
There are more than 400 National Parks across america covering over 85 million acres of land with locations at every state. More than 325 Million People visited the sites last year. Over the next 90 minutes we will feature a mixture of Natural Beauty and history at eight different parks around the country. We begin just outside cleveland at Cayuga National park. Situated a along the river will learn how the canal system here plays a role in the expansion during the 18 thirties and forties. The ohio eerie canal is part of the two canal system. That was actually put in place in the early years of america, built between 1825 and 1832, and basically its a water transportation route that connected lake erie with the ohio river, which is part of a larger idea. A National Water transportation route. In the early days of america, we had 13 colonies also tweeted right along the atlanta seaboard. And our leaders at the time saw a problem. That problem was we needed the country to expand westward
Wildfire year response and Recovery Efforts will come to order. Thank you for joining with the deputy chief for forestry at usda. After brief opening remarks, the hearing will open to questions. Members will be recognized in order of seniority, alternating between the majority and minority members. When you are recognized, youll be asked to unmute your microphone, and youll have five minutes to ask your question and or make a comment. In order to get as many questions as possible, the timer will stay consistently visible on your screen. Thank you for joining us here today in washington and online. For this critical hearing on the wildfires ravaging the western United States. We have all seen the footage from california, oregon and washington. It is surreal, and it is terrifying. I want to talk today about what we can do to meet the needs and face the challenges presented by this unprecedented wildfire season out west and elsewhere. Deputy chief phipps, thank you for joining us today an