TO MISCONDUCT.
BLAKE FARON TOLD OF TEXAS.
YOU WERE ON THE LEADING EDGE OF
THIS AND THIS CULTURAL
PHENOMENON IN 2016 WHEN YOU
DISCLOSED ON THE HOUSE FLOOR
YOUR STATUS AS A VICTIM OF
SEXUAL ASSAULT.
IN THAT MOMENT, MOMENTOUS NO
DOUBT BUT DID YOU HAVE ANY SINCE
THIS WOULD BE THE BEGINNING OF
THIS PHENOMENON WHERE WE SEE
THIS ACCOUNTABILITY BEING
ENFORCED?
>> IT IS ABOUT TELLING STORIES.
COMING FORWARD.
I SAID WHEN I TOLD MY STORY, I
WAS ASSAULTED AS A STAFFER ON
CAPITOL HILL.
WE HAD NO PLACE TO TURN.
NOBODY TO TELL.
IT WAS MOMENTOUS FOR ME TO COME
FORWARD.
WHAT I REALIZED WAS MY
GENERATION'S SILENCE MADE AS
COMPLICIT IN THIS ENVIRONMENT OF
RAMPANT SEXUAL ASSAULT.
IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME 40 YEARS
AGO THIS WOULD BE GOING ON.
I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE WE WERE
IN THE FIRST ERA OF WOMEN COMING
FOR WORD, AND ONCE WE HAD
CRITICAL MASS OF WOMEN IN THE
WORKPLACE IT WOULD STOP.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THIS ME TO
MOMENT, SO EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS
HOW COMMON THIS IS.
NOW WE'VE GOT THIS WATERSHED
MOMENT WHERE EVERYONE IS SAYING
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
THIS HAS GOT TO STOP.
THIS IS COMING TOGETHER AS IT IS
IN WORKPLACES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
ADAM: YOU SIGNED ON LEGISLATION
TO ENFORCE NEW POLICIES.
WHAT ARE THE CHANCES IT WILL
HAVE REAL TEETH TO IT?
FLEX ABSOLUTELY.
I AM EXCITED IT IS A BIPARTISAN
EFFORT.
WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR
COLLEAGUES IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND
SENATE.
I AM CONFIDENT WE WILL GET THIS
DONE.
THE BILL WE HAVE IS ME TOO
CONGRESS.
IT IS TO REVISE THE PROCEDURE SO
THERE IS MORE ACCOUNTABILITY,
MORE TRANSPARENCY, AND
CONSTITUENTS DO NOT WANT THE
TAXPAYER PAYING FOR MISDEEDS OF
THE MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
WE ARE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS.
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING THE LAST
COUPLE OF WEEKS ABOUT IT AND
THAT WILL BE HAPPENING IN THE
COMING WEEKS.
ADAM: DO YOU THINK NANCY PELOSI
DROPPED THE BALL WITH THE DELAY
THAT TOOK PLACE?
>> I THINK IT WAS DIFFICULT AS
IT HAS BEEN FOR MANY OF US, AND
I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUES IN THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE -- HE'S
A CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER.
HE HAS BEEN IN CONGRESS FOR 50
YEARS.
MANY CONSTITUENTS FEEL THIS WAY
AROUND HOW FRANKEN.
THIS IS A BIG TRANSITION.
IT IS DIFFICULT FOR US BUT IT
HAS TO HAPPEN.
MY FEELING IS, I DON'T WANT TO
LOSE THIS MOMENT.
WE ALWAYS TO THE NEXT
GENERATION.
WE HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE WORKING IN
OUR OFFICES WHO ARE NOT SAFE.
IT IS NOT A RESPECTFUL WORK
ENVIRONMENT.
SOME OF THE STORIES, YOU WOULD
BE SHOCKED.
IT IS INTERESTING WHY IT IS
CONNECTED TO GENDER
DISCRIMINATION.
IT IS BECAUSE THIS IS SETTING
WOMEN BACK IN THEIR ABILITY TO
MOVE FORWARD.
WE ARE HEARING TOO MANY STORIES
OF WOMEN THAT HAVE TO QUIT A JOB
BECAUSE THE ENVIRONMENT BECOMES
TOXIC COME IN BECAUSE THEY CAN'T
FEND OFF THE ADVANCES OF THEIR
BOSS.
IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE.
IT IS NOT JUST IN CONGRESS.
I WANT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE
WAITRESSES, THE NURSES, THE
TEACHERS, ANYONE ACROSS THIS
COUNTRY.
EVERY WORKFORCE.
YOU DESERVE A RESPECTFUL
WORKPLACE.
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT.
ADAM: ON THE POLICY SIDE, THE
TAX BILL IS ALL THE TALK ON
CAPITOL HILL.
THE END OF LAST WEEK THE
DISCUSSION IS STILL ABOUT WHICH
BRACKETS ARE HERE.
>> 429 PAGES DEEP.
THERE IS SOMETHING ON EVERY
PAGE.
LET'S JUST STEP BACK.
THE BASIC PROBLEM I HAVE WITH IT
, 50% OF THE BENEFIT GOES TO THE
TOP 1% OF AMERICANS.
I JUST DISAGREE WITH THE PREMISE
, WHOEVER SET OUT TO WRITE THIS,
SAYING WE ARE NOT SELLING ENOUGH
HE OUGHT'S AND LET'S BLAME
GRADUATE STUDENTS OR HOMEOWNERS.
WE HAVE HAD AN OUTPOURING FROM
CONSTITUENTS ACROSS MY DISTRICT.
I HAVE SPOKE TO PEOPLE.
THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
IMPACT OF THE BILL.
PROPERTY TAXES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
WE ALL BEAR THE BURDEN.
WE DON'T WANT TO PAY TWICE.
IF YOU PAY LOCAL YOU SHOULD NOT
HAVE TO PAY NATIONAL FEDERAL
INCOME TAX ON THAT.
THAT HAS BEEN LIMITED.
YOUR ABILITY TO DO. PROPERTY
TAXES IS LIMITED IN THIS BILL.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT CHARITABLE
ORGANIZATIONS.
THEY WILL LOSE THE WONDERFUL,
GENEROUS CHARITABLE
CONTRIBUTIONS COMING THEIR WAY.
SO, I THINK THEIR REPUBLICANS
ARE TRYING TO THREAD THE NEEDLE
TO GET THIS PASSED.
THEY CAN ONLY AFFORD TO LOSE A
COUPLE OF VOTES IN THE SENATE.
WHAT I WISH WE HAD DONE,
GOVERNOR SUNUNU CAME OUT WITH A
REMARK THAT HE WISHED THE
FEDERAL DELEGATION WORKED IN A
BIPARTISAN WAY.
I LAID OUT MY PRINCIPLES A MONTH
AGO.
I WISH WE HAD COME TOGETHER IN A
BIPARTISAN TAX REFORM.
I AGREE WE NEED TO LOWER
CORPORATE RATES, AND MAKE SURE
WE ARE COMPETITIVE AROUND THE
WORLD.
I WOULD NOT HAVE GIVEN THE
BENEFIT OF THE PACKAGE TO THE
VERY WEALTHIEST AMONG US.
I WOULD HAVE SPREAD THE BENEFITS
AROUND MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE.
>> WE SAW THE FCC TAKE OUT NOT
NEUTRALITY?
MOST PEOPLE ARE VAGUELY AWARE OF
THIS TERM BUT DON'T REALLY KNOW
WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES ARE.
>> NET NEUTRALITY, WHAT YOU ARE
REFERRING TO, THE FEDERAL
COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION TOOK A
VOTE, 3-2 ALONG PARTISAN LINES,
TO ELIMINATE THE TERM THAT WE
KNOW AS NEEDED -- NET
NEUTRALITY.
WHAT NEUTRALITY MEANS, IF YOU
THINK OF HIGHWAYS, THE TYPE OF
HIGHWAYS EVERY ONE CAN TRAVEL
ON.
INTERNET, OPEN ACCESS FOR
EVERYONE.
SMALL BUSINESSES.
INDIVIDUALS, THEY HAVE THE SAME
OPPORTUNITY.
ELIMINATING NET NEUTRALITY
CREATES TOLL ROADS SO THAT THE
BIGGEST CORPORATIONS THAT CAN
PAY MORE MONEY WILL GET FAST
INTERNET SERVICE.
THE REST OF US, THE SMALL
BUSINESSES THAT ARE GOING ABOUT
OUR LIVES, WE WILL HAVE LESS
ACCESS IN TERMS OF SPEED AND
QUALITY OF THE SIGNAL.
I SUPPORT NET NEUTRALITY.
I BELIEVE THE INTERNET IS AN
EXTRAORDINARY VEHICLE TO CREATE
OPPORTUNITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
FOR EVERYONE.
I DON'T WANT IT LIMITED TO JUST
THE WEALTHIEST CORPORATIONS.
>> WE ARE ALMOST SIX MONTHS OUT
FROM THAT EXPOSE ON THE V.A.
MEDICAL CENTER.
ARE YOU CONFIDENT PROGRESS IS
BEING MADE?
>> I WAS MEETING WITH THE CHAIR
OF THE TASK FORCE YESTERDAY.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS STAYS
ON TRACK.
THE INTERIM DIRECTOR IS DOING A
GOOD JOB LISTENING TO VETERANS.
THE FEEDBACK I'M GETTING IS THAT
HE IS IMPLEMENTING SOME CHANGES
THAT WE ALL AGREE NEED TO BE
MADE.
ONE NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART IS
A WOMEN'S CLINIC.
DR. MAYO SMITH NEEDS TO STEP
BACK FROM THE PROCESS.
EVERYONE HAS AGREED HE WILL STEP
BACK.
THERE WILL BE A CHINESE WALL.
WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO
WHISTLEBLOWERS.
THEY HAVE SOME GOOD SUGGESTIONS.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE
IMPLEMENTATION GOING FORWARD
PROVIDES THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF
CARE AT THE MOST TIMELY POSSIBLE
WAY.
HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, I WANT
VETERANS FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE TO
GET CARE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
THAT MAY INVOLVE COLLABORATIONS.
HOSPITALS STEPPING UP TO PROVIDE
EXCELLENT QUALITY OF CARE.
WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO COME
UP WITH THE BEST SOLUTION.
LET'S ADAM: WORK TOGETHER AND
IMPLEMENT THOSE CHANGES.
IS IT PROBLEMATIC THAT IT TOOK
IMMEDIATE REPORT TO GET
SOMETHING DONE HERE?
FLIES AN THE OPERATING ROOM.
THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> THAT IS FAIR.
WE WERE MEETING WITH
WHISTLEBLOWERS.
THEY WERE TELLING US WE WERE NOT
AUTHORIZED TO IDENTIFY THEM OR
BRING THIS FORWARD.
WE WERE TRYING TO WORK WITH THEM
THROUGH THE CHANNELS THAT ARE
SET UP IN THE V.A. IN WASHINGTON
.
AT THE END OF THE DAY I SAID TO
THEM IF YOU WANT THIS TO TAKE ON
GREATER SIGNIFICANCE AND
RECOMMEND YOU GO TO THE PRESS.
THAT PLAYED OUT.
SECRETARY SHULKIN CAME UP
IMMEDIATELY, AND WE HAVE THE
ATTENTION OF WASHINGTON.
THERE ARE THE A HOSPITALS ALL
OVER THE COUNTRY.
PART OF THIS IS TO MAKE SURE
THAT RV A HOSPITAL IN MANCHESTER
IS FRONT AND CENTER IN THE MINDS
OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THE V.A..
WE HAVE THEIR ATTENTION.
LET'S GET THE CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE NEED.
LET'S PROVIDE AND CONTINUE TO
FIGHT FOR VETERANS EVERY DAY.
>> IS THE UNITED STATES GOING TO
GET A CHRISTMAS PRESENT OF A
SHUTDOWN?
>> I HOPE NOT.
I WILL SAY, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO
BE HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
OURSELVES.
I WILL GO BACK TO WASHINGTON
MONDAY.
WE WILL BE PUTTING TOGETHER THE
BUDGET, MAKING SURE THAT WE FUND
THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
NONE MILLION CHILDREN INCLUDING
MANY HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, A TOP
PRIORITY FOR US.
LET'S GET FUNDING BEHIND THIS
OPIOID RESPONSE TO THE EPIDEMIC.
I WAS PLEASED THE PRESIDENT SAID
THIS IS AN EMERGENCY.
HE IS NOT WALKING THE WALK.
LET'S GET THE FUNDING WE NEED.
THAT SHOULD BE IN THAT PACKAGE.
I HOPE THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE
FUNDED AND PEOPLE WILL BE AT
WORK.
WE HAVE TO RAISE FOR OUR TROOPS.
A LOT OF DECISIONS TO COME
FORWARD.