VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SENATOR LLOYD BENTSEN (D-TEX) CAMPAIGNS IN PENNSYLVANIA. 04:05:00 bentsen works an airport crowd, boards a jet and waves. he arrives at an airport in northeast philadelphia, pennsylvania and attends a union workers rally. cu of banners on a wall for the following unions, electricians, glaziers, clothiers, drywall finishers and steam fitters. bentsen appears on stage and delivers a campaign speech tailored for workers. CI: PERSONALITIES: BENTSEN, LLOYD. POLITICS: PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, 1988.

It Happened in Mayfair

United Garment workers (UGW) Union members discuss plan for 1914 convention in Nashville Tennessee. View from railroad locomotive traveling on a straight train track. A steam locomotive pulling a passenger train. Trainman on rail car waving a lantern. Views of the convention, October 12, 1914, in Nashville, headed by UGW President Thomas A. Rickert of Chicago. Labor union locals from New York, Boston, Rochester, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, were deemed in arrears on dues (although they had been on strike) and not allowed to participate. They walked out, with the Chicago delegation too. View of Telegram sent from Nashville, by the dissidents, to Sidney Hillman in New York, October, 1914, asking him to head a rival union. Photo of Hillman taking telephone call. A special convention at Webster Hall, in New York City, where dissidents join with Journeyman Tailors union and form the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, with Sidney Hillman as President. Key members of the new union are seen standing in front of a car. Sidney Hillman in his office dictating to his secretary. Copies of the new union's House organs in various languages. Amalgamated Clothing Workers holding signs in various languages. Workers pose on a truck by a sign reading:"A Fair Deal, A Chance to Live, Arbitration is all we ask." Workers in cars. Girls on roller skates wearing sashes reading: "Don't Be A Scab." A man in a barrel with sign reading: "Can't afford to wear pants. Pa works in an open shop." Women pose in sandwich boards that spell out: "Closed Shop." Philadelphia garment worker ostensibly writing letter to Sidney Hillman. Shop owners examine sewn item and shop records while man works at sewing machine. Location: United States USA. Date: 1914.

IS A CAREER IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRIES FOR YOU?

NAME: US CAMPAIGN 150704N TAPE: EF04/0715 IN_TIME: 11:19:05:22 DURATION: 00:02:36:07 SOURCES: APTN/ABC DATELINE: Philadelphia/Washington DC - 15 July 2004 RESTRICTIONS: Part No Access Internet SHOTLIST: ABC - No Access Internet Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1. Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry walks through crowd shaking hands 2. Kerry walks on stage, hugs National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) President Kweisi Mfume and Chairman Julian Bond 3. SOUNDBITE: (English) John Kerry, US Democratic presidential candidate: "Now, I want you to know I'm honoured to be here. I understand, listening to Julian (Bond, NAACP Chairman) and recognising what has been going on, I understand you've been having trouble getting some speakers (laughter). So I want to thank you for the invitation. Some people may have better things to do, but there's no place that I'd rather be right now than right here in Philadelphia with the NAACP." 4. Kerry at lectern 5. SOUNDBITE: (English) John Kerry, US Democratic presidential candidate: "I will be a president who truly is a uniter, not one who seeks to divide one nation by race, or riches, or any other label. And you know something, the president may be too busy to speak to you now, but I got news for you, he's going to have plenty of time after November 2nd." (Applause) APTN Washington DC 6. White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan walking to podium 7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Scott McClellan, White House press secretary: "The president has many friends who are members of the NAACP. This president has been an inclusive leader who has set a positive tone for this country and he has a proven record of working to improve the quality of life for all Americans and a proven record of reaching out to all Americans. I think it really is disappointing to see the current leadership continue to repeat the hostile rhetoric they have used which really shows that they're not interested in a constructive dialogue. Nevertheless, the president is committed to continuing to reaching out to the African-American community and committed to continuing reaching out to NAACP members and he will do that based on his record and based on his vision." 8. McClellan leaving White House briefing room STORYLINE: US Democratic presidential contender John Kerry has accused President Bush of dividing America by race and riches. Taking advantage of a White House feud with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Kerry declared himself a leader of all people as he addressed the crowd at the annual convention of the NAACP. Bush skipped the convention to protest against the NAACP's criticism of his policies, but plans to address another influential black organisation, the Urban League, next week. White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters that the current leadership of the NAACP had clearly crossed the line in partisanship, making it impossible to have a constructive dialogue. President Bush hasn't spoken to the NAACP since the 2000 campaign, when the group's National Voter Fund ran an advert that portrayed him as unsympathetic to the killing of James Byrd, a black Texas man who was dragged to death behind a pickup truck by white men in 1998. Since the 2000 campaign, which ended in the Florida ballot fiasco that angered many black voters, the NAACP has called Bush an illegal president, compared his anti-abortion views to the Taliban and called his trip to Africa a photo opportunity. Kerry's address to the NAACP in Philadelphia on Thursday was tailored toward the supportive - yet sceptical - black community.

TAPE_NUMBER: EF00/0855 IN_TIME: 03:32:45 - 07:29:31 - 09:19:30 LENGTH: 03:08 SOURCES: APTN RESTRICTIONS: FEED: VARIOUS (THE ABOVE TIME-CODE IS TIME-OF-DAY) SCRIPT: English/Nat XFA Four years ago, a handful of internet companies attempted to cover the Republican National Convention in San Diego. The Philadelphia 2000 convention has already been dubbed the first E-convention ... and new technology is promising to revolutionise the way Americans see and get involved in their political process. Scores of news organisations at the Convention have promised Internet users unprecedented access from living rooms across the country. Republican Conventions are not unaccustomed to the sight of thousands of party faithful, television, radio and print journalists covering the event. But this year there is an addition - the internet is making its presence felt right on the floor. As television networks scale back coverage, news organisations, from veteran ABC News to newcomer Pseudo, are turning to Web sites to fill the void. Yahoo!, C-Span, MSNBC and several other sites are Webcasting the conventions live, gavel to gavel. Some even let viewers choose vantage points for sight and sound. Pseudo.com has 360-degree remote cameras on the floor - and computer users around the world can direct the camera to the angle they want to catch all the action. That is, if the site is working - there have been a few technical hitches. "Internet Alley" is a short walk away from the convention floor. It's a crowded hall with more than 35 different organisations all tailoring their material for the internet. Small dot.com companies compete with the giant American Television networks - all trying to get their take on the convention. SOUNDBITE: (English) "And this is actually the first E-convention against which is going to be the benchmark for future conventions, so we had to make it work ... and I think it is working." SUPER CAPTION: Don Upson, Convention Internet Manager High profile guests are prominent features of this "e-convention." Republican Congressman David Drier took himself away from the convention floor to hold a chat session on-line with Excite.com. As chairman of the House of Representatives Rules committee, Drier is the convention's parliamentarian - the man who makes sure that all political procedures are correctly followed. Attracting the convention's big names down Internet Alley has not been a problem. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Its actually been really great. I think people are really excited about it. They get to basically come in and ask a question that has been on their mind and there is no filter to it. They just come in and ask their question and they get an answer right then and there from some one who is in a position to know." SUPER CAPTION: Cecilia Marihart, Excite.com So successful have the dot.com organisations been in attracting big names that the more traditional media outlets hang around Internet Alley to see who's paying a visit. New Jersey Governor Christie Whitman and Representative Jennifer Dunn were guests on ABC.com. Prominent television reporter and anchor Sam Donaldson played moderator - enthusiastic about his role in the new medium. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I think over the air broadcasting is going down the drain. I think one of the reasons why the networks are trying to get into this is because we recognize we are dinosaurs if we don't do something different to use this new technology in a few years people will look at us like a dinosaur say, here are the bones ... I wonder what it looked like, lets reconstruct it and put it in a museum." SUPER CAPTION: Sam Donaldson, ABC reporter Convention organisers are impressed with the enthusiasm generated by their newest medium and they can only dream what will happen down Internet Alley in 2004. SHOTLIST: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - July 31, 2000 1. Wide shot of crowded convention hall 2. Pull back from traditional TV camera, to 360 degree remote camera 3. Mid shot of dot.com company signs from convention floor 4. Tilt up shot of Pseudo.com camera and microphone 5. Pan of convention floor 6. Mid shot of computer 7. Close-up of computer screen showing video from convention floor 8. Pan of man with digital camera 9. Pull back of Internet Alley sign 10. Close-up of computer screen of TV cameraman 11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Don Upson, Convention Internet Manager 12. Close-up pan of Congressman David Drier arriving at Excite.com 13. Pull back shot of fingers typing 14. Mid shot Drier talking to computer operators 15. Wide shot of Drier talking to computer operators 16. SOUNDBITE: (English) Cecilia Marihart, Excite.com 17. Mid shot of computers 18. Pan from digital computers to booth 19. Push in shot of woman holding camera 20. Wide shot crowd around ABC.com booth 21. Various of ABC reporter Sam Donaldson talking to New Jersey Governor Christie Whitman and Representative Jennifer Dunn, (Republican-Washington) 22. Pull back view of web page 23. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sam Donaldson, ABC reporter 24. Pull back view of MSNBC.com 25. Close-up man working at voter.com 26. Close-up woman working at computer screen?

Work Pays America

TAPE_NUMBER: EF01/0286 IN_TIME: 14:28:57 LENGTH: 04:39 SOURCES: APTN/VAR. FILM DISTRIBUTORS RESTRICTIONS: No re-use/re-sale of film/video/tv clips without clearance FEED: SCRIPT: xfa English/Nat Title: Oscars: Best Actor Date: File Location: Various With the Oscars just six days away, the race for best Actor is one of the most open. The five nominees for the Academy Award are Tom Hanks for Castaway, Russell Crowe for Gladiator, Ed Harris for Pollock, Geoffrey Rush for Quills and Javier Bardem for Before Night Falls. The bookies' joint favorites are Tom Hanks and Russell Crowe. Tom Hanks is no stranger to the Oscars' podium having won twice previously for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump. With his latest film Cast Away, he has to carry the movie alone, aided only an inanimate object. Surviving a plane crash in the Pacific, he is stranded alone on a desert island with the few things that wash up on the island with him. One of those things is a football, on which he paints a face and adds some tufts of hair. The resulting object becomes his confidant and friend. A modest and likeable man, the actor, director, writer, producer sums up his career thus: "I've made 20 movies, and five of them are pretty good." Tom Hanks is married to actress Rita Wilson with whom he has two children. He was educated at Chabot Junior College, Hayward, California (attended one year) and California State University, Sacramento, where he majored in theatre. His mother worked in a hospital and his father, Amos Hanks, was a cook. Coincidentally, the father of fellow nominee, Russell Crowe, also works in the catering trade, albeit the showbiz end - Crowe's parents run a film catering company. Crowe, nominated for his powerful performance as Maximus in Gladiator, was born in Wellington, New Zealand, on April 7th 1964. He grew up in Australia, so has aspects of both cultures - the New Zealander's persistence twinned with a streak of Australian happy-go-lucky charm. He rose to fame as the quick-tempered, brutal cop Bud White in L.A. Confidential after playing opposite Gene Hackman and Sharon Stone in The Quick and the Dead. Other movies include Proof of LIfe, The Insider, Romper Stomper and Proof. Film runs in his blood. His Grandfather, Stan Wymess, was a cinematographer during WWII. He is cousin to Martin Crowe, the New Zealand cricket player. When he isn't making movies he spends his time on his Australian cattle station. In fact, he likes it so much he was reported recently to have left Meg Ryan, with whom he had an affair while shooting "Proof of Life", to spend more time with his cows. His previous awards include: Australian Film Institute: Best Supporting Actor, Proof 1992: Australian Film Institute: Best Actor, Romper Stomper 1999: National Board of Review: Best Actor, The Insider 1999: Los Angeles Film Critics Association: Best Actor, The Insider 1999: Broadcast Film Critics Association: Best Actor, The Insider 1999: National Society of Film Critics Award: Best Actor, The Insider. Ed Harris is nominated for his role in the Jackson Pollock biopic, Pollock, which he also directed. Marcia Gay Harden, who plays his wife in the film, has been nominated for a best Best Actress award. Harris first came into the public eye when he played the role of astronaut, John Glen in The Right Stuff. He actually made it into space (at least on-screen) when he took on the role of Gene Kranz in Apollo 13 for which he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. He was also praised for his part as the Controller in The Truman Show. He can currently be seen in Enemy at the Gate, in which he plays a German sniper. Australian born actor, Geoffrey Rush has been nominated for his role as the Marquis de Sade in Quills. Like Hanks, he has made the walk up to the stage before. He won the Best Actor Oscar for Shine in 1996. He has since starred in The Tailor of Panama, House on Haunted Hill, Shakespeare in Love, Elizabeth and Les Mis?rables. Spanish actor, Javier Bardem is the fifth nominee, cited for his role in Before Night Falls. Bardem had a shot at playing the villain in the 1999 James Bond movie ''The World Is Not Enough'' but ended up turning it down. ''With all my respects,'' he says, ''that's not the kind of thing I like to do.... I want to be on risk. Otherwise, this job has no meaning.'' Bardem certainly got his wish, playing persecuted gay Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas in the fact-based biopic ''Before Night Falls.'' Enlisted by director Julian Schnabel after Benicio Del Toro passed on the role, Bardem had less than two months to learn Arenas' highly idiosyncratic speaking style. He had to speak fluently in both Cuban-inflected Spanish, which is heavily colloquial, and Cuban-accented English. To master these argots, Bardem worked 11 hours a day for six weeks with a coach. At night, he listened to tapes of the writer reading his autobiography, a sad task because ''you can hear that he is dying.'' (Arenas, who fled Cuba in 1980, contracted AIDS and later died in New York City in 1990.) In one of the film's most astonishing passages, Bardem enacts the author's last quarter hour of life in real time. Bardem had to argue passionately to keep the scene at its true length. SHOTLIST: 1. FILM CLIP - BEFORE NIGHT FALLS 2. SOT JAVIER BARDEM ON BEING NOMINATED 3. FILM CLIP - GLADIATOR 4. SOT RIDLEY SCOTT ON RUSSELL CROWE 5. FILM CLIP - POLLOCK 6. SOT ED HARRIS 7. FILM CLIP - QUILLS 8. SOT GEOFFREY RUSH 9. FILM CLIP - CASTAWAY 10. SOT TOM HANKS?

WORK PAYS AMERICA

**LOGGED BY JOANNA SUAREZ AND JACLYN EVENS** In NY interplay as: RS 5105 CAMPAIGN 2012 ROMNEY ROUNDTABLE PHILADELPHIA PA 052412 P1 FTG OF PRESUMPTIVE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE MITT ROMNEY HOLDING A ROUNDTABLE WITH EDUCATORS AT UNIVERSAL BLUFORD CHARTER IN PHILADELPHIA, PA 052412 ROMNEY INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 08:52:53 Romney walks in, all sit down at roundtable 08:53:47 Romney shakes hands with Kenneth Gamble 08:53:53 KENNETH GAMBLE: On behalf of Universal Companies, and all the wonderful students we have in Philadelphia, I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome Governor Romney to the great city of Philadelphia. And today is a special day because of your presence, Governor. And we pray that your stay in Philadelphia is a pleasant one. And that we can discuss today the most important thing that we at Universal believe, AND THAT IS EDUCATION. And being that the experience of African Americans in this country where there was a time when it was against the law of the country for people of African descent to even read or write. It is even more important today that we discuss education for the African American community because of the conditions that are in the African American community as it relates to prisons and crimes. So I'm glad that you're here so we can discuss and find out what your thoughts are as it relates to the destiny and future of America. Because America is for everyone and the African American community is a major portion of this country. And that is our number one concern, is how do we develop the educational system that connects the African Americans with their history and past before slavery. So, once again, thank you for being here. 08:55:50 MITT ROMNEY: Thank you, thank you. Well, once again, Kenny, I appreciate the chance to be with you and I come to learn obviously from people who are having experiences that are unique and instructive, not just to me but I think to the nation. And I have my own experiences relating to education and the experiences of people in Massachusetts. I realize right now the rivalry between Boston and Philadelphia between the Seventy Sixers and the Celtics may strain this discussion (laughs) and instead talk about our young people. When I came in as a new governor, there were a number of features that concerned me about our education system. One - there was a very substantial gap in the achievement scores of minority students relative to Caucasian students and I wondered why that gap was as large as it was there some way to improve it. Secondly it was clear there were some schools that were succeeding and some schools that were not succeeding. And it was not entirely based on urban schools versus suburban and rural. But there was some correlation of that nature. There were reports of some charter schools being highly successful and others being less so. So I came in with an open mind with as to what we could do to improve our education system and give our kids a better chance. 08:57:56 Romney: I'm going to briefly tell you my limited experience in those four years, what I learned. But I'd like to get your experience from the front lines and first salute you for the investment you made, financial and personal, in establishing a pathway for hundreds, thousands of young people to have changed lives. (KENNETH: "THANK YOU") I can't imagine anything more rewarding and more important to do. I came into office and talked to people and said what do we do to improve our schools and a number of folks said we need smaller classroom sizes, that will make the biggest difference. So I gathered information across our state. We had 351 cities and towns and I said let's compare the average class size from each district with the performance of our students. Because we test our kids so I said let us see if there is a relationship. And there was not. As a matter of fact, the district with the smallest classrooms Cambridge had students performing in the bottom 10 percent. So just getting smaller classrooms didn't seem to be the key. We had begun doing a couple things that made a difference. We began testing our kids, that was done before my time by several years. Democrats and Republicans came together to fashion a program where we would measure the progress of our students. And to graduate from high school you had to pass a graduation exam. And I added something to that with my friends in the legislature - the Speaker of the House and the Senate President - we were bipartisan on this by the way. We came together and put in place the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship program which said when you took that graduation exam, if you scored in the top quarter of those in your high school when you took in then you were entitled to this scholarship which was four years tuition free at a Massachusetts Public institution of higher learning. Now that paid for tuition not for fees and fees in Massachusetts are much higher than tuition but it was a help. And it communicated we were interested in performance in excellence. We were able to see our schools rise to be number one in the nation - Massachusetts as you may know in the NAPE exams is number one for fourth graders and eighth graders in both English and Math. And I attribute that to a number of things - one is we have a lot of good Catholic schools in Boston and in Massachusetts so there's been a good deal of school choice and that has not only helped those kids that go to those schools but I think it's helped elevate the public schools around them. And made them more competitive and they do a better job. I believe also that the Boston School District has focused on hiring excellent teachers, trying to find among the best and brightest of kids coming out of school and helping them get into teaching. I believe that makes a difference. 09:00:24 I was happy to see, by the way, in our state the achievement gap between minority and non minority was cut by about half as I recall from when we began testing until the time I was leaving as governor. I don't take the credit for that, but I think the focus on school choice, we have more and more charter schools, we're testing our kids and the effort to try and hire very capable teachers, those things combined. And then when I stepped back and studied the topic from the standpoint of researchers it struck me that there were three things that they spoke about that have the biggest impact on the quality of education in helping our kids. One was great teachers, hiring among the very best and brightest of teachers and having them have a career path that was not just associated with becoming an administrator, but being a great teacher was a great career in and of itself. Number two was having, where possible, a mom and a dad, a two parent family where two people could invest in the child's education, where one could be more involved with the child's homework and so forth by virtue of having two parents in the home, which of course is a rarity in many circumstances. And number three was sound leadership. People who were able to guide the school and to focus on its primary mission to make sure that discipline is in place and that student achievement is being tracked. But those three things seem to be highly correlated with success in schools and interestingly a number of charter schools, parochial schools, private schools and a number of public schools were able to get those things right. Great teachers, good career path for the teachers, helping involve families to the extent possible. And where there were single parents, still finding ways to involve them in the education of their child. And then superb leaders. So that's a very top, if you will, line kind of view, but I'm told about the success of these institutions that you helped found and this institution in particular. And I would love to get your perspective on what makes it work and what makes it better. 09:02:40 The reason I say that is I've proposed at the federal level we do some things to help do what I think makes a difference - And one, I propose is this. Which is that federal money, IDEA and title one money follows the student so that if a student wants to go to a charter school or a parochial school or private school depending on state law, depending on state law which of those they can do, the student can go and the money goes with the student. So we allow more choice for parents. I like every parent to have a choice and every child to have a chance, which is the phrase that I am describing. And number two, the amount of federal funds that go to a state will be dependent in part upon whether they have ample school choice, whether they're grading their schools to see which ones are succeeding or failing. Whether they make sure they don't prevent digital learning. Digital learning-Cyber learning, so to speak, technologies are improving every day, my guess is 10 years from now we'll find digital learning plays a bigger role in helping tailor education to the needs of each child. So those among other things are designed to improve digital opportunities, school choice. 09:03:58 And then with regards to the quality of teaching, boy I don't recall the number, but it is dozens of teacher quality programs at the federal government level. I'd like take those monies, bundle them up, send them back to the states and have states guide programs to improve the quality of their teachers. So, with that as an introduction.(KENNETH GAMBLE INTERJECTS: "THAT SOUNDS GOOD. THAT WAS A GOOD AND LONG INTRODUCTION..THATS A LONG INTRODUCTION! HA-HA-HA-HA-HA" 09;04;20 Continued laughter. Romney: YEAH, IVE BEEN KNOWN TO DO THAT FROM TIME TO TIME.LAUGHS GAMBLE: LAUGHTER. WELL, I APPRECIATE IT. IT WAS GOOD, IT FELT GOOD. (ROMNEY: WELL, THANK YOU!).GAMBLE CONTINUES, "Ryan would you like to make a comment?" 09;04;38 Ryan: I think, I mean you guys have a tremendous amount of experts in education sitting at that end of the table far more than mine. Mine is based separate. For all the poor performing schools that we talk about, BEHIND THAT ARE KIDS-TRAPPED. So my fundamental belief is that we have to rustle control so we can correct that situation. So, my only thing that I would add, and I would definitely ask Nick and David and all those guys who are actually in the field doing the work. When we constantly see talking about poor performing schools and what we do about it from the top level down, there is never any support. So there is always a penalty. We are going to do this and we are going to do that, but the bottom line is AT THE END OF THE DAY THERE ARE THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN TRAPPED TO THESE POOR PERFORMING SCHOOLS. So, whatever policies that one punishes those schools, those policies should be coupled with support. And to just add to what you basically said, because I hear that constantly just in the past 15 years-We are going to identify the bad schools, we are going to force them. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT FORCING AND THE TRANSITION OF THAT SCHOOL FROM BEING A POOR PERFORMING SCHOOL TO ACTUALLY BECOMING A GOOD SCHOOL COULD TAKE UP TO SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS. HOW MANY STUDENTS DID WE LOSE IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME? (ROMNEY: YEAH.).And that, this is at the end of the day when Kenny Gamble talked about the African American specifically, we have lost too many children because of that. And those children are growing up and they are having children. In real estate development, we have a concept called structural deficit-WE HAVE TO REBUILD THIS SYSTEM BECAUSE IT IS STRUCTURALLY MESSED UP. SO WE WILL NEVER GET TO THAT POINT THAT YOU DESCRIBED ABOUT HAVING A TWO PARENT SITUATION-A PAIR OF SUPPORT-AS A KEY COMPONENT FOR YOUR THREE. IT MIGHT BE TO GET GOOD TEACHERS AND GET GOOD LEADERSHIP. BUT WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE PARENT AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT BECAUSE IT IS UPSIDE DOWN. So we have to work at it both ways. And I don't want to be long.(Romney: No, that's alright).Go ahead, I think Nick and David, I think you guys are.. 09;07;00 Romney interjects: Let me note also, I didn't say, and I didn't mention that, but the WISDOM OF THE PEOPLE THAT PRECEDED ME IN MY STATE WAS THAT WHEN A SCHOOL WAS DEEMED TO BE FAILING, THEY HAD A PROVISION WHERE THE STATE WOULD THEN POTENTIALLY TAKE OVER THE SCHOOL AND BRING IN PLACE A CORE OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AND EXPERIENCED SCHOOL LEADERS THAT WOULD COME IN AND TURN THE SCHOOL AROUND. And I think that was not just saying, OKAY THIS SCHOOL IS A DISASTER, TOO BAD. IT WAS SAYING, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?? AND I THINK THAT IS YOUR POINT. And I think that is a very critical and important point. Thank you. 09;07;40 Gamble: You know, Governor, YOU HAVE TO GO BACK AND REMEMBER HOW THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF EDUCATION HAS FAILED. YOU KNOW, YOU GO BACK A FEW YEARS, EVEN IN BOSTON WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO INTEGRATE SCHOOLS AND THEY HAD YOUNG WHITE CHILDREN GOING INTO BLACK SCHOOLS AND THEY WERE THROWING EGGS AT LITTLE BLACK CHILDREN. SPITTING ON THEM AND CALLING THEM ALL KINDS OF NAMES. BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WILL NEVER WORK. THAT CONCEPT NEVER WORKED. THAT MINDSET WILL NEVER WORK. IT HAS TO BE A REGIMENT-IT IS A STRUCTURAL COMPONENT WITHIN THE THINKING OF AMERICA. And basically my job is to look after the African community in Philadelphia. And to look after what can I contribute during my lifetime. And what I see is trying to correct all of the miss-thinking as it relates to a people who has contributed SO MUCH TO THIS COUNTRY AND HAVE GOTTEN SO LITTLE BACK FROM THIS COUNTRY. So, I don't want us to think that the concepts, and I would like for you to know that basically, THIS WHOLE GOVERNMENT CONCEPT OF EDUCATION AND AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE NEEDS A NEW MIND. You have to be able to take America, and look at America and say WHERE IS AMERICA GOING IN THE NEXT 10/20/40/50/100 YEARS? WHERE IS IT GOING??? 09;09;27 Romney chuckles..YOU AND I ARENT GOING TO BE THERE, BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO WATCH IT.(mild chuckle) Gamble continues: But the key of it is, is that people remember you by what you build. NOTHING ELSE. Because when you go on vacation. Come to Philly. People come here, they want to see the liberty bell, want to see independence hall. THESE ARE THINGS THAT WERE BUILT BY THE FOUNDING FATHERS. You go to Greece, you go to Rome.All these other places. Those were built we have to build now. Because the foundation we are building on has a lot of DEFAULTS IN IT. And when I speak, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THE FUTURE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY. Because once that problem is solved, then I think that all of America will benefit from it. (Romney: "I agree, I agree") Gamble continues: ALL OF AMERICA. And so it has been overlooked for many many years so I just want to keep that on the burner. IT IS NOT OKAY. NOTHING IS OKAY. See, I am almost 70 years old, you are a young guy. 09;10;41 Romney: WE'RE NOT FAR APART, IM 65 HA-HA-HA Gamble: OH WELL WE'RE IN THE SAME BOAT HERE! (laughter). So, when you get to be seventy years old, you start to look at life a bit different. So those persons who can make a change, THEY MUST STEP UP TO THE PLATE. And I think a lot of it will have to do about the people you have around you, the way that they think, the people you associate yourself with. BECAUSE HOW DO YOU GET THIS THING DONE? Because it's not going to get done in 4 to 8 years. It has to be a major major plan, and you are going to need PEOPLE POWER MORE SO THAN MONEY POWER. BECAUSE YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO GET ENOUGH MONEY-That will just drive yourself into a hole. We have to get the community and people behind because the most important resource that we have is the resource of people. (Romney: Thank you!) 09;11;47 (Man participating in roundtable): So, I just want to talk a little bit about the cyber education. I started a Bricks and Mortar school that focused Latino population. SIMILAR ISSUES-DUAL LANGUAGE-ACADEMICALLY DOING EXCELLENT. But the most important issue is start with the STUDENT. And who cares most about the student is always the parents. Whether you are Latino or white or of low income or wealthy, you care most about your kids. So our families start there. And then, as was said earlier, you get to the Charter Schools, and Charter Schools are driven by the local politics of what it is. We spend so much as adults fighting each other about what is the politics? WHO GETS TO SERVE THE KID. And we always reach this cap that we cannot get beyond. So if you are 300 or 700 students, but you have ten thousand applying, you can only spend 300 students. So it has kind of moved into this idea-some states have cyber applications. Now, there are a lot of debates on cyber and whether they work or don't work, and a lot of critiques out there. But, it is not cyber online learning, sure technology is moving really quickly and other Bricks and Mortar schools need to move with them. But cybers allow us to give parents other options for their kids if they are trapped within their local setting. But really, it is the concept-we are playing with the concept of blended learning models. So it is like you use the best of technology, but you don't give away the Bricks and Mortars face to face instruction that you are doing. So we are taking the cyber stuff, which ALLOWS YOU TO STAY ABOVE THE POLITICS AND REALLY FOCUS ON WHAT THE KIDS WANT. So do a school within a school model. ROMNEY: SO YOU ARE COMBINING IT? Continues: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. A school within a school model. Specifically, we are focused on another in its population. So African Americans are considered a minority, Latinos. We are also saying there is a special needs population out there. Dyslexic kids, most of those kids out there are saying I get what I get at my school, and if it is good, FANTASTIC. But most parents are saying, it's not what I want or need-WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? Private independent schools-20-40 thousand dollars a shot. Most families can't afford that. So it was like, we are trying to create another option for those parents. So it is another way to think of that. You look at LOCAL POLITICS, STATE POLITICS AND FEDERAL POLITICS. So your idea of like the dollar following the students is a fantastic one. Will it support a school entirely? Not necessarily, so then it gets to how are our states thinking. But states have state politics and then they have local ones, and PA has now got 3,000 districts and to get a charter into those districts is always a challenge. And the more districts have more. So that is kind of the hard thing with Politics. 09;14;25 Romney: How is cyber learning being received, if you will, at the local and the state level. Guy: So you have 30 thousand students in there that sometimes want it, but it's not the cyber education they necessarily want. So when you look at performance, they are not necessarily doing as well. That's why we are saying LETS DO THE BLENDED LEARNING MODEL. Because you don't need to do it just all online, but also face to face. But the question is how do you do it? So cybers are starting to adapt to these learning hub concepts. Like where do we establish learning hubs, still give them the best of technology but also face to face. So, that is kind of how-IF YOU DO THAT MODEL, THE PARENTS ARE VERY RECEPTIVE TO IT. IF ITS JUST THE PURELY ONLINE MODEL, SOME PARENTS ARE RECEPTIVE, BUT THEY ARE MORE JUST YOUR HOME SCHOOL POPULATION. 09;15;15 Romney: Yeah, I am thinking of a more blended setting within a charter school or a standard public school that digital learning-cyber learning is part of the curriculum and able to enhance, if you will, the way the learning experience is enhanced through the tailoring to each individual child. David it looked like you had something to add. 09;15;36 David: First of all, I want to say that I send a lot of guys up to MA.Our school is an all boys school, high school. It is called Boys Latin. And as the name implies, four years of Latin. What struck me was when Kenny talked about in Boston when they tried to integrate the schools. Whenever they talk about providing education for low income kids, they always talk about sending them to a school somewhere else. WHY CANT WE HAVE GOOD SCHOOLS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD? And I think that is what you see in this school here. And that is what you see in our school. You see good education accessible by people they know in this community. People they know CARE ABOUT THEM. Everybody in this school wants to be here. WHY IS THIS SUCH A GOOD SCHOOL? BECAUSE EVERYONE WANTS TO BE HERE. The kids want to be here, the parents, the teachers, the administrators love it, the board loves it. EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE HERE AND THE POWER OF CHOICE BRINGS GREAT THINGS. GREAT OPPORTUNITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS. AND THE THING YOU COULD DO AS PRESIDENT IS GIVE THEM AS MUCH CHOCE AS POSSIBLE. GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS GOOD EDUCATION IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND YOU WILL SEE THOSE COMMUNITIES CHANGE AND YOU WILL CERTAINLY SEE THOSE LIVES CHANGE. So that is why we can send these boys to great schools all over the country. Because they got a great education in their community where they were comfortable. It allowed them to have the ability to step out of their community, go forward and feel confident and capable to achieve. 09;18;00 Romney: Well, that is quite a story. And I'm glad you sent that point guard to Boston!! (laughter) David: I would get a season ticket if I were you! (EVERYONE: HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!!!!!) Romney: IM HOPING NOT TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME IN MY HOME TOWN!! HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!! Thank you QUESTION ABOUT CLASS SIZE 9:18:33 (man in red tie, music teacher, can't read his name):Yeah, I would like to bring up two concerns in terms of the way you opened up your introduction. These are things I think about as a teacher all the time, like one, is class size and the other is testing. Kind of like when I was driving to school today I heard your position on class size and testing and apparently it's a platform and education is I guess a topic right now. But you know I can't think of any teacher in the whole time I have been teaching, 13 years, who would say that more students [in the classroom] would benefit. And I can't think of a parent that would say I would like my teacher to be in a room with a lot of kids and only one teacher. So I'm wondering where this research comes from. And another thing is you're looking at their test scores. So you're saying that big class sizes don't affect the test scores. Well that to me is a whole different issue. I think kids are being over tested and I say this because I was listening to 7 Habits of Higher Individuals and he was saying that you know the really good instructor, a really good teacher, a really good leader is not getting their kids to answer questions, they're going to ask the questions. And I think a lot of our education system is directed to kids answering questions and not asking the right ones. And you'd be surprised how many faces I look at and there's no questions. You know it's like where are the hands going up? Isn't this music, science, art, history, culture. Don't you want to know about this stuff. And I feel like they feel like they're going to be tested on it. And in terms for me, lifelong learning, lifelong leadership has to do with asking the questions, wanting to learn. 0920:58 music teacher: So I believe in assessment but not in terms of like this school won't get no money if they don't get 98s. because there are so many things we're dealing with as the African American community that have to do with character development. And have to do with how do we even want to be educated in a society that has oppressed us. And I think they do want to be educated, but it's like where are the questions? If you really want to be educated, where are the questions? And it concerns me. the testing. It concerns me you know the class size. Mr. Bennett would you want more kids in the classroom? ROUNDTABLE LAUGHS BENNETT (Teaches Technology class): It's large enough, actually it's too large. It varies between classes but anywhere from 23 to 28 somewhere in there. And you can give more personalized attention to each student if you have a smaller class size. GAMBLE: What's your view on it? ROMNEY: On class size? Well if you had a class of five that would be terrific, if you had a class of 50 that's impossible. So there are points where I think those who have looked at schools in this country and schools around the world, McKenzie for instance, that consulting firm McKenzie Institute, which is a think tank type organization went around the world and looked at schools in Singapore and Finland and South Korea and the United States and looked at differences and said gosh, schools that are the highest performing in the world, their classroom sizes are about the same as in the United States. So it's not the classroom size that is driving the success of those school systems. And then they looked at it and said well what is driving the success of those school systems? It's parents very involved and the idea of choice means you have chosen to be involved, parents are involved, excellent teachers, drawing teachers from the very best and brightest of graduates. And administrators that are able to guide the school with good policies of discipline and getting the right resources. So it was those things that tended to drive the most successful nations relative to those that were less successful. 09:23:34 TEACHER (next to music teacher): There was a study done by the University of Tennessee, a definitive study about class size and what they said was that in first through third grade, if the class size is under 18 those kids stay ahead of everybody else all the way through school, including classes where you might have 25 in the class and co-teachers. Those students lose their gains after a couple years. If you have small classes in those primary years, those most important years, that's what makes the difference. And what it is, you go to school from first to third grade you learn to read. From third grade on, you read to learn. So if you don't get that reading piece you never catch up. That's where really is the most critical. And then once you do that, once you have kids kind of stabilized and everybody is on the same page, you can have kind of bigger classes. They used to have Catholic schools around here with 50 kids in the class and kids learned because everybody was there for the same reason. And that's where choice comes in. 09:24:47 But if you can find a way to help, especially in those primary years and make that a priority then when a kid comes out of third grade they can read, they can do basic computation, they have the foundation to move forward. TEACHER: We have spent all day talking about class size, but that's just one aspect of many systems that makes schools work. You talk a lot about your background in business. And in business, there are two sides of education. There's the education side but there's the business side. So all of those factors have to be working properly. All the systems. And the charter movement and as you know you talked about cyber, charter is a new phenomenon in many cases. You need to build that capacity, that infrastructure from leadership, from administrator, all the way down to teacher leadership. And when we compete against systems that are 100 years old. So when you compare it like that you know you need to provide that additional support. MOM AND DAD EXCHANGE 09:26:36 Patricia Coulter, President of the Philadelphia Urban League: The report we just released in 2012 says that African Americans are only 71 percent as well of as whites in America. And we do a statistical measurement of five areas - economics, education, health, social justice and civic engagement. And when you look at the independent entities in all those areas, the two that stand out the most for us happen to be economics and education. And so those two thinks are linked. So it's hard to talk about one without talking about the other. So jobs become really the basis for so much and as I listen to you talk about your three points of class size, parents, leadership, the thought that came to my mind was for those young people, those students, children where the parents are struggling to just keep food on the table, or a place to live. Are shuffling from a shelter to a relative and back to a shelter and back to a relative and the child is being upset each time that happens. How do you view that whole perspective? We're talking about a lot of children. [In] Philadelphia, and my colleagues can correct me, our poverty rate is close to 28 percent in Philadelphia. That's huge. So it's a lot of children that are in that position where they may not have the support of a parent or a guardian to really make good choice and good decisions. So as you think through that what do you see as elements that you would like to propose that could really help to move the needle a bit on that equality gap. In the last couple of years we've also measured the Latino gap and it's also falling in and around that same 70 percent. So something is happening and maybe it's the structural pieces that we're talking about that need to be. maybe as Kenny said we throw them all away and start over. We're losing so many people and I don't think America can afford to lose so many people. 9:29:38 ROMNEY: I totally agree. Education and the gap in the educational opportunity and achievement of people of color in this society I believe is the civil rights issue of our time. And you'll have a better perspective of that than I do but from my perspective our failure to provide kids with the skills they need for the jobs of today and tomorrow is a crisis. We have an American education crisis. And we keep doing the same things, expecting somehow things to get better. Guys, we gotta try some new things. We gotta be bold and you go back to the more foundational elements which I totally agree with you. For a single mom living in a shelter with a couple of kids, those kids are at an enormous disadvantage. There's no question about that. Relative to a home where a mom and a dad are able to be home for dinner. I remember that study a few years ago that showed what a big advantage it was to just have dinner together as a family (Roundtable nods, says right, right) 09:30:45 Romney: And to have a Mom and Dad home where if one is bushed the other can spend some time with the child and help them with their homework. If a parent sees a child isn't reading up to the level they should be they can talk to the school and say hey I'm upset my child isn't reading very well. Having two parents in the home makes an enormous difference. And so if we're thinking about the kids of tomorrow, trying to help move people to understand you know getting married and having families where there's a mom and a dad together has a big impact. And in my view that's critical down the road. For those that are already in the setting where they don't have two parents having good jobs. Right now with so many people out of work and particularly in the minority communities, this is devastating not just for the people that are out of work, but for their kids and the next generation. The cost of now 3 ½ - 4 years of recession like economics and employment opportunities, is not just born by the adults it's born by the next generation. And that's why in my opinion it's such an urgent priority to bring jobs back, to get this economy going again, to put people to work so they're not in a shelter, they're in an apartment or a home. The consequences is more than just those adults that are out of work. It's not just the 8, 10, 15 percent depending on how you're counting. It's instead the next generation. So jobs, intact families where that's possible. In many cases that's not possible. But where that is possible, intact families. And then the education experience. What was encouraging to me was the so-called education gap between minority and non-minority in our schools in MA-that difference was cut in half in part by the kinds of things that were done that preceded me, as well as through our term. For instance, the Adams Scholarship, saying if you do well in school you get to go to college and get a college tuition. It's not just a stick, it's also a carrot. And focusing on getting good teachers to the extent possible. If schools were failing, having the state be able to take over and get them back on track. In 1993, we had a provision that said if a school is consistently failing and a state takes it over, they can remove any provision within the union contract which they believe is interfering with the education of the children. SO IT HAD GREAT FREEDOM AND FLEXIBILITY TO FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF THE CHILD AND HELP THE TEACHER IN THAT EFFORT. So we are learning lessons. I guess, what frustrates me IS MOST FOLKS KNOW WHAT THE ANSWERS ARE, WE JUST DON'T SEEM TO BE DOING WHAT IS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THOSE ANSWERS. There are all these forces that don't want to see that change. David talks about letting the communities have choice within the community as opposed to having to go 40 miles out of the way for a private school. LETS CREATE THOSE CHOICES. THIS SHOULD BE A PRIORITY. 09;34;12 From off camera: CAN I MAKE A REQUEST? Building on that point. I don't think there has ever been a president in this country who wasn't pro-education. I don't think there has ever been a presidential candidate who wasn't pro-education. But what happens is you get in to that job I think and the education department is a small part of the budget compared to other things going on. But as you said, education is inexplicably linked to other big issues we have in this country. ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE HERE AND EVERY STUDENT IN THIS BUILDING, WE NEED A PRESIDENT WHO WAKES UP EVERY MORNING DETERMINED TO MAKE A MESSAGE OF THIS. Because, in this city and others in America, we have schools that are doing it for kids that are in the most challenging situations. And right across the street, we have schools who are not doing it. And what is the difference between those schools, from my experience? I MEAN, YOU ALREADY TALKED ABOUT GREAT TEACHING BEING THE MOST IMPORTANT (Romney nods). BUT WHAT REALLY SEPARATES THOSE SCHOOLS IN MY EXPERIENCE IS THERE IS A FOCUS IN THOSE BUILDINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT GREAT TEACHING HAPPENS IN EVERY CLASSROOM EVERY DAY, DAY IN AND DAY OUT. And the schools that aren't getting it done, it's not because they don't want to get it done. I have met very few people on education who didn't get into it to help kids. BUT IT IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE LOST THEIR FOCUS. OTHER FACTORS HAVE INTERVENED AND THEY HAVE LOST FOCUS. AND WE AS A COUNTRY HAVE LOST FOCUS. If half of the energy that has been spent in this country over the last years debating the different models, charter vs. public, private vs. public-If we put half of that energy that goes into those fights to getting the job done right for kids, we would be the number one country in the world on education. I HAVE NO DOUBT ABOUT IT BUT WE LOSE FOCUS. We need a president-at the end of the day, most education spending and policy is done locally. BUT YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT INSIGHT. MONEY AND FOCUS NEEDS TO FOLLOW THE KID. WE NEED TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE JOB. I WOULD SAY YOU NEED EVERY SPEECH ABOUT JOBS, THE ECONOMY, AND HIGHER EDUCATION TO COME BACK TO THOSE BASIC THINGS. THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO. Romney: Thank you, thank you. 09;36;33 Gamble: Well, in closing, Governor, thank you for coming here to listen and also give your comments. I would just like to give one request to you. THAT YOU COME BACK TO US LATER. WHEN AND IF YOU ARE IN THE POSITION. Because it is one thing to come NOW. But if the spirit guides you to that point if you are POTUS, I want to see if you will come back. BECAUSE YOU NEED US. THE COUNTRY NEEDS US. THEY NEED THIS TYPE OF UNIT THAT CAN DEAL WITH THE REALITY OF AMERICA. NOT THE JOKES. Not the fictitious thing that we're dealing with. Because in the education of America, there is the fundamentals, the fluff, and then there is the business of America. THIS EDUCATION BUSINESS HAS BEEN A CASH COW FOR MANY PEOPLE FOR MANY YEARS. AND IT HAS TURNED OUT THE WORST PRODUCT THAT YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE. WHAT IT IS DOING IS IT IS FEEDING THE PRISON BUSINESS RIGHT NOW. AND SO WE SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING. DON'T THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DOES NOT SEE WHAT IS GOING ON. The danger in that is YOU HAVE A COUNTRY THAT IS NOT BALANCED. And when you get imbalanced, you get problems. And America is too great of a country, too great of a concept and an idea to let it fail. So thank you for coming into Philadelphia. Romney: Thank you, Kenny, thank you very much! ROUND TABLE APPLAUDS. 09;38;30 BROLL CAMERA P/O TO A W/S OF ROUND TABLE. 09;38;35 ROMNEY: HELP US UNDERSTAND, AND YOU MAY MAKE A NOTE ON THIS. HOW DO YOU KEEP SCHOOLS FOCUSED ON THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS? WHY DOES THAT HAPPEN IN SOME SCHOOLS AND NOT OTHERS. ONE SIDE OF THE STREET AND NOT THE OTHER? BECAUSE YOU ARE RIGHT, YOU ARE DOING IT HERE! THAT'S WHAT IS INTERESTING. THAT IS HAPPENING AMONG THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM. THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE, BECAUSE THIS IS A SUCCESSFUL ENTERPRISE. HOW DO WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN SCHOOL BY SCHOOL? WE WILL TALK ABOUT IT. THANK YOU EVERYONE. THANKS BUDDY. 09;39;00 BROLL members get up. Romney shakes hands with Kenneth Gamble. Stands and talks with members of roundtable.

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President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the 95th National Convention of Disabled American Veterans Participants: President Barack Obama Time: 1:34 pm EDT, Date: Monday, August 1st, 2016 OBAMA: Thank you, DAV. (APPLAUSE) Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Please everybody have a seat. What an honor to be with you today. (APPLAUSE) Thank you and thanks to Bobby. You know, I'll never forget the time Bobby came to the Oval Office carrying a baseball bat. Secret Service got a little nervous. It was a genuine Louisville Slugger. Thank you for going to bat for our veterans. I want to thank Bobby for your devotion to our veterans, especially your fellow Vietnam vets. Thank you. Let's give Bobby a big round of applause.(APPLAUSE) OBAMA: I love you back. (APPLAUSE) I do. I want to thank our outstanding leadership team for welcoming me today including National Commander Moses McIntosh, Senior Vice Commander Dave Riley, National Adjutant Marc Burgess, Executive Director Barry Jesinoski, your voice in Washington Garry Augustine, and don't forget Pat Kemper and all the spouses and families of the DAV Auxiliary, thank you. I also want to acknowledge Mayor Kasim Reed and County Chairman John Eaves for welcoming us to the great state of Georgia and the beautiful city of Atlanta. I am pleased to be joined by our tireless Secretary of the V.A. Bob McDonald. I know he spoke to you yesterday. He is working hard, hard, every single day to transform the V.A. to serve our veterans better. He still gives out his cell phone number and his e-mail. Not many people know this but so far he's received more than 45,000 calls, e-mails and texts. And you know I don't know what his phone bill is looking like. I hope he has a good plan. But Bob and his team work to deal with each one of those texts or e-mails or phone calls he receives because every single veteran matters and he knows that. So thank you Bob for the great work you're doing. So it's good to be back with the Disabled American Vets. And what a journey that we've had together. It's great to be here. You know we worked together back when I was a Senator; you were one of the first veteran's organizations I called when I ran for president. I welcomed you to the White House as a partner. I came to your convention in my first term and my second, along with Michelle. And so it is fitting that my final major address to our nation's veterans as president is here at the DAV. And as I reflect on these past eight years, some of the most unforgettable experiences that I've had have been moments I've spent with you, America's veterans and your families. We stood together at Arlington to honor Corporal Frank Buckles, 110 years old, our last veteran from the First World War as he was laid to rest. I ordered our flags to be flown at half-staff because even after 100 years, we will never stop saluting those who served in our name. We stood together in Normandy to thank an entire generation, among them my grandfather who was in Patton's army, a generation that literally saved the world. It was Harry Kokwicz (ph) who returned to the beaches he helped liberate and told he could have anything he wanted said with the humility of a soldier, a hamburger will do just fine. I think of Luta McGrath, this past Veteran's Day, just before her 108th birthday, then the oldest known female veteran of World War II which was a reminder that women have always served to keep America strong and free. We've stood together at the memorial to our Korean War veterans and recalled how a soldier marching through the snow had a tiny pair of baby booties hanging from his rifle, a reminder of his unborn child. A story that had been lost to history. But we tracked him down. We found him. We shared the story of Korean War veteran Dick Shank (ph) who made it home to that baby boy and lived out his life at 84 years old he was still roller skating because no war should ever be forgotten and no veteran should ever be overlooked.OBAMA: We stood together at the Wall and remembered the lessons of Vietnam: that even when Americans may disagree about a war, we have to stand united in support of our troops. (APPLAUSE) And that for mothers like Sarah Chin (ph) who honored her missing son for more than four years, we will never stop working to bring home our prisoners of war and our missing in action. We leave nobody behind. No one. (APPLAUSE) And we've come together to welcome our newest veterans into your ranks. From Desert Storm, the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq, our proud 9/11 generation. This is a time of transition. When I came into office we had nearly 180,000 American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. today, that number is less than 15,000. most of our troops have come home. (APPLAUSE) So all of you who served in Afghanistan, you can take enormous pride of the progress you helped achieve; driving Al Qaida out its camps, toppling the Taliban, delivering justice to Osama bin Laden, helping Afghans improve their lives. There are millions of boys and girls in school and democratic elections in a democratic government. Training Afghan forces to take responsibility for their own security so that we are no longer engaged in a major ground war in Afghanistan. That is your legacy. And today we salute our forces serving there on a more limited mission, supporting Afghan forces, going after terrorists because we must never allow Afghanistan to be used as a safe haven for terrorists to attack our nation again. To all of you... (APPLAUSE) To all of you who served in Iraq, we saw your heroism in pushing out a dictators whose brutality must be condemned, never praised and defeating an insurgency and giving the Iraqi people a chance. And no matter what has happened since, you're valor in the deserts in fierce urban combat will be honored in the notes (ph) of military history. And let me say something else about this generation. As commander in chief, I'm pretty tired of some folk's trash talking America's military and troops. (APPLAUSE) Our military is somewhat smaller after two major ground wars come to a close, that's natural. And we're going to keep them doing everything we need to do to improve readiness and modernize our forces. But lets get some facts straight. America's army is the best trained, best equipped land force on the planet. (APPLAUSE) Our Navy is the largest and most lethal in the world. (APPLAUSE) The precision of and reach of our Air Force is unmatched. (APPLAUSE) Our Marines are the world's only truly expeditionary force. (APPLAUSE) We have the world's finest Coast Guard. We have the most capable fighting force in history and we're going to keep it that way. (APPLAUSE) And no ally or adversary should ever doubt our strength and our resolve (ph) and we will keep pounding ISIL and taking out their leaders and pushing them back on the ground. And united with a global coalition, we will destroy this barbaric terrorist group. They will be destroyed. (APPLAUSE) In the face of Russian aggression, we're not gonna turn our back to our allies in Europe. We're going to stay united in NATO which is the world's strongest alliance. (APPLAUSE) From the Asia-Pacific, to Africa, to the Americas, the United States and our armed forced will remain the greatest force for freedom and security and peace that the world has ever known. That is your legacy, that is what we have to protect and that is what we have to defend. (APPLAUSE) And let me -- let me say this. No one -- no one has given more for our freedom and our security than our Gold Star families.(APPLAUSE) OBAMA: Michelle and I have spent countless hours with them. We have grieved with them. There was a reason why last week in Philadelphia, I was humbled to be introduced by Sharon Belkofer from Ohio, a Gold Star mom whose son Tom, a lieutenant colonel in the Army gave his life in Afghanistan. I requested Sharon to introduce me, because I understood that our Gold Star families have made a sacrifice that most of us cannot even begin to imagine. (APPLAUSE) They represent the very best of our country. They continue to inspire us every day, every moment. They serve as a powerful reminder of the true strength of America. And we have to do everything we can for those families and honor them, and be humbled by them. DAV, I know that your service is also be defined by another battle. This is a group that understands sacrifice. (APPLAUSE) You have been defined by the battle here at home -- you have been defined by the battle here at home to persevere through wounds and disabilities. I think of a veteran from Iraq who lost her arm, but who said she decided to focus, "Not only on what I had lost, but on what I still have." I see -- I see that same spirit in you. Maybe it was there in the hospital bed fighting your life, you learned what it really means to have faith. Maybe it was during rehab, learning without -- how to live without a leg or both, you learned what it really means to persevere. About a month ago, I went to Walter Reed. I do this periodically, and was in the rehab unit watching some of these folks work out. And I decided to -- you might have seen this, I was doing some push ups with them, and trying to keep up with them. And I was sweating and getting all tired. They took it easy on me. (LAUGHTER) But it gave me a sense of -- just a small sense of what perseverance really means. Maybe it was during the night when the memories came rushing back, and you summoned the courage to reach out, and get help and stay strong. I was proud to help recognize your patriotism and resilience in the heart of our nation's capital, when we dedicated the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. (APPLAUSE) So, this organization shows us, shows this nation what it means to be strong. But as strong as you are -- and nobody is stronger than our disabled vets -- I know you didn't make this journey alone. You are here because of love and support of your families, and your caregivers, and your neighbors, and your communities and your fellow veterans. (APPLAUSE) They were the shoulder you leaned on, who carried you when you couldn't walk. Who picked you up when you stumbled. Who celebrated your victories with you, and sometimes, just made you laugh and reminded you how good life can be. And that brings me to what I want to talk about here today. For more than two centuries, this country that we love hasn't just endured; we have thrived, we have overcome challenges that would have broken a lesser nation. And not thanks to any one person or one group of people, but because -- like you learned in the military, we are all one team. We believe in taking care of each other, and in lifting each other up and leaving no one behind. And in meeting in the collective responsibilities that we can only meet together; the security of our nation, the education of our children, dignity for our seniors, equal rights for all our citizens, health care -- which is now a right for everybody -- and the care and wellbeing of our veterans and your families. That is a responsibility for all of us, not just a few. We all have to do our part. And as I've said before, America's commitment to our veterans is not just lines in a budget. And it can't be about politics. It's -- it's not even really about policy; our commitment to our veterans is a sacred covenant. And I don't use those words lightly.(APPLAUSE) OBAMA: It is sacred, because there's no more solemn request than to ask someone to risk their life, to be ready to give their life on our behalf. It's a covenant because both sides have responsibilities. Those who put on the uniform, you took an oath to protect and defend us. While the rest of us, the citizens you kept safe, we pledge to take care of you and your families when you come home. That's a sacred covenant. (APPLAUSE) That's a solemn promise that we make to each other, and it is binding. And upholding it is a moral imperative. And at times our -- our nation has not always upheld this covenant. Our Vietnam vets, they -- they sure know this. (APPLAUSE) You know. When -- when you came home, you deserved better. (APPLAUSE) Veterans who at times have struggled to get care at the V.A., you -- you deserve better, too. If there's ever a breach in the covenant, then leaders in this country have to work hard to regain trust. That's what Bob and so many hard working people at the V.A. are doing. But upholding this covenant has to be the work of all us. It's not just the V.A.'s job; it's everybody's job. Government has to deliver the care, and benefits and support that you have earned. Veteran service organizations have to hold us accountable and be our partners, like the 1.3 million members of the DAV are doing every day. And citizens have to step up too, which is why Michelle and Dr. Jill Biden, through joining forces have rallied the American people to honor and support our military families and our veterans. Now, we've got a lot more work to do. But working together over these past eight years, we've delivered real progress for our veterans, and we can't let up. It's not a reason for complacency, but we should understand that when we really put our -- our sweat and tears, and put our shoulder to the wheel, we can make things better. About 200,000 service members are becoming veterans every single year. And America's going to have to be there for you for a lifetime in five important ways. Number one, we have to keep fighting for the resources you need. Now since I took office, we've made historic increases in veteran's funding; the biggest boost in decades. (APPLAUSE) That's a fact. And I've proposed another increase for next year. (APPLAUSE) So, all together -- all together during my presidency, we will have increased funding for veterans by more than 85 percent. (APPLAUSE) With advanced appropriations, we're protecting veteran's health care from the annual Washington budget battles. But I do have to point this out. Republicans in Congress have proposed cutting my V.A. budget. And when they return in the fall, they should pass the budget our veterans need, and fund it fully. Don't just talk about standing with veterans, don't just talk about me. Do something to support our veterans. That's what you need to do. (APPLAUSE) Number two, we've got to keep fighting to deliver the health care you've been promised. Today, more of our Vietnam vets are getting your disability benefits, because of your exposure to Agent Orange, that's a change that we made. So, too, for our Desert Storm veterans, because the illness is tied to the Gulf War. Those are changes we made. All together, we've made V.A. benefits available to more than two million veterans who didn't have them before. (APPLAUSE) Sometimes -- let's face it, sometimes folks don't know that, but it's a fact. And I have to say thanks to the Affordable Care Act, Obamacare... (APPLAUSE) Veterans -- veterans not covered by the V.A. now have access to quality, affordable health care, and insurance companies can't discriminate against you because of preexisting conditions like post- traumatic stress. And more veterans are gaining access to health insurance.OBAMA: So we need to keep making it easier to access care. That's why we recruited some of the best talent from Silicon Valley and the private sector. In one of their very first innovations, veterans can now finally apply for V.A. health care anytime, anywhere, from any device, including your smartphone, simple, easy, in as little as 20 minutes. Just go to vets.gov. The day (ph) they had to wait in line at the V.A. office or mailing it in, those days are over. We're finally moving into the 21st century when it comes to helping our veterans. It's about time. We're reaching more veterans, including rural veterans with telemedicine. So you can see someone at the V.A. without leaving your home. We now have a designated women's health provider at all V.A. clinics to make sure our women's veterans get the tailored care and the dignity and the respect that you deserve. And for our disabled vets, we have increased funds for prosthetics, eliminating co-pays if you're catastrophically disabled. Made progress on concurrent receipt (ph), so more severely disabled retirees can now receive your military retired pay and your V.A. disability benefits. And we're doing more than ever to make sure your devoted families and caregivers get the skills and support they need to stay strong as well. And here, I want to thank veterans across our country for being part of another mission. Our precision medicine initiative, to revolutionize health care with treatments that are tailored for each patient. As of today, more than 500,000 veterans, maybe some of you, have stepped forward and donated your health and genetic data for research, which brings us halfway to our goal of 1 million veterans that are doing so (ph). And what this does is it gives us a better understanding of genetics, which will allow us to improve treatment for things like traumatic brain injuries and post traumatic stress and diabetes and cancer. And that won't just help veterans. It will help all Americans, and it's just one more example of how our veterans keep serving our country even after they've come home. We need to keep improving mental health care. Now I'll never forget the soldiers I met at Fort Bliss. They were proud of their service, but they were struggling with issues like post traumatic stress. So for veterans with PTS, we made it easier for you to qualify for the V.A. care that you need, no matter when you served. We've increased funding for veterans mental health care by more than 75 percent, billions more dollars. More awareness and outreach, because we have to end any shame or stigma that comes with going and getting help. We put in place more clinicians, more counselors, more peer support, veterans helping veterans, more research, $100 million for new approaches to PTS and TBI. And today, we're delivering more mental health care to more veterans than ever. We are saving lives. But, when too many veterans still aren't getting the care that they need, we all have to be outreach (ph). We all have to do better. And when 20 veterans a day are taking their own lives, that is a national tragedy. We all have to do better. Most of those 20 vets taking their lives each day are not in the V.A., but we know that when vets do get V.A. care, they're more likely to survive, so we need to get more vets connected to the V.A. When you have an urgent need for mental health care, you shouldn't have to wait days, you shouldn't have to wait weeks. You should get those services the very same day. And Congress -- Congress can help by providing the funding and flexibility we need to hire highly qualified mental health professionals. And medical schools can help us recruit and train more psychiatrists. And every American, military and civilian, can help as well by learning those five signs that somebody's hurting.OBAMA: We can reach out and help our veterans stay strong. We're on team, one American family. When any member of our family is suffering, we've got to be there for each other. Now, we also need to keep fixing the problems that came to light: long wait times, veterans denied care, people manipulating the books. Inexcusable. I know Bob gave you an update. I want to repeat, we've hired thousands more doctors, nurses, staff, opened more clinical space. And with the Choice Program we're helping more veterans get care outside of the V.A. It all adds up to millions more appointments, delivering more benefits to more veterans to ever before. That is progress. But even as we improve access more veterans than ever are seeking care. So we're putting more and more resources in but we got more and more demand for care at the same time. And this surge in demand means there are now more veterans waiting for appointments even though we've done a lot more. So I know I'm not satisfied. Bob's still not satisfied. And we will not let up. Bob and his new leadership team are going to keep pushing to transform the V.A. and he will keep holding people accountable. This is somebody who cares deeply about our veterans getting what they deserve and what they have earned. And when whistleblowers expose misconduct they will need to be protected, not punished. We need Congress to make it easier for the V.A. to help veterans get care in their communities. But I have to say, here's one thing I need to be very clear about. Here's one thing we will not do, we cannot outsource and privatize health care for American's veterans. You know there are folks who keep pushing this. They don't always come out and say the word privatize, but you read what they say, that's what they mean. And these radical proposals would begin to dismantle the V.A. health care system that millions of veterans depend on every day. And that would hurt veterans. Study after study shows that in many areas like mental health, the quality of care is often better than in private care. So let's listen to our veterans who are telling us, don't destroy V.A. health care. Fix it and make it work. But don't break our covenant with our veterans. This brings me to the third area where we have to stay focused. We have to keep cutting the disability claims backlog. Now from its peak we've slashed that backlog from almost 90 percent. My chief of staff and I, there was a chunk of time when that backlog was high when every day, no matter what else was going on around the world, he and I, we'd take these walks around the South Lawn, just to keep our exercise, keep our steps up. And every day we talked about how are we going to get that backlog down? And each week we'd look and see what kind of progress we were making. That's how we reduced it by 90 percent. The backlog is now lower than when I came into office even though there are a lot more people who are eligible for claims. And claims decisions are more accurate, the first time. And on both these fronts we're keeping at it. But as we all know, when veterans appeal a decision, you're put into an appeals system that right now is broken. And you shouldn't have to fight for years to get a straight answer. We've proposed major reforms and I want to thank the DAV and all the other veterans groups for raising your voice on this. We've got to keep up the pressure. Congress needs to pass comprehensive reform of the claims appeals process because if we don't fix the appeals process even when we get the backlog down on the original claim, too many folks are waiting on the back end. We've got to fix it. And we can. But we're going to have to fix Congress. And I don't know if you've noticed, that's hard.OBAMA: We've got to keep fighting for the dignity of every veteran. And that includes ending the tragedy, the travesty of veteran's homelessness. Now this is something that within my administration this is all hands on deck across government. Everybody's got to be involved in this. And with -- with Joining Forces, Michelle and Jill have helped galvanize hundreds of mayors in communities across the country. Two states, Virginia and Connecticut, as well as 27 cities and towns across the country have effectively veterans' homelessness. (APPLAUSE) So today, today, I can announce that nationally, we have now reduced the number of homeless veterans by 47 percent, nearly half. (APPLAUSE) We have just about cut veterans' homelessness in half. We've helped bring tens of thousands of veterans off the streets. But we're not -- we're not slowing down. We are going to keep up the momentum. This fall, Michelle will bring our partners from across the country to gather at the White House to share best practices, to figure out what has worked, what hasn't worked, because we will not stop until every veteran who fought for America has a home in America. This is something that we got to get done. (APPLAUSE) And finally, we've got to keep fighting to give our troops, and veterans and your families every opportunity to live the American dream that you helped defend. With our overhaul of the Transition Assistance Program, hundreds of thousands of departing service member and their spouses have received training to plan their next career and find a job, or start a business. We expanded the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill to reservists, and National Guard members and families, including Gold Star spouses and children. And then we expanded it to vocational training and apprenticeships. We've empowered veterans with new tools to find the schools that are right for you, or to get the support you need to succeed on campus, to make sure you don't get ripped off, to cap your student loans, to make sure you and your families get in-state tuition, which is true now in all 50 states. (APPLAUSE) And so far, we have helped more than 1.6 million veterans and their families realize their dream of an education. An investment in you and America that will keep us strong and keep paying off for generations to come. And we're doing more to help you find jobs worthy of your incredible talents, because if you could lead a team, and run logistics, and manage a budget or save a life in a war zone, you sure as heck could do it right back here at home. (APPLAUSE) I called for states to recognize the training and skills of veterans when issuing credentials for civilian jobs licensing. Now all 50 states do it. Before, less than half the states made it easy for military spouses to get credentials and licenses. Today, all 50 states do it. (APPLAUSE) Starting this fall, we will close loopholes to protect our troops and military families from predatory pay-day lenders. (APPLAUSE) So today, all across America, more veterans are at work, on the job, beginning the next chapter of your service to our country. Veterans who are physicians and nurses have been hired by community health centers. Cities and towns are hiring veterans as teachers and police officers, firefighters and first responders, because we made it a priority in the federal government, hiring hundreds of thousands of veterans, including disabled veterans. Nearly one in three federal workers is now a veteran. (APPLAUSE) I challenged America's companies to hire veterans. And then, in case they weren't listening to me, I'd sic Jill and Michelle on them through Joining Forces, and companies now have hired or trained more than 1.2 million veterans and military spouses. So all told, we've cut veterans' unemployment by more than half, down to 4.2 percent, which is already lower than already low national average. And it's way down for post-9/11 veterans too. (APPLAUSE) It's one of the reasons we have been able to help more than 3.6 million veterans buy or refinance a home of their own. So I'm going to keep saying to every company in America, if you want talent, if you want dedication, if you want to get the job done, then hire a vet.(APPLAUSE) OBAMA: Hire a military spouse. They know how to get the job done. They don't fool around. So DAV, we've made a lot of progress. It's not always focused on, because understandably, the news a lot of times focuses on what's still not working. That's OK. That keeps us on our toes, keeps us working. But every once in a while its good to remember the progress we've made, because that tells us when we focus on it, we can do right by our veterans. And -- and as this new generation of veterans joins your ranks, we've got to keep on stepping up our game, giving veterans the resources you need, transforming the V.A., delivering the health care you've earned, reducing the backlog, reforming appeals, standing up for your dignity and helping you share the American dream. And I now we can, because over the past eight years, I've seen the spirit of America, and I've seen time and time and time again the strength of our veterans, the unbreakable will of our disabled vets. You teach us, better than anybody, that we may take a hit sometimes, we may get knocked down, but we get back up. We carry on. (APPLAUSE) And when we take care of each other and uphold that sacred convent, there's nothing we cannot do. Like that soldier I told you before, Army Ranger Veteran Cory Remsburg, nearly killed in Afghanistan, who learned to talk again and walk again, and who recently stood up and walked in the oval office and shook my hand. (APPLAUSE) We all have to keep on rising, like Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sergeant Ty Carter, who struggled with post-dramatic stress and who's now helping others stay strong. Troops, veterans, civilians, we all have to keep on healing. Like the wounded warriors and disabled vets who are out there running, and jumping, and swimming, and biking and climbing. Including Marine Corps veteran Charlie Linville, who just became the first combat amputee to reach the top of Mount Everest. (APPLAUSE) We all have to keep on striving. Like the veterans taking care of each other, including here at the DAV, Army veteran Oscar Olguin, Navy Reserve veteran Charity Edgar (ph), Marine Corps veteran Carmen McGinnis, who says, "Helping veterans gives me a sense of purpose." That's -- that's something we all have to recognize, we all have to keep on serving. Like -- like Air Force Technical Sergeant Jason Miller, who considered taking his own life, but who wrote me a letter. And after I put him in touch with Team Rubicon, went to work rebuilding communities after disasters, found a new purpose in life. Well, we all have to keep building this country we love. And like the ranks of our military and our veterans, whether they are black or white or Latino or Asian or Native American, or they are young or old, whether they are gay or straight, whatever their faith, men, woman, Americans with disabilities, we have to keep on uniting as one team, as one people, as one nation. (APPLAUSE) That's what you have taught us. That's what you are an example of, the disabled veterans of America know what it means to be one team. We draw inspiration from you. I am grateful for everything that you have done for this country, I am grateful for having had the opportunity to work with you. God bless you. (APPLAUSE) Thank you for your service, thank you for your sacrifice, thank you for your patriotism. We honor and appreciate you. God bless our veterans, and God bless the United States of America. (APPLAUSE) Thank you very much. Thank you. (APPLAUSE) END

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, DAV! (Applause.) Thank you so much. Thank you. Please, everybody, have a seat. What an honor to be with you today. (Applause.) Thank you. And thanks to Bobby. I'll never forget the time Bobby came to the Oval Office -- carrying a baseball bat. (Laughter.) Secret Service got a little nervous. (Laughter.) But it was a genuine Louisville Slugger -- a thank-you for going to bat for our veterans. And I want to thank Bobby for your devotion to our veterans, especially your fellow Vietnam vets. Thank you. Give Bobby a big round of applause. (Applause.) AUDIENCE MEMBER: I love you! THE PRESIDENT: I love you back. (Applause.) I do! I want to thank our outstanding leadership team for welcoming me today, including National Commander Moses McIntosh. (Applause.) Senior Vice Commander Dave Riley. (Applause.) National Adjutant Mark Burgess. (Applause.) Executive Director Barry Jesinoski. (Applause.) Your voice in Washington, Garry Augustine. (Applause.) And, don't forget, Pat Kemper and all the spouses and families of the DAV Auxiliary. Thank you. (Applause.) I also want to acknowledge Mayor Kasim Reed and County Chairman John Eaves for welcoming us to the great state of Georgia and the beautiful city of Atlanta. (Applause.) I am pleased to be joined by our tireless Secretary of the VA, Bob McDonald. (Applause.) I know he spoke to you yesterday. He is working hard -- hard -- every single day to transform the VA to serve our veterans better. He still gives out his cellphone number and his email. Not many people know this, but, so far, he's received more than 45,000 calls, emails and texts. (Laughter.) And I don't know what his phone bill is looking like -- (laughter) -- I hope he has a good plan. (Laughter.) But Bob and his team work to deal with each one of those texts or emails or phone calls he receives because every single veteran matters. And he knows that. So, thank you, Bob, for the great work you're doing. (Applause.) So it's good to be back with the Disabled American Veterans. What a journey that we've had together. AUDIENCE MEMBER: Glad to have you! THE PRESIDENT: It's great to be here. We worked together back when I was a senator. You were one of the first veterans' organizations I called when I ran for President. I welcomed you to the White House as a partner. I came to your convention in my first term, and my second, along with Michelle. And so it is fitting that my final major address to our nation's veterans as President is here at the DAV. (Applause.) And as I reflect on these past eight years, some of the most unforgettable experiences that I've had have been moments I've spent with you -- America's veterans and your families. We stood together at Arlington to honor Corporal Frank Buckles, 110 years old -- our last veteran from the First World War -- as he was laid to rest. I ordered our flags to be flown at half-staff because, even after 100 years, we will never stop saluting those who served in our name. (Applause.) We stood together at Normandy to thank an entire generation -- among them, my grandfather, who was in Patton's Army -- a generation that literally saved the world. There was Harry Kulkowitz, who returned to the beaches he helped liberate -- and told he could have anything he wanted, said with the humility of a soldier, a hamburger will do just fine. (Laughter.) I think of Luta McGrath -- this past Veterans Day, just before her 108th birthday, then the oldest known female veteran of World War II, which was a reminder that women have always served to keep America strong and free. (Applause.) We've stood together at the memorial to our Korean War veterans and recalled how a soldier, marching through the snow, had a tiny pair of baby booties hanging from his rifle -- a reminder of his unborn child -- a story that had been lost to history. But we tracked him down. We found him. And we shared the story of Korean War veteran Dick Shank, who made it home to that baby boy, and lived out his life -- at 84 years old, he was still roller skating -- because no war should ever be forgotten and no veteran should ever be overlooked. (Applause.) We've stood together at the Wall and remembered the lessons of Vietnam -- that even when Americans may disagree about a war, we have to stand united in support of our troops. (Applause.) And that for mothers like Sarah Shay, who honored her missing son for more than 40 years, we will never stop working to bring home our prisoners of war and our missing in action. We leave nobody behind. No one. (Applause.) And we've come together to welcome our newest veterans into your ranks -- from Desert Storm, the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq -- our proud 9/11 Generation. This is a time of transition. When I came into office, we had nearly 180,000 American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Today, that number is less than 15,000. Most of our troops have come home. (Applause.) To all of you who served in Afghanistan, you can take enormous pride in the progress you helped achieve: Driving al Qaeda out of its camps. Toppling the Taliban. Delivering justice to Osama bin Laden. Helping Afghans improve their lives. There are millions of boys and girls in school, and democratic elections and a democratic government. Training Afghan forces to take responsibility for their own security so that we are no longer engaged in a major ground war in Afghanistan. That is your legacy. And today we salute our forces serving there on a more limited mission -- supporting Afghan forces, going after terrorists -- because we must never allow Afghanistan to be used as a safe haven for terrorists to attack our nation again. (Applause.) To all of you who served in Iraq, we saw your heroism in pushing out a dictator whose brutality must be condemned, never praised. In defeating an insurgency. In giving the Iraqi people a chance. And no matter what has happened since, your valor in the deserts, in fierce urban combat, will be honored in the annals of military history. Let me say something else about this generation. As Commander-in-Chief, I'm pretty tired of some folks trash-talking America's military and troops. (Applause.) Our military is somewhat smaller -- after two major ground wars come to a close, that's natural. And we're going to keep doing everything we need to do to improve readiness and modernize our forces. But let's get some facts straight. America's Army is the best-trained, best-equipped land force on the planet. (Applause.) Our Navy is the largest and most lethal in the world. (Applause.) The precision of, and reach of, our Air Force is unmatched. (Applause.) Our Marines are the world's only truly expeditionary force. (Applause.) We have the world's finest Coast Guard. (Applause.) We have the most capable fighting force in history -- and we're going to keep it that way. (Applause.) And no ally or adversary should ever doubt our strength and our resolve. And we will keep pounding ISIL and taking out their leaders, and pushing them back on the ground. And united with a global coalition, we will destroy this barbaric terrorist group. They will be destroyed. (Applause.) In the face of Russian aggression, we're not going to turn our back to our allies in Europe. We're going to stay united in NATO, which is the world's strongest alliance. (Applause.) From the Asia Pacific to Africa to the Americas, the United States and our armed forces will remain the greatest force for freedom and security and peace that the world has ever known. That is your legacy. That is what we have to protect, and that is what we have to defend. (Applause.) And let me say this: No one -- no one -- has given more for our freedom and our security than our Gold Star families. (Applause.) Michelle and I have spent countless hours with them. We have grieved with them. There's a reason why, last week in Philadelphia, I was humbled to be introduced by Sharon Belkofer from Ohio, a Gold Star mom whose son, Tom, a lieutenant colonel in the Army, gave his life in Afghanistan. I requested Sharon to introduce me, because I understood that our Gold Star families have made a sacrifice that most of us cannot even begin to imagine. They represent the very best of our country. (Applause.) They continue to inspire us every day, every moment. They serve as a powerful reminder of the true strength of America. We have to do everything we can for those families, and honor them, and be humbled by them. DAV, I know that your service has also been defined by another battle. This is a group that understands sacrifice. (Applause.) You've been defined by the battle here at home to persevere through wounds and disabilities. I think of a veteran from Iraq who lost her arm but who said she decided to focus "not on what I had lost, but on what I still had." I see that same spirit in you. Maybe it was there in the hospital bed, fighting for your life, you learned what it really means to have faith. Maybe it was during rehab, learning how to live without a leg, or both, you learned what it really means to persevere. About a month ago, I went to Walter Reed -- I do this periodically -- and was in the rehab unit watching some of these folks work out. And I decided -- you might have seen this -- I was doing some pushups with them and -- (laughter) -- trying to keep up with them. And I was sweating and getting all tired. (Laughter.) They took it easy on me. (Laughter.) But it gave me a sense of -- just a small sense of what perseverance really means. Maybe it was during the night when the memories came rushing back -- and you summoned the courage to reach out and get help and stay strong. And I was proud to help recognize your patriotism and resilience in the heart of our nation's capital when we dedicated the American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial. (Applause.) This organization shows us, shows this nation, what it means to be strong. But as strong as you are -- and nobody is stronger than our disabled vets -- I know you didn't make this journey alone. You're here because of the love and support of your families and your caregivers and your neighbors and your communities and your fellow veterans. (Applause.) They were the shoulder you leaned on, who carried you when you couldn't walk, who picked you up when you stumbled, who celebrated your victories with you, who sometimes just made you laugh and reminded you how good life can be. And that brings me to what I want to talk about here today. For more than two centuries, this country that we love hasn't just endured; we have thrived. We have overcome challenges that would have broken a lesser nation. And not thanks to any one person or one group of people, but because, like you learned in the military, we're all one team. We believe in taking care of each other, and in lifting each other up, and leaving no one behind, and in meeting the collective responsibilities that we can only meet together: The security of our nation. The education for our children. Dignity for our seniors. Equal rights for all of our citizens. Health care -- which is now a right for everybody. And the care and well-being of our veterans and your families. That is a responsibility for all of us, not just a few. We all have to do our part. And as I've said before, America's commitment to our veterans is not just lines in a budget. And it can't be about politics. It's not even really about policy. Our commitment to our veterans is a sacred covenant. And I don't use those words lightly. (Applause.) It is sacred because there's no more solemn request than to ask someone to risk their life, to be ready to give their life on our behalf. It's a covenant because both sides have responsibilities. Those who put on the uniform, you took an oath to protect and defend us. While the rest of us, the citizens you kept safe, we pledged to take care of you and your families when you come home. That's a sacred covenant. That's a solemn promise that we make to each other. And it is binding. And upholding it is a moral imperative. (Applause.) And at times, our nation has not always upheld this covenant. Our Vietnam vets, they sure know this. AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Yes! THE PRESIDENT: When you came home, you deserved better. (Applause.) Veterans who at times have struggled to get care at the VA, you deserve better, too. (Applause.) If there's ever a breach in the covenant, then leaders in this country have to work hard to regain trust. That's what Bob and so many hardworking people at the VA are doing. But upholding this covenant has to be the work of all of us. It's not just the VA's job. It's everybody's job. Government has to deliver the care and benefits and support that you have earned. Veteran service organizations have to hold us accountable and be our partners, like the 1.3 million members of the DAV are doing every day. And citizens have to step up, too -- which is why Michelle and Dr. Jill Biden, through Joining Forces, have rallied the American people to honor and support our military families and our veterans. Now, we've got a lot more work to do. But working together over these past eight years, we've delivered real progress for our veterans. And we can't let up. It's not a reason for complacency, but we should understand that when we really put our sweat and tears and put our shoulder to the wheel, we can make things better. About 200,000 servicemembers are becoming veterans every single year. And America is going to have to be there for you for a lifetime in five important ways. Number one, we have to keep fighting for the resources you need. Now, since I took office, we've made historic increases in veterans funding -- the biggest boost in decades. That's a fact. (Applause.) And I've proposed another increase for next year. (Applause.) So altogether, during my presidency, we will have increased funding for veterans by more than 85 percent. (Applause.) With advance appropriations, we're protecting veterans' health care from the annual Washington budget battles. But I do have to point this out -- Republicans in Congress have proposed cutting my VA budget. And when they return in the fall, they should pass the budget our veterans need -- and fund it, fully. Don't just talk about standing with veterans. Don't just talk about me. (Laughter.) Do something to support our veterans. That's what you need to do. (Applause.) Number two, we've got to keep fighting to deliver the health care you've been promised. Today, more of our Vietnam vets are getting your disability benefits because of your exposure to Agent Orange. That's a change that we made. So, too, for our Desert Storm veterans, because of the illnesses tied to the Gulf War. Those are changes we made. Altogether, we've made VA benefits available to more than 2 million veterans who didn't have them before. (Applause.) Let's face it, sometimes folks don't know that, but it's a fact. And I have to say, thanks to the Affordable Care Act -- Obamacare -- (applause) -- veterans not covered by the VA now have access to quality, affordable health care. And insurance companies can't discriminate against you because of preexisting conditions like post-traumatic stress. (Applause.) And more veterans are gaining access to health insurance. So we need to keep making it easier to access care. That's why we recruited some of the best talent from Silicon Valley and the private sector. And in one of their first innovations, veterans can now finally apply for VA health care anytime, anywhere, from any device, including your smartphone -- simple, easy, in as little as 20 minutes. Just go to Vets.gov. The days of having to wait in line at a VA office, or mailing it in -- those days are over. (Applause.) We're finally moving into the 21st century when it comes to helping our veterans. It's about time. (Applause.) We're reaching more veterans, including rural veterans, with telemedicine -- so you can see someone at the VA without leaving your home. We now have a designated women's health provider at all VA clinics -- (applause) -- to make sure our women's veterans get the tailored care, and the dignity and the respect that you deserve. (Applause.) And for our disabled vets, we have increased funds for prosthetics, eliminated co-pays if you're catastrophically disabled, made progress on concurrent receipt so more severely disabled retirees can now receive your military retired pay and your VA disability benefits. (Applause.) And we're doing more than ever to make sure your devoted families and caregivers get the skills and support they need to stay strong as well. And here, I want to thank veterans across our country for being part of another mission -- our precision medicine initiative to revolutionize health care with treatments that are tailored for each patient. As of today, more than 500,000 veterans -- maybe some of you -- have stepped forward and donated your health and genetic data for research, which brings us halfway to our goal of one million veterans that are doing so. And what this does is it gives us a better understanding of genetics, which will allow us to improve treatments for things like traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress, and diabetes, and cancer. And that won't just help veterans. It will help all Americans. And it's just one more example of how our veterans keep serving our country even after they come home. (Applause.) We need to keep improving mental health care. I'll never forget the soldiers I met at Fort Bliss. They were proud of their service, but they were struggling with issues like post-traumatic stress. So, for veterans with PTS, we made it easier for you to qualify for the VA care that you need -- no matter when you served. We've increased funding for veterans mental health care by more than 75 percent -- billions more dollars. More awareness and outreach -- because we have to end any shame or stigma that comes with going and getting help. (Applause.) We've put in place more clinicians, more counselors, more peer support -- veterans helping veterans. More research -- $100 million for new approaches to PTS and TBI. And today, we're delivering more mental health care to more veterans than ever. We are saving lives. (Applause.) But when too many veterans still aren't getting the care that they need, we all have to be outraged. We all have to do better. And when 20 veterans a day are taking their own lives -- that is a national tragedy. We all have to do better. Most of those 20 vets taking their lives each day are not in the VA. But we know that when vets do get VA care, they're more likely to survive. So we need to get more vets connected to the VA. And when you have an urgent need for mental health care, you shouldn't have to wait days, you shouldn't have to wait weeks -- you should get those services the very same day. (Applause.) And Congress can help by providing the funding and flexibility we need to hire highly qualified mental health professionals. And medical schools can help us recruit and train more psychiatrists. And every American, military and civilian, can help, as well, by learning those Five Signs that somebody is hurting, so we can reach out and help our veterans stay strong. We're one team. One American family. When any member of our family is suffering, we've got to be there for each other. Now, we also need to keep fixing the problems that came to light -- long wait times, veterans denied care, people manipulating the books -- inexcusable. I know Bob gave you an update, but I want to repeat -- we've hired thousands more doctors, nurses, staff; opened more clinical space. And, with the Choice program, we're helping more veterans get care outside of the VA. It all adds up to millions more appointments, delivering more benefits to more veterans than ever before. That is progress. But even as we improve access, more veterans than ever are seeking care. So we're putting more and more resources in, but you've got more and more demand for care at the same time. And this surge in demand means there are now more veterans waiting for appointments, even though we've done a lot more. So I know I'm not satisfied. Bob is still not satisfied. And we will not let up. Bob and his new leadership team are going to keep pushing to transform the VA, and he will keep holding people accountable. (Applause.) This is somebody who cares deeply about our veterans getting what they deserve and what they have earned. (Applause.) And when whistleblowers expose misconduct, they need to be protected, not punished. (Applause.) We need Congress to make it easier for the VA to help veterans get care in your communities. But I have to say -- here's one thing I want to be very clear about -- here's one thing we will not do: We cannot outsource and privatize health care for America's veterans. (Applause.) Now, there are folks who keep pushing this. They don't always come out and say the word "privatize," but you read what they say, that's what they mean. And these radical proposals would begin to dismantle the VA health care system that millions of veterans depend on every day. And that would hurt veterans. Study after study shows that in many areas, like mental health, the quality of care at the VA is often better than in private care. So let's listen to our veterans, who are telling us: Don't destroy VA health care. Fix it and make it work, but don't break our covenant with our veterans. (Applause.) This brings me to the third area where we have to stay focused. We have to keep cutting the disability claims backlog. Now, from its peak, we've slashed that backlog by nearly 90 percent. My Chief of Staff and I -- there was a chunk of time when that backlog was high where, every day, no matter what else was happening around the world, he and I, we'd take these walks around the South Lawn just to keep our exercise, keep our steps up. And every day, we talked about, how are we going to get that backlog down. And each week, we'd look and see what kind of progress we're making. That's how we reduced it by 90 percent. The backlog is now lower than when I came into office, even though there are a lot more people who are eligible for claims. And claims decisions are more accurate the first time. (Applause.) And on both these fronts, we're keeping at it. But as we all know, when veterans appeal a decision, you're put into an appeals system that right now is broken. (Applause.) And you shouldn't have to fight for years to get a straight answer. Now, we've proposed major reforms, and I want to thank the DAV and all the other veterans' groups for raising your voice on this. We've got to keep up the pressure. Congress needs to pass comprehensive reform of the claims appeals process -- (applause) -- because if we don't fix the appeals process, even when we get the backlog down on the original claim, too many folks are waiting on the backend. We've got to fix it. And we can. But we're going to have to push Congress. And I don't know if you've noticed, that's hard. (Laughter.) Fourth, we've got to keep fighting for the dignity of every veteran. And that includes ending the tragedy, the travesty of veterans' homelessness. (Applause.) This is something that, within my administration, we've said this is all hands on deck, across government. Everybody has got to be involved in this. And with Joining Forces, Michelle and Jill have helped galvanize hundreds of mayors and communities across the country. Two states, Virginia and Connecticut, as well as 27 cities and towns across the country have effectively ended veteran homelessness. (Applause.) So, today, I can announce that, nationally, we have now reduced the number of homeless veterans by 47 percent -- nearly half. (Applause.) We have just about cut veterans' homelessness in half. We've helped bring tens of thousands of veterans off the streets. But we're not slowing down. We're going to keep up the momentum. This fall, Michelle will bring our partners from across the country together at the White House to share best practices to figure out what has worked, what hasn't worked. Because we will not stop until every veteran who fought for America has a home in America. This is something we've got to get done. (Applause.) And finally, we've got to keep fighting to give our troops and veterans and your families every opportunity to live the American Dream that you helped defend. With our overhaul of the transition assistance program, hundreds of thousands of departing servicemembers and their spouses have received training to plan their next career, and find a job or start a business. We expanded the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill to reservists and National Guard members and families, including Gold Star spouses and children. And then we expanded it to vocational training and apprenticeships. We've empowered veterans with new tools to find the schools that are right for you, or to get the support you need to succeed on campus; to make sure you don't get ripped off; to cap your student loans; to make sure you and your families get in-state tuition-now, which is true now in all 50 states. (Applause.) And so far, we have helped more than 1.6 million veterans and their families realize their dream of an education, an investment in you and America that will help keep us strong and keep paying off for generations to come. (Applause.) So we're doing more to help you find jobs worthy of your incredible talents. Because if you could lead a team, and run logistics and manage a budget, or save a life in a warzone, you can sure as heck can do it right back here at home. (Applause.) I called for states to recognize the training and skills of veterans when issuing credentials for civilian jobs, licensing. Now all 50 states do it. Before, less than half the states made it easy for military spouses to get credentials and licenses. Today, all 50 states do it. (Applause.) Starting this fall, we'll close loopholes to protect our troops and military families from predatory pay-day lenders. (Applause.) So, today, all across America, more veterans are at work, on the job, beginning the next chapter of your service to our country. Veterans who are physicians and nurses have been hired by community health centers. Cities and towns are hiring veterans as teachers and police officers, firefighters and first responders. Because we made it a priority in the federal government -- hiring hundreds of thousands of veterans, including disabled veterans -- nearly one in three federal workers is now a veteran. I challenged America's companies to hire veterans. And then, in case they weren't listening to me, I sicced Jill and Michelle on them -- (laughter and applause) -- through Joining Forces, and companies now have hired or trained more than 1.2 million veterans and military spouses. (Applause.) So, all told, we've cut veterans unemployment by more than half, down to 4.2 percent, which is actually lower than the already low national average. (Applause.) And it's way down for Post-9/11 veterans, too. (Applause.) It's one of the reasons we've been able to help more than 3.6 million veterans buy or refinance a home of their own. So I'm going to keep saying to every company in America, if you want talent, if you want dedication, if you want to get the job done, then hire a vet! (Applause.) Hire a military spouse! (Applause.) They know how to get the job done. They don't fool around! (Applause.) So, DAV, we've made a lot of progress. It's not always focused on -- because, understandably, the news a lot of the time focuses on what's still not working. That's okay. That keeps us on our toes, keeps us working. But every once in a while, it's good to remember the progress we've made, because that tells us when we focus on it, we can do right by our veterans. And as this new generation of veterans joins your ranks, we've got to keep on stepping up our game, giving veterans the resources you need, transforming the VA, delivering the health care you've earned, reducing the backlog, reforming appeals, standing up for your dignity, and helping you share the American dream. And I know we can -- because over the past eight years, I've seen the spirit of America, and I have seen time and time and time again the strength of our veterans, the unbreakable will of our disabled vets. You teach us better than anybody that we may take a hit sometimes, we may get knocked down, but we get back up. We carry on. (Applause.) And when we take care of each other and uphold that sacred covenant, there is nothing we cannot do. Like that soldier I've told you before -- Army Ranger Veteran Cory Remsburg, nearly killed in Afghanistan, who learned to talk again and walk again, and who recently stood up and walked into the Oval Office and shook my hand. (Applause.) We all have to keep on rising. Like Medal of Honor Recipient Staff Sergeant Ty Carter, who struggled with post-traumatic stress, and who's now helping others stay strong. Troops, veterans, civilians -- we all have to keep on healing. Like the wounded warriors and disabled vets who are out there running and jumping and swimming and biking and climbing, including Marine Corps Veteran Charlie Linville, who just became the first combat amputee to reach the top of Mount Everest. We all have to keep striving. (Applause.) Like the veterans taking care of each other, including here at the DAV -- Army Veteran Oscar Olguin; Navy Reserve Veteran Charity Edgar; Marine Corps Veteran Carmen McGinnis -- who says helping veterans "gives me a sense of purpose." That's something we all have to recognize. We all have to keep on serving. Like Air Force Technical Sergeant Jason Miller, who considered taking his own life, but who wrote me a letter -- and after I put him in touch with Team Rubicon, went to work rebuilding communities after disasters, found a new purpose in life -- well, we all have to keep building this country we love. And like the ranks of our military and our veterans -- whether they are black or white, or Latino or Asian or Native American, or they are young or old, whether they are gay or straight, whatever their faith, men, women, Americans with disabilities -- we have to keep on uniting as one team. As one people. As one nation. (Applause.) That's what you have taught us. That's what you are an example of. The Disabled Veterans of America know what it means to be one team. We draw inspiration from you. I am grateful for everything that you have done for this country. I am grateful for having had the opportunity to work with you. God bless you. Thank you for your service. (Applause.) Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for your patriotism. We honor and appreciate you. God bless our veterans and God bless the United States of America. Thank you very much. (Applause.)

5589 CORE 3921 JOE BIDEN COLUMBIA SC EVENT NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY PILGRIM CAM 021120 2020 EVA PILGRIM REPORTS FROM PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JOE BIDEN'S EVENT AFTER THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY COLUMBIA, SC-Former Vice President Joe Biden took the floor in South Carolina and made it clear: He thinks this race is anything but over, even with disappointing finishes in the first two voting states. "It is important that Iowa and Nevada have spoken. But look, we need to hear from Nevada and South Carolina and Super Tuesday states and beyond. Look, we're moving into an especially important phase because up till now, we haven't heard from the most committed constituency in the Democratic Party -- the African-American community. And the fast--- and the fastest growing segment of society, the Latino community. I want y'all to think of a number -- ninety nine point nine percent." (212747) "That's the percentage of African-American voters who have not yet had a chance to vote in America. One more number, ninety nine point eight. That's the percent of Latino voters who haven't had a chance to vote. So, when you hear all these pundits and experts,cable TV talkers talk about the race, tell them "it ain't over, man. We're just getting started. Our votes count, too." [cheers] (212818) Biden expressed his excitement to be in South Carolina, telling the crowd that he hoped they love him as much as he loves them. "I've been coming here a long time. When I die, I want to be reborn in Charleston," Biden said (21:26:11) The former Vice President leaned in hard to his message that you have the hear from all communities within the country before any decisions can be made, "Look, we're moving in an especially important phase because up till now, we haven't heard from the most committed constituency in the Democratic Party. The African-American community. And the fast and the fastest growing segment of society, the Latino community. Watch out. Think of a number ninety nine point nine percent. That's the percentage of African-American voters who have not yet had a chance to vote in America. One more. Ninety nine point eight. That's the percent of Latino voters every night. A chance to vote. So when you hear all these pundits and experts and cable TV talkers talked about the race. Tell them it ain't over, man. We're just getting started. Our votes count, too. (21:27:46) Biden once again pressed on the idea that the Democratic Party should not have a nominee that does not win a broad coalition of support-pledging that if he were the nominee, support from African American and Latino communities would not be taken for granted. "You shouldn't be able to win it without black and brown voters. Too often your loyalty, your support, your commitment to this party have been taken for granted. I have never once in my career, since I got involved as a kid, taken it for granted. And I give you my word as a Biden: I never, ever, ever will." (212931) There were several notable focuses in Biden's remarks that we've heard from him in the past, but were not included in his stump speeches in Iowa and New Hampshire-clearly tailoring his message for the Palmetto State. Biden touted his time served alongside Barack Obama in the White House, calling it the greatest honor of his life to serve alongside him, and telling the crowd their families were still close friends, saying he "pays for the plane ticket" when his granddaughters want to go visit their best friends, the Obama girls Biden also focused on criminal justice reform and increasing equality for all Americans-issues we have not often brought up in the two states that have voted. And as Michael Bloomberg is facing increased scrutiny for his comments on his controversial 'stop and frisk' program, Biden said that voters should look to each candidates past to see what they would do while in office, expanding on his own record "Now, if you want to know what any other candidates are gonna do in the future, the tendency is to look at the past. Well, I left the law firm when I was a kid with a great job and a fancy law firm, and to become a public defender -- to fight for the people in the community I used to work in, in the East side because they couldn't afford a lawyer. On the county council, I fought against red lining. In the U.S. Senate, I passed the extension of the Voting Rights Act for two decades. The Violence Against Women Act and, by the way, I had the back of a great president named Barack Obama for eight years." (212956) Biden closed out his remarks on a hopeful message we've heard before-arguing that the next president needs to heal the country, a undertaking he was not underselling "It's not enough just to fight. We got to heal. And the country so desperately needs it. Folks, that's the kind of courage and conviction we need to end the Trump era and move this nation forward to a more perfect union. I know this is going to be the fight of my life, but as the old song goes. Lord, don't move my mountain, give me the ability to climb. I can't do it alone. I need your help to climb that mountain. And together we're going to beat Donald Trump." Biden said (214255) After the event, Biden worked the rope line quickly, trying to make it to an affiliate interview. The former Vice President Shouted several questions from the press about his failure to receive any delegates in New Hampshire this evening. Biden was introduced at the event by Dr. Jill Biden and Rep. Cedric Richmond, who both gave brief remarks. Jill credited the state with helping their family heal after they spent time here following the loss of their son Beau. Dr. Biden said that while Iowa and New Hampshire had their say, it was now South Carolina's turn to speak, calling it a "clean slate' for her husband. COLOR/EDIT: The room in South Carolina was very warm for Biden tonight. The crowd was diverse-both in age and race, and the room was full despite the event only being officially announced less than 12 hours prior, and could be heard audibly agreeing with Biden as he made his points throughout his remarks. As Eva Pilgrim noted-there was a lightness and excitement to the air in Columbia-one that we did not feel throughout Iowa and New Hampshire. 5587 3920 JOE BIDEN COLUMBIA SC NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY REMARKS POOL 021120 2020 HIGHLIGHTS New Hamp 212655 So, I just spoke to our folks up in -- up in New Hampshire, and they did a good job, but I want to tell ya. The people of Nevada are watching, and I want to make it clear, we praise their diversity as a state and I'm gonna be out there seeing them very soon. Tonight, though, I -- we just heard from the first two of the 50 states. Two of 'em. Not all the nation, not half the nation, not a quarter of the nation, not 10% -- 2! 212726 Two! Now, where I come from that's the opening bell, not the closing bell. And the fight to end Donald Trump's presidency is just beginning [cheers] just beginning. Thank you. [crowd chanting "Joe"] 212747 It is important that Iowa and Nevada have spoken. But look, we need to hear from Nevada and South Carolina and Super Tuesday states and beyond. Look, we're moving into an especially important phase because up till now, we haven't heard from the most committed constituency in the Democratic Party -- the African-American community. And the fast--- and the fastest growing segment of society, the Latino community. I want y'all to think of a number -- ninety nine point nine percent. 212818 That's the percentage of African-American voters who have not yet had a chance to vote in America. One more number, ninety nine point eight. That's the percent of Latino voters who haven't had a chance to vote. So, when you hear all these pundits and experts,cable TV talkers talk about the race, tell them "it ain't over, man. We're just getting started. Our votes count, too." [cheers] An Ally to Communities of Color 212931 You shouldn't be able to win it without black and brown voters. Too often your loyalty, your support, your commitment to this party have been taken for granted. I have never once in my career, since I got involved as a kid, taken it for granted. And I give you my word as a Biden: I never, ever, ever will. Now, if you want to know what any other candidates are gonna do in the future, the tendency is to look at the past. 212956 Well, I left the law firm when I was a kid with a great job and a fancy law firm, and to become a public defender -- to fight for the people in the community I used to work in, in the East side because they couldn't afford a lawyer. On the county council, I fought against red lining. In the U.S. Senate, I passed the extension of the Voting Rights Act for two decades. The Violence Against Women Act and, by the way, I had the back of a great president named Barack Obama for eight years. Beating Trump in November 214238 We got to heal this country, and we have to do the same kind of courage and conviction. And by the way, I'm no Nelson Mandela. I'm not making that comparison. But his heart. His heart. All you ministers know what I'm talking about. His heart. 214255 It's not enough just to fight. We got to heal. And the country so desperately needs it. Folks, that's the kind of courage and conviction we need to end the Trump era and move this nation forward to a more perfect union. I know this is going to be the fight of my life, but as the old song goes. Lord, don't move my mountain, give me the ability to climb. 214322 I can't do it alone. I need your help to climb that mountain. And together we're going to beat Donald Trump. FULL TRINT [21:26:02] Great to be with you all tonight. All of you have been here tonight. You know, I hope you I hope you love me as much as I love you guys. [21:26:11] I've been coming here a long time. When I die, I want to be reborn in Charleston, actually. [21:26:18] I like the low country. You know what I mean? [21:26:23] Work. I hope. [21:26:26] Thank you. Please sit down if you have a seat. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. [21:26:31] I am. I'm Joe Biden's husband. I work for Cedric Richmond. [21:26:38] And David Mack is taking me to school. [21:26:43] Well, look, I know some of the other senators came over. They came up to see me. They're in session right now. And I thank them for making the effort. There's so many people here for me to say thank you. Thank you, thank you. So I just spoke to our folks up and up in New Hampshire, and they did a good job of I want to tell you, the people of Nevada are watching. [21:27:05] And I want to make it clear we praise their diversity as a state. And I'm going to be out there seeing them very soon. Tonight, though, I we just heard from the first two of 50 states, too. Not all the nation. [21:27:20] Not half the nation, not a quarter of the nation, not 10 percent to two. All right. [21:27:28] Come from that's the opening bell, not the closing bell. [21:27:33] And the fight to end Donald Trump's presidency is just beginning. [21:27:37] Yes, about. Thank you. 212747 It is important that Iowa and Nevada have spoken. But look, we need to hear from Nevada and South Carolina and Super Tuesday states and beyond. Look, we're moving into an especially important phase because up till now, we haven't heard from the most committed constituency in the Democratic Party -- the African-American community. And the fast--- and the fastest growing segment of society, the Latino community. I want y'all to think of a number -- ninety nine point nine percent. 212818 That's the percentage of African-American voters who have not yet had a chance to vote in America. One more number, ninety nine point eight. That's the percent of Latino voters who haven't had a chance to vote. So, when you hear all these pundits and experts,cable TV talkers talk about the race, tell them "it ain't over, man. We're just getting started. Our votes count, too." [cheers] [21:28:47] We're not glad he won't take his election away, if you mean look, I've said many times it can't be the Democratic nominee and you can't win a general election as Democrat unless you have overwhelming support from black and brown voters. It's just really simple. No, it's a natural fact. It's true. It's absolutely true. And folks, you know, all those Democrats who won against incumbents from Jimmy Carter to a guy named Clinton. Their guy name Obama. My good friend. Guess what? [21:29:17] They had overwhelming African-American support. Without it. Nobody's ever won. No, really. And you know, you own my heart. Look, more important, should you not win the Democratic nomination for president? 212931 You shouldn't be able to win it without black and brown voters. Too often your loyalty, your support, your commitment to this party have been taken for granted. I have never once in my career, since I got involved as a kid, taken it for granted. And I give you my word as a Biden: I never, ever, ever will. Now, if you want to know what any other candidates are gonna do in the future, the tendency is to look at the past. 212956 Well, I left the law firm when I was a kid with a great job and a fancy law firm, and to become a public defender -- to fight for the people in the community I used to work in, in the East side because they couldn't afford a lawyer. On the county council, I fought against red lining. In the U.S. Senate, I passed the extension of the Voting Rights Act for two decades. The Violence Against Women Act and, by the way, I had the back of a great president named Barack Obama for eight years. [21:30:26] By the way, we increased access to capital for African-American entrepreneurs. Let's get some straight. Given a chance, they do just as well as anybody else and quite frankly, better. And they build the neighborhoods. They build all communities. [21:30:43] Black and I regular reduce the federal population and speak in HPC use. [21:30:48] I got 70 billion dollars coming HPC use, not a joke. Minority universe is look, we saved the automobile industry, passed Obamacare, we stopped insurance coverage of discriminating against people with preexisting conditions. And on top of all that, we build an economy that Trump is bragging about. This guy squandered his father's fortune, norways squandered economy we gave. [21:31:17] They all think I'm kidding. I'm not serve as a president. [21:31:22] Instead of talking about impeachment, Barack Obama, you should be saying thank you, President Obama. [21:31:31] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. [21:31:34] But folks, look, we have so much more to do. I promise you, as your president, you will be partners at shaping the policy to make sure every single American has an opportunity. The thing that I've never liked and I was chairman of Judiciary Committee for years. I don't know what you need best. I listen, you all the leaders in the black community know what you need best. We don't listen enough. We take for granted. You know what you need. You know what your families need. And I've never not listened to you. First, we need to defend and build on Obamacare. Trump wants to get rid of it. [21:32:12] Even some of the folks in my own outfit in the primary, I want to take it away, but I'll never let that happen. I was proud to serve as President Obama's vise president, great years with the honor of my life, and he'd become a close personal friend, the whole family's been. Matter of fact, our granddaughters and his daughters are best buddies. [21:32:36] They went to school together for twelve years in the same small club. Well, actually, 10 years. But they're still hanging out with one another, even though they go to different schools. Where are you? I'm up in Michigan State University, Michigan. What are you doing there? I came up to see me, you know. Anyway, all I know is I get to pay for the plane ticket anyway. But I was never prouder than the day that we passed Obamacare. And here's we're gonna do. We're gonna expand. We're gonna limit. We're gonna get rid of all the executive orders that have curtailed it. [21:33:09] We're gonna increase funding into research for finding cures to. Families are dealing with cancer, diabetes, African-Americans, maternal health disparities. [21:33:21] Look at them in the United States of America today. [21:33:25] Today, there's an incredible disparity. It's it's sinful. It's sinful. [21:33:31] It's an indictment of the entire system. And by the way, you all know education is a great equalizer. We need to treat it that way. Every child has the same capacity when they're born. Every one of them have the same capacity. Every child deserves a great education, no matter what your zip code or your income level. I put my wanted where our mouth is. We're gonna triple Title 1 funding to give our teachers the pay raise they need. Make sure every every three, by the way, we're losing. [21:34:01] We already are. One hundred fifteen thousand teachers short by twenty twenty five you can be a quarter million short. And who's gonna get short? The people that you darn right they are. And look, we're gonna give every teacher a pay raise and to do that's going to continue the criminal justice reform that President Obama and I started. We're gonna end all private practice and. [21:34:24] And no far jail time for addiction. You go into mandatory treatment, build more treatment facilities, that prison system to make sure marijuana convictions there are entire records expunged. [21:34:39] So when asked why a job application? Have you ever been arrested, you be able to say legally? No, I have not. Folks, folks, let's think about this. There's so much. And by the way, all these states that are out there legalizing marijuana and legalizing medical use of it, we should take a big chunk of those profits and put end into prison reform and treatment, treatment, treatment, treatment. [21:35:04] Look, just as important, we have to be a country of second chances, for God's sake. No, think about it. We all talk about second chance. What do we do? [21:35:12] Someone gets out of prison or gets out of a tough spot. We say you're denied all the things that can help you from returning your communities. You're going to even twenty five bucks in a bus ticket. You end up under a bridge. We need to eliminate all those barriers to success. We've got to make sure all the collateral consequences are eliminated. Look, people coming out of prison and people coming back from serving their time. People coming back out to recovery. They should be able to get Pell Grants, as, you know, housing. They should ever get all the things that give me a chance. [21:35:43] And while they're there, we should be teaching them skills. It makes no sense. [21:35:48] It makes no sense to keep it a penal system. Look, we're a great country with great people. We're the greatest workers in the world. But you should be paid like we're the greatest workers. The background I come from not dissimilar, except it was he's in Louisiana, I was in Pennsylvania, in Scranton. I have too many families working their tails off just to make men's meet. Too many people I know. Didn't my dad do you know? Now, here in South Carolina, may I call that longest walk up a short flight of stairs and tell their son or daughters. Honey. So we can't live here anymore. [21:36:26] Daddy, mommy, don't have a job. You're gonna go home all of a grandpa for a while. But I'm gonna I'm gonna make it. We're gonna be able to do it. And I'll come back and I'll make sure when I'm able to get a place, we'll bring all together again. People having trouble keeping the roofs over the heads. When my dad walked up those stairs, he remembers. Twenty four. Forty six North Washington having I'm doing in Scranton. [21:36:45] I was in third grade and he looked at me. He said, I promise you it's gonna be all right. He believed it was. He believed it. And he was right. Because then if you took a shot, you got a chance. You're able to do it today. Think of all the people who can't look at their kids and say it's gonna do we're gonna be able to do it because the deck is stacked the way it is today. I mean, it really genuinely is. We have two thirds we have over 50 percent of all people who are working class and middle class think their children will never achieve the same standing they had. What a God awful conflict, you know? [21:37:19] Yeah. Yeah. [21:37:21] Just makes me mad. [21:37:24] Look, we're going to invest in our families and our communities. We're going to invest in roads and bridges, broadband water systems, school buildings, rural infrastructure. [21:37:33] We're going to invest in Jim Clyburn's 10, 20, 30 plan to get finally to those areas that we're being left behind. [21:37:41] The bulk of what needs to be done, by the way, I make no apology to anybody for it. [21:37:49] It's the nature of everybody, the wealthy, the semi wealthy, the middle class, the work that everybody does better when they do everything works for everybody. Everything. [21:38:01] We've got to make sure black and brown families and businesses have the same sort that can do to accumulate wealth. [21:38:09] Look, folks, you live in a black neighborhood. You had the same exact house. A guy lives across the highway on up in a white neighborhood, same exact house, same condition. Yours is valued at less. You pay more for insurance. [21:38:23] How do you get a chance to accumulate wealth? [21:38:26] Well, I'll tell you what. That's not how you're going to fulfill the dreams. I really mean it. You know, we're not going to invest in six. These tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. The system's already rigged in their favor. That one point nine trillion dollars a chump gave way to the top 2 percent. We're going to invest in families instead. [21:38:50] I really mean it. I've done it. [21:38:52] There is no limit to what we can get done in the next four years. But first, we have to beat Donald Trump. [21:39:03] Folks, folks, I believe, or I said it when those folks came out of those fields carrying those torches and I thought I'd see it. [21:39:13] But those folks came out of those fields in Charlottesville. Close your eyes and what you saw on television. Coming out of those fields, their veins bulging, screeching, hate carrying Nazi banners accompanied by the Ku Klux Klan. They heard this chanting the same anti-Semitic bile that was chanted in the streets of Germany in the thirties. Literally the exact same. Exact same. That's a day. Jillian, I know and quite frankly, my grandchildren knew we had no choice but to run because this president is breeding hate mongers. [21:39:52] I thought when I was waiting in Wilmington, Delaware, for a black man to come 28 miles from Philadelphia to pick me up on a train to take me one hundred and twenty seven miles to Washington, D.C., we'd finally turned a corner. What I learned is I thought I I'd been deeply involved all my life, but I learned hape that never go away. [21:40:14] It just hides. It just hides. [21:40:18] And folks, this president has done nothing but breathe oxygen into that hate and bring them out from under the rocks at his beloved rallies. [21:40:28] He spreads the missing that the message of prejudice and division in the White House. He welcomes the NRA, the gun manufacturers. And while our kids are being gunned down on the streets, in the corners, in our schools. They'll really. I mean, think about how depraved that is right now across this nation. He has 35 states suppressing the vote primarily to keep black folks and brown folks from voting. But keep anybody from voting. [21:40:59] Enough is enough is enough. It has to stop. [21:41:06] Look, folks, I spent my whole life fighting for civil rights, voting rights, social justice, economic justice. And that's what I'll do when I'm your president. This day, 30 years ago, Nelson Mandela walked out of prison and entered into discussions about apartheid. I had the great honor of meeting him, the great honor of being arrested with our U.N. ambassador on the streets of psuedo trying to get to see him on Robben Island. [21:41:32] When he came to the United States, when he came to the White House, to the Senate, I was chairman of the committee and he walked in. And most incredible thing I've ever felt my life. He walked across in that private room with a big table we have in the executive room. [21:41:47] And he walked over and I said, Mr. President, you mean I said, thank you. Thank you for trying to come and see me. This the most Christlike guy ever met. He's an incredible man. Imagine what it would have been. [21:42:00] Had anybody else come back. He kept everybody expecting any other leader would have generated bloodshed, would have there would have been chaos. But what did you do? [21:42:13] He's the example that I think we have to look at. [21:42:16] You know, when they asked me, am I going to hold a grudge yet with Trump, what he's trying to do to my only living son, to going after me with lies and all the rest? Well, you know, what I said is it's not about me and my son. It makes me angry. [21:42:32] But presidents presidents can't just fight. They got to heal. 214238 We got to heal this country, and we have to do the same kind of courage and conviction. And by the way, I'm no Nelson Mandela. I'm not making that comparison. But his heart. His heart. All you ministers know what I'm talking about. His heart. 214255 It's not enough just to fight. We got to heal. And the country so desperately needs it. Folks, that's the kind of courage and conviction we need to end the Trump era and move this nation forward to a more perfect union. I know this is going to be the fight of my life, but as the old song goes. Lord, don't move my mountain, give me the ability to climb. 214322 I can't do it alone. I need your help to climb that mountain. And together we're going to beat Donald Trump. so we can chip in and support those of us in this chip in and support our campaign. Text, Joe. [21:43:35] Two, three. You screwed me. I got to get this right, Joe. 2 3 0 3 3 0. [21:43:43] All right. Let's get to work. Thank you. May God bless you all. May God protect our troops. [21:43:49] Let's go do this. Named.

5587 3920 JOE BIDEN COLUMBIA SC NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY REMARKS POOL 021120 2020 P2 COLUMBIA, SC-Former Vice President Joe Biden took the floor in South Carolina and made it clear: He thinks this race is anything but over, even with disappointing finishes in the first two voting states. "It is important that Iowa and Nevada have spoken. But look, we need to hear from Nevada and South Carolina and Super Tuesday states and beyond. Look, we're moving into an especially important phase because up till now, we haven't heard from the most committed constituency in the Democratic Party -- the African-American community. And the fast--- and the fastest growing segment of society, the Latino community. I want y'all to think of a number -- ninety nine point nine percent." (212747) "That's the percentage of African-American voters who have not yet had a chance to vote in America. One more number, ninety nine point eight. That's the percent of Latino voters who haven't had a chance to vote. So, when you hear all these pundits and experts,cable TV talkers talk about the race, tell them "it ain't over, man. We're just getting started. Our votes count, too." [cheers] (212818) Biden expressed his excitement to be in South Carolina, telling the crowd that he hoped they love him as much as he loves them. "I've been coming here a long time. When I die, I want to be reborn in Charleston," Biden said (21:26:11) The former Vice President leaned in hard to his message that you have the hear from all communities within the country before any decisions can be made, "Look, we're moving in an especially important phase because up till now, we haven't heard from the most committed constituency in the Democratic Party. The African-American community. And the fast and the fastest growing segment of society, the Latino community. Watch out. Think of a number ninety nine point nine percent. That's the percentage of African-American voters who have not yet had a chance to vote in America. One more. Ninety nine point eight. That's the percent of Latino voters every night. A chance to vote. So when you hear all these pundits and experts and cable TV talkers talked about the race. Tell them it ain't over, man. We're just getting started. Our votes count, too. (21:27:46) Biden once again pressed on the idea that the Democratic Party should not have a nominee that does not win a broad coalition of support-pledging that if he were the nominee, support from African American and Latino communities would not be taken for granted. "You shouldn't be able to win it without black and brown voters. Too often your loyalty, your support, your commitment to this party have been taken for granted. I have never once in my career, since I got involved as a kid, taken it for granted. And I give you my word as a Biden: I never, ever, ever will." (212931) There were several notable focuses in Biden's remarks that we've heard from him in the past, but were not included in his stump speeches in Iowa and New Hampshire-clearly tailoring his message for the Palmetto State. Biden touted his time served alongside Barack Obama in the White House, calling it the greatest honor of his life to serve alongside him, and telling the crowd their families were still close friends, saying he "pays for the plane ticket" when his granddaughters want to go visit their best friends, the Obama girls Biden also focused on criminal justice reform and increasing equality for all Americans-issues we have not often brought up in the two states that have voted. And as Michael Bloomberg is facing increased scrutiny for his comments on his controversial 'stop and frisk' program, Biden said that voters should look to each candidates past to see what they would do while in office, expanding on his own record "Now, if you want to know what any other candidates are gonna do in the future, the tendency is to look at the past. Well, I left the law firm when I was a kid with a great job and a fancy law firm, and to become a public defender -- to fight for the people in the community I used to work in, in the East side because they couldn't afford a lawyer. On the county council, I fought against red lining. In the U.S. Senate, I passed the extension of the Voting Rights Act for two decades. The Violence Against Women Act and, by the way, I had the back of a great president named Barack Obama for eight years." (212956) Biden closed out his remarks on a hopeful message we've heard before-arguing that the next president needs to heal the country, a undertaking he was not underselling "It's not enough just to fight. We got to heal. And the country so desperately needs it. Folks, that's the kind of courage and conviction we need to end the Trump era and move this nation forward to a more perfect union. I know this is going to be the fight of my life, but as the old song goes. Lord, don't move my mountain, give me the ability to climb. I can't do it alone. I need your help to climb that mountain. And together we're going to beat Donald Trump." Biden said (214255) After the event, Biden worked the rope line quickly, trying to make it to an affiliate interview. The former Vice President Shouted several questions from the press about his failure to receive any delegates in New Hampshire this evening. Biden was introduced at the event by Dr. Jill Biden and Rep. Cedric Richmond, who both gave brief remarks. Jill credited the state with helping their family heal after they spent time here following the loss of their son Beau. Dr. Biden said that while Iowa and New Hampshire had their say, it was now South Carolina's turn to speak, calling it a "clean slate' for her husband. COLOR/EDIT: The room in South Carolina was very warm for Biden tonight. The crowd was diverse-both in age and race, and the room was full despite the event only being officially announced less than 12 hours prior, and could be heard audibly agreeing with Biden as he made his points throughout his remarks. As Eva Pilgrim noted-there was a lightness and excitement to the air in Columbia-one that we did not feel throughout Iowa and New Hampshire. 5587 3920 JOE BIDEN COLUMBIA SC NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY REMARKS POOL 021120 2020 HIGHLIGHTS New Hamp 212655 So, I just spoke to our folks up in -- up in New Hampshire, and they did a good job, but I want to tell ya. The people of Nevada are watching, and I want to make it clear, we praise their diversity as a state and I'm gonna be out there seeing them very soon. Tonight, though, I -- we just heard from the first two of the 50 states. Two of 'em. Not all the nation, not half the nation, not a quarter of the nation, not 10% -- 2! 212726 Two! Now, where I come from that's the opening bell, not the closing bell. And the fight to end Donald Trump's presidency is just beginning [cheers] just beginning. Thank you. [crowd chanting "Joe"] 212747 It is important that Iowa and Nevada have spoken. But look, we need to hear from Nevada and South Carolina and Super Tuesday states and beyond. Look, we're moving into an especially important phase because up till now, we haven't heard from the most committed constituency in the Democratic Party -- the African-American community. And the fast--- and the fastest growing segment of society, the Latino community. I want y'all to think of a number -- ninety nine point nine percent. 212818 That's the percentage of African-American voters who have not yet had a chance to vote in America. One more number, ninety nine point eight. That's the percent of Latino voters who haven't had a chance to vote. So, when you hear all these pundits and experts,cable TV talkers talk about the race, tell them "it ain't over, man. We're just getting started. Our votes count, too." [cheers] An Ally to Communities of Color 212931 You shouldn't be able to win it without black and brown voters. Too often your loyalty, your support, your commitment to this party have been taken for granted. I have never once in my career, since I got involved as a kid, taken it for granted. And I give you my word as a Biden: I never, ever, ever will. Now, if you want to know what any other candidates are gonna do in the future, the tendency is to look at the past. 212956 Well, I left the law firm when I was a kid with a great job and a fancy law firm, and to become a public defender -- to fight for the people in the community I used to work in, in the East side because they couldn't afford a lawyer. On the county council, I fought against red lining. In the U.S. Senate, I passed the extension of the Voting Rights Act for two decades. The Violence Against Women Act and, by the way, I had the back of a great president named Barack Obama for eight years. Beating Trump in November 214238 We got to heal this country, and we have to do the same kind of courage and conviction. And by the way, I'm no Nelson Mandela. I'm not making that comparison. But his heart. His heart. All you ministers know what I'm talking about. His heart. 214255 It's not enough just to fight. We got to heal. And the country so desperately needs it. Folks, that's the kind of courage and conviction we need to end the Trump era and move this nation forward to a more perfect union. I know this is going to be the fight of my life, but as the old song goes. Lord, don't move my mountain, give me the ability to climb. 214322 I can't do it alone. I need your help to climb that mountain. And together we're going to beat Donald Trump. FULL TRINT [21:26:02] Great to be with you all tonight. All of you have been here tonight. You know, I hope you I hope you love me as much as I love you guys. [21:26:11] I've been coming here a long time. When I die, I want to be reborn in Charleston, actually. [21:26:18] I like the low country. You know what I mean? [21:26:23] Work. I hope. [21:26:26] Thank you. Please sit down if you have a seat. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. [21:26:31] I am. I'm Joe Biden's husband. I work for Cedric Richmond. [21:26:38] And David Mack is taking me to school. [21:26:43] Well, look, I know some of the other senators came over. They came up to see me. They're in session right now. And I thank them for making the effort. There's so many people here for me to say thank you. Thank you, thank you. So I just spoke to our folks up and up in New Hampshire, and they did a good job of I want to tell you, the people of Nevada are watching. [21:27:05] And I want to make it clear we praise their diversity as a state. And I'm going to be out there seeing them very soon. Tonight, though, I we just heard from the first two of 50 states, too. Not all the nation. [21:27:20] Not half the nation, not a quarter of the nation, not 10 percent to two. All right. [21:27:28] Come from that's the opening bell, not the closing bell. [21:27:33] And the fight to end Donald Trump's presidency is just beginning. [21:27:37] Yes, about. Thank you. 212747 It is important that Iowa and Nevada have spoken. But look, we need to hear from Nevada and South Carolina and Super Tuesday states and beyond. Look, we're moving into an especially important phase because up till now, we haven't heard from the most committed constituency in the Democratic Party -- the African-American community. And the fast--- and the fastest growing segment of society, the Latino community. I want y'all to think of a number -- ninety nine point nine percent. 212818 That's the percentage of African-American voters who have not yet had a chance to vote in America. One more number, ninety nine point eight. That's the percent of Latino voters who haven't had a chance to vote. So, when you hear all these pundits and experts,cable TV talkers talk about the race, tell them "it ain't over, man. We're just getting started. Our votes count, too." [cheers] [21:28:47] We're not glad he won't take his election away, if you mean look, I've said many times it can't be the Democratic nominee and you can't win a general election as Democrat unless you have overwhelming support from black and brown voters. It's just really simple. No, it's a natural fact. It's true. It's absolutely true. And folks, you know, all those Democrats who won against incumbents from Jimmy Carter to a guy named Clinton. Their guy name Obama. My good friend. Guess what? [21:29:17] They had overwhelming African-American support. Without it. Nobody's ever won. No, really. And you know, you own my heart. Look, more important, should you not win the Democratic nomination for president? 212931 You shouldn't be able to win it without black and brown voters. Too often your loyalty, your support, your commitment to this party have been taken for granted. I have never once in my career, since I got involved as a kid, taken it for granted. And I give you my word as a Biden: I never, ever, ever will. Now, if you want to know what any other candidates are gonna do in the future, the tendency is to look at the past. 212956 Well, I left the law firm when I was a kid with a great job and a fancy law firm, and to become a public defender -- to fight for the people in the community I used to work in, in the East side because they couldn't afford a lawyer. On the county council, I fought against red lining. In the U.S. Senate, I passed the extension of the Voting Rights Act for two decades. The Violence Against Women Act and, by the way, I had the back of a great president named Barack Obama for eight years. [21:30:26] By the way, we increased access to capital for African-American entrepreneurs. Let's get some straight. Given a chance, they do just as well as anybody else and quite frankly, better. And they build the neighborhoods. They build all communities. [21:30:43] Black and I regular reduce the federal population and speak in HPC use. [21:30:48] I got 70 billion dollars coming HPC use, not a joke. Minority universe is look, we saved the automobile industry, passed Obamacare, we stopped insurance coverage of discriminating against people with preexisting conditions. And on top of all that, we build an economy that Trump is bragging about. This guy squandered his father's fortune, norways squandered economy we gave. [21:31:17] They all think I'm kidding. I'm not serve as a president. [21:31:22] Instead of talking about impeachment, Barack Obama, you should be saying thank you, President Obama. [21:31:31] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. [21:31:34] But folks, look, we have so much more to do. I promise you, as your president, you will be partners at shaping the policy to make sure every single American has an opportunity. The thing that I've never liked and I was chairman of Judiciary Committee for years. I don't know what you need best. I listen, you all the leaders in the black community know what you need best. We don't listen enough. We take for granted. You know what you need. You know what your families need. And I've never not listened to you. First, we need to defend and build on Obamacare. Trump wants to get rid of it. [21:32:12] Even some of the folks in my own outfit in the primary, I want to take it away, but I'll never let that happen. I was proud to serve as President Obama's vise president, great years with the honor of my life, and he'd become a close personal friend, the whole family's been. Matter of fact, our granddaughters and his daughters are best buddies. [21:32:36] They went to school together for twelve years in the same small club. Well, actually, 10 years. But they're still hanging out with one another, even though they go to different schools. Where are you? I'm up in Michigan State University, Michigan. What are you doing there? I came up to see me, you know. Anyway, all I know is I get to pay for the plane ticket anyway. But I was never prouder than the day that we passed Obamacare. And here's we're gonna do. We're gonna expand. We're gonna limit. We're gonna get rid of all the executive orders that have curtailed it. [21:33:09] We're gonna increase funding into research for finding cures to. Families are dealing with cancer, diabetes, African-Americans, maternal health disparities. [21:33:21] Look at them in the United States of America today. [21:33:25] Today, there's an incredible disparity. It's it's sinful. It's sinful. [21:33:31] It's an indictment of the entire system. And by the way, you all know education is a great equalizer. We need to treat it that way. Every child has the same capacity when they're born. Every one of them have the same capacity. Every child deserves a great education, no matter what your zip code or your income level. I put my wanted where our mouth is. We're gonna triple Title 1 funding to give our teachers the pay raise they need. Make sure every every three, by the way, we're losing. [21:34:01] We already are. One hundred fifteen thousand teachers short by twenty twenty five you can be a quarter million short. And who's gonna get short? The people that you darn right they are. And look, we're gonna give every teacher a pay raise and to do that's going to continue the criminal justice reform that President Obama and I started. We're gonna end all private practice and. [21:34:24] And no far jail time for addiction. You go into mandatory treatment, build more treatment facilities, that prison system to make sure marijuana convictions there are entire records expunged. [21:34:39] So when asked why a job application? Have you ever been arrested, you be able to say legally? No, I have not. Folks, folks, let's think about this. There's so much. And by the way, all these states that are out there legalizing marijuana and legalizing medical use of it, we should take a big chunk of those profits and put end into prison reform and treatment, treatment, treatment, treatment. [21:35:04] Look, just as important, we have to be a country of second chances, for God's sake. No, think about it. We all talk about second chance. What do we do? [21:35:12] Someone gets out of prison or gets out of a tough spot. We say you're denied all the things that can help you from returning your communities. You're going to even twenty five bucks in a bus ticket. You end up under a bridge. We need to eliminate all those barriers to success. We've got to make sure all the collateral consequences are eliminated. Look, people coming out of prison and people coming back from serving their time. People coming back out to recovery. They should be able to get Pell Grants, as, you know, housing. They should ever get all the things that give me a chance. [21:35:43] And while they're there, we should be teaching them skills. It makes no sense. [21:35:48] It makes no sense to keep it a penal system. Look, we're a great country with great people. We're the greatest workers in the world. But you should be paid like we're the greatest workers. The background I come from not dissimilar, except it was he's in Louisiana, I was in Pennsylvania, in Scranton. I have too many families working their tails off just to make men's meet. Too many people I know. Didn't my dad do you know? Now, here in South Carolina, may I call that longest walk up a short flight of stairs and tell their son or daughters. Honey. So we can't live here anymore. [21:36:26] Daddy, mommy, don't have a job. You're gonna go home all of a grandpa for a while. But I'm gonna I'm gonna make it. We're gonna be able to do it. And I'll come back and I'll make sure when I'm able to get a place, we'll bring all together again. People having trouble keeping the roofs over the heads. When my dad walked up those stairs, he remembers. Twenty four. Forty six North Washington having I'm doing in Scranton. [21:36:45] I was in third grade and he looked at me. He said, I promise you it's gonna be all right. He believed it was. He believed it. And he was right. Because then if you took a shot, you got a chance. You're able to do it today. Think of all the people who can't look at their kids and say it's gonna do we're gonna be able to do it because the deck is stacked the way it is today. I mean, it really genuinely is. We have two thirds we have over 50 percent of all people who are working class and middle class think their children will never achieve the same standing they had. What a God awful conflict, you know? [21:37:19] Yeah. Yeah. [21:37:21] Just makes me mad. [21:37:24] Look, we're going to invest in our families and our communities. We're going to invest in roads and bridges, broadband water systems, school buildings, rural infrastructure. [21:37:33] We're going to invest in Jim Clyburn's 10, 20, 30 plan to get finally to those areas that we're being left behind. [21:37:41] The bulk of what needs to be done, by the way, I make no apology to anybody for it. [21:37:49] It's the nature of everybody, the wealthy, the semi wealthy, the middle class, the work that everybody does better when they do everything works for everybody. Everything. [21:38:01] We've got to make sure black and brown families and businesses have the same sort that can do to accumulate wealth. [21:38:09] Look, folks, you live in a black neighborhood. You had the same exact house. A guy lives across the highway on up in a white neighborhood, same exact house, same condition. Yours is valued at less. You pay more for insurance. [21:38:23] How do you get a chance to accumulate wealth? [21:38:26] Well, I'll tell you what. That's not how you're going to fulfill the dreams. I really mean it. You know, we're not going to invest in six. These tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. The system's already rigged in their favor. That one point nine trillion dollars a chump gave way to the top 2 percent. We're going to invest in families instead. [21:38:50] I really mean it. I've done it. [21:38:52] There is no limit to what we can get done in the next four years. But first, we have to beat Donald Trump. [21:39:03] Folks, folks, I believe, or I said it when those folks came out of those fields carrying those torches and I thought I'd see it. [21:39:13] But those folks came out of those fields in Charlottesville. Close your eyes and what you saw on television. Coming out of those fields, their veins bulging, screeching, hate carrying Nazi banners accompanied by the Ku Klux Klan. They heard this chanting the same anti-Semitic bile that was chanted in the streets of Germany in the thirties. Literally the exact same. Exact same. That's a day. Jillian, I know and quite frankly, my grandchildren knew we had no choice but to run because this president is breeding hate mongers. [21:39:52] I thought when I was waiting in Wilmington, Delaware, for a black man to come 28 miles from Philadelphia to pick me up on a train to take me one hundred and twenty seven miles to Washington, D.C., we'd finally turned a corner. What I learned is I thought I I'd been deeply involved all my life, but I learned hape that never go away. [21:40:14] It just hides. It just hides. [21:40:18] And folks, this president has done nothing but breathe oxygen into that hate and bring them out from under the rocks at his beloved rallies. [21:40:28] He spreads the missing that the message of prejudice and division in the White House. He welcomes the NRA, the gun manufacturers. And while our kids are being gunned down on the streets, in the corners, in our schools. They'll really. I mean, think about how depraved that is right now across this nation. He has 35 states suppressing the vote primarily to keep black folks and brown folks from voting. But keep anybody from voting. [21:40:59] Enough is enough is enough. It has to stop. [21:41:06] Look, folks, I spent my whole life fighting for civil rights, voting rights, social justice, economic justice. And that's what I'll do when I'm your president. This day, 30 years ago, Nelson Mandela walked out of prison and entered into discussions about apartheid. I had the great honor of meeting him, the great honor of being arrested with our U.N. ambassador on the streets of psuedo trying to get to see him on Robben Island. [21:41:32] When he came to the United States, when he came to the White House, to the Senate, I was chairman of the committee and he walked in. And most incredible thing I've ever felt my life. He walked across in that private room with a big table we have in the executive room. [21:41:47] And he walked over and I said, Mr. President, you mean I said, thank you. Thank you for trying to come and see me. This the most Christlike guy ever met. He's an incredible man. Imagine what it would have been. [21:42:00] Had anybody else come back. He kept everybody expecting any other leader would have generated bloodshed, would have there would have been chaos. But what did you do? [21:42:13] He's the example that I think we have to look at. [21:42:16] You know, when they asked me, am I going to hold a grudge yet with Trump, what he's trying to do to my only living son, to going after me with lies and all the rest? Well, you know, what I said is it's not about me and my son. It makes me angry. [21:42:32] But presidents presidents can't just fight. They got to heal. 214238 We got to heal this country, and we have to do the same kind of courage and conviction. And by the way, I'm no Nelson Mandela. I'm not making that comparison. But his heart. His heart. All you ministers know what I'm talking about. His heart. 214255 It's not enough just to fight. We got to heal. And the country so desperately needs it. Folks, that's the kind of courage and conviction we need to end the Trump era and move this nation forward to a more perfect union. I know this is going to be the fight of my life, but as the old song goes. Lord, don't move my mountain, give me the ability to climb. 214322 I can't do it alone. I need your help to climb that mountain. And together we're going to beat Donald Trump. so we can chip in and support those of us in this chip in and support our campaign. Text, Joe. [21:43:35] Two, three. You screwed me. I got to get this right, Joe. 2 3 0 3 3 0. [21:43:43] All right. Let's get to work. Thank you. May God bless you all. May God protect our troops. [21:43:49] Let's go do this. Named.

5587 3920 JOE BIDEN COLUMBIA SC NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY REMARKS POOL 021120 2020 COLUMBIA, SC-Former Vice President Joe Biden took the floor in South Carolina and made it clear: He thinks this race is anything but over, even with disappointing finishes in the first two voting states. "It is important that Iowa and Nevada have spoken. But look, we need to hear from Nevada and South Carolina and Super Tuesday states and beyond. Look, we're moving into an especially important phase because up till now, we haven't heard from the most committed constituency in the Democratic Party -- the African-American community. And the fast--- and the fastest growing segment of society, the Latino community. I want y'all to think of a number -- ninety nine point nine percent." (212747) "That's the percentage of African-American voters who have not yet had a chance to vote in America. One more number, ninety nine point eight. That's the percent of Latino voters who haven't had a chance to vote. So, when you hear all these pundits and experts,cable TV talkers talk about the race, tell them "it ain't over, man. We're just getting started. Our votes count, too." [cheers] (212818) Biden expressed his excitement to be in South Carolina, telling the crowd that he hoped they love him as much as he loves them. "I've been coming here a long time. When I die, I want to be reborn in Charleston," Biden said (21:26:11) The former Vice President leaned in hard to his message that you have the hear from all communities within the country before any decisions can be made, "Look, we're moving in an especially important phase because up till now, we haven't heard from the most committed constituency in the Democratic Party. The African-American community. And the fast and the fastest growing segment of society, the Latino community. Watch out. Think of a number ninety nine point nine percent. That's the percentage of African-American voters who have not yet had a chance to vote in America. One more. Ninety nine point eight. That's the percent of Latino voters every night. A chance to vote. So when you hear all these pundits and experts and cable TV talkers talked about the race. Tell them it ain't over, man. We're just getting started. Our votes count, too. (21:27:46) Biden once again pressed on the idea that the Democratic Party should not have a nominee that does not win a broad coalition of support-pledging that if he were the nominee, support from African American and Latino communities would not be taken for granted. "You shouldn't be able to win it without black and brown voters. Too often your loyalty, your support, your commitment to this party have been taken for granted. I have never once in my career, since I got involved as a kid, taken it for granted. And I give you my word as a Biden: I never, ever, ever will." (212931) There were several notable focuses in Biden's remarks that we've heard from him in the past, but were not included in his stump speeches in Iowa and New Hampshire-clearly tailoring his message for the Palmetto State. Biden touted his time served alongside Barack Obama in the White House, calling it the greatest honor of his life to serve alongside him, and telling the crowd their families were still close friends, saying he "pays for the plane ticket" when his granddaughters want to go visit their best friends, the Obama girls Biden also focused on criminal justice reform and increasing equality for all Americans-issues we have not often brought up in the two states that have voted. And as Michael Bloomberg is facing increased scrutiny for his comments on his controversial 'stop and frisk' program, Biden said that voters should look to each candidates past to see what they would do while in office, expanding on his own record "Now, if you want to know what any other candidates are gonna do in the future, the tendency is to look at the past. Well, I left the law firm when I was a kid with a great job and a fancy law firm, and to become a public defender -- to fight for the people in the community I used to work in, in the East side because they couldn't afford a lawyer. On the county council, I fought against red lining. In the U.S. Senate, I passed the extension of the Voting Rights Act for two decades. The Violence Against Women Act and, by the way, I had the back of a great president named Barack Obama for eight years." (212956) Biden closed out his remarks on a hopeful message we've heard before-arguing that the next president needs to heal the country, a undertaking he was not underselling "It's not enough just to fight. We got to heal. And the country so desperately needs it. Folks, that's the kind of courage and conviction we need to end the Trump era and move this nation forward to a more perfect union. I know this is going to be the fight of my life, but as the old song goes. Lord, don't move my mountain, give me the ability to climb. I can't do it alone. I need your help to climb that mountain. And together we're going to beat Donald Trump." Biden said (214255) After the event, Biden worked the rope line quickly, trying to make it to an affiliate interview. The former Vice President Shouted several questions from the press about his failure to receive any delegates in New Hampshire this evening. Biden was introduced at the event by Dr. Jill Biden and Rep. Cedric Richmond, who both gave brief remarks. Jill credited the state with helping their family heal after they spent time here following the loss of their son Beau. Dr. Biden said that while Iowa and New Hampshire had their say, it was now South Carolina's turn to speak, calling it a "clean slate' for her husband. COLOR/EDIT: The room in South Carolina was very warm for Biden tonight. The crowd was diverse-both in age and race, and the room was full despite the event only being officially announced less than 12 hours prior, and could be heard audibly agreeing with Biden as he made his points throughout his remarks. As Eva Pilgrim noted-there was a lightness and excitement to the air in Columbia-one that we did not feel throughout Iowa and New Hampshire. 5587 3920 JOE BIDEN COLUMBIA SC NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY REMARKS POOL 021120 2020 HIGHLIGHTS New Hamp 212655 So, I just spoke to our folks up in -- up in New Hampshire, and they did a good job, but I want to tell ya. The people of Nevada are watching, and I want to make it clear, we praise their diversity as a state and I'm gonna be out there seeing them very soon. Tonight, though, I -- we just heard from the first two of the 50 states. Two of 'em. Not all the nation, not half the nation, not a quarter of the nation, not 10% -- 2! 212726 Two! Now, where I come from that's the opening bell, not the closing bell. And the fight to end Donald Trump's presidency is just beginning [cheers] just beginning. Thank you. [crowd chanting "Joe"] 212747 It is important that Iowa and Nevada have spoken. But look, we need to hear from Nevada and South Carolina and Super Tuesday states and beyond. Look, we're moving into an especially important phase because up till now, we haven't heard from the most committed constituency in the Democratic Party -- the African-American community. And the fast--- and the fastest growing segment of society, the Latino community. I want y'all to think of a number -- ninety nine point nine percent. 212818 That's the percentage of African-American voters who have not yet had a chance to vote in America. One more number, ninety nine point eight. That's the percent of Latino voters who haven't had a chance to vote. So, when you hear all these pundits and experts,cable TV talkers talk about the race, tell them "it ain't over, man. We're just getting started. Our votes count, too." [cheers] An Ally to Communities of Color 212931 You shouldn't be able to win it without black and brown voters. Too often your loyalty, your support, your commitment to this party have been taken for granted. I have never once in my career, since I got involved as a kid, taken it for granted. And I give you my word as a Biden: I never, ever, ever will. Now, if you want to know what any other candidates are gonna do in the future, the tendency is to look at the past. 212956 Well, I left the law firm when I was a kid with a great job and a fancy law firm, and to become a public defender -- to fight for the people in the community I used to work in, in the East side because they couldn't afford a lawyer. On the county council, I fought against red lining. In the U.S. Senate, I passed the extension of the Voting Rights Act for two decades. The Violence Against Women Act and, by the way, I had the back of a great president named Barack Obama for eight years. Beating Trump in November 214238 We got to heal this country, and we have to do the same kind of courage and conviction. And by the way, I'm no Nelson Mandela. I'm not making that comparison. But his heart. His heart. All you ministers know what I'm talking about. His heart. 214255 It's not enough just to fight. We got to heal. And the country so desperately needs it. Folks, that's the kind of courage and conviction we need to end the Trump era and move this nation forward to a more perfect union. I know this is going to be the fight of my life, but as the old song goes. Lord, don't move my mountain, give me the ability to climb. 214322 I can't do it alone. I need your help to climb that mountain. And together we're going to beat Donald Trump. FULL TRINT [21:26:02] Great to be with you all tonight. All of you have been here tonight. You know, I hope you I hope you love me as much as I love you guys. [21:26:11] I've been coming here a long time. When I die, I want to be reborn in Charleston, actually. [21:26:18] I like the low country. You know what I mean? [21:26:23] Work. I hope. [21:26:26] Thank you. Please sit down if you have a seat. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. [21:26:31] I am. I'm Joe Biden's husband. I work for Cedric Richmond. [21:26:38] And David Mack is taking me to school. [21:26:43] Well, look, I know some of the other senators came over. They came up to see me. They're in session right now. And I thank them for making the effort. There's so many people here for me to say thank you. Thank you, thank you. So I just spoke to our folks up and up in New Hampshire, and they did a good job of I want to tell you, the people of Nevada are watching. [21:27:05] And I want to make it clear we praise their diversity as a state. And I'm going to be out there seeing them very soon. Tonight, though, I we just heard from the first two of 50 states, too. Not all the nation. [21:27:20] Not half the nation, not a quarter of the nation, not 10 percent to two. All right. [21:27:28] Come from that's the opening bell, not the closing bell. [21:27:33] And the fight to end Donald Trump's presidency is just beginning. [21:27:37] Yes, about. Thank you. 212747 It is important that Iowa and Nevada have spoken. But look, we need to hear from Nevada and South Carolina and Super Tuesday states and beyond. Look, we're moving into an especially important phase because up till now, we haven't heard from the most committed constituency in the Democratic Party -- the African-American community. And the fast--- and the fastest growing segment of society, the Latino community. I want y'all to think of a number -- ninety nine point nine percent. 212818 That's the percentage of African-American voters who have not yet had a chance to vote in America. One more number, ninety nine point eight. That's the percent of Latino voters who haven't had a chance to vote. So, when you hear all these pundits and experts,cable TV talkers talk about the race, tell them "it ain't over, man. We're just getting started. Our votes count, too." [cheers] [21:28:47] We're not glad he won't take his election away, if you mean look, I've said many times it can't be the Democratic nominee and you can't win a general election as Democrat unless you have overwhelming support from black and brown voters. It's just really simple. No, it's a natural fact. It's true. It's absolutely true. And folks, you know, all those Democrats who won against incumbents from Jimmy Carter to a guy named Clinton. Their guy name Obama. My good friend. Guess what? [21:29:17] They had overwhelming African-American support. Without it. Nobody's ever won. No, really. And you know, you own my heart. Look, more important, should you not win the Democratic nomination for president? 212931 You shouldn't be able to win it without black and brown voters. Too often your loyalty, your support, your commitment to this party have been taken for granted. I have never once in my career, since I got involved as a kid, taken it for granted. And I give you my word as a Biden: I never, ever, ever will. Now, if you want to know what any other candidates are gonna do in the future, the tendency is to look at the past. 212956 Well, I left the law firm when I was a kid with a great job and a fancy law firm, and to become a public defender -- to fight for the people in the community I used to work in, in the East side because they couldn't afford a lawyer. On the county council, I fought against red lining. In the U.S. Senate, I passed the extension of the Voting Rights Act for two decades. The Violence Against Women Act and, by the way, I had the back of a great president named Barack Obama for eight years. [21:30:26] By the way, we increased access to capital for African-American entrepreneurs. Let's get some straight. Given a chance, they do just as well as anybody else and quite frankly, better. And they build the neighborhoods. They build all communities. [21:30:43] Black and I regular reduce the federal population and speak in HPC use. [21:30:48] I got 70 billion dollars coming HPC use, not a joke. Minority universe is look, we saved the automobile industry, passed Obamacare, we stopped insurance coverage of discriminating against people with preexisting conditions. And on top of all that, we build an economy that Trump is bragging about. This guy squandered his father's fortune, norways squandered economy we gave. [21:31:17] They all think I'm kidding. I'm not serve as a president. [21:31:22] Instead of talking about impeachment, Barack Obama, you should be saying thank you, President Obama. [21:31:31] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. [21:31:34] But folks, look, we have so much more to do. I promise you, as your president, you will be partners at shaping the policy to make sure every single American has an opportunity. The thing that I've never liked and I was chairman of Judiciary Committee for years. I don't know what you need best. I listen, you all the leaders in the black community know what you need best. We don't listen enough. We take for granted. You know what you need. You know what your families need. And I've never not listened to you. First, we need to defend and build on Obamacare. Trump wants to get rid of it. [21:32:12] Even some of the folks in my own outfit in the primary, I want to take it away, but I'll never let that happen. I was proud to serve as President Obama's vise president, great years with the honor of my life, and he'd become a close personal friend, the whole family's been. Matter of fact, our granddaughters and his daughters are best buddies. [21:32:36] They went to school together for twelve years in the same small club. Well, actually, 10 years. But they're still hanging out with one another, even though they go to different schools. Where are you? I'm up in Michigan State University, Michigan. What are you doing there? I came up to see me, you know. Anyway, all I know is I get to pay for the plane ticket anyway. But I was never prouder than the day that we passed Obamacare. And here's we're gonna do. We're gonna expand. We're gonna limit. We're gonna get rid of all the executive orders that have curtailed it. [21:33:09] We're gonna increase funding into research for finding cures to. Families are dealing with cancer, diabetes, African-Americans, maternal health disparities. [21:33:21] Look at them in the United States of America today. [21:33:25] Today, there's an incredible disparity. It's it's sinful. It's sinful. [21:33:31] It's an indictment of the entire system. And by the way, you all know education is a great equalizer. We need to treat it that way. Every child has the same capacity when they're born. Every one of them have the same capacity. Every child deserves a great education, no matter what your zip code or your income level. I put my wanted where our mouth is. We're gonna triple Title 1 funding to give our teachers the pay raise they need. Make sure every every three, by the way, we're losing. [21:34:01] We already are. One hundred fifteen thousand teachers short by twenty twenty five you can be a quarter million short. And who's gonna get short? The people that you darn right they are. And look, we're gonna give every teacher a pay raise and to do that's going to continue the criminal justice reform that President Obama and I started. We're gonna end all private practice and. [21:34:24] And no far jail time for addiction. You go into mandatory treatment, build more treatment facilities, that prison system to make sure marijuana convictions there are entire records expunged. [21:34:39] So when asked why a job application? Have you ever been arrested, you be able to say legally? No, I have not. Folks, folks, let's think about this. There's so much. And by the way, all these states that are out there legalizing marijuana and legalizing medical use of it, we should take a big chunk of those profits and put end into prison reform and treatment, treatment, treatment, treatment. [21:35:04] Look, just as important, we have to be a country of second chances, for God's sake. No, think about it. We all talk about second chance. What do we do? [21:35:12] Someone gets out of prison or gets out of a tough spot. We say you're denied all the things that can help you from returning your communities. You're going to even twenty five bucks in a bus ticket. You end up under a bridge. We need to eliminate all those barriers to success. We've got to make sure all the collateral consequences are eliminated. Look, people coming out of prison and people coming back from serving their time. People coming back out to recovery. They should be able to get Pell Grants, as, you know, housing. They should ever get all the things that give me a chance. [21:35:43] And while they're there, we should be teaching them skills. It makes no sense. [21:35:48] It makes no sense to keep it a penal system. Look, we're a great country with great people. We're the greatest workers in the world. But you should be paid like we're the greatest workers. The background I come from not dissimilar, except it was he's in Louisiana, I was in Pennsylvania, in Scranton. I have too many families working their tails off just to make men's meet. Too many people I know. Didn't my dad do you know? Now, here in South Carolina, may I call that longest walk up a short flight of stairs and tell their son or daughters. Honey. So we can't live here anymore. [21:36:26] Daddy, mommy, don't have a job. You're gonna go home all of a grandpa for a while. But I'm gonna I'm gonna make it. We're gonna be able to do it. And I'll come back and I'll make sure when I'm able to get a place, we'll bring all together again. People having trouble keeping the roofs over the heads. When my dad walked up those stairs, he remembers. Twenty four. Forty six North Washington having I'm doing in Scranton. [21:36:45] I was in third grade and he looked at me. He said, I promise you it's gonna be all right. He believed it was. He believed it. And he was right. Because then if you took a shot, you got a chance. You're able to do it today. Think of all the people who can't look at their kids and say it's gonna do we're gonna be able to do it because the deck is stacked the way it is today. I mean, it really genuinely is. We have two thirds we have over 50 percent of all people who are working class and middle class think their children will never achieve the same standing they had. What a God awful conflict, you know? [21:37:19] Yeah. Yeah. [21:37:21] Just makes me mad. [21:37:24] Look, we're going to invest in our families and our communities. We're going to invest in roads and bridges, broadband water systems, school buildings, rural infrastructure. [21:37:33] We're going to invest in Jim Clyburn's 10, 20, 30 plan to get finally to those areas that we're being left behind. [21:37:41] The bulk of what needs to be done, by the way, I make no apology to anybody for it. [21:37:49] It's the nature of everybody, the wealthy, the semi wealthy, the middle class, the work that everybody does better when they do everything works for everybody. Everything. [21:38:01] We've got to make sure black and brown families and businesses have the same sort that can do to accumulate wealth. [21:38:09] Look, folks, you live in a black neighborhood. You had the same exact house. A guy lives across the highway on up in a white neighborhood, same exact house, same condition. Yours is valued at less. You pay more for insurance. [21:38:23] How do you get a chance to accumulate wealth? [21:38:26] Well, I'll tell you what. That's not how you're going to fulfill the dreams. I really mean it. You know, we're not going to invest in six. These tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. The system's already rigged in their favor. That one point nine trillion dollars a chump gave way to the top 2 percent. We're going to invest in families instead. [21:38:50] I really mean it. I've done it. [21:38:52] There is no limit to what we can get done in the next four years. But first, we have to beat Donald Trump. [21:39:03] Folks, folks, I believe, or I said it when those folks came out of those fields carrying those torches and I thought I'd see it. [21:39:13] But those folks came out of those fields in Charlottesville. Close your eyes and what you saw on television. Coming out of those fields, their veins bulging, screeching, hate carrying Nazi banners accompanied by the Ku Klux Klan. They heard this chanting the same anti-Semitic bile that was chanted in the streets of Germany in the thirties. Literally the exact same. Exact same. That's a day. Jillian, I know and quite frankly, my grandchildren knew we had no choice but to run because this president is breeding hate mongers. [21:39:52] I thought when I was waiting in Wilmington, Delaware, for a black man to come 28 miles from Philadelphia to pick me up on a train to take me one hundred and twenty seven miles to Washington, D.C., we'd finally turned a corner. What I learned is I thought I I'd been deeply involved all my life, but I learned hape that never go away. [21:40:14] It just hides. It just hides. [21:40:18] And folks, this president has done nothing but breathe oxygen into that hate and bring them out from under the rocks at his beloved rallies. [21:40:28] He spreads the missing that the message of prejudice and division in the White House. He welcomes the NRA, the gun manufacturers. And while our kids are being gunned down on the streets, in the corners, in our schools. They'll really. I mean, think about how depraved that is right now across this nation. He has 35 states suppressing the vote primarily to keep black folks and brown folks from voting. But keep anybody from voting. [21:40:59] Enough is enough is enough. It has to stop. [21:41:06] Look, folks, I spent my whole life fighting for civil rights, voting rights, social justice, economic justice. And that's what I'll do when I'm your president. This day, 30 years ago, Nelson Mandela walked out of prison and entered into discussions about apartheid. I had the great honor of meeting him, the great honor of being arrested with our U.N. ambassador on the streets of psuedo trying to get to see him on Robben Island. [21:41:32] When he came to the United States, when he came to the White House, to the Senate, I was chairman of the committee and he walked in. And most incredible thing I've ever felt my life. He walked across in that private room with a big table we have in the executive room. [21:41:47] And he walked over and I said, Mr. President, you mean I said, thank you. Thank you for trying to come and see me. This the most Christlike guy ever met. He's an incredible man. Imagine what it would have been. [21:42:00] Had anybody else come back. He kept everybody expecting any other leader would have generated bloodshed, would have there would have been chaos. But what did you do? [21:42:13] He's the example that I think we have to look at. [21:42:16] You know, when they asked me, am I going to hold a grudge yet with Trump, what he's trying to do to my only living son, to going after me with lies and all the rest? Well, you know, what I said is it's not about me and my son. It makes me angry. [21:42:32] But presidents presidents can't just fight. They got to heal. 214238 We got to heal this country, and we have to do the same kind of courage and conviction. And by the way, I'm no Nelson Mandela. I'm not making that comparison. But his heart. His heart. All you ministers know what I'm talking about. His heart. 214255 It's not enough just to fight. We got to heal. And the country so desperately needs it. Folks, that's the kind of courage and conviction we need to end the Trump era and move this nation forward to a more perfect union. I know this is going to be the fight of my life, but as the old song goes. Lord, don't move my mountain, give me the ability to climb. 214322 I can't do it alone. I need your help to climb that mountain. And together we're going to beat Donald Trump. so we can chip in and support those of us in this chip in and support our campaign. Text, Joe. [21:43:35] Two, three. You screwed me. I got to get this right, Joe. 2 3 0 3 3 0. [21:43:43] All right. Let's get to work. Thank you. May God bless you all. May God protect our troops. [21:43:49] Let's go do this. Named.

SENATE HEALTH EDUCATION LABOR AND PENSIONS COMMITTEE FULL COMMITTEE HEARING [5:16:50 PM] [Banging of gavel] >> The hearing of the health and education committee will come to order. This considers the nomination of Betsy Devos for secretary of education. Senator Murray and I will make an opening statement. We welcome senator Scott, senator Lieberman, a former member of this body, who will make introductory remarks. Following the nominee's comments, we will have a five-minute round of questions. One note -- we have capital officers here today that will remove anyone who attempts to disrupt the hearing. This is the first meeting of this committee in the new congress. This is a committee that will probably become evident that has some considerable differences of opinion on a variety of issues. We have found we can sometimes result them in important ways. Last year, we passed what the majority leader senator Mcconnell said was the most important bill in congress, 21st century cures. The year before, no child left behind which president Obama called a Christmas miracle and 33 other bills signed. I want to thank senator Murray and the Democrats and Republicans on the committee for operating in that fashion. We have done that by showing courtesy to ourselves and witnesses which I hope will be evident today. Before my opening remarks, I would like to make a word about process. More than 25 years ago, I was sitting where you are sitting. As the nominee for U.S. Secretary of education, and a [5:18:53 PM] former senator from Ohio said to me, well, I've heard some disturbing things about you, but I will not bring them up here. Senator Nancy Kassebaum said, I think you just did. With that, he put a secret hold on the. We don't have to go through that because we abolished secret holds. We will apply the golden rule from the book of Matthew which applies the same procedures to you that we used in 2001 and 2005 for president George W. Bush's education secretary nominee. W. For president Obama's education secretary nominee. We will consider you and then vote just as we did did. Arne Duncan, the first education secretary under president Obama, he was confirmed a week later. John king, the hearing was on February 25 and was confirmed to win a half weeks later. We have received from this is the boss -- Mrs. Devos, the committee's required forms. They have to be in me than a week in advance. The FBI background check has been done. She provided the ethics with relevant information about her financial affairs. We will have a letter from that office on how, which will be an agreement between Mrs. Devos and that office, on how to deal with any conflicts of interest before we vote in committee on her nomination. Mrs. Devos has met with us in each of our offices. Several of us have written questions already given to her. Today, we will each have five minutes for further questions. Again, I'm applying the golden [5:20:55 PM] rule. One round of five-minute questions for both of president Obama's education nominees. That was the case for me too in 1991. In those cases following the firemen around, the chairman and one memorable ask additional questions and we will do that again. I will ask questions and ask senator Murray if she would like to do the same. Each of us will have a chance to ask additional questions in a reasonable number in writing by the close of business on Thursday at 5 P.M. We will meet in executive session next Tuesday to consider Mrs Devos' nomination and other business if the final office of government ethics letters received by this Friday in order to give senators a chance to review it. Now, following my opening remarks, senator Murray will be hers and then we will hear from senator Scott and senator Lieberman and hear from Mrs. Devos. Betsy Devos is on our children's side. She has devoted her life to helping mainly low income children have better choices of schools. The criticism I have heard amounts to three things -- one, she supports public charter schools. Two, she supports giving lower income parents more choices of schools. Three, she has user considerable wealth and effectiveness to advance those ideas. I believe she is in the mainstream of public opinion and her critics are not. First, let's take the idea of charter schools. They are public schools with fewer government rules, union rules, so teachers have more freedom to teach and parents have more freedom to pick the school that best suits their [5:22:55 PM] child. In 1991 and 1992, president H W bush proposed start from scratch schools. He raised $70 million for new American school development to encourage innovative ideas. In 1993 in January, as my last act as education secretary, I wrote every single superintendent a country and asked them to try something that was invented in Minnesota by the democratic farmer labor party, something called charter schools. Since then, there has been broad support for the idea. The late head of the American federation of teachers endorsed those charter schools. In 1997, president Clinton said we need 3000 charter schools by 2002. Senator Hillary Clinton supported charter schools. President George W. Bush supported charter schools. President Obama supports charter schools. Arne Duncan described himself as a strong supporter of charter schools. John king founded a charter school and ran a system of charter schools. Congress in 1994 an1998, 2005, always bipartisan and supported charter schools. 43 states and the district of Columbia operate charter schools. Over nearly 30 years, those 12 democratic farmer labor charter schools in Minnesota have grown to 6800 public charter schools. 6% of America's public school students attend them. Who is in the mainstream? The democratic farmer labor party, president bush, Clinton, bush, Obama, the last six education secretary's, the U.S. Congress, the district of Columbia, or Mrs. Devos and [5:24:57 PM] her critics? I think she is in the mainstream. The other criticism -- giving low income parents more choices of schools, more specifically the objection is public money should not follow poor children to an accredited school of their parents choice. Arguing against that is arguing against the most successful social policy this congress has ever acted, the G.I. Bill for veterans, which appropriated federal dollars to follow veterans to the school of their choice -- notre dame, university of Tennessee, any accredited institution. It produced the greatest generation and it produced the model for all of our federal aid for colleges. $29 billion in Pell grants. They followed the student to the school of their choice. Nearly 100 billion in new student loans. Why is such a great idea for college students deemed to be a dangerous idea for k-1 labor2 students. Competition creates the best colleges in my produce the best -- and might produce the vessels -- the best schools. Today, 50 states provide parents more choices of public schools, 15% attend a school other than their school of residence through open enrollment. 44 states allow sending students outside their district. 34 states within their district. Nearly 400,000 children are served by 50 private school choice programs across 25 states, the district of Columbia. Congress passed bipartisan legislation with senator Lieberman at the head of it, creating the voucher program, helping 62 100 children. [5:26:58 PM] More than 1000 children standing in line waiting for that opportunity. There has been growing support since president h.w.many of us believe bush proposed the bill for kids, where in 2015, 45 United States senators supported scholarships for kids that I proposed an senator Scott proposed for students with disabilities. According to the 2013 global public opinion survey, 73% of Americans support school choice. 64% said it given the financial opportunity, they would send one or all of their children to a different school. Who is in the mainstream? Ill for veterans, 25 states, congress, 45 U.S. Senators in 2015, 70 3% of Americans -- 73% of Americans, Mrs. Devos or her critics. The final criticism is she has use her wealth to support these ideas. I think she deserves credit for that, not criticism. With a have been happier if she spent her time and money trying to did I children more choices -- deny children more choices. We are fortunate that Betsy Devos is the nominee for the education secretary. She has been in support of children. I support her confirmation and look forward to working with her. Sen. Murray: I look forward to working with you and all of our colleagues in congress. I want to welcome our new members on this committee. Thank you for joining us today. Welcome to the rest of your family who has joined you as well. This is the first of many hearings we will be to the rest of your [5:28:59 PM] holding on president-elect trump's nominee to fill critical positions in the federal government. I want to start by reiterating the importance of the senate's role in the process and this committee's role. President trump has the right to fill his cabinet with people he thinks will fill out positions for our country. That does not mean the senate should be a rubberstamp. We owe it to the people we represent to make sure every nominee is not only qualified for the position and free of conflict of interest, but that he or she will put families and workers first, and not millionaires, billionaires or big corporations. President-elect trump was the first presidential candidate in decades to not release his tax returns. He's openly flouting ethics conventions regarding his personal and family businesses. Some people say this means the bar has been lowered for ethics and public service. I refuse to accept that and will continue to hold the incoming administration to the highest ethical standard. This is what the American people deserve, regardless of who they voted for, where their tax dollars is going. I believe in an administration where conflicts of interest will be blurred at the top, then he to be even clear at individual agencies. We work to ensure the highest ethical standards are maintained and there is accountability to taxpayers from the top of the government all the way down. I'm going to continue pushing for robust scrutiny of every one of these nominees and I appreciate that Mrs. Devos has said to me she knows the importance of transparency and openness. She will make sure that no corners are cut in will go to great lengths -- and will go to great lengths. I'm extremely disappointed that [5:31:00 PM] we are moving forward with this hearing before receiving the proper paperwork from the office of government ethics. When president Obama entered the white house, Republicans and consisted in having an ethics in hand before moving to a hearing. Senator Mcconnell wrote a letter to senator Reid with that explicitly, with a background check before the hearing. I'm extremely concerned and I can only hope cutting corners and rushing nominees through will not be the new norm. We are here today to hear from president elect's nominee to lead the department of education. As a former teacher and school board member and fighting for public investments in early learning, I take this issue very seriously. I owe everything I have to strong public schools. I was able to attend with my six brothers and sisters. None of us in our family would have been able to go to college were it not for federal support. We have those opportunities because of our government and was committed in investing in us, I know that is not the case for every student today. Although we have a long way to go, I'm committed to making sure the federal government is a strong partner to our public schools districts and states. That every student has access to a high-quality education that allows them to succeed. We focus our federal policies and investment in strengthening public schools for all students, and certainly N taxpayer dollars to fund vouchers that do not work for unaccountable private schools. That is why I was proud to work with chairman Alexander and so many others to pass the act that gives flexibility to states and [5:33:01 PM] school districts, but also includes strong accountability for our schools and reiterates our nation's commitment to strengthening public education, especially for our vulnerable students. This commitment goes beyond -- the federal government in general and the department of education specifically has an important role of to play in supporting, protecting and investing in all of our students from our youngest learners to those in higher education and adults and parents seeking to improve their skills. Leading this agency is a big job. It is an important job and I consider it to be my job to do everything I can to make sure whoever fills this is truly committed to putting students and families first. Mrs. Devos, I'm looking forward to hearing your answers to some questions as I have a number of very serious concerns that need to be addressed. First, I want to learn more about your extensive financial entanglements and potential conflicts of interests. As a billionaire with investments through complex financial instruments, many of which that were nontransparent, you need to make it clear that you will avoid conflicts of interest if confirmed. That goes to your investments and a web of investments made by your immediate family. Despite starting out on the wrong track by not having an ethics letter complete before hearing, I appreciate what you are doing to provide the committee information to understand how you will intend to have a highest level of ethics. So far, no calls to release three years of tax returns, but I hope you will consider it and cooperate fully. I have major concerns without you spend your career and fortune fighting to privatize [5:35:01 PM] public education and gut investments in public schools. I have specific questions on how the privatization policies you have pushed at impacted students and how you intend to use taxpayer dollars to support public education and not continue to undermine schools and teachers from inside the department as you have as an advocate from the outside. I want to know more about the large contributions you have made to group that are ideologically opposed to workers and teachers and want to impose anti-lgbt or anti-women's believes on public schools. I want to make sure you publicly commit to implementing our every student succeeds act by having strong federal guardrails in that. I want to know how you will tackle the persistent achievement gap. While you have been outspoken on k-12 issues, your record is not clear in critical areas. I want to learn more on how you will approach higher education and whether or not we can count on you to stand with students and borrowers. I'm interested in your thoughts on title IX, how we can do everything possible to stop the scourge of sexual assault on campus. I was not happy when we talk about this issue when we met. I'm IX, how we can do everything possible to stop the scourge hoping you have learned more about it and will address it seriously. I want to know how your personal religious and ideological views on women's health impacts how you approach this issue. I'm very concerned with what has been reported in the press about your views views on the importance of the office of civil rights which works to help those with disabilities, lgbt, women and girls, students of our colors to make sure they are treated with dignity and respect. I want to know how you will enforce critical civil rights laws. [5:37:01 PM] As my colleagues know, I hav E E a passion for early learning and I want to know where you stand and how the government can help every child to prepare for success in kindergarten. I'm looking forward to a robust dialogue tonight. I'm hoping you are transparent about your views, open about your record and its impact on students, and willing to make some straightforward commitments regarding the responsibility of this department. I will be asking you to commit to provide this committee with additional information and responses to all reasonable follow-up questions as quickly as possible. I'm hoping this can be a smooth process. Mr. Chairman, my members are here tonight and are hoping for more than five minutes of questions on this nominee. I hope you will consider doing that. Chairman Al this committee with additionalexander: I will follow the golden rule. I will not apply it to Mrs. Devos. We will have a five-minute round of questions. You and I can ask questions after that for another five minutes. That is what we have done before. Members of this committee have met with Mrs. Devos. Some have already asked her questions and will have two more days to think of more and she has to answer them before we vote. As far as tax returns, if you would like to bring that up, we can in our next executive session on the 24th if the government ethics letter is completed by Friday. I will note committee rules do not require tax returns to be recorded by presidential nominees. We did not require it of president Obama's two nominees for education secretary. [5:39:03 PM] If we want to change the rules, we can do that but I am not in favor of changing the rules in the middle of the process. >> May I ask a point of order? I believe we have a second round with the John king hearings. Chairman Alexander: In each of the John king, in the last two nominees, Mr. Duncan and Mr. King, we had a five-minute round and the chairman and one senator, one other senator asked five minutes of questions. I will ask five minutes of questions and give senator Murray the opportunity. >> I would just say nobody asked for additional time at that point. I hope we hear members questions and have an opportunity to revisit. Chairman Alexander: I appreciate the request, but I will not change the rules in the middle of the game. Sen. Murray: I was not aware they were rules. I appreciate we did it for both the president Obama's and do the same thing. >> I was not aware there was a precedent. Chairman Alexander: It is as clear as I can think of. >> I would like letters expressing concerto this nomination to be placed in the record. Chairman Alexander: They will be. We welcome Betsy Devos, your husband, son, daughter-in-law and our other guests. Mrs. Devos will be introduced first my senator Tim Scott, a strong champion of education. And then she will be introduced by senator Joe Lieberman who served for 34 years before retiring in 2013. Thank you both for joining us. I've already said what I had to say about Mrs. Devos. [5:41:04 PM] I think she will be in excellent -- an excellent secretary of education. We will go our head to senator Scott's introduction and then senator Lieberman. And then we will hear from Mrs. Devos and then we will hear the questions. Sen. Scott: I'm surprised the number of folks showed up here for senator Lieberman's introduction. Very well done. I've know the Devos family for about three decades. It was a part of one of the companies. I'm very thankful a champion of public education, education and specifically a champion of education for poor kids sits to my left. I will recall my own upbringing poor kid. I attended four different schools. It is important to realize the impact it has on poor kids. I'm excited about this transition, looking forward to the opportunity of having Betsy Devos as our champion for all children, all education, but specifically what I call high potential kids. For the last 28 years, she has been a champion for those kids. A lifelong resident of Michigan, she attended Calvin college in Grand Rapids. She is a businesswoman and entrepreneur. She is a chairman of the American federation for children . For those of you who may not know her, she had a humble beginning. Her parents mortgaged everything they had to start a small auto-parts business. [5:43:06 PM] She still remembers when she was seven years old, helping her father paint a cinderblock building that became the office of the first manufacturing location. It was steel blue. During the summer months in college, Betsy worked the third shift at her family's business. She understands the sacrifices that families have to make in order to build a better life for themselves and for their children. She has successfully advocated for expansion of education opportunity in dozens of states. She also helped her husband launch a charter school in grand Rapids which is now one of the highest performing charter schools in our home state. I have been to that school, way before there was any idea that she might one day sit here before this committee. Way before we assumed there could be a trump candidacy. Several years ago, I visited the high school and had a chance to sit at lunch and talk to the kids. Understand and appreciate their hunger for education was stirred by the Devos family, their commitment to public education at this charter high school. She is motivated by making sure students go to safe and high-performing schools, whether they are public, private, charter, conditional or -- traditional or nontraditional schools. She understands the need to focus on accountability. Not just to have a system in place, but to actually hold schools is holding all place, but to actually hold schools accountable for the results they have. What she supportsschools accountable, whether they are traditional public schools or charter schools. Bless you. [5:45:06 PM] Mrs. Devos is clearly N opposed to accountability. She's opposed holding some schools accountable but not all schools. What she is opposed to his leaving children trapped in schools that we know, we know are failing. Failing the very students that will have no hope if they do not receive a high quality education. Bless you. Only one more left. Parents and students cannot ask for a better role model a more thoughtful leader to move the education system into the 21st century. Betsy cares, she questions, she considers. Then, and only then, will she act. These are the traits of a leader and a doer. I look forward to supporting her nomination throughout the next few weeks. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman Alexander: Senator, Lieberman, welcome. Sen. Lieberman: A special hello to Chris Murray, my friend and successor. It is great to be back in the senate today to introduce Betsy Devos for your consideration as the next secretary of education. I met Betsy several years ago in one of the many bipartisan efforts to improve the quality of education of America's children that she and so many others of you have been involved in. When I left the senate, as a way to continue my own work in education reform, I became a member of the board of American federation for children, the nonprofit organization that [5:47:07 PM] Betsy Devos founded to provide better education options for lower income children throughout America. I'm very proud of what the afc has achieved, particularly at the state level. More than 400,000 lower income families have been empowered with financial support to take their children out of schools where they thought the kids were not getting an adequate education and put them into schools that they thought were better. For me, as a Democrat, it is especially gratifying that many of these afc state programs have been enacted with bipartisan support gratifying that many of these in state legislatures. None of the progress by which the afc has achieved, very specifically for those 400,000 kids, would have occurred without Betsy's leadership which is inclusive. She is disciplined, organized, knows how to set goals and develop practical plans. She is really a purpose driven team builder. I have seen that in my membership of the board of the afc. I understand the department of education is bigger than anything she, or for that matter, most any of us hasever led. Everything I have seen tells me that Betsy is ready to take on this assignment and do it very well. I know that some people are questioning her qualifications to be secretary of education. Too many of those questions seem to be based on the fact she does not come from within the education establishment. But, honestly, I believe that [5:49:09 PM] today, that is one of the most important qualifications you can have for this job. She has many others. She is a mother, grandmother. She cares about children more generally and has been involved in education, like so many parents and local citizens schooboard members for over 30 years. Her involvement has not only been an advocate for reform, though she has been a real leader, she also mentors students in the public schools of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Another important qualification I think she has for this job. She will ask the right questions. Such as, is this federal education program working? Is it giving our kids the education they need to live productive and satisfying lives? If not, how could we improve it? An examination of the facts of the state of American education today makes clear that although H federal education programs are working for many of our children, they are failing millions of others. Here a few of the salient and troubling facts. Among all students of all income groups, less than 40% of high school graduates are college or career ready, according to the act. A recent report said only 35% of eighth graders were proficient on the naet reading exam and only 34% on the math exam. Only two thirds of eighth graders are not proficient in reading in math. That is the middle ranking under [5:51:12 PM] it. For lower income students, in T he educational status quo, falls disproportionately heavily. Too many disproportionately heavily. Too many ways to illustrate this, but let me give this one example. There are more than 1200 high schools in America who have more than 1.1 million students that fail to graduate from high -- at least one-third. To not make it to high school graduation. These schools primarily educate low-income students and students of color. These low graduation rate high schools are located in both urban and rural areas. New York has 199 of them. Georgia, 115. California, 105. Alabama and Mississippi, more than 50 each. These are jarring numbers and I think they cry out for national education reform. We are just not keeping our founders' promise of equal opportunity. We are not preparing the next generation of Americans to enable our economy to compete successfully in the world. We cannot accept the status quo in education anymore. We need to change change our education reform. A leader that has one B goal to give every child in America I first class education. -- A first-class education. That is exactly the kind of education secretary I believe [5:53:13 PM] Betsy Devos can and will be. Because Betsy has been fighting for reform and disrupting the status quo for so long, her nomination is naturally controversial. After all, she has directly challenged the education establishment by supporting charter schools and other programs. I can tell you in all my work with her, I have never heard Betsy speak against our public school system. I have heard her ask what we can do for the kids trapped in bad public schools. Until we can make more of her public schools as good as they should be. Is it fai jto stand back and not help the parents who want better for their children, but cannot get it because they cannot afford it? S it acceptable to have so me children from all income groups graduate from our high schools unprepared for but cannot get it because they cannot afford it? I S college and the high-tech economy. It is not. That's why members of the committee, I hope you will confirm Betsy Devos' nomination. I think it is in our national interest to give her a chance to change the status quo in our schools and secure a better future for our country and all of our children. Thank you very much. Chairman Alexander: Thank you, senator Lieberman. Before I introduce, or welcome Mrs. Devos, I would like to enter 97 letters of support for mrs.devos as education secretary from a variety of groups. Mrs. Devos? Mrs. Devos: Thank you, chairman. Chairman Alexander, ranking member Murray, senators, thank you for the opportunity to be with you. [5:55:14 PM] Thank you, senator Scott and Lieberman, for those very kind words of introduction. I honor and applaud your lifelong edging -- dedication to the success of our nation's students. I want to begin by thanking my family for their support. Many of them seated behind me here, except for my five grandchildren. The oldest is five so it was not advisable they joined us. I'm honored president-elect trump has asked me to join his team and I am grateful for his dedication to education. I look forward to working with him, vice president elect pence, and all of you to bring educational opportunity to every family. While we may have differences, I think we can all agree that learning is a lifelong pursuit and a fundamental American virtue. We are blessed beyond measure with educators for themselves and to students that pour themselves into students. All of us here in our children have attended a mix of publicly funded and private schools. This is a reflection of the diversity that is today's public education. Growing up in Michigan, I attended local Christian schools and then Calvin college. My greatest influence was a public school teacher named el sa prince. To this day, I just called her mom. When dick and I became parents, education became a whole new meaning. We understood that other parents could not make similar decisions on their child's education based on their income or zip code. When our oldest reached school age, we went to a Christian school that serves many low income families. We saw the struggles and [5:57:15 PM] sacrifices many of these families face when trying to choose the best educational option for their children. For me, this was not just an issue of public policy, but of national injustice. I committed to do something about it and it has become my life's work. I have loved the great work of the potter house and the co-founder that is with us today. He and his team are doing a great job. Here is the sad reality -- in the past 28 years, the need and demand for these other options have grown unabated. I S president-elect trump's views to change it to what parents want and deserve. Payments do not believe a one-size-fits-all model of learning fits the need of every child and a no other options exist. Whether it is magnet, virtual, charter, home, or any other combination. Yet, too many parents are denied access to the options, choices many of us have exercised for our own children. Why in 2017 are we still questioning parents ability to exercise educational toys for their children? I'm a firm believer that parents should be empowered to choose the best learning children? I'm environment for their children. The vast majority of students will continue to attend public schools. If confirmed, I will be a strong advocate for great public schools. If a school is troubled or unsafe or not a good fit, perhaps they have a special need that is going unmet, we should support a parent's right to enroll their child in a high-quality alternative. It is pretty simple. Every child in America deserves to be in a safe environment that is free from discrimination. Every student in America dreams [5:59:17 PM] of developing his or her's unique talents and gifts. Every parent dreams of a future where their children has access to schools with a safe environment that successfully prepares them for a brighter, more hopeful tomorrow. Every teacher in America dreams of breaking free from standardization so that they can deploy their unique creativity. Our schools are filled with talented and devoted professionals who meet the needs of many students. Even our best schools do not work for all. This is not the fault of teachers, but a reality that all students are unique, learn differently and excel at their own pace. Students also students also face new challenges today. Our high school graduates are having difficulty accessing affordable high education. Tuition is forcing students out of college. students also face new challenges today. Our high school graduates are having difficulty accessing affordable high education. Tuition is forcing students out of college. Others are burdened with debts that will take years or decades to pay off. There is no magic wand to make the debt go away, but we do need to take action. It would be a mistake to shift that burdened a struggling taxpayers without first addressing my tuition has gotten so high. For starters, we need to embrace new pathways of learning. For too long, a college degree has been pushed is the only avenue for a better life, the old and expensive brick-mortar IV marble -- ivy model is not the only one that will lead to a prosperous future. Cressman ship is a noble pursuit -- craftsmanship is a noble pursuit. President-elect trump and I agree we need to support all post secondary avenues, including trade and vocational schools and community colleges. Of course, on every one of these issues, congress will play a vital role. If confirmed, I look forward to working with you to finding solutions that empower parents and students, provide high quality options, and spend tax dollars wisely. We will work together to ensure the every student succeeds act isn't implement it as congress intended -- isn't limited as congress intended. I look forward to working with congress and all stakeholders to reauthorize the higher education act to meet the needs of today's college students. President-elect trump and I know that it will not be Washington, D.C. That unlocks our nation's potential, nor a bigger bureaucracy or a federal agency. [6:02:06 PM] The answer is local control and listening to parents, students, and teachers. For nearly three decades, I have been involved in education, as a volunteer, and advocate for children, and as a voice for parents. I have worked as an in school mentor for students in grand Rapids and have had the privilege of interacting with students and their families and teachers in ways that have changed my life and my perspective about education forever. I have worked with governors, legislators, and business and community leaders to expand educational opportunities through options that are making a lifetime of difference for hundreds of thousands of kids this year alone. I have worked with many dedicated teachers who strive every day to help students achieve, fulfill their potential, and prepare them for the global challenges they will face. For me, it is simple. I trust parents and I believe in our children. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you. I look forward to answerinyour questions. Chairman Alexander: Thank you, Mr. Voss. S. Devos. We will begin with senator enzi, and then to senator Murray. Sen. Enzi: I want to welcome you here and thank you for being willing to take on this kind of a project and to appear before us. I look forward to working with you as we consider your nomination and after that. You are going to beginning dealing with a great variety of states from high population to low population. I happened to come from the lowest population state. It has some special challenges in education, rural and frontier challenges. We don't allow a child to travel more than an hour by bus to work from school. As a result, we have some schools that have one or two students. [6:04:07 PM] It is a little different situation than was even envisioned with no child left behind, so I am glad wethe ssa -- Essa. There was a 2017 report, and I am pleased that Wyoming rit number seven of the 50 states. In the area of financing education, we were number one. That comes at a time when our stages going through economical suffering because of the Obama administrations for -- administration's war on: Fossil fuel. -- Coal and fossil fuel. But rural frontier has special problems. Part of them are the submission of some of the applications and some of the applicable reports have no bearing on what we are doing, and that is important when we have the rural aspect as well as the Indian reservation with the home of two tribes. When every student succeeds, their provisions to reduce the department's workforce, with the return of education authority to the states, it is important that that workforce the reduced to ensure that more educational funding is provided to the schools and not kept in Washington. Also, I am troubled by the government accountability office report that was issued at my request last November that showed the cost projections for the income driven college loan repayment program are tens of billions of dollars higher than the original estimates. Those estimates were based on data and accounting methods or were deeply flawed!@ area -or were deeply flawed. You will inherit that. [6:06:16 PM] There was the omission of key information. As an accountant, I was appalled. And there was the career and technical education that you mentioned. I appreciate your emphasis on the value of craftsmanship and technology. I just saw the movie "Hidden figures" that introduced people to computers and the value of women in the workplace to get them in the space. I have 1/6 of my schools that do not participate in career technical education funding because the low population gives them such a low amount of funding that it is not worth doing it, and that needs to change. Ms. Devos, one of the most important jobs you will have is the implementation of every student succeeds act. I am pleased with what you said about it. Can you talk about your plans to engage rural and frontier state communities in that process? Ms. Devos: Thank you for that question. I, too, enjoyed that meeting in your office. I enjoyed hearing about the special needs of schools like the school that has the grizzly bear fence surrounding it. I think that is a unique need to Wyoming, certainly. Certainly, rural schools and rural settings require different approaches in different options. I refer to the every student succeeds act, and I think the implementation of that and Wyoming's plan for that will be particularly important to recognize the unique needs of the rural population that you have as well as many of the other states represented here in the committee. When we think about the future, I think about the opportunity for more choices and options for those parents at a distance learning type of a situation, and the possibility that course choices or online courses could be offered in ways that they may not have been previously. [6:08:30 PM] If confirmed, I would look forward to working with you and some of your other colleagues that face the same types of challenges such as senator Collins and senator murkowski. I would work with you to address specific needs of rural communities and high rural population states. Sen. Enzi: Thank you, I look forward to working with you. Chairman Alexander: Senator Murray? Sen. Murray: Mr. Chairman, it's your committee. Chairman Alexander: Thank you for the courtesy. I will go later. Thank you. Sen. Murray: Ms. Devos, I am troubled about some of the things you said about public education and how you see the role of the department you have been nominated to lead. My first question for you is yes or no. Do you believe that the mission of the department of education should be to strengthen public education for all of our students yeah cap -- students? Ms. Devos: Yes, I do. Sen. Murray: Can you commit that you will not work to privatize public schools are cut a single penny for public education? Ms. Devos: Senator, thanks for that question. I look forward to working with you to talk about how to address the needs of all parents and students, and we acknowledged today that not all schools are working for the students that are assigned to them. I am hopeful we can work together to find common ground in ways we can solve those issues and empower parents to make choices on behalf of their children that are right for them. Sen. Murray: I take that is not being willing to commit to not privatize public schools. Ms. Devos: I guess I would not characterize it in that way. Sen. Murray: Well, ok. And the you about conflict of interest. President-elect trump says he can manage his conference of interests by having his family managed interests when he is in office. [6:10:32 PM] Do you think it is ok for presidents to manage -- Ms. Devos: No, I do not. Sen. Murray: We know from press reports that you and your family have invested in the education industry, including investments in a student loan refinancing company and a chain of corporate online for profit charter schools. You said you would sever ties with your family businesses if confirmed, but you also set to return to these businesses owned by your family when you leave public service. How is that different from president-elect trump's arrangement? Ms. Devos: Senator, first of all, let me be very clear about any conflicts. Where conflicts are identified, they will be resolved. I will not be conflicted, period. I commit that to y'all. With respect to the ones you cited, one of the ones we were aware of only entered the process and is in the process of being divested, where if there are any others that are identified, they will be appropriately divested as well. Sen. Murray: From your answer, I assume that your and your family intend to forego all investments in education companies from now on? Ms. Devos: Anything deemed to be a conflict will not be part of our investing. Sen. Murray: How do you intend to convince this committee that no entity will feel pressured to purchase, partner, or contract with corporate or nonprofit entities you and your family invested in, should you be confirmed as secretary? Ms. Devos: I can commit to you that nobody will feel any pressure like that. Sen. Murray: As you know, this committee has not received your required paperwork on the office of government ethics, and they have told me they cannot provide me assurance right now that your conflicts of interest have been identified and resolved by the office. Again, will you be providing this committee with three years of tax returns? Ms. Devos: Senator, I have provided the committee with everything that has been requested and required of the committee, and I am frankly very proud of the team that has been working on my behalf to get all this together, and I know that the Oge is working very hard to work through my and others'' confirmation processes as well, as is the department. [6:12:52 PM] I am helpful we will get this resolved. Sen. Murray: Senator, do you not have your ethics paperwork tonight? We do not have a chance to know if you have -- if we have additional questions. Would you commit to coming back to this committee once we have that from the Oge? Ms. Devos: I commit to making sure we have an ethics agreement resolved and reached. Sen. Murray: I hope we have a chance, Mr. Chairman, if we have questions, to be able to follow up on that. I just have a few seconds left. You have influenced the political system to elect candidates who support your ideological agenda. If you are confirmed, I want to know if you believe it is appropriate for you and your family to continue to use this to pressure state, local, and federal candidates to support your agenda? Ms. Devos: If I am confirmed, I will not be involved in political contributions, and my husband will not be either. Sen. Murray: Ok, thank you very much. Chairman Alexander: Thank you, senator Murray. Senator burr has deferred to sen. Isakson:. Sen. Isakson: Thank you, Ms. Devos. Congratulations on her nomination. I would like to answer -- ask you three questions in regard to the statement. This committee has established a task force on government regulation and identified 59 bourbons in real -- bourbons and regulations that -- burdens and regulations that affect higher education. Of the 59, 12 can be invalidated and changed immediately. In 2015, senators Bennett, king, booker, Alexander, and myself introduced a bill to simplify the bourbons in the application [6:14:53 PM] -- the bird in any applicant -- the burdens in the application process. Three institutions in my state have said this is a priority for them to move forward and simplify the process in getting our kids the best education they can give. My question is, would you commit to working with our office to advance the recommendations on higher education? Ms. Devos: Thanks for that question. I am aware of this task force report. It sounds like the direction it has taken is very promising. If confirmed, I look forward to working with you to implement the things that are deemed appropriate to be done. Sen. Isakson: Would you commit to us to work with us on the items identified by the task force that the secretary currently has the authority to change? Meaning this won't be another government report that goes on the shelf. Ms. Devos: You have my commitment on that. Sen. Isakson: Lastly, will you work with this committee to supply fafsa? Ms. Devos: Indeed I will. I know that has been a very burdensome process and application. In fact, I recall chairman Alexander unfolding the entire length of it. It is a very long process. I look forward to working with you. Sen. Isakson: 104 questions, Mr. Chairman, if I remember correctly. The committee came up with a two-page application that works just as well. It is a way to improve going to college. Ms. Devos: Let me say I don't think we should make it any more difficult than absolutely necessary for students to further their education. Sen. Isakson: Right answer. Is Mr. Boyd here? You referred to the partner's house. Ms. Devos: Yes, he is. Sen. Isakson: Stand up. [6:16:55 PM] You have done a great job with potters house. I appreciate what you have done very much. >> Thank you. Sen. Isakson: That brings me to this point. Senator Murray was talking about privatizing schools and talking about the importance of the lack of importance of charter schools and the importance of protecting public education. She talked about her goal and my goal, which we have shared, and that is to work towards requiring prekindergarten for every student in the country, because we believe it is important. We did it in Georgia. How we did it in Georgia was taking faith-based reeducation or -- faith-based prekindergarten programs and private institutions to provide us with the classrooms and teachers to teach the curriculum. Today in Georgia, 16,000 four-year-old kids go to prekindergarten paid for by the state, delivered by a variety of private and public institutions. My point is, if you are going to meet the challenges of public education today and have to the bit on the resources available, you will never get to where you want to go, but if you get the private sector making an investment in public education and have standards everyone commits to, you can greatly expand the opportunity of education, greatly expand the accessibility of education, and do it through faith-based and privatization -- private institutions. Do you agree with that? Ms. Devos: I think it is an interesting approach that torture has taken, and it is similar to what Florida has done. As the Essa act is implement it, states should take a look at other successful programs. I would also look forward to working with the other agencies that are involved with some of the preschool funding of HHS and see if there are ways to more effectively use those moneys to help students be ready for kindergarten when they reach kindergarten. [6:18:59 PM] Sen. Isakson: My time is up. I appreciate your recognition of the nontraditional student of 25 years ago has become the traditional student of today. Not every kid lives in a two parent household, we have to come up with the programs necessary to train our kids to do the jobs of the 21st century in different ways all the time. Congratulations on your nomination. I yield back. Chairman Alexander: Thank you. Sen. Sanders: C sen. Sanders: -- Senator Sanders? Sen. Sanders: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ms. Devos, there is a growing fear in this country that we are moving toward what someone call an oligarchic form of society, where a small number of very wealthy billionaires control our economic and political life. Would you be so kind as to tell us how much your family has contributed to the Republican party over the years? Ms. Devos: Senator, first of all, thank you for that question. I was pleased to meet you in your office last week. I wish you I could give you that number. I dot know. Sen. Sanders: I have heard the number was $200 million. Does that sound in the ballpark? Ms. Devos: Collectively over my entire family, that is possible. Sen. Sanders: My question is, and I don't mean to be rude, but if you -- do you think that if your family had not made hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions to the Republican party, that you would be sitting here today? Sen. Sanders: Senator, -- Ms. Devos: Senator, I do think there would be that possibility. I have been working hard to be a voice for students and to empower parents to make decisions on behalf of their children, primarily low income children. Sen. Sanders: Thank you. In your statement, you're prepared statement, you say, "Students should make informed choices about what kind of education they want to pursue post high school and have access to high-quality options." Some of us believe we should make public colleges and universities tuition free, so that every young person in this country, regardless of income, does have that option. [6:21:23 PM] That's not the case today. Would you work with me and others to make public colleges and universities tuition free through federal and state efforts? Sen. Sanders: Senator, I think that's a really interesting idea, and it is really great to consider and think about, but I think we also have to consider the fact that there is nothing in life that is truly free. Somebody is going to pay for it. Sen. Sanders: Well, yeah, you're right. Somebody will pay for it, and that takes us to another issue. And that is, right now we have proposals in front of us to substantially lower tax rates for billionaires in this country , while at the same time leveling can can't afford to go to college. You think that makes sense? Ms. Devos: Senator, if your question is really around how we can help college and higher education be more affordable for young people as they -- sen. Sanders:ctually, that was not my question. My question is should we make public colleges and uniuersities tuition free so that every family in America, regardless of income, will have the ability to have their kids get a higher education? Ms. Vos: Senat, I thinrk Har on making sure that college or higher education in some form is affordable for all young people that want to pursuit. I would look forward to that opportunity. Sen. Sanders: Would you agree with me that if there is a mom watching this hearing who makes $30,000, $40,000 a year, a single mom, perhaps, who has to pay $10,000 or $50,000 a year for child care for her daughter, that or $50,000 a year for child care for her daughter, that that is a burden that is almost impossible to deal with? What are your proposals about making childcare universal for our working families? Do you have ideas on that? Do you agree with that idea? Reporter: That -- [6:23:25 PM] Ms. Devos: That certainly is a burden, and while I understand the challenge that young mother would face and how to best serve her child's needs, if we are talking about the future of that child in her education, I would look forward to working with you. I know we have common ground on a lot of things and we could find ways to work together to ensure that young mom's child will have a great opportunity for a great education in the future. Sen. Sanders: There are countries around the world which to provide universal, very inexpensive or free childcare. Would you work with me in moving our government in that direction? Ms. Devos: Senator, again, I feel very strongly about the importance of young families having an opportunity for good childcare for their children. Sen. Sanders: That's not a question of an opportunity, it's the question of being able -- very often my Republican friends talk about opportunity. It's not a question of opportunity. It is a question of being able to avoid. How do we help somebody making a dollars or nine dollars an hour at a time that somebody -- a time that we can't raise the minimum wage because of Republican opposition, how do we make sure those moms get quality child care that they can afford? Ms. Devos: I would look forward to helping that mom getting quality education for their child or children so they can look forward to a bright and hopeful future. Sen. Sanders: Thank you very much. Chairman Alexander: Thank you, senator Sanders. Next, senator hatch. Sen. Hatch: Thank you, chairman. I'm happy to have you here, Ms. Devos, and I appreciate the abilities you have exemplified. The care that you have for education, the hard work you have done. I have to say, very few people in this country could even come close to what you have done. [6:25:28 PM] I welcome you to the committee. It has been a pleasure to be here today to consider your nomination as secretary of education. I appreciate your commitment to expanding opportunities for all children, and your tireless work in the field of education. Your record of service is in line with Utah values, especially your commitment to restoring local autonomy of our schools. Those closest to students know what is best for their education. The truth you have championed is a reformer. This community's support and passage of the every student succeeds at demonstrates that these values are not unique to you and me, but instead shared by many of our colleagues who care for education as a reality. All I can say is the selections for this position have worked hard to make sure the people serve the needs of these positions, not just people of stereo typical education, but those who might be bringing new things to the forefront. All I can say is we have ushered many of our colleagues through this process on both sides of the floor, and I hope my colleagues will extend the same courtesy to you. I also believe in extending the benefit of the doubt, recognizing, for example, that a persons views as a private citizedoot necessarily reflect their future actions as a holder of public office. In my private conversations with you, I trust that you will not force particular policies states,nlat se in education do. Your predecessors have done, in some cases, in violation of congressional intent. [6:27:33 PM] I also recognize that support of parental choice for all students not an attack on public ucatn. My children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren have attended public education as a reality, and I have to say that they have attended the schools, and I believe you share my commitment to ensuring that every child receives a quality education regardless of the type of school they attend. I have spent my entire first service fighting to make equity in education a reality. I believe that you would be an indispensable partner in this fight. I look forward to working with you on the priorities that are important to the people of Utah, including increasing transparency, accountability, and access to higher education, as well as increasing and -- innovation and evidence-based reforms. Unlike others here who may be interested in attacking your donations, I know that you want to do right il children, so I will stick to focusing on how we can work together on some policy. Right now, the department of education does not have a uniform measure for describing whether borrowers are repaying their loans. According to the confusion, the department issues a different borrower repayment rate methodology for each policy at comes up with. The uniform metric might prove tough on making information available the conference, -- available to congress and the higher education community about success of former students in repaying their federal student loan debts. This information could also tell us the extent to which student loan repayment rates vary across institutions. I believe students should have access to a wide variety of data when choosing a school, just like they would when choosing a car. Greater access to information would lead to wise decision-making when choosing an institution. [6:29:40 PM] Do you support increasing transparency regarding loan results for students and parents to use when deciding on a post secondary school? Ms. Devos: Senator, thank you for that question and your kind comments. I agree with you 100% at the issue of student debt and the amount of student debt, over $1.3 trillion right now, up almost 1000% in the last eight years, is a very serious issue, and one which we all have to, I think, pay close attention to and resolve in some way. If confirmed, I certainly would look forward to working with you and your colleagues on ways to get after this issue, the issue of the cost of education as well as debt repayment. Kind of go hand-in-hand. I look forward to working with you and your colleagues, should I be confirmed. Sen. Hatch: Thank you so much. I think you will be confirmed and make a great secretary. Chairman Alexander: Senator Casey? Sen. Casey: Put me on the record as asking for a second round. If that's under consideration. Chairman Alexander: It's not under consideration, but I would be glad to put you on. [Laughter] Sen. Casey: I will keep trying. Ms. Devos, thank you for being here. I wanted to start with a basic question. Would you agree with me that the problem, and that's an understatement in my judgment, that the problem of sexual assault on college campuses is a significant problem that we should take action on? Ms. Devos: Senator, thank you for that question. I agree with you that sexual assault in any form or in any places in problem. -- In any place is a problem. No disagreement there. Sen. Casey: The second question is, would you uphold -- let me give you background. [6:31:47 PM] In 2011, the department of education issueduidance on title IX by this current administration. I ask you, would you uphold that 2011 title IX guidance as it relas to sexuaassaulon campus? Ms. Devos: Senator, I know that there is a lot of conflicting ideas and opinions around that guidance, and if confirmed by would look forward to working with you and your colleagues and understand the range of opinions , and understand the issues from the higher-end institutions that are charged with resolving these and addressing them, and would look forward to working together to find some resolutions. Su ce with the guidance. I'm just asking for yeor no. -- sen. Casey: I agree with the guidance. I'm just asking for yes or no on whether you would be willing to uphold that guidance. Ms. Devo it would be premature for me to do that today. Sen. Casey: This problem, to sac is also an understatement. The centers for disease control told us back in 2009 that one in five women are the victims of sexual assault on campus, and yet a lot of those women who were in that one in five never have an opportunity or never report incidents. It is a major problem for women. In so many ways, it is the ultimate betrayal. Parents, for generations, have told her daughters, study hard in school. Get good grades, because when you get good grades you might have an opportunity to go to college, and if you go to college, the world is open to you, and you can succeed by having a higher education. But too often, it happens every year on many campuses around the country, too often a young woman is a victim, sometimes in the first day she is there, the first week, sometimes over the course of her first year. [6:33:52 PM] Her life is destroyed that. We have a long way to go to addressing this problem. We took some good action on this issue as part of the violence against women act. It just happened to be my bill they got passed into law. What we did in that bill was, for the first time, say to colleges and universities, you have to do more than what you are doing, simply on one broad topic of prevention and awareness. So young man on the campus who are the perpetrators of this have to be part of the solution. They have to be part of bystander education, a preventative strategy. In addition to all kinds of transparency and requirements, this is what the act did for women offer victims, I should say, victims of assault. Colleges and universities must provide clear statements regarding the procedures followed. A must do more than they have been doing when it comes to enforcement. In particular with regard to victims, it says, but college or university -- the college or university must indicate to the victim her right to notify law enforcement, should the victim choose to, and the institution has the obligation to help the victim reported the incident to law enforcement, including helping her get a protective order, among other things. That is where the law is now, based upon my bill. In the fall of 2015, this went into effect across the country. There is an organization called the foundation for individual rights in education. They support a bill that would totally change that. They would force a victim to go to police departments to report, and they went change -- they would change the stander of evidence. Would you commit to retaining the standard of evidence as is currently the law? [6:35:57 PM] Ms. Devos: Senator, let me just say that my mom's heart has really peaked on this issue. A in any form is never ok, and I want to be very clear on that. If confirmed, I look forward to understanding the past actions and current situation better, and to ensure that the intent of the law is actually carried out in a way that recognizes both the rights of the victims as well as those who are accused. Sen. Casey: I'm out of time, but the organization that has that position which is contrary to the current law and contrary to the spirit of what we are trying to do is a recipient of donations from you totally about 20,000 bucks over four years. I hope that is not a conflict of interest, but I hope you would make a definitive commitment as a nominee to enforce the law as it relates to sexual assault on college campuses. Chairman Alexander: Thank you, senator Casey. Senator Paul? Sen. Paul: Congratulations, Ms. Devos. I grew up and went to public schools and got a great education. Big fan of public schools. My kids have gone the public schools. There are also some public schools that are not doing very well. The department of education says about half are not doing well. Half the kids that are dropping out our kids of color. I D R work in trying to lp-income kids and trying to help everybody get a better education. I think the status quo is not real working. I have traveled to a lot of schools, though, and have been amazed at me oe I went to saanthonin Milwaukee, a Latin school in Philadelphia. [6:37:57 PM] Amazing success stories. You see the success in front of you where 100 percent of the kids are going to college. Amazing stories where 540 maybe 30% of their copo in the communitygoin T ccesses. We need to think about the kids. Kids get so caught up in, oh, I don'tous ols, private schools. It's like, look at the kids and look at the success. I thought maybe you can take a couple of minutes and tell us about some of the things you have seen in this chicken, schools you have visited that are a success, -- scene in Michigan, schools that you have visited that are a success, or things that excite you about the potential of all students, that we should not leave them behind. Ms. Devos: Thanks for that opportunity. I would love to talk about some of the schools and some of the individuals I have seen benefit from the success of being able to choose the right educational setting. I have already mentioned the potters house school and John Boyd, who is with us today. At the school I regularly visit, the students come from a multitude of different countries, speak many different languages, and most of them are from very low income circumstances. It is amazing to see the transformation that those students have been going through their potters house years. There is another student right behind me who I have gotten to know the last few years, who is a recipient of a tax credit scholarship program in the state of Florida. She will tell you very promptly that she had aery troubd early childhood in her grade school years. I think she was kicked out multiple times before her godmother finally found a school that was going to work for her, and the tranmation was almost overnight. [6:39:59 PM] She is the first family -- the first in her family to have graduated high school. She graduated college. In may, she will get her masters in social work degree. She is a tremendous example of what can happen when you get an opportunity to go to the right school. Lydia is also your. Her mom took her and immigrated from Peru because of the opportunity. She knew she would have much greater opportunity to sed and thrive. She has been the beneficiary tax credit scholarship program in Arizona, and she is now in college and pursuing a higher education there. Those are two big students. There ar many sdetunts I see doing amazing things, actually trying innovative things for approaching education for children. One of them I would love to mention is called Acton academy. It is totally student directed. They formed their own constitution, and there is no teacher in the classroom, just a coach or a guide, and the guide cannot answer questions, they can only pose a question back to the students. The results from this academy are simply amazing. The school is actually proliferatingretty rapidly throughout the country. Those are just a few examples. I can give you dozens more. Sen. Paul: Putting a face on it, meeting these kids, seeing there were going to succeed, and looking them in the eye and knowing they will succeed is an amazing thing. For those who have a philosophic hatred for vouchers and school choice, watch the movie "Rating for Superman -- "Waiting for Superman," and watch the mother's tears when her kid got to go to a good school. [6:42:01 PM] We met a young woman in Nashville. She's got a full scholarship to Boston college. Here we are, we love to talk to the media. The media did not want to talk to us, they wanted to talk to this young lady because she is an amazing success story. I wish you the best of luck. Chairman Alexander: Sen. Franken: Co sen. Frank: -- senator Franken? Sen. Franken: I am a member of the party the chairman of vote. Charter schools are not an issue here. The soda is thoroughly in the mainstream. There are 37 states in this country that constitutionally prohibit the use of public school money for religious schools. It is the dfl party in Minnesota, thank you very much, that is in the mainstream a not the witness of the chairman. Senator Lieberman mentioned proficiency. It reminded me of this. When I fir G in the senate in 2009, I had a roundtable of principles. -- Princi principals in Minnesota. One of them said we think of the mslb test as autopsies. They take the test in April, they get the results in late June. The tet -- the teachers0 cannot use6hhe tt results to inform their instruction. Ihat in Minnesota, the majority of the schools were taking a computer adaptive test, a computer E results rit awayan adaptive so you can measure outside thgrade level. This brings me to tissue of proficiency,ch the sat cited, versus growth. I would like your views on the relative advantage of asseo . Ur question correctly around proficiency, I would correlate it to competency and mastery, so each student is measured according to the advancements they are making in each subject area. [6:44:29 PM] Sen. Franken: That's growth. That's not proficiency. In other words, the growth they are making is not growth. The proficiency is an arbitrary standard. Ms. Devos: Proficiency is if they have reached a third grade level for reading, etc. Sen. Franken: I'm talking about the debate between proficiency in growth, what your thoughts are on that. Ms. Devos: I was just asking the clarify, then -- sen. Franken: This is a subject that has been debated in the education community for years. I have advocated growth as the chairman, and every member of this committee knows, because with proficiency teachers ignore the kids of the top who are not going to fall below proficiency, and they ignore the kid at,t"he bottom who they know will never get to proficiency. I have been an advocate for growth. But it surprises me that you don't know this issue. And Mr. Chairman, I think this is a good reason for us to have more questions. This is a very important subject , education, our kids' ATN. I think ur a to have a debate on it. I did not know of any rural abouteson and one other senator gets a question. I don't know where that rule comes from. Chairman Alexander: I will you where it comes from. It comes from the committee president and the way we treated president Obama's nominees, John king, the way we treated Arne Duncan, the way I was treated when I was a secretary. We will apthe same roles to them to secretary Devos, Mrs. Thomas -- sen. Franken:( I think we are sellinki short by not beg able to ask follow-u questions. I was kind of surprised -- well, I'm not that surprised that you don't know this issue. Ms. Devos,r fami has a large history of supporting anti-lgbt causes, including groups that this conversion therapy. [6:46:39 PM] For example, you and your family have given over 10 million dollars to focus on the family, an organization that current states on its website that " homosexual strugglers can and do change theirehavior and identity." ;Ms. Devos, conversion therapy has beenidely discredited and rejected for decades by Y instream and medical health organization as inappropriate. It has been shown to lead to homelessness, drug abuse, and suicide, particularly in youth. In fact, many leaders of conversion therapy, including th religious ministries and mental health profeionals, have not only publicly renounced it, but have issued formal apologies for their work and how harmful it H been to the individuals involved. Mr. Chairman, I would ask that this be included in the record. Chairman Alexander: Will be. Sen. Franken: Ms. Devos, the you still believe in conversion therapy? Ms. Devos: I have never believed in that. First of all, let me say I fully embracing equality, and I believe in the in a value of every -- the innate value of every single human being, and that all students, no matter their age, should be able to attend a school and feel safe and be free of discrimination. Let's start there. Let me just say that your characterization of contributions, I don't think it accurately reflects those of my family. I would hope you wouldn't include other family members beyond my poor family. Sen. Franken: In terms of throwing numbers around, you say student debt has incased by 1000%. Ms. Devos: 980% in eight years. Sen. Franken: I'm sorry? Ms. Devos: 980%. Sen. Franken: That's just not so. It has increased 118% in the past eight years. I'm just asking, if you are challenging my figures, I would ask that you get your figures straight about education policy. [6:48:43 PM] That's why we want more questions, because we want to know if this person that we are entrusting, may entrust, to be the secretary of education, if she has0 the brethnd depth of knowledge that we would expect from someone who has that important job. Thank you. Chairman Alexander: Thank you, senator Franken. I had as many disagreements with secretary king as you apparently do with Mrs. Thomas. -- Ms. Devos. We are treating her the exact same way that we treated him. That is what I would call the golden world. Sen. Franken: I did not hear one member of the committee asked to ask more questions, and , member of the minority is asking to ask more questions. That is a very substantial difference. Chairman Alexander: Because you got a nominee of the Republican party. We are notng to treat a Republican nominee different than we treated decric none. We have had the same situation with both of president Obas nominees. >> I do want to put in the record that Michael Leavitt had two rounds. Chairman Alexander: Michael Leavitt was never the education secretary. >> One under president bush had two rounds. There is precedent. Chairman Alexander: Ippreciate you saying that. I am trying to be fair by treating Ms. Devos in the same way retreated both of president Obama's education nominees. We go next to sen. Cassid. Sen. Cassidy: Ms. Devos, great N. I am really struck, the kind of reaction yr notion has eliced. [6:50:47 PM] Let me just ask some questions. Do you support public edution? Ms. Devos:uten. N. Cassidy: Man, that's among. Some think you do not. Do you think all children deserve to have the opportunity to receive quality education? Ms. Devos: Absolutely, I do. Sen. Cassidy: Do you support children of all incomes and race to have the opportunity to choose the school that meets their child's needs? Ms. Devos: Absolutely I do, and I commend you and your wife for the school that you started that is focused on dyslexic students. Sen. Cassidy: My son is very bright. He graduated from an inner city public school and then graduated with honors from some fancy school northeast. My daughter, who has dyslexia, we were able to pay the tuition so she can have her needs addressed. Not all parents can pay that, so it matters very much that a parent, regardless of their income, can get their child's needs addressed. Do you support the believe that the decisions affecting our children's education are best left to the states and levels to decide -- states and locals to the side, to allow them to tailor the policies and programs that best meet the needs of their students? Ms. Devos: I do indeed. Sen. Cassidy: Oh my gosh. Do you believe the role as U.S. Secretary of education opportunity to advance your personal education views an agenda? Ms. Devos: Not mine personally. I am hopeful to advance those of the president elect and the views of many parents nationally. Sen. Cassidy: As secret of education, is it your intention tondermine our nation's public education system? Ms. Devos: Not at all. Sen. Cassidy: Will you carryut the of limitation of federal education law in a way that carries outhe intent and letter of the law? [6:52:49 PM] Ms. Devos: Indeed. Sen. Cassi: Do you intend to coerce any state, school district, or school on any education program credited to the secretary and federal law, one such example being common core? Ms. Devos: No. Sen. Cassidy: Do you intend to mandate or direct any school to mandate privatechool policies, including vouchers or scholarships? Ms. Devos: No. Sen. Cassidy: Next, you mentioned dyslexia. I am passionate about it. 20% of us are dyslexic. 20%. Am told that one ouof four children of color by age four, by fourth grade, reads substantially low -- substantially below grade level. That is important, because we learn to reaand read to learn. ATS an issue am passionate about. As secretary of education, will you commit to working with me and others to find common ways to promote better awareness and understanding of dyslexia, and will you commit to working with me in this community to develop better federal education policies to ensure that dyslexic children and all students with differences have the resources they need? Ms. Devos: I would look forward tot sen. Cassidy: You may ngrwill you agree to work with developing new federal policies to ensure the early screening of dyslexic andf schools, or universal screenings in all districts and schools, to ensure that the appropriate services are provided to students? Sen. Young: Ms. Devos: I would look forward -- Ms. Devos: I would look forward to exploringhat with you, to see if it is a federal role are best left to the states, but I would look forward to that opportunity. Sen. Cassidy: Thatanswer. I will thank you for your answers and yield act. -- Yield back. [6:54:49 PM] Chairman Alexander: Senator Bennett? Sen. Bennet: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It pains me to say this. I really wish we had a second round of questions, too. I don' believe you are a precedent for this. When you were the nominee, you were a governor, you have been the president of a university. John kin had been a school principal, had been the commissioner of education in the state of New York. Arne Duncan had been the ri+chic public schools. Expiences they T to THR committee hearing, and their records will work -- their records were well-known and well established. There is no W] The time that we have that we will go into th lelf backound. I would ask some level of consideration the given to having additional questions, and that the tax returns be made available to the committee. I want to thank Ms. Devos for your willingness to serve and your P for educati your family. I agree with you, and the committee members know this, that our public school system is not working for many of our kids, particularly those living in poverty. I think it is utterly unacceptable, and the fact that we don't pay attention to it, the fact that we treat America's children like they are someone else's children, is some this generation will have to pay for in the future. Every child in this country should have access to a great public school. I support parents' choices on high-quality schools and charter schools, and I think it plays a critical role in education. But the goal for me has never been in school choice for its own end. The goal is high-quality public schools for every kid in every neighborhood to receive a great education. For a kid in a low income family, there is no difference, there may be a philosophical difference, but no practical difference between being forced to attend a terrible school and to be given a chance to attend the choice of five terrible schools. [6:57:01 PM] That is no choice at all. In Denver, we made a different deal. A deal that said we will create a public choice system, we will authorize charters, we will create traditional schools. But we implement strong accountability. As far as I can tell, Detroit and Michigan, to a degree, has followed the opposite path. According to one analysis, Detroit public schools -- and by the way, it is not easy to figure this out because there is so little accountability in Michigan -- Detroit public schools averaged 9%, 9% of the kids are proficient. Charter schools were a little better, 14% of the kids were proficient. I will stipulate that charter schools are doing better, but that is a horrible outcome for everybody involved. Acrding to education trust for 2013, the majority of charter schools in Michigan performed worse than the Detroit public schools when it came to African American students in eighth grade math. Nearly half of charter schools ined ithe boom quarter of all schools statewide . My question is this- Noa false choice about whether we should or should not have choice. He suld havehoic --Ave oice. Learned in the miigan that has changed your mindut in the 21 century? Ms. Devos: Thank you for that question. First of all, I look forward to correcting some of the record regarding Detroit. I think it is important to put Detroit in context. In 1950, there were 1.8 million people living in the city of Detroit. Today there is less THA 700,00 675 witany means in the city of Detroit has basically left T city. [6:59:04 PM] The students there today -- sen. Bennet: With respect, I am not asking for the history of Detroit. What I would like to know is the last 20 years of school reform that you have been so involved with in Michigan. Ms. Devos: Yes, but you are referring specifically to Detroit schools. The reality today is that eight out of 10 students in Detroit are living in poverty. Nobody accepts that the results in Detroit overall are acceptable. There is clearly room for a lot more improvement. But the reality is more than half of the -- senator bennet:m Seit T gog oundf quesons. U lined abouthub schools and Detroit charter schools that has informed your decision-making as the secretary of education? To go right in cities across America as a result of your philosophy on how we ought to move the country forward? . Devos: I believe there is a lot that has GE right in Detroit and Michigan with regard to charter schools. , And the notion that there haven't been accountability is just wrong. It is false news. It is not correct at all. The reality is that charter schools in Michigan have been accountablul@ accountable, to their overseen bodies and to the state since their history, 122 -- sen. Bennet: Why are there S manylsn much? Ms. Devos: 122 charter schools have been closed in Michigan. The reality today is students attending charter schools in the city of Detroit are getting three months on average more learning than their counrparts in the traditional public schools. The recent legislation that was passed now actually bris all schoolin Detroit uer accountability, a incding the traditional schools. Before there S NER en a traditional school closed duówer - die -- due performae.sen. Bennet: I'm out of time, and I apologize. I would like to say this, Mrs. Devos. I would like to invite you to de to th schools, if you are Willi to , to see what we are working on there. Ms. Devos: I would love to do that. Thank you, senator Bennett. Senator young. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for putting yourself forward. I think yowill make a fine secretary of education. I would like to brgp something we discussed in our office. We talked about teachers. You actually started talking about teachers. It was encouraging. List of Panel Members and Witnesses PANEL MEMBERS: SEN. LAMAR ALEXANDER, R-TENN. CHAIRMAN SEN. MICHAEL B. ENZI, R-WYO. SEN. RICHARD M. BURR, R-N.C. SEN. JOHNNY ISAKSON, R-GA. SEN. RAND PAUL, R-KY. SEN. LISA MURKOWSKI, R-ALASKA SEN. TIM SCOTT, R-S.C. SEN. ORRIN G. HATCH, R-UTAH SEN. PAT ROBERTS, R-KAN. SEN. BILL CASSIDY, R-LA. SEN. SUSAN COLLINS, R-MAINE SEN. TODD YOUNG, R-IND. SEN. PATTY MURRAY, D-WASH. RANKING MEMBER SEN. BOB CASEY, D-PA. SEN. AL FRANKEN, D-MINN. SEN. MICHAEL BENNET, D-COLO. SEN. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, D-R.I. SEN. TAMMY BALDWIN, D-WIS. SEN. CHRISTOPHER S. MURPHY, D-CONN. SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN, D-MASS. SEN. TIM KAINE, D-VA. SEN. MAGGIE HASSAN, D-N.H. SEN. BERNARD SANDERS, I-VT. WITNESSES: FORMER SEN. JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN, I-CONN. BETSY DEVOS, NOMINATED TO BE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION

Senate HELP with Betsy DeVos, nominee for Education WITNESS ISO FS41X88 SENATE HEALTH EDUCATION LABOR AND PENSIONS COMMITTEE FULL COMMITTEE HEARING [5:16:50 PM] [Banging of gavel] >> The hearing of the health and education committee will come to order. This considers the nomination of Betsy Devos for secretary of education. Senator Murray and I will make an opening statement. We welcome senator Scott, senator Lieberman, a former member of this body, who will make introductory remarks. Following the nominee's comments, we will have a five-minute round of questions. One note -- we have capital officers here today that will remove anyone who attempts to disrupt the hearing. This is the first meeting of this committee in the new congress. This is a committee that will probably become evident that has some considerable differences of opinion on a variety of issues. We have found we can sometimes result them in important ways. Last year, we passed what the majority leader senator Mcconnell said was the most important bill in congress, 21st century cures. The year before, no child left behind which president Obama called a Christmas miracle and 33 other bills signed. I want to thank senator Murray and the Democrats and Republicans on the committee for operating in that fashion. We have done that by showing courtesy to ourselves and witnesses which I hope will be evident today. Before my opening remarks, I would like to make a word about process. More than 25 years ago, I was sitting where you are sitting. As the nominee for U.S. Secretary of education, and a [5:18:53 PM] former senator from Ohio said to me, well, I've heard some disturbing things about you, but I will not bring them up here. Senator Nancy Kassebaum said, I think you just did. With that, he put a secret hold on the. We don't have to go through that because we abolished secret holds. We will apply the golden rule from the book of Matthew which applies the same procedures to you that we used in 2001 and 2005 for president George W. Bush's education secretary nominee. W. For president Obama's education secretary nominee. We will consider you and then vote just as we did did. Arne Duncan, the first education secretary under president Obama, he was confirmed a week later. John king, the hearing was on February 25 and was confirmed to win a half weeks later. We have received from this is the boss -- Mrs. Devos, the committee's required forms. They have to be in me than a week in advance. The FBI background check has been done. She provided the ethics with relevant information about her financial affairs. We will have a letter from that office on how, which will be an agreement between Mrs. Devos and that office, on how to deal with any conflicts of interest before we vote in committee on her nomination. Mrs. Devos has met with us in each of our offices. Several of us have written questions already given to her. Today, we will each have five minutes for further questions. Again, I'm applying the golden [5:20:55 PM] rule. One round of five-minute questions for both of president Obama's education nominees. That was the case for me too in 1991. In those cases following the firemen around, the chairman and one memorable ask additional questions and we will do that again. I will ask questions and ask senator Murray if she would like to do the same. Each of us will have a chance to ask additional questions in a reasonable number in writing by the close of business on Thursday at 5 P.M. We will meet in executive session next Tuesday to consider Mrs Devos' nomination and other business if the final office of government ethics letters received by this Friday in order to give senators a chance to review it. Now, following my opening remarks, senator Murray will be hers and then we will hear from senator Scott and senator Lieberman and hear from Mrs. Devos. Betsy Devos is on our children's side. She has devoted her life to helping mainly low income children have better choices of schools. The criticism I have heard amounts to three things -- one, she supports public charter schools. Two, she supports giving lower income parents more choices of schools. Three, she has user considerable wealth and effectiveness to advance those ideas. I believe she is in the mainstream of public opinion and her critics are not. First, let's take the idea of charter schools. They are public schools with fewer government rules, union rules, so teachers have more freedom to teach and parents have more freedom to pick the school that best suits their [5:22:55 PM] child. In 1991 and 1992, president H W bush proposed start from scratch schools. He raised $70 million for new American school development to encourage innovative ideas. In 1993 in January, as my last act as education secretary, I wrote every single superintendent a country and asked them to try something that was invented in Minnesota by the democratic farmer labor party, something called charter schools. Since then, there has been broad support for the idea. The late head of the American federation of teachers endorsed those charter schools. In 1997, president Clinton said we need 3000 charter schools by 2002. Senator Hillary Clinton supported charter schools. President George W. Bush supported charter schools. President Obama supports charter schools. Arne Duncan described himself as a strong supporter of charter schools. John king founded a charter school and ran a system of charter schools. Congress in 1994 an1998, 2005, always bipartisan and supported charter schools. 43 states and the district of Columbia operate charter schools. Over nearly 30 years, those 12 democratic farmer labor charter schools in Minnesota have grown to 6800 public charter schools. 6% of America's public school students attend them. Who is in the mainstream? The democratic farmer labor party, president bush, Clinton, bush, Obama, the last six education secretary's, the U.S. Congress, the district of Columbia, or Mrs. Devos and [5:24:57 PM] her critics? I think she is in the mainstream. The other criticism -- giving low income parents more choices of schools, more specifically the objection is public money should not follow poor children to an accredited school of their parents choice. Arguing against that is arguing against the most successful social policy this congress has ever acted, the G.I. Bill for veterans, which appropriated federal dollars to follow veterans to the school of their choice -- notre dame, university of Tennessee, any accredited institution. It produced the greatest generation and it produced the model for all of our federal aid for colleges. $29 billion in Pell grants. They followed the student to the school of their choice. Nearly 100 billion in new student loans. Why is such a great idea for college students deemed to be a dangerous idea for k-1 labor2 students. Competition creates the best colleges in my produce the best -- and might produce the vessels -- the best schools. Today, 50 states provide parents more choices of public schools, 15% attend a school other than their school of residence through open enrollment. 44 states allow sending students outside their district. 34 states within their district. Nearly 400,000 children are served by 50 private school choice programs across 25 states, the district of Columbia. Congress passed bipartisan legislation with senator Lieberman at the head of it, creating the voucher program, helping 62 100 children. [5:26:58 PM] More than 1000 children standing in line waiting for that opportunity. There has been growing support since president h.w.many of us believe bush proposed the bill for kids, where in 2015, 45 United States senators supported scholarships for kids that I proposed an senator Scott proposed for students with disabilities. According to the 2013 global public opinion survey, 73% of Americans support school choice. 64% said it given the financial opportunity, they would send one or all of their children to a different school. Who is in the mainstream? Ill for veterans, 25 states, congress, 45 U.S. Senators in 2015, 70 3% of Americans -- 73% of Americans, Mrs. Devos or her critics. The final criticism is she has use her wealth to support these ideas. I think she deserves credit for that, not criticism. With a have been happier if she spent her time and money trying to did I children more choices -- deny children more choices. We are fortunate that Betsy Devos is the nominee for the education secretary. She has been in support of children. I support her confirmation and look forward to working with her. Sen. Murray: I look forward to working with you and all of our colleagues in congress. I want to welcome our new members on this committee. Thank you for joining us today. Welcome to the rest of your family who has joined you as well. This is the first of many hearings we will be to the rest of your [5:28:59 PM] holding on president-elect trump's nominee to fill critical positions in the federal government. I want to start by reiterating the importance of the senate's role in the process and this committee's role. President trump has the right to fill his cabinet with people he thinks will fill out positions for our country. That does not mean the senate should be a rubberstamp. We owe it to the people we represent to make sure every nominee is not only qualified for the position and free of conflict of interest, but that he or she will put families and workers first, and not millionaires, billionaires or big corporations. President-elect trump was the first presidential candidate in decades to not release his tax returns. He's openly flouting ethics conventions regarding his personal and family businesses. Some people say this means the bar has been lowered for ethics and public service. I refuse to accept that and will continue to hold the incoming administration to the highest ethical standard. This is what the American people deserve, regardless of who they voted for, where their tax dollars is going. I believe in an administration where conflicts of interest will be blurred at the top, then he to be even clear at individual agencies. We work to ensure the highest ethical standards are maintained and there is accountability to taxpayers from the top of the government all the way down. I'm going to continue pushing for robust scrutiny of every one of these nominees and I appreciate that Mrs. Devos has said to me she knows the importance of transparency and openness. She will make sure that no corners are cut in will go to great lengths -- and will go to great lengths. I'm extremely disappointed that [5:31:00 PM] we are moving forward with this hearing before receiving the proper paperwork from the office of government ethics. When president Obama entered the white house, Republicans and consisted in having an ethics in hand before moving to a hearing. Senator Mcconnell wrote a letter to senator Reid with that explicitly, with a background check before the hearing. I'm extremely concerned and I can only hope cutting corners and rushing nominees through will not be the new norm. We are here today to hear from president elect's nominee to lead the department of education. As a former teacher and school board member and fighting for public investments in early learning, I take this issue very seriously. I owe everything I have to strong public schools. I was able to attend with my six brothers and sisters. None of us in our family would have been able to go to college were it not for federal support. We have those opportunities because of our government and was committed in investing in us, I know that is not the case for every student today. Although we have a long way to go, I'm committed to making sure the federal government is a strong partner to our public schools districts and states. That every student has access to a high-quality education that allows them to succeed. We focus our federal policies and investment in strengthening public schools for all students, and certainly N taxpayer dollars to fund vouchers that do not work for unaccountable private schools. That is why I was proud to work with chairman Alexander and so many others to pass the act that gives flexibility to states and [5:33:01 PM] school districts, but also includes strong accountability for our schools and reiterates our nation's commitment to strengthening public education, especially for our vulnerable students. This commitment goes beyond -- the federal government in general and the department of education specifically has an important role of to play in supporting, protecting and investing in all of our students from our youngest learners to those in higher education and adults and parents seeking to improve their skills. Leading this agency is a big job. It is an important job and I consider it to be my job to do everything I can to make sure whoever fills this is truly committed to putting students and families first. Mrs. Devos, I'm looking forward to hearing your answers to some questions as I have a number of very serious concerns that need to be addressed. First, I want to learn more about your extensive financial entanglements and potential conflicts of interests. As a billionaire with investments through complex financial instruments, many of which that were nontransparent, you need to make it clear that you will avoid conflicts of interest if confirmed. That goes to your investments and a web of investments made by your immediate family. Despite starting out on the wrong track by not having an ethics letter complete before hearing, I appreciate what you are doing to provide the committee information to understand how you will intend to have a highest level of ethics. So far, no calls to release three years of tax returns, but I hope you will consider it and cooperate fully. I have major concerns without you spend your career and fortune fighting to privatize [5:35:01 PM] public education and gut investments in public schools. I have specific questions on how the privatization policies you have pushed at impacted students and how you intend to use taxpayer dollars to support public education and not continue to undermine schools and teachers from inside the department as you have as an advocate from the outside. I want to know more about the large contributions you have made to group that are ideologically opposed to workers and teachers and want to impose anti-lgbt or anti-women's believes on public schools. I want to make sure you publicly commit to implementing our every student succeeds act by having strong federal guardrails in that. I want to know how you will tackle the persistent achievement gap. While you have been outspoken on k-12 issues, your record is not clear in critical areas. I want to learn more on how you will approach higher education and whether or not we can count on you to stand with students and borrowers. I'm interested in your thoughts on title IX, how we can do everything possible to stop the scourge of sexual assault on campus. I was not happy when we talk about this issue when we met. I'm IX, how we can do everything possible to stop the scourge hoping you have learned more about it and will address it seriously. I want to know how your personal religious and ideological views on women's health impacts how you approach this issue. I'm very concerned with what has been reported in the press about your views views on the importance of the office of civil rights which works to help those with disabilities, lgbt, women and girls, students of our colors to make sure they are treated with dignity and respect. I want to know how you will enforce critical civil rights laws. [5:37:01 PM] As my colleagues know, I hav E E a passion for early learning and I want to know where you stand and how the government can help every child to prepare for success in kindergarten. I'm looking forward to a robust dialogue tonight. I'm hoping you are transparent about your views, open about your record and its impact on students, and willing to make some straightforward commitments regarding the responsibility of this department. I will be asking you to commit to provide this committee with additional information and responses to all reasonable follow-up questions as quickly as possible. I'm hoping this can be a smooth process. Mr. Chairman, my members are here tonight and are hoping for more than five minutes of questions on this nominee. I hope you will consider doing that. Chairman Al this committee with additionalexander: I will follow the golden rule. I will not apply it to Mrs. Devos. We will have a five-minute round of questions. You and I can ask questions after that for another five minutes. That is what we have done before. Members of this committee have met with Mrs. Devos. Some have already asked her questions and will have two more days to think of more and she has to answer them before we vote. As far as tax returns, if you would like to bring that up, we can in our next executive session on the 24th if the government ethics letter is completed by Friday. I will note committee rules do not require tax returns to be recorded by presidential nominees. We did not require it of president Obama's two nominees for education secretary. [5:39:03 PM] If we want to change the rules, we can do that but I am not in favor of changing the rules in the middle of the process. >> May I ask a point of order? I believe we have a second round with the John king hearings. Chairman Alexander: In each of the John king, in the last two nominees, Mr. Duncan and Mr. King, we had a five-minute round and the chairman and one senator, one other senator asked five minutes of questions. I will ask five minutes of questions and give senator Murray the opportunity. >> I would just say nobody asked for additional time at that point. I hope we hear members questions and have an opportunity to revisit. Chairman Alexander: I appreciate the request, but I will not change the rules in the middle of the game. Sen. Murray: I was not aware they were rules. I appreciate we did it for both the president Obama's and do the same thing. >> I was not aware there was a precedent. Chairman Alexander: It is as clear as I can think of. >> I would like letters expressing concerto this nomination to be placed in the record. Chairman Alexander: They will be. We welcome Betsy Devos, your husband, son, daughter-in-law and our other guests. Mrs. Devos will be introduced first my senator Tim Scott, a strong champion of education. And then she will be introduced by senator Joe Lieberman who served for 34 years before retiring in 2013. Thank you both for joining us. I've already said what I had to say about Mrs. Devos. [5:41:04 PM] I think she will be in excellent -- an excellent secretary of education. We will go our head to senator Scott's introduction and then senator Lieberman. And then we will hear from Mrs. Devos and then we will hear the questions. Sen. Scott: I'm surprised the number of folks showed up here for senator Lieberman's introduction. Very well done. I've know the Devos family for about three decades. It was a part of one of the companies. I'm very thankful a champion of public education, education and specifically a champion of education for poor kids sits to my left. I will recall my own upbringing poor kid. I attended four different schools. It is important to realize the impact it has on poor kids. I'm excited about this transition, looking forward to the opportunity of having Betsy Devos as our champion for all children, all education, but specifically what I call high potential kids. For the last 28 years, she has been a champion for those kids. A lifelong resident of Michigan, she attended Calvin college in Grand Rapids. She is a businesswoman and entrepreneur. She is a chairman of the American federation for children . For those of you who may not know her, she had a humble beginning. Her parents mortgaged everything they had to start a small auto-parts business. [5:43:06 PM] She still remembers when she was seven years old, helping her father paint a cinderblock building that became the office of the first manufacturing location. It was steel blue. During the summer months in college, Betsy worked the third shift at her family's business. She understands the sacrifices that families have to make in order to build a better life for themselves and for their children. She has successfully advocated for expansion of education opportunity in dozens of states. She also helped her husband launch a charter school in grand Rapids which is now one of the highest performing charter schools in our home state. I have been to that school, way before there was any idea that she might one day sit here before this committee. Way before we assumed there could be a trump candidacy. Several years ago, I visited the high school and had a chance to sit at lunch and talk to the kids. Understand and appreciate their hunger for education was stirred by the Devos family, their commitment to public education at this charter high school. She is motivated by making sure students go to safe and high-performing schools, whether they are public, private, charter, conditional or -- traditional or nontraditional schools. She understands the need to focus on accountability. Not just to have a system in place, but to actually hold schools is holding all place, but to actually hold schools accountable for the results they have. What she supportsschools accountable, whether they are traditional public schools or charter schools. Bless you. [5:45:06 PM] Mrs. Devos is clearly N opposed to accountability. She's opposed holding some schools accountable but not all schools. What she is opposed to his leaving children trapped in schools that we know, we know are failing. Failing the very students that will have no hope if they do not receive a high quality education. Bless you. Only one more left. Parents and students cannot ask for a better role model a more thoughtful leader to move the education system into the 21st century. Betsy cares, she questions, she considers. Then, and only then, will she act. These are the traits of a leader and a doer. I look forward to supporting her nomination throughout the next few weeks. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman Alexander: Senator, Lieberman, welcome. Sen. Lieberman: A special hello to Chris Murray, my friend and successor. It is great to be back in the senate today to introduce Betsy Devos for your consideration as the next secretary of education. I met Betsy several years ago in one of the many bipartisan efforts to improve the quality of education of America's children that she and so many others of you have been involved in. When I left the senate, as a way to continue my own work in education reform, I became a member of the board of American federation for children, the nonprofit organization that [5:47:07 PM] Betsy Devos founded to provide better education options for lower income children throughout America. I'm very proud of what the afc has achieved, particularly at the state level. More than 400,000 lower income families have been empowered with financial support to take their children out of schools where they thought the kids were not getting an adequate education and put them into schools that they thought were better. For me, as a Democrat, it is especially gratifying that many of these afc state programs have been enacted with bipartisan support gratifying that many of these in state legislatures. None of the progress by which the afc has achieved, very specifically for those 400,000 kids, would have occurred without Betsy's leadership which is inclusive. She is disciplined, organized, knows how to set goals and develop practical plans. She is really a purpose driven team builder. I have seen that in my membership of the board of the afc. I understand the department of education is bigger than anything she, or for that matter, most any of us hasever led. Everything I have seen tells me that Betsy is ready to take on this assignment and do it very well. I know that some people are questioning her qualifications to be secretary of education. Too many of those questions seem to be based on the fact she does not come from within the education establishment. But, honestly, I believe that [5:49:09 PM] today, that is one of the most important qualifications you can have for this job. She has many others. She is a mother, grandmother. She cares about children more generally and has been involved in education, like so many parents and local citizens schooboard members for over 30 years. Her involvement has not only been an advocate for reform, though she has been a real leader, she also mentors students in the public schools of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Another important qualification I think she has for this job. She will ask the right questions. Such as, is this federal education program working? Is it giving our kids the education they need to live productive and satisfying lives? If not, how could we improve it? An examination of the facts of the state of American education today makes clear that although H federal education programs are working for many of our children, they are failing millions of others. Here a few of the salient and troubling facts. Among all students of all income groups, less than 40% of high school graduates are college or career ready, according to the act. A recent report said only 35% of eighth graders were proficient on the naet reading exam and only 34% on the math exam. Only two thirds of eighth graders are not proficient in reading in math. That is the middle ranking under [5:51:12 PM] it. For lower income students, in T he educational status quo, falls disproportionately heavily. Too many disproportionately heavily. Too many ways to illustrate this, but let me give this one example. There are more than 1200 high schools in America who have more than 1.1 million students that fail to graduate from high -- at least one-third. To not make it to high school graduation. These schools primarily educate low-income students and students of color. These low graduation rate high schools are located in both urban and rural areas. New York has 199 of them. Georgia, 115. California, 105. Alabama and Mississippi, more than 50 each. These are jarring numbers and I think they cry out for national education reform. We are just not keeping our founders' promise of equal opportunity. We are not preparing the next generation of Americans to enable our economy to compete successfully in the world. We cannot accept the status quo in education anymore. We need to change change our education reform. A leader that has one B goal to give every child in America I first class education. -- A first-class education. That is exactly the kind of education secretary I believe [5:53:13 PM] Betsy Devos can and will be. Because Betsy has been fighting for reform and disrupting the status quo for so long, her nomination is naturally controversial. After all, she has directly challenged the education establishment by supporting charter schools and other programs. I can tell you in all my work with her, I have never heard Betsy speak against our public school system. I have heard her ask what we can do for the kids trapped in bad public schools. Until we can make more of her public schools as good as they should be. Is it fai jto stand back and not help the parents who want better for their children, but cannot get it because they cannot afford it? S it acceptable to have so me children from all income groups graduate from our high schools unprepared for but cannot get it because they cannot afford it? I S college and the high-tech economy. It is not. That's why members of the committee, I hope you will confirm Betsy Devos' nomination. I think it is in our national interest to give her a chance to change the status quo in our schools and secure a better future for our country and all of our children. Thank you very much. Chairman Alexander: Thank you, senator Lieberman. Before I introduce, or welcome Mrs. Devos, I would like to enter 97 letters of support for mrs.devos as education secretary from a variety of groups. Mrs. Devos? Mrs. Devos: Thank you, chairman. Chairman Alexander, ranking member Murray, senators, thank you for the opportunity to be with you. [5:55:14 PM] Thank you, senator Scott and Lieberman, for those very kind words of introduction. I honor and applaud your lifelong edging -- dedication to the success of our nation's students. I want to begin by thanking my family for their support. Many of them seated behind me here, except for my five grandchildren. The oldest is five so it was not advisable they joined us. I'm honored president-elect trump has asked me to join his team and I am grateful for his dedication to education. I look forward to working with him, vice president elect pence, and all of you to bring educational opportunity to every family. While we may have differences, I think we can all agree that learning is a lifelong pursuit and a fundamental American virtue. We are blessed beyond measure with educators for themselves and to students that pour themselves into students. All of us here in our children have attended a mix of publicly funded and private schools. This is a reflection of the diversity that is today's public education. Growing up in Michigan, I attended local Christian schools and then Calvin college. My greatest influence was a public school teacher named el sa prince. To this day, I just called her mom. When dick and I became parents, education became a whole new meaning. We understood that other parents could not make similar decisions on their child's education based on their income or zip code. When our oldest reached school age, we went to a Christian school that serves many low income families. We saw the struggles and [5:57:15 PM] sacrifices many of these families face when trying to choose the best educational option for their children. For me, this was not just an issue of public policy, but of national injustice. I committed to do something about it and it has become my life's work. I have loved the great work of the potter house and the co-founder that is with us today. He and his team are doing a great job. Here is the sad reality -- in the past 28 years, the need and demand for these other options have grown unabated. I S president-elect trump's views to change it to what parents want and deserve. Payments do not believe a one-size-fits-all model of learning fits the need of every child and a no other options exist. Whether it is magnet, virtual, charter, home, or any other combination. Yet, too many parents are denied access to the options, choices many of us have exercised for our own children. Why in 2017 are we still questioning parents ability to exercise educational toys for their children? I'm a firm believer that parents should be empowered to choose the best learning children? I'm environment for their children. The vast majority of students will continue to attend public schools. If confirmed, I will be a strong advocate for great public schools. If a school is troubled or unsafe or not a good fit, perhaps they have a special need that is going unmet, we should support a parent's right to enroll their child in a high-quality alternative. It is pretty simple. Every child in America deserves to be in a safe environment that is free from discrimination. Every student in America dreams [5:59:17 PM] of developing his or her's unique talents and gifts. Every parent dreams of a future where their children has access to schools with a safe environment that successfully prepares them for a brighter, more hopeful tomorrow. Every teacher in America dreams of breaking free from standardization so that they can deploy their unique creativity. Our schools are filled with talented and devoted professionals who meet the needs of many students. Even our best schools do not work for all. This is not the fault of teachers, but a reality that all students are unique, learn differently and excel at their own pace. Students also students also face new challenges today. Our high school graduates are having difficulty accessing affordable high education. Tuition is forcing students out of college. students also face new challenges today. Our high school graduates are having difficulty accessing affordable high education. Tuition is forcing students out of college. Others are burdened with debts that will take years or decades to pay off. There is no magic wand to make the debt go away, but we do need to take action. It would be a mistake to shift that burdened a struggling taxpayers without first addressing my tuition has gotten so high. For starters, we need to embrace new pathways of learning. For too long, a college degree has been pushed is the only avenue for a better life, the old and expensive brick-mortar IV marble -- ivy model is not the only one that will lead to a prosperous future. Cressman ship is a noble pursuit -- craftsmanship is a noble pursuit. President-elect trump and I agree we need to support all post secondary avenues, including trade and vocational schools and community colleges. Of course, on every one of these issues, congress will play a vital role. If confirmed, I look forward to working with you to finding solutions that empower parents and students, provide high quality options, and spend tax dollars wisely. We will work together to ensure the every student succeeds act isn't implement it as congress intended -- isn't limited as congress intended. I look forward to working with congress and all stakeholders to reauthorize the higher education act to meet the needs of today's college students. President-elect trump and I know that it will not be Washington, D.C. That unlocks our nation's potential, nor a bigger bureaucracy or a federal agency. [6:02:06 PM] The answer is local control and listening to parents, students, and teachers. For nearly three decades, I have been involved in education, as a volunteer, and advocate for children, and as a voice for parents. I have worked as an in school mentor for students in grand Rapids and have had the privilege of interacting with students and their families and teachers in ways that have changed my life and my perspective about education forever. I have worked with governors, legislators, and business and community leaders to expand educational opportunities through options that are making a lifetime of difference for hundreds of thousands of kids this year alone. I have worked with many dedicated teachers who strive every day to help students achieve, fulfill their potential, and prepare them for the global challenges they will face. For me, it is simple. I trust parents and I believe in our children. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you. I look forward to answerinyour questions. Chairman Alexander: Thank you, Mr. Voss. S. Devos. We will begin with senator enzi, and then to senator Murray. Sen. Enzi: I want to welcome you here and thank you for being willing to take on this kind of a project and to appear before us. I look forward to working with you as we consider your nomination and after that. You are going to beginning dealing with a great variety of states from high population to low population. I happened to come from the lowest population state. It has some special challenges in education, rural and frontier challenges. We don't allow a child to travel more than an hour by bus to work from school. As a result, we have some schools that have one or two students. [6:04:07 PM] It is a little different situation than was even envisioned with no child left behind, so I am glad wethe ssa -- Essa. There was a 2017 report, and I am pleased that Wyoming rit number seven of the 50 states. In the area of financing education, we were number one. That comes at a time when our stages going through economical suffering because of the Obama administrations for -- administration's war on: Fossil fuel. -- Coal and fossil fuel. But rural frontier has special problems. Part of them are the submission of some of the applications and some of the applicable reports have no bearing on what we are doing, and that is important when we have the rural aspect as well as the Indian reservation with the home of two tribes. When every student succeeds, their provisions to reduce the department's workforce, with the return of education authority to the states, it is important that that workforce the reduced to ensure that more educational funding is provided to the schools and not kept in Washington. Also, I am troubled by the government accountability office report that was issued at my request last November that showed the cost projections for the income driven college loan repayment program are tens of billions of dollars higher than the original estimates. Those estimates were based on data and accounting methods or were deeply flawed!@ area -or were deeply flawed. You will inherit that. [6:06:16 PM] There was the omission of key information. As an accountant, I was appalled. And there was the career and technical education that you mentioned. I appreciate your emphasis on the value of craftsmanship and technology. I just saw the movie "Hidden figures" that introduced people to computers and the value of women in the workplace to get them in the space. I have 1/6 of my schools that do not participate in career technical education funding because the low population gives them such a low amount of funding that it is not worth doing it, and that needs to change. Ms. Devos, one of the most important jobs you will have is the implementation of every student succeeds act. I am pleased with what you said about it. Can you talk about your plans to engage rural and frontier state communities in that process? Ms. Devos: Thank you for that question. I, too, enjoyed that meeting in your office. I enjoyed hearing about the special needs of schools like the school that has the grizzly bear fence surrounding it. I think that is a unique need to Wyoming, certainly. Certainly, rural schools and rural settings require different approaches in different options. I refer to the every student succeeds act, and I think the implementation of that and Wyoming's plan for that will be particularly important to recognize the unique needs of the rural population that you have as well as many of the other states represented here in the committee. When we think about the future, I think about the opportunity for more choices and options for those parents at a distance learning type of a situation, and the possibility that course choices or online courses could be offered in ways that they may not have been previously. [6:08:30 PM] If confirmed, I would look forward to working with you and some of your other colleagues that face the same types of challenges such as senator Collins and senator murkowski. I would work with you to address specific needs of rural communities and high rural population states. Sen. Enzi: Thank you, I look forward to working with you. Chairman Alexander: Senator Murray? Sen. Murray: Mr. Chairman, it's your committee. Chairman Alexander: Thank you for the courtesy. I will go later. Thank you. Sen. Murray: Ms. Devos, I am troubled about some of the things you said about public education and how you see the role of the department you have been nominated to lead. My first question for you is yes or no. Do you believe that the mission of the department of education should be to strengthen public education for all of our students yeah cap -- students? Ms. Devos: Yes, I do. Sen. Murray: Can you commit that you will not work to privatize public schools are cut a single penny for public education? Ms. Devos: Senator, thanks for that question. I look forward to working with you to talk about how to address the needs of all parents and students, and we acknowledged today that not all schools are working for the students that are assigned to them. I am hopeful we can work together to find common ground in ways we can solve those issues and empower parents to make choices on behalf of their children that are right for them. Sen. Murray: I take that is not being willing to commit to not privatize public schools. Ms. Devos: I guess I would not characterize it in that way. Sen. Murray: Well, ok. And the you about conflict of interest. President-elect trump says he can manage his conference of interests by having his family managed interests when he is in office. [6:10:32 PM] Do you think it is ok for presidents to manage -- Ms. Devos: No, I do not. Sen. Murray: We know from press reports that you and your family have invested in the education industry, including investments in a student loan refinancing company and a chain of corporate online for profit charter schools. You said you would sever ties with your family businesses if confirmed, but you also set to return to these businesses owned by your family when you leave public service. How is that different from president-elect trump's arrangement? Ms. Devos: Senator, first of all, let me be very clear about any conflicts. Where conflicts are identified, they will be resolved. I will not be conflicted, period. I commit that to y'all. With respect to the ones you cited, one of the ones we were aware of only entered the process and is in the process of being divested, where if there are any others that are identified, they will be appropriately divested as well. Sen. Murray: From your answer, I assume that your and your family intend to forego all investments in education companies from now on? Ms. Devos: Anything deemed to be a conflict will not be part of our investing. Sen. Murray: How do you intend to convince this committee that no entity will feel pressured to purchase, partner, or contract with corporate or nonprofit entities you and your family invested in, should you be confirmed as secretary? Ms. Devos: I can commit to you that nobody will feel any pressure like that. Sen. Murray: As you know, this committee has not received your required paperwork on the office of government ethics, and they have told me they cannot provide me assurance right now that your conflicts of interest have been identified and resolved by the office. Again, will you be providing this committee with three years of tax returns? Ms. Devos: Senator, I have provided the committee with everything that has been requested and required of the committee, and I am frankly very proud of the team that has been working on my behalf to get all this together, and I know that the Oge is working very hard to work through my and others'' confirmation processes as well, as is the department. [6:12:52 PM] I am helpful we will get this resolved. Sen. Murray: Senator, do you not have your ethics paperwork tonight? We do not have a chance to know if you have -- if we have additional questions. Would you commit to coming back to this committee once we have that from the Oge? Ms. Devos: I commit to making sure we have an ethics agreement resolved and reached. Sen. Murray: I hope we have a chance, Mr. Chairman, if we have questions, to be able to follow up on that. I just have a few seconds left. You have influenced the political system to elect candidates who support your ideological agenda. If you are confirmed, I want to know if you believe it is appropriate for you and your family to continue to use this to pressure state, local, and federal candidates to support your agenda? Ms. Devos: If I am confirmed, I will not be involved in political contributions, and my husband will not be either. Sen. Murray: Ok, thank you very much. Chairman Alexander: Thank you, senator Murray. Senator burr has deferred to sen. Isakson:. Sen. Isakson: Thank you, Ms. Devos. Congratulations on her nomination. I would like to answer -- ask you three questions in regard to the statement. This committee has established a task force on government regulation and identified 59 bourbons in real -- bourbons and regulations that -- burdens and regulations that affect higher education. Of the 59, 12 can be invalidated and changed immediately. In 2015, senators Bennett, king, booker, Alexander, and myself introduced a bill to simplify the bourbons in the application [6:14:53 PM] -- the bird in any applicant -- the burdens in the application process. Three institutions in my state have said this is a priority for them to move forward and simplify the process in getting our kids the best education they can give. My question is, would you commit to working with our office to advance the recommendations on higher education? Ms. Devos: Thanks for that question. I am aware of this task force report. It sounds like the direction it has taken is very promising. If confirmed, I look forward to working with you to implement the things that are deemed appropriate to be done. Sen. Isakson: Would you commit to us to work with us on the items identified by the task force that the secretary currently has the authority to change? Meaning this won't be another government report that goes on the shelf. Ms. Devos: You have my commitment on that. Sen. Isakson: Lastly, will you work with this committee to supply fafsa? Ms. Devos: Indeed I will. I know that has been a very burdensome process and application. In fact, I recall chairman Alexander unfolding the entire length of it. It is a very long process. I look forward to working with you. Sen. Isakson: 104 questions, Mr. Chairman, if I remember correctly. The committee came up with a two-page application that works just as well. It is a way to improve going to college. Ms. Devos: Let me say I don't think we should make it any more difficult than absolutely necessary for students to further their education. Sen. Isakson: Right answer. Is Mr. Boyd here? You referred to the partner's house. Ms. Devos: Yes, he is. Sen. Isakson: Stand up. [6:16:55 PM] You have done a great job with potters house. I appreciate what you have done very much. >> Thank you. Sen. Isakson: That brings me to this point. Senator Murray was talking about privatizing schools and talking about the importance of the lack of importance of charter schools and the importance of protecting public education. She talked about her goal and my goal, which we have shared, and that is to work towards requiring prekindergarten for every student in the country, because we believe it is important. We did it in Georgia. How we did it in Georgia was taking faith-based reeducation or -- faith-based prekindergarten programs and private institutions to provide us with the classrooms and teachers to teach the curriculum. Today in Georgia, 16,000 four-year-old kids go to prekindergarten paid for by the state, delivered by a variety of private and public institutions. My point is, if you are going to meet the challenges of public education today and have to the bit on the resources available, you will never get to where you want to go, but if you get the private sector making an investment in public education and have standards everyone commits to, you can greatly expand the opportunity of education, greatly expand the accessibility of education, and do it through faith-based and privatization -- private institutions. Do you agree with that? Ms. Devos: I think it is an interesting approach that torture has taken, and it is similar to what Florida has done. As the Essa act is implement it, states should take a look at other successful programs. I would also look forward to working with the other agencies that are involved with some of the preschool funding of HHS and see if there are ways to more effectively use those moneys to help students be ready for kindergarten when they reach kindergarten. [6:18:59 PM] Sen. Isakson: My time is up. I appreciate your recognition of the nontraditional student of 25 years ago has become the traditional student of today. Not every kid lives in a two parent household, we have to come up with the programs necessary to train our kids to do the jobs of the 21st century in different ways all the time. Congratulations on your nomination. I yield back. Chairman Alexander: Thank you. Sen. Sanders: C sen. Sanders: -- Senator Sanders? Sen. Sanders: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ms. Devos, there is a growing fear in this country that we are moving toward what someone call an oligarchic form of society, where a small number of very wealthy billionaires control our economic and political life. Would you be so kind as to tell us how much your family has contributed to the Republican party over the years? Ms. Devos: Senator, first of all, thank you for that question. I was pleased to meet you in your office last week. I wish you I could give you that number. I dot know. Sen. Sanders: I have heard the number was $200 million. Does that sound in the ballpark? Ms. Devos: Collectively over my entire family, that is possible. Sen. Sanders: My question is, and I don't mean to be rude, but if you -- do you think that if your family had not made hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions to the Republican party, that you would be sitting here today? Sen. Sanders: Senator, -- Ms. Devos: Senator, I do think there would be that possibility. I have been working hard to be a voice for students and to empower parents to make decisions on behalf of their children, primarily low income children. Sen. Sanders: Thank you. In your statement, you're prepared statement, you say, "Students should make informed choices about what kind of education they want to pursue post high school and have access to high-quality options." Some of us believe we should make public colleges and universities tuition free, so that every young person in this country, regardless of income, does have that option. [6:21:23 PM] That's not the case today. Would you work with me and others to make public colleges and universities tuition free through federal and state efforts? Sen. Sanders: Senator, I think that's a really interesting idea, and it is really great to consider and think about, but I think we also have to consider the fact that there is nothing in life that is truly free. Somebody is going to pay for it. Sen. Sanders: Well, yeah, you're right. Somebody will pay for it, and that takes us to another issue. And that is, right now we have proposals in front of us to substantially lower tax rates for billionaires in this country , while at the same time leveling can can't afford to go to college. You think that makes sense? Ms. Devos: Senator, if your question is really around how we can help college and higher education be more affordable for young people as they -- sen. Sanders:ctually, that was not my question. My question is should we make public colleges and uniuersities tuition free so that every family in America, regardless of income, will have the ability to have their kids get a higher education? Ms. Vos: Senat, I thinrk Har on making sure that college or higher education in some form is affordable for all young people that want to pursuit. I would look forward to that opportunity. Sen. Sanders: Would you agree with me that if there is a mom watching this hearing who makes $30,000, $40,000 a year, a single mom, perhaps, who has to pay $10,000 or $50,000 a year for child care for her daughter, that or $50,000 a year for child care for her daughter, that that is a burden that is almost impossible to deal with? What are your proposals about making childcare universal for our working families? Do you have ideas on that? Do you agree with that idea? Reporter: That -- [6:23:25 PM] Ms. Devos: That certainly is a burden, and while I understand the challenge that young mother would face and how to best serve her child's needs, if we are talking about the future of that child in her education, I would look forward to working with you. I know we have common ground on a lot of things and we could find ways to work together to ensure that young mom's child will have a great opportunity for a great education in the future. Sen. Sanders: There are countries around the world which to provide universal, very inexpensive or free childcare. Would you work with me in moving our government in that direction? Ms. Devos: Senator, again, I feel very strongly about the importance of young families having an opportunity for good childcare for their children. Sen. Sanders: That's not a question of an opportunity, it's the question of being able -- very often my Republican friends talk about opportunity. It's not a question of opportunity. It is a question of being able to avoid. How do we help somebody making a dollars or nine dollars an hour at a time that somebody -- a time that we can't raise the minimum wage because of Republican opposition, how do we make sure those moms get quality child care that they can afford? Ms. Devos: I would look forward to helping that mom getting quality education for their child or children so they can look forward to a bright and hopeful future. Sen. Sanders: Thank you very much. Chairman Alexander: Thank you, senator Sanders. Next, senator hatch. Sen. Hatch: Thank you, chairman. I'm happy to have you here, Ms. Devos, and I appreciate the abilities you have exemplified. The care that you have for education, the hard work you have done. I have to say, very few people in this country could even come close to what you have done. [6:25:28 PM] I welcome you to the committee. It has been a pleasure to be here today to consider your nomination as secretary of education. I appreciate your commitment to expanding opportunities for all children, and your tireless work in the field of education. Your record of service is in line with Utah values, especially your commitment to restoring local autonomy of our schools. Those closest to students know what is best for their education. The truth you have championed is a reformer. This community's support and passage of the every student succeeds at demonstrates that these values are not unique to you and me, but instead shared by many of our colleagues who care for education as a reality. All I can say is the selections for this position have worked hard to make sure the people serve the needs of these positions, not just people of stereo typical education, but those who might be bringing new things to the forefront. All I can say is we have ushered many of our colleagues through this process on both sides of the floor, and I hope my colleagues will extend the same courtesy to you. I also believe in extending the benefit of the doubt, recognizing, for example, that a persons views as a private citizedoot necessarily reflect their future actions as a holder of public office. In my private conversations with you, I trust that you will not force particular policies states,nlat se in education do. Your predecessors have done, in some cases, in violation of congressional intent. [6:27:33 PM] I also recognize that support of parental choice for all students not an attack on public ucatn. My children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren have attended public education as a reality, and I have to say that they have attended the schools, and I believe you share my commitment to ensuring that every child receives a quality education regardless of the type of school they attend. I have spent my entire first service fighting to make equity in education a reality. I believe that you would be an indispensable partner in this fight. I look forward to working with you on the priorities that are important to the people of Utah, including increasing transparency, accountability, and access to higher education, as well as increasing and -- innovation and evidence-based reforms. Unlike others here who may be interested in attacking your donations, I know that you want to do right il children, so I will stick to focusing on how we can work together on some policy. Right now, the department of education does not have a uniform measure for describing whether borrowers are repaying their loans. According to the confusion, the department issues a different borrower repayment rate methodology for each policy at comes up with. The uniform metric might prove tough on making information available the conference, -- available to congress and the higher education community about success of former students in repaying their federal student loan debts. This information could also tell us the extent to which student loan repayment rates vary across institutions. I believe students should have access to a wide variety of data when choosing a school, just like they would when choosing a car. Greater access to information would lead to wise decision-making when choosing an institution. [6:29:40 PM] Do you support increasing transparency regarding loan results for students and parents to use when deciding on a post secondary school? Ms. Devos: Senator, thank you for that question and your kind comments. I agree with you 100% at the issue of student debt and the amount of student debt, over $1.3 trillion right now, up almost 1000% in the last eight years, is a very serious issue, and one which we all have to, I think, pay close attention to and resolve in some way. If confirmed, I certainly would look forward to working with you and your colleagues on ways to get after this issue, the issue of the cost of education as well as debt repayment. Kind of go hand-in-hand. I look forward to working with you and your colleagues, should I be confirmed. Sen. Hatch: Thank you so much. I think you will be confirmed and make a great secretary. Chairman Alexander: Senator Casey? Sen. Casey: Put me on the record as asking for a second round. If that's under consideration. Chairman Alexander: It's not under consideration, but I would be glad to put you on. [Laughter] Sen. Casey: I will keep trying. Ms. Devos, thank you for being here. I wanted to start with a basic question. Would you agree with me that the problem, and that's an understatement in my judgment, that the problem of sexual assault on college campuses is a significant problem that we should take action on? Ms. Devos: Senator, thank you for that question. I agree with you that sexual assault in any form or in any places in problem. -- In any place is a problem. No disagreement there. Sen. Casey: The second question is, would you uphold -- let me give you background. [6:31:47 PM] In 2011, the department of education issueduidance on title IX by this current administration. I ask you, would you uphold that 2011 title IX guidance as it relas to sexuaassaulon campus? Ms. Devos: Senator, I know that there is a lot of conflicting ideas and opinions around that guidance, and if confirmed by would look forward to working with you and your colleagues and understand the range of opinions , and understand the issues from the higher-end institutions that are charged with resolving these and addressing them, and would look forward to working together to find some resolutions. Su ce with the guidance. I'm just asking for yeor no. -- sen. Casey: I agree with the guidance. I'm just asking for yes or no on whether you would be willing to uphold that guidance. Ms. Devo it would be premature for me to do that today. Sen. Casey: This problem, to sac is also an understatement. The centers for disease control told us back in 2009 that one in five women are the victims of sexual assault on campus, and yet a lot of those women who were in that one in five never have an opportunity or never report incidents. It is a major problem for women. In so many ways, it is the ultimate betrayal. Parents, for generations, have told her daughters, study hard in school. Get good grades, because when you get good grades you might have an opportunity to go to college, and if you go to college, the world is open to you, and you can succeed by having a higher education. But too often, it happens every year on many campuses around the country, too often a young woman is a victim, sometimes in the first day she is there, the first week, sometimes over the course of her first year. [6:33:52 PM] Her life is destroyed that. We have a long way to go to addressing this problem. We took some good action on this issue as part of the violence against women act. It just happened to be my bill they got passed into law. What we did in that bill was, for the first time, say to colleges and universities, you have to do more than what you are doing, simply on one broad topic of prevention and awareness. So young man on the campus who are the perpetrators of this have to be part of the solution. They have to be part of bystander education, a preventative strategy. In addition to all kinds of transparency and requirements, this is what the act did for women offer victims, I should say, victims of assault. Colleges and universities must provide clear statements regarding the procedures followed. A must do more than they have been doing when it comes to enforcement. In particular with regard to victims, it says, but college or university -- the college or university must indicate to the victim her right to notify law enforcement, should the victim choose to, and the institution has the obligation to help the victim reported the incident to law enforcement, including helping her get a protective order, among other things. That is where the law is now, based upon my bill. In the fall of 2015, this went into effect across the country. There is an organization called the foundation for individual rights in education. They support a bill that would totally change that. They would force a victim to go to police departments to report, and they went change -- they would change the stander of evidence. Would you commit to retaining the standard of evidence as is currently the law? [6:35:57 PM] Ms. Devos: Senator, let me just say that my mom's heart has really peaked on this issue. A in any form is never ok, and I want to be very clear on that. If confirmed, I look forward to understanding the past actions and current situation better, and to ensure that the intent of the law is actually carried out in a way that recognizes both the rights of the victims as well as those who are accused. Sen. Casey: I'm out of time, but the organization that has that position which is contrary to the current law and contrary to the spirit of what we are trying to do is a recipient of donations from you totally about 20,000 bucks over four years. I hope that is not a conflict of interest, but I hope you would make a definitive commitment as a nominee to enforce the law as it relates to sexual assault on college campuses. Chairman Alexander: Thank you, senator Casey. Senator Paul? Sen. Paul: Congratulations, Ms. Devos. I grew up and went to public schools and got a great education. Big fan of public schools. My kids have gone the public schools. There are also some public schools that are not doing very well. The department of education says about half are not doing well. Half the kids that are dropping out our kids of color. I D R work in trying to lp-income kids and trying to help everybody get a better education. I think the status quo is not real working. I have traveled to a lot of schools, though, and have been amazed at me oe I went to saanthonin Milwaukee, a Latin school in Philadelphia. [6:37:57 PM] Amazing success stories. You see the success in front of you where 100 percent of the kids are going to college. Amazing stories where 540 maybe 30% of their copo in the communitygoin T ccesses. We need to think about the kids. Kids get so caught up in, oh, I don'tous ols, private schools. It's like, look at the kids and look at the success. I thought maybe you can take a couple of minutes and tell us about some of the things you have seen in this chicken, schools you have visited that are a success, -- scene in Michigan, schools that you have visited that are a success, or things that excite you about the potential of all students, that we should not leave them behind. Ms. Devos: Thanks for that opportunity. I would love to talk about some of the schools and some of the individuals I have seen benefit from the success of being able to choose the right educational setting. I have already mentioned the potters house school and John Boyd, who is with us today. At the school I regularly visit, the students come from a multitude of different countries, speak many different languages, and most of them are from very low income circumstances. It is amazing to see the transformation that those students have been going through their potters house years. There is another student right behind me who I have gotten to know the last few years, who is a recipient of a tax credit scholarship program in the state of Florida. She will tell you very promptly that she had aery troubd early childhood in her grade school years. I think she was kicked out multiple times before her godmother finally found a school that was going to work for her, and the tranmation was almost overnight. [6:39:59 PM] She is the first family -- the first in her family to have graduated high school. She graduated college. In may, she will get her masters in social work degree. She is a tremendous example of what can happen when you get an opportunity to go to the right school. Lydia is also your. Her mom took her and immigrated from Peru because of the opportunity. She knew she would have much greater opportunity to sed and thrive. She has been the beneficiary tax credit scholarship program in Arizona, and she is now in college and pursuing a higher education there. Those are two big students. There ar many sdetunts I see doing amazing things, actually trying innovative things for approaching education for children. One of them I would love to mention is called Acton academy. It is totally student directed. They formed their own constitution, and there is no teacher in the classroom, just a coach or a guide, and the guide cannot answer questions, they can only pose a question back to the students. The results from this academy are simply amazing. The school is actually proliferatingretty rapidly throughout the country. Those are just a few examples. I can give you dozens more. Sen. Paul: Putting a face on it, meeting these kids, seeing there were going to succeed, and looking them in the eye and knowing they will succeed is an amazing thing. For those who have a philosophic hatred for vouchers and school choice, watch the movie "Rating for Superman -- "Waiting for Superman," and watch the mother's tears when her kid got to go to a good school. [6:42:01 PM] We met a young woman in Nashville. She's got a full scholarship to Boston college. Here we are, we love to talk to the media. The media did not want to talk to us, they wanted to talk to this young lady because she is an amazing success story. I wish you the best of luck. Chairman Alexander: Sen. Franken: Co sen. Frank: -- senator Franken? Sen. Franken: I am a member of the party the chairman of vote. Charter schools are not an issue here. The soda is thoroughly in the mainstream. There are 37 states in this country that constitutionally prohibit the use of public school money for religious schools. It is the dfl party in Minnesota, thank you very much, that is in the mainstream a not the witness of the chairman. Senator Lieberman mentioned proficiency. It reminded me of this. When I fir G in the senate in 2009, I had a roundtable of principles. -- Princi principals in Minnesota. One of them said we think of the mslb test as autopsies. They take the test in April, they get the results in late June. The tet -- the teachers0 cannot use6hhe tt results to inform their instruction. Ihat in Minnesota, the majority of the schools were taking a computer adaptive test, a computer E results rit awayan adaptive so you can measure outside thgrade level. This brings me to tissue of proficiency,ch the sat cited, versus growth. I would like your views on the relative advantage of asseo . Ur question correctly around proficiency, I would correlate it to competency and mastery, so each student is measured according to the advancements they are making in each subject area. [6:44:29 PM] Sen. Franken: That's growth. That's not proficiency. In other words, the growth they are making is not growth. The proficiency is an arbitrary standard. Ms. Devos: Proficiency is if they have reached a third grade level for reading, etc. Sen. Franken: I'm talking about the debate between proficiency in growth, what your thoughts are on that. Ms. Devos: I was just asking the clarify, then -- sen. Franken: This is a subject that has been debated in the education community for years. I have advocated growth as the chairman, and every member of this committee knows, because with proficiency teachers ignore the kids of the top who are not going to fall below proficiency, and they ignore the kid at,t"he bottom who they know will never get to proficiency. I have been an advocate for growth. But it surprises me that you don't know this issue. And Mr. Chairman, I think this is a good reason for us to have more questions. This is a very important subject , education, our kids' ATN. I think ur a to have a debate on it. I did not know of any rural abouteson and one other senator gets a question. I don't know where that rule comes from. Chairman Alexander: I will you where it comes from. It comes from the committee president and the way we treated president Obama's nominees, John king, the way we treated Arne Duncan, the way I was treated when I was a secretary. We will apthe same roles to them to secretary Devos, Mrs. Thomas -- sen. Franken:( I think we are sellinki short by not beg able to ask follow-u questions. I was kind of surprised -- well, I'm not that surprised that you don't know this issue. Ms. Devos,r fami has a large history of supporting anti-lgbt causes, including groups that this conversion therapy. [6:46:39 PM] For example, you and your family have given over 10 million dollars to focus on the family, an organization that current states on its website that " homosexual strugglers can and do change theirehavior and identity." ;Ms. Devos, conversion therapy has beenidely discredited and rejected for decades by Y instream and medical health organization as inappropriate. It has been shown to lead to homelessness, drug abuse, and suicide, particularly in youth. In fact, many leaders of conversion therapy, including th religious ministries and mental health profeionals, have not only publicly renounced it, but have issued formal apologies for their work and how harmful it H been to the individuals involved. Mr. Chairman, I would ask that this be included in the record. Chairman Alexander: Will be. Sen. Franken: Ms. Devos, the you still believe in conversion therapy? Ms. Devos: I have never believed in that. First of all, let me say I fully embracing equality, and I believe in the in a value of every -- the innate value of every single human being, and that all students, no matter their age, should be able to attend a school and feel safe and be free of discrimination. Let's start there. Let me just say that your characterization of contributions, I don't think it accurately reflects those of my family. I would hope you wouldn't include other family members beyond my poor family. Sen. Franken: In terms of throwing numbers around, you say student debt has incased by 1000%. Ms. Devos: 980% in eight years. Sen. Franken: I'm sorry? Ms. Devos: 980%. Sen. Franken: That's just not so. It has increased 118% in the past eight years. I'm just asking, if you are challenging my figures, I would ask that you get your figures straight about education policy. [6:48:43 PM] That's why we want more questions, because we want to know if this person that we are entrusting, may entrust, to be the secretary of education, if she has0 the brethnd depth of knowledge that we would expect from someone who has that important job. Thank you. Chairman Alexander: Thank you, senator Franken. I had as many disagreements with secretary king as you apparently do with Mrs. Thomas. -- Ms. Devos. We are treating her the exact same way that we treated him. That is what I would call the golden world. Sen. Franken: I did not hear one member of the committee asked to ask more questions, and , member of the minority is asking to ask more questions. That is a very substantial difference. Chairman Alexander: Because you got a nominee of the Republican party. We are notng to treat a Republican nominee different than we treated decric none. We have had the same situation with both of president Obas nominees. >> I do want to put in the record that Michael Leavitt had two rounds. Chairman Alexander: Michael Leavitt was never the education secretary. >> One under president bush had two rounds. There is precedent. Chairman Alexander: Ippreciate you saying that. I am trying to be fair by treating Ms. Devos in the same way retreated both of president Obama's education nominees. We go next to sen. Cassid. Sen. Cassidy: Ms. Devos, great N. I am really struck, the kind of reaction yr notion has eliced. [6:50:47 PM] Let me just ask some questions. Do you support public edution? Ms. Devos:uten. N. Cassidy: Man, that's among. Some think you do not. Do you think all children deserve to have the opportunity to receive quality education? Ms. Devos: Absolutely, I do. Sen. Cassidy: Do you support children of all incomes and race to have the opportunity to choose the school that meets their child's needs? Ms. Devos: Absolutely I do, and I commend you and your wife for the school that you started that is focused on dyslexic students. Sen. Cassidy: My son is very bright. He graduated from an inner city public school and then graduated with honors from some fancy school northeast. My daughter, who has dyslexia, we were able to pay the tuition so she can have her needs addressed. Not all parents can pay that, so it matters very much that a parent, regardless of their income, can get their child's needs addressed. Do you support the believe that the decisions affecting our children's education are best left to the states and levels to decide -- states and locals to the side, to allow them to tailor the policies and programs that best meet the needs of their students? Ms. Devos: I do indeed. Sen. Cassidy: Oh my gosh. Do you believe the role as U.S. Secretary of education opportunity to advance your personal education views an agenda? Ms. Devos: Not mine personally. I am hopeful to advance those of the president elect and the views of many parents nationally. Sen. Cassidy: As secret of education, is it your intention tondermine our nation's public education system? Ms. Devos: Not at all. Sen. Cassidy: Will you carryut the of limitation of federal education law in a way that carries outhe intent and letter of the law? [6:52:49 PM] Ms. Devos: Indeed. Sen. Cassi: Do you intend to coerce any state, school district, or school on any education program credited to the secretary and federal law, one such example being common core? Ms. Devos: No. Sen. Cassidy: Do you intend to mandate or direct any school to mandate privatechool policies, including vouchers or scholarships? Ms. Devos: No. Sen. Cassidy: Next, you mentioned dyslexia. I am passionate about it. 20% of us are dyslexic. 20%. Am told that one ouof four children of color by age four, by fourth grade, reads substantially low -- substantially below grade level. That is important, because we learn to reaand read to learn. ATS an issue am passionate about. As secretary of education, will you commit to working with me and others to find common ways to promote better awareness and understanding of dyslexia, and will you commit to working with me in this community to develop better federal education policies to ensure that dyslexic children and all students with differences have the resources they need? Ms. Devos: I would look forward tot sen. Cassidy: You may ngrwill you agree to work with developing new federal policies to ensure the early screening of dyslexic andf schools, or universal screenings in all districts and schools, to ensure that the appropriate services are provided to students? Sen. Young: Ms. Devos: I would look forward -- Ms. Devos: I would look forward to exploringhat with you, to see if it is a federal role are best left to the states, but I would look forward to that opportunity. Sen. Cassidy: Thatanswer. I will thank you for your answers and yield act. -- Yield back. [6:54:49 PM] Chairman Alexander: Senator Bennett? Sen. Bennet: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It pains me to say this. I really wish we had a second round of questions, too. I don' believe you are a precedent for this. When you were the nominee, you were a governor, you have been the president of a university. John kin had been a school principal, had been the commissioner of education in the state of New York. Arne Duncan had been the ri+chic public schools. Expiences they T to THR committee hearing, and their records will work -- their records were well-known and well established. There is no W] The time that we have that we will go into th lelf backound. I would ask some level of consideration the given to having additional questions, and that the tax returns be made available to the committee. I want to thank Ms. Devos for your willingness to serve and your P for educati your family. I agree with you, and the committee members know this, that our public school system is not working for many of our kids, particularly those living in poverty. I think it is utterly unacceptable, and the fact that we don't pay attention to it, the fact that we treat America's children like they are someone else's children, is some this generation will have to pay for in the future. Every child in this country should have access to a great public school. I support parents' choices on high-quality schools and charter schools, and I think it plays a critical role in education. But the goal for me has never been in school choice for its own end. The goal is high-quality public schools for every kid in every neighborhood to receive a great education. For a kid in a low income family, there is no difference, there may be a philosophical difference, but no practical difference between being forced to attend a terrible school and to be given a chance to attend the choice of five terrible schools. [6:57:01 PM] That is no choice at all. In Denver, we made a different deal. A deal that said we will create a public choice system, we will authorize charters, we will create traditional schools. But we implement strong accountability. As far as I can tell, Detroit and Michigan, to a degree, has followed the opposite path. According to one analysis, Detroit public schools -- and by the way, it is not easy to figure this out because there is so little accountability in Michigan -- Detroit public schools averaged 9%, 9% of the kids are proficient. Charter schools were a little better, 14% of the kids were proficient. I will stipulate that charter schools are doing better, but that is a horrible outcome for everybody involved. Acrding to education trust for 2013, the majority of charter schools in Michigan performed worse than the Detroit public schools when it came to African American students in eighth grade math. Nearly half of charter schools ined ithe boom quarter of all schools statewide . My question is this- Noa false choice about whether we should or should not have choice. He suld havehoic --Ave oice. Learned in the miigan that has changed your mindut in the 21 century? Ms. Devos: Thank you for that question. First of all, I look forward to correcting some of the record regarding Detroit. I think it is important to put Detroit in context. In 1950, there were 1.8 million people living in the city of Detroit. Today there is less THA 700,00 675 witany means in the city of Detroit has basically left T city. [6:59:04 PM] The students there today -- sen. Bennet: With respect, I am not asking for the history of Detroit. What I would like to know is the last 20 years of school reform that you have been so involved with in Michigan. Ms. Devos: Yes, but you are referring specifically to Detroit schools. The reality today is that eight out of 10 students in Detroit are living in poverty. Nobody accepts that the results in Detroit overall are acceptable. There is clearly room for a lot more improvement. But the reality is more than half of the -- senator bennet:m Seit T gog oundf quesons. U lined abouthub schools and Detroit charter schools that has informed your decision-making as the secretary of education? To go right in cities across America as a result of your philosophy on how we ought to move the country forward? . Devos: I believe there is a lot that has GE right in Detroit and Michigan with regard to charter schools. , And the notion that there haven't been accountability is just wrong. It is false news. It is not correct at all. The reality is that charter schools in Michigan have been accountablul@ accountable, to their overseen bodies and to the state since their history, 122 -- sen. Bennet: Why are there S manylsn much? Ms. Devos: 122 charter schools have been closed in Michigan. The reality today is students attending charter schools in the city of Detroit are getting three months on average more learning than their counrparts in the traditional public schools. The recent legislation that was passed now actually bris all schoolin Detroit uer accountability, a incding the traditional schools. Before there S NER en a traditional school closed duówer - die -- due performae.sen. Bennet: I'm out of time, and I apologize. I would like to say this, Mrs. Devos. I would like to invite you to de to th schools, if you are Willi to , to see what we are working on there. Ms. Devos: I would love to do that. >> Thank you, senator Bennett. Senator young. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for putting yourself forward. I think yowill make a fine secretary of education. I would like to brgp something we discussed in our office. We talked about teachers. You actually started talking about teachers. It was encouraging. List of Panel Members and Witnesses PANEL MEMBERS: SEN. LAMAR ALEXANDER, R-TENN. CHAIRMAN SEN. MICHAEL B. ENZI, R-WYO. SEN. RICHARD M. BURR, R-N.C. SEN. JOHNNY ISAKSON, R-GA. SEN. RAND PAUL, R-KY. SEN. LISA MURKOWSKI, R-ALASKA SEN. TIM SCOTT, R-S.C. SEN. ORRIN G. HATCH, R-UTAH SEN. PAT ROBERTS, R-KAN. SEN. BILL CASSIDY, R-LA. SEN. SUSAN COLLINS, R-MAINE SEN. TODD YOUNG, R-IND. SEN. PATTY MURRAY, D-WASH. RANKING MEMBER SEN. BOB CASEY, D-PA. SEN. AL FRANKEN, D-MINN. SEN. MICHAEL BENNET, D-COLO. SEN. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, D-R.I. SEN. TAMMY BALDWIN, D-WIS. SEN. CHRISTOPHER S. MURPHY, D-CONN. SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN, D-MASS. SEN. TIM KAINE, D-VA. SEN. MAGGIE HASSAN, D-N.H. SEN. BERNARD SANDERS, I-VT. WITNESSES: FORMER SEN. JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN, I-CONN. BETSY DEVOS, NOMINATED TO BE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION

THE REGULAR WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING WITH JOSH EARNEST FS37X73 STIX White House briefing with Josh Earnest DC SLUG: 1245 WH BRIEF STIX FS37 73 & 1245 WH BRIEF CUTS FS38 74 AR: 16X9 NYRS: WASH-3 & WASH-4 13:13:15 EARNEST: Good afternoon, everybody. It's nice to see you all. As you can see, I am joined by some special guests today. Earlier this year, the president traveled to SXSW where he challenged tech leaders, creators and entrepreneurs to leverage the latest technology and most innovative approaches to solve some of our country's toughest challenges. And today, he's bringing that call to action to the White House, to the South Lawn to be precise, in the first ever South by South Lawn festival. It celebrates the work of everyday Americans who are using cutting-edge technology, art, film and innovative thinking to shape a better future for Americans and across the globe. Let me briefly introduce the -- the leaders who are standing next to me. I'll give them an opportunity to each speak briefly and then we'll open it up to questions you may have for them. So standing immediately to my right is Carmen Rojas. Carmen is the CEO of The Workers Lab, an innovation lab that invests in entrepreneurs, community organizers and technologists to develop new ways to build power for working people in the United States. And then to her right is Jukay Hsu. Jukay is a Bronze Star veteran of the Iraq War. He is also the founder of Coalition for Queens, which creates pathways out of poverty through technology in the world's most diverse community. And then to his right is Anil Dash. Anil is an entrepreneur, activist and writer who advocates for more humane, inclusive and ethical technology industry. Anil co-founded Maker Base, an online community for people who make apps and websites. So like I said, we'll give each of them an opportunity to offer some brief comments about what they're hoping to do at the White House today and then we'll give you a chance to ask your questions. So Carmen, do you want to go first? ROJAS: Sure. EARNEST: OK. 13:14:58 ROJAS: Good afternoon, everyone. I am really excited to be here. This is a real honor for us at The Workers Lab to be able to share some of the most cutting-edge technologies, enterprises and organizations that are transforming conditions for working people in the U.S. ROJAS: And in particular, we are excited to announce a launch of a digital platform called Together We Work, which is focused on offering young people who work a set of digital tools that they can use to organize and amplify their voice and to tell their stories and connect with each other. Thank you for having me. EARNEST: Terrific. (Inaudible). 13:15:43 HSU: Hello, everyone. It's an honor, really, for me to be here and represent my organization, C4Q. We creates pathways out of poverty through technology training in Queens, which is the world's most diverse community. It's the most diverse county in America. For us as the technology sector, continues to change all industries and reshapes our economy. We hope everyone has the opportunity to not only learn to cope (ph), but get amazing job in technology and help creating these companies and innovations of the future. Our program, we're really fortunate, focused on the 65 percent of New Yorkers that don't go to college. Most Americans don't go to college and if you never go to college, your average lifetime income in New York is $27,000 a year. For us going through the program, we've raised people's average income from $18,000 starting out to $85,000 a year after the program. At the same time, represents the diversity of Queens, which is half women, 60 percent black or Hispanic, half immigrants. So we really feel that if we can do it there and help support the growth in New York's technology community, we hope communities all across America can also have access to these opportunities and help grow our economy. Thank you. 13:16:56 DASH: Good afternoon. Working in the tech industry the last ten or fifteen years, we've gotten to watch events like South by Southwest where people in tech talk about how they want to change the world, what impact they want to have. And it's really exciting to see the dots sort of get connected from that intent to South by South Lawn today where we're going to have this series of conversations with people doing the actual work impact in their communities around areas like workers rights, as Carmen said, some of the other folks who (inaudible), civil rights, and sort of taking that promise of what we thought technology was going to do for the world and connecting it into the arts and the film and the music and these other disciplines and also see the real impact we have in helping our communities, our neighborhoods, our cities, and the whole country. EARNEST: Terrific. OK. Who has questions for the leaders who are here today? (CROSSTALK) 13:18:04 EARNEST: Sometimes it's harder to get out of here than it is to get in. (LAUGHTER) (CROSSTALK) EARNEST: Hopefully we're not going to be testing that proposition with me today. (LAUGHTER) EARNEST: But we'll see. Obviously we're really excited about all of the activities associated with the South by South Lawn, and those of you who are interested will have varying opportunities to cover today and it will also be live streamed. So -- fortunately, the weather cooperated and it should be a really terrific event. So -- Nancy, I'm happy to talk to you about that or anything else that may be on your mind today. QUESTION: Yeah, I wonder if had -- could tell us what the president's reaction was to the reports about Donald Trump's (ph) paying taxes, what it says about Donald Trump or what it says about the tax bill? 13:18:46 EARNEST: I have not spoken to the president about this story. What I can tell you is that -- you have heard the president on a number of occasions, since his very first year in office, talk about the need to ensure that we have a tax code that is consistent with a smart economic strategy, but also a tax code that is fair. EARNEST: And the president has worked hard. One of his most prominent campaign promises in 2008 was to make the tax code more fair, while at the same time protecting tax cuts that middle-class families benefit from. And in the context of the Recovery Act that was passed within the first couple of months of the president taking office, there were significant tax cuts included for small businesses, other tax cuts that were targeted at middle class families. And after the president's re-election in 2012, you'll recall that the President was able to finally reach a breakthrough agreement with Republicans in Congress to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans. This is the first time that Republicans in the Congress had voted to raise taxes in a couple of decades. So, the president has made this -- made fairness in our tax code a top priority. 13:19:59 Again, because the president believes in the principle of fairness. But also because he believes it's the smartest way for us to pursue sustainable economic growth in the United States. And the president is hopeful that he will be succeeded in office by a president who's committed to, not just pursuing but even furthering that strategy. QUESTION: So, do you think that Donald Trump's report on his taxes is problematic what's wrong with the tax code? Does it offer you a sample to make that case? EARNEST: Well I think it's difficult for anybody to draw a -- a firm conclusion about that, without having an opportunity to take a look at all of the data. And I recognize that's the subject of some dispute on the campaign trail. What I will say is, Mr. Trump's tax strategies aside, the president believes that we could do some very helpful things for the economy, by closing loop holes that only benefit the wealthy and well connected. And using the revenue from those closed loop holes to invest in things like infrastructure, invest in community college for every hardworking American student. These are the kinds of things that we know would be good for our economy, both in the short term, but also would lay a strong foundation for our long term economic growth. So, that's the strategy that the president's pursued, and frankly he did that before we knew all that much about the tax strategies that were designed by the Republican nominee and his accountants. QUESTION: Also, what is the White House reaction to Russia's decision to suspend the deal on exposing (inaudible)? 13:21:44 EARNEST: Well, I saw, I've seen those reports as of this morning. This is an announcement that we are disappointed by. The decision by the Russians to unilaterally withdraw from this commitment is -- is disappointing. And the reason for that, is that this agreement that went into force in 2011, pledged the disposal of thousands of nuclear weapons worth of plutonium. And, this was an agreement that was reached by the United States and Russia, because we're the two countries that have the largest amount of this material. And both leaders in Russia and the United States have made non- proliferation a priority. And certainly the United States is interested in limiting proliferation and trying to reduce the risk associated with potential nuclear terrorism. And again, we know that Russia's leadership has recognized this risk. The United States has been steadfast since 2011, in implementing our side of the bargain. And we would like to see the Russians continue to do the same thing. QUESTION: Do you think it's fair that the Syria issue will spill over into this? 13:23:10 EARNEST: Well, listen, I think the, obviously these are two different situations and we've made clear that our relationship with the Russian is quite complex. There are areas where the United States and Russia have been able to work effectively to advance our shared interests. Our success in completing a diplomatic arrangement to prevent Iran from -- Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon for example would not have been possible without the constructive role that Russia played throughout those negotiations. I think that's an indication of the priority that Russia has placed on -- on nonproliferation. They understand the national security consequences of this. The United States and Russia have been able to coordinate our efforts in terms of trying to isolate the North Koreans for their destabilizing activities on the Korean peninsula. That was obviously a positive -- that obviously is a positive development, and certainly strengthens our hand as we deal with a very difficult situation there. And we've obviously talked quite a bit about how the United States and Russia were able to work together to dispose of Bashar al- Assad's declared chemical weapon stockpile in Syria, again, an agreement that would not have been possible without the ability of the United States and Russia to work effectively together. We've obviously been quite disappointed about a range of Russian decisions however both inside of Syria but also in Ukraine. And unfortunately the announcement about the Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement is more in line with those kinds of decisions that have only deepened Russia's isolation in the international community. But the plutonium arrangement is one that does reflect the shared priorities of our two countries. And we are -- we're hopeful that the -- that the Russians will -- will recognize that and follow through on the commitments that they've made. Jeff. QUESTION: Yeah, Josh what is the United States' next step or move after the Colombians decided over the weekend to project (inaudible)? The president was obviously involved in this. What's your next move? 13:25:33 EARNEST: Well, Jeff, the -- obviously the president had an opportunity to visit with President Santos in New York. And the thing of the expectation was that the peace agreement would be ratified by Colombian voters. And that's not what occurred. Colombia's a democracy, it's a sovereign country. And the leaders of Colombia had made a commitment to give the voters the opportunity to weigh in on that agreement. And the margin was quite narrow, but it's important for the decisions that are made by the Colombian government to reflect the will of the Colombian people. And that's precisely what President Santos has indicated. Now, the good news is that all of the parties -- even the FARC leaders, and even the opposition leader, Mr. Uribe -- have indicated a commitment to achieve peace and to do so in an inclusive manner. So, I know that President Santos and his team is focused on figuring out what they can do at the negotiating table to -- to move this forward. And we're hopeful that they'll be able to settle on a path that leads to the kind of negotiated settlement and negotiated peace that all of the parties have indicated they would like to see. The United States thus far has played a constructive role in trying to facilitate those kinds of -- that kind of an agreement. And the -- and the United States stands ready, even through our special envoy, to try to support all sides as they reach an agreement that is consistent with the will and ambition of the Colombian people. QUESTION: All right, so you intend to sort of play a similar role that -- that the U.S. has before. Can you be any more specific about that? 13:27:20 EARNEST: Well, the -- the process from here is going to be dictated by President Santos and the Colombian government. And obviously, that will also be determined by their negotiations with FARC about how to move forward. We hope that all sides will continue to be focused on the goal of a negotiated peace, and we want to encourage them to continue to pursue that path. But it's also important for them to be acting consistent with the promises that they've made to the Colombian people and to be acting consistent with the will of the Colombian people. So you know, the president has made the observation on a number of occasions that democracy can be messy at times. This -- this might be the latest example of that. The good news is that all sides, including the voters, I think are -- are still focused on trying to reach this negotiated peace and that certainly is within the national security of the United States to in this war, and we're going to encourage all sides to -- to pursue that peace. QUESTION: Moving to the Philippines, is there concern within the White House that the increasing hostility from President Duterte will erode the military and political alliance between the United States and the Philippines? 13:28:38 EARNEST: Well, Jeff, the United States is strongly committed to the alliance that we have with the Philippines, and the president was able to personally attest to his commitment to that alliance when he traveled to the Philippines a year or so ago and met with President Duterte's predecessor to discuss strengthening and deepening that alliance. You'll recall the president -- I think you may have even been there -- the president did an event at a pier in Manila where there was a Navy or Coast Guard vessel that had been transferred to the Filipino government for use in their maritime security operations. This is a U.S. Coast Guard vessel that had been transferred to the Filipinos to enhance their maritime security. I think that's an indication of the kind of military and security cooperation that -- that President Obama is committed to and that our country is committed to. This is also one of the reasons that -- that President Obama had committed and intended to meet with President Duterte when he was in -- when both leaders were in Laos a month or so ago. That meeting didn't come about because it was pretty clear from the lead-up to that meeting that it was unlikely to be particularly constructive. But the president's committed to -- to the kind of relationship that the Filipino -- the Filipino people certainly acknowledge has benefited their country and their national security. There are a variety of ways in which the United States and the United States military has benefited the Philippines, both in term of adding resources to their maritime security efforts, there are U.S. forces that work closely with counterterrorism and security forces in the Philippines to address an extremist threat in that country that they're countering. 13:30:32 The United States military was also instrumental in helping to mobilize a response to a deadly typhoon in the Pacific in the last couple of years, a response that -- that certainly was instrumental to meeting the needs of thousands of Filipinos who had been negatively affected by this devastating storm. So, that's the kind of relationship I think that you would expect between two treaty allies, and it's the kind of relationship that has the United States being held in quite high regard by the Filipino people. And President Obama and the other members of his administration are committed to continuing to strengthen that alliance. QUESTION: The examples that you're citing precede the hostility that I was referencing by President Duterte. So to what extent does that affect those goals? Do you take seriously his threat to end the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement? Are you concerned about growing influence of China as a result of the hostility that I mentioned? 13:31:35 EARNEST: Well, I -- as relates to the defense agreement, this is of course a binding one and there's a formal process for withdrawing from it or changing it and I'm not aware that that process has been commenced in any way. With regard to the efforts of the Philippine government to form relationships with other countries in the region, obviously there are a variety of other examples of other allies of the United States seeking to strengthen their relationship with other countries in the region including China. So, you know, I've been asked this question both in the context of President Park of South Korea and Prime Minister Abe of Japan when they've had conversations with their -- with President Xi or other senior Chinese officials. And what we've said at every turn is that the United States believes it's in our interest for our closest friends in the Asia-Pacific to have an effective working relationship with the Chinese. And sometimes it's difficult to determine precisely what President Duterte's intent is in offering public comments but if his intent is to, you know, seek a more effective relationship with China, that doesn't undermine U.S. positioning in that region of the world and that's certainly been true with regard to our relationship with South Korea and Japan who obviously have their own diplomatic relationship with China as well. QUESTION: When you were asked about Donald Trump and the documents that came out over the past couple of days, you mentioned a fair tax code and you mentioned loopholes so are you saying that what happened here, the claiming of a nearly billion dollar loss that could have led to not paying taxes for years, is that unfair and is that a loophole? 13:33:35 EARNEST: Well, again, the -- I'll let others opine on the political ramifications here and with regard to the specific details of his tax arrangements, I think it's a little hard to draw that kind of conclusion without seeing the tax returns themselves and thus far he's not released them. So, I'll let people with a little more expertise weigh in on his individual situation and what it says about his approach to doing business. 13:34:09 The president's priorities appear to be different but are deeply held. And these priorities for a more fair tax code, a tax code that advantages the middle class, a tax code that closes loopholes that only benefit the wealthy and well-connected, those are policies that President Obama campaigned on in 2008 and that he's been pursuing since his very first year in office and our success in making progress and making our tax code more fair is at least part of what we would attribute our strengthening economy and our falling deficit to. There are a variety of contributing factors, of course, but there's no denying that making tax cuts permanent for middle-class families and expanding tax cuts that benefit middle-class families in the form of Child Tax Credit or the American Opportunity Tax Credit which allows people to get a credit on college tuition are things that are good for the U.S. economy and they certainly do make the U.S. economy more fair and make the tax code more fair. So, that's -- that's been our approach and it's one that the president's prioritized. QUESTION: Speaking of the FARC vote, several times just in the past year we've seen a popular vote go deeply against U.S. goals or projected outcomes or what the U.S. would have liked to have seen happen. We've also heard the president several times say that he doesn't think that the American people will elect Donald Trump. But when you see around the world these popular votes going in a direction that may not have been expected, does that cause him to rethink what he's been saying about the upcoming U.S. election? 13:35:47 EARNEST: I guess the first thing that I would say is, I -- I have a lot more confidence in the kind of rigorous analysis that's been done of the U.S. presidential election than obviously I would of the Colombian political system. That seems like a more difficult system to analyze. QUESTION: There was also (inaudible). EARNEST: True. But I think we knew all along that that was going to be close, and look, I think the president has also gone to great lengths to make it clear that it's important for the American people not to be complacent. I think it will be evident in the five weeks or so that remain in this race, that President Obama intends to make a very big risk case in support of Secretary Clinton because of his deeply held feelings about the race and about who he would like to see succeed him. And I think that's consistent with somebody who has not taken the outcome for granted, but rather as somebody who is determined to not let people be complacent. In part because they may think they know what the outcome is going to be. QUESTION: So as we see him out on the trail, including this week, is he going to change the message? Is it going to be much the same as what we've heard before? 13:37:06 EARNEST: I don't have remarks for preview. Obviously, the president will have an opportunity to speak on Wednesday night in South Florida, and -- I'm not aware that the president's intending to change his strategy, but I think those of you who have been following the presidents public comments over the last several weeks have noticed that the president has tailored his remarks both to the audience that he is directly addressing but also to the news environment in which he is delivering the remarks. I would anticipate he'll do a similar thing on Wednesday. QUESTION: And lastly, just in the last couple of days, we've (inaudible) audio from Secretary Kerry, talking to some Syrian activists and saying that he lost the argument with the administration for using military force in Syria. Is that an argument that he continues to make? EARNEST: My understanding is that he delivered that -- he made that declaration in the context of discussing the appropriate response on the part of the United States to the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons. You recall the president made exactly the same argument. The president made an argument to Congress that they should authorize the use of military force. That is an argument that did not prevail, but the president has also made the case that the outcome has been a good one. That the outcome of that situation is that the Assad regime did declare that they had chemical weapons, something they did for the first time. The United States was able to work effectively with the Russians to round up that declared chemical weapons stockpile, collect it and destroy it successfully, and that did reflect the ability of the United States and Russia to work together to get that done. That didn't just prevent the Assad regime from being able to use those chemical weapons against civilians. It also prevented those chemical weapons from falling into the hands of terrorists that have essentially overrun that country. So the proliferation risk that was eliminated by destroying those chemical weapons is significant. And that is the good outcome that I was referring to. EARNEST: Obviously, the situation in Syria continues to be quite troubling, and the willingness of the Assad regime, for example, to weaponize chlorine and otherwise -- a compound that has many industrial uses, but uses that as a weapon, I think, is an indication of the depravity of the regime and it is an indication of the violence that was avoided by taking the declared chemical weapons stockpile out of his hands. OK? Mark. QUESTION: Josh, since you have come out here, the State Department's announced we have actually suspended diplomatic consultations with Russia over Syria. Is President Obama's patience with Vladimir Putin on Syria officially at an end? EARNEST: Well, Mark, I think everybody's patience with Russia has run out. They've also spent a great deal of credibility in making a series of commitments without any clear indication that they were committed to following them. So what we have seen from the Russians in the year or so since their military intervention in Syria is that they have not made much progress against ISIL. They claim that the reason that they're in Russia -- or in Syria is to fight extremists, but they haven't made a significant -- they haven't achieved a significant counter-ISIL objective in more than seven months and they have been reduced to trying to claim credit for successful U.S. operations. I'm referring, of course, to the U.S. strike that took al-Adnani off the battlefield. He was a senior ISIL external plotter and Russia was in the position where they were -- rather pathetically trying to claim credit for having carried out that operation. I think that's an indication that they don't have too much to claim credit for when it comes to fighting extremists and fighting ISIL. You'll recall that when Russia announced this military intervention in Syria about a year or so ago, they did so with the intent to, quote, "unite a broad range of forces." Well, here we are a year later and Russia is standing alone with Iran, trying to prop up the Assad regime while the rest of the international community rebukes them for the tactics that they have used inside of Syria, and while the rest of the international community works with the United States as a part or our coalition to go after ISIL and other extremists that operating inside of Syria. There's also not a whole lot that Russia at this point has to show for their efforts on the ground that essentially they're in a stalemate and, again, they've been reduced to either acting unilaterally or supporting the Iranians in dropping bunker busting bombs on civilian hospitals in Aleppo. It's outrageous And it's drawn international condemnation, not just from the United States, but from countries around the world. And that's not an indication of a military force that is enjoying a lot of progress on the ground, but it is part of the concerted strategy that we have seen from the Russians and the Syrians to try to bomb civilian populations into submission, and they've had -- they've enjoyed some limited gains as a result, and it appears they're trying to get more that way, but after a year of doing it, they don't have a lot to show for their efforts. 13:42:51 Finally, I'll just say that much has been written about the theatrics employed by President Putin to try to raise his own personal profile and try to raise the profile of his country on the international stage. So you recall, those of you who traveled to New York with the president in 2015, just over a year ago, President Putin delivered a -- a much-hyped speech to the U.N. General Assembly. EARNEST: He was talking about the commitment of Russia to do some of the things that I outlined before. A year later, President Putin didn't even show up at the United Nations General Assembly. In part because I think he rightly assumed that the rest of the international community was prepared to rebuke and condemn the actions that he has overseen in that country. And it was while the world was gathered in New York at the United Nations General Assembly that it became clear that Russia was complicit in an attack against a U.N. humanitarian convoy. So, the -- the goals that Russia has laid out in advance of their military intervention have not been achieved. And the last thing I guess I'd say about the -- the ongoing -- what had been ongoing talks between the U.S. and Russia in (ph) Syria, is that from the beginning, President Obama was insistent that the United States would not be in a position to provide Russia what they wanted, which is military cooperation, until Russia had demonstrated their commitment to living up to the terms of the agreement. Russia never did that, unfortunately. But you know, there have been concerns raised in the past that somehow, Russia was just using the cover of negotiations to try to extract concessions from the United States and our coalition partners or to cover their efforts on the ground. But in this case, that's just not true because the United States didn't make any concessions at the beginning of the negotiations and I think the world has been quite cognizant and quite clear and quite critical of what Russia has been doing over the last several weeks. QUESTION: Josh, by cutting off talks this way, do you think that's really going to affect Russia's behavior in Syria or just -- doesn't this really just condemn the poor Syrians to being bombed until it's all over and the Russians and their Syrian allies win? EARNEST: Well, Mark, what's clear is that there is nothing more for the United States and Russia to talk about with regard to trying to reach an agreement that would reduce the violence inside of Syria. And that's tragic. And you're right, that was (ph) likely to lead -- that ongoing Russian violence aiding and abetting Assad regime forces means that there are likely more Syrian people who are going to get killed, innocent Syrian civilians. And what's happening in Syria is tragic and it is deeply concerning. And it is something that the Russians have been complicit in for a year now. OK? Andrew. QUESTION: After (inaudible) is there a diplomatic solution to be found elsewhere? Are you considering other options? 13:46:13 EARNEST: Well, Andrew, the -- the president and his national security team are always pursuing a range of contingency plans. And you'll recall that when we first began discussing this, even in the context of this room, that we were quite skeptical that Russia would live up to the commitments that they'd made. So, the president and his team, as the president I think has acknowledged on a number of occasions, this is something that the president spends a lot of time thinking about and there are regular meetings among members of his team to develop options to present to him, and that work is going to continue. I don't have any additional announcements at this point about the -- about the path that we'll pursue, but the international community continues to be deeply concerned about the situation in Syria. QUESTION: OK. Another issue, this morning Donald Trump appeared (inaudible) question about Donald Trump. He appeared to... 13:47:12 EARNEST: Only five weeks to go. QUESTION: ... to suggest... (LAUGHTER) ... suggest that veterans who have PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress -- are somehow weak; those who don't get it are strong. I wonder if you have any reaction. 13:47:27 EARNEST: Well, I think the president actually answered this quite directly in the town hall that he did with Michelle Culligan at CNN down at Fort Lee last week. And the commander in chief made a firm a declaration that it is not a sign of weakness to get help. In fact, it's a sign of character, and a sign of strength to ensure that you are taking care of yourself. And the president has acknowledged the cultural barriers in the military to changing attitudes about this. We've made some progress on this, and that's a testament not just to the efforts of the president, but it's also a testament to the efforts of the uniformed leadership of the United States military that's acknowledged that this is a cultural norm that should change. President Obama has also ramped up resources at the V.A. and at the Department of Defense that can be used to treat veterans and service members who have sustained unseen wounds in combat. And the president also acknowledged the heroism that we've seen from our men and women in uniform, who have served this country in -- with extraordinary courage, and in some cases, unimaginably difficult situations that have gotten help in treating both their physical and their mental wounds and are the picture of resilience. And that's -- that resilience is something that inspires a lot of pride, I think, in just about every American. It certainly does in the minds of every American that serves in the White House. I'll tell you that. OK. Gustav (ph). QUESTION: You mentioned that the roll of the United States is going to be constructed (inaudible) process. Could you explain a little bit more what -- in which ways is the U.S. is going to help? And also regarding to the $400 million that the president compromised through the process what is going to happen with this? Is the U.S. is going to frozen these millions waiting for the final and certain path of this peace process? 13:50:07 EARNEST: Well, again, I think the path forward is one that's going to be determined by President Santos based on his negotiations with all parties who participated in the peace process. And the goal of the United States has been to try to facilitate the kind of negotiated settlement and negotiated peace that would bring an end to a long-running conflict. In fact, the longest running civil war in the hemisphere. So Colombia is a sovereign country, and the United States and Colombia over the last decade or two have been able to work affectively to strengthen the economy and strengthen the security situation inside of Colombia. And the United States as committed as ever to working closely with the Colombian government and the Colombian people in pursuit of those aims. But the next steps in this process will be determined by the Colombian government, and they will do so with the strong support of the U.S. government and the American people. EARNEST: There is a -- Special Envoy Aronson will continue to be deeply engaged in this process as well, but we take some satisfaction, despite the electoral setback, in seeing the renewed commitment from all parties to the pursuit of peace. QUESTION: Josh... QUESTION: (inaudible) 400 million? EARNEST: I can't speak to any sort of economic assistance that may be in the pipeline. I'd refer to the State Department on that. What I can tell you is that the United States remains deeply committed to the strong relationship between the United States and Colombia, both between our governments and our people, and the United States benefits from a Colombia that has a strong economy and a Colombia that has addressed some of the security situation -- some aspects of the security situation that have been troubling for the Colombian people. The United States benefits from improvements in those areas and we're going to continue to support the Colombian government as they make the decisions that are necessary to -- to make those improvements. OK? Ron. QUESTION: Is it fair to say that the United States was surprised by this outcome in Colombia? 13:52:20 EARNEST: Ron, I think everybody was surprise by this outcome. I think many people expected that -- that this was an agreement that would be ratified and much of the analysis that was done in advance predicted -- I think all of the analysis that was done in advance predicted that it would be ratified by the Colombian people. It wasn't. But again, as I -- guess as I was -- I made rev reference to with Jeff, the president's acknowledged that -- that democracy's messy sometimes, but it's important for a government to be responsive to the will of the people. The margin here was quite narrow and I think it's an indication that there is still some work to do to meet the needs and expectations of the Colombian people and President Santos has rightly committed to addressing those concerns that have been raised as they pursue peace. QUESTION: But how engaged will the United States be in trying to facilitate this process? I guess you've been asked this a couple of different ways, but I'm trying to get -- would you argue that the United States was not engaged in the process or was not (ph) trying to facilitate or affect the outcome of the vote? 13:53:23 EARNEST: Well, the outcome of the vote is -- is something that the United States was certainly -- the will of the Colombian people is something that should be expressed in terms of determining these kinds of outcomes, and so the United States was -- was not trying to put a thumb on the scale. Obviously, the United States made clear that we were supportive of the process and we were supportive of the negotiated settlement that had come forward, but we were also quite clear in deferring to the sovereignty of the Colombian people in making a decision that they concluded was in the best interest of their country. But look, the United States has been engaged in these efforts for a long time. It actually -- you know, many of these efforts actually began under President Bush, President Obama's predecessor, who was interested in trying to help the Colombian government address this situation. Obviously, President Obama had dispatched a special envoy to assist in facilitating these discussions. President Obama actually met with President Santos in New York just a couple of weeks ago now, and in the context of that meeting, President Santos presented President Obama a copy of the peace agreement that had been reached. So, I think that's a pretty clear indication that this is a process that included U.S. involvement and strong U.S. support, but at each stage, we have been quite clear that it's ultimately the responsibility of the Colombian people to exercise their own judgment about the best interests of their country. QUESTION: Just on Syria, you continue to say that the Russians don't have a lot to show for what they've been doing there and that it's a stalemate. Is it really a stalemate? I mean, there are so many indications that -- that Aleppo is about to become completely besieged and -- and obviously, we know of the horrific humanitarian toll this has taken, But it looks like the Russians are accomplishing their objective of keeping Bashar al-Assad in power. Do you feel like he's threatened? 13:55:14 EARNEST: Well, Ron, I think should just take -- go back and look at what the Russian objectives were at the beginning of this enterprise. And again, what President Putin said was that they were focused on confronting the extremist threat inside of ISIL, and they don't have... QUESTION: But you never thought that was really true. I mean, you said from the beginning that they've never shown any... EARNEST: But again, in terms of evaluating their objectives, I -- shouldn't we just take President Putin at his word? These are the objectives that he laid out in advance of the military intervention. So if we're going to evaluate whether or not his stated strategy was successful, let's go back to his stated strategy. QUESTION: But again, based on -- do you really believe that their key objective was to go after extremists, or do you believe that their key objective was to prop up the regime? 13:56:00 EARNEST: I think Russia is rightly and justifiably concerned about the growing extremist threat that they face inside of Syria. They recognize that there is a risk that is posed to the presence that they have in Syria. There's also a risk that Russia faces back home in fueling extremism. So I do think that they are mindful of the extremist threat. You'll recall that the whole goal of these negotiations -- the most prized objective of the Russians, in the context of these negotiations around the cessation of hostilities, was to extract a commitment from the United States that we would cooperate with them and operate jointly in pursuit of extremists. But in more than -- over the last seven months, Russia doesn't have a single significant counter-ISIL objective that they can point to achieving. In fact, they've been reduced to trying to rather lamely claim credit for the successful operations that the United States and our coalition partners have taken to take extremists off the battlefield. QUESTION: So you don't think that propping up the regime was a high priority of Russians? 13:57:01 EARNEST: I didn't say that. We know that was part of their strategy, too. QUESTION: Arguably, that was a huge part of their objective, no? EARNEST: Well again, I think, Ron, we can just sort of go back to what President Putin has said. And if you want me to go through that, I can do that again, or we can just move on. QUESTION: Just again, looking at the situation overall, I would imagine there's a reassessment of what the U.S. is going to do now. Is there a scenario that the President can foresee -- he's talked a lot lately about how much anguish -- my word -- this whole situation causes him, and the limitations of what he feels America can do to address the humanitarian situation. Is there -- I think there was another hospital that was bombed today... EARNEST: Yes, there was. QUESTION: Is there some -- something that the president sees that could -- do you think there's something that he could see that would cause him to rethink, using some level of -- a greater level of military engagement to try and do something there? 13:58:06 EARNEST: Well, Ron, it's important to consider -- well, let's start by saying that the situation inside of Syria is nothing short of heartbreaking. And there are reports that one of the few remaining hospitals in Easter Aleppo was the victim of a bunker busting bomb today. It is outrageous, that a bunker busting bomb would be used to destroy a hospital that was treating innocent people who are caught in the crossfire of this conflict. And there's no mincing words about that. It is immoral, it is unconscionable, and it is an outrage worthy of international condemnation, which Russia and Syria and Iran have all been on the receiving end of, and for good reason. EARNEST: With regard to U.S. options, we obviously have been very focused on countering ISIL and other extremist groups that are using the chaos in Syria as a safe haven to plot and carry out attacks against the United States or our allies throughout the West. We're very mindful of that, and that's why you've seen the United States be quite aggressive in taking action against extremists. My colleagues at the Department of Defense can tell you that there was an operation that was undertaken today to target this Al Qaida leader in Syria, Al-Masri (ph). He was one of those -- leading -- one of most senior leaders of the organization, and the United States Department of Defense took a strike against him just today. That is an indication of how focused the United States military is on taking action against figures who pose a risk to the United States. That is of course our number one priority. QUESTION: (Inaudible) seen (ph) that the regime is not a threat to U.S. national security, therefore the objective is not to go after the regime... 13:59:56 EARNEST: Well, what is true is that the political failure of the regime to effectively govern that country has created a chaotic situation that only benefits extremists, and incites violence that fuels extremism. So we're deeply concerned about the political situation in Syria, both because of the humanitarian situation that we were discussing before, but also because of the instability that this adds to an already volatile region of the world, and we know that extremists seek to capitalize on that instability to threaten the United States. So, we have acknowledged all along that while there is great military might that is being used inside of Syria to take out extremists and protect the American people, that ultimately the solution that we need inside of Syria is a diplomatic one, is a political one that results in a change in leadership in Syria, and the path to that kind of political transition is hard to see right now. QUESTION: (Inaudible) given all the daily carnage and horrific things that happened there, hospitals destroyed, you -- you describe it very graphically. The president does not yet see a reason for humanitarian intervention in this situation? EARNEST: Well, the United States has offered significant humanitarian assistant. $5.6 billion in humanitarian assistance to the situation in Syria, and to countries in region that are having refugee... QUESTION: (Inaudible) response based on a humanitarian mission (ph). 14:01:25 EARNEST: Well listen, I'm not going to get ahead of what sort of discussions the president and his national security team are having, but the president's been quite clear about what our goals in Syria are now, and the president has also explained the lessons that we need to have learned from the situation in Iraq ten or 12 years ago, which is that a full-scale, prolonged ground combat operation, mobilized by U.S. troops, is not in our interests, either in the short term or in the long term. And the president's conclusion about that tactic has not changed. But the president's going to continue to be in conversations with members of his team. What I also anticipate is that there will be some aspects of this contingency planning that we'll be able to talk about publicly, and some aspects of it that we won't be able to talk about publicly. But that's the nature of the situation in Syria. The one other thing that I would point out with all of this, it sort of goes back to your initial line of questioning, is it's not just the United States that is insisting on a political transition inside of Syria. President Putin has acknowledged the same thing. He has acknowledged that the failed political leadership inside of Syria has fomented this chaos and made the situation more dangerous for everybody, including Russia, and so President Putin himself has acknowledged that a political transition inside of Syria is necessary. OK? Maria. QUESTION: Yes. Thank you, Josh. Just wondering if -- if the president saw the Supreme Court's decision today (inaudible) to a rehearing (ph) of the immigration case and is that a blow to his goals and his legacy with the immigrant community? What is his reaction to that? QUESTION: And also, a follow-up question on Colombia. Just to be clear, you have said that the U.S. is committed to continuing to support President Santos and the peace process. So is Pax (ph) Colombia on or off the table? EARNEST: With regard to the immigration ruling from the Supreme Court today, the United States -- the administration, I should say -- is disappointed that the Supreme Court has once again denied the Department of Justice's petition to rehear this case. There's no practical impact in terms of the implementation of this policy. And that, of course, is a double edged sword. The enforcement priorities that the administration has laid out, in terms of focusing our efforts on felons and not families, will move forward. It has moved forward in a way that we believe has enhanced the safety and security of communities all across the country. We're focusing our enforcement efforts on recent border crossers, on those who pose a threat to our national security, and on those that are -- and on criminals. And that has proved to be an effective way for the United States government to use our limited enforcement resources to protect the American people. And this disappointing decision from the Supreme Court does not affect those enforcement priorities. 14:04:55 However, there are other aspects of the president's executive actions that the Supreme Court was unable to hear. And earlier this year, the Supreme Court did announce that they were unable to reach a verdict in evaluating the constitutionality of the president's executive actions. And I think it underscores, once again, the need for the Republicans in Congress to do their job. Republicans in the Senate need to confirm a ninth justice to the Supreme Court so that the business of the American people can be conducted at the Supreme Court. The inability of the Supreme Court in this situation to reach a decision and put forward a ruling has a negative impact on millions of people in the United States. The American people deserve better from their representation in the United States Senate. 14:05:32 President Reagan, back in 1987, made a similar observation, that the best interests of the American people are not served if there's a prolonged vacancy on the Supreme Court, he was right. President Obama has made the same observation, and it's hard to think of a better example than the Supreme Court being unable to reach a decision on a set of immigration reform proposals that would have a positive impact on the United States and our economy and on our national security. With regard to Colombia, the United States remains committed to the process that we have laid out before, including a commitment to continuing to support the Colombian people and the Colombian government through the Peace Colombia initiative. And that process will move forward even as we continue to support the Colombian government in pursuit of a negotiated peace. OK. Margaret (ph). QUESTION: Josh, can you tell us a little bit more about when President Obama made the decision and what prompted him to make the decision that Russia -- the calculation that Russia was unable or unwilling to broker the cease-fire? 14:06:36 EARNEST: Well, Margaret (ph), as you know, Secretary Kerry was the -- was the individual that was tasked with trying to broker some kind of diplomatic agreement with the Russians around the cessation of hostilities. He was tenacious and dogged in those efforts, and the president was relying on his advice in determining when it was no longer fruitful to engage in conversations, and look, I think you can -- I think pretty much everybody had concluded, after the behavior we've seen from the Russians over the last couple of weeks, that there was little if anything to be gained from continuing to talk to them about this. They were not serious about living up to their commitments and that has tragic consequences for the situation in Syria. There's no denying that. QUESTION: Is this a recognition that the policy -- reaching a political agreement in Syria, has failed? EARNEST: Well, no. Primarily because the -- again, as I was mentioning to Ron (ph), everybody has looked at this situation, I think, just about everybody -- has acknowledged that there's no military solution to this problem. 14:08:05 There's a role for the United States military to play in terms of countering extremists and certainly taking off the battlefield those who would use the chaos in Syria to threaten the United States. So there's a robust military effort underway to protect the American people, but addressing the root cause of this chaos inside of Syria is going to require diplomacy and a political transition. And it's not just the United States that believes that, the rest of the international community, including Russia, has acknowledged that that is the case. So, the tactic, if you will, that the United States was attempting to employ, was to capitalize on one area of common ground. The United States believes -- a political transition inside of Syria is necessary. Russia believes that a political transition inside of Syria is necessary. Both countries also acknowledge the threat from extremism and the hope was that the Russians would use their diplomatic influence with the Assad regime to reduce the violence inside of Syria, allow for the flow of humanitarian assistance inside of Syria, and create space for a diplomatic solution or political solution inside of Syria, and -- QUESTION: (Inaudible) if that failed, that entire calculation was wrong... 14:09:12 EARNEST: And in an exchange, the United States would be in a position where we would offer to coordinate our efforts militarily with the Russians to strengthen our focus on extremists. From the beginning, there's been skepticism about whether or not Russia would live up to the commitments that they had made in the context of applying that pressure to the Assad regime, and unfortunately, this is a situation where the healthy (ph) skepticism turned out to be right. But it does not change anybody's view here in the administration that for all of our military efforts inside of Syria to keep the American people safe, the ultimate solution to the situation in Syria is not one that can be solely military in nature. We're going to need to see a negotiated political transition inside of Syria. The Russians themselves have acknowledged this. And that's what will be necessary to bring an end to the violence and the terrible humanitarian situation that we see in that country. QUESTION: To be clear, would the (ph) suspension and withdrawal of the personnel from future military coordination, that's not going to happen, but -- with (ph) this suspension, are you not saying that the Obama administration is done trying to seek a diplomatic solution with Russia in Syria? 14:10:30 EARNEST: Well, I think what is clear is the Obama administration has concluded that Russia has no intention of living (ph) up to commitments that they have made in context of negotiations around the cessation of hostilities. And once you've reached that conclusion, I'm not sure really sure what else there is to talk about. And again, I'm not papering over the tragic consequences that this is going to have for Syria. This was our -- this was a reasonable, thought-through strategy for applying pressure to Assad regime in pursuit of aims that we were seeking to achieve. We're going to have to pursue an alternative approach. I don't have much to say about that right now. QUESTION: Do you not see -- I mean (ph) the Russian Foreign Ministry has put out a number of statements this morning, Vladimir Putin himself signed off, as you talked about, the suspension of the destruction of plutonium that they previously pledged to go through with. They're talking about the destruction of any trust between the U.S. and Russia, I mean, it would seem that tension with Russia is escalating here. Do you not see these statements and these pledges from Vladimir Putin as him trying to exert some leverage on the United States? Do you not see that as linked in any way to this failure? 14:11:46 EARNEST: Well, again, I think for -- to discern the actual motivations and intentions of President Putin, you'd probably have to ask him yourself and you'd have to determine whether or not he's being honest with you. What is clear is that Russia's isolated more than they've ever been before and they have been subject to rounds of international condemnation because of either actions that they have taken directly or actions that they have aided and abetted inside of Syria that have led to widespread death and destruction among civilian populations. And that might lead some people to start making increasingly outrageous claims to try to avoid that isolation or to try to avoid that international condemnation. So, again, for Russia's true intentions, you'd have to consult with them directly. But look, there's disappointment that Russia has not -- was unwilling to live up to the commitments that they'd made. The -- the agreement that Secretary Kerry worked tirelessly to try to reach, acknowledged Russia's inherent and healthy self interest in the situation. Russia has acknowledged that a political transition in Syria is necessary. Russia has acknowledged that they face a very serious and urgent threat from extremists that are using chaos in Syria to plot and carry out attacks around the world. Russia has a lot on the hook. Russia has a lot on the line and right now they don't have that much to show for it. Are they going to continue to pursue a strategy where they bomb civilian populations into submission and over time will that allow them to make more progress? It might, we'll see. But a whole lot more innocent people are going to die and the Russian -- the Russians will be increasingly isolated and there'll be an international price to pay in terms of their weakening standing in the international community. QUESTION: But because of that kind of mass murder you're talking about, some people do feel that there is a sense of urgency, or there should be one. So, right now, what's the consequence for continuing to carry out what other countries have called war crimes in Aleppo? Is the U.S. considering sanctions against Russia? I mean, now it does look like the artifice is gone, there is a lot of tension with Russia on this issue and many others. I mean, what is the White House thinking when it comes to actually perhaps taking any kind of action to stop the humanitarian catastrophe inside of Aleppo if you can't bargain the Russians out of it? 14:14:33 EARNEST: Well, listen, there is -- there is a lot of tension around this relationship even in the midst of these negotiations. I think what's also true is we've acknowledged previously -- I've acknowledged previously -- that there are a range of tools available to the United States including the use of sanctions that have proved to be an increasingly effective and powerful tool. But look, the United States also worked effectively with our European partners to implement sanctions against Russia because of their violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity and we haven't seen the kind of change in strategy in Ukraine that we'd like to see yet either. EARNEST: So the president is going to consider a range of options, and the president is regularly being updated by his national security team about the options that are available to him, and this is something that they certainly will be talking about more frequently in the days ahead, considering that the United States is no longer engaged in talks with the Russians. OK. Olivier. QUESTION: Thanks, Josh. A couple on the Russians and then on unrelated. Will the United States continue to implement the plutonium arrangement even if the Russians have dropped out? 14:15:49 EARNEST: Well, Oliver, we've just heard this announcement from the Russians today. So the United States has been very serious about keeping our commitments all along, and we'd certainly like to see the Russians do the same thing. I don't have any changes to our posture to announce at this point. QUESTION: You've seen the Russian conditions for resuming the plutonium arrangement, I think, end to sanctions, some kind of compensation, and a drawdown of NATO. I'm going to guess you don't embrace these with open arms, but what is the administration's position on those conditions? EARNEST: Well, I haven't looked at them in detail. I think what I would just point out is that the United States and Russia reached an agreement in the last decade that's been enforced for five years. We've kept up our end of the bargain and they should do the same thing. I'm not really sure what the goal of renegotiating an already agreed to agreement would be. QUESTION: Bear with me. I'm going to read this. It's from the New York magazine interview with the president. EARNEST: OK. QUESTION: I think you can see over the horizon a situation in which, without Congress showing much interest in restraining actions with authorizations that were written really broadly, you end up with a president who can carry on perpetual wars all over the world and a lot of them covert without any accountability or democratic debate. What struck me was, over the horizon. Because it feels to me like that is potentially the situation we're in now. Libya wasn't congressionally authorized. There are covert actions all around the world. What's the difference between the current state of affairs and this over the horizon state of affairs? 14:17:16 EARNEST: Yes. Olivier, what the president was referring to in that quote -- and I'm glad you asked this question -- is, he was talking about the situation that he had inherited. In the early days of the administration, he was considering the tools that had been made available to him, and considering the way in which they were being used, and he as considering how, over the horizon, was a scenario in which there would not be sufficient transparency in place to constrain this extraordinary authority, that based on new technology, could be wielded by the President of the United States. And what the president and his team have steadily worked to do is to try to impose greater transparency and to impose constraints that would address those concerns that the president had from his earliest days in office. Does that make sense? QUESTION: Yes, it does. I hadn't read it at all as a state of affairs inherited. It sounded more down the road. EARNEST: Yes. So the way that the story was set up is, the president was sort of evaluating different points in his presidency where he made decisions that had long-term consequences, so he went back to when he made this decision to make this a priority. KAREN TRAVERS 14:18:28 QUESTION: Josh, does the President (inaudible) Hurricane Matthew, and the Pentagon has partially evacuated some personnel from Guantanamo. Is there any concern about the storm having an impact on operations there and what's the plan with the 61 detainees? 14:18:34 EARNEST: Thank you for asking. I was just contemplating that I was going to have to do that at the very end. So I appreciate your bringing this up. With regard to the situation at the U.S. military facility at Guantanamo Bay, I'd refer you to my colleagues at the Department of Defense. They, obviously, are engaged in planning to ensure the safety and security of all the personnel on the base in advance of the storm. 14:19:05 EARNEST: I can tell you that the president was first briefed over the weekend in the aftermath of the unexpected and rapid strengthening of Hurricane Matthew. The president expects he'll continue to be updated as necessary at least daily on the forecast track for Hurricane Matthew and the latest analysis about its potential impact on the United States and the Caribbean. There are some actions that have already been taken. Let me just walk through a couple of those with you right now. 14:19:32 FEMA is -- is deploying officials to state emergency operation centers in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. It's my understanding, that should hopefully be completed by the end of the day today. And there may actually already be personnel in some of those places already. FEMA also has incident support bases in Georgia and North Carolina in order to preposition response supplies. This is a -- a relatively new strategy that you've seen from FEMA, which is that they will look for locations that are just outside the track of the storm to preposition supplies so that there's a shorter distance for those supplies to be transported in the immediate aftermath of the storm. That can expedite needed -- needed assistance. 14:20:06 In the meantime, the impact of the storm is not likely to be felt in the United States for several days, but we certainly encourage anyone potentially in effected states, from Florida through the Mid Atlantic, to steps to prepare. And information on what to do is at ready.gov and on the FEMA smart phone app. In addition, you should also be aware that the USAID Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance has deployed two disaster response teams to Haiti and Jamaica in advance of the storm's arrival. These disaster experts are actively monitoring the storm's track in real time and communicating with officials in Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas and Belize to coordinate relief efforts if they are requested. USAID has also strategic prepositioned -- USAID has also strategically prepositioned some relief supplies in anticipation of the storm. Obviously, the concern that we have with regard to Jamaica and Haiti in particular is that these are countries that are, based on the current forecast, likely to take a pretty significant hit from the storm. And these are countries that don't have the kind of infrastructure or the professionalized response operations that we do here in the United States. And given our longstanding relationship with both of those countries, the United States is prepared or at least is making preparations to ensure that we can assist in those recovery and response efforts. And the president is also being briefed on those efforts. That's something that he's also going to continue to watch closely. And there should be a lot of people saying a lot of prayers for people in the Caribbean right now. 14:21:53 QUESTION: And one quick -- is there any validity to a Daily Mail piece that the president offered to get Secretary Clinton to a medical checkup at Walter Reed given her health concerns? 14:22:01 EARNEST: I have not seen that report. But I'm not aware of any such request. OK? J.C. (ph)? QUESTION: Follow up a little bit on what Olivier was talking about over the horizon. What is really not clear is what is the end game from (inaudible)? I mean, he's not gonna just walk away and live in a villa in the south of France somewhere like a disposed (inaudible) actually a Freudian slip... EARNEST: You just coined a new term. (CROSSTALK) QUESTION: ... was actually intended I think. Since the... EARNEST: It's a tribute to John Christopher Buell (ph), everybody (inaudible) pieces. QUESTION: (inaudible) whatever. The -- the fact is that -- that Assad is -- is -- is Putin's guy. And it seems like Putin will not allow what happened Moammar Gadhafi to happen to his -- his -- his boy Assad. So, the question is what is the end game? What is -- what will happen to Assad? I mean, what's -- what's the -- what's the thought here? 14:22:55 EARNEST: Well, J.C., that's a provocative question. I -- I don't think anybody knows exactly how this gets resolved. Everybody, including the Russians, has acknowledged that a political transition is necessary. QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) EARNEST: So, everyone has stated that. And look, what is clear is that President Assad, Putin's guy, as you described him, has gotten Putin into a mess. You recall that Syria used to be the -- and still is -- the only country outside of the former Soviet Bloc that was home to a Russia military base. So the strategic significance of Syria for Russia was significant. And as a result, Russia had invested pretty deeply in that country because of their military presence that was tolerated there. The stability of that country has been shattered. And Russia is now investing significant resources to try to protect the previous investment that they have made there. Russia has, we know, sent significant quantities of military equipment, they've sent military personnel, they've spent significant funds, funds that they don't have -- we have talked at some length about the declining strength of the Russian economy. As a result of their actions inside of Syria, Russia is deeply isolated and has earned the stern rebuke of the international community for their actions. Russia has also gotten themselves knee deep into a sectarian quagmire that fuels extremism and only increases the risk to Russia's security back home. All of that because President Putin is looking out for his guy. 14:24:52 So, that -- that being the state of affairs, that is the hope that the United States had previously had that Russia would be willing to broker a -- some kind of diplomatic agreement where they would use their influence with the Assad regime to reduce the violence, to increase the flow of humanitarian assistance, and sharpen the ability that they have to go after extremists. But that is an agreement that Russia was unwilling to live up to and it's unfortunate, both when you consider Russia's national security interests, but also when you consider the lives of millions of innocent Syrians that are still trapped in that country. QUESTION: So in a sense, Assad has it both ways; he's being protected and he's being allowed to continue his ways. 14:25:41 EARNEST: Well, he is allowed -- he is allowed to remain in power because he is being propped up by the Russians and the Iranians and I think the question really is, what are the Iranians and the Russians getting out of it? And we know that they're paying some significant costs, and we know that the Russian economy is such that they don't have as many resources to pay those costs as they used to. But we'll have to see what happens from here. QUESTION: Thank you. EARNEST: OK? Kevin. QUESTION: Thanks, Josh. I want to follow up on (inaudible) question about the detainees over at Gitmo. Given the trajectory of (inaudible) right now, the president would still have a hand in determining whether or not those detainees were removed from Gitmo and where they might be placed. Is that true? 14:26:25 EARNEST: Well, the Department of Defense officials will take all of the necessary steps that need to be taken in order to ensure the safety of everybody at Gitmo. QUESTION: Including the president's determination for the destination of the detainees, correct? EARNEST: Well, I'm not quite sure what you're getting at. The... QUESTION: Ultimately, it's his call where they go. EARNEST: (Inaudible) is commander in chief, right, but when it comes to something like the safety and security of the military installation, there are people a little further down the chain of command who can make the appropriate decisions about what precautions need to be taken to ensure everybody's safety and security -- at a major military facility. QUESTION: Let me ask you about Obamacare. Open enrollment about four weeks away. Read a report over the week -- over the weekend about rates skyrocketing in Minnesota. For example, some 50 -- 67 percent. There are now four states with just one single insurer, a couple in the South -- you know I've talked about that, Arkansas and Alabama. The others are Oklahoma and Wyoming. What's the President's assessment of where Obamacare is at this stage of his presidency? Does it need a fix? And if so, does he have one that he's proposed? 14:27:41 EARNEST: Well, Kevin, the president is quite proud that Obamacare -- as it's been dubbed by many -- is one that has expanded health care coverage for 20 million Americans. Millions more Americans who already had health insurance now benefit from the kinds of consumer protections that were included in the Obamacare legislation. These are things that allow you to get a free annual checkup every year. Or give you the comfort of knowing that you're not going to get thrown off your health insurance if you get sick. You're not ever going to have to go through bankruptcy court just because somebody in your family gets sick. Those are protections that the American people didn't previously enjoy. Now every American that has health insurance enjoys those kinds of protections. And that's why you've heard me say on many occasions that Obamacare is here to stay, and it's why the President is so proud of that domestic accomplishment. What I would also say is that since the very first day the president signed this bill into law, he acknowledged an openness to working with Democrats or Republicans in Congress to further strengthen it. And we have seen a sustained commitment on the part of Republicans trying to tear down that law. They voted some 50 times to repeal it. They've gone to the Supreme Court a couple different times to try to have it invalidated. All those efforts have been unsuccessful. Basically, everyday, Republicans promise to offer up their own alternative. They haven't yet. That's an indication that Republicans have not been interested in having a serious conversation about what can be done to strengthen the health insurance reform proposals that have already been enacted under President Obama's leadership. The president does have some ideas for things that we could do to further strengthen Obamacare. The first is to find a way to ensure that every state across the country is expanding Medicaid, consistent with what was envisioned in the law. There are too many Republican governors that have resisted that effort, and that means that there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions of Americans that could have health insurance right now, today, paid for almost entirely by the federal government, that aren't, just because of the political differences that some Republican governors have with the President of the United States. That's petty, it's small-minded, and it's having a consequence for the lives of millions of Americans, and it's rather unfortunate. In addition to that, the president has also put forward an idea that was discussed actually in the original legislative debate around the Affordable Care Act, which is implementing a so-called public option, allowing, essentially, a publicly funded health care plan that would compete with private sector proposals. And that this would have the effect of encouraging more competition in the marketplace and limiting the growth in health care costs. Republicans have been resistant to that, unfortunately. So the president has some ideas. The president put these ideas forward. The president is under no illusions that those kinds of reforms to strengthen Obamacare will be initiated while he is still in office, but he's hopeful that maybe under the leadership of a new president and a new Congress that those kinds of reforms will take place. QUESTION: Can I also ask you about some of the issues that are going on today -- skyrocketing costs for consumers in Minnesota, for example, single insurers in those four states that I mentioned. That's not what the president promised when he promised that Obamacare would -- or the Affordable Care Act would not only expand health care opportunities, it would also drive down costs. 14:32:00 EARNEST: But what we have seen is we have seen that for the vast majority of people who do get health care coverage through their employers, so you know, it's about 15 percent of Americans that turn to the marketplaces that you're referring to that we -- there is -- there are encouraging statistics about the way that growth of that employer-provided health insurance has been limited. But look, the president believes that there is more that can be done. It's important to remember that before the Affordable Care Act went into effect, we saw every year a significant skyrocketing in health care costs so this is not a new phenomenon. And the question is to what extent has the Affordable Care Act been effective in limiting the growth in their health care costs. And what we have seen is that they have been effective in limiting some of that growth but there is more that we could do to make it much more effective. And we're going to need some action from congress in order to get that done. QUESTION: Lastly, I want to follow up J.C. (ph) for just a second. Is the administration concerned about Julian Assange and his planned video appearance on Tuesday and what's the White House's view on the allegations that he canceled his original plans for what he called security reasons? EARNEST: I have no idea what he's talking about. Toby (ph). QUESTION: Thanks Josh. In some leaked audio from a Hillary Clinton fund-raiser earlier this year, she expressed some doubts about the president's -- the administration's nuclear modernization efforts saying, the last thing that we need are sophisticated cruise missiles that are nuclear armed. Does the White House have a reaction to her expressing some doubts about the rationale behind what it's doing on its nuclear program? 13:39:05 EARNEST: I have not seen the authenticity of those comments be verified so I'll let Secretary Clinton and her team discuss her position on those issues. President Obama has spoken at some length about the priority that he's placed on nuclear security, limiting nuclear proliferation, while also preserving the kind of nuclear deterrent that protects some global stability until we reach a point in time that we can live in a world without nuclear weapons. And the president has made some important progress in pursuit of those goals including some commitments that we've seen from other countries to secure and in some cases even dispose of loose nuclear materials. The president convened a summit every two years with world leaders to consider what countries around the world could do to make commitments to enhance nuclear security, in a way that didn't just benefit the United States but actually benefited the entire international community. So, the president's track record on this is strong and - but this is also -- this is -- this falls in the category of long range policy planning and the president has certainly done his part but there will be future presidents that will need to do their part to improve our nuclear security and to eventually envision a -- to make real the vision of a world without nuclear weapons. QUESTION: I also wanted to ask you about something the president said in a radio interview with the Steve Harvey Morning Show. He said it's never been easier to cast your ballot talking about voting. It seems to contradict some of the things he said about Republicans making it harder to vote. At South by Southwest earlier this year, he said we're the only advanced democracy in the world that makes it harder for people to vote and we systematically put up barriers and make it as hard as possible for citizens to vote. QUESTION: So, does he believe it's as easy as possible or as easy as it's ever been to cast a ballot? Or how do you sort of square that... EARNEST: I think he was short handing a little bit. He was basically making the case, it's never been easier to make a decision about who you should cast your ballot for. But yes, it is unfortunate that in too many states, Republicans have made it much more difficult than it needs to be for people to exercise their constitutional right to vote. QUESTION: Finally, the (inaudible). Do you have any information about how much this costs (inaudible) any type of sponsorships or anything like that, like how this compares to the (inaudible)? EARNEST: We can get you some more information about that. I don't have that off the top of my head, but we can follow up with you on that. OK. Anita, I'll give you the last one. QUESTION: Two quick things. One -- by the way, I don't know if you can hear, but it's just like, you can hear screaming from outside. EARNEST: I assume they're cheering for me, don't you think? QUESTION: I assume. It's all... 14:36:15 EARNEST: They're really just loving these answers and -- really a lot of enthusiasm from the crowd. QUESTION: I was wondering, tomorrow, obviously, there's the vice presidential debate, and I know that the president and Senator Kaine have gone way back and are good friends. I wondered if you knew if he had talked to him and sort of given him any advice? This is probably the biggest political moment he has had in his career so far will be tomorrow. Any thoughts about that? 14:36:52 EARNEST: Well the President does have enormous respect and admiration for Senator Kaine and Senator Kaine was one of the first statewide elected officials in the country to announce his support for Senator Obama's presidential campaign. That kind of political courage and loyalty that Senator Kaine has shown is something that the president deeply values. And Senator Kaine did that at a time when that was not an obvious political decision to be made. In fact, the rather obvious political calculation was to not announce your vocal support for then Senator Obama's presidential campaign, because at the time, President Obama was polling in the teens, as I recall. But Senator Kaine, to his credit, showed some courage, and made a decision early on to support Senator Obama's presidential campaign, and the President enormously respects that show of political courage that is all too rare in the current political environment. 14:37:33 I'm not aware that they've had an opportunity to speak recently. President Obama obviously saw Senator Kaine at the convention in Philadelphia. They spoke on the same night. And, so I know they had the opportunity to visit then. I don't know if they've had a chance to talk since. QUESTION : Do they talk frequently? EARNEST: I don't know that they talk regularly, no. Particularly now that Senator Kaine is keeping a very busy schedule that he is as a running mate, campaigning for the vice presidential job. So I don't know -- I know that they do not talk regularly. I don't know that they have spoken since they were in Philly together a couple months ago. QUESTION: Last week, at one of the briefings you mentioned that a new month has happened. It's now October. I think last week, you mentioned that we were going to see President Obama doing a couple events a week for Hillary Clinton. Are we now at that moment that it's October? Is that what you were referring to, or was there a time on that? 14:38:29 EARNEST: The only campaign travel that I'm aware of for this week is President Obama's trip to South Florida on Wednesday. I'm not aware of any additional political travel this week. But stay tuned and we'll keep you updated on travel for the rest of the week. QUESTION: (inaudible) a couple times a week, you said. EARNEST: A couple times a week. I'm actually reminded of a conversation I had -- what seems like hours ago -- but was shortly before I came out here, which is that the President is travelling to Chicago this weekend and will be engaged in some political activities there. Obviously I do not anticipate that Illinois is going to be a battleground state. You can consult the Trump campaign to see if they have a different calculation. But I would expect that the president will be engaged in some activities there that will be helpful to Secretary Clinton's campaign, so stay tuned on that. OK. QUESTION: (inaudible) EARNEST: I know there's been some talk about that. We'll keep you updated on the President's schedule as we get in, OK. QUESTION: (inaudible) a couple activities mean (ph) to fund- raise, to -- is that what you meant? I just want to clarify. 14:39:28 EARNEST: As the president's schedule gets determined for Chicago, we'll keep you posted. 14:39:32 Thanks, everybody. We'll see you tomorrow.

THE REGULAR WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING WITH JOSH EARNEST - STIX DC SLUG: 1245 WH BRIEF STIX RS37 73 AR: 16x9 DISC#: 832 JOSH EARNEST: Afternoon, everybody. 13:08:25 Q: Good afternoon. MR. EARNEST: Happy Monday. Let me do a quick announcement and then we'll get to -- get to questions. We discussed at some length on Friday the president's meeting with the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Steering Committee. So I thought I would bring a little information about it, just to let you know exactly what it is. (Laughter.) Q: Yeah. MR. EARNEST: I learned a little bit myself as I looked into this. (Laughter.) The president's Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Steering Committee is part of a council of 19 leading CEOs, labor leaders and university presidents that was assembled by the president, with the recognition that the -- that industry, academia and government must work together to revitalize our manufacturing sector. The president's view is that the manufacturing sector here in this country is central to the foundation of our economy, and the United States manufacturing sector is as competitive as it has been in decades, as measured both by investment and new jobs. Since February of 2010 the United States manufacturing industry has added more than 700,000 jobs, which is the fastest pace of job growth in the manufacturing sector since the 1990s. And in the context of today's meeting there were three new substantial -- three new executive actions that represent substantial investment by the federal government into research and technology that could boost the advanced manufacturing sector moving forward. And I think this reflects the president's ongoing commitment to ensure that creating good middle-class jobs is critical to the success of our economy because it reflects the president's view that our economy is strong and dynamic when the middle class is strong and dynamic, and the strength of our middle class is predicated on good middle-class jobs being available to American workers. So this is a core component of that. And I know that we put out a fact sheet about some of these announcements this morning, so I would commend that fact sheet to you in your spare time to do a little reading if you're interested. 13:10:29 So with that, Mr. Cunnan (sp), you want to get us started? Q: Thank you Josh. I'll leave it to the fact sheet to answer all our questions on manufacturing. MR. EARNEST: OK. Q: So I'll go directly to Ebola. We've had over the past couple of days a number of states, leading with New York and New Jersey, taking steps to quarantine returning travelers from the affected Ebola region, but more significantly, today, the Pentagon is applying those same kind of quarantine measures to troops, including General Darryl Williams, who has been -- who's returned from the region to Italy. Does the White House support the Pentagon move? And does the fact that these various states and now the Pentagon are taking these steps suggest that the White House -- that the administration has been -- steps that it has taken have been inadequate so far, given that these other entities are taking these more aggressive positions? 13:11:32 MR. EARNEST: Well, there's a lot there, Jim, that I want to respond to, so let me try to unpack those things one at a time. The first is the Department of Defense has not issued a policy related to their workers that have spent time in West Africa. I know that there was this decision that was made by one commanding officer in the Department of Defense, but it does not reflect a department-wide policy that I understand is still under development. So I'd refer you to the Department of Defense for additional details on where that policy process stands and what consequences that could have for their personnel. 13:12:02 The second thing is the announcement from New York and New Jersey that was followed by announcements from a couple of other states was specifically related to health care workers, not just returning -- not just people who were returning from the region. And that distinction is important because it continues to be the view of this administration that stopping this Ebola outbreak in its tracks in West Africa is critically important to our national security and to the safety and health of American citizens. 13:12:43 As we've said many, many times, the likelihood of a widespread outbreak in this country of Ebola is exceedingly low. But the only way that we can entirely eliminate that risk is to stop this Ebola outbreak in its tracks in West Africa. And in order to succeed in stopping this outbreak in West Africa, we're going to need doctors and nurses traveling to West Africa to treat Ebola patients. 13:13:11 Sadly, tragically even, this Ebola outbreak in West Africa has occurred in countries that have little to no modern medical infrastructure. And that is the reason that we have seen this Ebola outbreak spiral so quickly, in a way that has claimed so many lives So we want to make sure that whatever policies are put in place in this country to protect the American public do not serve as a disincentive to doctors and nurses from this country volunteering to travel to West Africa to treat Ebola patients. 13:13:47 The first is, that as a -- you know, it reflects -- a commitment from a doctor or nurse to travel to West Africa reflects a generosity of spirit and a concern for common humanity that is worthy of praise. It also reflects the commitment to the ideal that stopping the Ebola outbreak in West Africa is the only way we can entirely eliminate the risk to the American people from the Ebola virus. And what you will -- and I guess this is the last thing I want to say about this, Jim, is you will hear from the CDC later today some additional information about guidelines that they believe should be in place to -- as it relates to protocols for returning health care workers, or health care workers who are returning from West Africa. So we'll have additional guidelines from CDC. They'll make that announcement later on this afternoon, but ultimately it's the responsibility -- in fact the authority is vested with state and local officials to make decisions about how best to protect their citizens. Q: Doesn't that kind of create a patchwork of policies that then confuse the public, might even encourage people to game the system, like about what they encountered when they've been in West Africa when you don't have an overarching federal policy that rules? MR. EARNEST: Well, I mean, we were talking about this a little bit earlier, Jim, anticipating your question. I mean, some of this is -- in some ways you can sort of take this up with James Madison, right? We have a federal system in this country in which states are -- Q: He's not here. 13:15:38 MR. EARNEST: -- you know, states are given significant authority for governing their constituents. That is certainly true when it comes to public safety and public health. At the same time, I think that you have seen a strong working relationship between states across the country and the federal government. What we believe is important -- and I think this is a view that is shared by governors and local officials across the country, is that these kinds of policies should be driven by science and the best scientific advice that is available. We have experts at the Centers for Disease Control and at HHS that have been dealing with Ebola outbreaks for decades now. And there is a body of medical science and research that should guide the implementation of these policies. And we're going to work closely with states and localities to do exactly that. 13:16:15 I think the best and most recent piece of evidence that I can point to illustrate this ongoing coordination is this morning's announcement that Kaci Hickox, the nurse who has recently returned from West Africa, will be discharged from the hospital in New Jersey and will be traveling via private transportation to her home in Maine. Q: Let's take the case of the Pentagon. You talked about how the administration has been aware and has acted on the Ebola outbreak since March. And then, shouldn't these -- shouldn't the policy have been in place when you decided to send troops to West Africa? Shouldn't how you were going to treat those returning troops have been a matter of protocol then rather than what appears to be being made up on the fly as we go? 13:17:05 MR. EARNEST: Well, Jim, the commitment of Department of Defense resources was something that the president announced, I believe, just last month. And this is -- this is an ongoing effort by the Department of Defense to use their logistical expertise in West Africa to assist those, essentially, first responders who are actually treating Ebola patients. We have been clear that the role of American military personnel in West Africa will not be to render medical assistance to the people of West Africa. Instead, it will be -- the logistical expertise of the American military will be deployed to assist those doctors and nurses and other public health experts from around the world who are responding to this urgent situation. That was a commitment that was made by the president just about a month or so ago, and that is-- we are already seeing important work that's being done in West Africa by our American military personnel. And, you know, as needed, they will continue to put in place policies that they believe best protect the members of the military and the members of the public back here in the United States as well. OK. Roberta? Q: So is the White House concerned that the decision made by one commanding officer, in this case of Lieutenant - (inaudible) -- is sending a mixed message to people about the need for these type of policies? 13:18:24 MR. EARNEST: No. We believe that the - I mean, it's clear - and if it wasn't clear before, it is now that I've helped make it clear - that the Department of Defense policy has not been settled and implemented yet. And they will ultimately - that will be a decision that's driven by a variety of operational factors. What we are - what this administration is working to do is to coordinate with state and local officials across the country to put in place the policies that scientific experts tell us are in the best interest of the American people. And that's what we believe should guide the policy decisions that are made in this country. Q: I'm confused, though, because, I mean, we've known about this outbreak for some time. We're going to hear, as you said, from the CDC later today guidelines for protocol for returning medical workers, which we knew they were there. Why haven't - and the Pentagon, too, in the case of these people who are being housed for sort of semi-quarantine in Italy. Why weren't these kinds of decisions made earlier? 13:19:31 MR. EARNEST: Roberta, I think what this reflects is a commitment by this administration to regularly review the guidelines that are in place to make sure that they - that they reflect what's necessary to protect the American people. And we should not lose sight of the fact that whatever guidelines and policies are put in place should not unduly burden those health care workers that in fact are operating in West Africa in very difficult situations. They are putting themselves at risk to try to meet the needs of other people. That is a pretty remarkable show of charity. It also is an effort that is clearly in the best interests of the American people because we know that the only way to entirely eliminate the risks from the Ebola virus to the American people is to stop this outbreak in West Africa. And there are American citizens who are using their own medical expertise in pursuit of that goal. These individuals are heroes, and their commitment to their common man and to their country is one that should be respected. 13:20:33 And we believe that we can both show them the respect that they have earned while also ensuring that we have protocols in place to protect the American people. Q: Just one quick one on NHTSA, the Transportation Department is reviewing how NHTSA's handled a series of problems like faulty airbags and defective ignition switches. Did the White House ask Secretary Foxx to conduct this investigation and is the White House satisfied with NHTSA's performance? 13:21:05 MR. EARNEST: Well Roberta, I can tell you that NHTSA has been aggressive in responding to the situation related to defective airbags, and they have sought to move forward aggressively to protect the American people once they had data to indicate that action was needed. There have been some issues that have cropped up around the announcement of the safety advisory last week, and the Department of Transportation review that has commenced is the right step to make sure that everyone is focused on learning from this situation and strengthening the response. Q: Did the White House ask for that review? 13:21:42 MR. EARNEST: This is something that is being led by the Department of Transportation, so if you have questions about their review, I'd refer you to them. OK, Jim? Q: Josh, the CDC guidelines that are coming out later on this afternoon, will the states be compelled to follow those guidelines, or could they still chart their own course when it comes to quarantine? 13:21:59 MR. EARNEST: Yeah, that's a good question. State and local officials have broad authority to impose quarantine policies in their own states and localities, so the role for the CDC is to marshal scientific evidence. As I mentioned, the Centers for Disease Control has extensive experience in dealing with Ebola outbreaks. There is a body of medical science that's been devoted to understanding how exactly the Ebola virus is transmitted. That science tells us that the likelihood of a widespread Ebola outbreak in the United States is exceedingly low, that the risk to the average American citizen is exceedingly low. I think even Dr. Fauci yesterday described it as "vanishingly low." Q: There's the potential for different states to have different protocols. 13:22:44 MR. EARNEST: Well, there are -- there is the potential for governors and mayors in specific jurisdictions to exercise the authority that they have to impose quarantine policies. What the Obama administration -- Q: (Off mic) -- different states with different guidelines -- 13:24:13 MR. EARNEST: Well, as I mentioned to Jim, I guess you can take that up with James Madison. The fact of the matter though, Jim, is that we have a strong working relationship from the administration to -- a strong working relationship between the Obama administration and states and cities all across the country. And again, I think the best evidence of that is something that was announced just today, which is that by working with CDC, the state of New Jersey has determined that it's appropriate to release her from the hospital where she has been in New Jersey so that she can travel home to Maine. I think that reflects ongoing discussions between the Centers for Disease Control and public officials in New Jersey. And again, I think that reflects a decision that was made by New Jersey officials, that was driven by the kinds of scientific expertise that resides at the Centers for Disease Control. Q: Speaking of Kaci Hickox, what did the White House make, or what did the president make, if he had an opinion on it, of seeing her in that tent in that hospital where she was required to be for some time? And does the White House believe that her rights were violated in any way? MR. EARNEST: Well, Jim, I have not spoken to the president about this. So I'm unaware of what his personal reaction is. I think that the reaction that many people across the country had -- and I think it was shared by at least some people here in the White House -- is that the service of somebody like Kaci Hickox is something that we should honor and respect. Again, she traveled to a West African country that is dealing with the outbreak of a contagious, deadly disease. She didn't travel over there because she was getting a big paycheck. Presumably she's not going to be inducted into the Nurses Hall of Fame for it. She did it out of concern for her common man. And she saw an opportunity to serve people that are clearly not as fortunate as we are to have a modern medical infrastructure. And ultimately, because of her hard work, we are going to stop this disease in its tracks in West Africa. And that is the only way that we can eliminate the risk that this disease poses to the American people. 13:25:19 So her service and commitment to this cause is something that should be honored and respected. And I don't think we do that by making her live in a tent for two or three days. Q: So you -- the White House disagrees with that confinement -- her being confined in that tent? MR. EARNEST: Well, again, Jim, I guess I've tried to answer this a couple of ways. The fact is, it is -- the state and local authorities have the authority to make these kinds of decisions about how to implement quarantine policies. In ways -- Q: So if states want to put people in tents, they can -- they can do that? 13:26:05 MR. EARNEST: Well, subject to the laws of these individual states. What we hope, and what we think has been true in the vast majority of circumstances, is that these kinds of policy decisions should be driven by science. And there is a body of scientific workdecisions should be driven by science, and there is a body of scientific work out there that helps us understand exactly what kind of risk we face. Again, as Dr. Fauci said yesterday on some -- it might have even been on your network -- where he indicated that the risk that was facing the average American is vanishingly low, and the only way that we can drive that risk to zero is to stop this outbreak of in its tracks in West Africa, and the only way that we're going to be able to stop this outbreak is if there are brave individuals, like Kaci Hickox, who are willing to put themselves at greater risk to try to stop this outbreak, because it's in the best interest of the American people. So again, her service and commitment is something that we should celebrate. Q: And folks are wondering where is Ron Klain in all of this. He's supposed to be the Ebola response coordinator. It seems that you have a need for some coordinating here. 13:26:54 MR. EARNEST: Jim, I'd -- I'll say a couple things about that. The first is, again, the state of New Jersey made a decision, in consultation with the CDC, earlier today to release Miss Hickox from the hospital where she had been staying, so that she could travel home to Maine. That was a policy decision that was made by New Jersey officials exercising the authority that they have, in consultation with scientific experts at the CDC. That is evidence that the ongoing coordination between the Obama administration and state and local officials continues -- continues successfully, in this case. Q: And did the White House get a heads-up from New York and New Jersey before they -- MR. EARNEST: A heads-up on what? Q: On those quarantine policies that were announced. Did -- was the White House or the Obama administration notified before New York and New Jersey went forward with these quarantine policies? MR. EARNEST: Well, Jim, I can tell you that the White House and administration officials at the CDC and HHS and DHS and other relevant agencies have been in close coordination with state and local officials in these states for some time now, for weeks, months, even. And I'm not going to be in a position to detail or draw a timeline for all of those conversations, but those intensive conversations continue as state and local official exercise the authority that they have under their own state law to protect their citizens. Again, what the science tells is that a really important step for us to take in terms of protecting the American people is to stop this outbreak in West Africa. Q: And I apologize -- I'm taking too much of my time here, but -- and everybody else's time -- but it seems like you sort of danced away from an answer to that question. Was it a surprise to this administration when New York and New Jersey came out with their policies on these quarantines? Is that a yes or a no in terms of whether or not the administration was told in advance? MR. EARNEST: What I'm telling you, Jim, is that I'm not going to be in a position to detail all of the phone calls, but administration officials at a variety of agencies, including HHS, CDC and the White House, have been in regular touch with state and local officials in New York and New Jersey -- elsewhere, as they deal with this Ebola situation, OK? Stephen? Q: What do you suppose did drive the decision to impose these mandatory quarantines? If the federal guidelines or protocols that will be announced later today will be driven by science, what drove the decision last week in New York and New Jersey? MR. EARNEST: Well, I understand that Governor Cuomo and Governor Christie have conducted a number of sessions just like this one, where they've been answering a variety of questions about the policies that they put in place, so I'd encourage you to ask them. It's their authority that they are exercising, and they're the ones that were making the decisions. Q: Do you suppose it was driven by something other than science? Was it driven by fear or irrational -- MR. EARNEST: Again, you'd have to ask them. Q: The federal government also has the power -- the CDC and the president have the power to issue mandatory quarantines to restrict people from traveling over state borders or imposing other kinds of public health rules and regulations. Will the announcements that the CDC will be announcing today -- will they be mandatory guidelines, or will they be merely advisory? MR. EARNEST: Yeah. We'll wait till those announcements are made, and you can ask them OK? Vicara (sp). Q: Thanks. A while ago, you mentioned some of the aid workers that are going overseas to West Africa, and no one's going to argue with you about their courage and dedication in doing so. But could this be overcome -- could it be contained in West Africa without Americans going there? MR. EARNEST: That's a good question. There's probably somebody that has some more public health expertise than I do to better assess that question. Q: Well, I mean, how vital is the -- can you quantify how vital their -- 13:30:31 MR. EARNEST: Look, I think some of this goes back to some of the discussions that we've had over the course of the summer about the indispensable role that the United States of America plays in the world, that we have the kinds of resources and infrastructure and expertise and values that guide us to play a leading role in difficult situations like this one. 13:30:38 Those are the kinds of values and the commitment that guided the president to make a commitment of Department of Defense resources to deal with the situation in West Africa. And I suspect it's those -- it's those kinds of values that are driving medical workers in this country to place themselves at some risk, to volunteer their time, and travel to West Africa to serve those who are less fortunate. And again, I think that is a commitment and a reflection of the kinds of values that should -- that's worthy of our respect. Q: And absent a Halloween séance to take it up with James Madison, you're saying there's nothing the -- (laughter) -- federal government could do to compel states at this point to not -- 13:31:18 MR. EARNEST: I'm not rendering a legal analysis. I'm just observing what I think is -- what is a basic fact, right, which is that states have the -- Q: Well, you have powers, though. The White House understands what power it has in this situation. MR. EARNEST: Yes. Q: And what is that power? 13:31:38 MR. EARNEST: Well, again, I'm -- I would encourage you to consult a legal expert here. The role that this government is paying is one that we have played for some time in terms of this response, which is making sure that we are marshaling the best scientific evidence and expertise that is available and working closely with state and local officials to put in place policies that protect the American people. That is at the -- that is essentially the bottom line when it comes to this policymaking process: protecting the American people. We need to understand, as we're putting place those policies, that the only way that we can entirely eliminate the risk from the Ebola virus to the American people is to stop this outbreak at the source. And it's why, as we're putting in place these policies, we should be mindful of not placing undue burdens -- or in some cases, even outright disrespecting health care workers who are making a commitment to go and serve those who are less fortunate in West Africa to try to stop this outbreak at the source. Q: (Off mic) -- very quickly, did you over the weekend -- did the White House speak directly with Governors Cuomo or Christie to get them to reverse this decision? MR. EARNEST: Again, I think this is similar to Mr. Acosta's question, but -- Q: I'm not asking about the whole totality of the conversation, I'm asking about did this one particular conversation take place? 13:32:38 MR. EARNEST: And again, I'm not going to detail individual conversations, but suffice it to say, individuals at the White House, CDC, HHS and other relevant agencies have been in touch with officials in New York and New Jersey, and we have been for some time. OK, Ed? Q: Josh, putting aside the governors for a second, where is the White House itself in terms of policymaking, in terms of a 21-day federal quarantine? Because we were told, I think by Dr. Fauci on the record on Friday, that it was at least being considered by the White House. Is that still being considered or is that off the table? A federal quarantine. Again, putting aside the governors, is that possible or is that off the table? 13:33:21 MR. EARNEST: Well, what the president has indicated will guide him in all of these policy decisions is protecting the American people, and the president continues to be open-minded about suggestions that people may have about the best way to protect the American people. Those sorts of decisions are going to continue to be driven by science and by a priority that reflects the need to make sure that we're not placing an undue burden on those health care workers that have volunteered their time to go and try to stop this outbreak at the source. Q: (Off mic) -- you've said several times are being driven by the science and that you seem to suggest that the science believes a 21-day quarantine might not make sense, why would the president still be considering it if he's driven by the science? Is it still evolving or -- 13:33:56 MR. EARNEST: Well again, I think this is -- no, I don't think it's evolving, I think it -- what is evolving is the situation on the ground in West Africa. That's something that we're closely monitoring and, you know, we've made a significant commitment of resources to try to stop the spread of this terrible disease. I think this is analogous to the question that was asked of the president recently about a travel ban; that it is the view of this administration that a travel ban is not in the best interests of the American people at this point. If circumstances change, you know, we'll consider it because it's not something that he's philosophically opposed to. I think an answer about a quarantine would be along the same lines, which is to say it's something that we do not believe is necessary right now but it's not something we're philosophically opposed to and something that we'll keep an open mind about moving forward. Q: Back to the Pentagon. Before, you said there was one commanding officer in the Army who is undergoing quarantine, but we're told it's broader than that in terms of the recommendation that late last week the Joint Chiefs recommended formally to Defense Secretary Hagel that all U.S. troops, not just this one commanding officer, who are in the hot zone should, when they come back, have a 21-day quarantine. And I think you were asked that by Jim, but I didn't hear an answer. Does the White House agree with the Joint Chiefs? MR. EARNEST: Ultimately it would be the responsibility for the secretary of defense to put in place this policy. And so, because that policy decision has not been rendered, I'm not going to get ahead of it from here. Q: So the White House is not going to be involved - I mean, we've been through this with Keystone and other decisions. The State Department's handling that. I get that the Pentagon is ultimately going to announce it. But you're saying the White House is not involved in talking to Secretary Hagel? 13:35:28 MR. EARNEST: No, I think what I said was that the secretary of defense will announce this decision. He ultimately will be the one that will drive this process as he's making decisions about the policies that should be put in place to protect his troops. Q: So my question is whether - MR. EARNEST: I wouldn't rule out any coordination with the White House on it, though. Q: Sure. OK. So then my question is, what is - (inaudible) - what is the president's view about whether returning troops should be in a 21-day quarantine? MR. EARNEST: Again, we will let the Department of Defense make an announcement about what they think is the best manner moving forward. Q: How could the commander in chief send U.S. troops basically into the hot zone without a policy on, when they come home, whether or not they're in quarantine? How could that have not been decided before? MR. EARNEST: Because what we're seeing here, Ed, is we are seeing this administration put in place the policies that we believe are necessary to protect the American people and to protect the American troops. And we're going to let science drive that process, and as soon as we have a policy to announce on this we'll let you know. 13:14:21 Q: But if you watched "60 Minutes" last night you heard the nurses who first treated Mr. Duncan saying that despite all the talk from the CDC about how procedures were in place, protocols were in place, that they were not followed in the initial hours, and these nurses were dealing with a horrific situation. I'm trying to understand. We heard, you know, from the beginning that troops were going on and they were going to help. And you mentioned before heroes, and they're doing heroic work. But how could those heroes not have a plan in place before and during that heroic work? I don't understand. Like, it seems like we're still waiting -- we're still studying this. We're still trying to figure out, these troops are in the hot zone now. 13:36:58 MR. EARNEST: Well, let's be clear about one aspect of this. There are a couple of things about what are troops are doing in West Africa. The vast majority of them are actually not in countries where -- that are affected by Ebola. There is an air bridge that's being constructed in Senegal, which is a neighboring country, to try to assist the logistical effort to get supplies and resources and personnel into the affected areas where they can do their important work. (Cross talk.) Q: -- building health facilities. MR. EARNEST: Some of them are in these counties where they are building health facilities. None of the -- no Department of Defense personnel is responsible for actually medically treating patients. So it's important for people to understand -- and again, Dr. Fauci talked about this a little bit yesterday too, that it's important for us to assess risk in a detailed way. And, you know, clearly the risk associated with being in a neighboring country is different than the risk that's associated with being responsible for directly treating patients. Q: OK, thank you. MR. EARNEST: OK? Major. Q: In other words, you don't know the risk yet and you're waiting to try to -- 13:38:14 MR. EARNEST: No, I think we do know the risk. What we know is that there is a different amount of risk associated with being in an neighboring country and spending several weeks at a time in the bush treating patients with Ebola firsthand. Q: There's lower risk, is what you would theorize. MR. EARNEST: I'm not a medical expert, but I think common sense does indicate that being in a neighboring country would indicate that you have lower risk than those who are treating Ebola patients firsthand. Q: So it sounds as if at least, based on what the White House knows so far, its recommendation in coordination with the Pentagon would be not to go down this road of a 21-day quarantine. MR. EARNEST: Well, I'm not going to get into what sort of advice is being shared between the White House and the secretary of defense. But again, we do want this process to be driven by science, and science would mandate close examination of the risk that's associated with all of these different activities. Q: Do you -- Jim asked this before, and I -- so I'll give you another chance. Do you believe that there were legitimate legal issues at stake in Kaci Hickox's circumstance and that that was something the administration, in coordination with the governors, want to avoid, litigious -- I mean, an outbreak of litigation over someone being quarantined: Do you believe they have rights that are being violated in the here and now? MR. EARNEST: What's the question? Q: Well, do you believe that -- is that something the administration is trying to prevent as it coordinates with governors, what to do with people returning from the hot zone? Because she got a lawyer. She's going to file a lawsuit saying, look, you can't keep me here. This is -- this is a violation of some basic rights. MR. EARNEST: Right -- Q: And I just -- I'm asking, is that something in the entire process that you're dealing with -- this story has many components -- you're trying to minimize? 13:39:40 MR. EARNEST: Well, I don't think that she -- I think she was expressing her concern about a state-implemented policy. So I'm not sure that she or her lawyer was considering action against the federal government. Maybe I'm wrong about that. Q: No, I'm not suggesting that they were either. MR. EARNEST: OK. Q: But is -- all of this is being absorbed by a public that's trying to understand what's actually going on, what's their risk, what are the procedures, how should the elected leaders in their states proceed. And I'm just wondering -- as you talk to the governors and try to work through all these things, Ron, I -- Ron or someone else here might say, look, we don't want lawsuits cropping up all over the country about people who are in a tent at an airport because their rights are being violated when we're trying to talk about public health and other aspects of this contagion? MR. EARNEST: Well, you know, our top priority here has the protection of the American public, and that is what's driving these discussions. What's -- what we believe should be driving the policies is the body of scientific work that indicates that what sort of risk individuals face. 13:40:41 And again, in this case, the American people should understand that the risk that they face from the Ebola disease, based on the likelihood of a widespread outbreak in the United States, is exceedingly low. That's very unlikely to occur. And we know that based on the science surrounding how Ebola is spread and based on the modern medical infrastructure that we have here in this country. And we believe -- and we're going to continue to work with state and local officials as they implement these policies -- that these policies should be driven by science. Q: It's -- is it fair to say that White House take over a decision by Governors Cuomo and Christie was they acted rashly, they unintentionally temporarily stigmatized this health care worker? 13:41:18 MR. EARNEST: Well, I don't know -- I don't know if that was the effect, but we certainly believe that any policies that are in place should be driven by science and should reflect the significant commitment -- in fact, heroism -- of some of these individuals who are volunteering their time to operate in a very dangerous environment, both to serve their fellow man but also to serve the American people. Q: Then their decision was not consistent with that? 13:41:41 MR. EARNEST: Well, Again, I -- and I think I did say this pretty clearly to Jim's question -- that again, somebody like Kaci Hickox, who is making a commitment to volunteer her time and travel to West Africa and work intensively and closely with highly contagious Ebola patients, is service that is deserving of praise and respect. And having her sit in a tent for two or three days doesn't exactly do that. OK. Go ahead, Jon (sp). Q: Josh, let me ask -- and Jim asked this and I didn't hear an answer from you -- on the case -- Hickox case. She saidand having her sit in a tent for two or three days doesn't exactly do that, OK? Go ahead, John. 13:42:10 JON KARL Q: Let me ask -- and Jim asked this, I didn't hear an answer from you on Kaci Hickox's case. She said that her rights were violated. She was locked in that tent against her will. Do you agree with her that her rights were violated when that was done? 13:42:25 MR. EARNEST: It's hard for me to render a judgment on that, John. I'm not stepped in New Jersey quarantine law. What I do know, however -- Q: This is a human rights issue. I mean, this is -- you know, this goes beyond Jersey law. I mean, she was -- MR. EARNEST: Well, I think I've been pretty clear about the praise and respect I think that she's entitled to. Q: Let me come at this from a -- from a different perspective. You mentioned that U.S. military personnel are not directly treating Ebola -- those suffering from Ebola in Africa, that the bulk of them are in a neighboring country, not even in the countries that are -- that are affected here. If the major threat here is what's happening in those countries in West Africa, why not? 13:42:44 The United States military has some of the -- you know, the best medical personnel in the world. Why are we not more directly engaged in getting control of this disease at ground zero, where it's happening? 13:43:18 MR. EARNEST: Well Jon, what we feel like right now is what the president has concluded, is that the best way to leverage the expertise and resources of the American people in this instance is to offer up logistical support from the Department of Defense and that we have seen a significant response from the international community, both foreign governments and non-government organizations, dedicating resources and personnel to try and stopping -- to try and stop the outbreak in West Africa. And -- Q: (Off mic) -- there's nowhere near enough medical personnel in those countries to help the people that are affected. MR. EARNEST: There is more that is needed. I can tell you that the commitment of the American military to this effort has galvanized the international community to ramp up their response, but there's no doubt that more is needed. 13:44:02 KARL Q: What kind of a message does this send if we say that our personnel will not be allowed to treat those that are actually suffering from the disease? 13:44:10 MR. EARNEST: Well, I think what it says is it says that the best way the Department of Defense can help is by offering their logistical expertise to speed the transfer of supplies and equipment and personnel into the region. And I think it is certainly fair to say that there are a large number of American doctors and nurses who are volunteering their time who -- to trying to confront this outbreak, to stop this outbreak, again both because they believe that it reflects a commitment to their common man to try to meet those basic medical needs of those who are less fortunate. It also happens to reflect what science tells us is in the best interests of the American people. Stopping this Ebola outbreak at its source is the only way that we can completely eliminate the risk from the Ebola virus to the American people. JON KARL Q: OK, quickly, an entirely different subject, we are eight days out from midterm elections that could be highly consequential for this president and for his party. Why is he here without any public schedule at the White House? Why did he spend the entire weekend completely, you know, outside of public view? How come he is not out campaigning with and for Democratic candidates in these races? 13:45:16 MR. EARNEST: Those who are interested in seeing the president campaigning will have ample opportunity to do so over the course of this week. Q: Josh, you know what I'm saying, though. He has not been out on the campaign trail -- MR. EARNEST: I do. I can tell you that the president -- Q: -- of a single Senate candidate yet. 13:45:27 MR. EARNEST: The president is looking forward to his trip to Wisconsin tomorrow. The president will be traveling to Maine in support of Democrats there on Thursday. He will be spending some time in Rhode Island on Friday. And then he's going to ramp up even further his activities over the course of this weekend and doing two stops in Saturday and two stops on Sunday. So I think that reflects a commitment -- Q: Where? MR. EARNEST: -- by this president to supporting Democrats on the ballot. Did somebody ask where? Q: Yes. MR. EARNEST: There are so many stops that I have to look up exactly where the president traveling. (Laughter.) Q: Will there be -- (Cross talk.) MR. EARNEST: Where are they? So we've got the president traveling to Milwaukee, as I mentioned, on Tuesday, traveling to Portland, Maine on Thursday. The president will be in Rhode Island on Friday. Then he's going to travel to Michigan on Saturday. And then he's going to travel to Philadelphia and, I believe, Connecticut on Sunday. So again, a variety of stops where the president will be actively campaigning in support of Democratic candidates. Q: You're not going to stand there and tell me the president's been actively campaigning in these midterm elections, are you? 13:46:26 MR. EARNEST: I think any examination of the president's schedule over the course of the next eight days in advance of the midterm election would indicate a serious commitment by this president to supporting Democratic candidates on the ballot. Q: How many Democratic Senate candidates has he campaigned with in this midterm election? 13:46:40 MR. EARNEST: Well, there are a number of Democratic senators with whom the president has appeared. So, certainly he's looking forward to his event with Mr. Peters in Michigan on Saturday. The perident has appeared in public - for example, I know that he traveled with Senator Franken where they were discussing some issues that are important to middle-class voters in Minnesota. I don't think there were any campaign events that were associated with that specific trip. But what you've seen the presidenet do is dedicate his time to doing what he can to support Democratic candidates. And he's spent a lot of time raising money for them, and that reflects, I think, a significant commitment of this president's time and energy to supporting Democratic candidates. Q: (Off mic) -- agree that the president's been considered politically toxic to many of those Democrats running in - MR. EARNEST: It won't surprise you to hear that I do not agree with that assessment. (Laughter.) Stop the presses. Jared. Q: Josh, you seem to be going up to the line but not yet criticizing directly the actions by the New York and New Jersey governors. When state policies differ from the CDC's science-based policies and you're alluding to the fact that it might create a disincentive for health care workers, does the administration believe it's a bad idea to go beyond the CDC's science-based policies? Is it a bad idea? MR. EARNEST: Well, what we - what we believe, Jared, is that science should drive these decisions and science should drive how these policies are implemented. Q: (Does ?) the White House characterize when the policies are driven, or go beyond what the CDC recommends, that's a bad idea? 13:48:13 MR. EARNEST: Well, I think that is -- it's difficult to sort of encounter that specific hypothetical. Q: It's no hypothetical. These are actual policies that have been put in place. MR. EARNEST: Which policies? Q: The ones in New York and New Jersey. 13:48:27 MR. EARNEST: OK. Well, there's two. Is there on state you'd like to choose, or -- Q: Let's go with New Jersey. MR. EARNEST: Yeah, it's like a game show. (Laughter.) (Off mic.) What would you like -- what's behind door number one? What's your question, Jared (sp)? (Laughter.) (Cross talk.) Q: Are the state policies -- are the state policies -- I'm sorry; somebody's not going to get that -- are the state policies in New Jersey -- and just New Jersey for the sake of this -- because I don't think federalism limits your criticism. Do the state policies in New Jersey hinder health care workers, and does this administration view them as a bad idea? 13:49:05 MR. EARNEST: Jared (sp), what I can tell you is that the administration, from the CDC and HHS to even up here at the White House, has been in close touch with New Jersey officials as they implement the policies that they believe are in the best interests of the people of New Jersey. This administration believes that policies that reflect the scientific expertise of medical experts who have been tracking this disease for four decades now should guide the implementation of those policies, and we're going to continue to work with officials in New York and New Jersey and states all across the country to make sure that those -- that those policies do reflect the science, and that'll be an ongoing process. As I guess Ed noted, there has been, on occasion, the need for the federal government to strengthen the guidance that we're putting in place based on changing situations on the ground in West Africa, based on updated scientific protocols. So we're certainly open to working closely with state officials to tailor the kind of response that's necessary to protect the individuals in their states. 13:50:12 All of that is mindful of the fact that what science tells us is that the only way to eliminate risk from the Ebola virus is to stop this outbreak at the source. Q: Since the CDC's policies are not superseding state policies at this point and since Ron Klain's role has been Ebola response coordinator, can you tell me what areas are under his purview? Is it the federal response only? Is it the federal response and the state response? Is it the federal response that includes the military component, like what we've seen in Italy? Or is it to be -- to be determined? 13:50:47 MR. EARNEST: Jared, the -- we've tried a couple of times to, I think, to describe Mr. Klain's role as here, at the White House and in the federal government, and he's responsible for coordinating the whole-of-government approach that the president has suggested is necessary to -- Q: Whole-of-federal-government approach. MR. EARNEST: Yes. Yes. April. Q: Josh, couple of questions on a couple different subjects: I want to go back to the issue of the president and midterms. Michelle Nunn -- the president went on V-103 in Atlanta talking about how we -- if we go the polls, meaning young people, blacks and Latinos, they could put -- keep the Senate, basically, in the Democratic hands. So Michelle Nunn apparently has a 3-point lead, basically tied, with a 3-point lead. What does this White House feel about this? Do they -- do you feel that the president made an impact on some of those voters to help, possibly, see a win? 13:51:46 MR. EARNEST: Well, April, let me just say as a general matter that the president is very interested in supporting Democratic candidates on the ballot who are interested in promoting policies that benefit middle-class families. That's what's at the top of the president's domestic policy-making agenda, and he's interested in having partners in Congress, in the House and the Senate, who will work with him to make progress in support of middle-class families. And the president has done a number of interviews to encourage voters to be engaged in the mid term election process and he's worked hard to elevate the attention around issues that are affecting the middle class. And, you know, I guess we'll find out on Election Day the extent to which Democratic candidates benefited from that advocacy. Q: Also, what's the timeline for this administration -- since you're saying that you want to attack it at the source, the Ebola situation at the source, what is the timeline for this administration as it pertains to the medical infrastructure in West Africa and the U.S. military? What is your timeline, because I talked to retired General Kip Ward who was the head of AFRICOM, he said it could take you six months literally to help build -- if you were serious about it -- to help build the medical infrastructure over there? 13:53:07 MR. EARNEST: Well April, I don't have an updated time frame. I guess I'd refer you to the CDC or maybe even HHS or maybe even the State Department on this. I think that reflects the number of agencies that are engaged in this process. But we believe, again, that the only way to entirely eliminate the risk to the American people from the Ebola virus is to stop this outbreak at the source. And you've seen a significant commitment of resources from the Department of Defense to supporting the infrastructure that's necessary to move supplies and equipment and personnel into the region to do exactly that. Q: And I hear you, but I -- and I understand there's a great need for this infrastructure, but if it's so urgent, why not (give ?) a timeline to help build this infrastructure to stop it at the source? 13:53:51 MR. EARNEST: Yeah. Well again, I think you might be conflating two different things. I'm not suggesting that the United States is going to go in and construct a medical infrastructure for these countries, I'm suggesting that this virus is raging out of control in these countries because there isn't a modern medical infrastructure in place. Putting -- Q: But you're helping to support the building of a medical infrastructure -- MR. EARNEST: What we're hoping to do is to put in place the infrastructure that will allow supplies and personnel and equipment to get to this region of the world so that these medical professionals can do their work and treat those who are afflicted with this deadly disease. 13:54:25 I'm confident that it's going to require more sustained and longer-term investment in this area of the world, to build them the kind of medical infrastructure that's needed to prevent these kinds of outbreaks in the future. What we're focused on right now is trying to stop this outbreak. Q: And lastly, there's this conversation going in this room about the situation in New York and New Jersey. What's the thought of this administration when it comes to colleges and universities in this country who have a lot of college students that come from Africa, particularly West Africa -- Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia? And they're imposing tougher travel restrictions on their students as -- particularly when it comes to the holiday season now. What's the administration saying about that? 13:55:08 MR. EARNEST: Well, there is a -- there are policies that are in place that guide this, April, which is -- you know, there are screening measures that are in place in West Africa and there are screening measures that airports in this country to make sure that individuals who have recently traveled to West Africa, when they get off the plane, that their temperature is checked, that their personal contact information is collected so that the government can stay in touch with them; that information is then transferred to state and local authorities who can monitor the health of these individuals once they return. And, you know, we believe that's what -- that the science tells us that's the best way to ensure the safety of the American public. Q: (Off mic) -- about the science to universities and colleges when they are imposing tougher restrictions? MR. EARNEST: Well, I don't think it's the -- I can't speak to any restrictions that are being put in place by colleges and universities. What I can speak to are the restrictions that are currently in place -- or -- I mean, or the screening measures that are currently in place at airports in West Africa, at airports in this country, and then the kind of active monitoring that state and local officials will be responsible for doing when you have individuals with a travel history of being in West Africa that appear in their states. OK? Kristen? Q: Josh, thanks. Has President Obama spoken to Governors Christie and Cuomo? 13:56:26 MR. EARNEST: Kristen, as I've mentioned I think a couple of times now, the members of this administration have been in close touch with state and local officials in New York and New Jersey over the last several weeks. (Cross talk.) Q: (Inaudible) -- if the president has spoken with them. 13:56:40 MR. EARNEST: And, Kristen, I'm telling you that I'm not going to detail specific conversations other than to say that there are a range of conversations that have occurred from White House officials, officials at HHS and DHS and CDC with state and local officials in New York and New Jersey and a variety of other states across the country. Q: Have the White House officials actually spoken to the governors? And the reason why I ask that is because as late as yesterday evening Governor Christie said he hadn't spoken to the White House. So has someone from the White House reached out to Governor Christie directly? 13:57:06 MR. EARNEST: Kristen, I'm just not going to be in a position to read out individual conversations. Q: Well, on the point of Ron Klain, he was appointed to be the point person and the Ebola czar, whatever term you would like to use. What -- MR. EARNEST: That's not one we'd use. Q: What has changed since he started his job, because it appears as though this week there's more confusion than there was last week, given what we're seeing in New York and New Jersey, and more differences between how the states are dealing with it. So what's changed? Has he accomplished and is he accomplishing what he was appointed to do? 13:57:40 MR. EARNEST: Kristen, I will -- I think the record should reflect that Mr. Klain started one week ago today. And in that time we have seen a significant number of announcements related to the whole-of-government approach that the president has ordered to dealing with the Ebola situation. We've seen a commitment from DOD not just to invest resources in West Africa but also to put together a team of medical professionals that can be on standby in this country and ready to respond as necessary. We have seen a significant commitment of resources from federal governments around the world to the broader effort to stop the outbreak at its source in West Africa. We've seen beefed up protocols that were issued by the CDC to guide the precautions that medical professionals in this country should take when they're dealing with an Ebola patient. We've seen the CDC stand up and actually deploy a SWAT team from Atlanta to New York when there was the suspicion that an Ebola patient had been identified in New York. There've been a whole series of training and outreach programs that have been performed by CDC officials in consultation, obviously, with state and local public health officials. 13:58:56 This came in particularly handy in New York where there were thousands of health care professionals that were trained at the Javits Center in New York just days before this Ebola patient turned up in New York City. There were additional screening measures that were implemented by DHS to ensure that individuals who had recently traveled in West Africa were now traveling only into those five airports in this country. I see that you want to interrupt me. I've gone on quite some time, and I apologize for doing so, but I think it's important to reflect all that has been -- all that has happened and all that has been announced in just the last week. You know, obviously, some of that Mr. Klain was very closely involved with, some of it he wasn't because it reflected work that had been done before he arrived. But I do think that what you -- what you see here is intensive coordination among a range of federal agencies to respond to this very difficult challenge. Q: And yet wasn't part of his task to streamline the response all across the country? And I understand what you're saying about different states and James Madison. But still, picking up on where some of my colleagues have left off, the fact that you're seeing this different response in New York, New Jersey, Florida fueled panic, I think, and misunderstanding about the disease. So doesn't there need to be more of an effort to get everyone on the same page? 14:00:11 MR. EARNEST: Well, I don't think that it - I don't think it fuels panic because I think people understand the facts. And to the extent that there is any panic, if that's what you've observed, then maybe it's important for me to repeat the basics about this disease one more time. It's important for people to understand that you cannot catch Ebola by drinking the water or eating the food in this country. Ebola is not spread through the air like the flu. The only way you can catch Ebola, the only way that Ebola is transmitted, is by coming into close contact with the bodily fluids of an individual who is already displaying symptoms of Ebola. That's why the only two situations in which the Ebola virus has been transmitted in this country have been by health care workers who were treating a very sick Ebola patient. 14:00:52 So to the extent there is panic, I would encourage panicked individuals to consult the scientific facts and understand that the risk that is facing the average American, as Dr. Fauci said yesterday, is vanishingly low. Q: Does Ron Klain have any plans to go to New York or New Jersey, to that region and meet with officials there in person? MR. EARNEST: I don't anticipate that he has - (the plan ?) to do that any time soon. Q: And just one more, Josh. According to our latest NBC News/Marist, three of the hardest-fought states - Iowa, Colorado and Arkansas - show Republicans with a one-point lead. How much responsibility does President Obama bear for this moment, the fact that Democrats are - (Q/MR. EARNEST ?): (Tied ?) (Laughter.) Q: -- I should say Republicans are inching closer? MR. EARNEST: I think as I mentioned - Q: A one-point lead eight days out. 14:01:42 MR. EARNEST: Yeah, I - that's not something - I guarantee you that if Democrats had a one-point lead in those states, I wouldn't be bragging about it. What I will tell you is that the - even though they are states that - at least one of them that you named is a state that is considered a red state. 14:01:59 But let me just say something that I alluded to last week, which is that I am confident that in the aftermath of the election, there'll be - there'll be ample opportunity for all of you to assess what sort of impact the president had on these races even though his name wasn't on the ballot. that in the aftermath of the election, there'll be -- there'll be ample opportunity for all of you to assess what sort of impact the president had on these races, even though his name wasn't on the ballot. But what I feel confident in predicting in advance is that the president will at least get some credit if Democrats hold on to the majority in the Senate and he'll get more than his fair share of the blame if they don't. Ron. Q: A question about Ebola. You keep saying that what's driving the decision-making on this is the science, and you were just explaining how difficult it is to catch this disease and so forth. What is it is about the science of Ebola that has drawn this firm line where no DOD personnel will directly treat patients, particularly because, again, this is a matter of national security, you say, and every doctor you talk to, I've talked to -- they -- this problem can be solved. So what is it about the science that has drawn this line stopping American doctors associated with the DOD, at least, or elsewhere, from directly tackling this national security problem? 14:03:04 MR. EARNEST: Well, Ron, I think we have seen a commitment from American doctors and nurses to -- traveling to West Africa -- Q: But for volunteers. MR. EARNEST: Yes, that's right. Q: And -- MR. EARNEST: Again, Americans who are summoning their own sort of spirit of humanity to go -- Q: Right, but that's not something that's being organized by the administration to deal with a national security issue. And in talking to a lot of these volunteers, yes, they're not paid well, they're doing it on their vacations. Why leave such a huge problem to that sort of spirit, individual? 14:03:33 MR. EARNEST: Well, Ron, I think what you have seen in this particular response is a commitment of resources by the United States government and by our Department of Defense that's unparalleled. There's no other international government that's made a commitment like the United States has to ensuring that we're going to strengthen the logistics in place in West Africa to speed the transfer of supplies, equipment and personnel into the region to stop this outbreak at the source. 14:04:02 And again, this goes to something that the president talked about in the interview that he did with "60 Minutes" last week: that when there's a significant problem like this that's going on around the globe -- and this is the kind of problem that people, I think, would prefer to just sort of, you know, put awaythat's going on around the globe. And this is the kind of problem that people I think would prefer to just sort of, you know, put away the newspaper, turn off the television, pull the blinds and act like it doesn't exist. 13:15:14 And the reason they want -- they would prefer to do that is because it's a really hard one to solve. We're talking about three countries in West Africa that do not have modern medical infrastructures. You have very difficult situations in which medical professionals are trying to operate to meet the needs of the local population. And you've seen the commitment by the United States, by the president of the United States, and by our men and women in uniform that's unprecedented, that is unparalleled by other countries. And again, when we have a situation like this on the -- on the global scene, people aren't wondering what the Chinese are doing to respond to it. People aren't picking up the phone and wondering if Vladimir Putin is going to commit Russian resources to this effort. People want to know what the United States of America is doing about it. And what this president has done is stepped up and showed the kind of American leadership that makes the American people proud. And it also happens to be, as you point out, in the clear interests of the American people. 14:05:08 This is a national security priority and it's one we're going to solve. Q: But what exactly is it about the science of Ebola, since you're driven by science, that has drawn this line whereby the DOD American troops will not deal directly with American patients -- with Ebola patients? What scientifically has drawn that line? 14:05:27 MR. EARNEST: Right. Well, again, I'm not sure that this is -- this is a scientific decision that was made as much as it is an operational decision that is made. The best way that the United States government can assist in this effort is to put in place the kind of infrastructure that is sorely lacking in West Africa. Right now it is hard to get a large shipment of supplies and equipment where it is sorely needed in West Africa, but if you have -- because of the involvement of the Department of Defense, because of the logistical expertise that our American military has, we can make that process of getting supplies and equipment into the region much more efficient and much faster. And so that's sort of the -- that's the expertise that they can leverage to benefit this situation. And what we have seen is that because of the commitment of American resources and personnel in that logistical effort, we've seen a bunch of nongovernmental organizations and other governments commit their own significant resources to dealing with this problem. Now their commitment is not as big as the commitment that's made by the United States, but it has had the effect of galvanizing the international community to pay attention and respond to this pressing situation. Q: Lastly, are there -- are there incentives to individuals provided by the government to go and do this work, because, again, one of the concerns about the quarantine is coming back three day -- or three weeks and not being able to work, taking time off to go do this. That's what many of these volunteers obviously are doing. MR. EARNEST: That's right. Q: Aside from providing airlift capabilities and so forth, are there -- are there incentives built into what you're doing that on an individual basis would encourage a doctor to go and spend a month there trying to deal with this problem? 14:07:12 MR. EARNEST: There's nothing that I know of, but I'd encourage you to check with a couple of other agencies, like USAID or CDC. Maybe there are programs where individuals can volunteer their time and get some compensation from the government in those programs, but I'd check with them. Q: Thanks, Josh. MR. EARNEST: Justin. Q: I just wanted to return to something that April was asking about. Do you think it was -- it would be fair to say that between the radio ads, robo calls, radio interviews, all these sorts of things, that one area -- I mean, to kind of contrast with what Jon (ph) was talking about -- that the president has been very active is trying to turn out the black vote? 14:07:49 MR. EARNEST: Well, I think there is no question that there is -- that the president in the course of his own campaign has been successful in motivating core elements of the Democratic Party to support his campaign. That's been true of African-American voters. That's been true of Latino voters. It's true of Asian voters. It's true of young voters. So to the extent that the president has had his own personal success in motivating certain elements of that coalition, then yes, the president is eager to try to use his influence to motivate people and help -- at least at a minimum -- help them understand the stakes of this election. Q: Would you say that that's the most important part of the coalition? I mean, just based on what the president's been doing, we haven't seen him, you know, campaign for women or Latinos or young people in the -- in the same way. He hasn't been going to college radio stations -- 14:08:45 MR. EARNEST: Presumably, there are young people and women that listen to those radio shows, but you can check that out. I'm not -- I'm not certain about that. Q: And then lastly, kind of on this issue. You said that we'll find out on Election Day how successful the president's outreach efforts have been. Would you say that getting part of those coalition votes above where they were in 2010 or 2012, is that a success for the president's campaign efforts in these last few weeks? 14:09:08 MR. EARNEST: Well I think we'll see. We'll see. J.C.? Q: Let me just follow up on my colleague Ron. Will -- would the administration consider providing free military transport, let's say, to U.S. volunteer health care workers and offer them -- to pay them for their possible quarantine period as well. Is that something that might work? 14:09:28 MR. EARNEST: I don't know if -- I don't know how logistically feasible that is, J.C. I'd refer you to the Department of Defense on that. Leslie? Q: Thanks Josh. Appreciate it. Do you know if the White House has developed any protocols yet for Ambassador Powers when she returns in terms of will she be quarantined? Will she, you know, observe it at home? And can you tell us how big her party is, and sort of give us a little background on what she's doing. 14:09:50 MR. EARNEST: Right. I'd refer you to my colleagues at the United Nations in terms of who else is traveling with her. But I'm confident that she will follow all of the policies that are in place when she returns, and that will include, you know, the active monitoring and the screening that everybody goes through when they go through that process. I'm confident that she'll be subjected to those policies in the same way that everybody else has. Q: And it'll be more so sort of on the CDC base than anything we saw in New York or New Jersey? 14:10:19 MR. EARNEST: Well, again, it's important -- and this actually goes back to the very first question from the briefing today. What New York and New Jersey put in place were specific policies related to health care workers who were returning from Africa. Ambassador Power is -- as far as I know, is not rendering any medical assistance while she is in West Africa. So there are policies in place that are implemented by state and local officials, because they have the authority to do so, that guide the monitoring of the health of those who are recently returned from West Africa. So she will, just like any other traveler, abide by those monitoring requirements. Q: Which are? 14:10:59 MR. EARNEST: Well, again, I guess I'd refer you to the state of New York. They obviously have been talking about this quite a bit, but my understanding, and what the CDC has recommended, is that individuals who have recently returned from West Africa or recently traveled in West Africa, that they go through the screening process. They're going to get their temperature taken before they board and aircraft. They'll get their temperature taken when they return. They'll be subjected to an additional layer of screening once they disclose that they've spent some time in that region of the world. Their contact information will be collected and it will be shared with state and local officials who will be responsible for following up and actively monitoring the health of those individuals. That is -- that is the policy that was envisioned by the Centers for Disease Control. I believe that's the policy that's been put in place in each of these states. But again, you'd have to check with the state officials who are -- who have the authority for putting these policies in place. Q: And you don't have anything different here at the White House? There's no official White House protocol? 14:11:51 MR. EARNEST: No. Again, it's state officials that have the responsibility for implementing these policies. (Inaudible) -- I'll give you the last one. Q: Thank you. I have a question about Ron Klain. MR. EARNEST: OK. Q: Basically, Ron Klain has a -- we want to know whether or not Ron Klain was involved in the discussions over the weekend with New York and New Jersey, whether or not he played a leading role, given the fact that he is the Ebola response coordinator, in convincing the governors there to change their policies. 14:12:22 MR. EARNEST: Well, as I mentioned to Kristen, I won't read out specific conversations, but I can tell you that the administration has been in close touch with them for a number of weeks, including over the weekend, and there was - - there continues to be robust coordination between federal officials here in the Obama administration, including here at the White House, but also at the CDC and HHS, and state officials. And again, the -- I think the best evidence or illustration of that successful coordination is the announcement from earlier today that Kaci Hickox had been discharged from the hospital where she'd been the last few days and was traveling to her home in Maine. Q: And the American people have not yet heard from Ron Klain directly. Is he the face of the Ebola response for the American people? Will we see him? And if not, why not? 14:13:09 MR. EARNEST: The -- as I've mentioned before, I wouldn't rule out some sort of public appearance from Ron, but his principal responsibility is a behind-the-scenes role in coordinating the whole-of-government response that the president directed be implemented to respond to this specific situation. And that means that he will work closely with the CDC and HHS, other White House officials to make sure that their Ebola response is to up the high standards that the president has set. That will -- that has in the past included conversations with state and local officials, and I'm confident those kinds of conversations will continue. All of that sounds like a lot of work to me and, I anticipate, will limit the amount of time that he can dedicate to making the case publicly about our response, but if that need arises, I'm confident that he will -- he'll do that if necessary. Q: And Afghanistan? Q: Lastly, do we know what he'll be doing in Atlanta? (Inaudible.) 14:14:03 MR. EARNEST: No, I know that he's slated to travel down there later this week. He's going to meet with CDC officials that he's been in regular touch with over the last several -- or, I guess, over the last week that he's been in the job. But I don't have any preview of his trip. 14:14:15 OK? Thanks a lot, everybody. We'll see you tomorrow.