Election, everyone was in good spirits. We welcomed our new members. Were excited about them and the opportunity to serve with people from throughout the north to south to east and the west. Another incredibly diverse class that will add to the most Diverse Congress in the history of the republic. More women serving in congress than ever before. More africanamericans. More latinos. More asian americans. More members of the lgbtq community. Two muslimamerican women. Two native american women both serving in congress for the first time in history. And our diversity will be strengthened by the new class upon its arrival. We also value the fact that our Long National nightmare is about to come to an end. On january 20 at noon. Because the most existential threat to our democracy, our values, our american way of life has been defeated decisively. He lost the popular vote. Decisively. He lost the Electoral College vote decisively. Joe biden has secured more votes than any other president ial candidate in the history of the republic. And when you look at firstterm president s who have been defeated, it has been difficult to do. Joe biden has done it, and hes done it with one of the most decisive margins ever. The president will remain in office for 64 days or so. Were hopeful hell demonstrate some leadership in that interim time period because the covid19 pandemic has not gone away. Wasnt it the president who said, all we hear about is covid, covid, covid . That was the president. But then he said it was going to go away on november 4. What is wrong with this guy . It has not gone away. Its gotten much worse. The pain, the suffering, the death has increased exponentially. Over the last several days. The last several weeks. And donald trump is in the witness protection program. No one can find him. That nightmare is coming to an end on january 20. Were thankful for joe biden because hes going to bring confidence. Hes going to bring integrity. Hes going to bring leadership. Hes going to bring unity to the oval office because we dont have democratic problems or republican problems. We dont have progressive problems, moderate problems, centrist problems or conservative problems. We have american problems, and joe biden is committed to solving them. The House Democratic majority is committed to working with president elect joe biden and Vice President elect Kamala Harris to build back better for the people. I now yield to my distinguished vice chair, the great Katherine Clark from the commonwealth of massachusetts. Ms. Clark thank you so much, mr. Chairman. If i may just take a moment of personal privilege, not only were we able to greet our new members and come together in this caucus call but it was my last official caucus call as vice chair of the caucus. And i want to thank my colleagues that have just been a pleasure to serve but a special thanks to you, mr. Chairman. For all your partnership, your friendship, and for always taking the hard questions at this press conference first. So im deeply, deeply grateful. And i think that hakeem has put it well. We are back in session after an historical election where President Trump has lost in an electoral landslide and won the popular vote. One of the most heartening things about this, its a return to truth and to science. President elect biden has already put his task force together, and we heard today from our call from dr. Murphy and the numbers are not good when we have over 11 million cases of covid19 in this country and we are approaching a quarter of a million americans who have lost their lives. And the untold number who then lost their livelihoods. But with president elect biden and the House Democratic caucus, we know that we will have the tools and the powerful ally in the white house to be able to reduce these numbers. And this will be an end to an administration defined by chaos, misinformation, and a pursuit of power that is above all else and above the wellbeing of the American People as we face this pandemic. In 64 days, progress is back on the table. And how democratic majority is eager to get to work and make this critical agenda part of what we can accomplish for the American People. Because back at home, the statistics are startling. Too many families are facing hunger and homelessness. In one of my communities in massachusetts, the city of revere, is providing 20 of its population with help with food assistance. And we know thats an undercount. We are seeing businesses and schools that have remained closed as this virus continues to run rampant. And we have stood since may for making sure that we are reaching out, that we are helping providing the relief we need through the heroes act. Now as we move into the final month of the 116th caucus, we are concerned, not only that we have not seen a relief package from Mitch Mcconnell and a willingness to come to the table, but that relief is going to expire for unemployment, for pandemic unemployment assistance for gig workers. The eviction moratorium. Student loan forbearance. Small business debt relief. Never mind that in the heroes act we had a Vaccine Distribution plan that remains unpassed by the senate, unsigned by this president. So our work is before us. But we have a new president that is going to join with the House Democrats to be able to lead us forward, to get through this pandemic, to restore a quality and truth and justice and be able to not only rebuild our economy but make it more inclusive. And we are eager to get to work for the American People. Mr. Jeffries thank you, katherine. Its been an honor and blessing to serve with you. I know well serve and work closely together. Questions . Reporter yesterday, Representative Ilhan Omar said in an interview with the washington post, she referred to trump rallies being klan rallies. Do you agree with the congresswoman . Mr. Jeffries i dont know the context with which she made those remarks. We know that many of Donald Trumps rallies have resulted in violence, hatred has been spewed by none other than the president himself. I personally have often referred to his rallies as make america hate again rallies. I cant comment on ilhans remarks. I have Great Respect for ilhan but i dont know the context on which those words were said. Reporter we had these protesters in washington, d. C. , this weekend. With some of them turning violent. As you know, there were some on your side critical of the president. Asking for the rightwing groups [indiscernible] we hae not heard outcry some of the leftwing groups . Have democrats been silent . Should president elect biden do more to condemn the leftwing extremists . Mr. Jeffries i think he said during the campaign to make it clear looting and rioting is not peaceful protesting. We support peaceful protesting. And we condemn all forms of violence, no matter where it originates. The problem that we confront is that the hater in chief has not done that. He plays footsie with white supremacists, with the proud boys, the boogaloo boys. The Long National nightmare is ending january 20 so we feel good where we are at and we will have a president who will bring us together, not one who constantly tears us apart. Reporter [indiscernible] do you think president elect biden will be forceful on just the left and right and potential for violence . Mr. Jeffries ill yield to katherine. Joe biden has been incredibly clear, and every time ive seen him speak hes said hes going to be the president for everyone, those who voted for him and those who voted against him. We havent heard the current occupant of the white house suggest anything of that nature. Never. And hes ending his fourth year. Joe biden has said it every single time i heard him speak. Over the last few weeks. And so i think our country will be in good hands. Reporter there has been no apparent movement on covid relief negotiations since before the election. Are we more likely to see elements of relief bills to be attached than to see one big covid package passed . Mr. Jeffries we remain committed to get something over the finish line in terms of a covid relief package that does three things. Crush the virus. Provide direct relief to Everyday Americans who are struggling. And revive the economy. Its our hope we can do that in the next few weeks. Steny hoyer, jim clyburn, our chairs are working in that regard. We hope we will have a partner in Mitch Mcconnell to do just that. Simultaneously, its my understanding that a lot of progress has been made with respect to the need to fully fund the government in the current fiscal year. It remains to be seen, whether there will be crossover negotiations. Thats a question i think is best directed to Speaker Pelosi. But let me need to katherine who is a distinguished member of the appropriations committee. Ms. Clark we completed our Appropriations Bills back in the summer and we are now hearing from Mitch Mcconnell that he, too, is willing to begin that process. They are behind, but we will continue to work with them to make sure there isnt a shutdown. And we have never left the negotiating table since may when we passed the heroes act. We understand what is at stake for the American People, but it cannot just be a relief package for relief sake. We cannot leave out key territories, state and local government. You know, we have to make sure that this is a package that will deliver the aid where we need it. But it is a negotiation. Our concern is we are addressing this pandemic that is raging. It has never been higher since it first came to this country. So we have to make sure that we are being targeted, that we are getting this eight out and that we are also addressing the litany of relief and aid that came through the cares act that is expiring at the end of december. So we remain at the table. We certainly hope that donald trump will turn his focus back from his loss and on to the American People. It will be a first. But this is his time to answer the needs of this country. And we will have Mitch Mcconnell come to the negotiating table after an absence of months since going back to may. So, were going to keep working. We know whats at stake. We know we cannot afford to not help people who are in such crisis and hurting and have suffered such loss across this country. Reporter so obviously you guys are having your leadership elections and are welcoming new members. Two years ago, Speaker Pelosi committed to four years as speaker. As you guys are having this conversation with your new members, is there a sense of, among the caucus, of what you need to do over the next two years to prepare a new generation of leadership . Mr. Jeffries were working through the leadership elections that will begin to take place this week. You know, starting with the caucus chair election by tradition, which our vice chair will preside over. And then whoevers elected caucus chair will then preside over the election for the speaker designee, nancy pelosi. Then, of course, steny hoyer for majority leader, jim clyburn for majority whip. And then the race for assistant speaker. We expect those races will take place tomorrow. The other contested races will likely occur on thursday, including for caucus vice chair, as well as the dpcc, the democratic policy and communications committee. And the five term and under caucus leadership representative where there are three dynamic newer members who are running. So i think theres a tremendous mix of experience. So i think theres a tremendous mix of experience. Nancy pelosi is a legendary speaker. One of the best who has ever done it ever. In the history of the republic. She certainly has my strong support. I believe shes got she of course has catherines strong support as well. And were looking forward to Getting Started in the 117th congress, because theres so much work that needs to be done. Whatever happens in the future is going to happen. During the trump era, weve just been all trying to get to tomorrow. And now were trying to get to january 20 and it will be a new day in america. Reporter speaking to that point. You said before that if you look back at american history, largely black americans have been left out of big sweeping pieces of legislation. The new deal, you cited the g. I. Bill. You have talked about the reparations conversation . Im curious to what degree you think that will be a priority for your caucus in the 117th and can we expect recommendations, for instance, from the c. B. C. On it . Mr. Jeffries thats a question i think karen bass and whoever is elected as the new c. B. C. Chair, its my understanding those elections will take place in a few weeks, will discuss. The caucus has been very clear. We want to provide relief to Everyday Americans who are struggling with all of the pain, the suffering and the debt. And at the same time make sure that we are providing relief to those americans who have been disproportionately and adversely impacted by the covid19 pandemic. Thats the africanamerican community, thats the latino community. Thats indian country. Thats Everyday Americans in rural america. And those are many in the immigrant communities. So i think from the standpoint of covid19, our immediate concern, we want to provide relief to everyone, but of course the data should drive in part where the resources go, because the covid19 pandemic is not over for any of us until its over for all of us. With respect to the history, weve been grappling with, and ill yield to katherine, weve been grapping with systemic racism that has been in the soil of this country for 401 years. We have come a long way in america, we still have a long way to go. This is the greatest country in the history of the world. But were still working through some challenges. And when you trace the history, our resident historian, the great jim clyburn, savior of our democracy, jim clyburn will tell you that when there have been big moments of transition, where were trying to deal with pain that the American People are dealing with, the record speaks for itself in terms of the new deal and the g. I. Bill as it relates to who was explicitly included and who was explicitly excluded. The record speaks for itself. Hopefully were at a different time in america. I believe we are. And we look forward to working with democrats and republicans to provide relief to all americans. Ms. Clark i want to underscore that our focus is going to be on those Kitchen Table issues. That affect Everyday Americans. We want to work on the issues that people talk about around their Kitchen Tables. And that they worry about when theyre trying to fall asleep. Will they be able to provide for their families, have a good job, you know, have the health care they need . Is someone going to get sick in their family from this pandemic . The basic issues are the ones that we have to deliver for the American People. And tying back to the previous questions about the negotiations, and not leaving people behind, this pandemic has revealed inequities that we knew were there. But it has brought them into stark relief. And one of them is health care disparities. For people of color in this country. One of our parts of the heroes act was making sure that we are collecting accurate data. So we can understand why there were so many more disproportionate deaths and illness in our communities of color. So that we can not only make sure that health care is a right, not a privilege, but that we are breaking down these barriers of access for people of color. And we know the disparity exists. That was taken off the table by the republicans earlier this fall. And that is the type of issue that, as you said, we are not going to leave these communities behind. These issues are here. We are at a moment of racial and Economic Justice in this country. And we have to look at every single policy for its racial implications and be active antiracists in every single thing we do for the American People. Reporter is there a stalemate . Is there are any steps and lowering their offers. I dont see any movement at all. Mr. Jeffries Speaker Pelosi has spoken to Mitch Mcconnell and those are discussions that the speaker can discuss at the appropriate time. But based on the reports i have received, there is a feeling there is a pathway of getting something done. Well need Senate Republicans to do it. Some of Mitch Mcconnell eye public statements may provide a pathway to arisk at a meaningful agreement. We are not interested in a press rehe lease. The American People are suffering in a once in a century pandemic and this is a once in a century Pandemic Response and it has to be sustained, continuing and meaningful until the pandemic is over. We passed the heroes act not once but twice, and hopefully we will find Common Ground with our Senate Republicans in the next few days or weeks prior to departing for the holidays. I will take one last question. O on covid relief. Is the position among House Democrats, 2. 2 trillion. There were some indications to go lower than that. Is your position still 2. 2 trillion . From the standpoint of the last piece of legislation that was enacted, it was our public offer. Thats where we are at. There were intervening negotiations taking place. Its my understanding secretary 1. 9tion came up to trillion. I believe we held at 2. 2 trillion. It depnds how the money is allocated. As far as im concerned, we passed the heroes act second time on october 1 and contained 2. 2 trillion. That is our caucuswide statement as to what we think will happen. But we are open to finding Common Ground. [indiscernible] you are running out of time. The pandemic is getting worse. Gethat point do you something that is better than nothing, because you have nothing at all. What point do you cross the line with anything being better than where you are right now . Mr. Jeffries it depends what that turns out to be. The details matter. We cant give 500 billion to a slush fund that secretary mnuchin would be free to send out at his own discretion based on no evidence, no data, or science that can be handed out as a friends and family plan for donald trump and his boys on the way out the door. This is a serious situation we are confronting. The legislative details matter. Out was being worked that is what is being worked out. We have to provide direct stimulus payments to the American People of 1,200 per adult and 500 per child. We need to provide assistance to tenants who are struggling to pay their rent. And homeowners struggling to pay their mortgage. We need to provide hundreds of billions of dollars in assistance to state and local governments, blue states and red states, because of the fact that if these state budgets and these local budgets, town budgets, city budgets, village budgets in urban america, rural america, suburban america, if these budgets are cut, the people who have already suffered the most as a result of this pandemic are going to suffer even more because budget cuts result in cuts to public safety, public transportation, public housing, and the provision of the public good across the board. And we need to extend out the emergency Unemployment Insurance benefits that they allowed to be expired on august 1. And extend that out at 600 per week of Unemployment Benefits because we are still in a recession, and there are still tens of millions of americans who have been adversely impacted from unemployment from an employment standpoint, one way or the other. The substance matters. We are willing to find Common Ground. We came down from 3. 4 trillion to 2. 2 thrillion and ongoing negotiations. Mr. Clarke i would frame it like this. We are not haggling over the price of a used car. Could we get to the middle . Policyails matter, the matters. Who is included in these policies and who is excluded from relief matters. The price we can work with. We have come down by half. While taking on more, putting the Airline Industry back into our proposal to adjust for that. But it matters how this money is spent, and that this relief will get to the American People. I didnt mean to gloss over. And what the policies are. When the time comes, you are not going to make it in time if we dont agree to something before helpericans who need matter. Something is better than nothing at that point. Mr. Jeffries well cross that bridge. But hopefully we will be able to arrive on an agreement on the covid19 package. We are working hard to do that and simultaneously work to make sure there is a government shutdown. I dont believe there will be, but we have to fully fund the government that katherine has articulated. Let me end on a lighter note. Because of the pandemic, we are conducting our leadership elections virtually, as i outlined in a letter to the caucus on friday. We have worked hard to create a virtual app where members can importantese very leadership elections, maintaining their integrity and secrecy of the ballots since it is new technology we are deploying. We had a couple of test votes today. We will probably do a test about tomorrow. Asked thetest vote following question, who is the greatest musician of all time . Franklin, bruce springsteen, or bono . I dont think im breaking any bono i wassay just checking to make sure you were paying attention. The results i dont have the percentages, but christie can provide them if its of interest to anyone. The results are selena finished a strong fourth. Bono, a close third. Second. Finished and with more than 50 of the vote, the queen of soul, aretha franklin. Respectcaucus provided to the great queen of soul. But we salute all of those legends who are transitioning us into this new covid era of being required to vote electronically. Americaforward to what will do as we exit out of this normal so we new can build back better for the people. Thank you, everyone. You have reaction of senator richmond and that just came out. Is that a problem . Does that create division . Mr. Jeffries representative richmond is a great member of congress. And Steve Ricchetti has worked closely with the Vice President. Both of them i believe will be phenomenal additions to a biden presidency and administration. Captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org cspans washington journal, every day we are taking your lines on the air, on the news of the day, discussing policy issues that impact you. Wednesday morning, brendan buck, who served under paul ryan and john bader, on the state of the Republican Party following the 2020 elections. Lawrence, former chief of staff to California Democratic congresswoman nancy pelosi, talks about House Democrats agenda in this weeks leadership election. Journal, liveon at 7 00 eastern sunday morning. Join the discussion with your phone calls, facebook comments, text messages, and tweets. Coming up wednesday on cspan, the house is back at 10 00 a. M. Eastern for general speeches, legislative business at noon. Legislators take up several bills and vote on whether to go to conference for the senate to work out differences on legislation that sets defense programs and policy for fiscal year 2021. On cspan2, the Senate Returns returns to consider judicial nominations. Cspan3, a time on confirmation hearing for three nominees picked to serve as members of the federal election commission. Senaten the day, a Governmental Affairs subcommittee looks at how federal agencies are handling telework during the coronavirus pandemic. That gets underway at 3 00 p. M. Eastern. Listen to cspans podcast the weekly, we talk about women in recent election with kelly dittmar, what changed the election cycle for women, and why. Find the weekly where you get your podcasts. Ceo of gates joined the pfizer and the head of the Vaccine Confidence progress projects for discussion on the coronavirus pandemic and an effort to develop a vaccine. They talked about the results for ongoing vaccine trials from pfizer and moderna, the Distribution Process when a vaccine is ready, and the publics Overall Trust in getting inoculated. This is just under an hour. Welcome back. It is a privilege to be with
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