WEBVTT 1 00:00:04.200 --> 00:00:19.559 Thank you for listening to Pictures Media Radio. Welcome to Policy and Rights, 2 00:00:21.160 --> 00:01:03.640 the show about the government, policy and human rights. Okay, welcome back 3 00:01:03.640 --> 00:01:06.400 to the Policy and Rights here and depicts this Media Radio. I'm your host, 4 00:01:06.480 --> 00:01:15.120 Michael Cloggs a former White House Trump White House advisor Peter Navarro. He 5 00:01:15.519 --> 00:01:22.319 was attempting to stay out of jail while he was appealing his conviction for ignoring 6 00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:30.159 a congressional subpoena. He is charged with contempt of Congress and other charges related 7 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:37.959 to that subpoena. And because he has information of as an advisor to mister 8 00:01:38.040 --> 00:01:46.400 Trump about things that were happening inside the White House at the time, he 9 00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:56.799 was denied the ability to leave jail while he continues his his appeals. So, 10 00:01:56.959 --> 00:02:05.159 according to the Supreme Court, it would seem that that we while we're 11 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:09.599 on Donald Trump, that h it him and his followers. They think they 12 00:02:09.879 --> 00:02:15.719 that well, his followers think of him as some sort of demigod and they 13 00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:23.240 don't think that he can actually do anything wrong, and they think that that 14 00:02:23.800 --> 00:02:30.400 he is the savior to the to the world that has yet to be seen. 15 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:38.080 Yeah, he's made a statements in NATO about throwing other countries straight to 16 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:46.000 to see what pra what what is the worst that Vladimir Putin could actually do 17 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:51.800 to them because they they hadn't paid up their dues. When you enter a 18 00:02:51.840 --> 00:02:57.680 international treaty like that, it isn't just about being able to pay your dues 19 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:00.919 in order to seek protection. It is about what he is you can do 20 00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:08.879 for your fellow countries to help all of those countries stay safe. It isn't 21 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:15.639 just about money, and it's something that Donald Trump may have forgotten about or 22 00:03:15.639 --> 00:03:22.199 may or a lessen he may not have ever known, and his followers and 23 00:03:22.280 --> 00:03:36.680 supporters continue to do things that would terrorized civilized society in his name. So 24 00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:46.199 with that being said, of course, mister Trump's own hushmaney tr criminal trial 25 00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:51.719 is set to start, and we'll have to watch closer to see how that 26 00:03:51.800 --> 00:03:59.719 alt actually all starts to play out. We're gonna hear from the United Nations 27 00:03:59.759 --> 00:04:09.719 in today's recorded segments about some disturbances and escalations that are happening in Syria, 28 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:19.439 and we do hope that de escalation is found as will be asked for by 29 00:04:19.720 --> 00:04:27.519 the US and the United Kingdom's ambassadors to the United Nations. We'll have to 30 00:04:27.839 --> 00:04:30.480 follow and see how that actually starts to pan out. We're also going to 31 00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:39.360 hear from Vice President Harris as she talks about the economy that is happening in 32 00:04:39.399 --> 00:04:44.160 the United States and how it needs to be set up so that everyone can 33 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:50.920 benefit from it. And along with that, we're going to hear some other 34 00:04:51.160 --> 00:05:00.920 things about decrimination, decriminalization of street drugs and how they can con servatives don't 35 00:05:00.920 --> 00:05:08.800 want to see the the street drugs the criminalize because it well as they're they're 36 00:05:08.839 --> 00:05:16.680 saying that all those programs hinder the idea of recovery and the atticts can recover 37 00:05:16.839 --> 00:05:27.360 from the addiction and move forward with positive lives. So with that, we're 38 00:05:27.399 --> 00:05:44.800 also going to have we have some reports from CNN and India's Prime Minister Narenda 39 00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:53.120 Modi will preside over the installation of the Lord Rams Statue, a controversial Hindu 40 00:05:53.639 --> 00:06:05.160 temple that will open on disputed land. Modi's Hindu Nationalism has campaigned for decades 41 00:06:05.240 --> 00:06:16.720 to construct a temple at the site of the holy city of Ayudaha, which 42 00:06:16.839 --> 00:06:25.680 is widely believed to by devotees to be where the Lord Ram and one of 43 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:32.759 the revere deities in Hinduism, was born. The site of the temple, 44 00:06:32.920 --> 00:06:40.959 previously claimed by both Hindus and Muslims, has long been the center of controversy. 45 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:50.120 So moving into forward, New Hampshire holds a first in the nation presidential 46 00:06:50.160 --> 00:06:58.800 primary and former President Donald Trump is looking for a wide wave of momentum following 47 00:06:58.920 --> 00:07:05.160 his big win in Iowa. Trump hosts a victory in New Hampshire will quickly 48 00:07:05.720 --> 00:07:15.879 in the GOP nominating race, but he faces serious challenge in the grantited state 49 00:07:16.040 --> 00:07:26.439 from Nikki Hailey, who has her best chance to win an early contest against 50 00:07:26.439 --> 00:07:34.560 her former boss and prolong the race. How President Joe Biden will fare in 51 00:07:34.959 --> 00:07:42.800 the Democratic primary remains to be seen, as his name does not appear on 52 00:07:43.079 --> 00:07:59.519 any ballot. Okay, and then moving forward, It's been almost forty years 53 00:07:59.560 --> 00:08:07.279 since Apple Computer began selling its very first Macintosh. It's featured eight megahertz processor 54 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:15.519 and one hundred twenty five k of RAM, all in a beage all in 55 00:08:15.560 --> 00:08:24.879 one case with a nine inch monochrome display monitor, sold for around twenty five 56 00:08:24.040 --> 00:08:33.159 hundred dollars. Hey, I suppose it isn't too bad in comparison to today's 57 00:08:33.279 --> 00:08:41.080 prices on buying a new back now, all right, So when we move 58 00:08:41.159 --> 00:08:50.759 forward, and we're gonna start by listening to Vice President Harris as she is 59 00:08:50.879 --> 00:09:11.840 discussing the economy for everyone. Good afternoon, everybody. I'm Congressman Stephen Horsford 60 00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:16.720 from Nevada's fourth Congressional District. I'm honored to service Chairman of the Congressional Black 61 00:09:16.759 --> 00:09:22.399 Caucus and to join with all of you and the Vice President today for this 62 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:28.559 kickoff of our Economic Opportunities Tour. I'm delighted to be joined today by three 63 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:37.240 phenomenal panelists. Janice Bowdler from the Department of Treasury Counselor for Racial Equity, 64 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:46.480 Christopher Coles, Department of Transportation Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy, and Eric 65 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:52.919 Morsett from the Department of Commerce Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development Administration. 66 00:09:54.480 --> 00:10:05.519 Please welcome our first panel. Well, good afternoon, everybody. We're 67 00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:13.840 really excited to be here. This is the kickoff to really have a conversation 68 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:20.759 with the American people about the ways that we together can build economic opportunity, 69 00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:28.399 prosperity, and wealth that is inclusive. That is about bringing everyone into full 70 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:35.960 economic participation and to make sure that as we have passed some of the most 71 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:43.720 historic legislation in our country's history that those investments reach the communities that need it 72 00:10:43.759 --> 00:10:48.120 the most. So again, I'm Congressman Stephen Horsford, Chair of the Congressional 73 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:52.399 Black Caucus. We have been working with the Vice President as well as the 74 00:10:52.440 --> 00:11:01.080 Biden Harris administration to center the people in the policy that we are working to 75 00:11:01.200 --> 00:11:05.720 advance, and that is what today is all about. I'm honored to join 76 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:09.879 forces with the Vice President for the kickoff here and to join all of you. 77 00:11:11.720 --> 00:11:16.000 And this builds on the work that the members of the Congressional Black Caucus 78 00:11:16.039 --> 00:11:22.679 have been advancing throughout this Congress. Today, the Congressional Black Caucus has the 79 00:11:22.919 --> 00:11:31.080 largest membership in our history, sixty members. We went from thirteen when we 80 00:11:31.080 --> 00:11:37.320 were founded and one black woman in Shirley Chisholm, to having sixty members, 81 00:11:37.799 --> 00:11:45.559 thirty one black women representing every region of the country. Recently, we introduced 82 00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:50.320 a plan to build Black Wealth that is endorsed and sponsored by one hundred percent 83 00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:56.159 of the CBC members, and today this economic tour will allow us to continue 84 00:11:56.159 --> 00:12:03.080 to advance that discussion, to close the racial wealth gap, to build economic 85 00:12:03.159 --> 00:12:07.600 opportunity, and to address the inequities that we have seen at a time when 86 00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:13.519 there are forces who are trying to take away those tools of opportunity, and 87 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:18.960 I want to thank organizations including the Black Economic Alliance, the US Black Chamber, 88 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:24.080 among others, who have worked with us to ground this work. So 89 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:30.120 today we're going to have a conversation about the resources that are available from the 90 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:35.159 historic legislation that has been passed. And I want to start with Under Secretary 91 00:12:35.320 --> 00:12:41.000 cos The Vice President is here in Atlanta in part to highlight the Biden Harris 92 00:12:41.080 --> 00:12:46.519 administration's efforts in making investments in communities that have historically been left out and left 93 00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:52.559 behind. So talk to us about how the Department of Transportation is working on 94 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:58.279 those issues, including with the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods program. Canenzwahauser, First, 95 00:12:58.279 --> 00:13:01.759 I want to just take this moment to acknowledge you and your leadership as 96 00:13:03.080 --> 00:13:07.320 the chair of the CBC. We are here because of your great leadership. 97 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:11.279 So I want to first acknowledge that as a native of Thomasville, Georgia, 98 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:15.480 I can tell you what it means when you hear a statement of living on 99 00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:20.000 the other side of the railroad tracks and two meaning communities across the country has 100 00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:26.639 seen what infrastructure, when not aligned with community voices, with community aspirations, 101 00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:30.519 can't do to the communities. And that is no different from a community here 102 00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:35.279 in Atlanta where the I seventy five eighty five, known as the Downtown Connector 103 00:13:35.639 --> 00:13:41.600 came into what was known as the Butter Sweet Butterment Biscuit District also Sweet Auburn 104 00:13:41.639 --> 00:13:50.279 Avenue and destroyed thirteen thousand homes and businesses. Now that legacy right still is 105 00:13:50.440 --> 00:13:54.720 seen today in experience today. But through the Bipartis the Infestal Law passed by 106 00:13:54.840 --> 00:14:00.240 President President Bideny and Vice President Harris, we have now been able to create 107 00:14:00.279 --> 00:14:05.200 what is called the Reconnecting Communities a Neighborhood's Program, which is a three billion 108 00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:09.279 dollar initiative to actually right the wrongs that came from these investments. And just 109 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:13.360 as we were so excited to announce that we were giving one hundred and fifty 110 00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:20.559 million dollars to fund the Stitch Project, now this is just one step of 111 00:14:20.679 --> 00:14:24.639 repairing the harm. But what we also are decided about that we're supporting three 112 00:14:24.679 --> 00:14:31.159 thousand new affordable housing projects, thirteen thousand construction jobs, and a new apprenticeship 113 00:14:31.159 --> 00:14:35.159 to allow a Lancens those natives to actually come back, not only start new 114 00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:39.879 businesses, but actually have a place to stay. That is an example of 115 00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:43.559 how the bipartisential law under leadership re present by day and vice persons, is 116 00:14:43.639 --> 00:14:50.360 trying to write the wrongs of the past. So Under Secretary Coaches you just 117 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:58.799 mentioned the investments in what they mean around housing, reconnecting communities that have been 118 00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:05.639 discriminated against BACE on past discrimination and policies, and the fact that it's also 119 00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:13.480 about job creation and small business opportunities as well. So Under Secretary Morissett, 120 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:20.519 the Vice President just met with business owner owners that have worked with the Urban 121 00:15:20.600 --> 00:15:26.120 League of Greater Atlanta to grow their business. Tell us about the new capital 122 00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:31.080 Readiness program that you are leading and what it is and how people in this 123 00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:35.279 room can benefit directly. Absolutely, thank you so much for the question. 124 00:15:35.320 --> 00:15:39.399 Thank you so much for leading this panel. I can't help but mention our 125 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:41.879 partner in the Capital Redness Program, which is Department of Treasury, which is 126 00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:46.200 thinking right in there and their and their team sitting right right right in front 127 00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:50.480 of us. The Capital Rediness Program is a part of the State Small Business 128 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:56.240 Credit Initiative which is opening up ten billion dollars to communities around the country. 129 00:15:56.360 --> 00:16:00.440 And if you noted, the Urban League is helping to leave that f here 130 00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:03.399 in Metro Atlanta. But we also have the US Black Chamber, I see 131 00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:08.440 Ron Buzzby back there with the US Black Chamber helping to lead that effort. 132 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:15.360 We have forty three partners around the country throughout the Capital Writeness Program that are 133 00:16:15.399 --> 00:16:21.080 helping folks access that ten billion dollars in state Small Business Credit Initiative funding. 134 00:16:21.159 --> 00:16:26.919 But they're also helping communities around the country access all sorts of capital through throughout 135 00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:33.639 this country. The idea that that small minority business entrepreneurs have a hard time 136 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:37.360 accessing capital is something that this administration has taken to heart and it's done something 137 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:41.519 about They've done something about that through the Capital Writiness Program, but they did 138 00:16:41.559 --> 00:16:45.399 something about that in authorizing the Minority Business Development Agency. We talk about the 139 00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:51.080 Infrastructure Law NBDA. My agency has been around for fifty five years, but 140 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:56.240 we're three years old as an authorized agency. Fifty five we were founded under 141 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:59.600 the Nixon administration, but this administration, I keep telling folks, we're fifty 142 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:07.200 five years but three years young. Yeah, thank you. The NBDA has 143 00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:10.359 at its core, and I have the best job, I think on this 144 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:15.480 panel to create wealth in communities of color around this country. And that's something 145 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:21.200 different. Creating wealth the ability for folks to pull themselves up, create a 146 00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:25.000 new life for themselves and their families and their communities. We're not giving out 147 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:29.720 anything to anyone. We're helping people who are exceedingly and abundantly able to help 148 00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:33.640 themselves but for an opportunity. The Capital Rightness Program is a part of that 149 00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:37.599 opportunity, giving folks the tools that they need to create change for themselves in 150 00:17:37.640 --> 00:17:41.759 their communities. So that's why I'm so proud of this administration and this line 151 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:48.240 of work and that partnership with a Department of Treasury. Now you kind of 152 00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:53.799 stepped on the lead when you said it was just three years fully authorized. 153 00:17:55.440 --> 00:18:00.480 What was it before? Why is it important for it to be the rise 154 00:18:00.119 --> 00:18:06.279 and what does that provide as far as permanent funding to not just help businesses 155 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:11.400 start, but to actually grow and thrive, which is one of the initiatives 156 00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:18.039 from this Economic Opportunities Tour today. Absolutely, so, being of permanently authorized 157 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:22.279 agency is something different. We were around for fifty five years, found out 158 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:26.440 of the Knickson administration. But it took a bipartisan coalition of Congress to pass 159 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:29.400 this agency and make it a fully authorized federallyation is thanks to the leadership of 160 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:33.559 the Congressional Black Caucus a number of other leaders in content. But they didn't 161 00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:37.720 look the same. They look like the tapestry of this country, and they 162 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:41.880 realized we were born, born as the authorized agency in the aftermath of the 163 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:48.480 pandemic. And we know acutely that the pandemic hit communities like ours differently. 164 00:18:48.119 --> 00:18:53.519 They hit those communities differently, those socially and economically disadvantaged communities differently. Our 165 00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:57.920 agency, as an authorized agency, in partnership with Treasury, to this capital 166 00:18:57.960 --> 00:19:02.839 Rediness program, has at our core the ability to reach across the entire federal 167 00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:07.759 government and lift up our communities, leveraging not only our capital, but the 168 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:11.599 capital of our partner agencies, leveraging the authorities that this administration lifts up through 169 00:19:11.640 --> 00:19:17.240 their executive orders, but also through the meaningful and intentionality of changing the way 170 00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:21.519 we are doing business inside of agencies. I think about this in the context 171 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:25.519 of the Department of Commerce. We as the agencies where have worked to have 172 00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:27.880 over one hundred and twenty five billion of above based funding. We talk about 173 00:19:27.880 --> 00:19:30.839 the Chips Act, talk about the broad Band Act that's trying to get this 174 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:36.119 entire country plugged in. An MBDA, a new federal agency's ability to reach 175 00:19:36.119 --> 00:19:40.799 inside of those above based program areas and ensure that communities that look like ours, 176 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:45.640 that socially and economically disadvantaged communities, have a part of this investment. 177 00:19:47.640 --> 00:19:51.440 That's something real. You ask about what this administration is doing and how it's 178 00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:55.720 doing things differently. We're putting our money where our values are, and that's 179 00:19:55.720 --> 00:20:03.920 something meaningful. I've heard a lot about the sixteen million new small businesses that 180 00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:11.240 have been started since the beginning of this Biden Harris administration, the historic legislation 181 00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:18.480 that really is providing investments and to make sure that our communities, every community 182 00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:22.319 that has been underserved or disadvantaged historically, are not left out or left behind, 183 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:27.160 and to make sure that we're connecting those businesses, those owners with the 184 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:33.119 opportunities. And these are just three of the federal agencies that oversee the federal 185 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:37.880 procurement process. And so in addition to all of the booths that are here 186 00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:45.359 and the information that will be shared both during and following this Economic Opportunities tour. 187 00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:49.400 This is ways that we're reaching directly into the community to make sure we 188 00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:56.759 have this conversation. A counselor Bowdler from Treasury. When the Vice President was 189 00:20:56.799 --> 00:21:03.640 a senator, she fought for and secured twelve billion dollars for Community development Financial 190 00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:11.440 Institutions and Minority Development Depository institutions across our nation. The Biden Harris administration has 191 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:17.519 been able to administer that funding and give it out directly to local CDFIs and 192 00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:22.039 MDIs, some of whom are here today. Can you talk to us about 193 00:21:22.039 --> 00:21:27.640 how you work with CDFIs and MDIs to advance specifically racial equity and what that 194 00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:33.319 means for the people here in Atlanta. Absolutely well. First of all, 195 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:37.519 Congressman Horsford, thank you so much for your championship as well of CDFIs and 196 00:21:37.640 --> 00:21:41.960 MDIs. And for those who don't know what that means, we're really talking 197 00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:48.319 about mission Community oriented Lenders. CDFI's Community development Financial institutions have a mission and 198 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:56.160 a special certification to serve low income families, low income neighborhoods and communities that 199 00:21:56.240 --> 00:22:00.839 have long been overlooked and under resource when it comes to credit. Minority depository 200 00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:07.119 institutions, Black owned banks, Latino owned banks, Asian Native owned banks. 201 00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:12.599 And we have been super fortunate Senator when she was a Senator, Harris now 202 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:18.079 VP Harris and the Congressional Black Caucus, among other leaders, have really championed 203 00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:22.960 getting resources into institutions that we know are proximate to the communities we're trying to 204 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:30.119 serve. And that is incredibly important that we're investing in those CDFIs and MDIs 205 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:34.480 that are delivering capital in culturally competent ways, that have the relationships with the 206 00:22:34.519 --> 00:22:38.720 community, have the presence in the ground. So the signature initiative here, 207 00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:45.039 the Emergency Capital Investment Program was eight point five billion dollars to one hundred and 208 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:49.799 seventy five CDFIs. Of that, one point four billion went to black own 209 00:22:49.880 --> 00:22:56.200 and black majority shareholder institutions. And we estimate that over the course of this 210 00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:59.519 program, over the next ten years, that's going to be eighty billion dollars 211 00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:03.359 to black communities flowing through this program. Okay, but you asked me what 212 00:23:03.400 --> 00:23:07.799 does this mean for Atlantic because we throw around these big numbers, so I 213 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:11.799 want to make sure that I'm bringing it home. Georgia. CDFIs received one 214 00:23:11.880 --> 00:23:17.599 hundred and twenty five million, and two of them are black owner, black 215 00:23:17.640 --> 00:23:21.599 majority shareholder institutions, and they're here. Hopefully you got to see them. 216 00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:25.400 And Cynthia and Robert, I can't see you because the lights are in my 217 00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:30.640 face. But Citizens Trust Bank and Carver State Bank are both here. They 218 00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:34.799 are recipients and participants in the ESIT program, and their resources are outside. 219 00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:41.640 There's also other another thirty five million dollars in grants to CDFIs that are serving 220 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:45.880 Georgia Avenue, including ACE, which is a local small business lender that some 221 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:48.519 of you in this room might know, and it matters. Let me just 222 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:53.640 give you one example. Because of some of the investments that Carver State Bank 223 00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:59.119 received, they were able to provide financing for Medcure, which is a local 224 00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:07.119 of federally qualified health clinic and health provider healthcare provider here in the Greater Atlanta 225 00:24:07.160 --> 00:24:11.960 region. Because of the six million dollars in financing they receive, they're opening 226 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:17.400 up and expanding a new location. That clinic is expected to see five thousand 227 00:24:17.480 --> 00:24:22.799 new patients a year, ninety percent of which are people of color and seventy 228 00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:26.400 five percent of which are low income families that might not otherwise have gotten access 229 00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:30.799 to healthcare or have to travel really far to get quality care. So when 230 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:38.119 we invest in proximate institutions, that means that our businesses, our community assets 231 00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:44.000 like healthcare centers and childcare centers are getting the resources that they need. They're 232 00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:53.480 also hiring people along the way and creating stable jobs in their communities. You 233 00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:59.279 know, there are a lot of people who question why we need these programs, 234 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:04.319 why do we need to invest in certain communities that have historically been underserved, 235 00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:11.279 And I just want to share that the disparity in wealth is stark, 236 00:25:11.960 --> 00:25:15.559 with a significant gap between black and white per capita wealth. In fact, 237 00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:22.519 today the typical white per capita wealth of white Americans is two hundred and eighty 238 00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:26.720 four thousand, three hundred and ten dollars compared to a mere forty four thousand, 239 00:25:26.839 --> 00:25:34.039 one hundred dollars for Black Americans. So the agenda around economic prosperity and 240 00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:41.759 wealth, this Economic Opportunities Tour and the resources that you all are administering to 241 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:49.519 get to the communities are intended to help close and narrow this racial wealth gap 242 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:55.440 that has persisted. And under the Biden Harris administration, this has been a 243 00:25:55.599 --> 00:26:03.920 center of their agenda across the whole of government. So, what resources are 244 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:10.440 available from the federal government to help someone turn their awesome ideas, which we've 245 00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:15.000 got a lot of people here with great ideas, great passion, great products. 246 00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:19.640 They want to become the creators of wealth, not just the consumers of 247 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:25.720 it. What would you recommend that they do from the standpoint of your programs 248 00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:32.079 that you administer within your agency to connect their ideas to the programs that are 249 00:26:32.119 --> 00:26:37.079 available through the federal government. I'll go first out. Well, thank you 250 00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:41.200 so much for the question, and i'd ask you for some of you in 251 00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:45.839 this room go outside. I have tables of the five equities that we have 252 00:26:45.880 --> 00:26:48.920 at the Minority Business Development Agency. We have a business center here that's outstanding 253 00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:53.240 with through Georgia Tech. They are doing innovative and novel things. But more 254 00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:56.000 importantly, they're trying to connect with you. They're trying to connect with all 255 00:26:56.079 --> 00:26:59.640 those who have an interesting idea that they want to get off the ground at 256 00:26:59.640 --> 00:27:03.960 anything of development. We also have the relationship that I mentioned before with the 257 00:27:03.079 --> 00:27:08.319 Urban League and the US Black Chamber. We also have a relationship with the 258 00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:12.880 MSIs, a minority serving institutions around the Metro Atlanta area. The truth is 259 00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:17.319 we have equities around the country, one hundred and thirty one equities around this 260 00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:22.000 country. Please MBDA dot gov. If you have an idea that you're trying 261 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:23.960 to launch, or if you're trying to create a business, formalize your business, 262 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:27.400 connect with our business centers. But if you're a member of other affiliated 263 00:27:27.640 --> 00:27:30.359 other groups that are affiliated with MBDA, if you're a member of a Greek 264 00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:34.240 organization, we just thought an MoU with the Divine Nine, I'd ask for 265 00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:38.359 you to connect with them. We have lasting like we have new and developing 266 00:27:38.440 --> 00:27:42.559 MOUs across both federal government and the private sector and inefititing groups. If you 267 00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:45.359 think that we can be of any value to you, or if you have 268 00:27:45.400 --> 00:27:49.720 an idea that just needs to get incubated and developed, come to us, 269 00:27:49.839 --> 00:27:53.000 come to me, reach out, and we're happy to work with you and 270 00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:59.559 help that idea blossom. Yeah. I want to put a fine point on 271 00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:06.359 why this is so important and how much we're working together right now. Christopher 272 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:11.079 here is in charge of one of the largest public investments that we're going to 273 00:28:11.079 --> 00:28:18.599 see in our generation, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In Eric's agency, they're 274 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:26.400 leading the Chips and Science Act, and in my agency we have the Inflation 275 00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:30.680 Reduction Act. Now practically that's happening all over federal agencies. But what you 276 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:37.960 have up here on stage represents once in a generation suite of investments that are 277 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:41.200 not only going to transform our economy, but let's be real about what we're 278 00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:45.759 talking about. We are in the middle of building the next middle class. 279 00:28:45.640 --> 00:28:52.359 These investments that we're talking about are not only on shoring our manufacturing supply and 280 00:28:52.400 --> 00:28:59.160 improving our national security, improving our infrastructure, improving our climate resiliency. They 281 00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:06.200 are creating job opportunities and contracting opportunities that have the ability to take those business 282 00:29:06.200 --> 00:29:11.680 take our communities that have not just been under resource but frankly underestimated, and 283 00:29:11.880 --> 00:29:15.480 create a set of opportunities. And now we didn't just say like, okay, 284 00:29:15.880 --> 00:29:19.000 go build some manufacturing plans and go build some bridges. We also put 285 00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:23.519 the financing out there for businesses to be able to get those contracts, and 286 00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:30.680 the technical assistance and resources, the Capital Readiness Program is strategic to help businesses 287 00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:37.519 really seize these opportunities. Similarly, through your state here, the State of 288 00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:41.799 Georgia, there are more technical assistance opportunities with many of the partners that have 289 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:47.599 already been named, with the financial institutions that I talked about. What I 290 00:29:47.640 --> 00:29:51.920 want to make clear is that whether you are trying to take your side hustle 291 00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:55.400 and turn it into your full time job, or you're looking for an equity 292 00:29:55.440 --> 00:30:00.039 investment to scale your tech company, we are putting the financing and resources out 293 00:30:00.039 --> 00:30:07.440 there, and we're doing it through proximate partners that understand black and brown communities, 294 00:30:07.720 --> 00:30:11.920 that understand how to invest in our companies and help scale those enterprises. 295 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:15.559 It's because we're going to be able to get these contracts that I think we're 296 00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:22.119 in the best position we've ever been to completely transform black and brown wealth in 297 00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:27.839 this country. And let me say that is good for everybody, because on 298 00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:33.519 behalf of the Treasury Department, I can tell you it's the right thing to 299 00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:37.880 do, but it is also the economically smart thing to do. Right now, 300 00:30:37.160 --> 00:30:41.599 we are leaving money on the table when we leave our communities on the 301 00:30:41.640 --> 00:30:47.839 economic sidelines. When we get our communities off the economic sidelines, we're generating 302 00:30:47.880 --> 00:30:52.519 more wealth, more jobs, and more revenue. That is good for everyone, 303 00:30:52.839 --> 00:31:00.400 and investment in our black and brown communities is an investment in America. 304 00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:06.480 Christopher, I would say, we can stop there, there's an amen and 305 00:31:06.559 --> 00:31:10.960 all of that. The thing I would just add, you know, as 306 00:31:11.400 --> 00:31:15.480 Jennis mentioned, we at the Department translation do not take it lightly that we 307 00:31:15.599 --> 00:31:18.799 have half of the one point two trillion dollars or the biparts interestial law and 308 00:31:18.880 --> 00:31:22.440 the fact that we have to look at in a sense, this is not 309 00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:27.559 just about building roads and bridges. This is literally rebuilding America and for all 310 00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:32.680 Americans and particularly those that have been left behind and disinvest it. And that 311 00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:34.960 is the black and brown communities as well as rural communities. As someone who 312 00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:40.200 comes from a rural South, I can tell you right now, our main 313 00:31:40.240 --> 00:31:45.559 focus is to eliminate and reduce barriers to access to capital. So right now, 314 00:31:45.640 --> 00:31:49.039 as mentioned by my colleagues, we have a booth manned by our office, 315 00:31:49.039 --> 00:31:55.279 a small and Disadvantaged utilization where they have now launched this past week a 316 00:31:55.400 --> 00:32:01.839 new access to Capital portal which will allow entrepreneurs small own businesses to directly connect 317 00:32:02.279 --> 00:32:09.960 interviews, solicit and secure private equity to scale your businesses. That is at 318 00:32:09.960 --> 00:32:15.119 the table right now. So that's going to open up billions of dollars, 319 00:32:15.400 --> 00:32:17.960 I can tell you, in addition to helping eliminate, it's also allowing the 320 00:32:17.960 --> 00:32:22.119 Department translation to put our money where our mouth is. So when we came 321 00:32:22.200 --> 00:32:27.759 in on day one, we had a procurement of dbes and minority contract and 322 00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:31.880 women contracting set roughly about seventeen to eighteen percent. Our secretary said that's not 323 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:36.240 good enough. In one year, we said we're going to go from eighteen 324 00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:40.200 to twenty percent. We acceded that that goes through Jani's points that there is 325 00:32:40.359 --> 00:32:45.759 amazing businesses who are ready to take on the work. The other piece here, 326 00:32:45.920 --> 00:32:49.160 one of the things I'm really excited about, especially being here in Atlanta, 327 00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:51.880 in addition to the announcing the dollars that we did to the STITCH, 328 00:32:52.359 --> 00:32:55.559 having a working partnership with the Atlanta belt Line, who also received a fifteen 329 00:32:55.599 --> 00:33:00.559 million dollar grant for the Flint Trail segment. Is really fascinating about that element 330 00:33:00.640 --> 00:33:06.960 is that Clyde and and a Roads with the ARC are finding ways to break 331 00:33:07.039 --> 00:33:12.440 up the contract so that local businesses can take advantage of that opportunity, particularly 332 00:33:12.400 --> 00:33:15.359 in places like East Point and Clayton County that hasn't seen a federal grant. 333 00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:19.720 Ever, and I can tell you at a larger level, we are looking 334 00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:22.839 at how do we make sure these investments, these grant dollars are not just 335 00:33:22.960 --> 00:33:25.559 canalyzing in black, brown communities, but we're also making sure that they're transforming. 336 00:33:25.599 --> 00:33:29.559 And the last thing I'll say here is that we are in Atlanta. 337 00:33:30.240 --> 00:33:34.440 Atlanta is the post and child of what it means if you get good infrastructure, 338 00:33:34.599 --> 00:33:37.440 how it can help create the black middle class. And that is right 339 00:33:37.480 --> 00:33:42.440 here at the airport and the importance of our dB, our Disadvantage Enterprise and 340 00:33:42.839 --> 00:33:46.880 Airport Concession program. We know how it has helped Atlanta. But here's the 341 00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:52.559 thing. We just this past week announced that we need to make changes to 342 00:33:52.640 --> 00:33:58.480 the dB program because we've heard some all of you that the current rules actually 343 00:33:58.519 --> 00:34:01.240 graduated businesses before where they can get to scale. So that's why we may 344 00:34:01.359 --> 00:34:07.960 change this. We are now allowing dbs to have a larger or bigger personal 345 00:34:07.960 --> 00:34:12.039 wealth so they can actually stay in the program longer. We're also allowing you 346 00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:15.800 to use your certification as a regional so you're not going to each state to 347 00:34:15.840 --> 00:34:20.159 try to get certification. In addition to that, we are forcing more prompt 348 00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:22.679 payments because it's one thing to say we want you on these contracts, but 349 00:34:22.719 --> 00:34:25.199 we need to make sure you get your money so you can also play your 350 00:34:25.199 --> 00:34:29.599 own employees to invest in your own communities. So these are just some of 351 00:34:29.719 --> 00:34:32.960 the examples that we are taking at Department Transtation to ensure that these dollars truly 352 00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:38.679 build back our communities for everyone. You guys get real excited about talking about 353 00:34:39.079 --> 00:34:45.039 all of these great opportunities that are available, and this is exciting information and 354 00:34:45.079 --> 00:34:49.400 it's why we wanted to be able to have this direct conversation led by the 355 00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:54.000 Vice President, kicked off here in Atlanta. This is part of a national 356 00:34:54.079 --> 00:35:00.320 tour around economic opportunities for all and making sure that that freedom that we're fighting 357 00:35:00.360 --> 00:35:08.760 for for economic justice parity is available to everyone within the federal government as well 358 00:35:08.800 --> 00:35:14.719 as in the private sector. So as time comes to an end, I 359 00:35:14.760 --> 00:35:21.960 would like to ask for you to talk about for anyone who is here who 360 00:35:22.039 --> 00:35:29.239 wants to know how they can see themselves in the Biden Harris Administration's historic efforts 361 00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:37.440 and infrastructure around small business support and in financing, how should they connect in 362 00:35:37.679 --> 00:35:43.599 order for their ideas to be fulfilled based on the opportunities that each of you 363 00:35:43.880 --> 00:35:45.920 have talked about. Janice will start with you. Sure well. First of 364 00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:49.559 all, since I know this last time i'll have the mic on this, 365 00:35:49.679 --> 00:35:52.679 let me just say thank you to a lot of people in this room, 366 00:35:52.760 --> 00:35:55.880 because up here we can build a really good mouse chap. But if we 367 00:35:55.920 --> 00:36:00.039 don't have the partners, like the people that are in the room, that 368 00:36:00.039 --> 00:36:01.599 are going to help get the word out, who are going to make the 369 00:36:01.639 --> 00:36:07.159 connections with communities, then our stuff can fall really flat. Which brings me 370 00:36:07.199 --> 00:36:10.840 to how people should see themselves in this administration. Please see them through our 371 00:36:10.880 --> 00:36:15.199 partners and who we align ourselves with. Again, for us our booth out 372 00:36:15.239 --> 00:36:21.320 there is Carver State Bank and Citizens Trust Bank, Please stop buy and see 373 00:36:21.320 --> 00:36:23.920 them. Also, come see Treasury and learn about tax credits. I didn't 374 00:36:23.920 --> 00:36:29.119 have a chance to talk about that on this panel, but who we are 375 00:36:29.159 --> 00:36:34.360 partnering with should tell you everything about the intentionality we're bringing to make sure we 376 00:36:34.400 --> 00:36:37.239 get to communities that haven't always felt like the federal government has been on their 377 00:36:37.239 --> 00:36:42.039 side because it hasn't, and we are doing everything we can to change that. 378 00:36:46.320 --> 00:36:51.280 Three ways you can see yourself. Number one, go see Tower Ruffis 379 00:36:51.400 --> 00:36:53.719 who's the head of our audit office. She will connect you literally, make 380 00:36:53.760 --> 00:36:59.679 you sign and create a profile where you have a media access to lenders and 381 00:37:00.000 --> 00:37:02.159 equity partners who want to invest in your business. That's number one. Number 382 00:37:02.159 --> 00:37:07.679 two, if you want a contract, go to sam dot gov register and 383 00:37:07.719 --> 00:37:12.400 there you will see the hundreds and thousands of contracts that are coming through the 384 00:37:12.440 --> 00:37:15.360 Department Transtation as well as our sensor agencies. And number three, if you 385 00:37:15.519 --> 00:37:19.519 are working with the local government and you say, look, my streets are 386 00:37:19.559 --> 00:37:22.039 not paved, I need more trends of access. But you know what, 387 00:37:22.199 --> 00:37:27.000 I have a great technical assistance program to train young black men who are performing 388 00:37:27.000 --> 00:37:29.960 and concentrated. Well, guess what we have programs for that. So all 389 00:37:29.960 --> 00:37:32.480 you have to do is go to the Department of Transtation's website Transtation dot gov, 390 00:37:32.679 --> 00:37:36.920 go to our dot navigator, and we will show you how to put 391 00:37:36.920 --> 00:37:39.280 together an application to get resources to your communities. And I can tell you 392 00:37:39.480 --> 00:37:42.639 one of the things that we have to do as administration. We have a 393 00:37:42.760 --> 00:37:45.920 Justice forty Initiative to make sure forty percent of our investments are going to disadvantaged 394 00:37:45.920 --> 00:37:50.760 communities. Already in f y twenty two and f y twenty three, the 395 00:37:50.800 --> 00:37:54.960 Department transtation has went from sixty to sixty two percent on average of our investments 396 00:37:55.000 --> 00:38:00.440 going on that have workforce and entrepreneur opportunities. So again, and those are 397 00:38:00.440 --> 00:38:02.719 the three places I would say you should go and see yourselves enter it's outstanding. 398 00:38:04.199 --> 00:38:06.440 I just I'd reiterate some of the things that I've highlighted before, but 399 00:38:06.519 --> 00:38:08.639 acutely for those folks here in Atlanta. We've got five equities here. We've 400 00:38:08.639 --> 00:38:13.559 had enterprising women of color here, We've got our connection to MSI's Minority serving 401 00:38:13.559 --> 00:38:17.800 institutions here, We've got two Therpy or grantees that are working to connect people 402 00:38:17.840 --> 00:38:21.960 to capital access opportunities here in Atlanta. And we also have our Business Center. 403 00:38:22.280 --> 00:38:25.000 But beyond that, we have procurement centers that are helping people access procurement 404 00:38:25.000 --> 00:38:29.400 opportunities within the federal government and outside of federal government, we have our manufacturing 405 00:38:29.440 --> 00:38:32.480 Specialty centers for those people who are interested in accessing manufacturing opportunities. And also 406 00:38:32.519 --> 00:38:37.639 look inside of yourself for how you are affiliated with different organizations that might be 407 00:38:37.639 --> 00:38:39.679 connected to us. We've got a whole line of equities that are connected to 408 00:38:39.679 --> 00:38:43.239 this country. But more importantly, we are here to work for you. 409 00:38:43.599 --> 00:38:45.519 I say this, and I said four, and I'll say it again. 410 00:38:45.559 --> 00:38:49.039 I have the best job in the federal government. My job is to help 411 00:38:49.360 --> 00:38:54.000 communities like ours create wealth. I am here and interested in helping all of 412 00:38:54.039 --> 00:38:57.800 you, and all of your communities, and all the socially and economically disadvantaged 413 00:38:57.800 --> 00:39:01.840 communities around this country create some thing different for themselves. Thank you to the 414 00:39:01.880 --> 00:39:06.519 Biden Harris administration. Thank you to the Congress for passing a law that allows 415 00:39:06.559 --> 00:39:08.360 for me to have this amazing job, but more importantly, change the life 416 00:39:08.360 --> 00:39:13.239 introjectory of a whole flock of folks who've been looking for this for a really 417 00:39:13.320 --> 00:39:20.119 long time. Let's give our panel a round of applause, and on behalf 418 00:39:20.159 --> 00:39:24.360 of the Congressional Black Caucus, we are honored to work in collaboration with the 419 00:39:24.400 --> 00:39:31.119 Biden Harris administration and the launch of this Economic Opportunity Tour, which focuses on 420 00:39:31.239 --> 00:39:39.000 more than just growth. It's also about advocating for total economic participation, particularly 421 00:39:39.039 --> 00:39:45.239 for communities that have been left out, left behind, the black community and 422 00:39:45.320 --> 00:39:50.599 other marginalized communities. We deserve a seat at the table, and as the 423 00:39:50.639 --> 00:39:55.679 panel has said, when we lift up Black America, we lift up all 424 00:39:55.719 --> 00:40:00.400 of America. When we move more people to the middle class and create more 425 00:40:00.440 --> 00:40:06.960 small businesses, it helps increase the GDP for all of America. So that's 426 00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:10.320 what this Economic Opportunities Tour is all about. Thank you for joining us today 427 00:40:10.920 --> 00:40:16.239 and let's make sure that you get out and connect to the resources available from 428 00:40:16.280 --> 00:40:38.400 the Biden Harris administration. Good morning, everyone wants to be moved up. 429 00:40:40.519 --> 00:40:45.800 Let me thank all of you for being here this morning. Today the UN 430 00:40:45.880 --> 00:40:52.880 Security Council met to discuss the crisis in Al Fasher, which is on the 431 00:40:52.920 --> 00:41:00.039 precipice of a large scale massacre. This is not conjecture. This is the 432 00:41:00.119 --> 00:41:06.119 grim reality facing millions of people in El Fasher in North Darfur. There are 433 00:41:06.119 --> 00:41:14.159 already credible reports that the RSF and it's allied Allied militias have raised multiple villages 434 00:41:14.519 --> 00:41:20.239 west of Al Fasher, and as we speak, the RSF is planning an 435 00:41:20.280 --> 00:41:27.760 imminent attack on Al Fasher. As I've said before, history is repeating itself 436 00:41:27.800 --> 00:41:32.559 in darfour in the worst possible way, and an attack on El Fasher would 437 00:41:32.599 --> 00:41:37.920 be a disaster. On top of a disaster, it would put five hundred 438 00:41:38.039 --> 00:41:45.679 thousand internally displaced persons at risk, people who'd traveled from across Darfur to seek 439 00:41:46.199 --> 00:41:53.199 refuge. And that's on top of the two million Sudanese who call Al Fasher 440 00:41:53.239 --> 00:42:00.719 home. A crisis of epic proportions is brewing, and to avoid for the 441 00:42:00.880 --> 00:42:06.480 death, destruction and suffering, five things need to happen immediately. First, 442 00:42:06.960 --> 00:42:12.920 the RSF must end a siege and build up military forces. Build up of 443 00:42:13.119 --> 00:42:17.840 military forces in El Fasher and swear off any attack on the city. All 444 00:42:17.880 --> 00:42:24.320 parties to the conflict must take urgent steps to de escalate. The UN Security 445 00:42:24.360 --> 00:42:30.960 Council already call for this, but that's not enough. Every single member state 446 00:42:30.079 --> 00:42:37.840 must speak out. The entire international community must speak out. Second, armed 447 00:42:37.920 --> 00:42:46.440 actors in Sudan must respect international law and protect civilians and recall the ICC's jurisdiction 448 00:42:46.960 --> 00:42:55.360 to investigate war crimes. Third, all regional powers must stop providing weapons to 449 00:42:55.440 --> 00:43:02.039 both parties in accordance with the UN arms embargo. Fourth, the warren parties 450 00:43:02.119 --> 00:43:09.000 must engage in direct negotiations in Jedda. Because this conflict will not be solved 451 00:43:09.119 --> 00:43:15.239 on the battlefield, it will be solved at the negotiating table. Fifth, 452 00:43:15.280 --> 00:43:21.920 and finally, all parties must enable full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian 453 00:43:22.039 --> 00:43:28.199 access, including crosswater and cross line access. Right now, five million, 454 00:43:28.920 --> 00:43:34.239 five million people in Sudan on the brink of famine, and tens of millions 455 00:43:34.280 --> 00:43:38.920 of people are in desperate need of aid, and yet the warren parties continue 456 00:43:38.960 --> 00:43:45.480 to obstruct humanitarian access and aid. Members of the press, I have an 457 00:43:45.559 --> 00:43:52.159 urgent ask of all of you, please help us warn the world about the 458 00:43:52.199 --> 00:43:58.280 grave dangers facing the people of ol Fashion who are trapped under the threat of 459 00:43:58.360 --> 00:44:04.159 violence of mass The people of Sudan are counting on all of us at this 460 00:44:04.239 --> 00:44:10.039 moment of peril. I thank you and I look forward to your questions. 461 00:44:13.880 --> 00:44:16.400 Thank you, Ambassador Gabriel Azando from Al Jazeera English, thank you for doing 462 00:44:16.440 --> 00:44:23.519 the stakeout A follow up, ma'am. In terms of armed actors and refrain 463 00:44:23.599 --> 00:44:30.800 from external influence, How important is that and specifically is the US talking to 464 00:44:31.920 --> 00:44:38.079 talking to other countries in terms of alleviating that, particularly the UAE. Thank 465 00:44:38.119 --> 00:44:47.239 you. That is particularly important because we do know that both sides are receiving 466 00:44:49.000 --> 00:44:57.440 support, both with weapons and other support to fuel their efforts to continue to 467 00:44:57.559 --> 00:45:00.960 destroy Sudan, and yes, we having give aged with parties on that, 468 00:45:01.039 --> 00:45:15.320 including with our colleagues from the UE. Sure question on the speculation in the 469 00:45:15.320 --> 00:45:21.199 media about impossible ICC or rest warrant for senior Israeli officials is the United Nation? 470 00:45:21.440 --> 00:45:23.639 Is the United States intervening on Israel's b are for the ICC? What 471 00:45:23.800 --> 00:45:27.880 role are you playing in terms of how this might play itself out. The 472 00:45:28.119 --> 00:45:36.320 ICC is an independent organization and their efforts are being undertaken without any contact or 473 00:45:36.599 --> 00:45:45.079 interference by the US. Thank you very much, Madam ambassador. First, 474 00:45:45.400 --> 00:45:51.480 a follow up on Sudan. Is there anything else that this Security Council can 475 00:45:51.519 --> 00:45:59.800 do, particularly to put pressure on the countries that are fueling this conflict with 476 00:46:00.280 --> 00:46:07.800 weapons to stop doing that? And secondly, could you give us an update 477 00:46:07.840 --> 00:46:15.199 on what's happening with the US peer that's being constructed off Glaza? Okay? 478 00:46:15.400 --> 00:46:21.880 On the question of what the Security Council can do, and I would say 479 00:46:21.920 --> 00:46:29.079 also what we can do as individual countries. We have raised this as as 480 00:46:29.119 --> 00:46:34.639 a concern. It was raised today and our closed consultations, it has been 481 00:46:34.719 --> 00:46:39.480 raised in open consultations, and we have appealed strongly to all of the countries 482 00:46:39.519 --> 00:46:45.880 who are providing support to the warring parties to cease that support, and we 483 00:46:45.920 --> 00:46:50.760 will continue to pressure those countries to do that. Idie, I don't have 484 00:46:50.800 --> 00:46:52.840 an update on the peer. Can we get back to you on that. 485 00:46:54.199 --> 00:47:05.239 Yeah, I think that's all we get it said. Thanks everyone may names 486 00:47:15.800 --> 00:47:19.920 So, I think you just heard from our American colleague and the Council's just 487 00:47:20.159 --> 00:47:24.920 had a private consultations on the situation in Sudan, where we are all very 488 00:47:24.960 --> 00:47:31.559 concerned about the potential escalation and build up a military forces around El fasher The 489 00:47:31.639 --> 00:47:37.679 Council was united in the conversation and in our statement over the weekend about our 490 00:47:37.719 --> 00:47:43.920 concern about the possibility of an escalation there and the imminent risk of a threat 491 00:47:44.000 --> 00:47:47.320 to the hundreds of thousands of people in El Fashier who are sheltering, many 492 00:47:47.360 --> 00:47:52.840 of whom have come from other IDP counts. As you know, the last 493 00:47:52.880 --> 00:47:58.079 thing that Sudan needs is a further escalation on top of this conflict that's been 494 00:47:58.079 --> 00:48:02.960 going on for a whole year. The Council is concerned about the humanitarian crisis, 495 00:48:04.079 --> 00:48:07.480 it's concerned about the scale of the famine risk, and it's concerned about 496 00:48:07.480 --> 00:48:13.679 the displacement of people. And we've heard in particular how troubling the problem of 497 00:48:13.760 --> 00:48:21.000 humanitarian access is given the barriers imposed by both sides of the conflict on humanitarian 498 00:48:21.039 --> 00:48:22.360 aid. So what we need to do, what we need to see, 499 00:48:22.400 --> 00:48:25.920 and what we've been clear on is we need to see an escalate the escalation, 500 00:48:27.440 --> 00:48:30.320 We need to see humanitarian access and we need to see both sides returning 501 00:48:30.360 --> 00:48:37.119 to the political talks in Jedder And that's the concern is probably the most overused 502 00:48:37.159 --> 00:48:40.800 word in the United Nations when it comes to resolving geopolitics. Concern doesn't really 503 00:48:40.800 --> 00:48:45.840 go a long way in putting pressure on parties to act differently. What was 504 00:48:45.880 --> 00:48:47.880 the point of this meeting? What did the Council decide to do moving forward 505 00:48:49.119 --> 00:48:52.960 beyond the statement that expressed concern. Well, I mean what you heard, 506 00:48:52.960 --> 00:48:58.119 what you saw with the weekend was very clear statement, collective statement of unity 507 00:48:58.159 --> 00:49:01.719 from the Council with very clear message to the parties in this conflict. We 508 00:49:01.800 --> 00:49:06.159 agreed amongst ourselves that we will continue to do that and those who have influence 509 00:49:06.199 --> 00:49:08.760 on the parties, I must must say there's very clear messages that there must 510 00:49:08.800 --> 00:49:15.639 be no no escalation and de escalation is necessary, mister ambassador, but if 511 00:49:15.280 --> 00:49:21.159 if nothing happens, I mean we heard also their US ambassador to says if 512 00:49:21.239 --> 00:49:24.480 those three points, if they don't, they escalate. If they don't, 513 00:49:24.559 --> 00:49:30.559 but actually they go ahead. Don't you think that this is so it start 514 00:49:30.599 --> 00:49:36.000 to look very much as it was the situation heres ago in Liberia and Moravia. 515 00:49:36.400 --> 00:49:39.880 Only the intervention of the United States and the order of President Bush to 516 00:49:40.000 --> 00:49:45.639 stop those harmy save the thousands of lives. So do you think this is 517 00:49:45.679 --> 00:49:49.000 I know, I understand there's a question that maybe it should have been for 518 00:49:49.079 --> 00:49:52.559 the US ambassador, But do you think that if they are not listened in 519 00:49:52.599 --> 00:49:59.239 the Security Council, somebody will have to save those people trap in the city. 520 00:50:00.599 --> 00:50:04.079 Well, I think you're What you need is a United international message. 521 00:50:04.159 --> 00:50:07.000 It's not about one country or two countries. It's about sending United messages and 522 00:50:07.639 --> 00:50:12.559 each country using the leverage it has with the parties to encourage them, to 523 00:50:12.599 --> 00:50:50.119 press them, to urge them to de escalate. The United in a shocking 524 00:50:50.159 --> 00:50:55.760 decision, the Speaker has refused to grant an emergency debate on the tragic issue 525 00:50:55.840 --> 00:51:02.239 of drug overdose deaths and drug decriminalized in British Columbia. Remember it was the 526 00:51:02.320 --> 00:51:09.119 NDP government of British Columbia who asked Justin Trudeau to decriminalize the use of dangerous 527 00:51:09.159 --> 00:51:15.960 drugs in public places all over the province. As a result, the number 528 00:51:15.960 --> 00:51:21.159 of overdose deaths has skyrocketed and people no longer feel safe in their communities. 529 00:51:21.159 --> 00:51:30.760 We've heard just tragic reports of things like nurses having to forego breastfeeding their children 530 00:51:30.800 --> 00:51:36.159 because they're worried about the exposure that they face to from drug fumes in hospitals. 531 00:51:36.719 --> 00:51:40.480 The Minister of Mental Health and Addictions today refused to take immediate action, 532 00:51:42.280 --> 00:51:49.239 and as a result, Conservatives are calling on the government to hold an emergency 533 00:51:49.559 --> 00:51:54.960 take note debate so that Minister Sacks can be held accountable for her decision today. 534 00:51:55.840 --> 00:52:00.480 Worse than refusing to take immediate action, the government has refus used to 535 00:52:00.599 --> 00:52:06.480 rule out expanding this dangerous and extreme pilot project to other communities, most notably 536 00:52:07.119 --> 00:52:14.199 in Toronto. So they're refusing to rule out expanding this deadly policy to other 537 00:52:14.280 --> 00:52:20.400 communities in Canada, and that is why Conservatives believe that the Trudeau government needs 538 00:52:20.440 --> 00:52:24.119 to be held accountable to parliamentarians and are calling on the government to grant this 539 00:52:24.239 --> 00:52:31.159 emergency take note debate immediately so that Canadians can hold this government accountable. I'll 540 00:52:31.159 --> 00:52:40.400 hand it over to my colleague to uh to repeat that. In French, 541 00:52:42.239 --> 00:53:02.199 the pause called intus f pret set person noverdez in steussion kiel premiminius the colomb 542 00:53:02.480 --> 00:53:10.800 technique Kevin ma dear epoch said the politic the discriminate alta fat domta or metra 543 00:53:12.159 --> 00:53:17.880 look at home, this overdose economy technique. Uh, this overdose pe part 544 00:53:17.920 --> 00:53:27.480 two. The jerkis on discriminates and publicly park the cafe mame pitou san on 545 00:53:27.559 --> 00:53:34.639 the trash kid. The reaction the lemnist Resas refuses the brand and this is 546 00:53:34.679 --> 00:53:40.400 your immediate set the domount preminius economic technique the matter, I said politic Martel 547 00:53:42.480 --> 00:53:51.519 Key fanactly verse a tedson economy te technique part two can it's two on the 548 00:53:51.599 --> 00:53:55.960 trash kid like this is you the leminis re sacks there no immediate I a 549 00:53:57.119 --> 00:54:07.239 town, said politic Martel. The discriminatetion Toronto decord elodie load of prouvois elado 550 00:54:07.320 --> 00:54:16.039 d'auvois answer champ pour compist ministre sex responsible the proposal DUI. He said, 551 00:54:16.280 --> 00:54:24.000 this is your illergic in acceptable then post metro term immediate as a project pilot. 552 00:54:24.199 --> 00:54:37.840 Look Guernoma Liberal du responsibility the totally person more vers see. We have 553 00:54:37.199 --> 00:54:43.960 heard so clearly in committee as we've been studying the opioid crisis and the obrudo's 554 00:54:44.199 --> 00:54:49.199 crisis in our Health committee that the police do not have the tools they need 555 00:54:49.320 --> 00:54:52.239 to be able to act. In fact, we had Deputy Commissioner of the 556 00:54:52.280 --> 00:54:55.480 Vancouver Police Department talk about the fact that they do not have the tools to 557 00:54:55.559 --> 00:55:00.760 stop someone that is smoking crack cocaine on a beach beside a family. They 558 00:55:00.800 --> 00:55:07.079 don't have the tools to tell someone they can't smoke meth in a hospital by 559 00:55:07.199 --> 00:55:13.320 patients and putting nerves at risk. And what is the response from this government. 560 00:55:13.679 --> 00:55:16.280 They can't take immediate action. What we need right now is immediate action. 561 00:55:16.599 --> 00:55:21.960 We need the government to stand up and explain why they refuse to grant 562 00:55:22.079 --> 00:55:27.880 this exemption, the exemption to the exceptions that the BC government has asked for. 563 00:55:28.280 --> 00:55:31.400 This is an absolute failure from the Liberal government. This was a failure 564 00:55:31.519 --> 00:55:36.360 of an idea to begin with, and now BC is asking the Liberals to 565 00:55:36.480 --> 00:55:39.159 save them from the mess that they created. And we need to hear from 566 00:55:39.400 --> 00:55:49.960 Minister Sacks as to why she is supporting more people dying in British Columbia. 567 00:55:50.039 --> 00:55:55.639 We see the devastating effects of these failed decriminalization policies every single day. The 568 00:55:55.719 --> 00:56:05.800 premier NBC NDP premier asked the federal government in twenty twenty two to sponsor and 569 00:56:05.920 --> 00:56:09.239 agree with decriminalization of hard drugs. Well, the facts are now in. 570 00:56:09.599 --> 00:56:15.800 In twenty twenty three, we had the most overdose deaths in one year we've 571 00:56:15.920 --> 00:56:21.280 ever had in BC, over twenty five hundred. That's over six deaths a 572 00:56:21.440 --> 00:56:27.159 day, every single day. These drugs, and when we talk about drugs, 573 00:56:27.320 --> 00:56:34.159 we're talking about opioids, methamphetamines, heroin, crack cocaine. These drugs 574 00:56:34.199 --> 00:56:39.320 are being used in playgrounds, in parks, in our hospitals. You have 575 00:56:40.000 --> 00:56:46.280 parents in British Columbia having to save their kids from needles cast on the ground 576 00:56:46.400 --> 00:56:52.679 at playgrounds. I mean, this is just not acceptable and it's dangerous. 577 00:56:53.320 --> 00:56:59.920 So now the BC premier comes to the federal government, comes back and says 578 00:57:00.480 --> 00:57:02.559 this hasn't worked. It's not working at all. We are having such a 579 00:57:02.639 --> 00:57:08.880 public backlash, please reverse this. We ask that today, do it now, 580 00:57:09.280 --> 00:57:14.800 and these dangerous policies now. And the answer we got from the minister, 581 00:57:15.440 --> 00:57:21.039 two ministers and the government is well, not yet anyway, it's under 582 00:57:21.119 --> 00:57:28.320 review. Six deaths every day while they delay their review. Then we ask 583 00:57:28.400 --> 00:57:31.639 for an emergency debate, and the Speaker turned that request down. I don't 584 00:57:31.679 --> 00:57:38.159 know what's more urgent than the death of Canadians. Forty thousand Canadians have lost 585 00:57:38.239 --> 00:57:44.199 their lives to drug overdoses since twenty fifteen, and this government has been in 586 00:57:44.320 --> 00:57:46.559 power. So we're asking it to end now. We're now asking for a 587 00:57:46.679 --> 00:57:51.119 take note debate. This is serious, it is grave. It is a 588 00:57:51.239 --> 00:58:02.239 matter of life or death. Jean your sis. The suprema sister blang nick 589 00:58:02.960 --> 00:58:13.199 chef, the condot explicit, the partisan supremas blanche and a really libert the 590 00:58:14.719 --> 00:58:22.679 the change or dev in situation extreme grave like masks niki u lev will see 591 00:58:22.960 --> 00:58:30.840 Lev will see Okay, Lev ok back not mads Nicole Nicole, religions confer 592 00:58:31.360 --> 00:58:45.239 mate with this ringe perscum Nicole, Marie Pounds, Marie Pounds, my consigns, 593 00:58:45.280 --> 00:58:49.920 particularly mass Les trie graph is the role president man. So the favern 594 00:58:50.039 --> 00:58:54.840 made restaur conco trip two s V d V took a felt like politic comam 595 00:58:54.880 --> 00:59:06.840 the commune cant demand, the Jans sur ands to vain, Colomb Predo set 596 00:59:07.440 --> 00:59:15.920 Colombo, Colom, Predo, viv and Colm kime out the overdose of post 597 00:59:15.960 --> 00:59:31.880 permit sex Doi response. What is the conservative solution to this? Because conservatives 598 00:59:31.880 --> 00:59:36.519 have also where you talk about concerns about public drug use, conservatives also come 599 00:59:36.800 --> 00:59:42.320 out against things like safe consumption sites or drug testing where people can can Conservative 600 00:59:42.320 --> 00:59:49.280 support supervised consumption sites. I'm just trying to clarify supervise but yes, well, 601 00:59:49.480 --> 00:59:52.840 thank you for that question. Conservatives have been exceptionally clear. We want 602 00:59:52.840 --> 00:59:57.719 to support treatment and recovery. These are important pillars. We believe that people 603 00:59:57.840 --> 01:00:01.719 have the capacity of recovering from addiction. We know and we believe in people, 604 01:00:01.719 --> 01:00:05.320 and we have a compassionate solution. I have to look at to my 605 01:00:05.480 --> 01:00:09.360 home province of Alberta, where they are applying a recovery oriented lens, where 606 01:00:09.400 --> 01:00:15.599 we are having a variety of supports in place, expanding treatment capacity as well 607 01:00:15.639 --> 01:00:19.440 as still having many of those harm reduction supports in place. And I would 608 01:00:19.559 --> 01:00:23.159 question and point to you that they are not safe. They are supervised, 609 01:00:23.199 --> 01:00:27.000 and we need to be very cautious and careful in the language. And this 610 01:00:27.119 --> 01:00:30.519 is one of the challenges we have right now with the so called safe supply, 611 01:00:31.239 --> 01:00:35.639 because the government is marketing it as if it's safe. We have kids 612 01:00:35.679 --> 01:00:38.039 on the street in British Columbia that go out and buy these dillies and they 613 01:00:38.119 --> 01:00:43.159 call them dillies because they're delauded pills, and they call them dillies and they 614 01:00:43.159 --> 01:00:45.679 think they're safe because the government has said they're safe. And this is absolutely 615 01:00:45.760 --> 01:00:50.719 problematic. These are dangerous, potent drugs and we need to take that more 616 01:00:50.800 --> 01:00:53.880 seriously and more responsibly, and we have to be very cautious in the words 617 01:00:53.920 --> 01:00:58.559 we use. And so I will not buy into that idea that this is 618 01:00:58.639 --> 01:01:02.159 somehow going to be safer. I just to clarify, what harm reduction strategies 619 01:01:02.280 --> 01:01:07.840 would a future conservative government support. If it's not supervised consumption sites, if 620 01:01:07.840 --> 01:01:10.360 it's not things like safeer supply, if it's not things like a decriminalization pilely, 621 01:01:10.440 --> 01:01:15.199 Like, what harm reduction strategies could you get behind? Well, I 622 01:01:15.280 --> 01:01:17.360 reject the premise of that entire question, because I didn't at any point in 623 01:01:17.440 --> 01:01:22.760 my statement say that I didn't support harm reduction. In fact, conservatives in 624 01:01:22.840 --> 01:01:25.480 my home province of Alberta have been very clear in supporting harm reduction. We 625 01:01:25.679 --> 01:01:30.719 have a variety of supports available to people that are struggling with addiction, but 626 01:01:30.760 --> 01:01:35.559 it's done in a recovery oriented lens so that people can get the support they 627 01:01:35.639 --> 01:01:39.239 require. But the end goal is always going to be to try and find 628 01:01:39.320 --> 01:01:44.039 recovery. And I think this is the challenge this federal government does not believe 629 01:01:44.079 --> 01:01:47.400 that people are capable of recovering from addiction, and so they're offering palliative care 630 01:01:47.440 --> 01:01:51.480 as the first form of treatment, and that is absolutely unacceptable. What does 631 01:01:51.719 --> 01:01:57.679 recovery oriented lens mean? Then, if conservatives don't say they don't have a 632 01:01:57.760 --> 01:02:00.239 problem with harm reduction, what harm reduction would you be? Okay? So 633 01:02:00.760 --> 01:02:04.679 to answer your question, that's a really good point. So a recovery oriented 634 01:02:04.760 --> 01:02:10.559 lens is building out a system so that people can find recovery and a variety 635 01:02:10.599 --> 01:02:14.800 of different off ramps and so having those kinds of supports in place. So 636 01:02:15.880 --> 01:02:20.519 whether it be a consumption site where people are asked, would you like support, 637 01:02:20.719 --> 01:02:22.840 would you like to get better from this? Would you like a space 638 01:02:22.920 --> 01:02:25.039 in in detox? You know what, we can get you into that detox 639 01:02:25.159 --> 01:02:30.039 center. We can get you into treatment. Across this country, families are 640 01:02:30.079 --> 01:02:32.599 having to mortgage their homes just to be able to put their child into treatment. 641 01:02:32.960 --> 01:02:37.199 That is absolutely not the right solution. I'm very proud of my home 642 01:02:37.280 --> 01:02:40.559 province of Alberta and the work that they have done in reducing and removing fees 643 01:02:42.079 --> 01:02:45.760 for those access to those supports, which means that families can put their loved 644 01:02:45.800 --> 01:02:50.039 ones into treatment. That means that people have the ability to get better. 645 01:02:50.079 --> 01:02:52.519 And that's what a recovery oriented lens looks like. It looks at a very 646 01:02:52.599 --> 01:02:57.440 holistic solution and trying to find as many off ramps for people that are struggling 647 01:02:57.480 --> 01:03:00.960 with addiction to get the care and compassion they need yet better. But some 648 01:03:00.079 --> 01:03:06.000 consumption takes do already offer resources for housing or for detox options. So what's 649 01:03:06.039 --> 01:03:09.679 the differentiation between what you would support and what the problem is. Well, 650 01:03:10.079 --> 01:03:14.400 what you're pointing out is the fact that it's a patchwork and not all of 651 01:03:14.480 --> 01:03:17.679 them actually believe that recovery is possible, and so I think it is very 652 01:03:17.760 --> 01:03:23.360 important as we're going forward in this that we continue to prioritize education prevention of 653 01:03:23.480 --> 01:03:27.480 addictions. And this is one of the big challenges we have right now with 654 01:03:27.639 --> 01:03:30.840 this so called safe supply, is that we are fueling the next addiction crisis 655 01:03:30.880 --> 01:03:35.679 by making more drugs available on our streets. And this is creating addiction in 656 01:03:35.840 --> 01:03:38.679 youth, and this is creating a problem that we need to will then solve, 657 01:03:38.760 --> 01:03:44.199 for we could get much better if we simply reduce the number of drugs 658 01:03:44.239 --> 01:03:47.360 on the street, helped people get into treatment and find recovery, and support 659 01:03:47.400 --> 01:04:00.599 recovery as a space. Thank you so much. Okay, thoughts, and 660 01:04:01.079 --> 01:04:11.079 this goes out again to Donald Trump and his supporters that we have to remember 661 01:04:11.280 --> 01:04:18.400 that laws they are supposed to be for everyone, that no one should actually 662 01:04:18.559 --> 01:04:26.000 hold a true immunity over another. When it comes to the law. No 663 01:04:26.079 --> 01:04:30.719 one should be able to rise above it, but we should all be able 664 01:04:30.800 --> 01:04:35.760 to work with it. And to those who think that Donald Trump should be 665 01:04:36.199 --> 01:04:42.400 allowed to operate beyond the law, that he should be held immune to the 666 01:04:42.599 --> 01:04:49.679 effects of the law so that he can break it whenever he pleases and not 667 01:04:49.840 --> 01:05:00.760 have to worry about the consequences. That's just simply not right. That those 668 01:05:00.840 --> 01:05:13.719 who are supporting him in many directions have some superior ideas about who they are, 669 01:05:14.280 --> 01:05:23.119 and that how them and their families made the United States something great. 670 01:05:24.159 --> 01:05:29.880 When the truth of the matter was before fourteen ninety two, there were great 671 01:05:30.000 --> 01:05:36.800 things happening in that land, before the Europeans ever came. That the indigenous 672 01:05:36.920 --> 01:05:44.159 people who were there were doing wonderful things by working with the environment, working 673 01:05:44.280 --> 01:05:58.000 with nature, and building things that were incredibly useful to mankind. So thank 674 01:05:58.039 --> 01:06:01.920 you for listening to Policy and here on Depictions Media Radio. I am your 675 01:06:02.760 --> 01:06:08.719 host, Michael Cloggs, and please find a subscribe button wherever it may be. 676 01:06:46.639 --> 01:06:54.280 This show has been produced by Depictions Media. Please contact us at depictions 677 01:06:54.559 --> 01:06:56.360 dot media for more information.