Good evening uh I am in my office here in Washington want to to say, keep posting opportunity, ask questions, give a little bit of an update about uh what's happening here in Washington. I just came off the House floor to speak about what uh I put in the Democrat priorities as we a try to reach with the Republicans to keep the government open uh Peter well tonight calling from mom have been leading a letter which many many of our colleagues have signed on to that we'll deliver to the President, which particular it's kinda priorities of Democrats in the Funding measure we're asking that the continue resolution maintain parody between defense and non defense spending, which has been the tradition or appropriations process. A to that. We address the very serious opioid crisis in our country make sure there's funding for that. Uh three to our authorized to children's health insurance program be sure that's fully paid for uh fourth to pass the Dream act to be sure that we take care of the dreamers and um five to be sure that we Fun the choice program state of visions have access to the care that they deserve. Um so these are priorities. These are bipartisan issues that um we hope uh. That will be included in a continuing resolution. Um but uh so far we really don't have an answer from our Republican causes to what they're gonna put forth tomorrow we know the government of funny on Friday, so this is urgent so I'm here to take your questions also to hear your thoughts about this the tax bill that was just passed about um any other issues Report you so um for the first question here. Uh thank you, Maria uh ellis Martin. I'm worried about the coming shut down look. I think it is very important. The government's remain open in that uh we fund the government properly. This idea of every month having you continue resolution that doesn't provide certainty to anyone is a turtle run, a government and uh. We we all think that Important to be a long term funding solution. We have shared with our Republican cause what we think that you look like, but they ultimately decide what bill comes to the floor and whether or not it's done in a bipartisan where they do it by themselves. Um thank you. Frank in this ribbon uh. What can I'm uh make sure you take care. Thank you. Man. Why not secure the border with a Wall um no, I think one of the things that that I'm been very clear about nothing Democrats in general understand importance of borders to We just think that uh for security should be done. The smart way that uses good technology that understands that kind of current tools that are available in the idea of building a big, expensive Wall that doesn't actually secure our borders is not the right approach. You back senator Kelly when he was uh the presence section of Hall it's pretty not the chief of staff right now is that a border Wall was actually not an effective way to secure the border uh at least alone and so I think look we wanna be responsible about security, but Be done in a way that uses technology as a waste resources and most important. We should do is take care of the dreamers now, let's get this time is broad agreement on that. Then we can have a longer conversation, comprehensive immigration reform and border security um uh ready to how long have you had the chance to pass chip uh cheaper Organization has been pending for colors for very long time um. we There was a bipartisan issue this is about making sure children have access to affordable health care. This is particularly important. The chip program, because these are working parents we're just not making enough money to buy their own insurance for your children. This is should be a not controversial issue. This is always something I enjoyed bipartisan support this is the first time in my memory that this is become a partisan issue, but we need to re authorize the chip program and get it down now um Uh thank you, judy uh again have a question type. It in uh the other thing there been people have written to me about that. The GOP, when I call the tax scan, the text that we just did. I just wanna remind people um that this is ago which provides huge tax cuts during in tax cuts the biggest corporations in the world, his people in this country that will cause 13 million people to lose their health insurance and in close premiums go up because it gets rid the individual mandate that um makes it easier for American companies to ship American jobs, overseas um and we'll Need to really devastating cuts to Medicare medicaid social security and again eighty three percent of tax cuts go to the top one percent. Eighty six million families will see an increasing their taxes over the life the bill so this is not a bill which is gonna promote job growth which is helping working families so um I'm gonna continue to talk about that, because people will begin to see the consequences of this um. Let me go next to uh Meet Mike for when you in the Democrat stop resist coming got begin governing look we're trying as hard as we can to find common ground with their Republican colleagues and to fight for policies that will benefit where islanders and benefit people in our country. I think most of my Democrat colleagues are perfectly going to work together in a bipartisan way if I Republican colleagues in the President willing to work with those uh, but so far there's been no interest and then of course I'm always gonna stand up and fight against the things which I think are harmful to which hurt we're done with the islanders and will always opportunity to work with my rip And cause to get things done, but this is the time where it's important that we stand up and fight for the things that we we believe in our constituents want us to five work that we find. We can continue to do that. Uh can richard's tax cut is great. I guess it depends who you are, if you are one of the one percent, is there one of the corporations that get huge tax cut that's great, but for working families for Middle class families will pay for a lot of this tax cut either and decrease in services are singing later increasingly on Texas. It doesn't feel like such a good deal. We just like to one Against this bill, because they understand what's in it, um and that's not good for them. Um thank you, michelle for your nice words. Uh conference will never happen once treatments are taking care of me keep drugs out of our country with poor security. Uh. I think there's no question that we think it's their everyone thinks is important for security uh but you have the dreamers are kids who came here with their parents to no fault of their own. These young people are either in school working have served Our country, in the military I have no court involved and haven't broken any laws is really the cream look up. I had never the true me. The other day came a fulbright scholar is now stealing from Masters in public health at Harvard. This volunteering at the free clinic and rhode island. These are great and people that enhance our community that make our country strong the only country they know what's America. They came here as kids. They really are Americans and everywhere, but for peace of paper, we need to take care of them. It's unfair. We promise that you come for in register for doctor. We want kick you out and hour break Word we, gotta take care of the dreamers um um. Listen drinking are you coming to the women's March on Saturday. Absolutely I'll be there. I was proud to be at the women's March, both here in Washington in island uh, for the first one is March. I'm gonna shouldn't get there. One around um. Thank you uh water I appreciate it. Uh enroll in the Valley uh. Why are Democrats acting like brats when it comes to conservative guys. Look I don't like Democrats, are actually brands. We early second speak for myself. I think I can speak for my colleagues as well. We we fight for the things that we think are Important and we fight for an America where everyone has an opportunity and people can gonna find better jobs and earn better wages and have a bright future and that's what Democrats in particular a vision for raising people's incomes, reducing the cost in people's lives and making sure people are prepared for jobs in the 20 first century really a party that works for everyone and is inclusive and uh must be sure no one 's for done so. I don't think it's. I doing upright it's it's it's really speaking to our values and speak to our priorities That's what people send me to Washington to do to fight for it on and fight for the things are important. Rounders so I'm gonna keep doing that. Um make your next to this ribbon um. Did you have a specific, a case with individual. She should contact my office seven to nine 50 600 uh the person miles in charge of immigration matters is Roger um. If you calling me and absolutely really kinda be out from uh thank you Robert Thank you. I appreciate your nice words. Uh what I think will happen. The budget on Friday this is for mckenzie um. I think it's on clear, we just had a meeting with where player has been as you know, Central part of the negotiations with Republican leadership. I think it's still unclear. What the Republicans are gonna propose tomorrow. If they're gonna bring to the floor um, I hope to continue resolution that takes care of our veterans with response to the opioid crisis with proper funding uh re authorize the chip program Um takes care of the dreamers and give us a bill that does things will be a lot of support on both sides. The but it's really unclear Republicans. I was you can do this without us. There in the majority they control the House the Senate and the White House so they can either proceed in a by part of my work with Democrats on these prairies or they can shut us out and just do it, your own way, which has been their practice so far. I think that's a mistake but um you know they have the votes to do that. If they choose to solo on tomorrow Friday Um Taylor keeps, let's go. Thank you, Maria for nice words. Uh thank you very much. Michelle. I'm camera, just wanna keep more of our money that's something I think it's a really important point look there's. Some families and their summer islanders and their some people across country to go see a small increase in their paycheck um in the early part of this is tax bill, but I think what most people realize is that if you got a small increasing your patient, but your health insurance premiums go up 15 percent as health, social predicts, they will, because it luckily repeal the individual mandate or if you're You're other program that you rely on social security, Medicare medicaid programs and there are cutting this because these one of truly knows and test are gonna be paid for by somebody and they're paid for by these cuts and this programs that impact your lives then you know you don't end up gaining so you get a tiny crumb here, but the bulk of the benefit goes to the richest people in this corporations and you end up paying for the long term. I think people are smarter and that's. Why. Despite the fact that they might be some modest increase in the early part of this people know that in the end there gonna pay for these tax cuts working people Middle class families are in a paper tax cuts for the rich is people the top one percent the His corporations and you know people are smarter than that. They're gonna see through this bating switch um, which is why I think this is tax scam continues to be very popular. Um oh. Thank you all so greens, wanna write interns from the past. Thanks um. Why. Because this bill with Dave truck uh, look I am work with Republican colleagues when ever I can, I have a number of bills wherever Republican Co sponsor. I do that because Republicans are in the majority and it's important to in China get some movement on legislation to have Republican Sponsor and I do that when I find someone who has an interesting work with issues so uh thank you ready for your nice words. Um many uh, how many doc persons are in rhode island and what can be done to help them stay there and have a path to citizenship um. There. I think a total of a 12 hundred, a dark uh individuals in the dark kids um and you know these are young people who made and are making incredible country since our community. I know there's tremendous anxiety The about you know what's gonna happen in their lives, causing a lot of um. You know, on resting families, a lot of anxiety. So we were lucky to live in a state where people have been very welcoming and people uh have been very um protective of the dreamers and really impressed us to find a solution so, hopefully they feel very welcome in island um. You know, next Thank you for your work. Uh when is your next town Hall meeting took an interest in attending uh. We just, I just did town Hall meeting in Newport Saturday and continue to do them. Uh throughout the district so if you check my website and we'll, do a press release around the next woman, I make sure that uh that you know about it. So thanks for, for asking about it, uh. I did it comes clean out success in Pennsylvania having you think the voters will be responsible for that um and again And trying to some new people, uh Roy my daughter, one raise your alger scholarship and a trip to Washington can you help the town of uh I'd love to be helpful. I'm hoping that alright, if she has already come to dc great now, should be time. She hasn't come stop by my office. I can say hello um Good thank you, caroline uh Hi Red you might health care cost going up so taxes are worth nothing to me. Yeah. I think this is really important. Um one of the provisions of the tax bill that my Republican colleagues past is to repeal, even individual mandate which will result in 13 million Americans losing their health insurance and premiums going up for many more Americans and the health source would island, which is responsible for the, for the kerrigan island predicts that people Jack the people who get their health care through House on well increases in their premiums of up to 52 percent, so that's why you see a 50 percent increase in your premiums and if it doesn't off set some Modest amount of your paycheck and that's why, when you look at this bill in its entirety, you see that it was really a scan that didn't really benefit working people. It also is about based on this trickle down economics. The idea to give big taxes to be about the very top. No trickle down to the rest of us that's a failed economic theory that the reason to fill serious cuz people the top can only buy so much stuff in the way that you really grow the economy create good paying jobs is to grow the Middle class is make sure people have good paying jobs have money in their pockets so they can buy the goods and services business produces that's what Create jobs and create economic growth so that theory of trickle down economics just doesn't work. Um um can you answer some resident report of share Russia problems in Christians are still um. I'm not sure what your question is, but I think there are number of committees that are currently investigating the dos uh post is a committed House. Can in the Senate and I'm see Robert Miller and um so this, if you could Present your Christian happy to try to answer um look patch 200 can do to assure continued funding for 20 first century. Uh can be learning, says entitle one is part of the federal uh education budget really important. Question thanks Patrick for it. Um obviously high-quality after school programs for critical to the healthy development of our kids making sure young people have a safe nurturing uh place to go after school. If that helps to um build on the education that during this Cool day and create fun safe places for them to be his critical. I was very proud of my working province, created promised after school ends. Patrick. You know well. Um, but making sure that people understand that this is an investment in our young people and uh there's. So much dad about the effective high quality after school programs means in a life of children and family so I just continue make sure that members of Congress understand that in the people uh advocate for it and I'll continue to be a strong voice for funny because without To funny it's very difficult to continue using high quality after school program, so thank you for the question. Um there is nation's topic. Farmer to lane generic spin and pretty, yes it's actually my bill it's called the create acts and it's introduced that bill with Tom reno to make it easier for generic drugs to go to market. That will help drive the cost down for consumers um be a huge savings for our healthcare system and I'm hoping or gonna see some movement on the go in the coming weeks um But it's so go introduced with marina uh Steven noon. Thank you forward choose to have together mundo is on. Thank you, uh Paul mcdonalds, uh team shares members are looking forward to seeing you on Sunday meeting the twentieth me too, thanks for being up, all a great labor leader and you know that's one of the things that that we have been really speaking a lot about as part of the Democrats. Economic agenda and a better deal is making sure that folks have the dyno organize and collectively bargain and be represented by a Union as a Very keyword be sure people I have good wages, good benefits and good paying jobs and so we we need great labor leaders like Paul Mcdonald and others who are making sure that we do. We can to support working families and gun. I know I just have a couple more minutes so uh I'm gonna go pass the. Thank you's, but I do really appreciate that um Good if break was given to you when you get President break him not sure, look at all this about giving the President of break think this is about being sure that the President, this administration are not continuing to engage, promote policies that hurt working people that divide our country and I think people want us to be a country that kind of comes together and recognizes that we share a lot of values and that we were you know, we are a country that it welcomes people from around the world that have made America Longer better place and not a President divides us and that rewards a biggest corporations in this country. The richest people that denigrate our environment, that um divides us with coming horrible rhetoric. So um. This should giving a President break it's a Christian standing up for rhode island and sing up for rounders and things that matter islanders um uh. This team issue will not be kind of those who Newport dreamers and break up families. I agree a hundred percent and that's why. I'm not gonna give up on this fight um Hi Why earlier this see have their sorry uh is there any legislation possible to manages from profiting art of federal student loan system. Uh looking for have a God centric yeah. I actually have introduced legislation on exactly this point that would create interest free student loans uh. I don't think it's appropriate for the federal government or anyone else to be making money on the backs of young people were trying to um pursue higher education so I introduced legislation is modeled by what's time and can sweetness wrestling and that is a lot of people to repay loans over a very long The time an automatic payroll deduction from their paychecks interest free with a cap of seven percent, so that um young people will be able to repay their loans. But in a way that's affordable to them and I think it's a great model and I'm hoping when Democrats come back into the majority. That will have the opportunity to take up some of my legislation, but there's other decision really may cause more affordable um and thank you for the question um boosted Go where you want to go to shut up doesn't come to the table and doctor. I made it very clear that I will not vote for continue resolution that doesn't take care of the dreamers. Doesn't take care of our veterans by the choice program that doesn't pride, funding for the choice for the opioid response of our country and also that doesn't um the authorized the chip program so I made it very clear I'm leading a letter with Peter welch that most of the Democrats in Congress have signed on to sending out this five priorities and If the continue resolution doesn't provide that I don't intend to vote for it. um Happy, thank you very soon. Christians, uh, I never talked about the bill for so um just try to take one more uh. Thank you. I guess would which is telling my time is running out. One I just thank everyone for being on uh. This facebook live. I hope it's useful appreciate very much for taking time out of your evening to share your thoughts of me and give me an opportunity with us. What's happening here in Washington and until see back home or another facebook live tonight