Lehrer good evening from the university of miami Convocation Center in coral gables, florida. Im jim lehrer of the newshour on pbs. And i welcome you to the first of the 2004 president ial debates between president george w. Bush, the republican nominee, and senator john kerry, the democratic nominee. These debates are sponsored by the commission on president ial debates. Tonights will last 90 minutes, following detailed rules of engagement worked out by representatives of the candidates. I have agreed to enforce their rules on them. The umbrella topic is Foreign Policy and Homeland Security, but the specific subjects were chosen by me, the questions were composed by me, the candidates have not been told what they are, nor has anyone else. For each question there can only be a twominute response, a 90 second rebuttal and, at my discretion, a discussion extension of one minute. A green light will come on when 30 seconds remain in any given answer, yellow at 15, red at five seconds, and
Good evening mister president saturday carry. First president goes to senator kennedy. You have two minutes. Do you believe you can do a better job than president bush and preventing another 9 11 terrorist attack on the United States . Yes i do. But before i answer further let me thank you for moderating, i want to thank the university of miami for hosting us and i know the president will join me in welcoming all of florida for all of this debate. Youve been through the roughest weeks it anyone can imagine, our hearts go out to you and we admire your pluck and perseverance. I can make american safer than president bushes made say made us, and i believe president bush and i both love our country equally, but we just have a different set of evictions convictions on how you make america safe. I believe america is safest and strongest when we are leading the world and leading strong alliances. Ill never give a veto to any country over our security but i also know how to lead those alliance
Of direct payments for Contact Tracing. House democrats move forward after negotiations with the white house failed to produce a compromise. Floor debate before the final vote. Lowey, is recognized. Mrs. Lowey im pleased to yield five minutes to the distinguished gentleman from massachusetts, from my class, the chair of the committee on ways and means, mr. Neal. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts, chairman neal is recognized. Ms. Neal thank you, madam chairwoman. I stand in support of the updated heroes act. The previous gentleman was dismissive of the idea that there is some import to this moment in terms of getting a package done. So that means expanding Unemployment Insurance, thats not important . Unemployment insurance that we might consider now which is part of the need of the American Family . A reminder, there are 26 million americans right now collecting Unemployment Insurance. Let me put this in terms of what an economist might say. If we dont expand Une
This includes the National Fish Habitat Conservation through partnerships provision, a bill i championed. This title establishes a National Fish habitat board that supports a successful Publicprivate Partnership to restore fish habitat. I would like to thank the Ranking Member of the Natural Resources committee, rob bishop, and the Ranking Member of the subcommittee on water, oceans and wildlife, tom mcclintock. I would also like to to thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for their ceaseless effort and commitment to making sure we do everything we can to conserve prork tect and enhance the resources that we are in charge of taking care of. I look forward to continuing to advance other important provisions, but this bill hopefully will be on its way to the president s desk. As cochair of the Chesapeake Bay watershed task force i would specifically like to act modge my friends an colleagues in the bay delegation who labored so hard for so long to help clean up our great Che
The vote 11 40 eastern, a final vote around 1 30 this afternoon. Now, live coverage of the u. S. Senate here on cspan2. The chaplain lord god, in these difficult and challenging times, remind us that the earth belongs to you, and you have not abandoned it unite us with the understanding that you are our father, and we are all members of the human family. We pray for all who have been impacted by the pain of this us to crisis season. Use our senators to make the weak strong, the sick healthy, and the broken whole. Lord, surround those who have been shaken by anguish with your divine presence and peace. We pray in your loving name. Amen. The presiding officer please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The presiding officer the clerk will read a communication to the senate. The clerk washington, d. C. , jun