And joint chiefs of staff chair general mark milley were on capitol hill to testify on the president s 2021 budget request for the pentagon. They were also asked about military modernization efforts and defense funds being diverted from border wall construction being diverted for border wall construction. [indiscernible conversations] [indiscernible conversations] the Committee Meets today to receive testimony for the 2021 budget request. We welcome our witnesses and thank them for their service. After mark esper and general mark milley. Top priority is ensuring the effectiveness and implementation of the National Defense strategy. Unfortunately under the last administration, we asked our military to do more with less, and that got us into trouble and 2017. 12 we lost 150 billion to sequestration. Our forces were devastated. I think we all understand that. As a result, when President Trump came to office, he a country in crisis. Rican military and crisis, thankfully he delivered on his
[inaudible conversations] good morning. Today is the day we will examine the president s fiscal year for the epa joining with morning is administrator wheeler and acting chief Financial Officer. Welcome to both of you. Fiscal year 2021 the president s 66 billion to the epa but this request the presidency of what you were able to achieve on the fy 2020. And then to eliminate the new funding we provided to address pfas and the Clean Energy Funding grants c by 47 percent at 409 million fy 2020 also has money from the 3 billion we invested with our nations crumbling Water Infrastructure. Recently held a listening session and they would lose and what at what happened of these cuts were to go through the pollution control also proposed cuts to the clean water grant act air pollution and monitoring to have our communities back home included it would be an absolute catastrophe for clean water. And i directly heard about concerns with the budget with the pfas pollution it could be truly devasta
With us. And today, as you know, we are going to examine the president s department of education budget request for fiscal year 2021. As i was reviewing the budget materials, madam secretary, this much was clear to me. That you are seeking to privatize Public Education. I believe, and ive had this conversation before with you, i believe its the wrong direction for our students and for our country. Instead, we ned to be moving toward expanding Public Policies, lake Early Childhood education, that we know helps students to succeed. We see this in our countries around the globe. They are not shrinking public support, but in fact, are expanding it. Ill get more into the consequences of the cuts that you are proposing, but i want to start by examining your privatization philosophy. The false premise on which it is built, and the research that it ignores. Contrary to your claims, the nations Public Education system, which 90 of our children attend, has witnessed significant progress for all
Fed funds rate the chairman talking about the action and admitting that the cut may not be a cure yall, so to speak we do recognize the rate cut will not reduce the rate of infection or fix a broken supply chain. We do believe our actions will boost our economy. Avoiding a tightening of the conditions that will help boost household and business confidence. Then stocks whip sawed with stocks ending down yesterday, the yield dropping below 1 for the First Time Ever take a look where we stand now at. 94 as we speak quite a bit lower quite a day. You want to get ahead of these things but can you we were up 1,300. I know. Im not listening actually i do want to know your predictions. He would shave to do it at some point i think there is no winner here exactly if they didnt cut, you are skpengting why didnt they cut and the markets go down . What do they know nobody else knows. At this point, it is pure insurance trying to loosen liquidity. You look at people looking at mortgages. I locked i
Grieves for the court and they will take a vote at 1 45 eastern. Now, live coverage here on cspan2. The president pro tempore the senate will come to order. The chaplain, dr. Barry black, will lead the senate in prayer. The chaplain let us pray. God of might and mercy, thank you for providing our lawmakers with opportunities for courageous and noble service. Inspire them to labor for your glory in all they say and do. Illuminate their minds with the light of your divine precepts. Equip our senators for their tasks that they may be physically fit, mentally alert, morally straight, and spiritually strong. Create in them the life of purity, honesty, and altruism that contributes solutions to the problems they face. May they work with perseverance and magnanimity for the new and better day toward which your divine intentions guide them. We pray in your faithful name. Amen. The president pro tempore please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to our flag. I pledge allegiance to the