This press conference goes, the best is yet to come. I will turn it over to Speaker Pelosi, madam speaker. Speaker pelosi thank you. Thank you for hosting us this afternoon on this subject, the health and wellbeing of americas families. Presidency of donald trump has brought further crisis to American Families in the midst of a pandemic. The chaos he brought forth, calling it a hoax, the denials, the delay, the distortion, has resulted in what tj just referenced, 180,000 people have died in our country, and millions have been infected. Fact, in the 104 days since we passed the heroes act and Mitch Mcconnell pressed the pause button and said we should pause, the virus did not pause and nothing else did. The hardship did not pause. Since then, the number of people who have died has doubled, and the number of people infected has increased by nearly 4 Million People. This is so tragic, but it also happened instead of the president crushing the virus, and the chaos brought by his ridiculous claims and denial. Instead of crushing the virus come he decided to crush the Affordable Care act. In the tradition of the republicans orcongress who try to repeal undermine the Affordable Care act come of this president is trying to crush it in the courts. November 10 will be the day when we put forth the oral argument to fight his efforts to crush the Affordable Care act. 20 million more people have access to health care. In addition, over 150 million families have essential benefits increased. Preexisting condition benefits. Said he will also protect preexisting conditions. He is not. He is crushing it. This makes all the difference in the world for 130 million families in our country. A child with a preexisting condition has it for life. People with disabilities in our country depend on that benefit. They also depend on medicaid, which the president is trying to undermine. Encouraging states to expand medicaid. Wants to eliminate what the Affordable Care act has done to expand medicare and medicaid. In terms of medicaid, this is essential. With peopleamilies who have disabilities in them. Important and essential to the Affordable Care act. From day one, with our freshman leading the way, in this Congress Come in the majority, our freshman class put forth a resolution that we will fight this in court and we are indeed doing that. This is a sad note today. Purple and white for suffragists. This is an important issue for women that is for sure. The mostther king said horrible inequality was in health care, because people could die. That is why through president obamas and Vice President bidens leadership, we passed the Affordable Care act that is andunder President BidenVice President harris, it will be strengthened. Yesterday, august 25, in different years, we lost two of kennedy, anted inspiration and a leader in establishing the Affordable Care act. He died 11 years ago yesterday. Two years ago yesterday, john mccain died, a hero in saving the Affordable Care act. So people have acted with brilliance, courage, for the rest of the American People. The president is acting with pharma, anding to not telling the truth. He is about chaos. We are about science. We will have more to say about this as we go forward. About science, science, science, instead of the president s notion mongering about cures, about which he knows nothing. Chaos and how we are treating the Affordable Care act, chaos and how he is treating the fda, of science dominating the approval process, politics is. I know this conversation will continue. Leader schumer thank you, speaker, and the job you do. Thank you to the Biden Campaign and the dnc for holding this call. Senators, onereat democratic, one republican, essential in expanding health care. John mccain was essential when the Republican Senate try to undo it, to help us stop it. Lets not forget them. Donald trump has made his name in reality tv, but this week, at the Republican National convention, the Trump Campaign tv. Roducing surreality covid19the world in cases by far. Republicans pretend like donald trump has a handle on the virus. Republicans have spent their convention trying to papiermache over reality, to cover up the fact that donald trump has failed to contain covid19. Clear, donald trump ignored the advice of experts, downplayed the virus, and failed to take swift action. Every other country, just about, every other developed country, has done a far better job than us because they had leadership and we did not. They had we had chaos. As a result, the administrations response to covid19 has been an international embarrassment, and we are experiencing the greatest Health Crisis this country has seen in over 100 years. Of course, the truth is, ever since donald trump became president , he has been relentless in attacking Americans Health care as the speaker mentioned. The Affordable Care act, a lifetime to millions, especially during this pandemic, and yet, republicans and President Trump go home and do commercials about how they want to protect preexisting conditions, and yet they are suing right now in court to got the aca and eliminate can protections havepeople who will preexisting conditions. The same policy could result in even more chaos in these already very challenging times. You will not hear any mention of a lawsuit at the republican convention. President trump actually started on monday saying he would defend protections for americans with preexisting conditions. He actually said that while the administration is in court now suing to take away these protections. You cannot make this up. Is what it is. Dishonesty, lying. For this and other reasons, we need to elect joe biden and kamala harris. At people cannot afford four more years of this dangerous and chaotic leadership. I want to make one more point. The trump Administrations Health Care sabotage and weak, inadequate coronaviruss bonds have been aided and abetted by congressional republicans, and no one is more guilty than the Senate Majority leader, the selfappointed grim reaper of the legislative graveyard, Mitch Mcconnell. Mcconnell and the republicans have refused again and again to take action to protect Americans Health care, to address the coronavirus. Billsuse passed mcconnell have refused to even bring up to a vote, 80 of which have bipartisan support in the house, and many that would strengthen health care for millions of American Families who desperately need it. America, we can do better than this. This november, americans have a chance to elect joe biden and kamala harris. Send mitch chance to mcconnell packing into secured democratic leadership in the senate. Americans are really ready and waiting for leaders who will fight to ensure that more americans have quality, Affordable Health care. Cap time for questions we have time for questions. Lets start with tommy christopher. Are you on the line . Yeah, i am here. Can you hear me . Yup. My question is for Speaker Pelosi, but leader schumer and tj can time chime in too. I am wondering if you are of potentialkind and whetherolations there were political there was political pressure applied to reduce the number of cases being reported. Speaker pelosi let me take the second far purchased. Part first. The guidelines put forward are scary. It reinforces the lack of. Ttention and understanding they have told us over and over again, over the past month, that we must be testing more, that we should be testing 3 Million People a day. The administration has resisted that. They have said testing is, what . Overrated . I think he was talking about himself. Every time he says Something Like that, it is like a projection of himself. Overrated. In our conversations with his staff and representatives, there is tracing. Testing, tracing, treating, isolating, mask wearing, sanitation, this is what scientists tell us is necessary to stop the flow of this virus and to help to eliminate it. They will not do that. Now they are having the cdc shame on them, as i say. Shame on the commissioner of the fda for his misrepresentations. All of this is being politicized and yes we will be investigating. The energy and Commerce Committee is already looking into this and our select committee on the coronavirus clyburnsder mr. Leadership, will be looking into this. This is essential, is leader schumer said. This is what other countries have done and have had success. Success from science. You have prices from chaos. That is what this president is about. In terms of the first part of it, a these people are so unethical, whether it is legal, illegal, and we think it is illegal. Pompeo got a warning that they should not be engaged in politics, and then he himself was engaged in it. Do you know what the American People really know . What to know . They want to know what we will be doing for them. We would rather have our focus be on how we will protect their health care, howley will test how we will create good paying jobs health care, how we will create good paying jobs, as weealth care costs protect our planet, which they are in denial of, again. The committees will make decisions about how they go forward on pompeo. We also have an issue with pompeo for not giving us documents. You will be hearing from the Foreign Affairs committee, chairman engel, probably later today on that score. They have been in violation on many scores. This is really pathetic, but nonetheless, no surprise at their unethical behavior. I just want to add, in terms of the cdc, that this has to be resisted because this is just, again, ignoring science and letting the virus have its way with our people. It really must be addressed. I do not know if leader schumer wants to say anything about the cdc or the fda or the rest of it. Leader schumer donald trump thinks, by ignoring the truth, by lying about the truth, he can make things happen and it only makes things worse. He called it a hoax. It was not a hoax. He says it will go away. It did not go away. But it is not just that he lies about it, he does not do what is needed to fight it because he lives in his own dreamworld and he thinks that by ignoring the facts and misstating the facts and lying about the facts, that will become the truth. And then is not how this works. That is not how this works. So not knowing how many people are hospitalized, dying, by trying to understate those facts, he will make things worse. More people will die. More people will get sick. The economy will stay in bad shape longer as long as they deny the truth, but trump has this amazing ability in his own brain to think if he says it, it will become true, and that is one of the main reasons other countries are doing much better than we are. As to the first point, what can we expect in a second trump administration, which i believe will not happen, thank god. All the rules, norms, and values that have made this country great, donald trump will destroy them. He does not care. He only cares about himself. The rules are you should not sit in the white house and make a speech at the convention. He says, i want to do it. So they do it. That is nothing compared to the things they might do if, god forbid, they get a second term. So america, watch out. This is just an example of the destruction of norms, honor, and honesty and fact based republicat make this great. Go to sarah from cnn . Sarah. Are you there question mark reporter yeah. I have a question about kenosha specifically, but i guess it can be applied more broadly. Riots are anand issue the Trump Campaign is capitalizing on with this law and order message to suburban voters. I know you made a Statement Last night condemning violent protests. I know biden has addressed it before, but im curious how the Vice President intends to address this issue himself going forward, and im curious. Do you guys believe this is a messaging war you need to win at all . Mr. Ducklo i can address that at the top. I think earlier this week you saw Vice President biden call for accountability and in immediate, full, and transparent investigation. Pierced thee shots soul of the nation. Before, after the george floyd murder, it was an utterly american response. He has also said that burning down communities in needless violence is not and needless violence is not, putting the lives of Small Businesses and families in danger is not. So i think he will be out in front and show leadership on this issue. I think the Bidenharris Administration will actually address some of the systemic racism and inequities in our country in a way this president has not and has completely failed to lead on. So i think you will absolutely see more from us on that. Im not sure if Speaker Pelosi or leader schumer have anything to add on that. Speaker pelosi i think Vice President biden and then President Biden and Vice President harris will be leaders who will calm the waters. What we saw in kenosha breaks your heart. It does pierce the soul, as you was said. Acquiescence the president gives to vigilantes makes matters worse in these situations. It is something the president should be quelling rather than encouraging. I do think it was beautiful to blake speak. The mom. She said it, this is not what we are about. We are not about riots and the rest. That is not the statement we want associated with this. I felt that she spoke from the heart as a mom about this, about her family, and their loss in be heof, hopefully, may will be able to walk. But the statement that she made, i think she spoke for most people in our country. We all respect peaceful demonstrations. We do not want them to be exploited by outside groups, be rest, tolantes and the stir it on. That we, in our country, have enough empathy for those who have lost their lives or their ability to walk or whatever it is, that we want to be able to speak out on it, but we do not want it to be used for a purpose that is counterproductive. Just to get back to tommys question for a moment on health care. I have said this, and i truly believe it. I believe that President Trump supporters, who seem to be able to accept almost anything that he does, to choose him over their children and over their families, the health and wellbeing of their families. Especially now, as it comes to going back to school. He wants to give the resources largely to the schools that will actually open as opposed to those who are making their judgment that it is in the safety in the interest of safety of children not to go down that path. So he is saying to them, donald trump or your children. Schumer. Ut it mr. Leader schumer just one point, a broader point. Our convention showed unity, bringing people together, ending the divisiveness together and coming together for a common purpose on health care, on opening the schools, on so many things. What theyre convention is showing his disunity and divisiveness. The American People want unity, someone who will bring us together, not someone who will try to tear us apart. I think that message will be very strong and resonate well in november and afterwards with President Biden and Vice President harris. You. Ank maureen from usa today. There . , are you reporter yep. Thank you for taking my question. Since Vice President pence is the top speaker tonight, how can you can you say how he fits into the indictment you are making . Speaker pelosi i would just say that what we are learning about Vice President pence is that he has pulled his punch in the fight against the virus. They were slow in anticipation and reacting to what was happening out there in terms of the spread of the virus. I dontbecame know what just a figure in the background for a while, and i do not think he ever emerged until tonight. The fact is, there is nothing for him to be proud of in terms of his role in fighting this virus. In fact, there is evidence to support the fact that he was very slow on the draw. He pulled his punch, when he should have been leading with it. He is part of the indictment on the coronavirus. Again, i do not know what role he plays in the healthcare debate, but he certainly is an scomplice to the president assault on the Affordable Care act. I just want to say, i talked about ted kennedy and i talked about john mccain coincidentally dying on the same date. As we go forward, that is what joe biden has been so famous for , about respecting other peoples point of view, having empathy for the concerns of the American People, and finding a path that is sustainable to it iss them, whether about job security, health security, preserving the planet. How do we do that in the most bipartisan way, the way ted kennedy and john mccain, in their way, in their time, both advanced the Affordable Care act. Leader schumer leader schumer i would make one more point about the Vice President. Two points. First, he is head of the Coronavirus Task force. I would not be proud of that if i were him. We have done. Y so clearly the response of the administration, and if pentz was leading it, it is a severe indictment of him that will be a stain on his record no matter what he does afterward. And when trump just allies to the detriment of the country, pence is quiet as a little mouse. First leader would have gone to the president and said, you cannot say these mistruths. And if you keep saying them, i will contradict you. He is not done that. He has shown no leadership. He has been a total acolyte of President Trumps bad policies, misdeeds, and lying. Thank you, everyone, for joining today. This is a great call. Thank you to our speakers. Tomorrow, our final call of the week will be with mayor Pete Buttigieg at 11 00 a. M. We look forward to that. Have a great day. Speaker pelosi thank you. Leader schumer thanks, everybody. Are live coverage continues on day three of the Republican National convention. House republican whip Steve Steve Scalise talks with a reporter at 3 00 p. M. You stern. Eastern. And Linda Mcmahon talks with the Washington Post about reelecting President Trump. You can watch that live or listen live on the free cspan radio app. Cspans live coverage of the rnc continues tonight it 8 30 eastern with Vice President mike pence, second lady karen pence, and counselor to President Trump kellyanne conway. Watch live on cspan. Listen with the cspan radio app. And on demand at cspan. Org rnc. Also, our newsletter, word for word, offers a summary of the days events. Actors and other celebrities have become a mainstay at political conventions. Take actor Christopher Reeve and his speech at the 1996 democrat