[inaudible conversations] >> hi everyone. so much green. [laughter] today we are fortunate to have joining us secretary of education confirmed just two weeks ago. from connecticut. previously served as the commissioner of education in connecticut and face of the unprecedented challenge of responding to the covid-19 pandemic

and facing reopening efforts in connecticut to do so secretary cardona and department provided school districts with guidance, and oversight needed to ensure equitable and meaningful educational opportunities for students while prioritizing public health mitigation measures this is his first time here. two decades of experience as an educator beginning his career as an elementary school teacher serving as a principal. he has a short timeline and cannot take a couple of questions. >> thank you good afternoon. we are at a critically important time in our nations history and education and i'm honored to serve as secretary of education. my goal, my priority to reopen as many schools as possible as quickly as possible.

to do that come earlier today i notified all 50 states dc and puerto rico the funds you are receiving totaling nearly $122 billion to help them reopened safely and quickly. hhs is allocating an additional $10 billion for states to do screening and surveillance testing to make sure we cannot on the open schools they keep them open. third, next week we will have our national reopening summit for schools where we will hear best practices across the country how to do this safely and quickly. students learn best from students and teachers learn best of states and joe biden

will offer opening we might remark on - - remarks. so i'm excited about that. as a parent and educator, i know the value of in person learning if you are parents you know there is no substitute for in person learning. i'm excited to get to work to make sure we can safely reopened schools as quickly as possible will take any questions you have. >> thank you mr. secretary talking about the money, how do you ensure it is spent and what they need to reopen? >> we need to use the funds to support the students especially those that have gas exacerbated. achievement and opportunity gaps have widened so it's important the process is not only communicated with the education department but the office as well we will be receiving reports from the state how they are using their

many and we expect those to be public. >> now that teachers are eligible what do you say to those who refused to get vaccinated? spent vaccination is a strategy in addition to mitigation allows schools to safely reopened. it's important

we vaccinate as many as possible and we promote those but the message really is if you're able to get a shot, get the shot. and a strategy to help keeping the schools open. >>. >> right now it is available to educators because we know what that is not the case it's normally because of quarantine. >> $122 billion will be given to the state it is anticipated the bulk of the spending of the funds won't be provided until after 2021. according to cbo the bulk of which of the funds have not been spent so why hasn't more of that been spent? to get those schools to safely reopened? >> the bulk of the money is also used on human resources paid out as people are hired and contracts are paid out. services are also paid we are in march with some of the school year left. we will release funds this month schools need that not

only to plan to reopen now the plan ahead. they will need more social and emotional support. have to be designed to meet the need of the students after they return after a pandemic. it is a long-term process this year and the following year with the american rescue plan. >> $12 billion to ramp up testing in schools what about the surveillance? >> $10 billion from hhs we will get that soon. it is a tool to help keep schools open in the near future the goal is this spring we want the students back in school

as quickly and safely as possible and that will assist in the process. >> do you have an update on it ministration's efforts to get every teacher one-shot by the end of the month? >> at the state level, many states recognize the importance of vaccinating educators and parent educators like bus drivers and custodians. they are part of the school community. that is a priority in different states and part of the strategy to make sure schools are safely reopened in addition to the mitigation strategies we know we can safely reopened schools. >> thank you the cdc says they are looking to update guidance reducing social distancing recommendations from 6 feet down at 3 feet this is the stickiest sticking points as they tried to reopen are you frustrated by the course correction? >> not at all. we are in the middle of a pandemic. the success he had in connecticut we work very

closely with our health department. this is a pandemic and we always take guidance from the experts and sister agencies. i recognize it may change. if it does, we can adapt and work with them. we were successful because we work closely with them and recognize that partnership will lead to schools opening as quickly as possible. >> would make it easier? >> if it does it will provide more opportunities for students to enter a school. >> talk about the students in atlanta the president has talk about the need

with the violence against asian americans do you see a role for the federal government to play with the message of tolerance? or working against discrimination? >> my condolences to those who suffer the violence. we have a lot to want is a lot of work to do for the pandemic and what we want from our students. thank you. >> now things at the top. went to make sure you heard the announcement from the treasury department as of today approximately 90 million c impact payments totaling more than $242 billion following last week's signing. i down payment to the announcement on monday 100 million payments would be sent in ten days. we will continue to update you as we progress violence against women act is being considered in congress today.

one of the president's proudest accomplishments they will vote today to pass violence against women with bipartisan expect support expected with improvements to increase safety and service for all survivors. the bylot it is a party for the president he urges the senate to come together in a bipartisan manner to windsor on - - and sure switch on - - with facet to sign into law. go ahead. >> is there any reaction from the white house for russia recalling its ambassador

>> we have seen those reports. our administration will take a different approach with our relationship to russia than the private administration. so we are going to be straightforward and direct in areas where we have concerns. there is an ongoing review. we have announced key conclusions on the poisoning. there is an ongoing review of other areas with ongoing concerns. at the same time we think we can work together like the signing of a new start and nuclear proliferation is an example. we hope there is opportunity there. the relationship will a different. we will be direct and speak out on areas of concern and as the president said last night, certainly the russians will be held accountable for the actions they have taken. more on that soon. >> you mentioned the interview is the vice president in the room and he responded most of

the time yes as a practical matter she is. >> then he went on to say for the full context she is traveling around the country in reference the fact that yesterday was in denver colorado the day before las vegas she has been out there working her heart out communicating with the american people so when she is on the road she's not always the last in the room where practicality. but otherwise she is. go ahead. >> now with a question on the border it's been three weeks why have we still not seen any images inside the buildings? >> we remain committed to doing that hhs overseas - - shelters. dhs overseas border patrol facilities. we want to work with them and also respecting the privacy and health protocols required by covid. >>

that even you haven't released any images. >> again we remain committed sharing data on the number of kids crossing the border and the work we are doing in the own bar we are setting for ourselves to expedite the timeline and the treatment of these

children and remaining transparent to have a timeline for access but something we support. >> they are frustrated they cannot show us what's happening on the border they cannot answer questions what is happening. it seems like there is an element of secrecy. why? >> i would not characterize it that way. border patrol agents are quoted in a lot of your stories. there is a long tradition of courtney with department of homeland security. but if our policy is keeping people quiet we are not successful and that is not our policy to keep them from talking. >> talk about the irs decision to delay by one month? >> we have seen those reports having it has been confirmed yet. i will let the irs make their final decision and then we are happy to speak to it. >> picking up on the questioning over there is the white house dhs instructing border agents to refuse right along request? that is what our folks on the ground are saying.

>> again watching the same reports a number of border patrol officials who are appearing in quoted we support that has coordinated with department of homeland security they need to talk about press access >> but during the trump administration but then you came in promising to be the most truthful and trenton - - transparent and you oversee department of homeland security if you wanted to grant access to the press couldn't you just tell dhs to do it? >> we fully support transparency i encourage you to do talk about department of homeland security for access or what you are looking to accomplish at the border. >> one of the biggest criticisms of the trump administration is that it

overwhelmed the border towns in mexico to create dangerous living conditions for the migrants now the exact same thing is happening even though you rescinded the policy the border towns are overwhelmed and the president says do not count. how is the situation on the ground in mexico any different? >> the situation on the ground is challenging because we inherited a dismantled system not prepared for processing a silent request that left in place enough mexico programs if people were in a camp they did not have the conditions. what i am conveying to you we are less than 60 days in. we are working to repair what was unprepared in the system. it will take some time. our policy is obviously

we will make sure we are working through our laws and the border is not open. we also changed our policy to approach in a more humane way and keep kids safe that requires putting in place more effective and efficient processing. take timely are working through it every day we have new steps in improvements to make the system more effective and efficient. >> will more unaccompanied minors be allowed? >> should we send kids that are ten years old back? >> i'm not setting the policy masking what the biden administration policy is if they are limited to the number of children allowed in. now 55 on average every day. what is the end game? how many ultimately are allowed in? >> we are focused on the very specific numbers. when we came into office there were 13000 permanent and influx from the shelter system facilities during the last administration. approximately half for taken out due to covid staffing was reduced with new reduced capacity. they were expelling children

in addition to families and single adults we decided we would be more humane how we approach this with operational capacity. the prior administration did not talk about other mitigation efforts and those contain the spread of covid now revised cdc guidance with greater capacity to expedite getting children into them. we are taking steps that when kids come to the border they have a phone number in the

pocket to call the family member to get there as quickly as possible. these are the steps we are taking we will not send a ten -year-old back across the border that was the policy of the last administration that is not our policy. >> in your commitment with these children that are under 17 is the government incentivizing children to send over the border alone because that is their best chance to enter and stay in the united states? >> the president said he is encouraging people not to come. now is not the time to come. this is not a safe journey. he believes no parent is just trying to make a bet if there kid can make it. it's a very difficult and treacherous journey. many are fleeing challenging circumstances and his a there's a number of steps we need to take. that is the goal. >> how is that message being communicated by the us government to the tens of thousands who are already in the midst of this dangerous journey and not receiving that message? >> thousands of children are font families?

everyone. >> we convey with every official that speaks, the secretary said just yesterday and officials beyond them are speaking to countries and working in partnership with them speaking directly to channels in the region. the border is not open. it is a treacherous journey the vast majority will be sent back. that is the message we're sending. >> maybe it is a mixed message received initially they said don't come now and the president says don't come we are in the process is when your own home country you can apply for asylum. it appears to be a mixed message don't come now but later and then don't come at all. >> no doubt it is a complicated circumstance. we are trying to address this

in the effective and humane manner putting in place additional policies and measures to reinstitute the cam program allowing kids to apply from their home country. that is an option. >> how long? >> we hope that will happen soon. have the exact timeline. would like to put in place it was ended in 2017. that is one example. we want to build beyond that to have programs that ensure kids are not taking the difficult journey with other options. this will take more time but we will keep seeing the cycles. this isn't the first cycle. 2014, 2018, increasing since april 2020 of last year. unless we work together to address the process, there have been policies and bills the president worked with then

as a senator working with lindsey graham to give more funding to address the causes in the country. we don't take the steps now we will be on the cycles every year, year after year. >> a question about the interview last night with governor cuomo. wide as president biden feel the need to weigh in for the those that confirm the governor would be prosecuted? the president respects the role of justice system and law enforcement as we often state from here. he was asked a specific question what should happen if the investigation confirms the claims of the women. he answer the question. >> we will not weigh in anything that has to do with the justice department. >> obviously the process will play out. there is an ongoing investigation that should be

swift and thorough and will determine what the outcome hit one - - is here and he respects that. >> do you see some need for the white house and administration to have a point person for antiaging violence and it is a concern? >> first i would say it's important to note as a few updates to today to reiterate he talked to the attorney general and fbi director this morning and we are continuing to monitor the situation as you talked about and they had their own press conference this morning it doesn't change the fact the news is horrific and broadly speaking there has been an increase in attacks on

crime and hate crimes as well against asian americans. that's why he raised to this and his primetime address. he did sign an executive order and their ongoing processes from the department of justice from listening sessions now and hhs will start those soon. he signed that executive order the early part of his administration and also asked them to do listening sessions as well so we can hear from the community and how that impact policy moving forward. there's also an ongoing review of domestic violent extremism that is wide-ranging with a 100 day review looking at a range of issues and be a longer-term strategic comprehensive look at how the

impact society and that would be a part of that. >> what you looking for from china that the us military expects korea to be testing? what does that mean for your review? >> you don't think we will get ahead of their testing. part of our strategy as it relates one - - relates is the diplomacy and engagement with partners in the region even those with adversarial relationships and a key part of that strategy. secretary of defense recently in south korea meeting with the japanese and their key partners discussing security in the region and the threats

from north korea are part of that. that's part of the discussion with the chinese. the strategy is to coordinate and discuss with partners in the region to determine what the passport looks like. >> mexico and canada are looking for the vaccine saying they should be at the top of the list. can you confirm that report? they keep asking the question there is so much demand and that level of vaccination is so disparate.

>> can you say what the strategy is to get vaccines out to the rest of the world so they're not increases in variance and not getting the pandemic under control? the first strategy is to ensure the american people are vaccinated. 1400 people per day are dying in united states of america we are fighting a war right here we are vaccinated more people in this country because of access, supply, operational capacity than virtually any other country in the world. the president wants to be contributing members of the global community. any decision we make about requests, we have them from around the world, to vaccinate the american people is that remains our top priority. we have received a request from mexico and canada and we are considering those request carefully. but out have an update for you if those will be granted and the timeline for that. >> following up on the question of the russians, what

does the president mean when he answered yes? calling put in a killer did you mean literal or metaphorically? >> you don't have anything for and troops and so we are, he's not going to hold back in his direct communications nor publicly, and we have still found ways to work together on

areas where we have mutual interests including extension of new start by side years so that's diplomacy and action. >> will will [inaudible] is the public committed [inaudible] >> i don't think i have been anything new on the policies of taiwan today. there are a range of topics including taiwan that will be discussed in the conversations that are happening over the next two days if i'm getting the timeframe correct and i'm sure the secretary of state and national security advisor will come out and engage when those meetings conclude.

>> moscow will continue fighting and as you said the reason is concluding there is a manageable risk. we've heard language that seems like they've concluded so how do we keep them from the third presidential election? >> the president's relationship and this administration's relationship will be very different from what we've seen over the last four years and we have already seen evidence of that from the first phone call. president biden has been clear the united states will respond to these actions and as you know and we've already talked about, we have requested new intelligence between the assessment in such areas and plan to respond to each of them in the coming weeks. those are ongoing. i would to say that the russians

have intervened or elections for many years long before 2016 and we certainly our very eyes wide open about that and fully aware, but we are -- they are going to pay a price as the president conveyed we are not going to look the other way as we's all over the last four years and we will continue to press them on their actions. >> the language in the report said he's undergone a disinformation in particular pushing the disinformation of corruption of president biden. what is his reaction to going after him personally? >> that was not our first awareness of that. i think we all saw that play out in public. the president felt it was important to release the unclassified version of the report which of the assessment

was done under the last administration. its evidence of the hard work of the men and women who keep the government functioning but it's important for people in this country, members of congress, other countries to understand what their actions are. and if we want our adversaries like russia attempting to divide us and one of our strategies is to transparently expose their tactics so that the world is aware of them. that's why we released this report. go ahead. >> the president's interview he said anybody making more than 200,000 will see a small to significant tax increase. to clarify, did he mean individuals or households, because it wasn't very clear and the secretary i think has referred to household covid-19. >> family.

>> [inaudible] the white house is committed to trying to open. how many hours a day would that conclude pushing for four school days five days a week? >> yes. go ahead. >> i'm very drawn to the green, the reds and the greens. go ahead. [laughter] [inaudible] and another question on the border. in the oval office he said he didn't want to make a connection to the motivation but what does the president think is increasing in the country, why does he think that's happening? >> he wanted to be clear because there is an ongoing fbi investigation and he didn't want to attribute motive. there are law enforcement to do that and it's important to know when they come included or not, so that was a bar he was

attempting to respect. you know, i think there is no question that some of the damaging rhetoric that we saw during the prior administration calling covid the virus or other things led to perceptions of the asian-american community that are in accurate, unfair, have raised threatening threats against asian americans and we are seeing that around the country. that's why even before the events of last night, he felt it was important to raise this issue, elevate it during his first primetime address. while he signed the executive order earlier in his presidency and he will continue to look for ways to elevate and talk about this issue moving forward. a. >> he doesn't have plans to visit the border. why not? >> his focus is on action and

taking action and moving forward on policies to ensure we are expediting the processing at the border that we are opening more facilities that we are putting in place policies that will move kids more quickly through the border patrol facilities more quickly into safe and secure homes and that's where his focus is. >> he talks to plenty of officials and also received a briefing with photos and directly from his team who went and visited the border and a range of facilities. a. >> getting updates on the numbers, people who are being taken in and how frequently is he talking to officials who are down there getting that for example? >> he is getting updates, sometimes he gets updates regularly. i mean, several times a week. it's an issue front and center for him and certainly asking questions and a range of meetings with senior officials

about progress that's made and systems you think should be on the stack and looking for more creative ideas to ensure these kids are treated and put into safe places and that the work is expedited at the border. go ahead. >> there is a report the president opposes reopening in florida. does he have a personal view? >> hhs is in charge of looking at facilities and which ones are going to be the most appropriate and effective ones to reopen and he's the first on the decisions made on that front. >> this has been controversial if he doesn't have a particular. >> there hasn't been a decision. hhs would be the ones making

that decision. i don't have an opinion about the specific facilities. >> on the remarks last night, two things when would we expect a major push on this and what is the significance? >> it depends on how much money you make. are you a billionaire, you may pay more to in taxes than a family making $4.25. there is going to be a range in any tax proposal he talks about this on the campaign trail and during this interview last night in part because it is on his mind about how to ensure people are paying their fair share and that we are looking for the revenue funds to continue to build back better but i don't have a timeline on when you will hear more it is just something he's long had a commitment to and i expect in the coming months or sooner you will hear about the next stages of his agenda but this is certainly

part of what is on his mind and what he would like to work with congress on. >> in the interview the president said that the democracy is having a hard time functioning. can you clarify if he's just talking about the senate filibuster's? >> he was asked in that frame and the frame of how to get work done and move forward. the president is an optimist who believes and opportunities to work together, that there's a history of support for some of his major priorities whether it is infrastructure or taking steps to help solve cancer, to increasing america's competitiveness. there is another bill being considered on that front but there's a lot of areas where

even immigration is a history of democrats working together on the policy so he is a believer there is an opportunity to work together but what he has seen is democracy having a hard time functioning and in part that is why were there no republicans who supported the piece of legislation almost 80% of the american people supported. that doesn't seem like democracy so he was answering a question about the filibuster but more broadly speaking about what he is seeing. a. >> we are required to have an irish question today. did he make any commitment as far as one's presidential travel resumes to a trip there? >> i'm going to go on that trip. i am not aware of any specific timeline for travel or anything along those lines. i'm happy to check with you. he's said several times it will look different than last year.

so, everybody get some sleep and rest before a year from now. >> has he asked for or been shown [inaudible] >> that was part of the briefing when the team came back. >> the media tried to get their own pictures. >> i certainly didn't say that. the border patrol facilities are not facilities made for children. he is committed to expediting the processing at the border. one of the reasons he wanted a briefing from people who've been in there is so he could see himself what it looks like and he has redoubled his efforts to ensure we limit to three days and that we move kids as quickly as possible to the shelter facilities where they can have access to help to medical experts, educational experts,

legal advice and even beyond that, you know, one of the practical steps he has pushed the team on is how many of the kids when they come across the border have a phone number in their pocket and can read in bed hhs and o are are in the system in the process so they can call the number and see if it can be a family member to get these kids connected quickly. so, he wanted all the specific details, he got the briefing i talked about we get to have her two weeks ago i can't remember the timeline and we put in place a number of steps to expedite the process to look for additional facilities and for ways to improve the very challenging situation at the border. >> let me just make sure i've got this right. go ahead. >> my question is for the secretary that i will ask you is the biden administration concerned about the number of families to the alternative public education?

and it does the administration have a plan to encourage that return? >> i wish that you had asked him that question. i'm happy to talk with him about it. he had a limited amount of time. i know that this past year has not looked at as a mother myself my daughter didn't start kindergarten this year and i know a lot of people had to make different choices and i can talk to him more about what the plans are to encourage people to get back into the public school system. that is an important and vital part of communities across the country. did you have another question? >> after today's meetings are there other international meetings on the president's agenda in the coming weeks? >> there certainly will be. i do not have any to leave you for you today, but engaging he has had a number already of remote engagements with counterparts around the world, foreign policy is one of his

first gloves and so i can certainly convey to you that he will have more of those in the weeks ahead as they are scheduled and finalized we will share those details with you. go ahead and the back. >> what would the president say to those that have ethical concerns that it might violate their conscience? >> give me a little more information why you do violate to violatetheir conscience. >> johnson & johnson with abortion derived cell lines. he would say i know this pope has spoken to the safety and efficacy of all of the vaccines and the american people. these vaccines have been validated by health and medical experts. they are trying to save people's lives, keep people safe and return the country to normal.

>> schools, billions are going out. if come fall the schools are still not open would the administration find that unacceptable? >> we certainly expect schools to be open in the fall. >> tsa reported big numbers in airports. as the administration worried that the covid response teams have interest in just telling people don't travel, don't travel and people are plowing through the airports? >> we have to reiterate they are doing the same, it isn't a political message, it's a message from the doctors conveying the fact that the guidelines haven't changed in terms of limiting commercial travel. people are not vaccinated especially there are great risks to travel. we have seen that play out. they've spoken to this frequently, health and medical experts so we have to keep reiterating that message and we understand it's hard. people want to see their family

members, see their friends, but we are fighting through the pandemic. people are still dying across the country and we will keep reminding people of that. go ahead and the back. >> any idea if it will be here or somewhere else? >> i don't think it will be here because it would be very limited numbers. we are working to figure out where we could do it in the white house to ensure we have a greater number of people who can attend and we will do that in a very transparent manner so that we are looking, we are psyched looking at this point in time and we will have more updates for you soon go ahead in the back. >> is president biden going to call the president of ukraine in the near future or any others in the near future? >> i don't have any previous for you at this point. physically, we preview those may be the day before, but i'm sure

there will be some in the near future but i don't have any specific ones to preview for you today. >> the president said yesterday [inaudible] in the past you criticized russia and china for the so-called vaccine diplomacy and suggested that it should be done through international projects or institutions. so, do you exclude sharing the vaccines on this basis? >> i think our criticism was in response to questions about whether we were concerned about how vaccines were being used in some ways by russia and china and ways that they have used international assistance where there are no strings attached and sometimes that allows countries to hold themselves to lower standards on human rights on freedom of the press, freedom of speech and we have seen that

play out as we know in recent years, so that certainly is something of concern to us. we have not yet provided vaccine doses to any country. we of course have a range of requests and we will consider those carefully but since we have not done that yet i don't have anything more to update you on. >> you talked about the team that went to the border. i think that there was a request at some point to have the members come back to the briefing room and do a briefing so where does that stand and if there are photos from that team, why not release those with the previous one you have said go to the dhs. a. >> i'm happy to talk about those photos. >> will they returned to the border or some other configuration to make trips down

there to assess the conditions or is this a one and done? >> we will have additional trips but i do not have one to preview for you today. >> thank you, everyone. >> happy st. patrick's day. >> if you're a billionaire you will pay more than someone making [inaudible]

will

democratic senator used his first speech on the senate floor to talk about voting rights and the state of democracy. he won a special runoff election back in january becoming the first black senator to represent the state of georgia. mr. president, before i begin my formal remarks, i want to pause to condemn the hatred and violence that took eight precious lives last night in

metropolitan atlanta. i agree with georgians and americans with people of love all across the world this unspeakable violence largely upon the asian community is one that causes all of us to recommit ourselves to the way of peace that prevents these kind of tragedies from happening in the first place. we pray for these families. mr. president, i rise here today as a proud american and as one of the newest members of the senate inat all of the journey that has brought me to these hallowed halls and with an abiding sense of reverence and gratitude for the safe sacrifices of ancestors who paved the way i am a proud son of the great state of georgia

born and raised in savannah, a coastal city known for its cobblestone streets and town squares, towering oak trees, centuries-old covered in spanish moss stretched from one side of the street to the other back in history and horticulture to the city by the sea. i was educated at morehouse college and i still serve in the pulpit of the ebenezer baptist church both in atlanta. the cradle of thela civil rights movement. like those oak trees in savannah, my roots go deep and stretch wide and the soil of waycross georgia. in a word, i am georgia. a living example and an embodimentof its history and hos

pain and its promise, the brutality and possibility. mr. president, at the time of my birth, georgia's two senators were richard russell and herman salvage, both art segregationists and adversaries of the civil rights movement. after the supreme court's landmark brown versus board ruling outlawing school segregation, talmage warned theblood would run in the strees of atlanta. his father, former governor of the state famously declared the south lowe's the negro. but his place is at the back door. when once asked how supporters might keep black people away

from the polls, he picked up a scrap of paper and wrote ad single word on it. pistols. yet there was something in the american covenant in its chartel documents and its jeffersonian ideals that bend towards freedom and led by a preacher and patriot n named king, americansf all races stood up.o history vindicated the movement that sought to bring us close to our ideals, to lengthen and strengthen the courts of our democracy and i now hold the seat, the senate seat where herman talmage sat and that's why i love america.lw

i love america because we always have a path to make it better, to build a more perfect union. it is a place where a kid like me that grew up in public housing first college graduate in my family can now stand as a united states senator. i had an older father. he was born in 1917. serving in the army during world war ii he was once asked to give up his seat to a teenager while wearing his soldier's uniform. they said making the world safe for democracy but he was never bitter and by the time i came along, he had already seen the ark of change in our country. and he maintained his faith in god and his family and the

american promise and he passed that faith onto his children. my mother grew up in georgia. way across georgia and like a lot of black teenagers in the 1950s, she spent her summers picking somebody else's tobacco and cotton but because this is america, the 82-year-old hands that use to pick somebody else's cotton went to the polls in january and picked her youngest son to be a united states senator. ours is the land where possibility is born of democracy. a vote, a voice, a chance to help determine the direction of the country in one's own destiny, possibility born of democracy.

that's why this past november into january, my mom and other citizens grabbed hold of that possibility and turned out in record numbers 5 billion in november, 4.4 million in january, far more than ever in the states history. turnout for the typical runoff doubled and the people of georgia sent their first african-american senator and first jewish senator, my brother to these hallowed halls. but then what happened? some politicians didn't approve of a choice made by the majority of voters in the hard-fought election in which each side got the chance to make its case to the voters. and rather than adjusting their

agenda, rather than changing their message, they are busy estrying to change the rules. we are witnessing right now a massive and unabashed assault on votingee rights, unlike anything that we have seen since the jim crow era. this is jim crow in new clothes. since the january election, some 250 voter suppression bills have been introduced by state legislators all across the country from georgia to arizona from new hampshire to florida using the lie of voter fraud as a pretext for voter suppression. the same lie that led to a violent insurrection on this

very capital, the day after my election. .. >> in the right direction. politicians driven by the big lie, seem to severely limit in some cases semiautomatic early voting and weekend voting to make it easier to vote

altogether. civil rights activist i have seen up close just how draconian these measures can be. i hail from a state that purge 200,000 voters one saturday night in the love the night. we know what is happening here. some people don't want some people to vote. on a few occasions i was happy to stand with our hero and my parishioner, john lewis, i was his pastor but he was my mentor. i am clear. on moreersu than one occasion we boarded buses together after sunday church services as part

of the souls to the polls program to encouraging the family and communities of faith to participate in the democratic process. a few months after congressman lewis' death, the georgia legislature even praise his name. they now try to get rid of sunday souls to the polls making it a crime those that pray together to gone of best together to vote together. i think that is wrong. as a matter of fact, a vote is a kindor of a prayer for the kind of world we desire for ourselves and for our children. our prayers are stronger when we pray together. to be sure, we have seen these voter suppression next before as part of a long and shameful history in georgia and throughout the nation. refusing to be denied, georgia citizens and citizens across the country bringing the heat

and the cold and the rain standing in line five hours six hours just to exercise the constitutional right to vote. young people, old people, sick people, working people those to lose wages to pay a poll tax while standing in line to vote. and now some politicians how do they respond? they try to make it a crime to give people water and a snack as they weighed in lines that are obviously being made longer by their draconian actions. think about that. think about that.

they are the ones making the lines longer. through these strict connections and then to make it a crime to bring grandma some water while waiting in line that they made longer. made no mistake this is democracy in reverse rather than voters being able to pick politicians politicians are trying to cherry pick their voters. i say this cannot stand. so i rise mr. president , because that sacred and noble idea, one person, one vote is being threatened right now. politicians in my home state

and all across america in their lust for power, lost lawn - c - launched a full-fledged is so assault on voting rights winning at any cost even with the cost of the democracy itself. i submit it is the job of each citizen to stand up for the voting rights of every citizen. it is the job of this body to do all that it can to defend the viability of our democracy. that's why i am a proud cosponsor of for the people act which we introduced today. for the people act is a major step in a march toward the democratic ideals making it

easier, not harder for eligible americans to vote byik instituting common sense pro-democracy reforms. like establishing national automotive one - - automatic voter registration for every eligible citizen allowing all americans to register votequ online and election day. offer at least two weeks of early voting including weekends in federal elections , keeping souls to the polls program alive. prohibiting states restricting absentee or by mail and from purging voter rolls based solely on unreliable evidence take someone's voting history. something we have seen in georgia and other states in recent years. it would end big money and politics. and ensure public servants are serving the public.

these voter suppression lies and tactics including partisan and racial gerrymandering the system awash in dark money of corporate interest in politicians who do their bidding, the voices of the american people have been increasingly drown out and crowded out and squeezed out of their own democracy. we must pass for the people so that the people might have a voice the voices your human dignity not only that we must pass, john lewis voting rights advancement act. voting rights used to be about partisan issues the last time

the voting rights bill was authorized was 2006 george w. bush was president and the past this chamber 98 / zero. that then in 2013 the supreme court rejected the successful formula for supervision contained in the 1965 voting rights act and asked congress to fix it that was nearly eight years ago. and the american people are still waiting. voters in states with a long history of voterwn discrimination that have been thrown to the wind. we americans have noisy and spirited debates and that is nonpartisansa and i submit there

should be 100 votes in the chamber to make it easier for people to have their voices heard in our democracy. but those in this chamber who believe that i do that the four most powerful words other than a democracy are the people have spoken we must ensure. but it's not we must still pass voting rights. the right to vote is not just an issue alongside others but is foundational and the reason

why to have the privilege of standing here in the first place. it is about the covenant we have as american people e pluribus unum. above all else we must protect so let's be clear. i am not here to spiral into the procedural argument whether the filibuster in general has merits or outdid its usefulness. it is bigger than the filibuster. access to voting and the politicians are first to restrict voting is so fundamental to our democracy that it is too important to be held hostage over senate rule. and then to use to restrict expansion to the voting rights. it is a contradiction to say

we must protect minority rights in the senate while refusing to protect minority rights in society. no senate rule should overrule the integrity of our democracy. we must find a way to pass voting rights whether we get rid of the filibuster or not. so as i close never believe a preacher when he says as i close. [laughter] , let me say as a man of faith, i believe democracy is the political enactment of a spiritual idea. the sacred work of all human beings.

the notion that we all have the right to participate. humanities capacity for justice makes democracy possible but humanitiesst inclination to injustice's makes democracy necessary. john lewis understood that i'm beating on the bridge to discover it. like so many women not mentioned nearly enough was gassed on the same bridge. white woman was killed. one was killed in his own driveway. to jews in an african-american standing up for the sacred idea of democracy to pay the

ultimate price. and we b in this body to be stopped and stymied by personal politics short-term political gains? senate procedure? i say let's get this done no matter what i urge my colleagues to pass these two bills to strengthen our democracy, strengthen our credibility as a premier voice for freedom loving people and those all over thef world. and the future for all of our children. mr. president, i yield the floor. [applause]

[inaudible conversations]

>> let's get to work. let me begin by thanking ranking member graham and other members of the committee for being with us this morning. some will be virtual. and i also want to thank the many witnesses it will be with us today remotely because of the pandemic. today, we're going to be discussing an issue that in my view is of enormous consequence morally and economically. and there is an issue that gets far too little discussion. that is the crisis of income and wealth inequality in our country. the simple truth is today in america, the very very rich are getting much richer while tens of millions of working-class americans are struggling to put food on the table and take care of basic

needs. this morning we are going to learn why it is the middle class in our country, once the envy of the world, the whole world looks to the united states and saw a growing and strong middle-class, that why it is that great middle class has been in decline for a decade after decade after decade while at the same time the massive transfer of wealth from working families to the top 1 percent, an issue that needs to be discussed. will be talking about why during this horrific pandemic 63 percent of workers have been living paycheck to paycheck, worried is somebody in the family is sick or the car breaks down they will be thrown into financial

desperation. meanwhile at the exact same time 660 billionaires, the richest people in america are one.$3 trillion richer. during the pandemic millions of people are struggling to put food on the table and a handful of billionaires are becoming much richer. talk about the of sanity of the 50 wealthiest americans now owning more wealth than the bottom half of our society 160 million people while at the same time over 90 million americans are uninsured with no health insurance or are underinsured cannot afford to go to a doctor when they get sick is that the america we want? i don't think so. asking about how it happened at the top one tenth of 1 percent now owns more wealth than the bottom 90 percent

more wealth than the bottom 90 percent and to individuals basals and mask on more wealth than the bottom 40 percent while we have more hunger in america than any time in decades. incredibly if income inequality remains the same as it was 1975, the average worker in america would be making $42000 more today than he or she is earning. instead, as a number of billionaires explode the average worker is now making $32 a week less then they made 48 years ago inflated for inflation average worker today making less in real dollars

than they did 48 years ago. today we will be talking about what it means morally and economically when one person in this country, the wealthiest person in the world become $77 billion richer during this pandemic while those that work at amazon paid sick leave and as you may know i asked mr. bezos to join us this morning which is too bad i would ask the following question which is mr. bezos you are the wealthiest person the world $182 billion why are

you doing everything in your power to stop your workers from joining the union so they could negotiate for better wages and better benefits and better working conditions? he cannot be with us today to answer those questions we will hear from and amazon worker who will tell us what it's like to work for the most profitable corporations in america and why she and her coworkers are trying to form a union. but amazon and jeff one - - t3 are not alone they are experiencing every single day they are sick and tired of corporate ceos who make 320 times more than the average employee about the same time give themselves big bonuses

and then to cut back on the healthcare they went corporations to invest in workers and benefits and working conditions not just stock buybacks and outrageous compensation packages for their executives and that's why i'm introducing legislation today to impose an income inequality tax on corporations to pay ceos over 50 times more than the average worker. it's always been true ceos make more than their employees but in recent years it is totally absurd. 1965 ceos of large corporations made just 20 times as much as the average worker today they make over 300 times and in some cases over 1000 times more than the

average workers. that is absurd and wrong and has to change. talk about the need to protect the working class in this country and address the crisis of wealth income and inequality in an enormous amount congress has to undertake to raise the minimum wage to a living wage. nobody that works 40 hours a week shall live in poverty and that should be at least 15 bucks an hour. we need to make it easier for workers to join unions, not harder the massive increase of wealth and income inequality can be directly linked to the decline of union membership in america. we need to create millions of good paying jobs rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure replacing water plans, sewers, building the affordable housing entrance form and when we fight from

climate change we also have millions of good paying jobs we need to guarantee do it every other major country does to guarantee healthcare as a human right not a privilege. we need to make sure all young people in this country have the right to get a higher education regardless of their income and yes we need to make sure the wealthiest people and large corporations stop paying on - - start paying their fair share of taxes. i know my republican colleagues have a different view. i suspect senator graham will disagree with one or two things. i may be wrong but at the time of mass of income and wealth inequality, do not believe you should be giving more tax breaks to the rich.

amazingly enough several of my republican colleagues in the senate including majority leader mcconnell introduced a bill to repeal the estate tax legislation to provide one.$7 trillion of tax breaks to the billionaire class while doing nothing to help working families of family farms. but repealing the estate tax would only benefit one tenth of 1 percent to inherit over 11.7 million those that were not receive a penny of legislation. bottom line is today we are discussing a huge issue that has broad implications of every person in this country. i look forward to the panel presentation and discussion. senator graham. >> thank you mr. chairman. you have been the most consistent voice in the country over a long period of

time on issues like this. we do have disagreement but i like working with people who believe what they believe. now here is some common ground. most of us don't want the consolidation of wealth and power to lie in the hands through ill-gotten gains and monopolies and unfair trade practices and criminal enterprises market manipulation. if you can make your money legally and fairly, good for you. that is the question a big tech. so the question for me is we led to much power consolidate in the hands of being tech a virtual monopoly. and then to allow the new technologies to become the modern version the robber barons of the last century.

i would like to talk more about that at if you need to break them up or not. but generally speaking as a capitalist nation and remain so with regulation to prevent environmental abuse to make sure people play by the rules the government plays a role on people start creating monopolies that is unfair to other competitors when people cheat and scheme and get rich off of bad business practices something we should all be concerned about. but the polling company asking americans what they think the most important problem facing the country every month for a long time. 26 percent said it was the coronavirus. just 1 percent said the gap

between rich and poor. how can it be? actually believe that. most americans and then wondering how to get ahead. one thing we can start focusing on how do you lift up those who present better opportunity in the way to describe either chairman and senator scott who is focused on enterprise opportunity zones and blighted neighborhoods to make sure they are tax advantages for businesses like amazon and others to go into the neighborhood to increase wages to have better business opportunity. that we have good education. if you want to level the playing field for america make