Rep. Yarmuth - The Challenges Facing the 112th Congress

Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-3) reads excerpts from the commencement address given by Dr. Richard Levin, President of Yale University, in May of 2010 and offers comments on the close of the 111th Congress and the beginning of the 112th.

Dr. Levin's full speech can be read here:
http://opac.yale.edu/president/message.aspx?id=94

Congressman Yarmuth's remarks are below:

Madam Speaker, Dr. Levin made this call to the young women and men who will lead our nation in the years to come, but all of us should listen.

As we end this Congress and begin a new one, our nation faces challenges as complex as they are consequential. And we stand at a tipping point.

More special interest money is flooding our political system than ever before. Congress is the most partisan it has been in our history. The media is often more a source of polarization rather than information. And the American people don't know who to believe -- if anyone. And, I don't blame them.

The result is that our ability to have serious discussions about serious challenges is severely damaged. And now, arguably the most significant challenge facing our country is figuring out how to have those conversations.

That must be our calling for the 112th Congress. If we fail in this effort, we not only fail Congress -- we fail our Country.

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