host: joining us on the washington journal is representative earl blumenauer, longtime member of congress from oregon, democrat. he works on trade and fiscal issues among other things. congressman, we want to start with where we left off this morning andi

host: joining us on the washington journal is representative earl blumenauer, longtime member of congress from oregon, democrat. he works on trade and fiscal issues among other things. congressman, we want to start with where we left off this morning and did you see what mitch mcconnell had to say yesterday about january 6? guest: i did. host: what is your reaction as a democrat? guest: i did indeed and it is a welcome response to have republican leadership repudiating this effort of denial. he was forthright. it is consistent with the concerns he had after the insurrection but i was pleased he came forward. two courageous republicans should not be penalized for telling the truth and standing up for the constitution and their principles. host: where were you january 6,

host: earl blumenauer works on trade issues. he is chair of the trade subcommittee of the ways and means committee. we want to talk a little bit about trade. there is an article in the washington post that the u.s. trade deficit, record high in 2021, $859 billion. what is your take on that? guest: what that represents his people trying to reconnect with supply chains that have been dramatically disrupted. there are a number of goods that come overseas we have not had access to. what you are seeing here is an effort to do that. there are other disruptions that are going to take a wild. we continue to be strong in service says but i think this is an operation that is going to quiet a little bit going forward. the legislation we enacted getting tough on the chinese efforts to exploit the loopholes in our tax laws like the provision that allowed them to send two million packages a day in the united states, not paying tariffs, not being inspected, getting under an artificial limit, our legislation would correct that. it is a step tow

host: earl blumenauer was here earlier, he said he was working with you on a cannabis bill? caller: yes, i -- guest: i am failed to state reform act in november and it has gotten accolades, endorsed by americans for prosperity, a veterans group and a law enforcement group. it also got an endorsement by normal. it deschudules cannabis. we should not be scheduling it like a schedule one drug like heroin or opioids. and we should be able to study it, if it is as good as people say it is for medical services. we should be able to research it and make recommendations. but the act also recognizes the rights of every state in the country. all but three have some form of cannabis reform in their states. south carolina, we made a cbd and hemp legal. florida has medical cannabis. california and colorado have full adult use. this bill recognizes the state'' rights, that we will recognize the laws of every state to make decisions on what they want to do, whether it is cbd or full adult use. i try to also bring republicans and democrats together, there is something for everyone in here.

it is still a struggle to get our balance. >> earl blumenauer works on strayed issues.air of the trade subcommittee of the ways and means committee. so we want to talk a little bit about trade. there's a little article in "the washington post" this morning that the u.s. trade deficit record high in 2021, $859 billion. what's your take? >> well, what that represents is people trying to reconnect with supply chains that have been dramatically disrupted. there are a number of goods that come from overseas that we haven't been able to get access to. and what you're seeing here is an effort to try and do that. there are other disruptions that are going to take a while. we continue to be strong in the goods -- rather, in services. but i think that this is an aberration that is going to quiet a little bit going forward. the legislation that we enacted, getting tough on some of the chinese efforts to exploit some of the loopholes in our tax laws like the de minimis provision that's allowed them to send 2 million packages a day into the united states, not paying tariffs, not bei

host: earl blumenauer works on trade issues.ir of the trade subcommittee of the ways and means committee. we want to talk a little bit about trade. there is an article in the washington post that the u.s. trade deficit, record high in 2021, $859 billion. what is your take on that? guest: what that represents his people trying to reconnect with supply chains that have been dramatically disrupted. there are a number of goods that come overseas we have not had access to. what you are seeing here is an effort to do that. there are other disruptions that are going to take a wild. we continue to be strong in service says but i think this is an operation that is going to quiet a little bit going forward. the legislation we enacted getting tough on the chinese efforts to exploit the loopholes in our tax laws like the provision that allowed them to send two million packages a day in the united states, not paying tariffs, not being inspected, getting under an artificial limit, our legislation would correct that. it is a step toward streng

morning will discuss the biting agenda and upcoming deadlines with organ democratic congressman earl blumenauercongresswoman nancy mace. watch "washington journal" live at seven eastern wednesday morning on c-span or on c-span our new mobile app. during the discussion with your phone calls, facebook comments text and tweets. live video coverage of the biggest political events from live streams of the house and senate floor and key congressional hearings. the white house events in supreme court oral arguments, even our live interactive morning program "washington journal" we hear your voices every day. c-span now has you covered. download the app for free today. ♪ ♪ correct conversation on u.s. manufacturing now with scott paul he is president of the alliance for american manufacturing. having this conversation on the day were expecting to hear from president biden on this

swalwell, an oregon congressman earl blumenauer met virtually with business owners in fremont and pleasantonay. they say the move has enough support to pass a house vote. all they want the senate to get on board and cover all existing applications for grants. >> 90,000 restaurants have closed permanently during the pandemic. and 85% of independent restaurants are worried that they will permanently close soon unless a rules legislation goes through. corporate america can get bailouts and use that money for stock buybacks, we can give money to restaurants who are investing that money in their employees making sure the customers have a safe environment. >> while the new data show the restaurant industry added jobs last month, almost a million restaurant bar workers remain the pandemic. nce the start of - >> still ahead, tonight is 6. we will introduce you to a newly crowned olympic gold medalists are right here in san francisco. and why the miss that switching to vaping can help you quit. smoking appears to be just that. it's a y car, the insurance company wasn't fair. i didn't know what my cas

and congressman earl blumenauer met virtually with business owners in fremont and pleasanton today. they say the move has enough support to pass a house vote. now they want the senate to get on board and cover all existing applications for grants. 90,000 restaurants have closed permanently. >> during the pandemic and 85% of independent restaurants are worried that they will permanently close soon unless a rules legislation goes through. corporate america can get bailouts and use that money for stock buybacks, we can give money to restaurants who are investing that money in their employees making sure the customers have a safe environment. >> while new data show the restaurant industry added jobs last nearly 1 million restaurant and bar workers are still out of a job since the start of the pandemic. the husband of vice president kamala harris. doug emhoff was rushed out of an event at a washington high school by secret service agents today following a bomb threat and paul was at the school for an event commemorating black history month. he was in the school's museum for about 5 minut

swalwell in oregon, congressman earl blumenauer met virtually with business owners in fremont and pleasanton. they say the move has enough support to pass a house vote. now they want the senate to get on board and cover all existing applications for grants. >> 90,000 restaurants have closed permanently during the pandemic. and 85% of independent restaurants are worried that they will permanently close soon unless a rules legislation goes through. corporate america can get bailouts and use that money for stock buybacks, we can give money to restaurants who are investing that money in their employees making sure the customers have a safe environment. >> and while new data shows the restaurant industry added jobs last month, nearly a million restaurant and bar workers remain out of work since the start of the pandemic. well, as some states begin, easing mask mandates, including in schools. federal lawmakers are weighing in now on whether that's actually a good idea. alexandra limon joining us live from dc with the latest on all of this. good morning, alex. >> hi, james. good morning. low for no

coming up wednesday morning, we will discuss the biden agenda and upcoming fiscal deadlines with earl blumenauer and south carolina republican congresswoman nancy mace. watch washington journal live on c-span or c-span now, our new mobile app. join with your facebook comments, phone calls, texts and tweets. ♪ announcer: c-span is your unfiltered view of government. we are hundred -- are funded by these companies and more. >> it is our home too. right now we are facing our greatest challenge. that is why sparklight is working to keep you connected. we are doing our part so it is a little easier to do yours. >> sparklight supports c-span as a public service along with these other television providers, giving you a front row seat to democracy. >> the senate armed services committee held a confirmation hearing for army lieutenant general michael kurilla to head u.s. central command. he currently leads the 18th airborne corps in fort bragg.

and swalwell and oregon congressman earl blumenauer met virtually with business owners in fremont in pleasanton. they say the move has enough support to pass a house vote. but they need to get the senate on board and cover all the existing applications for grants. >> 90,000 restaurants have closed permanently during the pandemic. and 85% of independent restaurants are worried that they will permanently close soon unless a rules legislation goes through. corporate america can get bailouts and use that money for stock buybacks, we can give money to restaurants who are investing that money in their employees making sure the customers have a safe environment. >> well, while data the restaurant industry added jobs last month, nearly a million restaurant and bar workers are still out of work since the start of the pandemic. >> let game is likely approaching. and one nfl great is reminiscing about his historic performance. doug williams was the first black quarterback to win a super bowl. and justin walters is joining us live from la now with a look back. >> and how he's going hollywood. ju

the trade subcommittee chairman earl blumenauer has been a very important leader in developing this legislation and along with our colleague, tim ryan, who has not stopped telling me just how important this is to ohio, to fund the nation's newest semiconductor factory. this is a good, bold proposal and i am going to remain standing, madam speaker so, that i might yield the balance of my time to the trade subcommittee chair, mr. blumenauer. mr. blumenauer: a careful examination of this bill shows many bipartisan proposals. one area of bipartisan agreement is that for too long america has been too weak in its engagement with china. the chinese government is strengthening its economic power while doubling down on religious persecution and forced labor. those practices undercut the competitiveness of american workers and businesses. congress must step up and confront china head-on. our trade title does just that. those damaged by trade, weather worker, business or farmers, will benefit from a dramatically improved trade adjustment assistance program. which expired in june and completely phases out

the trade subcommittee chairman earl blumenauer has been a very important leader in developing this legislation and along with our colleague, tim ryan, who has not stopped telling me just how important this is to ohio, to fund the nation's newest semiconductor factory. this is a good, bold proposal and i am going to remain standing, madam speaker so, that i might yield the balance of my time to the trade subcommittee chair, mr. blumenauer. mr. blumenauer: a careful examination of this bill shows many bipartisan proposals. one area of bipartisan agreement is that for too long america has been too weak in its engagement with china. the chinese government is strengthening its economic power while doubling down on religious persecution and forced labor. those practices undercut the competitiveness of american workers and businesses. congress must step up and confront china head-on. our trade title does just that. those damaged by trade, weather worker, business or farmers, will benefit from a dramatically improved trade adjustment assistance program. which expired in june and completely phases out