Just look at where the u. S. Energy sector is now. 2014 alone, Clean Energy Investment increase by 14 , that is five times greater growth than the rest of the u. S. Economy. U. S. Powerplant co2 emissions in 2015 were about 24 below 2005 levels. Already well on the way to the cpps 2030 targets. 2015 admissions were about the same as the cpp firstyear goal in 2022 and 2015. That 2022 and 2015. That is a full seven years ahead of schedule. Twentyfour states have lower omissions in 2015 then there are 2022 annual goal. 22 annual goal. The first year of compliance in the cpp. Including states like ohio, north carolina, pennsylvania, and south dakota. The Energy Information agency estimates of 70 of new utility generating capacity expected to come online in 2016 will actually beat zero email to, mostly solar and wind. So clearly theres more going on in our world and our Energy Sector than the cpp can account for. Look, im really not trying to say that the cpp is not important, you know that. I love it. I think it is great, but the truth is if i were to stand here and explain the significance and virtue of the Clean Power Plan it we keep you here for quite a lengthy period of time and i cannot fit it into a soundbite and it certainly doesnt fit into a tweet, i have tried it, i know. But i believe you got a pay obamas deliberate vision that history will show that the Clean Power Plan marked a turning point in american climate leadership, the point where country stepped up to the plot and delivered and the west rest of the world followed us. As a sign of u. S. Commitment. Its a market signal to investors and innovators and it brings stability and certainty to the Energy Sector into the world. But the global transition to a low Carbon Economy is more than any one regulation. The Energy Market and the commitment of the private sector is what is driving and will continue to drive this journey. This journey is consistent with virtually every nations understanding of climate science. And our obligation to protect our childrens futures. We are in we are in a spectacularly different place today then went obama took office. Before developing countries will point a finger at us, now theyre wondering if wondering if the u. S. Will turn its back on science and be left behind. That is the choice that we face. As the president said, the inevitability of our Clean Energy Future is again bigger than any one person or one nation. Must be guided by a simple but profound truth. We do not ha to choose between economy or environment. But folks, we can and we must choose both. The truth has been the foundation of all of the progress we have made at epa. This truth, and we have a track record to show for it. Over the past eight years under president obamas leadership we have taken trendous strides forward in economic growth. Eight years of economic expansion and a record increase in median incomes. At the at the same time we have made incredible progress in cutting pollution and protecting Public Health. At the same time, this president has understood and stood up and said so clearly that a clean healthy environment is not a luxury, its not windowdressing. It is a bright. It is a foundation of our economy and our lives. Our work to cut pollution must always focus not only on what our nation needs as a whole but also on those who have been disproportionately hurt, disadvantaged communities that bear the burden of environmental injustice. In the past eight years we have paid attention not only to our National Challenges but our ability and williness and effort to partner with their states, our local communities and our tribes. We set measurable, common sense standards. Let me just tell you about a few of them. We have reduce mercury emissions from power plants. We have protected more people from harmful levels of ozone and particulate matter. We have lowered content in fuels and pollution from our cars. We have made states accountable for harmful levels of air pollution that they send it downwind. We have required monitors round refineries. We have made progress in cleaning up our ports. We have clarified the jurisdictional boundaries of the Clean Air Act, 40 years of work, we finally did it. We reduce toxic it. We reduce toxic effluent from powerplant a set new standards for the manager of coal ash. We provide farmworkers with the same level of protection that other workers have enjoyed for many years. We made progress in restoring a comic water bodies like our precious Chesapeake Bay and the great lakes. We have made sure the standards are met with enforcement that put people first. Like the deepwater horizon still settlements that provided 20,000,000,000 dollars dollars to restore and protect the gulf. Or the folks wagon settlement that ensures 14 billion to compensate consumers to reduce pollution and to invest in an infrastructure was zero emitting vehicles. With leverage of the power of information to broaden and empower our environmental enterprise in this country. Through programs like energy star, water sense, water sense, and safer choice, they empower consumers to grow demand as well as the market for greener products. Through their purchases and epa apps like how is my waterway and school iq assessment, eck them out. These these are tools you can use to get in the game. To protect yourself. To actually make a difference in your own lives in a difference in your neighbors lives. We have tools like Climate AdaptationResource Center in the Green Infrastructure wizard. These are things that help communities as well as businesses understand how they can protect themselves and find the least cost a most effective way to become an environmental steward. We unlock the power of Citizen Science to help us protect more people using people power not money. Transparent, readily assessable information, new Monitoring Technologies like our Village Green bench, go sit on one. Theyre around. They actually double as an air monitor so people can see what their local air quality looks like. They have cameras now that we are sharing with states and communities that can literally see pollution that otherwise would be invisible like leaks from storage tanks. That are still just as dangerous as a smokestack spewing out proximal. We have deep in the focus on vulnerable communities that have been left behind. Through our work with tries under a tribes we are recognizing tribal treaty rights in the work that were doing. And i were to make a difference in communities that has already reached every region of this country in our work looking ahead such as the ej 2020 plan or efforts that i en so successful we have collaborated with other federal partners to support communities in their efforts to become more sustainable like our local food, or local places. Course we have increased our attention on Drinking Water. Lessons learned in flint to be shared across the nation so we can better prepare to finish the job on addressing legacy contaminants. We can face the nuance and we can fix our aging infrastructure. Doing more, doing better, that is cpas constant aspiration. Its also the nature of our democracy. We made progress using science and the law and we continue to be responsive to change. We do not oppose it. That is how epa was born. That is our mission will exist far beyond the bounds of electoral cycles. At its core epa embraces the american ideal people nervous one on. Of many come on. We, like this nation will always be a place where we draw strength from our differences. Under this this president s watch we have engaged more americans than ever in the work that we do. Millions have informed our climate roles. A. A vast majority simply want us to protect them their childrens future by following real science and the law. Mothers of every color have banded together to ensure their voices are heard. Leaders of all faiths have come into epa and beyond speaking about our moral obligation to take Climate Action. Historic and africanamerican voices have been speaking up. They are reminding us that they are way too often the ones at risk when we fail to act appropriately. Businesses big and small im making the risk of inaction very clear in calling calling attention to the opportunities there sitting in front of us to boost our economy and create new sectors of jobs. Epa has listened to those voices. Im so proud of the work we have done to reach a more diverse constituency, to make epa more accessible and make it a place were more voices can be heard. And make a difference. Your where communities concerned about their health and yes as this is concerned about their operations are welcomed into the decision process to work with us hand in hand. I know theres a lot of anxiety these days, im very hopeful to the future for a few reasons. Let me on to chelate. Epa has done its job well. In the Environmental Enterprises is more inclusive and more effective than ever. We have energized the American People who will demand not only clean air and water for their children, they will demand a stable planet as well. We have created have created the kind of residence that motivate a generation of young people, familiar movement that resembles time passed when millions of voices standing up and speaking out, that is what has changed the trajectory and that would keep us moving toward a low carbon future. Im hopeful because in 2016, that was just this year, a bill passed on a voice vote in the senate and in the house with only 12 no votes. Do you believe it . It was an environmental bill do we know what that was and it was that the naming of a post office. It was the loud and bird chemical safety act. That is the first update to an environmental statute in 20 years. Congress overwhelmingly claim came together, this congress to give the epa more authority to protect the American People from dangerous chemicals. When he signed the bill into law president obama said, this is proof that here in washington things can work. Its possible. We can keep families safe and unleash the mention of American Innovation prayed we can protect the planet and keep creating jobs. If we can get this bill then it means somewhere out there on the horizon we can make our politics less toxic as well. I think president obama was right, although we may have a ways to go on his last point. We can make things work in washington if we choose to focus on the job we are given. Free pa epa it is protecting the health of the people that we have pledged to sir. I want to end with this. I want to thank the Unsung Heroes that i have had the privilege of working with at epa. The scientists, the scientists, economists, policy people, lawyers, regulators who have devoted their lives to Public Service to the outside advocates, the businesses, the innovators and industry visionaries. We need you, we still need you, we will always need you. I know who you are, i know you play place science in serviceable partisanship. Ive ive seen what youre capable of so certain that our future will be brighter and healthier, and more just world. Thank you very much. [applause] thank you we have a lot of questions to get through. One one at the top of our minds and you address this, how do you react to the prospect that the causey of work so hard on in the past eight years i threatened to be overturned by series of executive orders next year . As i said im very confident in the work that we have done. There has been not progress through executive orders to butter executive authorities. I mention the Clean Air Act and we took steps moving forward. Im looking for to a smooth transition and getting folks in here so they can see the work of the agency and how well we have done our job. Have you met with anyone from the Transition Team in order been in contact with them . We have not been contacted. Lets talk about the loss. We talked about the clean water and air act. You have a Republican White House soon in january, majority Republican House and senate. Are Republican House and senate. Are you concerned some of those laws could be repealed going back to those two . If you go back and look at i try to make it pretty clear, what we what we do is protect Public Health and precious natural resources. It is a mission that is still indoors. We have we have been successful over five decades in a voting partisan politics as much as possible to remind folks that really doesnt matter if youre republican or democrat, you still want your kids to be healthy in their future to be sound. We will look at those, they have stood the test of time and im confident the agency is doing its work well and people still want the same things have always wanted and that is a Bright Future for their kids. Still, president elect trump has promised to undo do many environmental regulations, Climate Change regulations. Would you beg them to spare want to have one . Youre asking me to pick among my children. I can do that cannot. I think were going to have to wait and see. My job right right now is to do a smooth transition. Thats what the president has told us. That is my commitment. We will do that and will tell people what is going on in the agency. If you sit in my shoes every day you see the breath of what that agency does, you see how hard we work a you pick up the phone and realize that every day theres a new issue or problem were concerned that an individual or community has. Or work that the states cant or dont have the resources or the technical capacity to do. Its really hard not to respond to those calls for help. I expect that will continue in the next administration will respond. The memo you say staff after election day said you wanted to run to the finish line to the obama presidency. What you plan to accomplish in the next nine weeks . Do. Do you expect me to detail . I dont have any secrets or are agendas out there. We have a lot of work to do. The point of the president s theres one president at a time and i am working for this one and i will do that work and continue with it. And the agency right now, we are focused on the work ahead and the work we have to do. That is the best place for the people in the agency to be and thats what were doing now. That goes into the next question. Excuse me, sorry you need to sit down. [inaudible] [inaudible] [inaudible] man, thank you very much. I think youve made your point. To those who are watching online, launches are open to the republic. This is not necessarily a reporter standing not necessarily a reporter standing up right now. Thank you man. Thank you man. Thank you man. I will get back to that no little bit lets get back to the next question. Were talking about the mood for the epa employees. As theyre concerned with concern with your employees especially this step about rolling back the work they have done. We call them career staff. I like the word bureaucrat but many people atone as negative. My folks are there doing fine. Most. Most of them have been through transitions before. They are working with one another just continuing to hunker down and do their job. Theyre pretty confident that the mission of epa is a good one and it will be enduring and they will be continue to do the work of the agency. Lets go back to your speech. Name. Name the top three of the accomplishments you have made in the top three achievements. Again youre asking me to pick between my children. Ive spent my first four years in the Administration Working in the air program. I probably have a bit a more in love with that work. We do a lot of work. When i came in here as you know im from new england, specifically anywhere in particular do you think . I came in with a couple of rules that i knew were on the plate that i wanted to get over the finish line, one was their toxic same toxic sand stander. I rely thought it was time under the Clean Air Act somebody thought that these old units with no modern controls on the will somehow have faded out, but they didnt. So lowering the toxics that are so vulnerable that her kids are vulnerable to and it was really important to me, but the other was the pollution rule which if you remember we didnt do so well the first time and ended up doing really well on appeal. So that was really important because in the new england area we get a lot of that down when to air that comes from upwind sources and we spent a lot of resources to make sure the air that we produce the new englands claim. We really felt an equity issue in a justice issue required the folks to the best they could everywhere and i think we did it in a way that was reasonable and costeffective by designing the Trading Program around that. A product that will thats good. Having said that i really am happy that we got the clean water roll over the finish line. Im looking forward to the agency defending it in court. I think we we should all be embarrassed to have a law that old with twice getting yelled at by the Supreme Court and never addressing fundamentally the jurisdictional question. I worked hard myself on that and individually when i was an administrator to make sure were not just being respectful of the eager culture industry but making sure provided the clarity they need as well. I think it is a great role and i am proud of it. I dont want to reward protesters but its a valid questions. Can you talk to about your thoughts and concerns about indigenous concerns about the standing rocket pipeline . The one thing i will tell you is i have been to standing rocket met with the tribal council. The president of the United States has been to standing rocket met with the council. It is not an issue that is half our radar screen in any way. I indicated, i think in our speech how respectful i am am of the interest of tribes. I know that folks are directly involved in the with the administration. I will will leave the details to the but if you go to those tribes youll see that i have spent a great deal of my professional time making sure we Pay Attention to the tribes, not just standing rock. It is one of the things you get to see what youre an administrator that you dont get to see otherwise. That is a realization that many tribes dont have Drinking Water. That many tribes dont have safe places to live. It is an eyeopening experience when you realize some of these challenges. We have spent time not just recognizing the but actually being in a leadership position among federal agencies to be responsive to tribal needs. I am proud of the work we have done. Heres an example of an outstanding issue. In the st. Louis community bridgeton they been awaiting the cleanup for the wesley landfield for the manhattan project. They look at hazardous environmental risk. Will that be in place before you leave office or will it be the Trump Administration . We been working there. I dont want you to think that because a plan which we call it decision it means that we havent been hanging out there and doing the work were supposed to because we have. Weve done extensive work, remedial work to take care of the biggest challenges. Ive met with some of the mothers from the area that come in and talked about what we can do. I do not know the timing, were confident it will come soon. I know its a specific concern of that community and we have been working with the state of missouri not just to address the landfill but its an area where thats not the only thing to worry about in terms of impact on the environment in that area. We been doing work looking at the area as well as just the landfill. Its a big deal for that community were being as responsive as we can. Some are worried about a proposed or protective action guy regarding radioactive water and emergency. Why is the epa proposing this and decide protective action guy put the public at risk . There to a switch were looking at public action guy, let me explain this. Ill explain ill explain it from the viewpoint of somebody who worked at state for 17 years, ones that actually had Nuclear Facilities and then. This guideline is a guideline to explain to states what they should do when an emergency happens. When there is a release of Radioactive Material and how do you manage that situation nine fell well its going to take time to resolve the situation. Theres a guideline for water but another guided document that were hoping to get out soon that talks about the other things that state should do based on our recommendation because we have quite a bit of expertise in the area states have been driven crazy because its been years since anybody updated it. And because they know we have more at issue now in terms of radiation. We have the little bombs that can happen. We need to updated and deserve to give them the information. Where in the finals of updating the larger effort. There is a smaller piece which is the Drinking Water issue. The me tell you where came inches i dont i dont want anybody to think that we are changing our standards for Drinking Water. That that is not the case. But we are trying to do is figure out how to actually start transitioning from a case where everybody is in their house and hunkered down and cant drink drinking one to being able to understand what exposures of a temporary way would allow life to continue but not present a hazard to those individuals. We are providing the best information we can in the transition days, not sending a signal that we think those numbers should be the standard for Drinking Water. They clearly shouldnt be. We have to recognize that you can go from zero to 90 without figuring out how to start ramping up again. How we provide the right recommendation. A lot of the information concerning came out of japan in the fukushima incident. It didnt get resolved quickly. There. There were people left not knowing what to do. We thought it was necessary to actually provide the information well see where it goes and it is in the process. Were doing the the best we can to provide advice in a situation that is certainly we hope nobody will ever face in the United States. Recent Inspector General report was critical of the epas actions or inaction of flip michigan. What changes are underway to respond to the report and ensure they are more proactive in situations similar to flint. What would you would you advise your successor to do differently . I think i mentioned this a little bit. We are certainly still have a large presence in flame. The good news is we have made a lot of progress. But it continues to be a challenging situation. We have some lessons in flint. Youll see very shortly that will come out with the Drinking Water action plan because when flint happened, shortly after that we begin National Discussions with all of the stakeholders because there are number of shrinking cities like flint that have too large of a system. When you have a larger Drinking Water system is not a good thing because it means their stagnant water and the pipes and you dont want that. So how we manage those situations will be important. Another lesson in flint is that its very clear that flint was a community that was just invested inches they lost their manufacturing base, thats why they are shrinking. Their ability to be able to economically manage the system is under threat, since were getting it to the levels it needs to be and i think we have that challenge across the United States. How do we invest in infrastructure not simply for new infrastructure but how we look at the infrastructure that exists but is either decay, too big, needs additional treatment in the case of drinking one and how do we move forward. We have completed many rounds of focus groups, we have a plan getting ready to be released shortly and that will hopefully be a lessons leaed and a path for, not just to address leading copper rule which we know needs to be updated but also to figure out a path forward to look at how we begin the reinvestment, how much we need and how we keep up with Drinking Water and wastewater facilities. We have become very accustomed to not having to worry about Drinking Water and wastewater. We can no longer have that luxury. Let me follow it. What is the recent revision of the pas in the straight of order with the state of michigan in the city of flint. And how is the relationship change . One of the things to make sure we do is appropriate oversight as aggressively as we can. One of the executive, the enforcement order was recently updated. We actually did an enforcement order about one year ago. Were doing one again. Its because its because the situation in flint is shifting. The cities making decisions about resource water will come from. In order to make sure the city in the state are planning appropriately we wanted to make sure it was in writing that we needed three months window to actually test any new water system in the ability of the Treatment Facility to handle it because we did not want what happened before, which was unbeknownst to us, the system gets change, it is not properly tested, it is not properly managed and we ended up with a situation in flint. We did not want it to happen again. Its really the change in the order is about that. It was not a surprise to either the city or state. We are working with them closely but if theres one lesson ive learned that when it comes to Drinking Water you put it in writing and you make it as tough as you can. And that is what that is. And switch subjects. How soon can we expect to see the final report on hydraulic fracturing in Drinking Water and whether it incorporates the recommendations of the Advisory Board that the epa clarifies overarching conclusion that no systemic link exists between and water contamination. That was a mouthful there. Its not easy to save hydraulic fracturing. Its much easier to just say fracking. We are looking at trying to wrap that up soon, its its certainly been advised about where we are now. Certainly going to listen to the direction of the science Advisory Board for this is one science Advisory Board that was as fractured as the subject matter. It came up with many different conclusions, some that conflict with one another. We know what the job is and will be finalizing that. While i cannot cannot tell you the direction it will take, were going to listen to all sites in terms of what the members thought and will come to the best decision we can. Remember this is not a policy documents, it is a science document. There is is clear indication from the science Advisory Board that we needed to do a better job at explaining the science. While i have been briefed on it it is my scientist that will make these decisions. What. What is the consideration of a widespread impact . What consider the definition of widespread impacts, which impacts do they find accessible and why . Youre asking the same question that i think many and much of the discussion of science Advisory Board revolved around. The purpose of the hydro fracking study was we were asked to do this and told to do this and the purpose of it was basically to identify basically look at the water cycle and identify what point in that water cycle and in the hydro fracking operation could pose a risk to Drinking Water. Was very clearly done in a way that was a science and technical document about what is the data shows that what we know. So the challenge for us is to characterize what we know and to make sure that is not over characterized as we know everything because our data is limited and how we project that and clarify that in this report is what we are going to accomplish. President elect trump openly admitted to denying Climate Change. Likely appointing and epa director whose acclimate tonight. What steps are you taking to ensure communities will be protected from fracking. We meet with families from pennsylvania or wyoming they say water has been impacted by fracking . Epa folks in the regions have been certainly working on this issue. We all know and the president has said it, this inexpensive natural gas has been one of the factors that really change the Energy Sector and how it is headed. We all know it has to be done safe and responsibly. This report is going to be an opportunity for people to know whether impacts could happen, what, what we have already seen so steps can be taken. At this point in the administration i think thats what were trying to accomplish is to be as clear as possible. Without using the word soon, when will the epa released the rule to regulate methane emissions from existing structures . I dont know. It was different. I followed the role. Just everybody understands, what epa has recently done is sent thousands of requests for information, actually not request, we are asking for information that is consistent with our legal authorities together. So that we can take the data and understand where methane is being admitted. Things like what kind of technology is available to minimize the as well as the cost associated with that so we can move forward on other rulemaking. I dont have a timeline for this to be done. If you look at it is going to be done in phases which will give information to the agency in a few months but it will continue to go on for a lengthy period of time. One of the things people dont understand is when we do a rule and regulate existing, were looking at requirements that ask us not just what can you reduce but one of the cost, the technology choices, and the area of oil and Gas Development it has been going on forever. There so many different types and pieces of equipment that are very challenging. We want to make sure that when we do a rule it will be done well. So its very challenging and it can be done in phases or the next administration can make other choices. Youre here today to talk about what you did do at the pa, the can back, there any climate or Environmental Action you regret not taking are starting sooner . All of them. One thing i do regret is that i know Everybody Knows i had a fairly lengthy process of getting confirmed by the legislature for this position by the senate. Also had a fairly lengthy term getting into the agency in the first place as the assistant administrator. I think i think was just because it takes long time. One of the things i regretted was there was an announcement in the rose garden of the president stood up and talked about granting californias waiver and moving forward with the engagement finding with the vehicles which was really the big first way in which agency began to use the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gases. I was really ticked off that i was not there. Thats what i regret. I remember. I remember sitting at home watching it and going thats mine. It wasnt. Would you advise your state collects to do if the epa in congress believe are working against their interests or their environments ogles. In any democracy everybody has a right to their own opinion and their voices should be heard. I think epa has done think over the past eight years a wonderful job looking at what the sciences, with the facts or, think folks should continue to speak if they disagree and dont think people are paying attention. But thats democratic process, thats what we should follow. Do you think states and cities and corporations still a gap left in u. S. Climate leadership if they dont believe trump is taking a three way . I do. I think there a lot of people here that will confirm this. Theres two reasons why i think progress will continue. Theres many reasons why but the two that answer this question our number one, if youve worked at the state level or local level, you cannot run away from people. You have to make decisions not based in politics but based on what your people are demanding a view or you will be the shortest live municipal servant in the history of mankind. So people really are worried about the impacts of climate. There are ready feeling theres thousands of mayors who have signed climate pledges. Theyre working hard, we have provided tools for them to see how they would adapt to a changing climate because theyre afraid of wildfires of floods, of running out of Drinking Water which is particularly frightening in these things are happening across the country. So mayors will continue to speak up. Cities will continue to be some of our best and loyal allies. On the stateside i have worked with the states for more than 20 years and i cannot tell you how much i am grateful for the work that we have done with the states and many of the folks here have been doing with them. We just saw a report from georgetown the Climate Center there, vicki you are here, right . She mustve run out. But it basically said that 19 states are continuing to make significant progress consistent with the clean powerplant, eith working on plans for Energy Efficiency standards, theres a reason why that is. Thats because this is about the Energy Transition that is happening. You want to buy renewable searching for than there ever been before. The technology is more efficient than ever before. People wanted. They are demanding it and Energy Efficiency saves money. As well as provides opportunity to keep peoples bills and cost of energy down. While i appreciate their big list and continue to do this i know that people are continuing to demand it. So whether not states want to go under the heading that theyre taking Climate Action are simply doing whats best for their consumers and energy systems, fine with that and that will continue because the Clean Energy Economy folks, the train has left the station. Millennials for a generation that every Company Wants to capture it now seem to demand sustainability clean products, Companies Companies are responding with Corporate Responsibility programs. How can the government taken a bandage of this Generational Movement . Let me tell you how we have taken advantage of it. I think its through our contind outreach. Trying to make sure epa, because because of its visibility as a premier science entity when epa puts its local on something it matters. Its why Energy Star Products are from. People want to save money and they want to buy something they can articulate as being maybe a little bit more money, if at all but how quickly they can get payback. Thats what energy star is is about. Theyet from billing when you put it appliance with energy star label. Were doing the same thing with household products. Thats what safer choices about. We continue to known survey of folks want to see the label, they would rather buy, they want to buy and it generates moment and the manufacturers themselves to produce products that are less toxic so they can get that label. Theres an ways in which we can continue to get information out. The third area and its work that i mentioned is there so many ways in which individuals at the local level i millennials themselves can get in the game. And really change their own world. We have absent new Monitoring Technology that is so inexpensive that can tell them what their little world looks like and how they might be able to work effectively in their own democracy, and their own city or community or neighborhood. To use to use information that we make readily transparent and that we analyze and help make assessable. Thats where they can get active and working ways i know you may not think im the soul but in the 60s and 70s, i look so young, this is how we got involved. We didnt just protests. We did something. We took action we became part of the solution. Im thinking thats what millennials like. They like to rule their own lives. A quick reminder that the National Press club is the worlds leading press organization for journalists. We fight for free press worldwide. For mo free press worldwide. For more information visit our website at press. Org. Like to remind you about upcoming programs. Sir, im sorry were in the middle of a program. [inaudible] [inaudible question] thank you sir thank you sir. [inaudible] [inaudible question] [inaudible] thank you sir. You made your point. This is a good example of how people continue to be passionate about having clean water. And clean air. It bodes well for the continued mission of epa and the work that we do. I wish we could be responsive and answer everybodys needs. I think you with the National Press club mug. Oh cool, another one. [laughter] thank you. This is great. Thank you. When ask you one last question. Tell me what advice he would leave your successor. My advice would be to listen to the great staff at epa. There experts in these issues. They will give you an opportunity to leave. I was suggest you take it. Thank you very much. I would ask the audience to remain in your seat while the guest has to party. Thank you very much. [applause] [inaudible] [inaudible] [inaudible] [inaudible] [inaudible] tonight on the communicators, former fcc commissioners Robert Mcdowell on how the fcc could change under the Trump Administration and to look at the telecommunication issues it could be facing. Of her smart as a country will start to tackle those with the future of the internet going beyond what is it mean with artificial intelligence, what does it mean for jobs, what, what about the consolidation and commercialization. I sense that what plans for Business Data Services and when there wasnt any consensus among the democrats for starters is probably also not going to get off the ground. Watch the communicators tonight at 8 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan2. Here some of our featured programs thursday, thanksgiving day on cspan. Just after 11 00 a. M. Eastern, nebraska senator ben on american values, the founding fathers, and the purpose of government. There is a huge civic mindedness in American History but it is not compelled by the government. Followed it in by former senator tom harkin on healthy food and the rise of Childhood Obesity in the u. S. For everything from monster thick burgers with 1420 calories someone hundred 7 grams of fat to 20ounce cokes and pepsis, 12 to 15 us sugar, feeding an epidemic of Childhood Obesity. At 330 p. M. , with the wikipedia founder talks about the evolution of the online encyclopedia the challenge of providing Global Access for information. Once theres 1000 interest is anothers a Small Community there. Theres five or ten really active users, another 20 or 30 that no little bit and they start to think of themselves as a community. After seven eastern and look at the effort to repair and restore the capitol dome. At eight p. M. , Justice Kagan reflects on her life and career. And then i did my thesis which was a great thing to do on. It taught me an incredible amount. It also taught. It also taught me what it was like to be a serious historian into said and archive all day, every day. I realized it was not for me. Followed by Justice Clarence thomas. Geniuses not putting the 2dollar idea in a 20dollar sentence. Is putting a 20dollar item in it 2 sentence without any loss of meaning. Just after 10 00 p. M. An exclusive ceremony, president obama will present the medal of freedom, our nations highest civilian award to 21 recipients including nba star michael jordan. Singer bruce springsteen, actor sisley tyson philanthropist, bill and melinda gates. Watch on cspan and cspan. Org cspan. Org or listen on the free cspan radio app. The executive branch is not the anyone welcoming new officials in 2017. Newly elected representatives newly elected representatives are making their way to washington advance of this start of the 10015th congress. We. We caught up with a new member recently. Where with scott a republican, tell us how orientation is going so far as you get to know this new job. Is going well. A lot of bipartisan level there very helpful want you to be successful. I been quite impressed. Former navy seal in a district that has a big naval presence for those that dont know about the Second District tell us. We have a large naval facility in the world. We have eight Major Military installations a week cover every service. More veterans than than any other Congressional District in the nation. A district that has been impacted by cuts under sequestration. Can you talk about how that has affected your district. It has affected us. People have been laid off, problems with maintenance schedules, training, training, it hurts our National Security. It is coming back, im up to try to make sure that we get to do something to make sure that we protect our National Security in my area. How do you make that argument . Is the Republican Leadership in congress willing to listen . I think they are willing to listen. You have to make the argument, that you have to be able to thread a needle and i think we can do that. Im looking for to getting people around the table making it happen. What nascent lessons to take from being a navy seal . Up had the pleasure of serving with some of the greatest people i will ever know who tommy loyalty, honor, working within an elite team. Also having the ability to navigate through cass with clarity. I will get overwhelmed when things are highly stressful i remain calm and make decisions. Thats a direct reflection of my training. What are your thoughts about president elect trump and the role he will be taking on as commanderinchief . I think youll see a lot of things change in he basically articulated what a lot of people in the nation were feeling, ive high hopes and im confident he will bring people together and get things done. Im looking for to get to know him. You defeated a seven term forms in the primary. For those who do not follow that race, how did you defeat a seven term congressmans been a. Has some of the connections in d. C. . To him with his service, i wish him nothing but the best. We took our message to the people, a lot of people know me in the area as well. We looked worked really hard and people had confidence in my background and what i wanted to do moving forward. They stuck stood with me. Forbes being mentioned as a possible navy secretary, that something you support . What is the decision of the ministration. I think you said competent and capable guy. I wish him the best and if he finds himself in that role that im looking for to working with them. Have you you thought about your committee simonsen capitol hill . A logical committee for my background in my education and district would be House Armed Services, foreign affairs, however that is plan b. Plan b. Plan a is to shoot for preparations because virginia will be without appropriate for the first time in hundred two years. Thats plan a, plan b would be House Armed Services of fair. For viewers or dont understand the different rankings of different committees and capitol hill and the ones most sought after, wise appropriations thats always at the top of everyones list . Its hard for freshmen to get that, thing we have a good case for your average person out there, a lot of committees authorize whats going on, that what, that what the appropriators move the money around. That is where the money comes from and gets moved around. Its its a sought after committee. What are other examples of those other sought after committees . Energy and commerce is one. Appropriations in both of those are a committees. Its not typical for freshmen to get, were still working hard to make sure we get on their. Thank you for your time. Coming up next, muslim scholar talks about islam a phobia, and issues facing muslim americans. This is part of the Islamic Society of north Americas Convention held outside chicago on labor day chicago and labor day weekend. It is about 20 minutes. Our next speaker someone who i have got to know over the last two and a half years in my time. She is an incredibly insightful and thoughtful person, she is director of research at the institute for social policy and understanding, she is the coauthor of the book, who speaks for islam, what 1,000,000,000 what a billion muslims really think. She is former executive director the center for muslim set i dissented 2009 she was appointed by president obama to the president S Advisory Council on faithbased neighborhood partnerships. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our guess. [applause] [speaking in native language] my favorite thing about coming to convention on the conversations. The conversations i get to have with old friends that have not seen for at least a year, the conversations i get to have with people that i just met. Especially young people and i have had several young women come up to me during this very convention and ask me a question that i hear quite often, in in fact one particular young woman, i promised her that i was going to answer her question in my. That it was a longer conversation than we could have in the brief moment that i have between sessions. Her question was, it was very simple and yet quite profound. She simply said, what is your advice to a young person like me who is trying to make a difference today. And i think her question narrates a thoughtful answer. That is what i hope to offer right now to all of you. What is my advice to her, two other young people, and to anyone who wants to make a difference in a time of great crisis, how should we be thinking and acting in this current moment. I want to be very assisting and organized because you have been sitting here so patiently and i am one thing standing between you and the other speakers. I am not going to overstay my welcome. There are three things i want to offer in response to this profound question. I think we have to think about courage, compassion, and connectedness. If we want to make a difference in this moment of great crisis. Im going to start with courage. We are living in a time that requires credible bravery. Just declaring our identities as muslims has become an act of defiance. Wearing a bikini to the beach has become an act of defiance. Great courage the brothers and sisters, as i have tried to remind myself and those that have asked me is not the absence of fear. Great courage, the kind that is needed today is not the absence of fear, in fact if we approach the kind of responsibility, the kind of risks the challenge that we are up against today without a healthy dose of fear then we are simply not healthy. Were simply not aware of what were up against. So fear in this moment is rational and it is healthy. But it is a kind of fear that should cripple us. It is the kind of fear that makes us realize that we have to dig deeper than we ever have and reach up with more desperate than we have ever done. And fine the strength to know that it its not that we are not afraid, because we arent we should be, but we will find our courage by understanding that there is something more important than our fear. That is how i define courage, the courage that is needed today one very important aspect, one important dimension, a requirement of this is the knowledge that it isnt just up to us to face todays challenges. The difference between the believers when they are marching to meet goliath in the army and those who waffled and wavered was not simply confidence in themselves, but their focus, their focal point. One perceive the world through the prism and the other focused entirely on the means. One group found that courage because they said a law is with us. When how many times has a small group defeated a large group and they went on to the famous story of david and goliath. While the other group said we are overwhelmed by their numbers and fell and gave in and indulge that fear, one group focused on the power of the creator and the other focused on their own in adequacy. I got asking you today to simply have confidence in our capacity, that is not enough. I am asking you to have faith. To make your faith conquer your fears. To find courage and the conviction that it is not just up to us. That what we are called for his obedience. Not outcomes. When i am most afraid is when i think that my ability is what is required to ing about a positive outcome. When i am focused on my ability to work but know that a law is in charge, i feel invincible. I feel empowered, i feel more courage than i should if you are to what capacity i have. My courage is in the knowledge that it is not up to me. , that if i obey whatever the outcome is, it is safe. Me to them where they are, in their fear, in their ignorance, in their place of anchor. Changer and then to walk with them to a different space. This approach of compassion when you feel the world is so high style can only be borne out of a conviction that you have something to contribute, you have something to give rather than something to take from them. Our fellow citizens are not to appease for acceptance and approval. [applause] at the same time our audiences and those that being gauged, are not enemies to conquer. They are our and fellow human beings. And we have something to be still upon them that were offering truth telling with inactive compassion not just what we say that the way that we act. I was so inspired one when i started to do research on the role of american muslims with the flint water crisis. People were literally dying because they did not have clean water. A problem that we are only supposed to hereabouts but yet it was right here in our country flint michigan where the water was poisoned. And by accident literally came across with the goal of the Recovery Efforts to quietly act meeting in the recovery of a crisis in the way that no one knew. To discover that muslims donated more Water Bottles and any of the community, 1 billion water bottle. [applause] muslims had set up free medical screenings and set up institutions that this for much longer for a sustainable effort long after the cameras had gone home. And to be inspired by their faith meeting people where they were in an act of compassion. They were not asking for anything they were there to give. They were there to contribute. And this is the kind of role that we have to see yourselves play as people are called on to act as noble servant leaders to those of our most in need. So what could happen to a community of that is attacked to internalize that is not to trivialize that victimization that many of us are undergoing. But what i mean to analyze victimization freefall into learned helplessness and this empowerment where we feel isolated and alone and where we see ourselves in a state of defense where we just want to build bunkers one. That is the worst thing that could happen because that is far from what we are called to do. We have to see ourselves as people who have a role in healing so the second piece is made half to lead the lives of compassion and a place of generosity. And the third and final thought that i have reflected and want to share is with connectedness. To see the connections between ourselves, our struggles of those of other human beings. If we dont understand is global phobia that is just one dimension of a wider phenomenon of institutional racism, and then we are but one, but as my colleague and my brother put that today, we are one branch of islam phobia is one branch on a larger tree. If we dont see a connecti that the same cancer that causes for lot import enforcement to disproportionately target muslim communities for surveillance, entrapment, it is the same ailment the results in the shooting and the killing of those from every day that is one cancer we need to see the connection and that means authentic relationships in between community. One of the most dangerous goals of any kind of bigotry is this is the target of the racism that they are weak and defeated and i am often asked, in different venues to say you just preach to the choir. We already know this. You should be talking to xyz. And those that would deeply a disagree with that i have a problem of idea of preaching to acquire. Heres why. We shin start with those who are receptive to the message of the inclusive america up. Guess what . There are weighed more people that our receptive to at message and we have reached. Theyre reaching their hand to last and we have not reached back. In fact, we are too busy running after that those that will never listen to us that has not done the hard work of actually building relationships. [applause] but every single one of those people in that room listening has members of their fans friends and families that i am sure you are not in the choir. And they cant become those people who will not listen to you or me but if Family Member that they can trust. To see those interconnections to reach out to those who are receptive, this is just business strategy. And 30 are untapped consumers to go after them for store the people who have to spend billions of dollars even to listen to half of what you have to say . Yet there is a huge portion of the American Public that we have never taken the time ndf for. I want to say as scared and exhausted that has to some of us feel, understandably so, this is a beautiful time , april found a time it is the time to be a muslim we have the opportunity to change history and i believe we truly can do that. [applause]