>> FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO
SEE MORE WOMEN I CAN TELL YOU
EXPERIENCE BEING HERE IN THIS
JUST IN GENERAL, MORE WOMEN
WOULD HELP US WORK TOWARDS
BETTER POLICY.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT, I THINK
WOMEN BRING A DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVE.
[♪♪♪♪]
>> HELLO I'M BONNIE ERBE.
WELCOME TO THE CONTRARY.
THIS WEEK, WE CONTINUE OUR
SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH WOMEN
THOUGHT LEADERS.
OUR GUEST IS NEVADA SENATOR
KATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO, THE
FIRST WOMAN ELECTED FROM NEVADA
TO SERVE IN THE U.S. SENATE AND
THE FIRST LATINA TO SERVE IN THE
U.S. SENATE.
COURT 'TIS MASTO IS A RECORD OF
22 WOMEN SERVING IN THE U.S.
SENATE.
17 OF THE WOMEN ARE DEMOCRATS,
FIVE ARE REPUBLICANS.
IN 2017, SHE REPLACED OUTGOING
SENATOR HARRY REID WHO ENDORSED
HER.
HE SERVED AS SENATE MAJORITY
LEADER.
>> SO HELP YOU GOD?
CONGRATULATIONS, SENATORS.
>> SENATOR CORTEZ MASTO'S
BACKGROUND INCLUDES BEING
ELECTED THE 32nd ATTORNEY
GENERAL IN NEVADA WHERE SHE
SERVED EIGHT YEARS AND WAS A
CIVIL ATTORNEY, A CRIMINAL
PROSECUTOR AND CHIEF OF STAFF
FOR FORMER NEVADA GOVERNOR BOB
MILLER.
HER FIRST SPEECH BEFORE THE FULL
U.S. SENATE WAS NOT WHAT SHE
ORIGINALLY PLANNED.
>> THE SPEECH WAS MEANT TO
DEMAND THAT OUR COUNTRY'S
LEADERS RESPECT EVERY AMERICAN
REGARDLESS OF THE COLOR OF THEIR
SKIN OR HOW THEY CHOOSE TO
WORSHIP.
UNFORTUNATELY, Mr. PRESIDENT,
MY MAIDEN SPEECH ON THE FLOOR OF
THIS BODY WILL INSTEAD TALK
ABOUT MASS MURDER.
TODAY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE
COURAGE OF HEROS AND FIRST
RESPONDERS AND HONOR THE WOUNDED
AND THOSE MURDERED.
>> SHE CALLED ON CONGRESS TO
PASS COMMON SENSE GUN SAFETY
REFORM.
THE FIRST BILL SHE INTRODUCED AS
A U.S. SENATOR WAS LEGISLATION
TO TAKE BACK PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
EXECUTIVE ORDER DIRECTING THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
TO PRIORITIZE THE DEPORTATION OF
A VAST MAJORITY OF UNDOCUMENTED
IMMIGRANTS.
>> SENATOR CORTEZ MASTO, THANK
YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> TELL ME, YOU ARE THE FIRST
LATINA IN THE U.S. SENATE.
YOU ARE PROBABLY GETTING SICK OF
RESPONDING TO THE QUESTION BY
NOW.
BUT IS THE SENATE
LATINA-FRIENDLY PLACE?
>> MAKING IT MORE, YES, IT IS.
BUT WE CAN OBVIOUSLY WORK HARDER
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE OPENING UP
MORE OF THAT DIVERSITY AND THAT
HAS BEEN MY GOAL.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE
WORKED ON.
I ALWAYS FELT THAT WHETHER I WAS
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NEVADA
OR WORKING HERE, I THINK OUR
GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE THAT
WORK IN GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE
JUST AS DIVERSE OF THE PEOPLE WE
REPRESENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND I THINK HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES SENATE WE CAN OPEN THAT
DOOR WIDER AND MAKE SURE WE'RE
OPENING UP AND GIVING EVERYBODY
AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED.
THAT WHY I HAVE BEEN WORKING SO
HARD TO MEET WITH SOME OF THE
VARIOUS STAFF THAT WORK HERE.
>> BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT I
DO WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT YOUR
DIVERSITY INITIATIVES.
WHAT IS IT LIKE ON THE SENATE
FLOOR?
THERE ARE A LOT MORE WHITE MALES
IN THE POPULATION ON THE SENATE
FLOOR THAN THE POPULATION OF THE
UNITED STATES OR EVEN NEVADA, I
IMAGINE?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL I WOULD
LIKE TO SEE MORE WOMEN.
I CAN TELL YOU EXPERIENCE BEING
HERE IN THIS JUST IN GENERAL,
MORE WOMEN WOULD HELP US WORK
TOWARDS BETTER POLICY.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT, I THINK
WOMEN BRING A DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVE BUT MORE WILLING TO
GET THINGS DONE.
WE ARE PROBLEM SOLVERS.
>> LIKE THE SENATOR FROM IOWA
WHO IS AS HARD RIGHT-WING AS ANY
OF THE MEN DO YOU FIND IT EASIER
TO NEGOTIATE WITH HER?
>> LET ME TELL YOU IT WAS NOT
THE FIRST MONTH HAD PASSED WHEN
I WAS SWORN IN WITH MY
COLLEAGUES WHEN WE HAD THE FIRST
BIPARTISAN WOMEN'S SENATE
DINNER.
WE MET AS WOMEN SENATORS TO GET
TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER AND TO BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS.
AND I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT
BECAUSE IT IS WHERE IT STARTS.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO AGREE ON
EVERYTHING BUT WE CAN FIND
COMMON GROUND AND IT STARTS WITH
BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP AND
GETTING TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER.
AND ABSOLUTELY I'VE DONE THAT
WITH ALL OF THE WOMEN SENATORS.
BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.
>> WERE YOU SURPRISED WHEN YOU
ACTUALLY GOT HERE BECAUSE THE
MOOD ON CAPITOL HILL IS
DESCRIBED AS EXTREMELY
COMBATIVE.
AND ALL THE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
LEGISLATION THAT COMES HERE
PARTICULARLY TO THE SENATE FAILS
ON JUST ABOUT A PARTY LINE.
NO DEMOCRATS ARE VOTING FOR IT.
AND SOMETIMES A COUPLE OF
REPUBLICANS ARE DEFECTING.
BUT THAT IS NOT ALL THE TIME.
AND IN OTHER WORDS SHOW ME WHERE
THERE IS --
WHERE YOU CAN CLOSE THE GAP
SOMEHOW?
>> FIRST OF ALL, WOULD I LIKE TO
SEE MORE BIPARTISAN WORK BEING
DONE?
ABSOLUTELY.
I LIKE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY
WE SHOULD BE WORKING IN A
BIPARTISAN WAY TO SOLVE THE
PROBLEMS AND MOVE POLICY AND GET
THINGS DONE.
THAT IS HOW I'VE OPERATED EVEN
WHEN I WAS ATTORNEY GENERAL OF
NEVADA.
AND I WAS AN ATTORNEY GENERAL
AND I GOT TO INTRODUCE
LEGISLATION IN THE LEGISLATURE
AND EVERYTHING THAT I INTRODUCED
WAS BIPARTISAN AND ALWAYS SIGNED
BY A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR AND
THAT IS WHAT I EXPECT.
BUT YOU DO NOT SEE THAT.
YOU SEE A LOT OF THE BICKERING
AND THE PARTISANSHIP WHICH I
THINK WE NEED TO DO AWAY WITH.
NOW, IS THERE SOME WORK BEING
DONE?
ABSOLUTELY.
I SIT ON SIX COMMITTEES AND
EVERYONE OF THE COMMITTEES,
THERE'S BIPARTISAN WORK BEING
DONE.
I KNOW BECAUSE I HAVE INTRODUCED
BILLS AND THE FIRST PERSON THAT
I TALKED TO TO TRY TO COSPONSOR
AND WORK WITH ME IS SOMEBODY
FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE I'LL
REPUBLICAN.
AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO SO.
AND YOU KNOW THAT IS WHAT I TELL
PEOPLE WHEN I GO HOME.
YOU SEE ALL OF THE BICKERING
THAT IS GOING ON.
BUT YOU DON'T SEE THERE ARE SOME
OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO GET
THINGS DONE.
WE ARE WORKING IN THE COMMITTEES
TO INTRODUCE GOOD LEGISLATION
AND WORK TOGETHER.
>> IS IT GETTING TO THE SENATE
FLOOR?
>> YES.
WE'RE STILL WORKING ON A NUMBER
OF THINGS.
>> GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OR TWO,
PLEASE.
>> SURE, SANCTIONS AGAINST
RUSSIA.
>> THE SENATE WILL TAKE A FINAL
VOTE ON A BIPARTISAN STEP TO
HOLD IRAN AND RUSSIA
ACCOUNTABLE.
>> LAST NIGHT WE VOTED IN
BIPARTISAN FASHION TO STRENGTHEN
A PACKAGE OF SANCTIONS AGAINST
RUSSIA.
>> I CAN TELL YOU THAT WAS
BIPARTISAN AND IT MOVED QUICKLY.
I AM ON BANKING, HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOP MANY.
I AM ON ENERGY AND NATURAL
RESOURCES.
I SIT ON SCIENCE, COMMERCE,
TRANSPORTATION.
I SIT ON INDIAN AFFAIRS, SPECIAL
COMMITTEE ON AGING AND SENATE
RULES COMMITTEE.
THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF THAT
WE'RE DOING IN A BIPARTISAN WAY.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT, MANDATORY
TRAINING, RULES COMMITTEE WE
PASSED THAT OUT AND IT'S GONE
THROUGH.
THERE'S WORK THAT IS BEING DONE.
AND IT CAN BE.
AND IT IS A MATTER OF MAKING
SURE YOU ARE WORKING WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUES.
BUT THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT
THERE IS NOT PARTISANSHIP
GETTING IN THE WAY OF SOME
THINGS WE ABSOLUTELY SEE IT.
AND IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN.
>> SEXUAL HARASSMENT WHAT IS THE
MOOD HERE?
THERE HAVE BEEN HOUSE MEMBERS
WHO HAVE COME OUT AND SAID THERE
HAS BEEN SENATE SEXUAL
HARASSMENT BY SITTING HOUSE
MEMBERS OF WOMEN.
WOULD THAT HAPPEN IN THE SENATE?
COULD IT HAPPEN IN THE SENATE?
>> THE MOOD IS IT SHOULD NOT BE
TOLERATED.
I'M DOING EVERYTHING I CAN TO
INSURE THAT ON THE RULES
COMMITTEE WE ARE PASSING RULES
TO MANDATE TRAINING NECESSARY
MANDATORY TRAINING FOR SEXUAL
HARASSMENT.
AND THEN WE ARE CHANGING THE
LAWS SO THAT THE VICTIMS FEEL
EMPOWERED TO COME FORWARD THEY
ARE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT
RETALIATION.
THEY KNOW IF THEY COME FORWARD
THERE'S GOING TO BE AN IMMEDIATE
INVESTIGATION AND EXAMINATION
AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
THE LAW THAT WE HAVE PASSED IN
1995 DOES NOT DO THAT.
IN FACT, IT JUST DOES JUST THE
OPPOSITE IT KEEPS VICTIMS
UNWILLING TO COME FORWARD.
I SIGNED ON TO SENATOR
GILLIBRAND'S BILL AND WORKING
HARD ON THE RULES COMMITTEE AS A
PART OF A GROUP TO CHANGE THAT
TO MAKE THAT ENVIRONMENT
DIFFERENT.
AND THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
THIS IS AN AREA I'VE WORKED ON
MOST OF MY CAREER.
>> HAVE YOU PROSECUTED SEXUAL
ASSAULT CASES?
>> I HAVE NOT PROSECUTED SEXUAL
ASSAULT BUT I'VE WORKED HARD AS
ATTORNEY GENERAL TO WORK ON
PASSING LAWS THAT ADDRESS
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION,
SEX TRAFFICKING PREVENTION,
SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION.
THOSE ARE AREAS THAT I HAVE
WORKED ON MY ENTIRE CAREER TO
MAKE SURE NOT ONLY ARE WE DOING
RIGHT BY THE VICTIM AND
EMPOWERING THAT VICTIM, BUT WE
ARE GIVING THEM TOOLS TO TAKE
ACTION AGAINST THEIR
PERPETRATORS AND INCREASING THE
LAWS AGAINST THE PERPETRATORS TO
HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND MAKING
SURE THERE IS THAT
ACCOUNTABILITY.
>> WHAT TOOLS HAVE YOU GIVEN TO
SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT?
>> SURVIVORS IN GENERAL IN THE
STATE OF NEVADA WORKED VERY HARD
TO PASS VICTIMS' RIGHTS LAWS.
SO COUPLE OF THE THINGS
PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO
SURVIVORS GIVING THEM THE RIGHT
TO SUE THEIR PERPETRATORS
CIVILLY.
THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
MAKING SURE THAT THE VICTIMS
HAVE THE RIGHT TO COME FORWARD
AND FEEL SAFE SO THAT WE HAVE
CERTAIN NURSES, NURSES THAT CAN
REALLY FEEL COMFORTABLE TALKING
WITH THE VICTIMS.
THE VICTIMS WITH THE NURSES
MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE VICTIMS
COMPENSATION FUND IN THE STATE
OF NEVADA.
WORKED HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT
THOSE VICTIM COMPENSATION FUNDS
WERE THERE TO SUPPORT THE
VICTIMS.
>> ARE YOU TRYING TO GET IT
FEDERALLY.
>> WE HAVE IT, FEDERALLY.
IT DOES EXIST AND WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE FEDERAL LAWS
WITH RESPECT TO VICTIMS'
COMPENSATION FUNDS CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT STATE LAWS AS WELL AND
VICE VERSA AND MAKING SURE THE
VICTIMS HAVE THE RIGHT TO COME
FORWARD AND THEY ARE GOING TO
GET COMPENSATION.
AND MAKING SURE WE ARE DOING
RIGHT BY THEM.
AND THERE'S SO MANY THINGS.
>> THIS OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A SEA
CHANGE GOING ON WITH SEXUAL
HARASSMENT AND ALL THE WOMEN WHO
HAVE COME OUT AGAINST MEN IN
POWER, MEN IN HIGH POSITIONS IN
CORPORATIONS AND THE MEDIA, ET
CETERA.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE WOMAN IN A
DINER IN A SMALL TOWN IN NEVADA
WHO IS GETTING CONSTANTLY
SEXUALLY HARASSED AND MAYBE
ASSAULTED BY HER BOSS?
ARE WHAT YOU DOING GOING TO HELP
THAT WOMAN WHO IS NOT GOING TO
GET NATIONAL MEDIA ATTENTION?
>> ABSOLUTELY THOSE ARE THE LAWS
I'VE WORKED FOR TO ADDRESS.
IN NEVADA, THERE IS A LAW THAT
SAYS THAT IF YOU ARE A VICTIM
AND YOU COME FORWARD AND YOU GO
GET THAT EXAMINATION FROM A
NURSE, THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO
FILE A COMPLAINT IF YOU DON'T
WANT TO.
OR IF YOU CHOOSE TO FILE A
COMPLAINT, THEN THERE WILL BE
IMMEDIATE ACTION AND EXAMINATION
AND INVESTIGATION TAKEN.
PART OF WHAT THE GOAL IS WITH
VICTIMS IS MAKING SURE THEY ARE
EMPOWERED TO COME FORWARD BUT WE
DON'T WANT TO REVICTIMMIZE THEM.
AND THOSE ARE THE LAWS THAT WE
PASSED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE
FIGHTING FOR THEM AND GIVING
THEM THE ABILITY TO FEEL SAFE
COMING FORWARD AND THERE'S
TRAINING.
PART OF WHAT WE DID IN THE STATE
OF NEVADA AS WELL IS MAKING SURE
THAT THE FEDERAL FUNDS THAT CAME
INTO THE STATE THROUGH VOWA
ACTUALLY CAME IN TO SUPPORT
TRAINING FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT
TRAINING, SEX TRAFFICKING
TRAINING.
>> IS TRAINING GOING TO DO IT?
>> IT'S PART OF IT.
AND NOT JUST TRAINING FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT BUT JUDGES AND
TRAINING FOR ADVOCATES AND
TRAINING FOR PROSECUTORS,
TRAINING FOR TREATMENT PROVIDERS
AND MAKING SURE EVERYBODY HAS
THE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO WORK
WITH A VICTIM.
AND PARTICULARLY WITH A VICTIM
IT SHOULD BE VICTIM-BASED.
EVIDENCE-BASED AND VICTIM-BASED
SO WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE NEEDS
OF THE VICTIM AND NOT EVERYONE
ELSE.
THAT IS PART OF THE TRAINING.
PART OF IT IS THE LAWS.
PASSING LAWS TO STRENGTHEN THE
ACCOUNTABILITY AGAINST THE
PERPETRATORS AND GIVE NEW TOOLS
FOR THE VICTIMS.
AND PART OF IT IS THE
ENFORCEMENT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE
ENFORCEMENT IS OCCURRING AND THE
TREATMENT IS THERE AS WELL.
>> YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SEXUAL
SEX TRAFFICKING.
TELL ME ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING
THERE AND WHY IT IS A PASSION?
>> THERE IS SO MUCH SEX
TRAFFICKING GOING ON AND LET ME
TELL YOU THIS IS A CRIME THAT IS
SO PREVALENT AND THANK YOU FOR
BEING A VOICE.
BECAUSE IT IS NOT AN EASY FOR
YOU TO GET HERE AND TELL YOUR
DAUGHTER'S STORY AND YOUR STORY
IS ONE I'VE HEARD TOO MANY TIMES
IN MY STATE AND THIS IS AN ISSUE
WE HAVE TO STOP.
WE HAVE TO STOP IT.
AND IT IS NOT JUST FOR FEDERAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT TO STOP IT.
IT IS FOR ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
FOR STATE, LOCAL, TO TAKE ACTION
AND THAT IS ALL WE'RE ASKING IS
THAT STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVE
THAT ABILITY BECAUSE IT IS SO
PREVALENT
>> YES, WHEN I WAS ATTORNEY
GENERAL IN NEVADA, I MET TOO
MANY TIMES YOUNG PEOPLE THAT
WERE VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING.
AND WE DID NOT HAVE THE LAWS ON
THE BOOKS TO NOT ONLY IDENTIFY
THE CRIME BUT MAKE IT CRIMINAL
AND HOLD THOSE PERPETRATORS
ACCOUNTABLE.
BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO INTRODUCE
LEGISLATION AS AN ATTORNEY
GENERAL, I INTRODUCED FOR THE
FIRST TIME, SEX TRAFFICKING
CRIME IN THE STATE OF NEVADA.
MAKING IT A FELONY HOLDING THOSE
PERPETRATORS ACCOUNTABLE,
INCREASE PUNISHMENT AND GIVING
VICTIMS RIGHTS.
AND MAKING SURE WE ARE DOING
MORE FOR THEM FOR TREATMENT AND
GIVING THEM THE TOOLS TO BECOME
SURVIVORS AT THE END OF THE DAY.
THAT WAS THE LAW THAT I
INTRODUCED.
IT WAS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AND
SIGNED BY REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR.
NOW, WE NEED TO CONTINUE ON THE
TREATMENT SIDE OF IT.
NOW WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE DOING RIGHT BY THOSE VICTIMS
ALSO.
MANY VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING
ARE BECAUSE THEY ARE ARRESTED
FOR PROSTITUTION OR TRESPASSING,
THEY HAVE A LOT OF UNFORTUNATELY
PREVIOUS CRIMES ON THE BOOKS
THAT THEY HAVE BEEN CONVICTED
OF.
WE NEED TO CLEAN UP THE RECORDS.
THEY ARE VICTIMS OF SEX
TRAFFICKING WHO ARE REALLY WE
WANT TO MAKE THEM SURVIVORS.
MAKE SURE WE HAVE LAWS ON THE
BOOKS WHERE THEY CAN CLEAN UP
THEIR RECORD.
PART OF THAT --
>> AND PUT MORE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THE CRIME ON THE JOHN.
>> THAT IS RIGHT.
ON THE DEMAND SIDE.
THAT IS THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS.
I WAS ABLE IN THE STATE OF
NEVADA WORKING WITH THE
LEGISLATURE TO INCREASE SOME OF
THE PENALTIES AGAINST THE
DEMAND, THE JOHN'S BUT WE NEED
TO DO MORE.
AND WE NEED TO DO MORE RIGHT BY
THE VICTIMS BECAUSE WE DON'T
HAVE A LOT OF TREATMENT FOR THE
VICTIMS.
IN THE STATE OF NEVADA WE DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH TREATMENT WHERE THEY
CAN SEEK HELP AND BE PROTECTED
FROM THEIR PIMPS, THEIR
PERPETRATORS.
>> DO YOU THINK THE CRIMINAL
PART OF IT SHOULD BE ALL PUT ON
THE DEMAND SIDE?
PROSECUTE THE CUSTOMERS NOT THE
WOMEN WHO ARE FORCED INTO
PROSTITUTION?
>> NO.
YES.
WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING IS
PROSECUTING THE CUSTOMERS AND
PROSECUTING THE PIMPS.
THE WOMEN ARE VICTIMS.
WE SHOULD BE TREATING THEM LIKE
VICTIMS.
THAT BRINGS INTO SAFE HARBOR
PROVISIONS.
INSTEAD OF ARRESTING THEM AND
LOCKING THEM UP WE PUT THEM INTO
A DIVERSION PROGRAM WHERE THEY
CAN START BECOMING SURVIVORS AND
GET THE TREATMENT AND HELP AND
SAFE AWAY FROM THEIR THE PIMPS.
BECAUSE NINE TIMES OUT OF 10 THE
PIMPS WILL CIRCLE BACK AND
THREATEN THEM TO NOT TESTIFY
AGAINST THEM IN TRIAL.
WE HAVE GIVEN PROSECUTORS TOOLS.
>> WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON
DIVERSITY IN THE SENATE?
YOU ARE MEETING WITH GROUPS OF
WOMEN FROM DIFFERENT MINORITIES,
RIGHT?
>> I AM.
INCREDIBLE.
SO I'VE HAD THE IN THIS ROOM TO
INVITE IN LATINAS, WORKING ON
THE HILL.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN, WOMEN
FROM ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFICKER
POPULATION, LGBTQ MEMBERS TO SIT
AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS HOW WE
TEAR DOWN THE BARRIERS TO MORE
DIVERSITY HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES AND HONESTLY IN CONGRESS.
AND SO WE'VE HAD GREAT CANDID
CONVERSATIONS AND THEY ARE FULL
OF IDEAS ON HOW WE CAN OPEN THAT
DOOR UP WIDER.
AND MAKE SURE THERE'S MORE
DIVERSITY HERE.
>> LOOKING FORWARD TO THE END OF
2018 AND THEN, OF COURSE, 2020,
IN 2018 DO YOU THINK THE
DEMOCRATS WILL TAKE BACK THE
HOUSE?
>> WELL, I'M COUNTING ON IT AND
I'M WORKING VERY HARD AS THE
CHAIR TO NOT ONLY GET MY
COLLEAGUES REELECTED AND HELP
GET ELECTED ADDITIONAL WOMEN
SENATORS AND I THINK IT'S
POSSIBLE ABSOLUTELY.
AND RIGHTFULLY SO.
WE NEED TO HAVE MORE WOMEN HERE.
I THINK THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO REALLY FOCUS ON GOOD POLICY
FOR THE BENEFIT OF THIS COUNTRY.
THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THAT
STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE AND FOR
WORKING FAMILIES WHO ARE STILL
STRUGGLING.
>> IF THE TRUMP BUDGET WERE TO
BECOME LAW THERE ARE A LOT OF
PEOPLE SAY EXPERTS LOOKING AT
THE NUMBERS SAYING THE PEOPLE
WHO WILL BE REALLY HURT ARE THE
VERY LOW INCOME WOMEN, MANY OF
WHOM IN THIS COUNTRY ARE LATINA
AND NATIVE-AMERICAN AND ALSO A
LARGE POPULATION IN YOUR HOME
STATE, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT
THAT?
>> IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE
TRUMP BUDGET IT ZEROS EVERYTHING
OUT.
EVERYBODY WOULD BE HARMED FROM
AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO
ENVIRONMENT, YOU NAME IT.
IT DEVASTATES EVERY SINGLE
AGENCY AND DEVASTATES THE PEOPLE
IN MY STATE.
>> AND THEY ARE ALREADY DOING
THE BUDGET HAS NOT BEEN
APPROVED, THEY ARE ALREADY
CUTTING BACK AT AGENCIES.
>> AND LET ME SAY THAT.
THAT IS WHY TO ME THE TRUMP
BUDGET IS A NONSTARTER.
IT WOULD HARM TOO MANY PEOPLE
ACROSS THIS COUNTRY INCLUDING IN
NEVADA.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE FIGHTING TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PUTTING
FUNDING IN FOR CHIP, THAT WE ARE
NOT REPEALING HEALTHCARE, THAT
WE HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR
PEOPLE STILL STRUGGLING IN MY
STATE.
WE HAVE BLOCK GRANTS THAT ARE
STILL COMING INTO THE STATE TO
HELP OUR COMMUNITIES.
THERE IS A LOT OF ITEMS THAT
THIS ADMINISTRATION CLAIMS THAT
THEY WANT TO HELP WORKING
FAMILIES ARE DOING JUST THE
OPPOSITE IF YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT
THE BUDGET THAT THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION INTRODUCED IN
CONGRESS.
THE GOOD NEWS IS, THEY DON'T GET
TO PASS THE BUDGET WE DO.
AND IN CONGRESS RIGHT NOW WE ARE
FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
KEEPING THAT MONEY IN, THAT
SUPPORTS OUR WORKING FAMILIES.
THAT SUPPORTS NIH FOR RESEARCH.
>> IS IT GOING OUT TO THE
FAMILIES STILL?
OR IS IT BEING CUT BACK?
BECAUSE FOR EXAMPLE, I JUST
HAPPENED TO TALK TO A WOMAN WHO
RECENTLY RETIRED FROM EPA SHE
WAS WORKING ON THE IMPACT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS ON
NATIVE-AMERICAN RESERVATIONS,
AND THEY CUT BACK ALL HER TRAVEL
SO SHE COULD NOT REALLY DO HER
JOB ANYMORE.
AND SHE TOOK EARLY RETIREMENT
AND THEY ARE SQUEEZINGS PEOPLE
OUT.
>> AND THAT IS THE OTHER
CONCERN.
THIS ADMINISTRATION IF THEY
CAN'T GET CUT THE BUDGET THEY
WILL UNDERMINE BY NOT FILLING
POSITIONS AND CUTTING BACK THE
SERVICES THAT THEY SHOULD BE
PROVIDING TO THE COMMUNITIES
THAT THEY ARE BUDGETED FOR AND
MANDATED TO DO.
AND THAT IS THE TRAGEDY OF THIS.
I'M HEARING IT.
>> DO YOU GET IT --
FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
>> I HEAR IT FROM MY
CONSTITUENTS THAT HAVE CONCERNS
THAT THE MONEY IS NOT COMING
THEIR WAY.
AND LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN
THE STATE DEPARTMENT NOT FILLING
POSITIONS.
YOU HAVE WHAT I HAVE SEEN IS
THIS ADMINISTRATION REALLY
TRYING TO UNDERMINE THE VERY
AGENCIES THAT ARE THERE TO
SUPPORT THE FAMILIES THAT ARE
RELYING ON THAT SUPPORT.
>> LOOKING FORWARD TO 2020, AND
AS A RESULT OF WHAT IS GOING ON
WITH THE FEDERAL BUDGET, A
NUMBER OF YOUR FEMALE COLLEAGUES
ARE OFTEN NAMES ARE BANTIED
ABOUT AS POTENTIAL DEMOCRATIC
NOMINEES FOR PRESIDENT INCLUDING
SENATOR GILLIBRAND, SENATOR
HARRIS, DO YOU THINK THE
DEMOCRATS WILL HAVE A FEMALE
NOMINEE NEXT TIME AROUND?
>> I HAVE NO IDEA.
BUT IS IT TIME TO ELECT A FEMALE
PRESIDENT?
ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK WE'VE GOT SOME
INCREDIBLE WOMEN RIGHT NOW IN
THE UNITED STATES SENATE.
IF WE WERE IN MAJORITY MANY OF
THESE WOMEN WOULD BE CHAIRING
THE COMMITTEES FROM HOMELAND
SECURITY TO AGRICULTURE.
YOU NAME IT.
SMALL BUSINESSES.
THEY HAVE TO HEALTHCARE.
THEY HAVE EXPERTISE IN AREAS
THEY ARE SMART, THEY REALLY
FOCUSED ON SOLVING PROBLEMS AND
GETTING THINGS DONE FOR THE
AMERICAN PUBLIC.
AND I THINK THEY WOULD DO AN
INCREDIBLE JOB.
>> WHO DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST
LIKELY TO GET THE NOMINATION?
>> GOODNESS, I COULD NOT ANSWER
THAT.
>> WHY NOT?
>> BECAUSE THERE'S TOO MANY
PEOPLE THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT
THAT WILL COME FORWARD THERE ARE
GREAT FOLKS OUT THERE AND WE
HAVE GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
>> YOU THINK SOMEBODY WILL BE
COMING FROM NOT FROM THE
SENATE --
>> YOU NEVER KNOW.
BILL CLINTON DID NOT COME FROM
THE SENATE AND OTHERS DID NOT
COME FROM THE SENATE TO RUN FOR
OFFICE.
OR WE DIDN'T KNOW AT THE TIME.
WE KNOW IN THE PAST MANY
GOVERNORS RUN FOR PRESIDENT.
AND THEY BECOME GOOD PRESIDENTS.
YOU JUST DON'T KNOW.
>> DO YOU SEE NEVADA ELECTING
MORE DEMOCRATIC HOUSE MEMBERS AS
A RESULT OF BUDGETS THAT ARE
BEING CUT?
>> WELL, RIGHT NOW OUT OF THE
FOUR WE HAVE THREE DEMOCRATIC
HOUSE MEMBERS.
I THINK THERE IS A GOOD SHOT
WE'LL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT IN
GENERAL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
GOING TO GET THE JOB DONE FOR
THE STATE OF NEVADA.
>> IS THERE ANGER OUT THERE?
>> THERE'S FRUSTRATION.
I KNOW IN NEVADA, LISTEN THIS
LAST ELECTION WE TURNED THE
STATE BLUE.
HILLARY WON.
I WON.
WE WON TWO SEATS AND FLIPPED
BOTH STATE HOUSES DEMOCRAT.
AND THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH
THE PEOPLE THAT CAME OUT, THAT
SUPPORTED THE MESSAGE THAT
SUPPORTED WHAT THEY HEARD PEOPLE
WERE GOING TO FIGHT FOR ON THEIR
BEHALF WHETHER IT IS JOBS,
WAGES, IMMIGRATION REFORM, YOU
NAME IT.
THINGS THAT THEY CARED ABOUT,
THAT THEY STILL CARE ABOUT,
EDUCATION SYSTEM FOR THEIR KIDS.
MAKING SURE THEIR KIDS DO NOT
GRADUATE WITH TONS OF DEBT IN
NEVADA AND THE COUNTRY IF YOU
SIT DOWN AND LISTEN TO
HARD-WORKING FAMILIES, YOU WILL
FIND COMMON GROUND AND TALK
ABOUT HOW TOGETHER YOU CAN
REALLY BRING HERE TO WASHINGTON
A MESSAGE THAT RESONATES.
AND THAT IS WHAT I'VE SAID TO
NEVADA IT IS NOT MY VOICE IT'S
YOUR VOICES.
I GO HOME TO MY STATE AND I ON A
REGULAR BASIS I MEET WITH
DREAMERS AND THEIR AUTO FAMILIES
AND IT IS NO DIFFERENT.
WE SIT AROUND AND TALK AND TELL
STORIES ABOUT THEIR STRUGGLE AND
FIGHT JUST TO HAVE THAT AMERICAN
DREAM.
AND THEY ARE CRYING MANY ARE
AFRAID TO TELL THEIR STORIES.
I WILL TELL YOU THE FIRST TIME I
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT WITH
DREAMERS THEY HAD NEVER TOLD
THEIR STORY BECAUSE THEY WERE
TOO AFRAID TO TELL IT.
THEY WERE TOO AFRAID IF THEY
TOLD IT AND LEFT THEIR HOME AND
WENT TO HOME OR SCHOOL IF THEY
CAME BACK THEIR PARENTS WOULD
NOT BE THERE.
AND THAT IS NO DIFFERENT NOW.
THIS ADMINISTRATION AND WHAT
THEY ARE DOING IS CONTINUING THE
FEAR IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND THAT IS WHY NOW MORE THAN
EVER WE HAVE TO PASS THE DREAM
ACT.
>> WE NEED TO HAVE THIS
CONVERSATION AND WE NEED TO TALK
WHAT AM I FIGHTING FOR YOU AND
HOW CAN WE DO THIS TOGETHER?
>> THANK YOU SENATOR.
THIS WAS FABULOUS.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF
TO THE CONTRARY.
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER.
AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE,
PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.
AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK
TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT
WEEK.
PT OR TO SEE AN
ON-LINE VERSION OF THIS EPISODE
OF TO THE CONTRARY VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT
PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.
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