Good morning everyone I'm congressman Joe crowley, child Democratic caucus, joined by the voice children corpus make a friend in the such as um we're two days before uh the potential for another shutdown uh. The only person in Washington believe was said uh that'll be good to shutdown the government is the President and self um. I don't think the American people want something with a Democratic caucus. Once uh and we're working that thing to see the government remains open uh America needs and deserves leadership them and then I getting it right now for this President Northern getting it Republican controlled House representatives, the Senate, we're two days to go um our Republican colleagues have been complicit in the like of leadership, has been demonstrated by the White House and they push it and, like a leadership here in the House, the Senate and getting a bunch of passed uh the top of the American people want to see coming operating uh this is the third time in short amount of space that we pay for the time that we had a uh. I see our before is once again The short time as of last night presented to the Republican caucus, such a way which American people are coming to run and a Democrats controlled the House representatives don't be running differently or them turn. My College decisions. Thank you good morning and thank you for joining us um. I would just like to report this morning the congressional Hispanic caucus and the caucus leaders um how to meeting with John Kelly to talk about fix for dreamers um. There are a number of legislative proposals that have been introduced to that would essentially provide the relief that dreamers need and deserve and the President promised um. we Had a pretty fruitful discussion about the fact that there are solutions that have been proposed. Bipartisan solutions, such as the herd, angular film, um in in the House side, there is um Senate bill that is being a worked on, but that they have core consensus on us. We are simply asking for vote, give us a vote on a fix. We think we have the votes and I believe, if the heard I can learn bill um we're allowed to come to the floor We would have the votes to pass uh piece of legislation that um enhances border security but again give dreamers the certainty that they need and that they deserve um. This past week and we were back weekend. We were back in our districts for the Martin luther King junior holiday and we had a number of tax events in which we talked about um some of the impacts that Republican uh passed tax bill will have Especially on californians and I have to say, there's, a lot of discontent um from folks in my district about some of those harsh impacts. Um as Joe said, uh the Republicans are in charge. They have two scant days. Uh to try to keep the government open uh. This would be the the third short term cr in five months uh keeping government open is a basic function that should be in on a no brainer and yet Republican struggle to find the support they need to adequately fund a number of priorities uh That we all want to see funded um, but Democrats in particular, have their eye on community health. Centers the opioid epidemic disaster relief in a number of other priorities that the Republicans simply choose to ignore and without our will turn it back over to jump and open it up for questions, questions with this. If I'm about to The office on your Democrats are United by mutual of dreamers dot com. We have been continue to be. We always will be um. We believe it's it's a permanent issue for our country and for this event, two thousand people at the polls indicated that overwhelmingly Americans wanna see a solution to this is you wanna see relief for this almost two thousand souls people, especially for four American anyway, but paper and uh. They love. This country. They wanna dedicated to the events for this country and we, as a dedicated to him as well, and we will know the deal. We see it a quite frankly and so Uh we mean optimistic that the deal will be in place that we could be can support and if you haven't heard we're just thing Republicans have the ability to demonstrate the pass to pass a short time see our they've done. It on their own, without Democratic supporter, help uh and if they want to have the support, if they demonstrate the past Well, when it's reflective of the values of corpus, they get to support the corpus action that will not have to support the corners. Yeah. I would say that Democrats are overwhelmingly United um in that effort on nobody is directing members members are making choices based on what is best for their district um and as I mention, some of the funding priorities that we have been um begging a Republicans to include um in in the spending bill um have largely been ignored and these are bipartisan issues uh that effect Constituents in both Republican and Democratic congressional district say they have no no the opioid crisis knows no party. Um oil tea, so uh. We believe that it Republicans choose to ignore on these bipartisan issues that are deserving of their time and attention on that they will not um receive Democratic votes for their spending. Yes, back yes We believe that wealthy, lucky and other issues as much in the community health centers the void issue the issue of the addiction of veterans, um last like of doctor like disaster to put the re going to the virgin islands and elsewhere. They're a myriad of issues that are emitted from this short term, a spending package uh to go honor Democratic support uh watch building we're gonna support we need to be more reflective about the values of corpus of our country is Yes, ready, I'm it was a meeting that was that his request and we give him credit for sitting down and I'm hearing some of our concerns. It was informational it was not a negotiation on there are others who are in a room talking and negotiating a proposed solution um. We made him aware of a bipartisan bill that was introduced this week by William heard and pete aguilar, which provides uh of just a very specific Daca six um which is paired with some uh border security elements which we think is the way to go. We need something that is narrow in scope. That does not include issues in which we cannot agree on and I think overwhelmingly a majority in the House would pass that bill with strong Republican support. If it were allowed to come to the floor for a vote um. I specifically asked the general that if we were allowed to vote and I heard, I can bill up Pass the House would that be something that the President would sign. Um he did not give a guarantee that the President, what although he reiterated that the President is committed to finding a solution for dreamers and in the past. They've said let Congress figure it out. Well, if Congress passes this bill will the President sign up, but um you know there is no indication. They didn't know what was in the bill and we uh try to catch up to speed and um and explain part of the So I'm there further ongoing negotiations so hopefully they will look at that bill and the strong bipartisan support that it has. An uh and work with us in convincing Republican leadership to allow a vote on a Dream or fix the sole impediment to a fix for the doctor recipients to date has been the Republican leadership unwillingness to put a bill on the floor for a vote give us that vote that's what we were asking Yes, yes, a you again. We think that the simplest path is a very narrow path that focuses solely on dreamers, with the border security element. The areas in which we cannot agree because there is not consensus. We feel we should save for a second phase of discussion on a more comprehensive immigration solution, but we are focused on a very narrow group of people with a very simple solution, sometimes simplicity is best. We are saying give us a vote on a Dream or fix which the president's, as he wants, which clearly a majority of the Congress, wants give us a Vote on this narrow fix and let's move on to the next face me was also describe you should do your raising as moving the goalpost tubs is negotiations. This question yes, I'm he did not tell you know of He said he did not know what was in the bill. The details of the built on the bill was introduced. This week. It has 22 Republican Co sponsors. Um and again we believe that there are more Republicans, uh huh that we can, that can be convinced to Co sponsor the legislation we certainly know that there are more Republicans than the number that have Co sponsor who would vote for it if it were allowed to vote on the floor um so I believe going into uh the next set of negotiations. They now have that proposed solution um to look at in terms of a framework for moving forward on a doctor fix This coming a different dj, dj, we certainly encourage the negotiations. I you know, I don't know that that's the most viable. I personally, let's put several bills on the floor and can Let's see, which one corner is the most support again. I believe that the the best path is a very simple one, a very narrow focus. Um save those issues on which we do not agree for further negotiation, but get this done because every week that we delay a thousand dreamers fall out of status and risk deportation um so this myth that it's not until March, that people are affected is false. It's affecting families right now and there is an urgency to Eating this done much like spending bills. The Republicans just wanna run out. The clock and delay and the land put the negotiations off. Let's get it done they're strong enough. Bipartisan support get it done and get it off our plate. So we can come so that we can focus on the many other issues that we need to focus on in order to run our government and and you know, keep, keep our economy running and and keep our standard of living Hello, I didn't say it wasn't the most viable it's a path any negotiation that bears fruit is, is a good negotiation. I'm not gonna disparage. It because I think it's helpful. Um, but again you know if the intent is just nearly to run out. The clock um put up several bills on the floor for a vote and, let's see what has the most support and I am in our Congress questions Hell, yes, I almost so thank you very much. I think if the President show leadership when she hasn't demonstrated so far, I think the President should compassion, which he hasn't shown so far. The President should empathy, which he hasn't shown so far. Leadership. We can get this done um. My hope is that some of those elements will Come to the President, some point as Republican leadership. These are human beings and the soles were talking about the need to be addressed. Their lives. Um they're American every way, but on paper they love. This country. They wanna protect this country. There invested in this country and we need to find a way forward for them of using finally, forward to help our brothers and sisters, our fellow Americans, in particle hello, virgin islands, recover 40 percent of the violence still does not have power well over 100 days after the uh. These hurricanes we need to find the Shoe of abuse in our nation to address it in a compassionate way and we need to uh as well do with the issue of community health. Centers I'm, a former myriad of issues, including pension protection, not be there are many things that we need to address. Um. We have two days right now between now and the shutdown and if the President would show leadership, we believe we can address certainly the issue a dreamers and doctor as well the next two days. This I think The such shoulder I'm too good um just keep back to the last place different jumping 20 13 and um address. Perhaps the different political dynamics and why Democrats think if they withhold their votes for spending built over this issue, it is Republicans to abandon burn, not Republicans have a majority of along the charging House representatives in the Senate as well um. They have a majority in the Senate and they control the presidency They have all the tools within a quiver, all the hours in the quiver to keep government operating as up to them to do that, if they want Democratic votes for a spending bill, it will be reflective of Democratic values and what we believe in the value to the American people that's week as we sing to something new and that regard um the big difference right now, as they holistic Lee own government entirely, both chambers, a House that of Congress and the presidency it's it's on their backs uh. They have get to prove that they can Love and beyond sharp term spending bills uh emily decide they wanna go beyond that and they need Democratic support to help talk to us about what our priorities are. Thank you very much