thank you Stone joining us this evening. I'm Sarah Good Speaker, the main House of Representatives and also candidate running to all of us in the Senate. It is March. In fact, it hasn't even been fixed since Merced positive Clarence test done at Ban of that time, so much has changed all of our lives the way they live that we interact with each other together and that brings us to our third virtual town Hall in the number of weeks since we suspended artist on this US Senate. Now, the what we're doing this, it is uncharted territory for many or all of us is because we think is more important than ever that we remain in communication with each other that you are hearing but more important. I am hearing from you because the of the situation in our lives now comes down to the idea that we have that we are innocent of us are alone and they will meet through to the other side by making sure 10 you to look out for each other all along the way now the. Being said, as we have seen more cases of covid- 19 across the country, but are in Maine, more than 300 as of today, No, that means our medical now nurses urgency first on the front really worrying trend in this, we seen them do not have enough protective equipment in place for them. These are the people are literally front light adult with her on the virus. People who are working late to keep folks, but in fact to saves and we simply. Must make sure that we have a protective equipment in place, also known as PES. now the Trump administration right now has put us in a States are left behind and still competing against each for these incredibly scarce resource, you might have seen over the weekend that the Washington Post reported that has only received five percent of the 90 - five that we ordered in fact, Doctor Shot head of the main CDC said. Just you think it was that we Tree amount of the number of equipment that we've ordered this is not and when I mentioned to work that States are before in the past, like we are to compete York in California, not but it means they'll be sick and people die unnecessarily we cannot allow that to happen and I wanna be this Corona virus Pens a National crisis and National crisis that they need to have a National front with strong leadership at the National level. The federal level that's why I had to call on the feds and the President to make sure they're actually passing the PPE. We need now the President could implement and Defense Production Act or that we are producing a protective equipment just like has done already with ventilators and it hasn't happened. We know under of sides that Congress came together just last week it was doing but they did come to and they pass legislation that included a number of measures. That will peak people are an economic success. This is important, but I cannot emphasize that there were not done because they love that. PD is myth. We will continue to have this virus spread at which we cannot and not only destroy people's health, but it will continue to destroy and undermine our economy as well. Now, I'm better level lean glimpses of really good things do in fact, our Senator, Angus King and representative introduce the Medical Subchapter Emerge Act, and this piece legislation would actually come held the President and look that debt. Produce just talking about to make sure our in the production and the distribution PE to the state. This is we need to see happen and I think that when we look at what's happening even here in the state of Anne winning an example for needs to have the federal level as you know, Indiana, the Legislature, Republicans and crafts, and it's came together sweet tip in dealing with code. It includes corporating money for the governor to use this crisis. It included ending access to health care through telehealth as well as making sure would provide coverage for testing of Covid-. 19 include expanding unemployment benefits. It included ensure that kids and families around the state have access to nutritious meals During this time, we know that Gomez and her Commission Doctor Shaw and all the officials are working literally lock and tirelessly to get resources to everyone who needs Horse, We know that the rest of Mainers people in businesses are dinners do best for each other and step to the plate whether that is delineated to seniors checking on others sort of food at the food pantries, delivering groceries whether companies and there are a number of them that would have made the effort or did their own primes to protect the PE that I've been taught much tonight. This is who we are as Mainers. I set an example that we. Entire country can find in closing I wanna say is a time all of us come together and to work together, but we need is leadership a federal level we will get through this cry unless that and it is set we take care of each other, take care of the local health professionals. front lines drawn well safe Save people's lives. I wanna thank much for tuning in tonight and next I am going to turn to my six feet across the room and to ask questions as they pop up and we're going to get to as many as. We can tonight at what I want you to know it get to your question tonight. We're going to continue like this where we can be in touch and community. I wish you all stay safe and take care of it. Alright. There are first question Aaron in Portland, who asks what do you could be the most important message to carry to main people in this extraordinary? carrots. I think a broad question and yet and then equally incredibly important one. I think that the number one that I wanna relate to people something I said earlier tonight, but it can be. Stated that is that are all in this together. It is a National crisis. It's an international crisis dealing with and the light that we will make it through number one by following the guidelines that's at the health Care Personals and the CDC and the governor by two making sure that we are getting in on each other and taking care of each other number three making sure that those of us who are or policy makers on the state line, the National and federal that we are paying attention. What is happening for invoice and buy. In terms of our health, but all terms are for our financial well being and that won't stop doing that and the adjustments that we need make until every is on feet again. Andrew from Old Town. What are you doing our health care workers and Jacqueline at it? How can the federal government supply of medical imagery? Yes, so both for question ASU in the areas that it is so challenged level knowing that they got a tremendous amount. we can hear because Jacquelyn had a she asked that question is we need? Coordinated response that comes from the federal bomb In fact that comes from the print. We are an eight ball here are we looking at a state whether looking mission, which is as a booming and unfortunately our Street behind work in terms of the number of patients were in Maine, we have to have detected a protective equipment professional so they can go to work can test people so they can treat people so they can go to their own families without further spreading that virus and so that they can stay healthy themselves. It's got to come from the level. It's got just President. The number one way he can do it to implement the defense product of PPE, Julie is an important global pandemic. I think all of us the need for new sources could not be greater. Where do you turn for info? Where do you suggest your constituents? so this is something it's a vitally important to all of us whether we are looking to news to understand what the latest guidelines, whether we just need a data about where the curving for our friends and loves and others in the world firm simulate. I turn to number of new sources every single day Cludes nasha sources like the New Times and the Washington Post but it includes a very important our own news sources close system and here I probably Portland Press Herald The Daily News at the end public broadcasting work and I just wanna put it this time of these news outlets are actually making their news coverage free online, which is something that challenging economic prospect for them. but. Do because it is the right thing to do so if there is a way that people are in supporting them and actually subscribing to the newspaper during this time, while you're taking in their new wanna encourage everyone, that's what we're in our family that asked him to comment. What have you and your team done to help managers and local communities took it during the pandemic? Well backup are actually doing a lot and I think that my team and my incredible staff here at CNN who have been out. Sort food at Preble Street They have been in blood who are watching know this is insured and blood donation of blood driver in need and folks are out deliveries to their neighbors, something that I've as well as delivering me but to people in our town, there are many men that we can doing those but also something and checking or being in touch and being a point of human contact and I was to do those same things too. Hey guys. I'm poor community list. What have you done in your public people out of poverty in Maine? So I'm worried about that too. and I know that bus whether it's affecting us lean this way or people that we know and care we are seeing the amounts of laziness closures and there are some businesses that will never be open again and workers who don't know when or where their paycheck is coming from precedent for currently filing for unemployment and those live. In poverty, our skin really in the edge, we need to make sure and we number of things in place right now, so which of what I have definitely in the Legislature that has been amazing my work over these eight included lift legislation aimed at families out of poverty through a number of ways and then into the workforce and through education programs, but look what we're going to have to do time of Kobe nineteenth going to be for and more aggressive with that the. Issued some new executive orders today, which will include expanding general assistance. We have expanded unemployment opportunity unemployment benefits available to people of course as you know, we absolutely need to make sure they're being vigilant that people are victimized from their homes during this time because of inability to pay and there are some steps skin, but I think we need to do not only to protect people can stay in their homes and protect some of the forgiving extensions. As landlords, he's got quite a bit of work still to do on this front and many months ahead of us and I have to stay focused on it. Thomas Rebel without support for our veterans who served in the Marine Corps during the second I served during the Korean war. My son, David served in the army and retired after 30 years of my grandson's is currently serving a basis of this experience know that one of the most important issues for veterans today is getting what they need to coat the PTSD. One of our remain. How would you work as for the men and women who have served our country faithfully and well so Thomas. Thank you all of your family for an incredible survey. I often think that just words thank you will never be quite enough. It is out in fact, how we all live the values that we have as American continue to take care of each other. you probably know this even better than I do we have a hundred and 30000 veterans in Maine who live in Maine, BC firsthand, and I've seen the experiences later those that we can do better in caring for that. That's why some of the things that we used on making sure that we increase programs to boost the number of veterans to also add us to mental health care for and maybe mostly to make sure that we're reaching out to veterans who either live areas or won't necessarily in contact to making sure that they are just as need. I mentioned this thing done here in Maine because they are the exact same thing that I work on in the federal level. you mentioned PTSD. I think when we talk. Talk about access veterans, It is important that we are fun and boost up in the availability of mental health care for events in this country. That is something I am 100 percent dedicated to West Senate Bradley as an environmental industries such as Agriculture Street, and for many mains, you address climate support. Environmental Indus one of me, so I love the way you raise that question cuz you really brought together all of those of who we are as men, but also who we are as people what is a crypto it. Was climate, it is and no matter or where we in the state. We recognize that climate and our environment enemy are entry fight together. That's true about the industries you mentioned in blogging and fishing and farming, and it's true beyond that when we think about tourism when we did even when we think about the people who come to main things, hunt moose number of moose that are affected diseases So what we have to do is our that. We are finally change this is some has to be done on a National level for us to be and yet in sense of leadership in the federal on the federal the past three years as States we've been forced to take the lead here in what we have done is to goals to combat climate change includes reducing dirty carbs and to increase able energy. But on the federal level we need to do more. We join the Paris accord and we need to think that about what our entire infrastructure in our States and in this country. Whether it's our transportation structure and modernize it whether fleet of cars and truck that we use and we modernize that whether energy extra how we make this for more renewable energy to come online and to reduce carbs whether it's station or the energy industry and like you said all of our livelihood and our future are dependent on there, it's golf of Maine, the second fastest warming body of ocean in this entire world, an entire engine or what it is farming drought and other things that come upon us is vitally important that we. Bob and Leslie from Machias Rodan and said what is the possibility of expanding access to high-speed Internet So that available like Watermelon? Yes, so Archie and the way you ask, Ali hits the nail on the head because that digital infrastructure and broadband is a unity. just in the same way I used to only think of the tricity and water and basics like that if we do exist in the modern world and I and others have been saying this for years, then we had eyes our digital injure our broadband under especially in a row. State, like Maine and of course you and Washington, probably under just better than almost any in the entire. now we are Covered 19 and suddenly we're forced not just from home but to learn from what the certain parts of the state in Washington County. This is Beth Definitely true, then have access to broadband at their home or to continue their learning if any way that a crisis that help us understand the investment that we need to make ourselves. this is it. Broadband is an absolute way that we have to do it now. I wanna say that on the news side of things just during the legislative part of the emergency, supplemental bills that we passed included send to voters in June for 15 million dollars of an in broadband infrastructure in this main, but I also wanna be clear that that is not that is a long permanent that still investment, but in the short term, even while we're exposed crisis both this summer and Fallen We make sure that families and children have access to high-speed Internet and there are some creative solutions that were will do that. So stay tuned. Donald pavement. What have your accomplishments in the main House? well it is during yours in the main House. It's hard to believe those years and now we have had some busy years some of the challenging years. in some ways I did government agreement and also some of the most. Fruitful ways the difference for main people you know when I lock are how we actually in the lives of people does each other up I mentioned lift legislation that I've worked on which is incredibly important to me in a state like Maine, where we know we hide degree, not just it's not just about the living in poverty, but it's about all of us in our community and who we are and how well we do lift people up and out of party and indicated that we faced some of our biggest. Head on I started to make headway that includes battling the opioid epidemic and mean that we are conducting and prevention, but all treatment that is not just term understand that opioid substance abuse is something that goes in person's future and that they too need help with. We've made great strides and setting main as a leader and as an example for how to climate change instantly in the past two year worked incredibly hard to access in Maine lower the cost. Health and main that is being Legislature in 2019. No matter what happens in United States Congress affordable app pre predictions, Oh well that the insurance company not denied coverage because of it, our own children will be able to stay on their health insurance until they're 20. We also pass location just a couple of weeks ago, capping pay for the link at 30 -first a month with nerve people in who have type one diabetes that this is an Important and lifesaving issue you to do that cover work for main people. Brian Mark Harbor asks what experience State legislatures Democratic caucus Do you think you will find most value of being building codes to move policy in the Senate So is a thought something I think all the time both because in the state of Maine as I referenced just a moment, I think we experience of our most challenging piece of divided government here in the state and in fact my first two years as were Paul, the pages last two years as governor, we had a Republican control product controlled health and I really. My tip of what being a leader means and an incision and that a challenges of bringing people together every single day whether it was those years whether up two years with a demon or and Democratic when we have worked our Republican counter to have a partisan buy in a major page' Slaton, the budget produced it is that we work together and now we always remember something about every day, which is that we are who want to well. And who want to lift each other? I believe at the end of the we have we just have had to get and one of the things I ask myself every time I go into a conversation with some or find myself in disagreement with someone is to ask myself. What is the other person for what do they care about? what are they most afraid of what are their goals and I find ask myself those questions we are able to come and get her. That's the kind of leader I've been in the main Legislature as the exact kind of lead that I will be in the United States as well. Built is in the comments I'm concerned about the images of money and out what would you do to fix that? Well? the thing? I'm really concerned about. I think men's recognize Angelo and that we need to address a meat because no matter what other bigger policy issues talking about where it's care whether it's whether it's the cost of drop what to recognize is the reason why the United States Congress is not getting worked up can be traced back to that in America. Seem to have a bigger voice than people not only is that right, we will not continue to make process as Americans or Remainers as long as the that's why I support overturn citizens United, which gave corporations that your voice. Then people do why I also support legislation the Disclose act. That's in fact in States Congress today then voted on before Senator Susan Collins was the deciding vote against that piece of life. Do you know what that legislation done it would have created total transparency so that when he adds a run all see exactly hind them and who's paying for them. They're the kind of thing changes that we need to enact on the federal and the time for it is now and in capitalism after we get through the Committee pandemic what we provide access to health care for our country well, and this is the fundament that people have asking I think for years and suddenly during. Cortana about nearly months now, we have heard from people every single place. We go that this is the number one concern whether it's the health care or whether it is simply just health care in a play main were rural hospital often unjust a big margin to make sure that every break no matter who they are kind of air and that that health care is excellent. I think the first step to doing that is Medicare, a program that anybody everybody can buy it if they choose to do it. I think that right now we also need to private insurance. An option for those people who want to keep it in addition to that we how we can lower the cost of drugs and I'll tell you there are easy to identify ways that we can do that that I'm puzzled that the United States Congress has not gone after yet whether we're thinking here and the fact that liberal government is negotiate with drug can lower the cost of prescription drugs to care if we do this not only prescription drugs, but in fact, it would have the effect of lowering the cost of drugs of the leading and and drivers. Health care cost in this, it would lower for everyone so some of the ideas that and I look forward. to seeing what you do health care access for women in this time of severely restricted access. well, Elizabeth, This is adding that I have worked incredibly years both ears of being in a defense sure, making sure that we putting a woman's access to reproductive health care, but most notably in the past two years, then as we have a National about what's going over's way. And by state, you've seen a 10 women's reproductive health care and reduce rights here in Maine, we actually strengthen and protect a woman's access to health care. did it in ways that I think are particularly important right now because one of the things we did, we said that no matter what kind of enjoyment has that insurance to pay for an abortion has had this particular and we're talking about entire insurance bow public insurance well, but Additionally, we did something with. Was it fix an antiquated law now previously oceana could provide an abortion when a woman needed one, but what we did was changed the law last year to say that clinician practice who was trained, can also perform, says this would have been in any ways in a state like that were access to real health cuz more challenging, But now during the time of cocaine is lack of available health care professional comes in even more vitally important aspect of how. We make sure that care is there for a time for questions. the first is what do you like to do when you're not serving the public in the Legislature well I like to canvas Senate and I'm kidding well. I'm not kidding. I act love this campaign for US Senate because it was me to be everywhere and beautiful state can turn about and what is happening in our lives and to think about how we can keep doing better and keep improving the lives of people around us aside from those two. An entire family, I'm like you I cherish moment with our growing kids, Julian Alex and Josie, who are in a Middle school now spending time out running thing with a dog to clean. I love to although that is probably the best thing to make time for to do pretty much anything I'd ending on the water swimming and paddling art kayak as well in our lesson comes from Terry in Portland. What is the issue that? Feel the most power. there are sometimes it's hard to get that question because there are a lot of issues and I feel really passionate about I'm at Kobe has brought to life that once that I talk to talk about the most, the most on the campaign is health care just vitally important basic human that we should have do and be able to afford but when we see a pandemic, a quick like contain in front of us, we see the fact that. Are in these emergency situations because of the virus, but also underlying conditions that exist or come up. It's really been reminds me how does and I'm so grateful We've been able to do the work that we have on health care, but I all that we have to go. We have to reform our commitment to being said, can't just stop at once and climate change has been for as long as I have been in the state legislator and will continue to be issued that I know isn't it. For us that we address for its too late virus is a lesson for all of us. We talked about the possibility of a pandemic for decades and yet here we are unprepared for it. we could have in and we shouldn't more prepared and when I think about an issue like climate change, I think that is it for us to learn to really pay attention as we emerge from coveting. That was our letter is left but I want to all of you again for joining us this evening starting to I can see the new set outside. It was a beautiful day here in. We know that we have a long week we have weeks. we have for code team to peak where there's a tremendous amount of uncertain about that. what that means for our health for our own health, Our family friends, It brings great anxiety, both in terms of health her own health, but also in terms of the virtual in economic consequences that some of us are facing a meet and that summit about continuing to roll out in front. It's all very, very serious and the only thing that I know about. How we're going to do this is that we're going to get by working together. It's going to take leadership single level of government. It's good leadership among us in our communities. It's going to require out the very best even when it is the heart, but I know and I believe we can do it and that is why I will keep on saying what I started with tonight. We're all instigator her time. That's after rooms of so I again I hope in this forum and in the meantime I. Wish you the best stay safe, Stay wealthy and take care of each other. Thanks so much.