>> HI, GOOD DAY, AND WELCOME TO THE WASHINGTON REPORT, I AM STACEY PLASKETT AND I´M SO HONORED TO SERVE AS THE VIRGIN ISLANDS DELEGATE .

THE WASHED A REPORT WAS CREATED TO INFORM VIRGIN ISLANDERS ON CURRENT FEDERAL ISSUES THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY.

YOU GUYS, I´M SO HONORED TO HAVE AS MY GUEST TODAY MY COLLEAGUE, FELLOW DEMOCRAT, MY FRIEND, THE MINORITY -- CATHERINE CLARK, CONGRESSWOMAN CLARK HAS REPRESENTED MASSACHUSETTS SIX DISTRICTS FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS.

HER SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND OUR NATION HAVE BEEN FUELED BY PASSION FOR LIFTING UP WOMEN AND FAMILIES .

SHE IS A LEADING PROPONENT OF NUMEROUS KEY ISSUES INCLUDING ENDING GUN VIOLENCE, AND INCLUDING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, QUALITY CHILDCARE, GUARANTEEING PAID LEAVE .

IN THE FALL OF 2022, CONGRESSWOMAN CLARK WAS ELECTED BY HER COLLEAGUES TO SERVE AS DEMOCRATIC WHAT , THE SECOND MOST SENIOR POSITION IN THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC OFFICE.

SHE SERVED AS A SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, VICE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS , AND AS A SENIOR MEMBER OF THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.

ONE OF ONLY TWO WOMEN TO EVER SERVE , SHE CURRENTLY HAS THE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE HIGHEST RANKING WOMAN IN YOU FOR JOINING ME , AND WELCOME TO THE WASHINGTON REPORT .

>> I´M SO GLAD TO BE HERE, SO GLAD TO HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND BEFORE WE BEGIN WITH YOUR QUESTION, I JUST WANT TO TELL YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHAT A VALUED PARTNER YOU ARE, THAT YOU MAKE CONGRESS SMARTER, MORE EFFECTIVE, AND A LOT MORE FUN.

WE ARE REALLY GRATEFUL TO YOU AND ALL OF YOUR LEADERSHIP, WHETHER IT IS LEADING SUBCOMMITTEES, THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE, JUST REALLY A CHAMPION FOR THOSE WHO TO SERVE IN A PERSONAL THINK FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS FOR SENDING YOU TO CONGRESS.

>> THANK YOU.

SOMEONE TOLD ME I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO ACCEPT COMPLIMENTS.

>> WORK ON THAT.

VERY SINCERE.

I KNOW IT IS, I VALUE NOT JUST LEADERSHIP POSITION BEFORE YOUR FRIENDSHIP AS WELL.

YOU ARE ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR NUMBER MEMBERS AND THAT MEANS A LOT HERE IN THIS DOG EAT DOG WASHINGTON.

>> I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT IF YOU COULD SHARE WITH EVERYONE WHAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES ?

>> YEAH, IT IS A JOB WITH A VERY CATCHY TITLE.

PEOPLE DON´T OFTEN UNDERSTAND, IT COMES FROM THE TERM WHIPPING THE BOAT WHICH MEANS MAKING SURE THAT WHEN OUR CAUCUS DECIDES ON A STRATEGY AND POSITION, THE VOTES ARE THERE TO SUPPORT IT.

IT´S HELPING MEMBERS ACTUALLY GET TO CONGRESS, WHETHER WE ARE WORKING THROUGH STORMS, ILLNESS, TRAVEL LOGISTICS MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE HERE AND THEN WORKING ACROSS ALL OF THE DIFFERENT BELIEFS AND IDEOLOGIES REPRESENTED IN OUR DIVERSE CAUCUS, SO WE ARE NOT ONLY HAVING PEOPLE VOTE WITH UNITY, BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENT CHALLENGES THAT CAN ARISE FOR PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT.

WHAT ARE THEIR PARTICULAR NEEDS ARE AT HOME, SO WE CAN HELP PLAN AND ADDRESS THOSE.

WE ALWAYS WANT TO DO PREVENTION WORK IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN ACTUALLY CRACKING DOWN ON MEMBERS SAYING YOU HAVE TO VOTE THIS WAY.

WE REALLY TRY AND WORK FROM OUR BLUE DOGS, TO PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS ARE LONG THE TRY CAUCUSES TO UNDERSTAND CHALLENGES BEFORE THEY COME UP, AND TO PARTICIPATE -- ANTICIPATE AND WORK TOWARD SOLUTIONS, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IN THIS CONGRESS, DEMOCRATS ARE DELIBERATELY TO VOTE.

IT´S YOUR JOB TO IDENTIFY THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GOING TO VOTE A PARTICULAR WAY OR IDENTIFY THOSE DEMOCRATS WHO GO ACROSS THE AISLE AND PUT FORWARD ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION, WHAT´S THE WORK THAT´S HAPPENING?

THAT SOUNDS REALLY --THAT´S A TASK.

>> IT IS A TASK, YOU KNOW I´M VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A FANTASTIC TEAM OF PEOPLE THAT WORK WITH ME, WE REALLY START AS THE MAJORITY SETS THE SCHEDULE, WORKING WITH MEMBERS, LETTING THEM KNOW , OVER TO COMMUNICATING ON WHAT WE HAVE COMING UP AND GETTING A READ ON WHERE PEOPLE ARE .

THEN TRYING TO ANTICIPATE PROBLEMS AND REALLY WORK TO GET US TO A UNIFIED POSITION.

UNITY DOESN´T ALWAYS MEAN UNANIMITY, SOMETIMES WE NEED THAT .

I THINK A GREAT EXAMPLE, THE IMPEACHMENT LAST WEEK , THE SECRETARY MAYORKAS WAS A DISPLAY OF ABSOLUTE UNANIMITY WITHIN OUR CAUCUS, ARE IN THE MINORITY, WE ARE TRYING THE BEST WE CAN TO USE THAT SOLIDARITY TO INFLUENCE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR VOICES ARE HEARD.

YOU MENTIONED A VERY INTERESTING PHENOMENA THAT I HAD NOT SEEN SINCE I HAVE BEEN CONGRESS, THAT THIS PARTICULAR MAJORITY, REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IS SO BOUND UP IN THEIR OWN INCITING, THE CHAOS, THEY ARE REALLY MOVING TO THE MOST EXTREME PARTS OF THEIR CONFERENCE THAT THEY RELY ON US NOW, DEMOCRATIC VOTES TO MOVE EVERY MAJOR SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

THAT WAS SOMETHING I DID NOT ANTICIPATE AS WE CAME IN TO THIS CONGRESS .

IT IS SOMETHING THAT OUR CAUCUS HAS CONTINUED TO COME TOGETHER AND DO BECAUSE ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

BUT WE ARE NOT SEEING FROM THEM IS THEIR FOCUS IS ON DONALD TRUMP, AND IT IS THE MOST EXTREME MEMBERS.

WE ARE JUST GOING TO CAN CAN YOU COME BACKING --TO COME BACK TO OUR WORDS OF LOWERING COST, CREATING SUSTAINED JOBS, FIGHTING FOR THE PLANET IN AN ECONOMY WHERE EVERYONE CAN OPPORTUNITY, REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM, THOSE ARE THE ISSUES THAT DRIVE OUR CAUCUS AND IT IS A VERY UNUSUAL TIME TO BE IN CONGRESS BUT THIS RELIANCE ON THE MINORITY THAT WE ARE SEEING NOW.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT THAT, THERE´S ONLY BEEN 20 BILLS PUT ON THE PRESIDENT´S DESK.

USUALLY THERE ARE HUNDRED, THEY GO BEFORE THE PRESIDENT AND IN CONGRESS IN A CALENDAR YEAR.

THE MAJORITY SETS THE CALENDAR , WHICH BILLS ARE GOING TO COME TO THE FLOOR?

THAT MUST BE KIND OF FRUSTRATING AS WELL BECAUSE THERE´S SO MANY PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE WORKING ON , IS THERE TIMES THAT YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE REPUBLICANS?

>> THERE´S DEFINITELY SOME, IT IS FRUSTRATING.

IT IS FRUSTRATING TO KNOW THAT OUR CAUCUS REALLY DOES BELIEVE IN BIPARTISANSHIP AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO TURN OUR HANDS TO GOODWILL TO THE OTHER SIDE, IT IS SOMETHING I HAVE ADMIRED ABOUT YOUR CAREER AND THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE STRUCK A CHORD, YOUR ABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS IN CONGRESS IS DEPENDENT ON YOUR BEING WILLING TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE, TO USE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS TO BENEFIT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

>> ACROSS THE AISLE DOES NOT LOOK THE SAME AS IT DID.

IT´S NOT THE SAME, WE HAVE HAD MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE WHO SEEMS TO BE LEADING THE SHOW OVER THERE.

BEING VERY CLEAR THAT BIPARTISANSHIP FOR HER IS ENOUGH TO DUMP THE CURRENT SPEAKER.

JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT SAYS ABOUT OUR SYSTEM , AND HOW THEY VIEW GOVERNING.

WE ARE SUPPOSED TO COME TOGETHER FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF OUR COUNTRY, FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS.

BELIEFS, EXPERIENCES, COME TOGETHER AND FORM A BETTER PRODUCT THEN I WOULD BRING ALONE.

WHEN YOU CAN DO THAT WORK ACROSS THE AISLE, WHEN BIPARTISANSHIP HAS BECOME A DIRTY WORD, THAT REALLY MAKES THE WHOLE SYSTEM SORT OF FALL IN ON ITSELF.

THAT´S WHY WE SEE PEOPLE OFTEN SAY WELL, THERE ARE NOT FIVE OF THEM WHO WOULD COME OVER AND DO THIS, IT IS HARD TO TAKE IN THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE PEOPLE WITH COMMON SENSE AND COMMON GOODWILL THAT WILL COME ACROSS THE AISLE ON SOME OF THESE REALLY EXTREME ISSUES , WE ARE JUST NOT SEEING THAT ANYMORE THE WAY IT USED TO ME --USED TO BE WITH CONGRESS.

HE MIGHT JUST AGREE ON A HOST OF THINGS, BUT FINDING THAT 10% OR YOU CAN COME TOGETHER, COMPROMISE, AND MAKE PROGRESS.

WE TALK ABOUT FIVE COMING ACROSS THE AISLE WHICH GIVES YOU THE MAJORITY, BUT CRITICAL, REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES.

WHAT ARE THE CRITICAL AND IMPORTANT ISSUES?

WHAT ARE FIVE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD HOPE YOU COULD GET ACROSS THE AISLE?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW VERY MUCH ON MY MIND HIS NATIONAL SECURITY PACKAGE.

THAT IS , IT IS A SITUATION THAT I THINK IF YOU HAD SAID TO ME 10 YEARS AGO THAT THERE WILL BE A PARTY THAT WILL ABSOLUTELY DO BORDER SECURITY, THAT WE´LL GO BACK ON THEIR DEMANDS TO MAKE IT DEAL, THE DEALS MADE AND THEN SAID WE STILL WON´T VOTE FOR IT.

ABSOLUTELY WALK AWAY FROM OUR COMMITMENTS TO OUR ALLIES AND OTHER DEMOCRACY, BUT ALSO TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY, OUR OWN MILITARY READINESS, OUR OWN CORE VALUES OF HUMANITARIAN AID, I WOULD HAVE SEND 10 YEARS AGO , HOW DID THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY --GO SO WRONG?

THIS IS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT IS HISTORICALLY HISTORICALLY --BUILT A BRAND ON NATIONAL SECURITY, BORDER SECURITY.

IT IS COMPLETELY REPLICATING THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AS THE WORLD SUPERPOWER .

IT IS ASTOUNDING TO ME BUT THAT IS THE SITUATION THAT WE ARE IN I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD HEAR THAT OUR PRO-PUTIN, THEY ARE NOT EVEN TRYING TO SORT OF -- IT IS VERY DIRECT.

WE ARE GOING TO TELL PROVEN HE´S FREE TO DO WHATEVER HE WANTS IN A EUROPEAN COUNTRY, THAT TRANSLATES INTO AMERICAN LIVES BEING LOST.

IN DEFENDING OUR NATO ALLIES, HOW COULD WE BE IN THIS SITUATION?

THIS IS AN AREA WHERE WE HAVE TO RESPOND AND USE EVERY TOOL WE HAVE IN THE MINORITY TO GET US TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN BE SURE OUR COUNTRY HAS MILITARY READINESS, WE HAVE OUR NATIONAL SECURITY PRIORITIES MET , AND THAT WE ARE MEETING THOSE NEEDS.

WE HAVE FIVE.

THAT´S ONE.

I KNOW THAT THAT HAS BEEN LIKE INDIVIDUAL GUN VIOLENCE OF COURSE , THAT´S ONE THAT I KNOW EVERYONE KNOWS THAT YOU HAVE REALLY BEEN A BIG CHAMPION TO STOP GUN VIOLENCE.

IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, OUT OF 65 COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES, WE RANKED NUMBER ONE FOR HOMICIDES BY FIREARMS PER CAPITA.

YOUR ADVOCACY IN THAT AREA IS SOMETHING THAT MOTHERS AND FATHERS, EVEN YOUNG PEOPLE, I HAVE GONE TO JUNIOR HIGHS AND HIGH SCHOOLS, AND ASKED THEM IF THEY KNOW --WHO WAS KILLED BY GUN VIOLENCE, EVERY STUDENT RAISE THEIR HAND, I ASKED CHILDREN WHAT THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT, THEY TALK ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE.

YOUR WORK ON SOME OF OUR OTHER COLLEAGUES TO SPLIT THE VOTE AND KEEP AMERICA S.A.F.E.

ACT , WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT LEGISLATION AND WHAT IT COULD DO FOR US?

>> I HOPE IT BUILDS MUSCLE MEMORY.

WE COULD BE MOVED FORWARD ON A BIPARTISAN PIECE OF LEGISLATION , IT IS NOT ENOUGH.

IT IS A CRITICAL STEP AND I AM PROUD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET THERE WHEN WE HAD THE MAJORITY, WE NEED MORE.

IN JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, I TOURED IN PARKLAND, FLORIDA, AND THAT SCHOOL, STACY IS A TIME CAPSULE TO SIX YEARS AGO TODAY, WE ARE FILMING THIS ON VALENTINE´S DAY AND NOBODY HAS BEEN IN THAT SCHOOL EXCEPT FOR JIK PROSECUTORS AND INVESTIGATORS.

>> IT IS A CRIME SCENE.

>> IT IS A CARNAGE SEEN AND IT IS A SCENE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN TOTALLY PREVENTED, TO WALK WITH THOSE DADS AND HAVE THEM POINT WHERE THEIR CHILDREN´S BLOODSTAINS ARE STILL THERE, AND SAY THIS IS WHERE I LOST GINA, THIS IS WHERE I LOST JAMIE.

IT´S BEYOND GUT WRENCHING.

YOU SUPERIMPOSE THAT WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL THAT COULD BE ANY HIGH SCHOOL.

THERE WERE STILL BOXES OF CHOCOLATES ON TOP OF TEXTBOOKS, STUFFED ANIMALS WITH HAPPY VALENTINE´S DAY BALLOONS.

UNFINISHED ESSAYS .

YOU KNOW, THE LESSON PLANS ON WHITEBOARDS WRITTEN IN COLORFUL MARKER.

WE COULD BE ANYWHERE, THEN ALSO THE OUTLINE OF BLOOD OF TWO STUDENTS KILLED BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT GET THE FEW INCHES BEHIND THEIR TEACHER´S DESK IN TIME.

THE BROKEN GLASS THAT IS EMBEDDED IN THE BOTTOM OF MY SHOE , IT WAS SO GUTWRENCHING .

THIS IS A POLICY CHOICE.

WE HAVE CHOSEN TO ALLOW GUNSHOTS TO BE THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH OF CHILDREN , AS HORRIFYING AS THAT SCENE IS, AND THE MASS SHOOTINGS ARE, THE DAILY GUN VIOLENCE THAT YOU ARE DESCRIBING IS EQUALLY CORROSIVE TO PEOPLE´S FEELING OF SECURITY, COMMUNITY, SENSE OF EDOM AND WE HAVE TO STAY ON IT.

IT IS A CHOICE AND WE HAVE TO MAKE A DIFFERENT CHOICE THAT PUTS OUR KIDS AND OUR COMMUNITIES FIRST .

>> WELL, YOU´RE SPEAKING AS SOMEONE WHO WAS OBVIOUSLY VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT, YOU HAVE SEEN THE HIGHEST FEMALE IN LEADERSHIP IN CONGRESS .

OF COURSE, I WONDER WHAT THAT FEMININITY AND YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE AS A MOTHER, AS A WIFE, WHEN YOU BRING THAT TO THE TABLE IN THESE DISCUSSIONS.

HOW DO YOU FIND THAT EMPOWERS YOU?

>> DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, I THINK WE HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ONE I KNOW WHAT IT´S LIKE TO NOT ONLY HAVE CHILDREN THAT NEED CHILDCARE, BUT ALSO AGING PARENTS, HOW DO I POSSIBLY MEET THEIR NEEDS?

I´M LUCKY ENOUGH THAT WHEN I WAS IN THAT SITUATION, I WAS IN CONGRESS AND I HAD A GOOD BENEFITS.

I HAD THE ABILITY TO SAY I HAVE TO CHANGE MY SCHEDULE TO CARE FOR A PARENT, CHILD, I HAVE A SPOUSE WHO HELPS ME AND HAS A SECOND INCOME, THAT IS NOT THE CASE FOR A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE AT HOME .

THOSE ISSUES AROUND AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESS TO CHILDCARE, I UNDERSTAND , THAT´S ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE, THIS IS NOT SOME PRIVATE DECISION BETWEEN A PARENT AND A PROVIDER , THEN WE LOOK AT THE OTHER SIDE OF CHILDCARE AND LONG-TERM CARE , THAT WORK IS PRIMARILY DONE BY WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR , WE DO NOT PAY THEM ENOUGH WHILE THEY ARE CARING FOR OUR FAMILIES TO CARE FOR THEIR OWN, THAT IS AN EQUATION THAT IS ABOUT JUSTICE AND IN ECONOMIC FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO CHANGE, CHILDCARE TO CHANGE THAT FORMULA , IT NEEDS AN INVESTMENT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WE HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH OTHER DEVELOPING NATIONS THAT ARE INVESTING $15,000 A YEAR OF PUBLIC DOLLARS INTO A TODDLER´S CARE WHILE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, WE INVEST $500.

IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT WEALTH INEQUALITY, IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT WORK FORCE READINESS, AND IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT EVERY CHILD IS READY TO LEARN WHEN THEY HIT KINDERGARTEN, CHILDCARE IS ONE OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE AND WE HAVE TO TREAT IT AS ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> WELL, THESE ARE SOME HAPPY THINGS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT .

YOU ARE ALL ENGAGED IN , I KNOW WE ARE REALLY --DON´T HAVE TOO MUCH TIME BUT I JUST KNOW THAT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS COMING UP IN THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL IS HEATING UP OF COURSE.

WHAT ARE THE ISSUES THAT YOU THINK VOTERS NEED TO FOCUS ON?

AS THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO, HOW THEY ARE GOING TO BE ENGAGED BEFORE ELECTION DAY.

>> YOU KNOW, AS I TRAVEL THE COUNTRY , SOME OF THE MOST INTERESTING PLACES -- >> I´M NOT GOING TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

WHAT´S TWO OR SO PLACES YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU WOULD HAVE GONE TO?

>> TEXAS.

[ LAUGHTER ] THAT´S A WHOLE OTHER WORLD.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT TRAVELING TO TEXAS , I´VE NOW BEEN THERE EXTENSIVELY.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CAN LIKE THE SAME THINGS, THAT´S ONE OF THE MOST SURPRISING AND REASSURING THINGS , PEOPLE WANT COMMUNITY.

THEY DON´T WANT DIVISION.

THEY DON´T WANT CHAOS, THEY WANT TO KNOW THE GOVERNMENT SEES THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES , AND THAT SOMEONE IN WASHINGTON IS GOING TO FIGHT FOR THEM , THAT IS WHAT EVERY CAMPAIGN COMES DOWN TO.

AS I LOOK AT OUR HOUSE CANDIDATE , THE BIDEN HARRIS ADMINISTRATION.

IT´S ALL GOING TO BE ABOUT THE CHOICE AND A REFERENDUM ON INCUMBENTS, WE HAVE SUCH A POSITIVE STORY TO TELL ABOUT THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE MADE TOGETHER IN INFRASTRUCTURE, BRINGING IN FACTORING BACK TO OUR SHORES, LOWERING THE COST OF HEALTHCARE AND YOU KNOW, FOR FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO WEATHERIZE THEIR HOMES, TO DRIVE DOWN THERE CABLE BILLS BY $30 A MONTH, CALF INSULIN AT $35 A MONTH.

>> PREACH.

>> THIS IS THE WORK WE HAVE DONE , LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO DO MORE OF THE SAME, THEN THERE´S THE CHOICE, IT REALLY IS A CHOICE BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND A PRESIDENT WHO EVERY DAY IS FOCUSED ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE , THOSE ISSUES THAT KEEP THEM AWAKE AT NIGHT THAT THEY TALK ABOUT AROUND THE KITCHEN TABLE, IT´S EXTREMISM.

WE TOUCHED ON IT BEFORE, TO BRING THEM INTO CONGRESS, IT HAS CHANGED.

THERE IS A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC WHERE WE THOUGHT STARTING A YEAR AGO THAT WITH McCARTHY´S ELECTION, WE JUST GET TO THE MOST ASKED BRAIN --EXTREME BECOME SPEAKER, TO GAIN POWER AND THAT IS BECOMING THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS FOR THEM.

I FEEL LIKE THE DEMOCRATS AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THEM SAYING DO YOU SEE US?

DO YOU SEE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE?

WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO START FIGHTING FOR THEM?

SO AS I TRAVEL, WHETHER IT IS RURAL NEW MEXICO, OR CALIFORNIA, TEXAS, YOU KNOW, ALL OVER, KENTUCKY, OHIO, THAT DESIRE TO BE SEEN BY THEIR GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE´S UNDERSTANDING THAT AN ISSUE LIKE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM , WHATEVER YOU´RE FEELING MAYBE ON ABORTION, THAT SHOULD BE ONE THAT IS UP TO YOU TO MAKE WITH YOUR FAMILY, YOUR DOCTOR, YOUR FAITH AND NOT A POLITICIAN IN WASHINGTON.

THAT ISSUE CONTINUES TO RESONATE BECAUSE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT AT THE CORE OF IT, IT´S ABOUT CONTROL AND POWER AND NOT -- RESTRICTING THEIR FREEDOM.

IT´S WRITTEN ACROSS THE ELECTIONS, EVERYTHING FROM MOST RECENTLY IN NEW YORK BUT ALL THE WAY BACK THROUGH ´23.

DEMOCRATS ARE WINNING AND WILL CONTINUE TO WIN BECAUSE WE ARE PUTTING AMERICAN FAMILIES FIRST, THAT IS GOING TO BE THE KEY TO OUR SUCCESS HERE, LEGISLATIVELY, AND ALSO ON THE POLITICAL TRAIL.

>> I LOVE INTERVIEWS LIKE THIS WHERE I DON´T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING.

>> YOU´RE AT A LOSS FOR WORDS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO ASK YOU VERY QUICKLY WAS WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY?

DO YOU --HOW DO YOU DECOMPRESS?

>> JUNK TV.

ARE YOU WATCHING ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR?

>> YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS GO BACK TO SCHUTZ CREEK .

>> THAT´S A GOOD ONE.

IT´S NOT JUNK TV, IT´S WONDERFUL TV.

I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET BACK INTO A LITTLE BIT OF RUNNING.

MY 85-YEAR-OLD MOTHER IN LAW HAS SIGNED US UP FOR 10K.

SHE´S THE RUNNER , CHALLENGE ACCEPTED .

THEN PICKLEBALL HAS BECOME --I´M NOT VERY GOOD BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, WE WORKED REALLY HARD AND WE HAVE TO PLAY A LITTLE.

>> JONATHAN, MY HUSBAND WAS A PROFESSIONAL TENNIS PLAYER SO PICKLEBALL IS LIKE NO, YOU CANNOT --OKAY.

I THINK EVENTUALLY YOU ENGAGE IN IT.

FOR FUN.

>> I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING A PART OF THIS DISCUSSION, I´M SO APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR TIME AND I KNOW YOU´RE REALLY BUSY, CONGRESS IS IN SESSION, SO TO TAKE --TIME OFF FOR ME AND THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, THANK YOU.

YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO COME DOWN TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, ST. JOHN, WE WILL HAPPILY RECEIVE YOU AND YOUR TEAM, YOUR FAMILY AND GOD BLESS YOU.

>> RIGHT BACK AT YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT WRAPS UP THIS EDITION OF THE WASHINGTON REPORT, THANK YOU TO THE AUDIENCE FOR JOINING US, EVERYBODY STAY SAFE AND STAY STRONG.