If this wasnt in front of me and ready for signature, we would end up having projects all across the country that would be frozen after mid. On the other hand, we have now made it a habit where instead of fiveyear funding plans for transportation and instead of longterm approaches where we can actually strategize on what are the most important infrastructure projects, how are they getting paid for, providing certainty to government norors and mayors and localities about how they are going to approach Critical Infrastructure projects roads, bridges ports, airports instead we operate as if were we hand them out three months at a time. Which freezes a lot of construction, which makes people uncertain, which leads to businesses, not being willing to hire because they dont have any longterm certainty. Its a bad way for the u. S. Government to do business. So, i want to make sure that before i sign this, Congress Gets a clear message. That is we should not be leaving all the business of the
To reagan, one of his watchwords was, peace through strength. He presided over an enormous buildup in defense spending. The current trajectory of defense spending is down to below 3 of gdp. Which is going to be as low as it was back in before 1941. Would you support a significant increase from current levels in the Defense Budget and do away with the sequester . I absolutely support the concept of peace through strength. I think the most important thing the federal government spends money on is National Defense. You cant rely on state governments. You cant rely on corporations. You have to have a National Defense. Priorities,at National Defense is the number one priority. Looking at dollars spent, i always say a priority. With regards to the sequester, the last budget we produced, we have a fiveyear budget that balances, eliminates the military sequester, and spends money above the military sequester. But we do eliminate five departments of government. If you want a strong defense, fin
Effective in shaping in fact the post assad order, which is we want and we need and most syrians would like the u. S. To play that role. I think the good news, though, is that there are a lot of countries willing to do more in the region. And i think if you read the report by the International Crisis group that came out yesterday, it came with really some good recommendations. It did mention in detail challenges facing the coalition and we agree with many of them. But it says that our ally, the core group need to get their act together as well. They need to have better coordination. And for that to happen you need the u. S. Leadership which has been lacking. I think that has been one of the weaknesses. The other side has fewer friends but those friends are much more effective and providing everything that the assad needs weapons, money, political support. So we have all of these countries. The friends of syria that recognize the coalition is 114 countries and we had a meeting in new yo
That my mother would like. Read more of our conversation with Malcolm Gladwell from our book notes and q a programs in cspan sundays at 8 00. Public affairs books. Available for a fathers day gift at your Favorite Book seller. In february jill biden and former president george w. Bush spoke about helping veterans transition to civilian life. It was part of a summit at the george w. Bush institute that focused on the problems faced by veterans of wars in iraq and afghanistan, including unemployment and mental illness. This part of the event is an hour 1 2. Good morning. Thank you. [applause] good morning. And welcome to the bush center. Were thrilled youre here. Were here this morning of course to examine the unique need of our military Service Personnel and what we can do to more effectively help them during their transition from active duty and thank you all for being here. Before i go any further i would like to ask everyone in the audience who is currently serving or has served in t
Humanitarian reasons. Any way i can help, please let me know. My time hassedexpired. The chair recognizes the Gentleman Program thank you for being with us today. As youre aware the House Appropriations Committee Just released the Homeland Security appropriations bill which contains the detention bed something has been talked about here today, and it says, quote, thats funding made available under the funding shall maintain level of not less than 34,000 detention beds through 2015. Close quote. Whats the purpose of detention . Public safety. The purpose is, as i understand it, to ensure that it complies with court proceedings. Is that correct . Those with Immigration Court proceedings, some are released pursuant to conditions. If we dont think theyre a risk of flight or Public Safety. But those that are considered to be a risk to Public Safety should be detained. Thats that what im asking. Be intent is to ensure that these undocumented immigrants wind up appearing in court. Isnt that w