Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:
https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript
Stay Connected
Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes
More From Forbes: http://forbes.com
https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript
Stay Connected
Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes
More From Forbes: http://forbes.com
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Good morning.
00:06Pleased to be joined with Vice Chair Ted Lieu this week, as always, our amazing Vice Chair
00:12of the Democratic Caucus.
00:14Last week, we saw core inflation drop to the lowest number since March of 2021, which is
00:20good news for hardworking families.
00:22The American economy's recovery is among the greatest comeback stories in our time.
00:29Because of legislation championed by President Biden, working with House Democrats, we've
00:34seen 15 million jobs created, 17 million small business applications, supply chain strengthened
00:41and manufacturing jobs brought home after decades of Republican policies that sent these
00:47jobs overseas.
00:49Too many people, though, feel that the economy has left them behind.
00:54Too many people feel that it's rigged against them.
00:57House Democrats understand this.
01:00The task of addressing the affordability crisis and expanding economic opportunity is the
01:04most important thing that we can continue to do in this Congress.
01:09The American people don't understand why buying a home is out of reach, why prices at the
01:14grocery store keep going up, and companies are raking in massive profits, or why childcare
01:20they need is becoming difficult to achieve and more expensive.
01:26These patriotic Americans who just want to work, raise a family, and be good neighbors
01:31and citizens deserve our undivided attention, which is why it's so disheartening to see
01:36the appropriations process unfold as it has, with extreme cuts and policy riders that Republicans
01:44keep advocating.
01:45And it's disheartening to see the Farm Bill and the $30 billion in cuts taking food off
01:52of the table for women, veterans, and children.
01:57The extreme Republican majority continues to put politics over people, and House Democrats
02:06will continue to put people over politics.
02:09Vice Chair, Ted Lieu.
02:12Thank you, Chairman Aguilar.
02:13As Chairman Aguilar noted, core inflation went down at the same time Democrats know
02:18that prices are high.
02:20That's why when we were in control, we passed laws to cap insulin at $35 a month, to require
02:26Medicare to negotiate with drug companies to reduce the cost of other prescription drugs,
02:32and we're working on now with the Biden administration to tackle the issue of junk fees, to make
02:39sure that mortgages are less expensive, and if Democrats continue to be in control, which
02:46we're not right now, we're going to work on further legislation to lower costs and
02:49create jobs, because Democrats are putting people over politics.
02:54What are Republicans focused on?
02:56Banning abortions, banning IVF, and banning contraception.
03:00And that's why Democrats have put on the floor a discharge petition for Representative Kathy
03:05Manning's bill that is going to say, no, we cannot ban contraception.
03:11The federal government needs to stay out of this.
03:13The states need to stay out of this.
03:14Donald Trump recently said that he's going to come up with a plan for birth control.
03:18No.
03:19The only acceptable plan is the federal government should stay out of your bedrooms and allow
03:24people access to birth control.
03:26I also want to note that a caucus, Chairman Aguilar, in the caucus, we are thinking of
03:33Sheila Jackson Lee, and we hope she recovers soon, and I yield back.
03:38Thank you, Ted.
03:40Questions?
03:41Max?
03:42With President Biden slated to release his executive order later today on the border,
03:47curious your thoughts on the proposal and whether you support the action.
03:53Republicans have shown time and time again that they are unserious about this issue.
04:00And I think that's the most problematic.
04:04President Trump tells Senate Republicans to turn back a bipartisan compromise.
04:10Senator Johnson turns down the ability to bring something like this to the floor.
04:17That's because Republicans are more concerned about keeping this as a campaign issue than
04:21they are about governing and solutions.
04:23The bottom line is House Democrats believe we can and should secure our border while
04:30opening up more legal pathways that, by the way, have been the reason why we have had
04:36success.
04:37And success is defined by two-thirds of unauthorized crossings.
04:42That's the reduction.
04:43It's been reduced by two-thirds, unauthorized crossings at the southern border in the last
04:48six months.
04:49And it's because of a combination of Joe Biden's policies to support enforcement and border
04:55patrol and give them the resources and the tools that they need, even when House Republicans
05:00voted to cut those budgets, combined with opening up legal pathways for people to come
05:08into this country.
05:10And that's exactly what the Biden administration has prioritized.
05:14But we have to do both.
05:16We have to provide opportunities for individuals who have family members who are undocumented
05:23to contribute and to be part of the fabric of this country.
05:27We think that the American people understand that.
05:30Individuals who have been living with someone who is undocumented for 20 years or 30 years,
05:35they should have that ability to become citizens and to become lawful permanent residents and
05:42to become a part of this economy because they are part of the fabric of our communities.
05:49And so, you know, we need to continue to do both of those strategies.
05:55And I'm concerned that this is just, you know, the enforcement only side of the strategy.
06:01But I'm confident that we can continue to lift up programs like temporary protected
06:05status, like support for those with DACA, like helping families who have a loved one
06:14who is undocumented within their household, spouses, for instance.
06:19Those are things that we can do and that the Biden administration should be looking at.
06:24And that's what – but I'm going to – I have not seen the full language of the EO.
06:29I look forward to reading it when it's released this afternoon.
06:32This afternoon, House Republicans are bringing a bill to sanction the ICC to the floor.
06:39How do you feel about that?
06:41And do you anticipate Democrats being united against that bill on the floor?
06:46The President has denounced the actions of the ICC.
06:50I expect a lot of, you know, House Democrats to oppose this as being premature.
06:57The relationship that the U.S. has with Israel is strong.
07:03And the President has been incredibly supportive of Israel.
07:08House Democrats provided votes to give aid to Israel and Ukraine within the National
07:13Security Supplemental.
07:14We are going to continue to be a strong ally of Israel.
07:19We need to ensure that that safety and security is a part of that.
07:24But we feel that the ICC actions are premature, you know, at this point.
07:29And just a reminder that neither Israel or the U.S. is a signed member of the ICC treaty.
07:35Nick.
07:36Should the Hispanic caucus have played a larger role in the crafting of the executive orders
07:41coming out today?
07:44You know, I think that the Hispanic caucus has always, you know, prided itself on having
07:50a strong connection to these issues.
07:55And our expectation is to is to work with the Biden administration on policies that
08:01uplift American families, including, you know, immigration.
08:06And we have sent a number of letters to the administration, made our voices heard.
08:13As a member of the Hispanic caucus, we've made our voices heard to the administration
08:18on the same strategies that I've mentioned in response to Max's question, that we believe
08:25in border security, but we also believe in the importance of helping families and allowing
08:34individuals have more lawful pathways for people to be in this country through support
08:41for DREAMers and temporary protective status and pathways for spouses who are who are undocumented.
08:48Those are the things that we can and should be working on.
08:51And the Hispanic caucus has conveyed that to the administration.
08:54Mr. Agar, are there any political risks for the president if he takes this executive action
09:00but then doesn't do the stuff that you're talking about as far as helping DREAMers and
09:04others?
09:05I'm going to trust that the president and his team can navigate the politics of November
09:12on their own.
09:14I'm speaking for, you know, House Democrats here and our thoughts and suggestions and
09:19advice to the administration strictly focused on the policy of what's best for our communities.
09:25We're in our communities every week.
09:27We know what that feels like.
09:29We also know the expectations that our constituents have.
09:33And I'm trying to reflect that.
09:34Mike.
09:35Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
09:36How concerned are House Democrats about the expiration of the Affordable Connectivity
09:42Program?
09:43Obviously, it did a lot to, you know, close the digital divide.
09:47And how concerned are House Democrats that that progress is going to be lost with the
09:52funding lapsing?
09:53And can you just speak to, are there any concerns within the caucus about any other programs
09:58that, you know, you all speak about in the legislation that had passed before that could
10:03also lose funding?
10:04What's your message to the American people about those programs and making sure that
10:07they continue to get funding, that continue to get support, so they can continue to make
10:11the progress that you all have spoken about during these events?
10:14The American Connectivity Plan has been amazing at bridging that digital divide, making sure
10:20that your zip code does not, you know, determine whether you were connected, helping to ensure
10:30that kids don't have to go to the McDonald's Wi-Fi to do their homework.
10:36Those are some of the tough legacies of COVID, honestly, and is the reason why the Affordable
10:42Connectivity Plan was put into existence.
10:46And our case to the American people might have to wait until November, you know, to
10:50be honest with you.
10:51But we do it from the position of telling the American people, you know, trust us.
10:58We have ideas and solutions on how to make investments in our communities by evidence
11:03by the good work that we did.
11:05And just because House Republicans refuse to bring up the ability to fund those measures
11:11and to continue those measures, you know, please don't give up on the idea that we can
11:16do more and that we can do better to connect our communities.
11:20These are worthy investments to make connecting rural communities across this country and
11:28even urban communities that don't have connectivity in some pockets.
11:34That's worthy of investment of the American public, and we're happy to make our case.
11:39We've done it on the policy side, talking about this funding cliff today.
11:44We're happy to make it on the political side over the next five months to tell the American
11:48people these are the types of investments you can count on House Democrats when we have
11:53the gavels.
11:55Sure.
11:57Speaker Johnson and the Republicans could fix this problem with connectivity right now
12:01when they choose not to.
12:02And if you look at the history of technology, it has made our country more efficient, more
12:09productive, and we're essentially denying access to technology for folks from rural
12:14areas to urban areas.
12:16And this is – not only is it unfair, it is actually going to cost us in the long run.
12:21I agree with Chairman Aguilar.
12:23We need to absolutely make sure that we fund this really important affordable connectivity
12:29program.
12:30Next question.
12:31We're seeing a growing number of Democrats, both House and Senate, be critical of Prime
12:39Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's expected visit to Congress.
12:43Do you support him coming to speak before Congress?
12:46And also, how do you make of some members of your conference potentially boycotting?
12:52I can both hold the position that I respect any world leader who's invited by the Speaker
12:58of the House and the Majority Leader of the Senate to come and address Congress.
13:03I can hold the position that I respect any leader who gets that invitation, while also
13:08respecting members' positions, that they may choose not to attend that.
13:14And I don't think that those are mutually exclusive, and if members don't want to
13:18attend, that is their right and ability.
13:22I just remind people that the President of Kenya was here a couple weeks ago, and Speaker
13:29Johnson said we didn't have the floor time to invite the African leader to address the
13:35Congress.
13:36But now we have time to throw around a bunch of different dates, some that apparently aren't
13:40going to happen, and we're told it will happen in the near future.
13:46But I think that that was just an unforced error by the Speaker.
13:50Last question.
13:52Quick follow-up on Ukraine, almost like always for me.
13:55A few days ago, administration said that they lifted some restrictions from Ukrainian army
14:00to hit Russian targets on Russian territory by using American weaponry, but those are
14:04very limited permissions, and Ukraine said it's not enough.
14:08Also, Ukraine been calling for Congress for some time now to help lifting all the restrictions.
14:14First question, do you think those permissions which administration gave right now is enough,
14:20are enough, and also how Congress may help Ukraine to lift those restrictions?
14:26I trust that the Biden administration and the National Security Council are working
14:30with their Ukrainian allies to give them the tools and the resources and the authorities
14:36that they need to conduct the war and to win the war.
14:40I trust those conversations are happening and that the Biden administration is taking
14:45the lead on that.
14:47I also feel that if there are authorities that Ukraine needs, they will work with Congress
14:54and the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Ranking Member Meeks and Chairman McCaul on
15:00future authorities and what they need.
15:02Those two legislative leaders have a track record of working together on important issues,
15:08and I trust that this would fall into that scope if they are presented with something
15:12that's reasonable, necessary, and needed.
15:18Last week, Secretary Blinken came to the Foreign Affairs Committee.
15:21I first want to commend Secretary Blinken for making the decision to win.
15:26He made that decision very early on when he fought to get more air power to Ukraine.
15:31And in relation to the question that you just asked, he basically said Ukraine is going
15:37to do what they're going to have to do.
15:39And what we see now is, at least in Crimea, which is part of Ukraine, Ukraine is using
15:45these long-range missiles to devastate Russian military equipment.
15:52And we're seeing a very effective use in Crimea, and I know the Biden administration
15:56has now allowed them to use it to fight back in Kharkiv.
16:01My hope is that these restrictions will be lifted.
16:06I support the bipartisan letter sent by our intelligence committee on that very matter,
16:12and we're seeing Ukraine becoming better at using these weapons, particularly in Crimea.
16:19Thank you.
16:20Thank you.