Partisan way and get those to the to the finish line you got issues that impact veterans. you got issues that impact cybersecurity. you have issues that really are the bread and butter type of solutions that will improve people's lives. So stay tuned as we do the problem, Solvers Caucus Senate Senate Initiative as we go forward that being said, I'd like to have my good co-chair on the Democratic side Josh Gottheimer helping some work. That was not a good. Yeah. That was like a man. I did all this. Thank you everyone for being here today and thank you Tom for that excellent man hug and to our our great funds, our members colleagues who really we get together every single week. It's a incredible effort and today we're here to highlight the bipartisan work taking place in Congress. Despite what you may read about in your own publications media just capable right and I know I hear from my constituents every single day. It seems that all people do watch. Fight but actually you should know that there's group us and actually a lot of people watching it come together every week and are still focused on how we get things done for the American people and how we actually make progress and they're 40 - eight of us as Tom said. 20 - four Democrats in 20 - four Republicans evenly divided. We fiercely believe in breaking through the gridlock and in addressing many of the challenges facing our nation. We've had very good success All Congress. despite what the naysayers say I know folks only Actually happening all the time as Tom said US Mexico Canada trade deal We we worked very closely with many of the members of the demo on the Democratic and Republican caucus to make it happen with the White House and the trade and labor groups and farmers and workers and and all kinds of together to help boost jobs around our country and bring a trade relation into the modern error. At the end of the year. Federal budget Tom Service Caucus help repeal the harmful Cadillac tax and work together for feel the medical device tax and the health insurance tax to make health care more affordable for our families. This was helped as Tom said, with the new changes to the House rules that many of us worked on and championed by the problem. Solvers Caucus were successful in negotiating a changes, many of which you can read about actually being put to work one that we're very focused on is when we get to 290 cosponsors, you guarantee a debate and a vote on the House floor. That's made a very big difference than the consensus counter. It's literally breaking the gridlock. We've seen the 290 rule health appeal the widows taxes support surviving military. We've helped Women Women's History Museum Act is actually getting voted on the House floor for a vote Justice Week. We've helped pass legislation support homeless veterans and build support for the 911 Victims Compensation Fund and prevent animal cruelty and support American agriculture. All things that have helped get done because we are putting progress in governing ahead of partisan gridlock and as Tom said. And as many of us will speak about, we need to continue that effort this year in the coming weeks. Improving our crumbling infrastructure drug prices and out-of-pocket health care cost finding bipartisan ways to update the 18 year-old authorization for use of military force to prevent future government shutdowns and with the United Conservative, Tom said Our Senate project coming out of the Senate working on many of those together to actually get them to the House floor. They consent Democrats and Republicans in the Senate when they come over here, we should help get them passed in the House and just make sense that's good governing and we know that working together across party lines across chambers and working with leadership. The administration, we know that we are stronger when we are United and not actually screaming each other but actually working together. We're gonna disagree at times and that's okay. We must always strive for civility to our political discourse from disagreement can come understanding agreement and progress for the American people. That's what the problem Solvers Caucus is all about trying to work against the broken system. That's too often driving gridlock and we wanna put our country ahead of partisan politics. So thank you. God bless you and now I'm very proud to introduce. State of Pennsylvania also vice chair No. Look at that one that was thank you all for being here today. the people standing behind me. the people in our caucus are the people that are gonna save our country. it's that simple and I think what binds us all together. is we all came here wanting to get things accomplished and we got here. We're frustrated at what is we all know a very broken system and you look at the big disconnect that exist between the bubble here in DC and real people out there. Country and it is that they want Congress to function like they function their lives that their relationships were in a functional relationship in our lives you listen whether you lecture, you never get a hundred percent of what you want and you don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good you come to the Center. They build consensus and move forward every functional relationship on a lot of works that way. There's no reason why Congress should be any different. That's what our caucus believes in and for all the I think thank you for covering this event because it's important that we get. Stores. I'm sure I'm not alone. I'm sure my colleagues can attest to this as well, but we were out in our district. so we talked about our caucus. the first question I was getting sure they get why don't more people know about this. We get it all the time because people. They want to see structure. And if they usually go further than a building, we're gonna be voting on today which is a direct link direct manifestation of the work that this caucus did getting that 290 rule Institute in the rules. we're gonna vote on creating a National Women's History Museum on the National Mall to Memorial Lives all the historic tremendous accomplishments that women across our country throughout our history. Because of his office that that that is you could become a reality because of the people saying. That's real progress. That's what people wanna see so thank you for covering it. please cover more of what we do. I know it's not exciting that people actually get along. It's not you know with the media typically likes to cover, but it's actually what the people wanna see and they need to see that we're doing this. Well, thank you Bryan and as you noticed, there's a proud Republican. We're gonna bounce back and forth here and I'm gonna introduce the next Democratic Speaker one of the visionaries of the problem Solvers Caucus in my opinion and the person behind the idea of this press conference today. Dean Phillips from Minnesota. Alright everybody. first of all, Thank you. thanks to all of you who took the time to come here today. the back is not filled with all the National cameras. The seats are not filled with reporters, but to those of you who are here for that to those of you who came today, this is the beginning and I think most Americans know that the design of Congress is one that promotes division over cooperation. with the system of governance designed to make change very difficult and it works really well and we are the antidote. we are 50 members of Congress. We're approaching 15 percent of the House of Representatives. my brothers and sisters behind me are some of my favorite people. the most courageous people I think in the House the hour I spent with them at our caucus meeting is the best hour of the week. I've spent here in my first year I and Real message today is one of invitation to more members of the House to join us more members of the Senate to join us. We're doing the work of Congress. Sadly, it is broken down over the years and this is hope and this is optimism, which I remind people is just as contagious as fear but my invitation isn't just two other members of Congress to join us. It's to the entire country to recognize that we can't solve it alone and we need all of you around the country. Democrats were. Libertarians independents to send people here that are willing to sit down at the table. for if we do not do so nobody will and then all will be lost. but I'm optimistic. I'm hopeful and most of all grateful to all my friends and colleagues and brothers and sisters behind me and to all of you for covering it so the future is bright. Steve Watkins now from the campus who's one of our West. Well, I wasn't doing it well, you're gonna start honey. I invite you to go awful to come with me to Iraq or Afghanistan. you see that's what I did before this and you receive a mission set or you receive your operations order and imagine if you and your planning team had then decided to focus on all the differences that you shared. I mean he stand no chance of accomplishing your mission. Of course, you're gonna get what you focus on and in this city, there's too many people focused on our differences that I respect them. They're part of our strength here, but when it comes time to pass legislation that can benefit our country. Focus on So when we move out in a wrap or Afghanistan and helps to accomplish mission in order to make the world a better and safer place, I should hope that some of the legislators follow our lead. Particularly proud of the accomplishments of the problem, Solvers Pocket with regards to signing the widow tax repeal The Pack Act, the Cadillac tax repeal the 911 victims Compensation Fund and US MCA into law. Now. I'm a proud Republican and I'm surrounded by people who are also proud Democrats. This isn't just a club of moderates. These are people who are proud of their ideology and will advance that it's just. Who come together and realize that in order to best serve the American people, we met, we need to get in the room. You can find solutions, particularly up on the border opioids and putting in America. And one of our new members from Michigan who has hit the ground run. hi everyone I am actually very proud because Michigan has the single largest delegation to the problem solver great great again we have two democratic republic which I think is the biggest representation ah when you arrive here as a fresh man and you come as he was saying from the service background my performance CIA officer at three tours and alongside the military my husband was thirty years in the military um you and you come from a place like Michigan which is a swing state you look for a home and for a group of people people who think that way Which is there is no governing without Democrats and Republicans getting in a room together and hashing things out, and that doesn't mean we always agree but it does mean that we understand our mandate from our constituents is to work together. So when you get here you have to apply to join the problem. Solvers. What I like about it is it's like Noah's Ark. You have to find someone of the other party and you walk in together and this has indeed become some of the most productive 60 minutes of my week working alongside. I was have the opportunity last week to pass the bill by participant act on that basically helps patterns and get service stocks they have gone through things like PTSD and our concerned about their mental health um this is something that we brought the problem solvers copies of and use the rule change that this organisation for through we get over two hundred ninety signatures script committee and right to the four so I use the problem Rule and then brought it to the problem Solvers to ask for their support and endorsement so it's been something that not only helps us pass important legislation but has a helps our home districts. So I feel very very passionately about it. I I get the same thing everyone else gets when they go home. How come we don't hear from this caucus. How come I don't know about it. I think in these times, people are desperate to know that there are still people who are working on governing and I'm exceptionally proud to be a part of this group. we've done we did one of. First and only I believe by partisan trips to the southern border so that we could all be seeing the same thing at the same time and having rational conversations about how to protect ourselves while also living our values. So I'm very proud to be a part of it and I think the co-chairs for their work. Another new member from Michigan Fred Upton, said. You know I think it was Frederick Douglas. that said, I work with anyone. I'll unite with anyone that wants to work together and I work with nobody who wants to do us wrong. we are all tired of this function years and we have to work together to rules changes that many of us worked on were successful and now we are seeing the true and we've seen that Dessert in terms of legislation, the Red able to get to in a bipartisan basis, and we're beginning to work now with senators on major pieces of legislation and again, they were able to pass in a bipartisan basis and bring those up here because of the. Two dining room One of the other Co chairs with me. From issue the two she she was gonna come this morning, but she is locked in a Committee Big Committee hearing on. Emphasis last year and she's in the QC now for questions so she's not able to join us, but I can just tell you that this group the hour that we spend literally every week on a whole variety of issues is indeed, as many of said one of the most productive hours that we spend together to really accomplish why we all ran. It is to get something done and to work together and not spinning wheels. Phil Johnson, Ohio. Alright. I wanna speak to the heart of of this this coffee because you know it really does work and it represents a cross section of America. You know never once have I been pressured by the problem solvers to compromise my principles or my values as a. Never want what we have been able to to do is find that intersection where our principles and our values line up. that's what happens all across America every single day and believe it or not. there are more places and more instances where our values and our principles line up. Then there are the differences that divide us. you you've heard about a lot of things that we've done is problem solvers and they're all true but a couple of. That really affected the American people across the country. Last time, the federal government shut down it was this group that sat at the White House with the President and offered input that ultimately resulted in the federal government working opening back up when the federal government shuts down it affects all Americans very negatively. Last week, We passed legislation that that the problem solver spearheading to reform the US Postal Service to make sure that it is sustainable and that people get. Their mental and I can tell you that enroll America that is critically important because that's sometimes the only way we have of communicating out in the highways and by ways of Appalachia. So I'm I'm just really proud of the work that that the problem solvers do and I'm honored very very very very much to be. Private thanks a lot of typical guy from New Jersey going to twice there, but two Democrats. No. yeah. I appreciate that so I wanna introduce our good member from Utah Ben McAdams to go next so then. Thank you thank you so great to see so many members of the press who are here who came to ask about the New Hampshire primary. so how you doing that's today. You wanna know now you've heard a lot of people talking about hope and and what's happening with the problem. Solvers gives hope to fix. And that's why I belong to the. Talk a lot about optimism not to brag, but if you look in the dictionary of their optimism that says Utah Democrat. I wanna talk about two piece of cake. I wanna talk about two pieces of legislation that I'm proud that we work on is a problem, solvers and and you know for me. The value of problem solvers is not like this bill was saying it's not that we always agreed is that we stay at the table. Continue to work at it until So I'm proud to pass working alongside one of my problem Solver colleagues Representative Anthony Gonzales, who's not with us today but we work together on the Financial Services Committee and the Science Committee and we were able to pass through the House last week legislation to spur research on how to help stem the alarming rise in America's suicide rate through science based cancers and that legislation is now on its way to the Senate and we're hopeful that we will can. Continue to see this bipartisan As well, every suicide is a tragic loss of life that affects families and infects communities, leaving them breathing in Utah. Suicide is the leading cause of. Young people ages 15 to 20 - four, so I hope that through this legislation we Adversely affected the other one I wanted to talk about is a bipartisan by camera bill to bolster our endangered federal trust funds and then that bill is. In the Senate presented that Legislation to our group this trust actual strengthen vital funds such as Medicare and social security to help us get our fiscal House in order. Millions of Americans depend on the benefits that we promised them. Earned through a lifetime of hard work and we owe it to them and we owe it to future generations to carefully consider the options that will ensure we protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare and then we do it in. Republicans and Democrats and must engage in a serious conversation about how we keep the promises that we made about aging with dignity in our country. So I get two in a row and as we represent a cross section of Congress, I wanna bring up to the dice now. Stephanie Murphy of the Blue Dog group and come on up. Thanks Tom. I'm really proud to be standing here today with my colleagues Josh Gottheimer and Tom Reed and all the other members of the problem Solvers office. Today, we're here not only to share the successes of this group in the first half of this Congress, but also to talk a little bit about the road ahead. in case you didn't know it's a presidential year and it's easy for us to give up and move to our respective camps for the rest of the year and just say well, let's see what this election brings and worry about it later. I think that the people in the sunroom understand that the American people are tired of the gridlock. they're part of what I call the exhausted majority of people who are exhausted by the extremes on both both ends of the political spectrum and what they really want is for us to just get to work at regardless of the politics of the moment and whether we like it or not the reality is that we're all serving in divided government and the only ideas that benefit the people. we represent are the policies that can be passing the law. So Ideas that can pass through a democratically held a House Republican. People wanna see us working on those things getting ideas passed a dollar all that can affect them not a year from now or when the stars align. Party you're from has the Senate the House and White House they want us to work with the government that we have and on issues like infrastructure, debt and health care election security and I think that the problem solvers will continue to have a major role in creating the bipartisan coalitions that can deliver the results for working families. You know, Josh Tom and the rest of the problem. Solvers are focused on healing the deep partisan wounds that have prevented us from moving forward as a. And I can't tell you the number of conversations that I've had with members of this group about ideas that initially just seemed too far fetched to get across the finish line, but that eventually we were able to get it done and we got it done by working together. So I'm confident that as we wrap of this Congress, you'll see groups like the problem. Solvers pocket continue to reach across the aisle and get things done on behalf of the American. And it calls us out and then we'll open to questions salute Carbo from the Great State of Santa Barbara, California Abigail's gonna just take the. And there you go. I'm very glad to be a little confused today. let me start by first thinking terms and they have been absolutely leaders of this group in modeling the way we're trying to what I have done how meeting in my district one of the questions that often times comes up is what can be done to change this position and the great luck And I often times remind them of this group and all that it's trying to do to bring people together to find common ground. Whether it's on health care infrastructure, immigration and two particular pieces of legislation, dumb very fond of and grateful for the Farm Workforce Modernization Act and the US MCA two very important things that will impact my district greatly and Americans throughout the country. Let me just say how this is one of the groups that is most gratifying to be a part of because of the commitment that everybody shares look everybody expects in our democracy to have differences and to debate and have a great discourse, but it's a commitment to civility a commitment to working together and to try to find common ground. It's what really characterizes this group and I'm really proud to be part of it and I'm very thankful to all my colleagues and let me just consume if I. Thank you to each and everyone for their steadfast commitment to the principles and the mission of this group and to our leadership. Tommy Josh Thank you. Thank you. Any questions, but