Ladies and gentlemen, i am proud to present the 32nd governor of the state of south dakota accompanied here in phoenix by the first lady of south dakota. The chairman of the western governors association, the honorable dennis dugard. Thank you, jim. Thank you, christine. Christine, you have a good voice. Jim, well. Lets move on. [laughter] let me join jim in welcoming you all to phoenix. I am pleased to see so many western governors here. We have a Great Program planned, and im delighted we can share this time together. Over the next two days we will have visits with Top Administration officials including the secretary of labor, the secretary of transportation, u. S. Forest service chief who will be visiting with us momentarily. And although he was not able to stay for todays activities, we visited with the secretary of agriculture. We will hear to other keynote speakers. The president of the arizona cardinals, and john ratzenberger. Most of you know john as the famous cliff clavin fro
We know you are only two weeks into this job, but we expect you to know everything. We are still reviewing the effects of the recent reforms in the budget caps adjustments that were included in last weeks bipartisan budget act and we look forward to your testimony. Over the past year our committee has been working to improve, strengthen and streamline health care and welfare programs under our jurisdiction. In health care we have taken action to cut needless red tape. It makes it more difficult for providers to deliver high quality care to their patients. We recently advanced targeted bipartisan reforms to improve medicare for the American People, continuing the drive to strengthen quality and care coordination. Our committee played a firsthand role in developing legislation repeal and replace the Affordable Care act. With the American Health care act that was passed by the house last may, we delivered market Oriented Solutions that would truly increase flexibility, reduce costs and re
Our shelters to house these children and families to address this crisis, our government has taken action on several fronts. We set up emergency shelters great we searched agents and immigration areas spread we work to find a safe homes for the children until the cases could be adjudicated. We also worked with the governments of guatemala and salvador to launch what i call the truth campaign, letting the people know about the dangers of the trip to the north, to the u. S. We collaborated with the government of mexico so that nation might better strengthen the integrity of its southern border, and it has. One year later, we no longer have a crisis, at least not of the proportion we had a year ago. It is true that many families and children are still fleeing those countries, but those numbers are clearly down by a little more than half. Is that enough improvement . No. But even though the crisis appears to be over, we still have humanitarian responsibilities to protect the children in ou
Ago they called in senator mitchell and ken dubestein to investigate where they had gone wrong with the ioc and make recommendations. External respected, nonpartisan investigation. This committee to help u. S. Soccer set up a similar independent committee to find out what on earth has gone so badly wrong and it being covered up. Also u. S. Soccer could do what your government does, which is put everything online. The forms are inadequate. And then renew, reorganize and reinvigorated soccer could say to the world this is how it does. We are not in america pushing around but we can do it. It is all wide open. Join with us and the 209 National Associations would come with you finishing. Next monday, the absent mr. Gillaspie, who i think is treating you with contempt and the u. S. People of soblger, the men and women and the whole sport with context when he cant come here and defend the u. S. Soccer activities in concocaf and fifa. So hes going over to zurich next week with a private meeti
It is perceived as the most corrupt of the very regional associations. What does u. S. Soccer federation know . Thank you, senator. Let me interrupt, you speak for you personally . Ht no one have run anything to my attention regarding corruption. That being said, theyre are a couple of things i would like to. Out. Mr. Blaser has not beene to involved since 1986. Been memb he has been a member of cocky cast, but not us soccer. Blatand in terms of mr. Blatter anderctiv mr. Warners activities i would like to. Out that those were private individual, secret transactions that with the four resourcesfullars to b resources of the department of justice and fbi chick forwe a s four years to bring light. We are a Soccer Organization with our greatest focus onhicountr developing all aspects of our support. I wantedi wanted to. Out that private transactions also were for regionalt is aimpo sponsorship and regional broadcast which has nothingould to do with us soccer and our rights and our tv andk y