>>> SENATORS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
ARE ON THE VERGE OF RELEASING
THE TEXT OF THE $1 TRILLION
BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.
IT WOULD BE A MONUMENTAL MOMENT
FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO LARGELY
SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE REFORM.
NEXT STOP, THE HOUSE, WHERE THE
BILL IS SURE TO FACE HURDLES,
INCLUDING FROM PROGRESSIVES AND
PARTY LEADERS WHO SAY THEY WILL
ONLY VOTE FOR IT IF IT IS PAIRED
WITH THE LARGER, MORE AMBITIOUS
RECONCILIATION BILL.
JOINING ME NOW TO DISCUSS,
MASSACHUSETTS SENATOR ELIZABETH
WARREN.
SHES A MEMBER OF THE SENATE
FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE
COMMITTEE ON BANKING, HOUSING,
AND URBAN AFFAIRS.
SENATOR, FIRST, CAN I GET YOUR
OVERALL REACTION TO WHAT HAS
HAPPENED THIS WEEKEND WITH THIS
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL?
>> WELL, I COME TO YOU STRAIGHT
FROM THE FLOOR OF THE UNITED
STATES SENATE.
I WAS JUST PRESIDING FOR THE
LAST HOUR.
YOU KNOW, WE TAKE TURNS DOING
THIS.
AND I THINK ITS BEEN ABOUT 24
HOURS NOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN TWO
HOURS AWAY FROM HAVING A BILL
READY TO GO FOR A VOTE.
SO EVERYONE SAYS ITS LOTS OF
TECHNICAL DETAILS AND PEOPLE ARE
FURIOUSLY WORKING ON THEM.
BUT IT IS AT LEAST POSSIBLE THAT
WE MAY HAVE VOTES TONIGHT OR
FIRST THING TOMORROW.
ITS CLEARLY MOVING ALONG.
>> WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW
IT.
MY QUESTION FOR YOU, IS THIS
BILL WORTH PASSING WITHOUT THE
RECONCILIATION BILL?
>> I SEE IT THIS WAY.
THERE IS ONE BIG INFRASTRUCTURE
PACKAGE.
ITS GOING TO TAKE MULTIPLE
VOTES TO GET THERE.
ONE SERIES OF THOSE VOTES IS
THIS BIPARTISAN SLIVER OF IT.
BUT THERE IS NO INFRASTRUCTURE
PACKAGE THAT IS ONLY ABOUT ROADS
AND BRIDGES.
WE NEED SO MUCH MORE IN THIS
COUNTRY.
WE NEED CHILD CARE, UNIVERSAL
CHILD CARE, AFFORDABLE,
AVAILABLE CHILD CARE.
WE NEED TO ATTACK THE CLIMATE
CRISIS HEAD ON.
WE NEED TO MAKE THE INVESTMENTS
THAT FOR 40 YEARS NOW WE HAVE
UNDERINVESTED AS A NATION.
THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO AT LEAST
BEGIN TO DELIVER ON OUR PROMISES
TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
WERE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT IN
A COUPLE BITES, BUT BOTH BITES
WILL GO FORWARD.
THATS WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE AN
INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE.
>> DO YOU THINK IT MATTERS THE
TIMING?
DO THOSE VOTES NEED TO HAPPEN
SIDE-BY-SIDE OR IS IT POSSIBLE
THAT SECOND VOTE GETS PUSHED
INTO THE FALL?
>> I THINK WHATS GOING TO
HAPPEN IS WERE GOING TO SEE
APPROVAL OF BOTH PARTS IN WHAT
WE CALL THIS WORK PERIOD, IN THE
NEXT WEEK OR SO.
AND THEN WERE GOING TO HAVE TO
GO BACK AND PUT MORE DETAILS IN
THE BIGGER PACKAGE.
IN THE PACKAGE THAT LOOKS AT
EXACTLY HOW WE WANT TO STRUCTURE
CHILD CARE, TO MAKE SURE THAT
ITS AVAILABLE FOR EVERY CHILD
ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
TO MAKE SURE ITS AVAILABLE FOR
EVERY PARENT ACROSS THIS
COUNTRY.
AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
BUILT IT IN A WAY THAT RAISES
THE WAGES OF EVERY CHILD CARE
WORKER AND PRESCHOOL TEACHER IN
AMERICA.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF DETAILS,
JUST LIKE WERE DISCOVERING
RIGHT NOW ON THE PIECE THATS
STILL PENDING THAT WILL GET THE
FIRST VOTE.
A LOT OF DETAILS TO BE WORKED
OUT.
BUT WERE GOING TO GET OUR
OVERALL PACKAGE PUSHED FORWARD.
AND THATS WHAT MATTERS HERE.
ITS ONE PACKAGE, MULTIPLE
VOTES.
WE HAVE TO GET IT ALL DONE
TOGETHER.
>> SENATOR, SHOULD DEMOCRATS
CONTINUE TO AIM FOR THE $3.5
TRILLION PACKAGE DESPITE SENATOR
KYRSTEN SINEMA RESISTING THAT?
>> LOOK, MY VIEW ON THIS IS THE
RIGHT WAY TO SET A NUMBER IS TO
START FROM THE BOTTOM UP.
WHAT DO WE NEED?
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE UNDERINVESTED
IN SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS
SINCE RONALD REAGAN WAS
PRESIDENT.
AND FAILED TO KEEP UP WITH A
CHANGING AMERICA.
FAILED TO MAKE THE INVESTMENTS
IN CHILD CARE AS MORE AND MORE
MOTHERS HAVE GONE INTO THE
WORKFORCE.
FAILED TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CRISIS
HEAD ON.
I BELIEVE WE NEED A $6 TRILLION
INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE.
BUT I RECOGNIZE NOBODY GETS
EVERYTHING THEY WANT.
RIGHT NOW, OUR CAUCUS HAS
SETTLED ON $3.5 TRILLION.
WERE GOING TO WORK HARD TO TRY
TO MAKE THAT MEET OUR NEEDS, TO
STRETCH IT AS HARD AS WE CAN
OVER ALL OF THE THINGS WE NEED.
INCLUDING MASS TRANSIT,
INCLUDING HOME AND
COMMUNITY-BASED CARE.
INCLUDING EXPANDING MEDICARE.
INCLUDING DROPPING THE AGE OF
MEDICARE.
AND COVERING VISION, DENTAL, AND
HEALTH.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE WAY IT
GOES.
LOOK AT ALL THE THINGS IM
TRYING TO LIST.
THINGS THAT IF AS A NATION WE
HAD BEEN MAKING THOSE
INVESTMENTS AS WE HAD GONE
ALONG, IF WE MADE MORE
INVESTMENTS IN ALL OF THOSE
AREAS, WE WOULDNT HAVE TO HIT
IT AT THIS LEVEL NOW.
BUT WE ARE SO FAR BEHIND.
ITS NOT JUST CRUMBLING ROADS
AND BRIDGES.
ITS A CRUMBLING DAY CARE
CENTER.
ITS PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING
CRUSHED BY MEDICAL DEBTS.
AND ITS A CLIMATE CRISIS THAT
GETS WORSE BY THE HOUR.
WE HAVE A LOT TO DO HERE.
AND FRANKLY, IT WOULD BE TOUGH
TO DO IT ON $3.5 TRILLION.
>> LETS TALK ABOUT THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM THAT JUST EXPIRED.
LAST MONTH, THE SUPREME COURT
ALLOWED THE EVICTION BAN TO
CONTINUE THROUGH THE END OF
JULY.
THAT MEANS YESTERDAY.
KAVANAUGH MADE IT CLEAR HE WOULD
BLOCK ANY ADDITIONAL EXTENSIONS
UNLESS THERE WAS CLEAR AND
SPECIFIC CONGRESSIONAL
AUTHORIZATION.
PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYS IT MEANS
THE RULING MEANS HIS HANDS ARE
TIED.
DO YOU AGREE?
IF SO, WHY DIDNT CONGRESS GET
TO IT SOONER?
>> I DO NOT BELIEVE THE
PRESIDENTS HANDS ARE TIED.
I BELIEVE THE CDC HAS BOTH
RESPONSIBILITY AND AUTHORITY TO
MOVE FORWARD IN A TIME OF
CRISIS.
COVID CASES ARE ON THE RISE.
YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT IT.
WE HAVE NEW MASK MANDATES IN
PLACE.
WERE WATCHING YOUNGER PEOPLE
HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID.
WERE WATCHING DEATHS INCREASE.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP
PEOPLE SAFE.
AND THAT MEANS WE DONT WANT
PEOPLE PUT OUT ONTO THE STREET.
DONT WANT PEOPLE COUCH SURFING.
DONT WANT PEOPLE HAVING TO
DOUBLE UP AND TRIPLE UP WITH
NEIGHBORS AND WITH FAMILY.
THATS HOW WE INCREASE THE
SPREAD OF COVID.
YOU KNOW, THERES ACTUALLY SOME
GOOD DATA ON THIS SUGGESTING
THAT THE EVICTION WORKS TO HELP
PROMOTE PUBLIC HEALTH AND KEEP
DOWN THE SPREAD OF COVID.
I BELIEVE CDC SHOULD STEP UP IN
THIS INSTANCE, STOP THE
MORATORIUM -- CONTINUE THE
MORATORIUM.
STOP THE EVICTIONS.
AND KEEP US ALL SAFE.
THEY CAN DO THAT.
THEY SHOULD DO THAT.
>> SO ON THE CONGRESSIONAL SIDE,
DO YOU THINK SPEAKER PELOSI
SHOULD BRING THE HOUSE BACK TO
FORCE A VOTE?
>> LOOK, IM GLAD FOR CONGRESS
TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN POSSIBLY
DO.
BUT THIS IS URGENT, TIME IS
RUNNING OUT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CDC STEP
UP THIS EVENING.
THEY HAVE THE AUTHORITY.
AND LOOK, IF WE HAVE TO LITIGATE
THIS IN THE COURTS AGAIN, THEN
WELL LITIGATE IT IN THE COURTS,
BUT AT LEAST IT WILL BUY US SOME
TIME.
AND IF YOURE A FAMILY ABOUT TO
BE MOVED OUT ONTO THE STREETS,
THAT TIME MATTERS.
REMEMBER, CONGRESS HAS ALREADY
DEVELOPED THE TOOLS TO DEAL WITH
THIS FORECLOSURE.
WERE NOT ASKING LANDLORDS JUST
TO EAT IT.
WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS WE HAVE
ALLOCATED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS,
BUT THE PROGRAMS ARE NOT UNDER
WAY IN EVERY STATE.
THEY HAVE NOT REACHED THE PEOPLE
THEY NEED TO REACH.
SO WEVE GOT THE TOOLS.
WEVE GOT THE MONEY.
WE JUST NEED THE TIME.
CDC COULD GIVE US THE TIME NOW.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE TALK
ABOUT STUDENT DEBT, BECAUSE I
BELIEVE THE CRISES ARE RELATED.
YOU AND SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES
HAVE URGED PRESIDENT BIDEN TO
EXTEND THE PAUSE ON FEDERAL
STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS AND
INTEREST PAST THE SEPTEMBER 30th
DEADLINE.
CALLED ON HIM TO FORGIVE UP TO
$50,000 PER BORROWER THROUGH
EXECUTIVE ACTION DESPITE THE
FACT SPEAKER PELOSI SAYS BIDEN
DOESNT HOLD THE POW TOOR CANCEL
STUDENT DEBT, DOES THE SPEAKERS
COMMENT SUGGEST THAT DEBT
CANCELLATION IS DEAD?
>> NO, NOT AT ALL.
THE PRESIDENT HAS THE AUTHORITY
TO CANCEL STUDENT LOAN DEBT.
YOU KNOW HOW I KNOW THAT?
BECAUSE PRESIDENT OBAMA DID IT,
BECAUSE PRESIDENT TRUMP DID IT,
AND BECAUSE PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS
DONE IT.
IN FACT, PRESIDENT TRUMP AND
PRESIDENT BIDEN TOGETHER HAVE
ALREADY CANCELED, CANCELED,
ABOUT $80 BILLION IN STUDENT
LOAN DEBT.
THEY HAVE THE AUTHORITY.
THE LAWS ARE VERY CLEAR ON THIS.
WHAT WE NEED PRESIDENT BIDEN TO
DO IS TO PICK UP THAT AUTHORITY
AND USE IT.
IT IS A MATTER OF ECONOMIC
JUSTICE.
KEEP IN MIND THAT ABOUT 40% OF
THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE STUDENT LOAN
DEBT NEVER GOT A DIPLOMA.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE EARNING
AT A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
LEVEL BUT PAYING ON COLLEGE
DEBT.
ALSO, KEEP IN MIND ABOUT TWO
THIRDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO
GRADUATE FROM STATE
UNIVERSITIES, THEY END UP HAVING
TO TAKE OUT STUDENT LOANS TO BE
ABLE TO PAY.
ITS ALSO A RACIAL JUSTICE
ISSUE.
AFRICAN-AMERICANS BORROW MORE
MONEY TO GO TO SCHOOL, MORE
MONEY WHILE THEYRE IN SCHOOL,
AND HAVE A HARDER TIME PAYING IT
OFF WHEN THEY GET OUT OF SCHOOL.
PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS THE
AUTHORITY.
AND HE COULD MAKE THIS -- HE
COULD DO THIS NOW, RIGHT NOW.
AND ADVANCE BOTH ECONOMIC
JUSTICE AND RACIAL JUSTICE IN
OUR COUNTRY.
I HOPE HE WILL DO THIS.
>> SENATOR, BEFORE I LET YOU GO,
AND I REALIZE YOU HAVE BEEN
PRESIZING OVER THE SENATE FLOOR,
SO IM NOT SURE IF YOU HEARD
MINORITY LEADER McCARTHYS
SUPPOSED JOKE ABOUT NANCY
PELOSI, ABOUT HITTING HER WITH A
GAVEL.
>> NO.
>> ILL MAKE THIS ONE PROPHECY,
IF WE WIN THE MAJORITY, WHICH I
KNOW WERE GOING TO DO, YOURE
ALL INVITED. I WANT YOU TO WATCH NANCY PELOSI
I WANT YOU TO WATCH NANCY PELOSI
HAND ME THAT GAVEL.
ITLL BE HARD NOT TO HIT HER
WITH IT, BUT --
>> IT WOULD BE HARD NOT TO HIT
HER WITH IT.
IS THAT WHAT YOU EXPECT TO HEAR
FROM THE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER?
>> LOOK, KEVIN McCARTHY MAKES
CLEAR EVERY DAY THAT HE DOESNT
UNDERSTAND WHAT LEADERSHIP IS
ABOUT.
ALL HE CARES ABOUT IS PLAYING
POLITICS AND POWER.
AND THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR HIS
PARTY.
AND IT IS NOT GOOD FOR CONGRESS.
AND IT IS NOT GOOD FOR OUR