Will allow these banks to comply with unnecessary requirements, many of which were designed to police much larger entities and more time infusing their communities in local Small Businesses with capital. Its also the start of Small Business week. Today ivanka trump will be participating in a conversation that the United States institute of peace with sva all right. Linda mcmahon and the Vice President will deliver remarks to the national Small Business week awards Program Later this afternoon. Back to the president s schedule, after speaking with the Community Bankers members, the president had lunch with Vice President pence, secretary of state tillerson, and secretary of defense mattis as well as National Security adviser mcmaster before meeting separately with secretary tillerson. I also want to mention this morning that fema held a Severe Weather coordination call to discuss impacts on the remaining threat for continued Severe Weather across portions of the southwest to the mississ
[inaudible conversations] today that ca committee convenes their sixth open hearing of 2017 to further examine russias interference in the elections. This is another opportunity for the committee and the American People to drill down on this vitally important docket. In 2016, a hostile foreign power reach down to the state and local levels to touch motor data. It employed relatively sophisticated cyber tools and capabilities and helped moscow to potentially build detailed knowledge of how our elections work. It was also another example of russian efforts to interfere into a democracy with the goal of undermining our system. In 2016, we were woefully unprepared to defend and respond, and im hopeful that we will not be caught flatfooted again. Our witnesses are here to tell us more about what happened in 2016, what that tells us about russian intentions, and what we should expect in 2018 and 2020. I am deeply concerned that if we do not work in lockstep with the states to secure our elec
Secretary matus and general dunford, i hope you will provide insight on what the strategy may be. What are we getting ready for . What are the priorities . That is not a hard question an important question if we are being asked, it is a Readiness Package the department is wont improve readiness and it is disconnected from strategy the administrations package proposes 18 billion in cuts to nondefense programs to offset military spending. The administration provided no detail on these cuts but we know what is on the shopping the block. There are extremely reckless cuts for agencies in the state department for next year. Jeopardizing the nations ability to deal with crises without resorting to arms. I wish the white house listens to then general jim matuss views on the state department. As commander of Us Central Command general matus stated if you dont fund the state department fully, there needs to be more ammunition ultimately. The harm will go beyond hurting National Security. Some of
The Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee on the militarys readiness and the upcoming fiscal budget. It was on the income overseas offensive and defensive abilities. Many of them related to the 2011 budget control act. This is about an hour and 45 minutes. The subcommittee on defense appropriations on the United States senate will come to order. Today we are receiving an update on military readiness and Defense Budget matters. Were pleased to welcome to the committee the honorable james m. Mattis, secretary of defense. General Joseph Dunford jr. , chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. The fiscal year 2017 department of defense appropriations agreement has been approved by the other body in the house of representatives. And i look forward to our completing work on that bill in the coming weeks. Were well into the fiscal year and members of the subcommittee understand the poepimportance o enacting appropriations. As we complete our work on the 2017 defense agreement, we also recogn
Tough new laws on tobacco products. There are reports that a gas attack in syria has killed at least five civilians southwest of the capital damascus. Medical sources think that sarren gas, one of the worlds most lethal chemical weapons, was used. More than 30 people are reported to have suffered acute health problems. Our correspondent reports. Reporter this is not the first time there have been reports of gas used as a weapon in syria. Opposition sources say these people were exposed to gas when government helicopters fired missiles in the residential area. The neighborhood on the outskirts of damascus has been a battleground for some time now. It is also under siege by government forces. Translation these rockets were carrying gas and as a result five people were killed, including a 12yearold boy. More than 30 injured. Mostly civilians. The gas was used in the western neighborhood of the city. The victims showed certain symptoms such as runny nose, saliva and later developed into bl