Ms. Sanders good afternoon. I would like to start by saying the president and all of us at the white house were thrilled to see scott congressmans the least back on the floor today. Our thoughts and prayers have been with him and his family for many weeks now, and we will continue to root for him as he makes a full recovery. Today, the president actively engaged in the Recovery Efforts in puerto rico. He received an update from the femur at the fema administrator. The full weight of the United States government is engaged to ensure food, water, health care, and other white saving resources are making its way to the people who need it. The president waved the jones act. This ensures that resources make it to the islands, but we will focus on the challenge of distributing those resources. Challenges. Esents government relief workers are there, including 7200 troops on the island working tirelessly to get people what they need. We have prioritized lifesaving resources to hospital, and can
Being here. On the jones act, critics say the white house should have moved forward quickly in waiving the jones act. Why is that an unfounded complaint . Mr. Bossart it is an unfounded complaint. The jones act is a rule that favors u. S. Flag vessels. If there are not enough to make the need, we waive the jones act. At this point, we had enough to exceed the requirement in need of diesel fuel and other commodities. Now we are seeing backlogged diesel fuel needs in the island. It was misunderstood that we had a capacity problem and had to waive the jones act. Not the case. We had commodities as necessary, the challenge became landbased distribution. That remains a priority today. Last night, the governor called me and said to ensure that the Additional Needs are met, it would be good to pull out all the stops to make sure that capacity ran into the problem. President waived it right away. It was not too late or too early. Reporter at this point, distribution is one of the biggest chall
For sessions he did ask our written opinion and we submitted that to him, it did represent any change in either one of our opinion as rosenstein uty indicated, i believe. Asked to provide it and we did. Enator did the president ever mention to you his concern about russia the cloud on the investigation . A. G. Sessions that calls for a had with the ive resident and i believe remains confidential. Senator but you dont deny there was a communication . Do not confirm or deny existence of any ommunication between the president that i consider to be confidential. Did you first speak with the president about what director comey, date . A. G. Sessions i think that is lso covered by my opening statement, i believe the president had the right and i a duty to meet with him on proper occasions and provide advice, legal or otherwise as im called upon to do. Have done that and i believe he has a right to protect that until ntiality appropriate circumstances exist to wavemight not choose that privil
Hello, everyone. Good morning. Im a congressional reporter with the post. Im joined now by two senators who b have seen their States Affected by the Opioid Crisis and are working to find solutions. Please join me in welcoming senator Maggie Hassan, senator rob portman. [applause] we also send a joe manchin whos hoping to join us today. Wait a little bit, perhaps it will be joining us a a little later but were just delighted to have two leaders in this sphere who have been working every day. Senator Maggie Hassan is in her first term representing New Hampshire. Her efforts to combat opioid abuse did not start in january. During her four years as governor, she worked across party lines. To secure funding come to strengthen treatment, recovery and Law Enforcement efforts in her state, New Hampshire increase penalties for that no distribution, begin investigating Overdose Deaths is homicide. Expanded the states Prescription Drug monitoring system. Shes a member of the committee on health,
Solutions. Find please join me in welcoming senator maggie hasen and senator rob portman. [applause] we also have senator joe manchin who is hoping to join us today. Delayed a little bit. Perhaps hell join us later. Have ust delighted to two leaders in this atmosphere sphere who have been working every day. Nator maggie hasen is in the first term representing new hampshire. Her efforts to combat opioid in january. Start during her four years as governor, she worked across secure funding, treatment, recovery, and Law Enforcement efforts in her state. New hampshire increased fentanyl or distribution. Began investigating opioid over of homicide. Exspabbed theth expanded the tates Prescription Drug monitoring system. Shes a member of the health, education, labor, and pension, d cosponsor of multiple bills to address the epidemic. Senator rob portman of ohio. Elighted to have you here. Senator portmans in his second term representing ohio. Hes a former director of the of management and budg