nominations for u.s. district and circuit courts. later in the week, chuck schumer plans edule a procedural revote on i bipartisan b security bill blocked this the house is back on tuesday at noonder bipartisan legislation dir the justice department's inspector general duct inspections of all federal prisons, and make recommendations to congress to y problems. later, ember's legislative character -- and thedity futures trading commission role in regulating digital assets and crrrency. watch live coverage ofhe house on c-span, the senate on c two, and a reminder that you can watcof our congressional coverage with the free c-span now video app, or online at c-span.org. announcer: c-span is your unfiltered view of government. we are fund byhese television companies and more, including charter communications. >> carter is proud to be

recognized as one of the best internet providers. we are just getting started. building 100,000w infrastructure to reach those who need it most charter communicationss suorts c-span as a public service. along with these other television providers. giving you a front row seat to democracy. , president biden delivers the commencement address at morehouse college in atlanta. >> n honor of introducing our commencement speaker. we are honored to welcome the 46th president of the united states, the honorable, joseph r. biden junior as our commencement [applause]is mng

they say when you find a job that you l ik at all. that can be said for joseph biden junior, who has spent his enti life in public service. his career began in 1970 in his hometown of delaware. when he was elected to the new castle county councilpo sought after graduating from syracuse law school. two years later, at 29, biden was one of the youngest people ever elected to the u.s. senate. where he remained for 36 years. ng tt time, he served 16

years as chairman, a ranking member of the senate judiciary committee, and while there, is much debate in the news about u.s. foreign relations. president biden served as chairman or ranking member of the senate foreign relations committee for 12, where he was at the forefront of the fi against terrorism and weapons of mass distraction. in his speech a few years ago, president biden reminded us of the onty of the u.s. as the oldest and largest democracy on earth. heaid, and i paraphrase, america is an idea.

an idea stronger than any army. ean. more powerful than any dictator or tyrant. it gives hope to the most desperate people on earth. guaranteeing that everyone is treated with dignity. those words are a reminder of our role in the world, sken by a man who has lived the standard. 2008, joseph biden made history once again, this time, as vice president to the country's first black president, barack obama. together -- [applause] together, president obama and biden changed the way americans experience health cahe aordable care act. [applause]

reduhe nber of uninsured americans by 20 million people by the time they left office. when the country was hit by a gripping and deadly pandemic, it was president biden who steered the country to recovery. [applause] president of the united states in 2020. and sworn into office in january of 2021. since then, he has remained steadfast in what he calls fight for the soul of our nation. with the american recovery act, bipartisan infrastructure law, he has put americans on the track prosperity while also fixing the nation's crumbling roads, bridges, and rails. [applause]

it is a once in a geration investment in our nation that is putting millions of americans to work. i will conclude my incaatteion o administration in history since the inception of historically bl more in our institution than the biden administration has. [applause] and if you look at his policies, it is very clear thaos investments are not charity. but represent a clear view of

the value and exen is embodied in these institutions. president biden is here today on these sacred grounds to share in this special day. and gentlemen, please welcome to the podium, the 46th president of the united states, joseph r. biden. [applause] pres. biden: thank you. thank you, thank you, thank you, president thomas,ulty staff, alumni, and a special thanks to all the folks who helpou here. your mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers. of those who got you here, all the way in the back, parents, grandparents, all the health, stand up. because we owe you a

gratitude. all the families. [applause] that is not hyperbole. a lot of you, like my family, had to make significant sacrifices to get your kids to school. it mattered. it mattered a lot. and the friends of morehouse and the morehouseen, class of 2024, i have more and more people telling meo than i know what to do in the white house. [laughter] you all think i'm kidding, don't you? you m no it's the best thing that has happened to me. scripture says, the prayers of a righte man avail my. us, georgia, a righteous man once enslaved said, the story goes, fear no evil. he walked through the valley of the shadow of death on his way

north to f soil in philadelia a baptist minister, he walked with faith in his soul, power and his steps in his feet, to glory. after the union won the war, he knew his prayers availed him freedom, that was not his alone. so this righteous man returned home, his feet weary, hi spirit tired. 157 years ago, you all know the story, but the rest of the world is on and theyd. in the basement of a baptist church, he and two other ministers planted the seeds of something revolutionary. and ame rmerly enslaved men, for education would be t equalizer.

an institution of higher learning, to become mehouse college. i don't know any other college in america that has that tradition. the class of 2024, you sacred tradition. andumakeyou free. and morehouse education makes you fearless. [applause] i mean it. congratulations. you're morehouse men. god love you. and again, i think your families and friends who helped you get here, because they made sacrifices for you as well. this gradun date is a day for generations. a day joy, a day earned, not given. we gather on this sunday morning

, if we were in church, there would be this reflection, a reflection about resurrection and redemption. remember, jesus was buried on friday, and it was sunday that he rose again. but, we don't talk about saturday. when his disciples felt all hope was lost. in our liv, the lives of the nation, we have those saturdays. to bear the day before glory. seeing people's pain and not looking away. whator saturday to move pain to purpose. how can faith get a man, get a nation, through what was to come? here's what my faith has taught me. i was to first bite into demo- two graduate from college.

my junior year, spring break, i fell in love at first type -si,i adored. i graduated in her hometown. i got married and took a job at a law firm in my hometown, wilmington, delaware. but then, everythinghanged. one of myeroe and he was my hero, a baptist minister, morehouse man, dr. martin luther king, in apof graduation year, he was murdered. my city of wilmington, to our great shame, an enslaved state, and we were segregated. delaware erected into flames when he was assassinated. the only city in america the national guard patrolled every street corner for nine full months,v drawing bayonets, many er cities since the civil

war. dr. king's legacy had a profound impact on me and my generation. whether you are black or white. i left a fancy law firm that i had just joined and decided to become a public defender. and then a county counsel, and policy. to change our state' the cr party in delaware was a southe■sthey wanted to cho become a northeastern democratic party. then, trying to get someone to run for the united states senate, the year nixon ran. i s 29 years of age. i had no notion of i loved reading about how everyone knew i was going to run, i didn't know i was going to run. when a group of seme, they cou'y to run, they said, you should

run. nixon won night stay by 60% of the vote. we won by 3100 votes. we won by the finishing margins. over the broad coalition, including students from the best hbcu in america, delaware state university. you guys g[laughter] they got me elected. you all think i'm kidding. i'm not kidding. [laughter] by christmas, i was a newly electedenat, hiring staff in washington, d.c., when i got a call from the first responders in my fire department in my hometown. ltered my life. they put a young woman oene sayn automobile accident. tractor-trailer into your wife's car while she was christmas shopping with your three children. the poor woman, she blurted it

out, she said, your wife and daughter are killed. and your sons are badly injured. we are not sure they are going to make it either. i rushed f washington to the bedside. i wanted to pray, but i was so angry. i was angry at god, i was angry at the world. i have the same pain 43 years later, when that four-year-old boy survived, is a grown man, a father himself, lying in another hospital bed. having contracted glioblastoma because he was a year and a rack, won the bronze star, living next to a burn pit. cancer took his last breath. in this walk of life, you can understand -- you come to understand that we don't know

what faith will bring you, or when. we also know we don't walk alone. a beneficiary of compassion, of your family, friends, even strangers, you know how much compassion s. i've learned there is no easy optimism. faith, byai find redemption. i was a single father fo years. no man deserves one gr love, let alone two. my youngest brother, hel aathle, he introduced me to a classmate of his. he said, you will love her, she doesn't like all kidding aside, until i met jill, who healed the fy and -- in all the broken places, ol. many of you have gone through similar or worse things.

but you lean on others. they lean on you. and together, you keep the faith. until. a. better day tomorrow. it is not easy. years ago, some of your speakers already mentioned, it felt like one of those saturdays. the pandemic ro much. some of you lost loved ones. mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters. who are not able to be here to celebrate with you today. you missed your high schoolgrads george floyd was murdered. there was a reckoning on it' for a wonder democracy you hear about actually works for you. what is democracy? if black men are b k the street. . what is democracy? a trail of broken promises,

leaving black communities behind a pair of what is democracy? if you have to be 10 times better than anyone else to get a fair shot. all, what does it as we have heard before, to be a black man who les country, even if it does not love him back in equal measure. [applause] i sit behind the desk in the office, in front of the have two busts. one of dr. king, one of bobby kennedy. i often find myself looking at i ask myself, are we living up to what we say we are as a nation? tond racism and poverty, to deliverand justice, to restore our leadership in the world.

i looked down and see the rosary around my wrist that was added la son when he died. i ask myself, what would i know the answer because he to me in his last days. my son knew his days were numbered. his last conversation was, dad, i'm not afraid. but i'm wod.i'm worried you areo give up when i go. you g up. we have an expss biden family, when you want someone to give their word. you say, look at me. he was lying it -- lying there, he said,k he said, give me your word, give me your word as my father that you will not quit,ll stay engaged, promise me, dad stay engaged.

promising. -- promise me. i wrote a book called "promisda" not for the public at large, althou l up buying it, it was for my grandchildren and great-grandchildren to know who beau biden was. rosary around my wrist reminded me that. faith asks you to hold on to hope, to move heaven and earth,. that's my commitment to you. two showed you tomorrow -- to show you democracy is still the way. black men are being killed in the street. we bear witness. for me, that means to call out the poison of white supremacy. to root out systemic racism. for george floyd's family, to help create a country. you don't need tothat talk with your son or grandson, as

they get pulled over. instead of a trail of broken promises, we are investing more money than ever in black families and black communities. reconnecting black neighborhoods cut off by old highways and decades ofment's, that no one cared about. we have delivered checks in pockets toaç reduce black child poverty, the lowest rate in history. removing every leadpipe in america so every child can drink clean water ou of brain damage. we are delivering affordable high-speed internet. so nchild has to sit in their parents car to do their homework id of a mcdonald's. instead of forcing you to prove you are 10 times■i better, we ae breaking down doors, so you have more opportunities pair good paying jobs that you can raise a family on in your neighborhood.

housing, more affordable and accessible. lkedi a picket line and defended the rights of workers. i am relieving the burden of alady had the benefit of it, so you can chase your dreams. [applause] grow the economy. the supreme court told me i couldn't, i found two other ways to do it. and we are going to do it. because it grows thenomy and i, in addition to the original $7 billion, i amg 16 be dollars. more than our history. [a because it is vital to our most hbcu's don't have the endowments, the jobs that the future requires.

oprts on campus. opening doors so we can -- to be provided. today, record numbers of black americans have jobs, health insurance, and more than ever. democracy is also about adhering and heating your generation's and a pla--lanet free of climate crisis. showing the power to change the world. but also know, somebody will hat is democracy? can't stop wars that break our hearts. and a democracy, weebe about america's role in the world. i want to say this clearly. support peaceful nonviolent protests your voices should be heard. i promise you, i hear them. i am determined to make my administration look like

america. i have more african-americans in high places, including on the court, then any other president in american history because i nehe [applause] what is happening in gaza and 's vicious attack -'s vicious ad holding people hostage. i was there ni d after, pictures of a mother and daughter, pouring kerosene on them as they died. innocent palestinians caught in the middle of all of this. men, women, and children killed and displaced, despiteir desperate need of water, food, and medicine. manitarian crisis in gaza. that is why i have called for an immediate ceaseir an immediate cease-fire to stop the fighting. [applause] bring the hostages home. i have been working on a deal as we speak, working around-the-clock.

i'm also working -thelock for more than just one cease-fire, i'm working working to build a lasting, durable peace. the question is, you see what is going on in israel today, what after? what after? what happens then? what happens in gaza? what rights do the palestinian peave? i'm working to make sure we finallysolution, the only solut. [applause] it is one of the hardest, most complicated problems in the world, there is nothing easy about it. i know it angers and frustrates ma you, including my family. most of all, i know it breaks your heart. itreaks mine as well. leadership is fighting through the most intractable problems. it i challenging anger,

frustration, and heartbreak, to find a solution. it is about doing what you believe is right, even when it is hard and lonely. you are all future leaders, everyone of you, graduating today. that is not hyperbole. you are future leaders, all of you. you will face complicated, tough moments. these you listen to others, but you will have to de, guided by knowledge, your own moral compass. the desire to know what freedom is, what it can be, is the heart and soul of why this college was founded in the first place. and a free nation was born in the hearts of, spellbound by freedom. atmagiof morehouse. that's the magic of america. l' what happens to you and your

family when old ghosts a new your thoughts belong to you and everyone. todain georgia, they want allowat to be available to you while you wait in line to vote in an election. what in the hell is that all about? i'm serious. think about it. -- and then the on black election workers who count your votes. ■tinsurrectionists storm the capital÷÷ with confederate flags are called patriots by some. not in my house. black police officers, black ctg the capitol were called another word, you recall. they oen say aloud, these

other groups, immigrants poison the blood of our cou.as the gras have said in tyou know and i knl e sa color. in america, we are all created equal. extremists closed the door of opportunity, strike down affirmative action and diversity, equality and inclusion. i never thought i would be president at a time where we toe history but to erase history. to me, we make history. we know■las american history. [applause]

check my records, you know what i'm saying, i mean from my gut. we know black men will help us us into the future. black men from this class in this university. [applause] this is what we are up against. extremist forces aligned against the meeting and message of morehouse. being a man is about tough talk, abusing power and bigotry. their idea of being aan is toxic. i ran into it all the time when don't get me started. but that's not you. not us. you all know and demonstrate what it means to

being a man is about strength. of respect and dignity. it's about showing up because it is too late if you have to ask. i'ng hate no safe harbors. it's about standing up to abuse power, whether physical, or psychological. it's about knowing faith without work is dead. and you are doing the work. i look out at all of you read with and i see the next generation of morehouse men, doctors, researchers curing cancer. artists. i see preachers and advocates who might join another morehouse man in the united states senate. yohim. he's a good man. [applause]

i'm proud to have the most die administration in history to tap into the full powers of our nation. i'm also proud of putting the first black woman on the united states supreme court. i know that nooubt, one day a morehouse man will be on that court as well. [applause] k president who hast to the become my close friend and presid to the first woman vice president. [applause] i have no doubt a morehouse man will be president one day, just after an a.k.a. fromowar. [applause]

she's tough, guys. i know i don't look like i've been around very long. [laughter] but in my career, for the first 30 years, i was told you are too kid. now, i'm too old. whether you are young or old, i know what endures. the strength and wisdom of faith endures. i hope for you, my challenge to you is to still keep the faith so long as you can. that cap on your head proves your crown. the question is now, 25 yea now,

s e next generation ofstand and morehouse men, what would you families, for yourat p would 'e community, your country when it mattered most? i know what we can do. together, we will build a democracy worthy of our dreams. have a future where your legacies lift up those who prove the american dream is big enough for 2024, four years felt probably like saturday. four years later, you have i to sunday. you can reveal a light of hope

for urself and for your nation. the prayers of a righteous man unveil as mh. a righteous man, a good man, a morehouse man. god bless you all, we are expecting a lot from you. thank you. [applause] >> president biden, than you for that thought-provoking message. i want to say that from my point of view, you've been listening. u spoke to us about your vision for t f÷you spoke to us,o the hard issues confronting our

nation and the world athis moment. we are honored to have had you here with us today and we hope that this will not be your last visit to these sacred and celebrated grounds. please join me again, audience in thanking president biden for his generous words. [applause] and before you leave, president biden, we want to present you today, president biden, it's my pleasure to infer upon you an honorary degree from morehouse ranks of honorary morehouse men. [cheers and applause] and therefore, with the authority granted in me by the

morehouse college board of trustees, i confer upon you, joseph r. biden jr. the honorary doctorate of law with all of the rights, privileges■v a responsibilities that pertain thernto. congratulations, dr. joseph biden. he

>> i'm not going home. [laughter] >> now, the morehouse college glee club will perform spiritual "i ain't got weary yet." i ain't gea yet i ain't

got weary yet i've been■wwildere and i ain't got weary yet ♪ i ain't got weary yet at got weary yet i've been in the wilderness a mighty long time and i ain't got

yet ♪ >> tonight on q and a, freeman, presidenemusf the university of maryland baltimore county and author of the resilient university talks about the role of college presidents, the handling of campus protests over the war in gaza and furthering education. >> people think education is wherevexpertise because we all graduated in high school and college. that's not true. there is something called expertise in education. we need to respect people. it is fine to ask questions and make suggestions but never should people have the kind of influences where you have to do what i tell you to do. no, no. >>an with his book, the

onight at 8:00 p.m. eastern on c-span's q and a. you can listen to q and day and all of our's -- q and a and all of our podcasts on the c-span app. >> c-span's washington journal, our live form involving you in the latest issues in government, politics and publicolicy, from washington, d.c. and across the country. coming up, we will loo t week ahead on capitol hill and other congressional news with the hills chand then a discussir on poverty ahead of the 60th anniversary of lyndon b. johnson's great society speech. joining us will be the president and director of center and law and scott for the american enterprise institute. c-span's washingtonourn, join the conversation live at 7:00 eastern on monday morning.

online at c-span.org. >> this week on the c-span network, the house and senate are in session. the house will take up legislation clarifying the exchange commissions and the commoditfu regulate digitalets and cryptocurrency. they will vote on a bipartisan border security bill that was blocked earlier ts ar. antony blinken will testify for two congressional committees to discuss his departments proposed 2025 budget and the statof american democracy and global instability on tuesday before the senate foreign relations committeend then on wednesday before the house forei affairs committee. there is they, northwestern univerty president michael , je block and jonathan holloway give an account for the antisemitic protests on thr campuses before the house education and workforce committee. friday, live