Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) holds a town hall event in West Nyack, New York.
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00:00:00Good evening, everyone. It's great to be here with all of you. I appreciate all of you coming
00:00:18out tonight to join us for the first of four announced town halls. Before we begin, I'm
00:00:26going to ask Sean Glenn Denning, who works in my office, he's general counsel, serves
00:00:35in our Veterans Affairs program, ask him to come up and lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
00:00:47Please tell me you're not objecting to the Pledge of Allegiance. God bless.
00:00:53Thank you, Congressman Lawler. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance
00:00:59to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one
00:01:06nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
00:01:16Well, I'm looking forward to a great conversation tonight and answering your questions. Before
00:01:30we get to the questions, I'll be very brief. I'm just going to make a general statement.
00:01:36It has been a great honor to serve as your member of Congress for the last two-plus years,
00:01:44representing the 17th Congressional District of New York in Washington, and having the ability
00:01:50to serve on the House Financial Services and Foreign Affairs Committee. This year, I was
00:01:57appointed to serve as chair of the Middle East and North Africa subcommittee, which is a great
00:02:05honor, certainly, and given the challenges that we're dealing with around the globe, and certainly
00:02:11in the Middle East, something that I am immensely proud of and certainly focused on. During my
00:02:18time in Congress, I've been rated the fourth-most bipartisan member of Congress. I've also been
00:02:29rated the most effective freshman member of the 118th Congress. And that is precisely because
00:02:39I've been able to get things done on behalf of our community, including passing 11 pieces
00:02:45of legislation, six of which were signed into law by President Biden. And the fact is, not
00:02:53many people can actually say that. Our prior representative got exactly one bill passed to rename a post
00:03:00office. So to those of you who feel that you're not being represented, the fact is that I have
00:03:10been doing the job effectively on behalf of our district and working with folks in both parties, as I
00:03:20always have and always will. And the fact is that we as a country, we as a country, whether people like
00:03:30the outcome of an election or not, the fact is that we are a strong, united country. And we have
00:03:42we are a strong, united country that is rooted in shared values, shared belief, and an ability, if you're
00:03:58willing to listen to each other, to get things done. And for those of you that are here tonight,
00:04:06because you actually want to ask questions and engage in conversation, that's why I'm here. And I'm
00:04:14happy to answer your questions and look forward to it. And so with that, we will begin the process, as I
00:04:22always have at these town hall meetings. It is a random draw. And we will be calling out your ticket.
00:04:29Before we start, I'd like to ask you a personal question. So there's a lot of proposed legislation,
00:04:37bipartisan legislation, to either restrict or prohibit stock sales from people of Congress.
00:04:43So I'd just like to get your position on that.
00:04:48On the issue of banning stock trading in Congress, I fully support banning stock trading.
00:04:54I've been a co-sponsor of that bill, both in the 118th and now again in the 119th.
00:05:02I don't care what party you belong to. The fact is, if you are a member of Congress,
00:05:07you are aware of information that the general public just is not aware of, period. And so
00:05:14on the issue of banning stock trading, it should be banned. I fully support that legislation and
00:05:21hope that we can bring it to the floor for a vote.
00:05:25Do you have a question?
00:05:27He is not screening the tickets, ma'am. There are no names on the tickets.
00:05:39And numbers will then be called, and then we will come around for you to ask your question.
00:05:46Okay.
00:05:49This ticket number is 439358.
00:05:55Do you have the ticket?
00:06:23Okay.
00:06:24Pull another one.
00:06:26I'm not going to, you know, they can certainly.
00:06:28Let me do another one.
00:06:46Can they put a little one?
00:06:47Yeah.
00:06:48If we can bring the house lights up a little bit.
00:06:54I guess we'll wait and see this one.
00:07:01Theresa, can you just repeat that, please?
00:07:03The first number is 439358.
00:07:08Right over there.
00:07:23Thank you for the opportunity.
00:07:25So you describe yourself as a moderate, yet you support all of the policies that this authoritarian
00:07:32administration is putting forth, including tax cuts for the corporations and the ultra-wealthy,
00:07:40the tariffs that are going to make everything more expensive for us, kidnapping and deporting
00:07:45two-year-olds who have cancer and sending them off.
00:07:48So my question to you, none of this is helping us.
00:07:52We're getting hurt.
00:07:53We in the community are being harmed by this.
00:07:56What are you doing to stand in opposition to this administration?
00:08:00And what specifically are you doing that warrants the label moderate?
00:08:13So again, my record speaks for itself.
00:08:15I have been rated the fourth most bipartisan for a reason, which is a very simple fact.
00:08:25That unlike many of my colleagues, I actually do work across the aisle.
00:08:29I actually do sit down with my colleagues.
00:08:32There's not a single local elected official who can honestly say that I have not sat down
00:08:38with them and worked with them regardless of their party.
00:08:41There's not a single one of my democratic colleagues in the Congress who can say that I don't do that.
00:08:47When it comes to folks, if you want me to answer the questions, let the question be asked and then listen to the answer.
00:08:58If you're just going to yell back and forth, the time is going to run pretty quick.
00:09:04So folks, when it comes to the economy, okay, we have an affordability crisis.
00:09:12This crisis didn't just start. We've been dealing with it for the last four years.
00:09:17Everything went up. The cost of groceries, the cost of housing.
00:09:23For instance, in Rockland County, the average mortgage cost went up $1,000 a month.
00:09:28That's over $12,000 a year on an annual basis. Okay?
00:09:33And so what we're dealing with is trying to reverse a lot of this.
00:09:38What happened? What caused that? What caused record inflation?
00:09:42$5 trillion in new spending in the first two years of the Biden administration is what gave us record inflation.
00:09:50And so when you have record inflation, you have to be able to curtail inflation.
00:09:58So what happened? Interest rates went up, right? And that drove up mortgage costs.
00:10:03You have to be able to reverse that. So you bring down interest rates.
00:10:08You bring down spending. Right now we are $36 trillion in debt.
00:10:15We are spending $7 trillion on an annual basis with $2 trillion in deficit spending and $1 trillion in interest payments on our debt.
00:10:30At the end of this year, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is going to expire. And we're getting there.
00:10:38If the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expires, do you know what will happen? The standard deduction will be cut in half.
00:10:45That will be the largest tax increase in American history.
00:10:51The corporate tax rate is set at 21%. And I don't support lowering it. I don't support changing the corporate tax rate.
00:11:00I do support lifting the cap on salt, which directly impacts all of us in this room.
00:11:07Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the state and local tax deduction was capped at $10,000 per individual.
00:11:17And that was passed by a Republican Congress and signed by President Trump.
00:11:22I didn't support it then and I don't support it now. And that is why as we negotiate the reconciliation bill, I have been working to lift the cap on salt.
00:11:35That will provide immediate tax relief to all of us in this room. Prior to 2017, 50% of households itemized their deduction in our district.
00:11:50After the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, it was down to about 18% of households itemizing their deduction.
00:11:57Most people chose to take the standard deduction.
00:12:00I want to lift the cap on salt because all of us know our property taxes are among the highest in the nation.
00:12:07And so that is critically important. That is a big proponent of the bill that we are in the process of negotiating right now.
00:12:15And so that is, folks, I, folks, I was answering the tax question with respect to, with respect to tariffs.
00:12:32Tariffs are obviously something that has been a big point of discussion for many years.
00:12:39Chuck Schumer and Bernie Sanders, both previously on the record, said that they supported increasing tariffs.
00:12:47And part of the reason is, part of the reason is because other countries have had significantly higher tariffs, barriers to entry, and price controls on U.S. goods.
00:13:02And when you look at, for instance, Europe, Europe has price controls on U.S. prescription drugs.
00:13:09U.S. prescription drug costs are significantly higher.
00:13:14U.S. prescription drug costs are significantly higher because we are subsidizing Europe.
00:13:22Europe puts price controls on U.S. drugs.
00:13:26If you want to pay higher drug costs, then I guess you want Europe to keep their price controls in place.
00:13:32Is that what you are arguing for?
00:13:35At the end of the day, we need, we need a negotiation between our country and other countries to reduce overall tariffs,
00:13:47to reduce barriers to entry for U.S. goods and products, including cars, including agricultural products.
00:13:57We want to be able to sell those in other countries.
00:14:00But when you have Europe blocking American cattle from coming in,
00:14:06or you have Japan blocking U.S. cars from coming in, that's not fair trade.
00:14:12So negotiating a fair trade deal is critically important.
00:14:16And that's what we're in the process of doing.
00:14:19Okay, the next number is 280-028.
00:14:38Can you repeat?
00:14:40Can you repeat that please, Teresa?
00:14:42280-028.
00:14:48Thank you so much.
00:15:15Oh, you're holding it for me?
00:15:17Yes.
00:15:18Oh, okay.
00:15:19Thank you so much.
00:15:20I'm very nervous.
00:15:21That's okay.
00:15:22And I appreciate you taking my question.
00:15:23My father did serve in the military, and I presently have family that's in the military.
00:15:27Thank you for their service.
00:15:29He never wanted thanks.
00:15:31He fought at Iwo Jima.
00:15:32So my question is, how can we let somebody head our military who can't even control his text messages?
00:15:41So, as I said when that story came out, the use of signal to communicate any classified or sensitive information was wrong.
00:16:02Never should have happened.
00:16:03Never should have happened.
00:16:05There should be significant safeguards put in place to ensure that that does not occur.
00:16:15That's right.
00:16:17Folks.
00:16:18Folks.
00:16:19Folks.
00:16:20The secretary was confirmed by the Senate.
00:16:25The president is not firing him.
00:16:28And so the question to me is on the actual military preparedness and readiness.
00:16:35Okay?
00:16:36And thus far, on the operations that the military has conducted under Secretary Hegseth, those operations themselves have gone well.
00:16:48If you look at, now, what I find interesting here is that we look at the decision making of cabinet secretaries.
00:17:03When it comes to, when it comes to the military, in the last administration, Secretary Austin oversaw, Secretary Austin oversaw,
00:17:15the disastrous withdrawal in Afghanistan that resulted in the death of 13 U.S. service members.
00:17:22And if you, if you do not believe, if you do not believe that there should be accountability for that, if you do not believe there should be accountability for military operations,
00:17:38then why are, why are we demanding a resignation based on a communication?
00:17:49The communication itself should not, the communication itself should not have occurred.
00:17:57It should not have occurred.
00:17:59And my, my view has been the administration made that clear when it came out.
00:18:06And they said, the White House said that was wrong.
00:18:09It should not have occurred.
00:18:11And so they did.
00:18:13And so the objective, the objective is to make sure, A, that does not happen again.
00:18:22But B, but B, but B, more importantly to me, that the military operations are what is paramount.
00:18:31And that those making the decisions make, they got lucky.
00:18:39Sir, we have a terrific military of trained professionals.
00:18:45They didn't get lucky.
00:18:46They did their job.
00:18:47Okay.
00:18:48The fact is, the fact is that, as I said, they should not be using signal to communicate
00:19:03any classified or sensitive information, period.
00:19:07And that's it.
00:19:12The fact is now on.
00:19:19Four, three, nine, three, oh five.
00:19:35Four, three, nine, three, oh five.
00:19:39You supported a budget that cut Medicaid
00:20:08and education in our district.
00:20:11How does that serve your constituents?
00:20:22So the reconciliation process that we're undertaking right now,
00:20:27in order for that process to start,
00:20:29you have to pass a budget resolution.
00:20:32The budget resolution put together top-line numbers
00:20:37that talks about potential savings of $1.5 trillion over 10 years.
00:20:44Over the next 10-year window, we're spending $86 trillion projected.
00:20:50This has nothing to do with Elon Musk.
00:20:54We're projected to spend $86 trillion over the next 10 years.
00:20:59We're spending roughly $7 trillion a year.
00:21:03We're running $2 trillion budget deficits on an annual basis.
00:21:08And we're paying $1 trillion in interest on our debt at $36 trillion.
00:21:14Both parties are responsible for this mess that we're in financially.
00:21:20Both parties, over the last 20 years, over the last 20 years, had both parties...
00:21:29Sir, ma'am, I'm giving you the context so that you actually understand the process.
00:21:35The fact is, over the last 20 years, we have increased our debt by $30 trillion.
00:21:48Okay?
00:21:49$30 trillion in 20 years.
00:21:52That's not sustainable for any of us.
00:21:54Our children and our grandchildren are going to be saddled with that debt.
00:22:00And that will have, that will have a profound impact, that will have a profound impact on the vital services that we all rely on.
00:22:11So when you're talking about the issue of Medicaid, when you're talking about the issue of Medicaid, okay?
00:22:18Sir, hey, do not speak to my staff like that.
00:22:23If you want to leave, you can leave now.
00:22:34Everybody show everybody a little bit of respect here, please.
00:22:37Okay?
00:22:38I always show people respect.
00:22:40All right?
00:22:41It's a two-way street.
00:22:42Congressman, can we ask that people please put their, with the videos of staff?
00:22:48Folks, folks, you can take your anger out on me.
00:22:53That's fine.
00:22:54Treat my staff with respect, okay?
00:22:56They show up every day to serve this community.
00:22:59They don't need to be attacked, yelled at, berated.
00:23:02It's unnecessary.
00:23:03When it comes to Medicaid, I've been very clear.
00:23:08I am not cutting benefits for any eligible recipient, period.
00:23:13Period.
00:23:14And the fact is that our community, our community relies on these vital programs.
00:23:21The IDD community, our seniors, children, single mothers.
00:23:26There are a lot of people across our community who need these programs.
00:23:31And we want to make sure that they are protected.
00:23:34But the fact is that when you are coming up with a budget resolution, it's a top-line number.
00:23:40The question is, what can get 218 votes as part of a reconciliation bill?
00:23:48And I've been very clear.
00:23:49I am not changing the FMAP floor from 50% federal share to 45% federal share.
00:23:56I'm not changing it to block grants or per capita caps.
00:24:01I'm not putting work requirements on the disabled.
00:24:04Period.
00:24:05Period.
00:24:06We are not cutting dish, for instance.
00:24:10So we will make sure that this program is protected.
00:24:14There is about 25 of us within the conference who have been very clear with leadership.
00:24:19We've met with the president about it.
00:24:21We've met with the administration.
00:24:22And we will continue to make sure that as we negotiate the tax bill, that we absolutely
00:24:30safeguard these vital services and programs.
00:24:33But I will also be clear about something.
00:24:36If you are an able-bodied adult without any dependents, work requirements are imperative.
00:24:46Because the objective of Medicaid, the objective of Medicaid, folks, Medicaid is a means-tested
00:24:54program that is intended to help people who need it.
00:24:58It is not intended, for those who do not need long-term support, it is not intended for
00:25:05somebody to stay on it permanently.
00:25:07So if somebody is an able-bodied adult, they should go try, certainly try, to get a job
00:25:15and work.
00:25:16And by the way, that is something that Bill Clinton championed in the 90s and Democrats
00:25:21fully supported.
00:25:22And they should support.
00:25:24Now, when it comes to illegal immigrants, in New York State, $1.2 billion of our taxpayer
00:25:32money has been spent on Medicaid.
00:25:36I'm sorry.
00:25:37That is not a proper use of taxpayer money, period.
00:25:51Furthermore, the Biden administration changed the eligibility verification rules from a quarterly
00:26:00basis to an annual basis.
00:26:02If somebody, I'm telling you the facts, you can not like it, but that is the fact.
00:26:07They changed the rules, they changed the rules, and so that alone would save upwards of about
00:26:14$200 billion for the program and the very people who rely on it.
00:26:19We want to make sure Medicaid is protected for every single person who needs that vital service,
00:26:25and not losing, which CMS, the Center for Medicaid Services, says on an annual basis they're losing
00:26:33$50 billion in fraudulent payments.
00:26:36And so we want to make sure that you stop that and you protect these vital programs.
00:26:410-5-8-1-1-1.
00:26:580-5-8-1-1-1.
00:26:590-5-8-1-1-1.
00:27:000-5-8-1-1-1.
00:27:050-5-8-1-1-1.
00:27:110-5-8-1-1-1.
00:27:34Thank you for taking my question.
00:27:41I want to build on the question about Medicaid in the budget resolution that you voted for.
00:27:49$880 billion is targeted to be cut in 10 years from mandatory spending of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
00:27:58The total projected outlay of that committee, as per the Congressional Budget Office, is $8.8 trillion.
00:28:08If you back out Medicaid, the balance outlay is $581 billion.
00:28:16If you back out Medicaid, CHIP, which I'm sure you know is children's health insurance,
00:28:22as well as the budget-neutral items, the balance is $135 billion.
00:28:30Where are you going to find $880 billion other than from Medicaid?
00:28:37So when it comes to budget reconciliation, it is the Senate number that governs, not the House number.
00:28:49The Senate number that they passed just two weeks ago was $4 billion total.
00:28:57$4 billion total across the entirety of the government.
00:29:00Not $1.5 trillion, $4 billion.
00:29:03The objective to me has always been you have to find 218 votes.
00:29:09And I can tell you right now, there will not be 218 votes to cut Medicaid to eligible recipients, period.
00:29:20There is a whole group of us that, going back to last year and then in January, we made it very clear to leadership.
00:29:30I met with the president at the White House with a group of about 20.
00:29:35We made it clear to the president.
00:29:37The president actually agreed with us about not wanting to cut Medicaid.
00:29:41The issue, the issue, the issue, okay, the issue is getting a budget resolution,
00:29:50which was the first step in the reconciliation process, passed.
00:29:54That's what we did.
00:29:55We passed a budget resolution that has a framework.
00:30:00As far as I'm concerned, that is as good as the paper it was written on.
00:30:07The issue is the actual reconciliation bill.
00:30:12That is the bill that matters.
00:30:13That is the one that will determine what, if any, changes there are to any spending.
00:30:19And the question will be, can you get to 218 votes?
00:30:22I've been very clear.
00:30:24I will not support a reconciliation bill that cuts Medicaid benefits to eligible recipients,
00:30:30and I will not support a reconciliation bill that does not lift the cap on salt, period.
00:30:37I will vote no if it does either of those things.
00:30:39Ma'am, we said no yelling out.
00:30:53Can you please?
00:30:57The states run the Medicaid program.
00:31:00Okay, the number is 439-188.
00:31:08439-188.
00:31:10Thank you for taking my question.
00:31:24I want to follow up on some other things that have been said,
00:31:26and I ask that people let me finish, please, and that you answer my question.
00:31:30On Friday, this administration deported three children, ages 2, 4, and 7, who are U.S. citizens,
00:31:38the 4-year-old with a rare form of metastastic cancer, receiving treatment, and deported,
00:31:44thank you, without medication, and all without consultation with their families, attorneys, or physician.
00:31:51Physician, all of the families were complying with law, a routine check-in, only to be detained and then deported.
00:31:57These continuing illegal actions by the administration cannot be tolerated by Congress,
00:32:03but you said you are not concerned with authoritarianism,
00:32:08since there are three equal branches of government on the Brian Lehrer show on Friday when I heard you.
00:32:16You're consistently seen as a bipartisan member of Congress, but your actions speak louder than your words.
00:32:22When will you uphold and adhere to the Constitution?
00:32:25Where is your line on all of these illegal actions?
00:32:29Do you want to be known?
00:32:30Hold on.
00:32:31Do you want to be known?
00:32:33Do you want to be known as Mike Waller or Mike?
00:32:38So, I said the other day, when I was on CNN, actually,
00:32:46when the Supreme Court ruling came out, 9-0, against the administration with respect to the deportation of Mr. Abrego Garcia,
00:32:58and I said that the administration should abide by the Supreme Court ruling, period.
00:33:03If our, if, as co-equal branches of government, okay?
00:33:09It's not superior, it's not the executive above the legislature, or, folks, let me explain, please.
00:33:17It's not, it's not one branch above the other.
00:33:22We are all co-equal.
00:33:23And what has happened over many administrations is executive power has become condensed in the executive.
00:33:35And I fundamentally believe both Congress and the judiciary have to reassert their rightful powers.
00:33:46So, with respect to, with respect to, with respect to, with respect to, with respect to,
00:33:57with respect to, with respect to the deportation of U.S. citizens, that should not happen.
00:34:08They should be immediately returned, and the administration should facilitate their return.
00:34:14Now, as the, as the Supreme Court ruled on the, on the case of Mr. Abrego Garcia,
00:34:21they said there was a court order prohibiting his deportation to El Salvador,
00:34:28despite him being an El Salvador national.
00:34:31And they said that he should not have been.
00:34:34And I agree with that, because you had a court order.
00:34:37They also said that the administration should facilitate his return and go through the deportation process.
00:34:47And that's exactly what they should do.
00:34:50They should follow the administrative law.
00:34:54They should follow the court orders, period.
00:34:57I fundamentally believe that.
00:35:00And obviously, the courts are going to weigh in again here.
00:35:07And what you will have, if the administration does not facilitate the return of both,
00:35:13either a U.S. citizen or in the case of Mr. Abrego Garcia,
00:35:17you will, you will have the courts take significant action holding numerous people in contempt.
00:35:25And that, and that will happen if they do not abide by the court ruling.
00:35:30And so they should.
00:35:32Okay, sir.
00:35:38I already, I have, and I just did, again, in front of you.
00:35:42Congressman, would you like to talk, excuse me, everyone.
00:35:48I'm going to just keep going, questions.
00:35:49Okay.
00:35:53I said they should be returned.
00:36:01I just said that.
00:36:03Okay.
00:36:03If you, if you take the opportunity to listen instead of yelling,
00:36:07you might actually hear the answer you want to hear.
00:36:12The best possibility here?
00:36:15C Rahmen?
00:36:262-8-0-0-5-1.
00:36:33They were successful.
00:36:33Two-8-0-0-5-1.
00:36:37Two-8-0-0-5-1.
00:36:39Cha responsible for making decisions.
00:36:40Can you repeat that for a moment, please?
00:36:482-8-0-0-5-1.
00:36:55Okay.
00:36:57Okay.
00:36:58We'll go on to the next one.
00:37:00Yeah, they yelled enough.
00:37:020-5-8-1-3-2.
00:37:060-5-8-1-3-2.
00:37:090-5-8-1-3-2.
00:37:160-5-8-1-3-2.
00:37:190-5-8-1-3-2.
00:37:26Can you state your name first?
00:37:30Sue Ridge.
00:37:32Oh, I can't hold it.
00:37:34Okay.
00:37:35Okay.
00:37:36My question, I want to follow up on the last question.
00:37:40You've told us what the administration should do.
00:37:45Our question to you is, what is Congress going to do to help enforce what should be done by the administration?
00:37:55So, I have reached out to the administration with respect to the issue pertaining to the deportations where there is a court order.
00:38:10And believe, fundamentally, they should abide by that.
00:38:25Fundamentally, they should abide by that.
00:38:29If they do not, the mechanism for enforcement of that is through the court, is through the court, and the court will take action to enforce their order.
00:38:45So, if then, they still do not adhere to a court order, then Congress certainly would have purview for oversight, to engage in oversight activities.
00:39:02But on that particular case, the Mr. Abrego Garcia case, the president was actually asked about it yesterday, and he did say that they should abide by it.
00:39:21And so, I think what you will see, you will see, if they do not, the court will intervene to enforce their order.
00:39:31And that, that, folks, that is the process.
00:39:35That is the process.
00:39:36The court has a court order.
00:39:38The court will be the one that intervenes to enforce their court order.
00:39:43That is the process by which, as co-equal branches of government, we undertake.
00:39:49If they do not then abide by it, Congress has oversight responsibility and should utilize it.
00:39:57the court is not fair.
00:40:12439274
00:40:21439274
00:40:24Nius Feli
00:40:25Rebecca Fennell?
00:40:30I have a rather different topic, so I apologize that people don't want to change the subject
00:40:36at all, but my question is about RFK Jr., for whom I assume you, I mean, I'm pretty
00:40:45sure you voted for him, and I wonder, do you honestly?
00:40:47I did not.
00:40:48The Senate is the one that confirms the House of Representatives.
00:40:50Oh, that's true.
00:40:51That's true.
00:40:52I'm sorry.
00:40:53But do you think, I apologize for that.
00:40:54Do you think he is the right man for that job, and do you approve of what he has been doing
00:41:02and the changes it's going to make to our medical care?
00:41:07So on the issue of vaccines, for instance, I've been very critical of many of his statements,
00:41:17especially, you know, statements pertaining to autism.
00:41:23I think, obviously, it is certainly something that all of us should want, research on causes
00:41:32of autism or why we have seen over the last 20-plus years a significant increase in the number
00:41:39of autism cases.
00:41:40But I fundamentally believe in the efficacy of vaccines.
00:41:47I do think vaccines, by and large, have done more to cure diseases as well as prevent illnesses,
00:41:59especially among children and adults.
00:42:03And so I think it is imperative when we're talking about vaccines that we do so based on the science.
00:42:11And while I do believe there should be robust conversation, as science provides for, and should, because there's constant research
00:42:20and they're always learning and they should learn new things.
00:42:24When it comes to our food, I do actually agree with many of the things he has talked about and some of the harmful impacts that some of the dyes, for instance, in our food.
00:42:41If you look at the announcement they came out with, they are now following Europe in terms of banning some of these petroleum-based dyes to be used in our food.
00:42:53And I think that's a good thing.
00:42:54I actually support that, and I think he's right to raise that.
00:42:58I have disagreed with him on a number of decisions that have been made out of the Department of Health
00:43:05and have written him already numerous letters with respect to, for instance, cuts to that would impact the World Trade Center Health Fund.
00:43:16I and my New York Republican colleagues pushed back hard against that.
00:43:21We went to the White House immediately.
00:43:24They were able to reverse the decisions.
00:43:28When it comes to, for instance, cuts to HIV funding, I have been opposed to that.
00:43:33The fact is that eradicating HIV is something we should all support.
00:43:39It is something that is vital not only around the globe when you look at programs like PEPFAR,
00:43:45it is critical for our LGBTQ plus community here in the United States and around the globe.
00:43:51I have pushed back against his proposed cut to the suicide hotline when it comes to the LGBT community.
00:44:02I do not support folks yelling out yelling out really doesn't change anything.
00:44:08The fact is that where I disagree, I have no problem saying it and pushing back against the things that they're doing.
00:44:17I'm constantly in touch with the administration.
00:44:20Now, here is here is how this process is going to work.
00:44:25The administration is making recommended changes.
00:44:30They are putting forth cuts that they want to make over the next few months between reconciliation, a rescissions package and fiscal year 26 appropriations.
00:44:43Congress is going to weigh in heavily on every decision that they are trying to make at an administrative level.
00:44:51Some of them we will agree with.
00:44:53Some of them we will disagree with.
00:44:55Some of them will require folks like me pushing back against it.
00:44:59And that is the process that is undertaken when the administration seeks to withhold funds or cut programs through these layers that we're dealing with right now.
00:45:13Reconciliation, rescission and appropriations.
00:45:16That is where we are going to be weighing in heavily in addition to the oversight that the committees engage with on a weekly basis.
00:45:24Reconciliation, rescission and appropriations.
00:45:370-5-8-1-0-0.
00:45:410-5-8-1-0-0.
00:45:440-5-8-1-0-0.
00:45:490-5-8-1-0-0.
00:46:03Teresa, can you repeat it one more time, please?
00:46:050-5-8-1-0-0.
00:46:14No.
00:46:16Can we call a new number?
00:46:18Okay.
00:46:194-3-9-1-8-3.
00:46:214-3-9-1-8-3.
00:46:224-3-9-1-8-3.
00:46:254-3-9-1-8-3.
00:46:304-3-9-1-8-3.
00:46:31Oh, you can hold it.
00:46:32Okay.
00:46:33All right.
00:46:34So, a little background.
00:46:35All right.
00:46:36I've had my own software company for 40 years.
00:46:37I'm sorry.
00:46:38Okay.
00:46:39All right.
00:46:40All right.
00:46:41So, a little background.
00:46:42All right.
00:46:43I've had my own software company for 40 years.
00:46:46Okay.
00:46:47I've had my own software company for 40 years.
00:46:51Okay.
00:46:52In that time, I've written software for the poultry industry.
00:46:55And I've seen...
00:46:56I'm sorry.
00:46:57For which industry?
00:46:58The poultry industry.
00:46:59Okay.
00:47:00Okay.
00:47:01And I've seen the FDA inspectors and the Department of Agriculture work keeping our food safe.
00:47:07Okay.
00:47:08The budget cuts that we're doing right now is taking that away.
00:47:15What I do now, since my retirement, is I drive an ambulance.
00:47:20My whole business and life right now is saving lives.
00:47:25What this administration is doing is going to hurt people or kill people.
00:47:31So, my question is, you talk about pushing it back against all these cuts that you're doing
00:47:39to the NIH, to the FDA, to whatever.
00:47:46So, my point is, if you don't get anything done, then maybe you should say you failed and you should leave.
00:47:51What do you think?
00:47:52My question is, what are you going to do to make sure that you're successful?
00:47:58Well, again, when you are in elected office, okay, you're, in the case of Congress, one of 435, right?
00:48:10In the case of a county legislator, one of 17.
00:48:15In the case of a town board, one of five.
00:48:18You have a responsibility to build consensus, which means you actually have to engage in conversation
00:48:25with people, even if you disagree strongly with them.
00:48:28And oftentimes, and I will tell you, this is a mistake that my Democratic colleagues are making right now.
00:48:34It's not just enough to resist or say you hate the person in power or you hate the administration.
00:48:46You actually have to go engage in conversation.
00:48:50And I could stand on the street and yell and scream and hold signs and do that.
00:48:56But that, in and of itself, that in and of itself, is not actually going to find compromise when you're dealing with these situations.
00:49:06And so what I have done, what I have done and what I continue to do is engage directly with the president,
00:49:15with his cabinet secretaries, with the administration, with the staff, on a daily basis.
00:49:25And sometimes we're successful in getting them to reverse.
00:49:30And other times we're not.
00:49:32And that is just a reality of government.
00:49:35Okay?
00:49:36And so when you're talking about a budget as big as we have, $7 trillion,
00:49:44and we're blocking off roughly 87% of the federal spend, we're saying we're not going to touch this.
00:49:53So you're talking about arguing and fighting over 13% of the federal spend.
00:50:02Okay?
00:50:03And so that is where, when you're running $2 trillion deficits and you're unwilling to touch all of these other programs,
00:50:11which are vital, which are vital.
00:50:13But if you're not...
00:50:14Okay.
00:50:15Please.
00:50:16Stop.
00:50:17Folks.
00:50:18Folks.
00:50:19Folks.
00:50:20Taxing the rich is not going to close our budget deficit.
00:50:25I hope you realize that.
00:50:27It really will not.
00:50:28It really will not.
00:50:31Let me ask you a question.
00:50:33What rate would you propose?
00:50:35What rate?
00:50:36What rate?
00:50:37What rate?
00:50:38What rate?
00:50:39What rate?
00:50:40What rate?
00:50:41What rate?
00:50:42Okay.
00:50:43The fact is, the fact is, the fact is, you are not going to be able to close this budget deficit.
00:50:55Okay?
00:50:56Just through the issue of taxes.
00:50:59The fact is, we are spending at astronomical levels.
00:51:05As I said before, both parties are responsible for adding $30 trillion in debt in the last two decades.
00:51:15$30 trillion in debt in two decades.
00:51:17When I was in high school, we were in single digit trillions.
00:51:20So, the fact is, you cannot just solve this through taxes.
00:51:27You have to get spending under control.
00:51:30And that's just a reality.
00:51:31Whether people like it or not.
00:51:33That is a, it's just basic math.
00:51:42Okay.
00:51:43Folks.
00:51:44We're here to hear the congressmen.
00:51:46We're here to, the congressmen.
00:51:48058064.
00:51:52058064.
00:51:55058064.
00:51:56058064.
00:51:57058064.
00:51:58058064.
00:51:59058064.
00:52:00Right here.
00:52:01058064.
00:52:02Right here.
00:52:04058064.
00:52:05Good job, Don.
00:52:06Many of my questions have already been asked.
00:52:20But I would like to point out that many of your answers have really obfuscated the questions
00:52:25that were asked, too.
00:52:27You have not answered.
00:52:29You have not.
00:52:30You tout yourself as a moderate bipartisan leader.
00:52:35I would like to see congress put together a coalition of people who could actually do something about
00:52:42the cuts that have been made to Medicare.
00:52:44Medicare.
00:52:45There have been no cuts to Medicare.
00:52:46Excuse me.
00:52:47Let me finish.
00:52:48There have been no cuts to Medicare.
00:52:49Excuse me.
00:52:50Excuse me.
00:52:51Excuse me.
00:52:52Excuse me.
00:52:53Excuse me.
00:52:54Ma'am, if you're going to say something demonstrably false, I'm going to correct you.
00:52:59The agencies, the agencies that run Social Security, Veterans Affairs, Medicaid, education,
00:53:09are welfare programs to help people overseas, to prevent disease coming to this country.
00:53:17What is Congress doing to coalesce behind a movement to stop this administration creating chaos and destruction,
00:53:29not only in this country, all over the world?
00:53:32So you talked about foreign aid with respect to diseases, right?
00:53:48And preventing diseases around the globe.
00:53:51One of the things that I did immediately with respect to USAID was reach out to Secretary Rubio with respect to PEPFAR.
00:54:01PEPFAR has been one of the most consequential and significant foreign aid initiatives ever created by the United States.
00:54:10It has saved over 25 million lives around the globe.
00:54:14And you're talking about $80 on an annual basis per individual.
00:54:20It is one of the most effective programs.
00:54:22And I reached out immediately to make sure that while there was a 90-day pause on foreign aid,
00:54:30that they provided the waiver for PEPFAR to make sure that that program continued forward.
00:54:39And yes, it is.
00:54:41And so ultimately, where, as I said before, Congress is going to be going through reconciliation, appropriations, and a rescissions package.
00:54:55And through that process, Congress will exert its constitutional authority of power of the purse and control of the spending.
00:55:06And that is the give and take.
00:55:08The administration has an ability to put forth rescissions that they would like to see.
00:55:16That does not mean that we have to accept it.
00:55:18And that is the process we are going to be going through in the coming weeks and months.
00:55:23And so that's where Congress will exert its authority when it comes to spending.
00:55:29The administration has the ability to offer a rescission.
00:55:45Congress can either rescind or reject.
00:55:48That is the process.
00:55:50Congress.
00:55:51Congress has the command for not rescind or neglect that we are going to force.
00:55:58.
00:56:1015% in front to work, so Congress based on saying the responsibility?
00:56:15No.
00:56:16Only the other one.
00:56:19Yes, my question is about SSI, and Social Security, I'm sure, has not been cut,
00:56:45but the administrative staff and the people that administer it, the workers, have been cut.
00:56:53How is it possible to give the people that have paid into it what they deserve
00:57:01when the ability to implement it is gone?
00:57:05It's going. It's gone.
00:57:07So, the federal workforce prior to COVID was 2.7 million people.
00:57:19At the end of Joe Biden's administration, at the end of Joe Biden's administration,
00:57:26the federal workforce was about 3 million people.
00:57:29Based on all the estimates that we have, based on changes that the administration has made
00:57:37to the federal workforce, they are still above 2.8 million people in the federal workforce.
00:57:47And so, the numbers, the numbers in the federal workforce are still higher today than they were prior to COVID.
00:57:59Now, COVID saw a surge in hiring.
00:58:03COVID saw a surge in hiring for a reason, for an obvious reason.
00:58:09And so, what the administration has said, it's not bullshit, folks, it's actual numbers.
00:58:15What the administration has put forth is an objective to bring the federal workforce down to roughly pre-COVID levels.
00:58:32Now, when it comes to Social Security and Medicare, there have been no cuts.
00:58:38Nobody has received a cut in benefits.
00:58:41There's not a single person in this room that is on Social Security or Medicare that can honestly stand here and say
00:58:48that they have received a cut, because you haven't.
00:58:52Now, with respect to Social Security, sir, just yelling out is not going to change anything.
00:59:01All right?
00:59:01You're interrupting everybody else, so enough.
00:59:04The fact is that during my time in Congress, I have fought to protect Social Security and Medicare.
00:59:15I helped pass the Social Security Fairness Act so that people who, for the last 40 years,
00:59:22have been getting screwed because they had a pension and they were losing Social Security benefits,
00:59:29they now get those benefits because I fought to get that done.
00:59:37So, when people say, oh, they're cutting Social Security or they're cutting Medicare, that is a lie, period.
00:59:44We are not cutting Social Security or Medicare.
00:59:47So, actually, let me address the office situation, because that's actually an important point.
01:00:14And, folks, please, everybody came in here, whether you like me or not, whether you like my answers or not,
01:00:24just please try to abide by the rules so that everybody else has the opportunity and we can get through more questions.
01:00:32But just screaming and yelling at each other is not solving anything.
01:00:35So, the fact is, with respect to the Rockland County Social Security office,
01:00:41they shut it down in May of last year for renovations.
01:00:47And they told us it would be open by September.
01:00:51They didn't even start renovations until December.
01:00:55Then they told us it would be reopening this May.
01:01:00And now it's projected to be September.
01:01:02The failure to actually get this office renovated, obviously, in a timely manner, is absurd.
01:01:11It's absolutely absurd.
01:01:14And the White Plains office that has been subject to discussion,
01:01:20the White Plains office is not a full Social Security office.
01:01:24It is a field hearing office.
01:01:26And it was a massive space that they were underutilizing.
01:01:30And so the Biden administration notified my office in December, in December, that they were shutting down that office.
01:01:38They were not going to renew the lease, which was come due this May.
01:01:44I have reached out to the administration repeatedly for the purpose of trying to come up with a solution
01:01:51to make sure that there is a field hearing office within vicinity.
01:01:56My goal, my objective, is to get the Rockland office, when it is reopened, hopefully by September,
01:02:04when it is reopened in West Nyack, where we are, that it would also include a field hearing office
01:02:10so that everybody in our area has the ability to utilize that without having to travel.
01:02:15Now, 80-plus percent of the hearings are now virtual because technology, obviously, has been extremely helpful.
01:02:25But for those that need the physical location, my objective is to get a solution with the administration
01:02:33that includes using the Rockland office as a field hearing office for those who need it.
01:02:39Congressman, we do have the person who had the ticket that was pulled.
01:02:47I'm going to let her answer the question back here.
01:02:49Oh, sorry.
01:02:50Okay.
01:02:50Sorry, okay.
01:02:57Okay.
01:02:59Okay.
01:02:59I just want to know, what is your position on holding federal funds back from institutions
01:03:14and trying to hold hostage big corporations?
01:03:23Are you talking about holding federal funds from our institutions of higher education?
01:03:41Oh, okay.
01:03:41Sorry.
01:03:41So, in the instance of the two most obvious examples of that have been Columbia and Harvard
01:03:53in the last few weeks.
01:03:56And from my vantage point, I have said from the very beginning
01:04:00that the issue of anti-Semitism on these college campuses is a major one.
01:04:08And if you look at federal law, Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act requires these institutions
01:04:23to enforce federal law and crack down on anti-Semitism.
01:04:30They have, they have in large measure, failed in that responsibility.
01:04:37And so, I introduce legislation.
01:04:41You guys think Columbia and Harvard did a great job dealing with those college protests?
01:04:45Listen, listen, those institutions take federal dollars.
01:04:58They are, quote unquote, private institutions that take federal dollars and, yes, for research,
01:05:06but it is still federal taxpayer money.
01:05:09You are required, you are required, you are required to uphold federal law, period, full stop.
01:05:18There's no if, ands, or buts about that.
01:05:21And so, last Congress, I introduced legislation that absolutely would strip any of these institutions
01:05:28of higher learning of federal dollars if they promoted or sanctioned anti-Semitism on their campuses, period.
01:05:34And, in addition, in addition, I introduced the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act to enforce Title VI.
01:05:48I also introduced a bill that would put a 10% tax on their endowments.
01:05:56Because the fact is, they should be using their endowments to lessen the cost of college.
01:06:01And they are not doing that effectively.
01:06:04And so, they should be taxed at a higher rate if they're acting as a hedge fund, period.
01:06:09And I would think, for those that want to tax the rich, that you would want these institutions
01:06:13that are looking and acting like hedge funds to actually be taxed at a higher rate.
01:06:19Now, in addition to that, in addition to that, I would also say the flow of foreign dollars
01:06:27into our universities and institutions from countries like Qatar and China needs to be cracked down on
01:06:35because they are using those dollars to exert control over what is being taught in these institutions
01:06:42by endowing a chair.
01:06:44They are endowing a chair.
01:06:47I find it fascinating that you guys support this.
01:06:50It really is interesting.
01:06:52So, they are using federal dollars to actually endow chairs and teach certain curricula
01:07:00that undermines the United States and the free world.
01:07:05And that's fascinating that you support that.
01:07:09So, I have no problem with the administration withholding federal dollars, taxpayer money,
01:07:16to universities like Harvard and Columbia that have allowed anti-Semitism to run wild on their campuses.
01:07:230-5-8-0-5-6
01:07:300-5-8-0-5-6
01:07:350-5-8-0-5-6
01:07:39You're the next contestant on The Price is Right.
01:07:49Okay, thank you.
01:07:50Yeah, hi there.
01:07:52I was just curious.
01:07:54So, good job on the anti-Semitism bills that you've been pushing.
01:08:00Have you heard any Elon Musk jokes lately?
01:08:05Sir, do you have a question?
01:08:06That was a question.
01:08:09It's, I find it ironic that you are so, that you'll take all the money from AIPAC
01:08:17and then you'll take all the money from Musk.
01:08:20But then you can go down.
01:08:22Do you remember the little rant that Musk just went on not too long ago that wrapped the whole thing up with,
01:08:28I'll bet you did not see that coming lately.
01:08:30Have you spoken out about Musk in his view?
01:08:35And how that doesn't align with the anti-Semitism.
01:08:41Calling people a Nazi because you disagree with them is foolish.
01:08:46It's foolish.
01:08:47And it doesn't actually serve a purpose.
01:08:50It doesn't actually serve a purpose.
01:08:53It may make you feel good, but it doesn't actually serve a purpose.
01:08:55All right, next question.
01:08:59Okay, people.
01:09:102-8-0-0-7-2.
01:09:132-8-0-0-7-2.
01:09:172-8-0-0-7-2.
01:09:25Nope.
01:09:33No, we didn't have them.
01:09:352-8-0-0-6-3.
01:09:382-8-0-0-6-3.
01:09:43The rules were you don't yell out.
01:09:45So the person with 2-8-0-0-6-3 can ask the next question.
01:09:53No?
01:09:54How about we pull another number?
01:09:582-8-0-0-4-0.
01:10:032-8-0-0-4-0.
01:10:08Okay, we have someone.
01:10:12We have it in the back.
01:10:14In the back.
01:10:14Teresa, we have it in the back.
01:10:16Okay.
01:10:17We have all the tickets back here.
01:10:22I have all the tickets.
01:10:23They're all here.
01:10:23You need a microphone over here.
01:10:25I'm right here.
01:10:27No problem.
01:10:31That's okay.
01:10:32Oh, okay.
01:10:32I have the numbers, though.
01:10:34Hello?
01:10:36Hi.
01:10:37Congressman, we're in the far right corner.
01:10:40Okay.
01:10:45Hi.
01:10:46Hi, Congressman.
01:10:48I just want to make clear that I stress that I'm an independent in the suburbs.
01:10:56So since you keep saying back and forth, the prior administration, hearing it, I just want
01:11:01you to know I'm an independent.
01:11:02So I don't care if the person is green, yellow, Republican, Democrat, long as their policy fit
01:11:12what's good for my family.
01:11:14So now let me get into why my family's hurt right now.
01:11:18So I come from a family, a background of all law enforcement, including myself.
01:11:23Thank you for your service.
01:11:24So I have several family members that also work for the FBI.
01:11:30They're in Washington.
01:11:31They're under attack.
01:11:32So I just want to know why I never hear you speak out in defense of the FBI and all the
01:11:43other federal law enforcement.
01:11:46Because these guys right now, for the work that they do, they have to be quiet.
01:11:52They don't want to be targeted.
01:11:54And they need someone to speak up for them because they're looking like they're the bad
01:11:59guy.
01:12:00They're looking like they're the problem.
01:12:02So I never hear you really say that what's happening to all the law enforcement agencies,
01:12:08as well as some of the federal agencies, somebody to speak up for them.
01:12:13And that's what I want to know.
01:12:15So appreciate your question.
01:12:20Uh, I have always been very loud and clear about my support for law enforcement across
01:12:29every entity within law enforcement, including the FBI.
01:12:34Uh, I spoke out against what happened, uh, on January 6th.
01:12:41I spoke out against the pardons of those who attacked law enforcement on January 6th.
01:12:49They should not have been pardoned.
01:12:50I said that very clearly.
01:12:51Um, within any entity, uh, on all sides, everybody can always find an example of something
01:13:03they disagree with or some, some decision that was made or, uh, try to associate the
01:13:08actions of one individual in a broad brush.
01:13:11I think the men and women of the FBI and the Department of Justice, uh, do a phenomenal
01:13:17job keeping our country safe, keeping our communities safe, uh, and upholding the law.
01:13:25There are always going to be instances where people, uh, can disagree.
01:13:31People of good faith and goodwill can disagree on a decision or a outcome of, of a case.
01:13:38But the fact is, and I know many FBI agents, many of whom live in our community, uh, many
01:13:44of whom have served for decades, uh, in the aftermath of 9-11, it was the FBI that really,
01:13:51uh, took on the cause of protecting our country.
01:13:55Uh, and they did a phenomenal job and all of us know that.
01:13:58Uh, and so, look, there are, there are obviously, uh, changes that are being made in the Department
01:14:06of Justice, in the FBI, uh, ATF, DEA, uh, and I fundamentally believe within any entity, any
01:14:16government entity, uh, reform in and of itself is not a, is not a bad thing.
01:14:22The reality is, you should always be trying to improve processes, you should always be
01:14:28trying to right wrongs or correct things that may not have gone well, uh, or decisions that
01:14:35were made, uh, that did not go well.
01:14:37I think in this country today, there is a strong feeling, uh, and both sides have it.
01:14:44Both sides accuse the other side of weaponization.
01:14:46Both sides accuse the other side, uh, of using power, uh, to go after, uh, political opponents.
01:14:55I fundamentally believe all of us, as Americans, none of us should want that at any time in
01:15:02any department, in any agency, because all it does is undermine our faith and confidence
01:15:08in our government and our system.
01:15:12And so I always defend law enforcement.
01:15:15That doesn't mean that I won't point out when there is, uh, uh, a criticism to be had
01:15:21or, or, uh, point out where a mistake was made.
01:15:24Uh, but the men and women by and large, uh, across this country, uh, whether it's the FBI,
01:15:31whether it is our local law enforcement, the NYPD, uh, the sheriff's department, our town
01:15:37municipal police departments, they do a phenomenal job and they deserve our thanks.
01:15:42And they're here tonight to keep everybody safe.
01:15:45And I appreciate them doing so.
01:15:47Supervisor, we do have that other number that was called.
01:15:51So if it's okay with you, I'd like to let her ask a question back here.
01:15:54Sure.
01:15:55Hi.
01:15:56Joy Macy, I'd like to know what your thoughts are on the fact that the United States in the
01:16:09last hundred days has suffered a terrible loss of pride.
01:16:17People are just ashamed of their country.
01:16:22And when I want to go to Europe and I'm told, well, you can, but you know, people hate you
01:16:28there now.
01:16:30And even in Canada, I think it's a terrible thing that has happened.
01:16:35I'd like your opinion.
01:16:37And the question and the other question is as part of that is the fact that we are now
01:16:44not supporting Ukraine.
01:16:47And I'd like to have your opinion on the withdrawal of all our funds.
01:16:52So on, on the issue of America's standing in the world, we're going to strongly agree to
01:17:03disagree.
01:17:04The fact is, the fact is, the fact is, the fact is, after four years of Joe Biden's foreign
01:17:13policy, America, America and the world are in the most precarious place since the lead
01:17:23up to World War Two.
01:17:26You had that disastrous withdrawal in Afghanistan.
01:17:30The Russian invasion of Ukraine, the terrorist attack against Israel, the threats emanating
01:17:36in the Indo-Pacific from China.
01:17:40The unholy alliance between China, Russia, Iran and North Korea is a major threat to the
01:17:49free world.
01:17:51And if you look at what happened under the last administration with Iran, they wanted to renegotiate
01:17:58the Iran nuclear deal.
01:18:01They wanted to reinstate the JCPOA in a slimmed down version.
01:18:07And as a result, what they did was they lifted sanctions on Iran's petroleum exchange with
01:18:13China to the tune of $200 billion.
01:18:17That is what funded Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis.
01:18:21That's what funded their nuclear program.
01:18:23So the fact is, America's standing in the world was already in a precarious place.
01:18:31Now when it comes to Ukraine, I have been a strong supporter of Ukraine.
01:18:37I continue to support Ukraine.
01:18:39I voted for every dollar of aid to Ukraine.
01:18:44And the reason I did is a few reasons.
01:18:48One, if Ukraine falls, that will be a disaster for Europe and the United States.
01:18:58If Russia is successful, Vladimir Putin will not stop at Ukraine.
01:19:06Vladimir Putin is a vile dictator and thug.
01:19:11And the world will be better off when Vladimir Putin is no longer in power, period.
01:19:19But the challenge after three years of war in Ukraine is that they are not in the strongest
01:19:29possible position, barring, barring, barring U.S. troops, barring U.S. troops going in.
01:19:40And I do not believe, I do not believe the American people want to send U.S. troops into Ukraine.
01:19:49What we have been willing to do is send resources, send military equipment, engage in training.
01:19:58And I do believe we should continue to do so.
01:20:02However, I have supported every dollar that has been spent in support of Ukraine.
01:20:09However, the challenge right now is this.
01:20:13If we continue down that trajectory, Ukraine is in a situation where, at best, they are
01:20:23likely to fight to a stalemate for another year, two years, three years.
01:20:28And with it will be more death and destruction.
01:20:31I don't want to see anybody die.
01:20:35And certainly not innocent Ukrainians.
01:20:38And you see they want peace.
01:20:43They want this war to end.
01:20:45And so the objective, the objective is at this moment to negotiate a settlement, to negotiate
01:20:52a settlement and end this conflict in Ukraine and end the destruction that has occurred.
01:21:00But in order to negotiate, you actually do have to sit down.
01:21:05You actually do have to get both sides.
01:21:07I was heartened to see President Trump meet with President Zelensky in the Vatican yesterday.
01:21:13I thought that was a positive sign.
01:21:16I thought that was an important step.
01:21:19Because we do need an agreement between Ukraine and Russia to end this conflict.
01:21:28And so that is critically important as we move forward.
01:21:31Equally as important.
01:21:33How am I lying?
01:21:35Congressman.
01:21:36Congressman.
01:21:37Equally important.
01:21:38We have several people who have been asked multiple times to please leave.
01:21:43I'd like this to be the last question.
01:21:45So then the people who did want to listen to you are able to.
01:21:50Folks.
01:21:51We have room for one more question after this.
01:21:55Folks.
01:21:56So with respect.
01:21:57I do.
01:21:58With respect to Iran.
01:22:00Me too.
01:22:01What is imperative with Iran is to ensure that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon.
01:22:07Period.
01:22:08And that is something that we are going to have to deal with in the coming weeks and months.
01:22:14And hopefully avoid an escalation.
01:22:17Okay.
01:22:18This is the last question that is going to be asked.
01:22:24058106.
01:22:25058106.
01:22:26058106.
01:22:27I'm coming.
01:22:30058106.
01:22:31058106.
01:22:32Okay.
01:22:33We have a conflict, so I'm going to do two quick questions.
01:22:35We'll do both.
01:22:36We'll do both.
01:22:37But they need to be quick.
01:22:38Well, I'm a member.
01:22:39Hi.
01:22:40Yes.
01:22:41Congressman Lawson.
01:22:42Congressman Lawson.
01:22:43Congressman Lawson.
01:22:44Congressman Lawson.
01:22:45I'm coming.
01:22:46I'm coming.
01:22:47I'm coming.
01:22:4805040.
01:22:4905040.
01:22:5005040.
01:22:51050.
01:22:52050.
01:22:53050.
01:22:54050.
01:22:55050.
01:22:56050.
01:22:57050.
01:22:58050.
01:22:59050.
01:23:00I actually want to thank you for all the work that you do.
01:23:02Folks, could you please be quiet and listen to the person who's asking the question?
01:23:09Please be respectful to your neighbor.
01:23:12That's okay.
01:23:13Go ahead, young lady.
01:23:14Yes.
01:23:15I want to thank you, Congressman Lawler, for all the work you do and remind you and the
01:23:18audience that Rockland County residents overwhelmingly voted for President Trump as president
01:23:23of this United States.
01:23:25And we expect you to honor the citizen who wanted his protocol and his changes.
01:23:33So thank you.
01:23:34And my question for you is, Congressman Lawler, how do you plan on protecting federal religious
01:23:40rights in the state of New York, where religious exemptions have been removed, which
01:23:45is a violation of the First Amendment religious liberties.
01:23:50And the state, it seems to be violating that.
01:23:52You're talking about with respect to vaccines and health decisions?
01:23:55At public and private schools.
01:23:57There was just a case in upstate New York with an Amish school that has been fined for
01:24:01not providing vaccines.
01:24:03Look, I have always believed in religious exemptions.
01:24:10And when I, before I got to the state legislature, they voted to repeal the religious exemption.
01:24:20I would not have supported that.
01:24:22I support it being reinstated.
01:24:24On a federal, on a federal level.
01:24:27Look, I, I think obviously, uh, vote, uh, individual constituents.
01:24:34Folks, folks.
01:24:35Folks.
01:24:36Folks, this is the last question.
01:24:38Sit down.
01:24:39So can we please behave ourselves?
01:24:40And if you don't want to sit, you can leave.
01:24:41It's that simple.
01:24:42So with respect to, from the federal standpoint, obviously, uh, I do believe there can and
01:25:02probably should be court intervention.
01:25:04So if, if, uh, any entity or individual wanted to bring a lawsuit, certainly we can look legislatively
01:25:10to see if there are, uh, opportunities to protect, obviously, religious exemptions when it comes
01:25:15to that.
01:25:16Did you, did you do that?
01:25:21Or you can't, you certainly can.
01:25:24Yes, you certainly can.
01:25:26Yep.
01:25:27But we can talk, we can follow up.
01:25:29We have the last question here.
01:25:30This man's ticket was called before.
01:25:32So if that's okay, he promised he'd make it quick.
01:25:35No worries.
01:25:36Pressure's on.
01:25:37Here we go.
01:25:38So, all right.
01:25:43The emoluments clause is designed to ensure the public officials prioritize the interests
01:25:47of U.S. citizens, uh, against person, and they don't have personal gain or foreign influence.
01:25:53President Trump has, now has his own cryptocurrency.
01:25:57The government has no idea, no idea who's putting money in, who's taking money out.
01:26:03They don't know who the individuals are or the governments are.
01:26:06He makes money on every investment trade.
01:26:10He has his own social media platform that financially benefits him when he exclusively posts on it in
01:26:17order to increase members, bring attention to increases, which increases his revenues.
01:26:22Not to mention the gold watches, the Bibles, the $2 billion from the Saudis, I'm going to close, the $2 billion for his son-in-law.
01:26:31If this was the Biden administration, you'd be demanding a hearing.
01:26:36So, why are we not demanding a hearing?
01:26:39So, obviously, when, when the Democrats took control of Congress during the first administration, they did do numerous hearings on this.
01:26:57When Joe Biden was in office, yes, the Oversight Committee did hearings with respect to, uh, his son's foreign dealings.
01:27:06Uh, at the end of the day, to me, the issue of crypto, um, we are actually in the process through the Financial Services Committee
01:27:16of passing federal regulatory framework when it comes to crypto because we don't have one.
01:27:23There is not currently a regulatory framework, uh, which certainly is imperative.
01:27:29As I said before, uh, earlier, when it comes to the issue of people trading stocks, I don't believe in that.
01:27:40If you are a elected official, certainly at the federal level, I think it should be precluded.
01:27:45And so, certainly, one of the things that we can look at, obviously, is once we have a federal regulatory framework,
01:27:52uh, is how, is how we might deal with that with respect to, uh, cryptocurrency.
01:27:58Uh, but with respect to, uh, any, any type of investigation, at the end of the day, if you own a business,
01:28:08if you have business in trust or a, uh, corporate holding, which is what most of, uh, the president's, uh, business dealings are,
01:28:19they're corporate, uh, that is, that is a separate legal entity.
01:28:23And his sons, as far as I understand, are running the business.
01:28:26Okay.
01:28:27That's, that's the last question.
01:28:29I want to personally thank Congressman Lawler, who agreed to hold this town hall knowing what was going to happen tonight.
01:28:47Well, I, I want to thank, uh, Theresa and Brendel, uh, for being very gracious and patient and, uh, kind.
01:28:58And I certainly want to thank my staff, uh, who, unfortunately, over the first few months,
01:29:04have continually been subjected to a lot of, uh, hate, berating, and, uh, frankly, uh, terrible conduct.
01:29:13Brooke, you really need to stop.
01:29:16You really need to stop, Brooke.
01:29:17You really do.
01:29:18It's sad, Brooke.
01:29:19You really, you really need to stop, Brooke.
01:29:24It's sad.
01:29:25It's very sad.
01:29:27It's very sad.
01:29:28So, look, folks, appreciate you coming out tonight.
01:29:32Appreciate you coming out tonight.
01:29:35Okay, Brooke, Brooke, Brooke.
01:29:41Have a good night, Brooke.
01:29:42Have a good night.
01:29:43All right, folks, thank you very much.
01:29:46Appreciate you coming.
01:29:47Enjoy.
01:29:57é, feelin today.
01:29:59Do you love,э, how are you, as I Lie?
01:30:01Definitely.
01:30:02Dr.
01:30:03F
01:30:08y