ED: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
IT’S SUNDAY, JULY 26.
CONGRESSWOMAN LORI TRAHAN IS OUR GUEST.
LET’S GO "ON THE RECORD." THE CAPITOL HILL FRESHMAN NOW CLEARED OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE TROUBLES, LOOKS TO A SECOND TERM.
HOW SHE’S TAKING ON THE ISSUES OF COVID-19, FROM GETTING CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL TO GETTING PEOPLE BACK TO WOR LET’S GO "ON THE RECORD." FROM WCVB NEWS CHANNEL 5,
FROM BEACON HILL TO CAPITOL HILL, GOING "ON THE RECORD." ED: I’M ED HARDING.
JANET WU IS OFF THIS WEEK.
OUR GUEST IS CONGRESSWOMAN LORI TRAHAN, SHE IS IN HER FIRST TERM REPRESENTING THE STATE’S 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, AND IS A CANDIDATE FOR RE-ELECTION.
SHE JOINS US FROM OUR BUREAU IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
WE ARE MAINTAINING OUR SOCIAL DISTANCING.
IT’S GREAT TO SEE YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH THE CLOUD THAT HAS BEEN LIFTED AFTER MONTHS OF INVESTIGATION.
THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE CLEARING YOU OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE FIR -- CAMPAIGN-FINANCE IRREGULARITIES.
THE PANEL SAID YOU MADE MISTAKES, AND YOU AMENDED YOUR FILINGS.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MAKE SURE THIS SORT OF THING DOESN’T HAPPEN AGAIN?
REP. TRAHAN: I HAVE MAINTAINED ALL ALONG THAT THESE ALLEGATIONS WERE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.
THAT WAS DEMONSTRATED LAST WEEK WHEN THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE, MADE UP OF DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WHO DON’T AGREE ON A WHOLE LOT THESE DAYS, AGREED ON THIS AND VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO
DISMISS THIS CASE, BECAUSE THE COMPLAINTS WERE WITHOUT MERIT.
CERTAINLY, IN 2018 WE RAN A CAMPAIGN THAT WAS FAST-PACED AND VERY AGGRESSIVE.
FOCUSED ON MESSAGING THAT WOULD RESONATE WITH WORKING-CLASS FAMILIES ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
I WILL BE THE FIRST PERSON TO ADMIT THAT MISTAKES WERE MADE.
AS SOON AS WE DISCOVERED THOSE MISTAKES WE IMMEDIATELY AIMED TO FIX THEM.
WE AMENDED OUR REPORTS.
THE ETHICS COMMITTEE, THEY CONFIRMED WE DID THAT.
CERTAINLY, THOUGH, WE’VE PUT STEPS IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THOSE ERRORS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.
ED: YOU DID ADMIT IN THE WAKE OF IT IN 2018 THAT YOU ADMITTED TO MAKING MISTAKES.
NOT ONLY THAT MISTAKES WERE MADE, BUT YOU TOOK THE HIT FOR IT.
REP. TRAHAN: THERE IS A LOT OF PAPERWORK AND FINE PRINT THAT GOES INTO RUNNING A CAMPAIGN.
YEAH, OUR FILINGS IN OUR REPORTING, WE MADE THOSE ERRORS.
I WILL TELL YOU ONE THING.
ALONG WITH LEARNING FROM THESE ERRORS AND PUTTING SYSTEMS IN PLACE SO IT DOESN’T HAPPEN AGAIN, I AM 100% COMMITTED TO HELPING OTHER FIRST-TIME CANDIDATES, WOMEN LIKE MYSELF
WHO HAVE NEVER RUN FOR OFFICE BEFORE, NAVIGATE THOSE CAMPAIGN GUIDELINES.
BECAUSE IT CAN BE DAUNTING WHEN YOU ARE FOCUSED EVERY DAY ON REACHING AND CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE AND GETTING YOUR MESSAGE OUT THERE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO RECRUITING THOSE WOMEN AND HELPING THEM ALONG THE WAY.
ED: LET’S TALK ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS.
JUST SO OUR VIEWERS KNOW, NEITHER OF US ARE WEARING A MASK ON TELEVISION, BUT WE ARRIVED IN OUR LOCATIONS WEARING MASKS.
COVID-19 IS HERE WITH US.
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE NEW STIMULUS PLAN.
IT IS COMING TOGETHER.
WHAT ARE YOUR MUST HAVES IN THIS LEGISLATION?
REP. TRAHAN: DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WE DID OUR WORK OVER TWO MONTHS AGO.
WE KNEW OUR CITIES AND TOWNS, FAMILIES, WORKERS, SMALL BUSINESSES NEEDED ADDITIONAL RELIEF TO STAY AFLOAT.
RIGHT AS THESE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN AGREED UPON BY DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ARE SET TO EXPIRE THE PRESIDENT AND MITCH MCCONNELL HAVE JUST NOW COME TO THE TABLE.
THAT IS WHY I AM IN WASHINGTON.
I’M WORKING TO MAKE SURE OUR FAMILIES AND OUR WORKERS GET THE RELIEF THEY NEED.
THAT MEANS ANOTHER ROUND OF DIRECT CASH PAYMENTS BECAUSE THOSE BILLS ARE PILING UP.
IT MEANS EXTENDING THOSE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
I HAVE SO FLICK -- SELFWIC WERE SEVERAL HUNDRED EMPLOYEES WERE TERMINATED WITHOUT HEALTH CARE.
THEY NEED THAT UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT TO KEEP THEIR FAMILIES SAFE AND AFLOAT.
NO MATTER WHAT TOWN OR CITY I AM IN AND THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND BEYOND, THEY NEED RELIEF.
THEY ARE EXPERIENCING SUCH HUGE BUDGET SHORTFALLS, AND THEY NEED TO KEEP THEIR FIRST RESPONDERS, EMTS, TEACHERS ON THE PAYROLL AND PROVIDE AN INCREASED LEVEL OF SERVICE DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
WE NEED TO STABILIZE THOSE BUDGETS.
I WILL TELL YOU ONE THING I’M WORKING HARD FOR -- GO AHEAD.
ED: FINISH THE THOUGHT, AND I WILL FOLLOW UP.
REP. TRAHAN: ONE THING I’M WORKING HARD ON IS THE PANDEMIC PRODUCTION ACT.
THAT MADE IT INTO THE HEROES BILL, PARTS OF IT MADE IT INTO THE HEROES BILL.
WHICH WILL MAKE SURE WE NEVER HAVE ANOTHER SHORTAGE OF PPE AGAIN IN THIS COUNTRY.
IT BRINGS THAT MANUFACTURING BACK TO THE UNITED STATES USING FEDERAL GRANTS TO DO SO WILL STOP WE WILL NEED THAT MORE THAN EVER, NOT JUST FOR PPE IN THIS NEXT ROUND, BUT FOR MEDICAL
EQUIPMENT AND HOPEFULLY A VACCINE.
ED: TALKING ABOUT THE STIMULUS PACKAGE, WOULD YOU WANT IT TO BE -- I WILL USE $1200 AS THE BASIC NUMBER, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT CAME LAST TIME, BUT AT $1200 CHECK?
WHAT ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS?
THERE’S TALK ABOUT NOT $600 A WEEK, BUT $400 A WEEK.
DO YOU HAVE A HARD LINE IN THAT ARGUMENT?
REP. TRAHAN: I THINK WE HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE IN TERMS OF WHAT THOSE AMOUNTS ARE.
THE $1200 CHECKS THAT WENT OUT MONTHS AGO ARE SPENT IN THOSE BILLS ARE STILL PILING UP BECAUSE WE ARE MONTHS INTO THIS CRISIS.
WE WANT TO SEE IT CLOSER TO THE 1200 DOLLARS.
WHEN I HEAR REPUBLICANS TALK ABOUT $100 A WEEK FOR AN UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT, THAT’S NOT GOING TO CUT IT.
IN MASSACHUSETTS WE HAVE ON AVERAGE $500 A WEEK FOR OUR UNEMPLOYMENT.
STATES LIKE LOUISIANA AND TENNESSEE, THAT DROPS TO $200, $140.
THAT’S NOT GOING TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING IN STATES THAT ARE SURGING.
WE HAVE 40 STATES WITH INFECTION RATES RISING AND 25 MILLION PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THOSE FOLKS GET THE RELIEF THEY NEED.
ED: FEW ARE MORE EMOTIONALLY CHARGED IN THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL QUESTION.
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS MADE IT CLEAR HE WANTS KIDS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.
LATELY HE HAS BEEN CONCEDING THAT IT MAY NOT HAPPEN.
AS THE MOTHER OF SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN -- YOU’RE NOT JUST A LAWMAKER, YOU ARE THE MOTHER OF SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN, WHAT ARE YOUR MAJOR CONCERNS?
REP. TRAHAN: I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN SCHOOLS OPEN ARE SAFE FOR OUR TEACHERS, FOR THE WORKERS WHO WILL BE SANITIZING THOSE BUILDINGS, FOR STUDENTS CERTAINLY, AND FOR PARENTS.
THAT IS PRIORITY ONE.
NO SCHOOL DISTRICT SHOULD BE BEARING THE BRUNT OF WHAT IT WILL TAKE, THE RESOURCES IT WILL TAKE, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS OPEN SAFELY.
IT IS WHY THE HEROES ACT WE PASSED ON MAY 15 OF THIS YEAR INCLUDED $90 BILLION TO STABILIZE OUR K-12 PROGRAMS AND HIGHER INSTITUTIONS SO THEY CAN MAKE MODIFICATIONS IN
THEIR SCHOOLS SO STUDENTS CAN GO TO SCHOOL SAFELY.
I KNOW NOW OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE PREPARING DIFFERENT SCENARIOS DEPENDING ON WHERE WE ARE FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH STANDPOINT.
THERE’S NOTHING MORE THAT I WANT TO SEE THEN FOR KIDS TO SAFELY GO BACK TO SCHOOL.
WE KNOW REMOTE LEARNING WIDENS THE GAP OF DISPARITIES IN TERMS OF ACHIEVEMENT.
NOT ALL THESE STUDENTS ARE TUNING INTO THEIR VIRTUAL CURRICULUM, OR THEY DON’T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT WE ARE GIVING FOLKS THE TOOLS SO THAT ALL OF OUR KIDS ARE GETTING DEVELOPED AND EDUCATED EQUALLY.
ED: WOULD YOU PUT YOUR KIDS ON A SCHOOL BUS?
JUST IN THEORY?
WHAT ABOUT TRAVELING ON A SCHOOL BUS?
REP. TRAHAN: WE THINK ABOUT IT A LOT.
MY DAUGHTERS ARE ADEPT AT WEARING MASKS.
THANKFULLY THEY KNOW HOW TO SOCIALLY DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM OTHERS JUST LIKE AN ADULT.
WE TALK ABOUT THAT.
WE TALK ABOUT IF THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE THE SCHOOL BUS, OR IF THERE WILL BE AWAY FOR MY HUSBAND OR I TO DRIVE THEM TO SCHOOL.
I THINK AS WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE FALL -- IT’S NOT THE FALL, IT’S NEXT MONTH -- WHAT THAT’S GOING TO LOOK LIKE, I THINK WE ARE GOING TO GET TO A LEVEL OF COMFORT.
IT’S IMPORTANT PEOPLE HAVE CONFIDENCE TO RETURN TO SCHOOL.
ED: YOU TALKED ABOUT YOUR DAUGHTER AND THE MASK.
IT’S PROVEN MASKS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE WAS THAT MASKS, SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND WASHING YOUR HANDS.
IT HAS ALSO BECOME A HIGHLY POLITICIZED ISSUE.
WE ARE POSTING A PICTURE OF YOU WEARING THE MASK.
YOU HAD IT WITH YOU UNTIL WE WENT ON TELEVISION.
HOW ARE YOU DEALING WITH MIXED MESSAGES ABOUT WEARING THE MASK?
REP. TRAHAN: I CAN TELL YOU I CONFRONTED HERE IN WASHINGTON -- THERE ARE CERTAINLY PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE POLITICIZED MASK WEARING, AND SOME JUST WILL NOT WHERE IT -- WEAR IT.
THE MESSAGE I WANT TO SEND A FOLKS IS WE KNOW IT WORKS.
IN MASSACHUSETTS, WE KNOW IT WORKS.
WE ARE A HANDFUL OF STATES THAT HAVE CONTAINED THE VIRUS BECAUSE OF THE VIGILANCE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN WEARING THEIR MASK RELIGIOUSLY FOR MONTHS.
WHEREVER I GO I TRY TO BE AN EXAMPLE.
MY KIDS DO AS WELL.
I KNOW IT’S A HARD THING TO DO, BUT WE KNOW IT WORKS.
IT SAVES LIVES WAS AT THE THING WE HAVE TO DO FOR OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS INTO CENTRAL WORKERS WHO ARE ON THE F