LIVE: Senate Democrats Speak with the Press, 6.18.24

e e e e e e e e e e e e e e all right good afternoon to everyone I'm proud to be joined by Senators Murray stabenau and Rosen so later today the Senate's going to have a chance to make our community safer that is if Republicans still believe what they said a few years ago Martin Heinrich will come to the floor and attempt to pass a federal ban on Bump Stop I'm also proud to support it as you know the Maga Supreme Court reversed a trump rule to band bump stocks a radical decision that endangers our communities in law enforcement last week's decision is another warning that this Maga court is going off the deep end on issue after issue aligning with the most extreme elements of the hard right I'll let Senator Rosen explain how deeply heart-wrenching this decision is as she knows too well so today's you see it's not a lifesaving it's not a simple Choice it's a life-saving one I beg our Republican colleagues to truly reflect on the ramifications of today's UC on reproductive Freedom yesterday I took the first step for the Senate to vote on the reproductive freedom for women act led by Senator Murray and co-sponsored not just by by me but every single female Democratic senator the measure affirms a woman's fund right fundamental right to choose calls for enshrining the protections of Rowan to law which most Americans support as Majority Leader I'll work with my colleagues to bring it to the floor as soon as possible our Crusade on Reproductive Rights will continue when we return to session after the July 4th break as we approach the anniversary 2-year anniversary of Ro v Wade being overturned this month was meant to be one of bipartisanship when the Senate came together to protect the rights of millions of Americans reproductive freedoms could have been a month when both sides came together to pass Common Sense legislation protecting reproductive care like contracep and IVF could have been a month when we put to rest the worries of millions of Americans Across America enduring attacks on their reproductive freedoms in the aftermath of row but instead June has been a month of Maga Republicans showing their true colors as their attacks on women on families on Reproductive Rights comes to light they were told by some of their right-wing pro-life leadership keep your mouth shut we're going to force them to vote if they don't want to talk about it if they run away from questions when you ask them they're still going to have to vote and that's what matters most to the American people in the last few weeks Senate Republicans have shown that for all their attempts to sound moderate on reproductive care when it comes to voting they choose Maga extremism over the Republican over the American people so when Republicans blocked Federal Protection for contraception a few weeks ago they chose magga extremism over the American people when Republicans blocked Federal protections for IVF a few days ago they chose Maga extremism over the American people and when Donald Trump to this day continues to brag about working with the Senate Republicans to confirm three hard right vehemently anti-choice Supreme Court Justices to eliminate row that's choosing Maga extremism over the American people but we're telling our Republican colleagues you cannot run away from the truth your record on Women's Health Care is outright abysmal shameful and out of step with most Americans Sen thank you leader Shermer you know the American people have seen a really sharp contrast when it comes to Reproductive Rights over the past few weeks Democrats introduced legislation to protect the right to birth control Republicans voted no Democrats introduced legislation to protect the right to IVF Republicans voted no and don't forget twice we have tried to pass legislation restoring role and twice Republicans refused so yesterday we introduced a bill that simply says women should be free to make their own health care decisions it couldn't be more basic I mean if you care it all even a little about letting women make decisions about their own pregnancies that are right for them and their families you should support that bill Republicans are probably going to try to spin this but uh make no mistake we are going to put them on the record if Republicans want to call this a messaging Bill well the message is simple here here is who stands for Reproductive freedom and here is who does not and if Republicans want to pretend there is no threat to Reproductive Rights well no one is falling for that stick not when so many Republicans support extreme fetal personhood laws that treat a frozen embryo the same as a living breathing person not when Republicans are listening to quote unquote experts who think birth control like iuds are the same as abortion not when they have written something like project 2025 which I spoke about earlier today it is a literal plan for Trump to attack abortion Nationwide and we certainly are not going to let Republicans off the hook when we are already living with the painful reality inflicted on women by Republicans anti-abortion extremism truly heartbreaking stories have been making national news ever since dos we've seen them all we will never forget them and as I said at our help hearing a few weeks ago a forced pregnancy does not have to make headlines to make someone's life a living hell this is not going to go away if Republicans are going to force women to stay pregnant we are going to force them to be honest with the American people about their extreme position and Democrats are going to keep fighting to restore the rights the American people have been so clear that they want back Monday is the two-year anniversary of the decision to rip away women's reproductive freedoms in this country through the dobs decision made by the Trump Supreme Court so now at this moment my daughter has fewer freedoms than I have had my two little granddaughters have less freedoms in making their own decisions than I had this is serious it's not a sow it's not a side issue it's a fundamental issue and since the fall of row they've continued their assault as we've heard on access to birth control to IVF to severe in total restrictions on abortion in fact today one out of three women of childbearing age live in a state with extreme and dangerous Trump abortion Bans and they want that to be everywhere that is the goal whether it's legislatively or by using a 100y old law to try to create a way for Trump to do it administratively in our state of Michigan two years ago we worked really hard we put together a a ballot initiative put it on the ballot to protect our reproductive freedoms in Michigan to make our own decisions and imp pass passed overwhelmingly it passed including creating not only a reelection of our governor Democratic governor but for the first time in 40 years a democratic house and Democratic Senate why people wanted to make sure those freedoms were protected and the state laws were changed and it became very clear so people in Michigan think we're okay but unfortunately with a National Abortion ban or Donald Trump reelected in doing something administratively we're not okay nobody's okay in this country not one state whether you're in a state that has state laws or a state con Constitution protecting your freedoms or whether you're in a state that does not the reality is that none of that will matter and every woman in every state is at risk so this is a hands all hands on deak M my colleagues and I have been working with President Biden and vice president Harris to protect our reproductive freedoms and that's why frankly we have been holding the votes that Senator Schumer talked about in terms of the right to birth control can't believe I'm saying that in 2024 the right to birth control in our country uh the right to IVF to start or expand your family and they have stopped us at every step and now we're going to see the next vote will be on protecting the basic reproductive freedoms for women in this country and we'll see where they stand for us we know where we stand Democrats are working every day to defend our freedom to make decisions about our own health not a politician not a judge the women of this country should have the freedom to make our own decisions about our own health our lives and our futures and we're not going to give up until we have those freedoms fully protected well thank you Senators um Schumer Murray and stab now but before I turn back to the issue of Reproductive Rights I want to quickly address the Supreme Court's recent decision on bump stocks my community my city my state were for ever changed on one October and saying that banning bumpstock solves a fake problem it's disgraceful and it's offensive we lost nevadans that day 60 people were killed in the largest mass shooting in American history families were torn apart for us the Carnage created by bumpstocks is very real so shame on anyone who says it's a fake problem the Trump era ban was common sense and it saved lives we now have a responsibility to make it permanent in federal law and I call on all of my colleagues to let this legislation move forward today now I'm going to talk about another critically important issue for nevadans overturning roie Wade was just the beginning of the non-stop attacks against reproductive freedom in the years since anti-choice politicians have pushed and pushed to restrict Reproductive Rights and ban abortion including by passing a National Abortion ban they want to pass a National Abortion ban right here in Congress I've lived in Las Vegas for 50 years and i' bet the house that anti-ro Senate Republicans will vote to ban abortion Nationwide if they're given the chance and so just because many of them are suddenly they're just suddenly changing their tune they're refusing to talk about this issue it does not mean they won't vote for a nationwide abortion ban as soon as they're given the chance so if you believe the extremists who pushed for years to overturn road if you believe the extremists who said they were 100% life those same extremists who advocated for State bans now agree in an election year not to pass a National Abortion ban well I have some oceanfront property in Las Vegas to sell you none of us here none of us here will be fooled by their coverups of their anti-choice records instead Senate Democrats we're going to keep working to restore row we'll keep working to protect access to birth control and we'll keep working to protect IVF for those folks who want to start a family and we'll keep fighting to make sure that women and not extreme politicians have the freedom to make their own health care decisions thank you okay ready yes young lady over there yeah in the flower dress with a lot of colors I think it's flowers look first the administration is reviewing that particular equipment but after that they sent over a billion dollars in Aid to Israel I've always had four goals in terms of Israel policy one Hamas must be radically reduced two we must free the hostages three we got to provide as much Aid to the gazin people as we can to help them in the humanitarian crisis and fourth uh we ought to minimize civilian casualties yes lady over there at the glasses yeah you she doesn't have glasses that's why I said well today wasn't only a uh attendance problem we had a number of people out for a number of different reasons but we're going to keep moving forward on judicial nominees and even when we haven't gotten Republican cooperation in many instances is well we have a record number of judicial nominees that we have uh nominated and put on the bench so I'm very proud of that yes bures um is it too late do you think in this year to pass the House's bipartisan tax deal is that de in the look as you know I I supported it the minute U it was announced I think it's a good bill I was very proud that I pushed hard and got into the bill of low income housing tax credit near and dear to me very important uh to my state now I'm currently working with uh uh chairman widen to try and get something done it's not dead yes there's been a rise in deep videos issue deep pornography colle in terms of also being a problem President Biden with some of these videos being taken out of context what can Congress do to try and solve this problem how quickly well as you know senator kachar in terms of the elections issue has has passed a number of bills out of committee one was unanimous two did have bipartisan support and we're going to look for a way to move those bills forward very important pills to us yes sah look we hope that our Republican colleagues will see the light and not block the bill today as I said many of them were extremely supportive of this when President Trump did it as a regulation and I'm just shocked that the Supreme Court know Donald Trump is hardly a friend of gun safety but I'm just shocked that the Supreme Court would be even to the right of him I promised uh Mr CNN I'd call on you when I didn't answer you in the well sorry thank you we're going to bring up the judge soon answer your question e