>>> A $2 TRILLION FEDERAL RELIEF PACKAGE PASSED LAST WEEK IS
MEANT TO HELP THOSE HIT HARD BY COVID-19.
IT IS THE THIRD SUCH STEP TAKEN IN RECENT WEEKS.
AND WHEN I SPOKE WITH CONGRESSMAN JIM MCGOVERN OF
MASSACHUSETTS' 2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, HE SAID IT IS NOT
LIKELY TO BE THE LAST.
WE SPOKE FIRST ABOUT HIS THOUGHTS ON THE RESPONSE THUS
FAR.
>> I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE A NATIONWIDE TOTAL RESPONSE AND
THAT MEANS ALL STATES SHOULD BE COMPLYING WITH WHAT OUR
SCIENTISTS AND OUR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS HAVE SUGGESTED.
I MEAN, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO HAVE MASSACHUSETTS
ABIDE BY ONE SET OF STANDARDS AND TENNESSEE BY A WHOLE
DIFFERENT SET OF STANDARDS.
I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE WALLS THAT SEPARATE OUR STATES.
WE'RE ONE COUNTRY SO IF YOU REALLY WANT TO DEAL WITH THIS
EFFECTIVELY, WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
>> AND TO YOUR POINT, IN THE CARE ACT, ONE PROVISION OF THAT
IS AIMED AT HEALTHCARE WORKERS WHO CLEARLY ARE WORKING TO KEEP
MANY OF US HERE SAFE AND THAT INCLUDES $200 BILLION FOR
HOSPITALS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND HEALTHCARE RESEARCH AND
INCLUDED IN THAT IS I IMAGINE SOME STRIDES TO ADDRESS WHAT
YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WHERE FEMA IS OUTBIDDING THE STATES.
I KNOW SENATOR WARREN HAD LOOKED INTO THIS EARLIER THIS WEEK.
IS THERE ANY CLARITY AROUND WHETHER THERE'S A WAY TO STOP
THIS?
>> THE WAY TO STOP IT IS FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STOP
OUTBIDDING STATES AND TO MAKE SURE THAT STATES HAVE THE ACCESS
TO ALL THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT THAT THEY NEED.
LOOK, LET'S BE FRANK HERE.
THE WHITE HOUSE RESPONSE STARTED TOO LATE.
WE SHOULD HAVE STARTED THIS A LOT EARLIER.
AND SO -- AND COORDINATION SHOULD HAVE STARTED A LOT
EARLIER, BUT HERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE PAST,
YOU CAN ONLY HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE AND AGAIN THERE IS NO
EXCUSE FOR ANY GOVERNOR NOT TO BE ABLE TO GET THE NECESSARY
EQUIPMENT THEY NEED TO SAVE THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE IN THEIR
STATES, WHETHER THAT BE FACE MASKS, WHETHER THAT BE HOSPITAL
GOWNS, WHETHER THAT BE, YOU KNOW, VENTILATORS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE -- THAT WE PRODUCE ENOUGH
AND THAT THE GOVERNORS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY GET WHAT THEY NEED.
IT'S ABOUT SAVING LIVES.
>> TO YOUR POINT ABOUT PRODUCING ENOUGH, I KNOW THAT THE CARE ACT
AS I JUST HIGHLIGHTED HAS THAT MONEY IN THERE FOR SOME OF THESE
PROTECTIVE ITEMS BUT ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT MANUFACTURERS ARE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO FILL ORDERS IF THE MONEY IS THERE?
>> AGAIN, MANY OF US A LONG TIME AGO URGED THE PRESIDENT TO
INVOKE THE DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT, BASICALLY TO PRODUCE THE
NECESSARY EQUIPMENT.
I MEAN, WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF VENTILATORS.
YOU KNOW, DURING WORLD WAR II, WE HAD ALL OF OUR FACTORIES
MAKING AIRPLANE PARTS BECAUSE WE WANTED TO DO EVERYTHING WE COULD
TO BE PREPARED TO WIN WORLD WAR II.
AND SO AGAIN, THE PRESIDENT JUST RECENTLY INVOKED THE DEFENSE
PRODUCTION ACT SO WE'RE AGAIN BEHIND.
BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE SOME CATCHING UP TO DO AND THE VENTILATORS ARE
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, AS IS THE TESTING, AS IS THE PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
>> LOOKING AGAIN TO THE CARE ACT, THIS INCLUDES SOME DRASTIC
CHANGES TO UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE WAY PEOPLE APPLY AND EVEN WHO'S
ELIGIBLE AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE WAY THE ACT WAS WRITTEN IS
THERE'S NOW AN ADDITIONAL 13 WEEKS OF FEDERALLY FUNDED
BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE.
>> CORRECT.
>> WHO IS THAT AVAILABLE TO?
>> SO IT'S AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT OF WORK.
IT'S AVAILABLE -- LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY.
IF PEOPLE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THEY SHOULD CHECK OUR WEB PAGE,
MY WEB PAGE IS GOVERNOR.HOUSE.GOV AND WE
WILL, AND IT'S A THERE ABOUT WHO QUALIFIES FOR
WHAT AND HOW YOU GO ABOUT APPLYING FOR IT AND AGAIN, MY
OFFICE, I KNOW CONGRESSMAN NEIL AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
DELEGATION AS WELL AS SENATOR MARKEY AND WARREN, OUR OFFICE IS
WILLING TO WORK WITH PEOPLE TO CUT THROUGH ALL THE DETAIL HERE
AND MAKE SURE THEY GET WHAT THEY NEED.
>> BECAUSE THERE CERTAINLY IS A LOT OF DETAIL, 880 PAGES OF THIS
CARE ACT.
PEOPLE DO HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT RESOURCE.
I KNOW ONE QUESTION WE HAD RECEIVED WAS BECAUSE THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF ARTISTS HERE IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS, AS YOU'RE
AWARE, BERKSHIRE COUNTY IN PARTICULAR, PEOPLE WHO ARE
SELF-EMPLOYED ARE NOT TYPICALLY ELIGIBLE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT.
DID THIS ADDRESS THAT?
>> IN MANY CASES IT DOES AND SO MY HOPE IS AGAIN THOSE PEOPLE
WILL GET A BENEFIT, AS WELL.
AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN IF THERE'S ANY QUESTION, PEOPLE SHOULD
REACH OUT TO US AND WE CAN CLARIFY YOU KNOW, WHAT THE
DETAILS ARE.
AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE -- PEOPLE ARE -- EVERYBODY'S IN DIFFERENT
CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT WE TRIED TO ACCOMMODATE YOU KNOW, THE VAST
ARRAY OF OUR POPULATION AND MEET THEIR NEEDS AND GET THEM WHAT
THEY NEED.
SO HOPEFULLY THIS WILL HELP.
LOOK, THIS IS OUR THIRD PACKAGE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO A FOURTH PACKAGE AND WE MIGHT HAVE
TO DO A FIFTH PACKAGE.
AND SO IF THERE ARE -- IF THERE ARE HOLES IN -- IN THIS PACKAGE
FOR WHATEVER REASON, IF SOME ISSUES AREN'T BEING ADDRESSED,
CONGRESS NEEDS TO COME BACK AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS THEM
IMMEDIATELY.
>> ANY ISSUES YOU'RE AWARE OF RIGHT NOW THAT YOU THINK WILL BE
FOLDED INTO THAT, THE FOURTH OR FIFTH PACKAGE THAT YOU MENTIONED
OR IS THAT JUST SOMETHING YOU'RE LEAVING ON THE TABLE FOR FUTURE
DISCUSSION?
>> ONE THING THAT UNFORTUNATELY, WE RECEIVED SOME RESISTANCE FROM
THE ADMINISTRATION ON IS INCREASING SNAP BENEFITS FOR
PEOPLE WHO ARE ON SNAP.
YOU KNOW, IN THE BEST OF TIMES, WE HAVE UNFORTUNATELY, A PROBLEM
IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE CLOSE TO 40 MILLION PEOPLE DON'T KNOW
WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL IS GOING TO COME FROM.
BECAUSE OF THIS VIRUS, A LOT OF THE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE GO TO
GET ADDITIONAL FOOD HAVE BEEN RESTRICTED BECAUSE WE CAN'T
GATHER TOGETHER.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO BUY
THEIR GROCERIES IN THE PERSPECTIVE OR WHEREVER IT IS
SAFE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THEM AND THAT REQUIRES
AN INCREASE IN SNAP BENEFITS.
BY THE WAY, THE AVERAGE SNAP BENEFIT IS ONLY ABOUT $1.40 PER
PERSON PER MEAL.
AND SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALSO WORRY ABOUT THE MOST
VULNERABLE IN OUR SOCIETY DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN INCREASE IN THAT.
WE NEED TO PROVIDE MONEYS FOR THE STATES TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW
PEOPLE TO VOTE BY MAIL.
AGAIN, WE HAVE ELECTIONS COMING UP.
THERE'S STILL PRIMARIES GOING ON, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
AN ELECTION IN NOVEMBER, BUT WE'RE TOLD BY DR.
FAUCI AND THAT EVEN IF WE CAN BEND THE CURVE,
THE DISEASE DOESN'T GO AWAY AND SO PEOPLE SHOULD BE GIVEN THE
OPTION TO BE ABLE TO VOTE BY MAIL FROM THEIR HOMES.
THERE WILL BE MORE NEEDS FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND FOR OUR MANUFACTURERS.
AND OUR HOSPITALS AND OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS ARE
GOING TO NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AS WELL AND SO THAT WILL HAVE TO
BE IN THE NEXT -- ADDITIONAL MONEYS FOR THEM WILL HAVE TO BE
IN THE NEXT PACKAGE, AS WELL.
>> YOU MENTIONED SMALL BUSINESS.
IN THE CURRENT PACKAGE THAT WAS PASSED A WEEK AGO, IT DOES
INCLUDE MONEY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND SOME OF IT IS
FORGIVABLE, A GOOD PORTION OF IT IS FORGIVABLE, IF IT'S SPENT ON
SAY PAYING FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES, A FEW OTHER SPECIFIC AREAS.
WAS THAT HEEDING WHAT HAPPENED IN 2008?
WE HEARD SO MUCH FEEDBACK FROM SMALL BUSINESS THAT THERE WASN'T
A TON OF SUPPORT FOR THEM DURING THAT FINANCIAL CRISIS.
>> WE'VE LEARNED SOME LESSONS FROM THAT PACKAGE, BACK IN 2008,
AND AGAIN, ONE OF THE LESSONS I THINK WE LEARNED AND I WANT TO
CREDIT HOUSE DEMOCRATS FOR THIS IS THAT WE TOOK WHAT THE SENATE
HAD ORIGINALLY PROPOSED HERE, WHICH WAS A BILL THAT SEEMED TO
BE HEAVY ON SUPPORT FOR CORPORATIONS AND NO STRINGS
ATTACHED AND WE TURNED IT AROUND TO MAKE IT A BILL THAT WAS MORE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY, THE WORKERS.
WHAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IS THAT SMALL BUSINESSES, WHICH ARE
THE BACKBONE OF OUR ECONOMY CAN REMAIN VIABLE DURING THIS CRISIS
SO THEY CAN OPEN UP AGAIN WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO AND WE ALSO
WANT TO DO THEBI CORPORATIONS DON'T TAKE THE MONEY THAT
TAXPAYERS PROVIDE THEM LIKE THEY DID LAST TIME AND USE IT FOR
STOCK BUYBACKS OR TO ENHANCE THE SALARIES OF THEIR CEOs.
AGAIN, WE NEED TO FOCUS IN ON, YOU KNOW, THE MAJORITY IN THIS
COUNTRY, THE REGULAR PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY, THE WORKING PEOPLE
IN THIS COUNTRY AND THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL DOES.
>> I READ REPORT THIS WEEK THAT WAS URGING SMALL BUSINESSES TO
APPLY FOR THE ASSISTANCE AS QUICKLY AS THEY COULD BECAUSE
THE MONEY MIGHT BE DOLED OUT IN THE ORDER THAT APPLICATIONS ARE
RECEIVED.
DO YOU KNOW THAT -- IS THAT CORRECT?
>> WELL, I THINK IT IS IN EVERYBODY'S INTEREST TO APPLY AS
SOON AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN. AND AGAIN, WE MAY HAVE TO COME
BACK, WE MAY HAVE TO ADD TO THAT POT OF MONEY.
LOOK, THIS IS A CRISIS UNLIKE ANYTHING WE'VE SEEN.
OUR ENTIRE ECONOMY IS BASICALLY ON HOLD.
AND SO WHILE WE HAVE TO BE FOCUSED ON SAVING AND PROTECTING
LIVES, AND AGAIN, NOT ONLY THE CARES ACT, BUT THE OTHER BILLS
THAT WE PASSED DO THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN ECONOMY TO REVIVE
WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER WITH.
AND SO THAT IS -- WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE, AND AGAIN, WE
HAVE NO IDEA HOW LONG THIS IS GOING TO GO ON.
AND I URGE EVERYBODY TO HEED THE ADVICE OF THE MEDICAL EXPERTS
AND THE SCIENTISTS, STAY IN.
FOLLOW ALL THE RULES.
BUT AS YOU DO THAT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU'RE A SMALL
BUSINESS-PERSON, THAT IF YOU'RE JUST A REGULAR WORKER, THAT YOU
HAVE SOMETHING TO GO BACK TO ONCE THIS IS ALL OVER WITH.
>> CONGRESSMAN A MINUTE AGO YOU MENTIONED ELECTIONS AND THIS
CARE PACKAGE DOES INCLUDE MONEY FOR STATES TO APPLY FOR GRANTS
THAT WOULD LOOK AHEAD TO THE 2020 LACKS.
IS THE IDEA BEHIND THAT, THAT STATES WILL COME UP WITH A PLAN
FOR HOW TO DISTANCE VOTE OR WHAT IS THE IDEA BEHIND THE GRANT
PROCESS THERE?
>> WELL, I MEAN, IT IS BASICALLY TO HELP -- TO PROVIDE FOR
SECURITY IN OUR ELECTIONS AND TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE SHOULD PROCEED
IN TERMS OF MAKING IT SAFE FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE, BUT THE BOTTOM
LINE IS THE CARES ACT IS WOEFULLY INADEQUATE IN TERMS OF
MONEY TO HELP STATES ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT ANY PLAN.
AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO VOTE BY MAIL.
THAT IS THE SAFEST THING TO DO, AND PEOPLE OUGHT TO HAVE THAT
OPTION.
AND AGAIN, THE PRESIDENT ON ONE OF THE NETWORKS SAID WELL, YOU
KNOW, IF EVERYBODY GETS THE VOTE, THERE WON'T BE ANY
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
THAT'S KIND OF A STUPID EXCUSE TO TRY TO NOT SUPPORT OUR
DEMOCRACY.
PEOPLE -- THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS A SACRED RIGHT AND WE NEED TO
PROTECT IT AND WE HAVE AN ELECTION, COMING UP IN NOVEMBER
AND WE KNOW THAT THIS VIRUS WILL NOT BE TOTALLY ERADICATED BY
NOVEMBER.
AGAIN, EVEN IF WE BEND THE CURVE, IT WILL STILL BE AROUND
AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO NEED TO TAKE THEIR PRECAUTIONS, AND I
THINK ONE OF THEM IS TO STAY AWAY FROM BIG CROWDS.
LET'S MAKE -- LET'S MAKE THIS ELECTION EASY FOR EVERYBODY TO
BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN.
>> TO YOUR POINT ABOUT BIG CROWDS, I KNOW SOMETHING THAT
YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING INTO AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE RULES COMMITTEE
IS THE POSSIBILITY OF CONGRESS VOTING REMOTELY AND FROM A
DISTANCE.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED?
>> THE PROBLEM IS THAT YEAH, WE HAVE GREAT TECHNOLOGY, BUT THE
TECHNOLOGY IS NOT NECESSARILY SECURE.
IF CONGRESS IS GOING TO HAVE A DEBATE AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
REMOTE VOTING, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE CAN'T INTERFERE
WITH CONNECTIONS AND BEING ABLE TO DO THAT.
THE OTHER THING I'VE LEARNED IS THAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, YOU
KNOW, ARE AT VARIOUS POINTS IN TERMS OF BEING TECHNOLOGICALLY
LITERATE.
AND WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO STILL USE FLIP
PHONES AND SO YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION LIKE
WE'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW IS SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE NOT
COMFORTABLE WITH DOING.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO LIVE IN AREAS THAT
AREN'T CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET.
AND AGAIN, THAT POINTS TO THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO INVEST MORE
IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO YOU KNOW, I'VE MADE SOME SUGGESTIONS OF HOW TO VOTE MAYBE
BY PROXY.
IF SOME PEOPLE CAN COME TO WASHINGTON, THOSE WHO CAN'T MAKE
IT CAN GIVE THEIR PROXY TO THOSE WHO ARE HERE TO TELL THEM HOW
THEY WOULD VOTE, BUT WE NEED TO FIGURE THIS OUT AND WE ALSO NEED
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE START FIGURING IT OUT QUICKLY BECAUSE
WE NEED OUR COMMITTEES TO WORK.
CONGRESS NEEDS TO DO OVERSIGHT ON THE CARES PACKAGE, $2
TRILLION PLUS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY IS BEING EXPEND PROPERLY,
THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO HELP FRIENDS OF THE PRESIDENT OR NOT
GOING TO ENRICH COMPANIES, MEMBERS OF HIS ADMINISTRATION
HAVE PARTICULAR FINANCIAL INTEREST IN, WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT THIS IS GOING AS TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY, THAT
IS BEING SPENT TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES, THAT IS BEING
IMPLEMENTED THE WAY CONGRESS INTENDED IT TO SO WE NEED TO
HAVE HEARINGS.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE THAT OUT AND MY HOPE IS IN THE
NEXT FEW DAYS, WE WILL COME UP WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS SO
THAT CONGRESS CAN OPERATE MORE LIKE IT NORMALLY DOES WHEN WE'RE
ALL TOGETHER.
>> CONGRESSMAN, IN RECENT DAYS WE'VE SEEN SOLDIERS HOMES HAVE
BEEN UP TICK IN COVID-19 OUTBREAKS AND OTHER GROUP HOMES,
AS WELL.
I'VE ALSO BEEN SPOKING WITH PRISON REFORM ADVOCATES WHO SAY
THAT THEY'RE CONCERNED THAT PRISONS AND THEY'VE BEEN RAISING
THIS ALARM FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS NOW, THAT PRISONS COULD BE RIFE
FOR COVID-19 OUTBREAKS AND HAVE ASKED THAT LOW-LEVEL OFFENDERS
BE RELEASED FROM THOSE SETTINGS.
WHAT'S YOUR POSITION ON THAT?
>> I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE QUITE FRANKLY.
AGAIN, I MEAN, THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS MOMENT THAT WE'RE IN
AND THE COVID-19 HAS PROVEN TO BE DEADLY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE
WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED.
WE'RE TOLD THAT MAYBE 200,000 PLUS PEOPLE MAY LOSE THEIR LIVES
AND THAT'S IF WE FOLLOW ALL THE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND SO IT
SEEMS TO ME THAT LOW-LEVEL OFFENDERS, WE CAN WORK OUT SOME
SORT OF ALTERNATIVE WAY FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THEIR
SENTENCES AND AGAIN LET ME JUST SAY ABOUT THE SOLDIERS HOME,
THAT'S A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY AND WE NEED TO FIND OUT -- WE NEED TO
GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT HAPPENED THERE.
I MEAN THAT IS -- THESE ARE OUR VETERANS, THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO
SERVED OUR COUNTRY.
AND IT IS REALLY HEART-BREAKING AND SAD TO HEAR OF WHAT HAS
HAPPENED TO SO MANY PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE.