Alright I wanna welcome everyone to my facebook town Hall uh I'm very much looking forward to questions um here in my protect office in my district office in rhode island uh I just came from delivering a meal to this is yard in smithfield that's part of meals on wheels program which was great and wonderful to meet her shoes is 99 years old big Red Sox fan just great And had some like discussions with reporters after that about North Korea um and now I'm about to this facebook live so I wanna welcome everyone um I just wanna mention before we start the questions that the Democratic party of launch a very bold new a Democratic agenda just a couple weeks ago uh the better deal and better jobs better wages better future we really focus time three key pillars raising people's incomes so that families have additional income to live on reducing the Awesome people's lives of everything from child care to health care and all the other kind of expenses of people face and be sure that people are prepared for jobs in the 20 first century and my this is really important economic agenda that really speaks to the economic anxieties that so many islanders and so many people across the country are feeling and uh there's lots more detail about the new Democratic agenda better deal better jobs better wages for a better future to talk more about that during the question and answer period but once just keep folks some information about that and uh It is so I likes to now take our first question every little think at this right here and I'm in you can help me uh so if you have a question just type it in uh and uh I we do have a couple of questions from earlier um that I'll start with this people kinda think about their questions and we receive a question from christa elder can uh on facebook and he said will you propose a bill that makes it mandatory for congressman to enroll in any health program to Congress made past uh says Chris elder can um I should let folks know that as members of Congress we have are covered in our health care by Obama care as part of the Exchange and our health insurance is provided to the exchanging disc because there are some States that don't have exchanges so all members of Congress get their insurance that to the sick change so we already have a what Obama care provides so much thank you for that question uh and now we have a question from connor flan and his question is can the Democratic party propose making Election day a National holiday there actually is a piece of legislation that my proud Co sponsor that uh that would make election day a National holiday in the hopes of encouraging more people to participate for people to vote I also introduce automatic voter registration at the federal level uh which is another good way to remove barriers to people voting and engaging more people in our democracy rhode island very proudly just passed on automatically registration thanks for the great leadership of Secretary state Valley Bay um Then Center gold in my state senator who is the sponsor of the Senate um but anything we can do to make it easier for people food I think it's critical um let me go now to the cheese ever and her questions I hope you will speak up against the dancy and the d triple C proposing that anti choice Democratic candidates are acceptable women's reproductive rights are non negotiable um not exactly a question but I a strong statement I agree I have a very strong record of supporting a full access for women to reproductive health care I think Democrats will always uh But please supporter of that part of our party platform uh and um well we may have some candidates that don't share that view I think the Democrat party and certainly Democratic caucus will always be very committed to them and people should and I have great confidence in that um gut so I have another question here um of science and computing unit travis bolden uh give us a question yesterday uh why can't the free market be left to its devices but is it gonna have to get involved we Does he believe in the free market we want an economy that works just for the people at the very top coming at works for everyone and I think we seen some excesses that cause the crash in two thousand eight that need that indicate that we need to be sure that the market is working properly and protect workers and consumers and not a just advancing the interest of their very powerful special interest in this country so uh we do wanna split the free market but wanna make sure that it's in the comment works for everyone not just the people at the top uh I have another question here from emma should all um why does the Democratic party believe that a better deal is truly a better deal for the American people than the previous economic platforms what specifically different shapes this platform from prior ones uh great question and this is an economic agenda that really focuses on making sure economy works for everyone the seen a lot of economic growth the top for the people at the top but we seen wages stagnant for Chris we seen lots of things The cost of things going up in people's lives but not their income is and there's a lot of anxiety about whether or not folks have the skills necessary to keep a job find a job where you could tour uh to continue to advance in the career that they're in so real investments and job training apprenticeships and the like so I think what's different about this it's an agenda with very specific proposals that will improve the lives of the American people and that focus on here raising people's incomes providing good paying full-time jobs being Okay that were addressing the cost of everything from prescription drugs to health care to child care all the things that you know her families are struggling life and it's also very forward looking to make sure people have the job the skills necessary for jobs in the 20 first century so I invite folks to look at that is jenna and share your thoughts about it with us um uh cuz I have no question from devin bogle how long and how far you feel the two main parties will continue They took the C stand off before you get some collaborative work done and will be an impeachment no conference the present um I think the first question is an important one you know I try to find common ground with my Republican colleagues um most of the importance of legislation that I've introduced I've been able to find a Republican colleagues to serve as a cold lead with me on that field bill because the Republicans control the House and if we're gonna move any this legislation 40 truly going to be working with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle so I try to work in a collaborative way I also think it's important out there are big differences between Republicans and Democrats and people also send me to Washington fight for the things that matter in their lives into protecting their important to them so some of it is big differences in policy but we certainly have to find ways to work together and find common ground um I agree with that uh let me turn out to Greg brill spurt but who gave us a question on twitter I will you publicly announce support for single payer healthcare nationwide um yes I will I have a Coast Medicare for all I think this is uh the approach we should be taking health care should be available to every single assistant of our country as a matter of right not a privilege for a select feel and uh I think also the formal care act is a great first step there's things we can do to make it work better in that Democrats have always been wanting to do that and to work across the aisle to strengthen and improve the affordable care act if Republicans would just give up this idea of what peel and we're With us to make it work better for the American people uh we next have a question from William barber on twitter who ask why is donald trump like to access is twitter account and he is the President of United States and guess he has a right to like everyone else in the country to use twitter I do think that most people would say that his use of twitter has not been productive and can be often very unsettling and a tremendous distraction but is also a that he communicates with millions of Americans so I understand the presence Listen doing it I wish that he were um using it in a different way but the presidency is the right to use twitter and we'll continue to do that um shit I'm certain of that um next time a question for marcus mello plus essentials a question on twitter uh how can your local work and create policing be applied to the federal level but strategy should be working towards in that regard uh great question I serve on the Committee and the 40 first Made you should Committee has jurisdiction over the curl Justice system and courts correction system and number of other shit shoes related to policing um clean the lessons we learned in providence when I was privileged to serve as mayor we have a lowest crime rate in 40 years was that as my police chief used to say finally the most powerful weapon that we have in fighting crime is the trust of the community and so we building community policing models that invest in building relationships for the community and the police officers that serve that community and full We integrate them into the community so that people know where their neighbor communities officer is so they serve on boards of neighborhood organizations and become a part of that community and at the federal level investing in those programs and investing in programs that give community resources to help build those trusting relationship between the police and community currently key I think about lessons we can learn up for that as well so I wanna remind people that join us thanks for being part of this town Hall if you have a question just type it in and send it and we'll answer it um I mentioned earlier right in the call uh early Hey facebook live that number of um my colleagues or out in their districts back home talking about the better deal better jobs better wages for better future that really focuses on um raising people's incomes a dealing with the core economic anxiety that for down under their feeling that people on this across this country feeling another piece of that agenda is really focused on this creeping monopolize Asian where people have a sense that these mega Mergers in these this really big concentration of economic power is causing a lack of choice in the market place and and causing consumers some concern people feel that they are seeing our increasing prices a decrease in choices and making sure that we are breast of Lee ensuring that competition exist in the market place to bring prices down for consumers to be sure that consumers have choices is an important part of uh our better deal and you know it better deal is compared to um a Yeah I would deal and I think many and what island is a many Americans are getting from this administration now go now to isabella crema who is ask what is being done to bring jobs back America this isn't really important priority of mine um I know many of you heard me speak about this home uh make it in America agenda which is really about uh changing our tax code and regulatory policies to eyes companies to create jobs here in our country and not I create jobs overseas because they have a tax code that gives the American companies in tax break for creating jobs overseas which is exactly the reverse of what it should be we should be incentivizing the creation jobs here in our own country so this whole um making America generations of big and set of bills all designed to help improve the manufacturing and to really give America manufactures a level playing field because we make the best products in the world um we You know people want to buy stuff made in America but we gotta give America manufactures a fighting chance I've also been working ability Center murphy but to modernize that by America provisions so that we can be sure that the gum is making purchases uh that we are buying stuff made in America and thereby supporting American jobs in the process so there's a lot of good work being done at uh the present has talked about it we haven't seen any actually happens administration in terms of um The president's on businesses that are producing and manufacturing overseas but hopefully he'll lead by example and bring some of those back to the us um so next will go to emory richardson who writes sadly the divisions along race class socio-economic it's cetera lines in our country a growing wider and wider what are your thoughts and how we can increase trust and compassionate care among such diverse people uh it says thank you for the great work so thank you for the ps um I think it's Very important question you know I think that what we really have to recognized as a country is you know we're in this together that we benefit from the the prosperity of the community in which we live and that uh one of the great strengths of Americans are diversity and the people from all the world come here and call it home and they bring with them their traditions and it is made America stronger and more wonderful country um and I think that you know we have to Think about what are some ways that we can respond to some of the divisions we're seeing in the country and you know one thing that I think we are a lot about its programs like city year which is really a way of uh been training young people the opportunity to engage in service in meaningful service that's making a difference in our lives that we think if we could just quadruple the size of city year and we have many more people out there improving the lives of people their community with this young people are senior During the parks and public spaces but it's a way to help build some connection and some service sense of uh we're all gonna benefit from together improving the lives of our communities uh and I think there's a lot of good work organizations like that they're helping that bring us together recognize that we have a lot more in common than we doing in our differences and that we all benefit from communities where people have access to healthcare in good paying jobs and um It can live in me know in clean healthy environments and all the things that we want for our own families will find that most people wanting on families as well and a lot of commonality there um David middleton is asking what can you do to help cover the rim on those efforts to slow or stop but we use and addiction here in island we have passed the number of pieces of federal legislation on this question it's a huge problem in our state a huge problem that all the Particularly in new England and we have a working group the new in the members of Congress that have I put booked put forth a number of ideas been working with a number of agencies about ways to more effectively identify and provide treatment and work with the medical community uh we have to printing we fight for federal resources to support the governor's work here in the state around she's done a tremendous job and has a very good blue print um and I see our responsibly to be sure that we have federal legislation which supports that but also that we protect the investments uh that are being Dating increases investments because in many communities it's not like a will in terms of combating this epidemic but its resources in the federal government has to play a role in making sure that resources are available and protecting healthcare salute people who are in treatment can remain in treatment and have that opportunity and here we go to Peter moneys we says we need you all tour together for the betterment of our country push that agenda in the store please um I'm doing that Yeah you know I think that we do have to see what people want from their representatives in Washington is to to get things done I to to take steps or tonight legislation passed budgets that focus on the in the key concerns of the American people and that will help to create good paying jobs rebuild our crumbling infrastructure make College more affordable response to this here is challenge of climate change secure the future Also screen Medicare and thank you want us to find solutions and while there's a lot of things we disagree on there are lot of things that we agree on and hopefully we can find some common ground and he is for us and things are no important um and to too many of Ford island is in to many people across our country um uh next from nathan fenner if the Democratic party takes hold of one or both houses of Congress again in two thousand eighteen is it near the top of the agenda to fight for net neutrality if this is near Top of your mind and the answer is that the other job my agenda for sure this is really important that protect free and open access to the Internet and that we protect how important this is been as a tool to really democratize uh the way people communicate and share and get information it's really important that we protect net neutrality and other a lot of forces out there trying to undermine that and to give commercial interested billy to interview with net neutrality and it's a priority for me and I think for many of my demo Colleagues how to protect net neutrality um tj carryon do you think you can work with the administration on an infrastructure bill uh I think infrastructure is an urgent need in our country I thought this would be the first thing the President would propose and activity and of course the did I think you find a lot of Democrats want to work with him on this we're preparing our roads our bridges our transit systems I expanding broadband access this is a really critical Prairie not just for um uh the importance of creating good jobs to to do the infrastructure work but because it's critical to our building our economy we're gonna move goods and services we need and infrastructure uh that is consistent with the kind of 20 first century economy and we are falling further and further behind our competitors because we haven't made the kinds of investments in infrastructure that we need to so this is an urgent priority and it was my hope to present with start with this if you could find a lot of support to work with Democrats to make a real investment and rebuild The crumbling infrastructure America we do have a bill in the House and build the Senate Democrats that will dramatically your investment in infrastructure spending uh so far we have not had the ability to move those pills forward but would welcome to see this for the Republicans Republican in the present this regard I just a product what are your thoughts on the amazon whole foods merger well this hon consumer choice and thanks for the question I actually wrote to the chairman that you just your community asking for a hearing on question of the amazon hold Supreme or just not the cuz I have a position against it I'm not even sure that uh It would violate any of our existing any trust laws but when you look at the number of people who shop on amazon for 47 percent of American households are Prime amazon Prime customers this is an entry now into the food market and I think I understanding what are the implications for jobs what are the implications that would have on consumer choices what are the long term implications when you think about increased automation so I thought I was a good time having hearing and really asking good questions understand it um without taking a position one way or the other but just to say that to learn what people cases of this Happy so I think it copy of my letter is on my website just you're interested in getting that uh we have a question from Joseph pine oreo uh comes in the system we need your support to go shane truck prices with Medicare but absolutely I have Co sponsor legislation to do just that it will bring down the cost sale save the tax payers tens of billions of dollars and those savings would be also seen by consumers of prescription drugs pretty good those on Medicare For this isn't really sensible thing to do to help drive down cost and I'm a strong supporter of it um that we now have and a diet we're where I just just make make College tuition free what are you doing in common to make College more affordable uh great question I introduce the number of bills author number bills on this one which was first proposed by senator sanders uh for free College another piece of that situation I introduce which would change the way young people can borrow their College I create interest free student Loans allow you to pay back that loan over 30 years and it really does a payroll deduction so it's I think it really good model um mom that what they doing switch island um but it's really a sensible way to do it I also run run a number of occasions you to Co sponsoring juice legislation to uh increase pell grants to reduce the interest rates on student loans allow young people to refinance existing debt so this is a important priority for me uh they are Many young people are graduating from College saddled with enormous debt it should not be this way it is having a devastating effect on their lives but also on our economy because folks can't buy their first car buy their first House as your saddle with all the student dead gotta address this issue it's virgin um I just got an online question from body hiebert do you think we should avoid war at all costs and used to plump juicy like what was said about North Korea uh abs Really I think this is a very situation we have to do everything that we can to prevent the North Koreans from developing nuclear weapons and the capability and delivering those nuclear weapons that would cause to minutes instability in the region and a threat to the security interests of our own country and our allies and the President should be working in close consultation with the Congress of the United States to ride in a diplomatic solution that a cheese that objective ensures that North and ends its nuclear ambition once and for all I do think the President said tone down the rhetoric That can sometimes make the situation to worst and we're used to the North Korean dictator engaging the kinda bella Coast language but it's different when it comes to the President state and I hope that he will said tone down the rhetoric can really focus smartly on in a diplomatic and end and any chance that the North Koreans will have this capability so thank you for your question um and now we have tester represents key uh thanks for Taking time out for this how are you and the other Democrats thinking ahead for 20 20 to believe in traditional down can be trump should be discounting your system can what do you think of the rock seriously um I think that what we know what we seen in the last six months is that it matters a lot that the person that we elect as our President only shares our values uh but uh has the kind of experience that will enable him or her to do This shop well and um I think we're gonna have a lot of great candidates in 20 20 um and I have every confidence that having seen the leadership of the President that American people be ready for a better deal on the President see this someone is gonna focus on the important things in their lives and that will give us a unique opportunity to take back the White House and the House as well so thanks for your question uh the go now to We're berto moreno I thank you congressman I am outraged at the prospect to 20 20 cent is may remove one USA it's represented from in should this happen we will become the most under represented state the country is anyway can protect honest becoming representative hog great question uh you know making sure that the census is done properly and properly funded so that it can be done well it's critical um obviously We take something our population increases that will make it less like you you lose a representative but I hope for the sake of art I own that we were remain as taking this to our present because a lot of things not only would it cut our representation now but a lot of funding is determined based on your congressional district until having to uh is a real benefit toward island so um I think invite your friends and family who trust take because that's the best way to protect against that but um thanks for the question um There we go next to site um Okay we all go I think is how can I help out in your office great thank you for the Christian if you're interested in volunteering or interning uh just call the office 72956 zero zero um would be delighted to have your help um Chip leek leek us natural why weekly town all be a facebook live stream so difficult for legislators thanks congressman simply maybe some of your um peers could see how you do this and great simple using convene treats so many people on my list yeah I know I appreciate that I know many of my colleagues do there's uh take easy way that um have an opportunity hear directly from constituents and their questions get their comments and I'm like you do and now certainly continue encourage my colleagues to do the same um Kevin John garcia do you believe that infrastructure and tax reform should be taking on at the same time moving too fast for sustainable solutions um well I would say that we're not going too fast and fabric applique fast enough with there's a lot of things that need to be done we need to reform our tax code which is a which is not working for hard working people that still includes in and provisions that incentive eyes shipping jobs overseas and uh other things which I think are kinda put Skipper country so I think we need to reform our tax code we absolutely must move forward on an infrastructure bill we have a crumbling infrastructure in this country the American society of civil engineers give us a great every year that the quality of our infrastructure and they give us a d plus this past they give us the post this past year so this is a serious problem we because examples of the bridge collapsed in Minnesota and was gonna sell it but you know we're gonna continue to have problems with our infrastructure all around the country if we don't Make these investments get away to create good paying jobs in to it up really a help to kinda strengthen our economic recovery and it's really a matter of public safety and a lot of inches so this is for me a really urgent priority we should uh move for us so I think we can do multiple things at once there's a lot of work to be done um and we have to keep doing it um so Mike brand and right type congressman there's cecily your stance on human rights and conflict branch and has been great but you cosponsor hr 30 30 the other result jenna Find in a trance he's prevention act I'm sure you the support the building it's kinda I think I may already be a Co sponsor but if I'm not I'm happy to look at it make sure that I am but thank you for your nice compliment but um if you go good erich stuff ever been is I said that you you kinda correctly we need to prep more monopolies in this country I agree um in fact that's one of the items which is included in a better deal better jobs better wages and better The future is a commitment to really look at uh this creeping monopolize Asian is concentration economic power that is driving up costs for folks you know it's not producing necessarily uh you know less cost more choices in some instances is just the opposite so being really aggressive and understanding that competition is helpful for consumers for small businesses and help drive down cost helps increase choices and I think we have to do a much better job at preventing monopolies and This essential part of what is in our Democratic agenda um let me go to how nice nathan okay sorry that I wanna hear kathy gold what can you in Congress to detect voting rights in the wake of the voting comedy um it's a great question uh I think one of the most effective ways to be sure that our democracy uh his a democracy that is responsive to the needs of the many into the voices of American people and not to the powerful corporate special interest that disproportionately spend money in our election This is to make sure that we courage and make it easy for people to participate in our elections and it's been a real effort to make it more difficult for people to vote in our elections and number of States of an active voter id laws number of States have enacted uh have changed their rules so that they don't have weekend voting or early voting Sunday voting and things that are making it harder and harder to vote the Supreme court struck down important provisions of the voting rights act uh that we have tried to get re re authorized the Congress that the Republicans have not brought to the floor and so far been unwilling to do so This been a real effort to try and make it harder for people to vote I rather easier so that's why I think the automatic voter registration is really important because it removes the barrier and so the people who make it easier for people to vote I think early voting is critical I think same day um registration for people want automatically registered is great um anything can do uh that will make it easier for people are qualified to vote we should do we should really authorize the voting rights act right away so that States that have had a long tradition of making it harder for people Don't go putting community color uh that will have leak ways to challenge that in the court and I hope my colleagues will move forward on that okay um I mean I moved to uh lucy shaw my College and what are are somethings that congressional Democrats are doing to help address the threat of climate change um we are doing a number things I was he fighting for resources for the agencies that are charged with protecting our climate and enforcing our climate protection as Hi we're in a hit got challenging time with an administration and leadership in the ph been hostile to our responsibly to respond to climate change um we've the number of bills uh they've been introduced uh one that will assign it attacks to take carbon emissions a number of bills that provide incentives for uh the development of renewable energy uh and you know they took whole series of bills the Democrats have been Advancing one of the challenges really fighting against in ministrations that has described climate change is a hoax invented by Chinese and the presidents will decision to remove the ice age that the Paris accords with a terrible mistake I think the good news is that many States and cities are doing a lot of exciting work despite that a lot of American companies understand the value of staying involved in this development of renewable energy uh but doing all that we can to support businesses They're investing in this making sure they are tax code has provisions that reflect this as a priority and being sure that we're fighting back against people or China turn the clock back and not respond to climate change is serious why I some um I think we have time for just a couple more uh that's it just um Good to bruce the medical institutions for mental diseases exclusion prayers the use of federal medicaid financing for care provided to most patients in mental health and substance use um which come see on its face makes no sense and I'm a happy to follow up with bruce and see what we might to have to reverse that and I think you for the question um Eric stop you have Christmas I'mma try to go to new has it uh The moments we just did um Camp try to get news new um can you explain why daryl gets tools 90 94 North Korea was not a nuclear threat uh I'm not sure who told you that um I think there is no doubt that new pit who's create has increased its capacity in progress significantly in the last several years and I think everyone recognizes that is a serious threat um let me just go this last question from megan White star hi converse and water you and other Democrats doing about health care since the ahca failed in the Senate what are you doing Wish to increase successfully to mel healthcare and also what are you doing to fight the open mic we're talking about his earlier with respect to the uh the Republican proposal to repeal the affordable care act we are successful um see in defeating that with the help of some Republican colleagues in the Senate but most because of the strong outpouring up uh concern for the American people people wrote and called and showed up at their numbers offices and demanded that they not repeal the affordable care act and instead you are now you can make it work better I think what You should be doing and we have put forward a number of proposals that I think will strengthen the affordable care act that will help increase competition that will bring down premiums will bring down out of pocket expenses that will bring down the cost of prescription drugs and they were put me on Democrats have made it very clear that we have a number of good ideas that will make the affordable care act work even better and make it even affordable for more Americans we should be working together with our Republican colleagues in a bipartisan way to the affordable care act I think once the Republicans give up this idea for full repeal if they are willing to work with us in a bipartisan We make it work better they're gonna see very willing partners on the other side of the table um but I think what we have to first see is their commitment to and their effort to repeal it in its entirety their last bill would have thrown 22 million people off their health insurance we've seen premiums go up by 20 percent and see the cost of insurance for people with preexisting conditions spike is well those are things were not willing to agree to that's work together and make it work even better for the people So I wanna just thank everyone for being part of this I look forward to seeing you at an event here in where I should let people know August sixteenth I have a town Hall in person at the boys and girls club of cumberland and lincoln it's starts at six 30 I encourage you to come and if I don't see you there I'll see you on our next facebook live thanks for joining me