The buffalo area. What a great speech. Im proud to have been the first member of congress to endorse donald trump for president back in february 24, 2016. Certainly active in the campaign, and now, one year into his presidency, he gave a factbased speech about our economy, how its booming, the stock market, the jobs, the investment, and the great work we did on the tax reform, but it was also an inspirational speech , you know, a call for america to be better, to be great. You know, and as he talked about the things we have yet to achieve, for some of those in our country still struggling, living in poverty, we need to find them, get them skills, find them jobs. So i thought this was a great speech, and my only disappointment was to see the partisan divide on the floor where time after time, Standing Ovations by our republicans, and i think with the exception of joe manson from west virginia, the rest of the democrats sat on their hands. I will use the word disappointing. The president did say we should all come together and find Common Ground it is possible on infrastructure. I think it is possible on immigration. Its about as be possible when we fund our military. Democrats see standing up on that as well. Iere were those moments, think we just need to build on those moments. I think is going to come down to the conversation of daca, is Young Children that were brought here that all of us have compassion for. If we can just get that over the finish line talking about border security, ending chain migration and the visa lottery, perhaps they can be the start. President trump did reach out across the aisle and we did see a few nuggets of hope. Here, paint aup picture of the buffalo areas which has seen its share of difficult times economically, how is it doing today . Unfortunately, we are in new york state which is the highest tax in the nation. We continue to lose population. We have the most progressive governor in the country and he is driving business out of our state. With those ago the jobs in future for our children. It has been devastating for our state. It has devastated western new york. Is rk is new york and it is a dark dark blue state. Thank you for joining us. Good to be with you. As we continue an statutory hall, another new yorker. Let me say that i am proud to be from new york. My colleagues are doing a tremendous job and im proud to be from brooklyn. I thought that the speech was filled with nothing but one misrepresentation after the next. Barack obama during eight years created 14 million plus private sector jobs. The notion that this economic turnaround has begun in the last year is just fiction. He called it a new american moment. What does that sentiment mean to you . To me becauselear we have seen one defensive moment after the next under this president. He has not brought people together, he is tearing us apart. Game, but it is not clear to me that he really means it. The proof is in the putting as my grandmother would say and we will see what happens over the next few weeks and months. What do you make of his four pillars when it comes to it immigration . It was riddled with misrepresentation. Consistent with the American Dream, consistent with the statue of liberty and the notion that we welcome folks from all over the country to pursue the American Dream and work hard and to make it in this great country. He seems to not understand that dynamic. Judiciarymber of the committee, the president said there is going to be a bill and a lot of work to do in the weeks ahead. What you see actually happening in the immigration aria . Area . Mitch mcconnell has promised there will be a vote on the dreamers. We have seen no such promise from paul ryan. It is not clear to me that there will be any movement in the house of representatives. If donald trump is really interested in seeing progress, he will pick up the phone and call paul ryan and say there should be a bill that is bipartisan in nature that receives a vote on the house floor. If that happens, we know that that vote to protect dreamers will pass. Thank you for joining us tonight. Thank you very much. Lets go to another democratic member. From houston texas, good evening. Are things picking up following the storms from last year . Houstonians are strong. That is one of the reasons i was deeply disappointed tonight. There was a fleeting moment of accolades for rescuers and First Responders and the coast guard for which i stand united on that applause. There was nothing about the president s commitment, pledged commitment to help us. That has not happened. The amount of money that we need to rebuild and to pick up infrastructure is much more than 81 billion that is now in place. It is for everyone, puerto rico, the virgin islands, and of course texas. Texas was devastated. It has been proved that Hurricane Harvey was the most catastrophic storm on the continental united states. Nothing was said to fix the pain, fix the homes, healthy elderly and disabled. I dont think the president understands the role of government and its commitment. The president laid out the four pillars. , especiallyask you from a border state, where the issue is going to go in congress if anywhere . Let me just say that i hoped that the president would heal the nation tonight. One of the ways of doing that would be to talk about immigration reform. One of my guests tonight was a dreamer. I dont think the four pillars heals the nation. On,e are discussions going but he has misinterpreted legal immigration, family reification is not reunification is not chain immigration. That countries where people of color have less of a chance getting to the u. S. And that is how we help them. To talk about a wall rather than talk about personnel and technology, and then to agitate the International Family by , andng about more nuclear when theynorth korea have been somewhat quiet during this. Period of time. He did not put sanctions on russia, but he wants to attack other World Industries tonight. He did not create any manner of unity or world peace. Member of the judiciary and Homeland Security committees, i wanted to ask you in the general sense, where do you give the president credit . I certainly think he gave himself credit. That is of course as he told the story of the economy. I am always excited when americans do well. Having been in congress, that work began under president obama when we spent 81 billion. He did not speak to a respect for the role of law and the constitution rule of law and the constitution. I think this attack on the agency inost known the u. S. Should have not gone without mention, meeting he should have indicated that we all Work Together and we respect the hardworking men and women of law enforcement. I look forward to helping americans appreciate the constitution and benefit from a constitution. Democrat from texas, thank you for coming back to talk to us. Pleasure to be with you, thank you so much. Here in statuary hall at the u. S. Capitol. Here is a republican from south carolina. Lets get right to the infrastructure proposal to the president put out. Trillion of5 infrastructure activity generated by all sorts of folks working together. Have you see that coming about . I think that there is going to be a strong push for a significant infrastructure package. I dont know if he actually gets , that is a trillion new number. The difficult question is how do you pay for it. What else did you hear in the speech tonight that caught your attention . The closing chapter on korea was a little bit ominous. It was a sort of open ended . Question mark with what comes next with korea. I would think that that was sort of an ominous close. I would say that what you heard on immigration was predictable based on what had been laid out. A little bit of kudos based on some things that have happened. Made us issues that apprised anybody. I dont think i have ever heard a speech with as many personal stories intertwined. Coming off a brief government daysown, eight or nine away from potentially another one, what do you make from the way the government is doing its business right now . I dont think anybody is happy right now. Disastrous. They dont plan and onemonth increments, they planned much longer, as does every other agency out there. I think you heard the agencies are well run, it hurts the taxpayer and it leads to a lot of unnecessary upheavals come each one of these budget inferences. Thank you for joining us. We move on back to the democratic side of the aisle congressman of michigan. The president did touch on trade tonight in his speech, what do you hear . He touched the button and he talked about jobs coming back here, but the key to renegotiation, the key is to end the outsourcing to mexico. So far communication has not made the administration has not made clear that it will stand for early and make sure mly and make sure in that sense it was hollow. Where are you with the tax bill that was just approved in terms of its prospects for improving the economy . Occurredf the growth under president obama. The increase in gross domestic yearct was less this last than before. We will see. Year than before. These huge deficits are likely to work in the opposite direction. And also wanted to ask you about infrastructure. What do you think of that number, what do you think of that thought, and where do you think congress can go on this issue and can it go there this year in an Election Year . It was kind of taken out of the air. There is no concrete proposal how we would ever really attacked the infrastructure needs. In that sense, it was also hollow. At times i felt i was at a Campaign Speech. Somehow, so much on immigration, i thought i was at a Campaign Speech a year and a half ago. When he talked about immigration in terms of gangs, it reminded me of the way he talked about immigrants from mexico and that they were all crooks and rapists. And thed about a gang person i had with me from , he was picked up out of the blue with children who are american citizens. And a committed a crime very violent one 30 years ago, and they pick them up and put him in jail. When he talks about immigration i felt it wasngs, such a dangerous approach to a really serious issue. Democrat from michigan thank you for joining us tonight. As we continue on here, getting reaction from members of congress to the president s speech tonight. There are joined now by the ocrat from new jersey michigan, sorry. Thank you for correcting us. What did you think . It was a very long speech. I thought it was so insulting for him to say americans are dreamers to because we understand that we dream, but the dreamers that we have labeled and we know are an immigration issue, yes they came here, with no decision ability of their own. I talked to a great dreamer today who was a College Student and he minimized the. That. To be so focused on this gang that he spoke of, his commitment to america first, what about fighting the crime on our streets not by immigrants . That i thinkhings were on track, one was funding of our infrastructure and the other was funding of apprenticeship program. We definitely need that. For us to be able to pass laws where we can get drugs, experimental drugs so that we can try to live is extremely important. But what he liked to see happen in the areas this year . I want him to find a bipartisan way for us to find it. The devil is in the details. That is where i want to pass some real dialogue. The president is trying to flip the formula. 80 20 . Going to work i want to get to the table and start doing the work. So far, we have not even come to the table to work on it. Wrap up, you as well are dressed in black tonight. Also tell us about the red button. A my guest tonight was reporter who wrote a book about in4yearold young mother 1944 who was raped by six white men. They threatened to kill her and her on the side of the road and said if you tell anyone we will kill you. She had the political courage to speak up. Itn they talk about metoo, is about women having the courage to stand up and not be a victim. Incident withfic dr. Nasser assaulting all of these women, one of the victims spoke up with tears in her eyes and said today i am no longer a victim. I am taking back my life. Were also wearing the cloth in unison with the African Community that this president. Labeled as we are saying that these of so many countries that we africanamericans are descendents of, we are standing in solidarity. Women inng black for this fight against Sexual Harassment and assault and standing with the africanamerican committees and fighting for diversity visa, we must not stop that. From the state of michigan. Thank you for joining us. I appreciate your time. With the marknow rutte al green from Texas Democrat al green from texas. How have things been going in these months . Thef you look at it from freeway, you would think that houston is doing fine as you drive by. When you go into the neighborhood, you still find that there are not just houses, but neighborhoods where repairs are still needed. There is still a need for plenty of help. I wanted to make sure that i got most of it right as it related to the president. He said we are with you, we love you, we will pull through this together. He did not say anything about the 81 billion that the house passed and sent to the senate that has not been signed into law, the money that is needed for the recovery. That is a part of what i am taught in my christian faith, but i am also talked to be a service to people who need help. It is time for the president to deliver on the president promise of aid not only to houston, but to all of the victims of harvey. That includes of course, what rico and the virgin islands. Rico and the virgin islands. Let me take you to immigration. Have you see this issue playing out in the weeks and months ahead . It playing out appropriately and properly if we do not require some people to have to capitulate. Capitulation is not negotiation. Understandst he that we can give a counter offer and there will also be a counter offer made. When the president says that he wants to and the visa, that is very difficult for people who believe in diversity. The president indicates that he is going to end family reunification, that is very difficult for people who have family members there trying to get here. The president wants to in this now without negotiating. I really think that there is something more to this i think the president has put this deal on the table to make it very difficult for democrats to vote for. I think the president really was to get rid of closure. I think you want to end closure in the senate so that 51 votes will do it. I think that this is a clever way for him to try to get democrats to do what we would ordinarily do, stand for diversity visas, stand for family reunification, and then have him say well guys, i give you a deal and he would not take it. That would be a sad day in our history. Placed impeachment of the president several times now on the floor, in a nutshell, why are you pushing this and how much longer will you continue to push this on the floor . I love my country. I believe that my country should have the promises that have been made to it. That his government of the people by the people for the people. A republic if you will. Because i love my country and we have a president who is very and whats his statement to become policy. Tweeting that transgender persons should not be in the military. His indicating that certain are wholein africa shole countries. It could be that he wants to believe that in his mind, they were creating an immigration policy masquerading. These are the kinds of things that are impeachable because they bring harm to american society. It . Was i doing i answer that because i love my country. How long will you continue to push this on the floor . The president will be subject to impeachment as long as he is president because of the firing of the fbi director mr. Comey. When he fired him and went on national tv and explained that it was related to the russian impeachment is not judicial, it is political. All of what you hear on television is about the judicial aspect of impeachment, not the political aspects that takes place in the house of representatives. As long as this president is in office, he is subject to a call for impeachment based upon his interfering with an investigation of his campaigns involvement with russia. Russians have been trying to deal in our campaigns and we have a duty to investigate it and the president cannot interfere with that investigation. He is subject to impeachment. Thank you for joining us tonight. I thank you very much. God bless you. Now we now have a. Ongressman from illinois what did you hear from the president that spoke to you most . Laid out a plan for immigration that not many people expected. Infrastructure, talking about rebuilding our military. I wish he wouldve talked a little bit more about agriculture. Im glad that he highlighted the itd to be bipartisan because was the lack of bipartisanship that led to my friend getting shot on a baseball field. We were able to highlight some of the need for bipartisanship tonight. , i think theks president of the exact same thing during his speech. Step on into the camera. Tell us why youre here tonight and what we take from experience . Coaches thatof the got shot down there and happened to be here. I appreciate the president talking about bipartisanship and talking about what the congressional placed it at the baseball game. What was that moment for you during the shooting, what was the whole episode like for you . One, i was just trying to run away. Was trying to get off the field and then all the members coming over and taking care of me. Your other guests has another occupation as well. He is a professional baseball player and played for a long time for the phillies and nationals. Tell us about your experience here and what you got from it. I didnt really know what to expect coming in. Ive been working with these guys on their organic farming. Was really inspired. A fella get was a great time to be an american. I thought President Trump did a great job. He spoke really well and i was inspired. Let me go back to the congressman here for a moment. Transportation, infrastructure. That 1. 5 trillion figure been thrown out there for lots of different types of folks to get together and create that type of activity. What is realistic in congress and how soon . I certainly hope that any plan is going to be realistic because she cannot get much more bipartisan than infrastructure. The president is talking about 1. 5 tell you dollar plan 1. 5 21. 5ou dollar trillion plan. If we can do that, i hope the democrats will want to open up the debate to fix a longterm highway trust fund. If we cannot get bipartisanship on that, it is just because they dont want to give president cap a victory. What is your biggest critique . The president has some different twitter habits and a lot of us have. Have. N a lot of us i think he gets so much critique from so many that sometimes what thats done, decisions made people would never have expected from the campaign that he ran do not get enough credit. He is residing what over one best economic races and it and history. Republican from the champagne in illinois, thank you. Hi, how are you . Democrat from california. Good evening. What did he hear from the president and the Foreign Policy aria area that might have interest of you the most are concerned you the most . Talkst concerns me is he like he is going to prevent north korea from having a nuclear weapon, but he is continuing the same policy we have had for 17 years. Have made moreey progress in the last year than they made at any other time. When he is not willing to do is cause beijing to even wonder whether they might lose access to the u. S. Market. As long as beijing feels like they have free access to the american market, than in china is not going to change its policy toward north korea and north korea is not going to change its policy toward developing missiles. About the whole debate over russia at this point . What, coming from the white house, what is coming from the hill . So much news out there and so much friction, what is your take . He has defied the law today. A huge bipartisan majority. , passed a law ago that says we have to sanction those companies doing business with the intelligence agencies of russia. Today, the state department announced they didnt feel like it. That is a whole new attitude toward law enforcement. The president said in a good chunk of his speech talking about the economy and benefits of the tax bill as he sees them, the rising stock market and on and on. What do you see right now in the country economically happening . Wave in. In a sixyear 2017 was good. Not as good as the prior five years under obama, but 2017 was good and we hope for a strong 2018. Thank you for joining us tonight. Continuing on with republican of nebraska. The big question is appropriations. We are under temporary government funding right now, maybe more than one week left before another cr, what is going to happen . I think the issue of daca combined with the necessary reforms to our immigration system and enhance security are the makings and component of a deal so that the preconditions are right for Many Americans who have sympathy for the some people that want to make sure that the circumstances never happen again through a broken immigration system. That is the key to unlocking a law of the budget difficulties moving forward in the next few weeks. How about this spending caps we have been hearing about . Update . The i think youre going to see that happen. I think the unofficial constraints on military spending and other important domestic spending actually helped reduce some budgets, but it is a proxy for this deeper divide and has created a deep stagnation and government, potentially risking our own sin security. I think there is a will to get past this pretty quickly. What is your mail like these days . When they are constituents saying . The mouth of the year has been quite intense mail through the year has been quite intense. The current law has helped some people, but is in need of reform so that we are not leaving anybody behind. Immigration is a big issue and what to appropriately do about that. Ple want a system americas impulse is to be generous. Generosityhave chaos. The keyd immigration is to perhaps an immunity in congress and a budget deal. A new 21st Century Architectural government. Republican of nebraska and a member of the appropriations committee. Thank you for your time tonight. Continuing on here and statuary hall with republican of virginia. Thank you for joining us. The president said tonight lets end the sequester when it comes to defense what do you think . I think that is exactly what we need to do. In talking about restoring our ability to meet the challenges we have out there with the different countries, he named them off. Ironic iran. Making sure we and this sequester. It is good to hear him say what is he what he is going to to rebuild the military. How to get there and how soon . I think we have an opportunity this year for at least a twoyear. To set aside a sequester and come up with a budget deal to make sure those things happen. I think that is the first step to make sure the occurs. It leads us to this shutdown mentality. The key is for congress to get its job done. I think budgets need to be done not, congressman will get paid. The house ought to be required to get all 12 Appropriations Bills done by the end of july. If not, the house should not be allowed to leave town and go home in august. If you make sure that members suffer consequences for inaction, i think you would find that they would get things done. We are in 20 plus years now of managing this government by continuing resolutions which is the most illogical way to do that. The president did mention north korea and what he would like to see happen. Where do you see things going and how is the president doing in that particular aria . Area . I think he has done more than past administrations. The only way you are really going to affect how north koreans deal with its building of Nuclear Weapons and having an intercontinental ballistic missile, is to put enough pressure on them to get them to stop. That is going to have to include a very aggressive effort by china. Think the president has really pushed that as well as nikki haley. I think they have done everything possible. Obviously, you want to make sure that all options are on the table. We would it like to pursue the military option, but you can never take that off because a nuclear rise to north korea is also a tremendously scary situation that our country does not want to find itself in. Thank you for joining us tonight. Thank you. Back to the democratic side of the aisle to the state of new york. Democratic caucus chair, what did you think of the speech . Very uniting at all. Think democrats and the sident agree that let me take you back to that phrase the new american moment. What does that mean to you . I dont know what that means to me at this point. What i can say is that there is a failure to recognize what russia attempted to do in this country and that was to undermine a Democratic Institution during the elections lester. The present last year. The president never once mentioned that. He talked of course about the tax bill. What is your take on where we are now as things get started with this new legislation and its impact on your home state . I think it has had a negative impact in my district where taxes for many of my constituents will go up that is unfortunate as i voted against the bill. The president also talked about infrastructure bill. Where do we get that money now . Where is the money now for infrastructure . What else did you here tonight . Heard the president went to extend the hostagetaking when it comes to immigration. It is time to stop taking hostages and actually negotiate a real dream bill. Thank you for joining us. Moving on to the other with the democrat from oregon. Look at your reaction to the speech especially the areas of immigration. The speech was really horrific. The president chose to use gangsters as a symbol of all immigrants. Unless you are 100 native american, it is really demeaning to all of us. Are parents, grandparents, greatgrandparents came here to build this great country and immigrants are the substance and fabric on which we built this nation. Isreally dismiss immigrants important to our heritage or future is very strange to hear from an american president. Have how did you meet your president . I wanted to have a dreamer here because this issue of our Community Members who have come from far away the grown up in our elementary schools, high have hadand colleges their legal status of the way from them. Is a completely unjust situation to do that. The president is responsible for. Toelt it was impossible evoke out of him. We did not hear a great heart tonight. Where you from . Im from salem, oregon. Tell us your story. Live in educating our community as to what it means to be a daca recipient, what it means to be undocumented on a personal level, and to really humanize the conversation. Through those efforts, the senator king was an amazing opportunity and privilege to be here today. To put a face to the conversation around immigration. I think sometimes that conversation gets to be more conceptual and we forget about the people being affected daytoday. Adults 800,000 young across this country who need resolution now. How concerned are you standing here tonight about the progress . I am very concerned. The fact is i feel like it has been a conversation for everybody. The people to lose and this are the people who are directly affected by. We are continuously divided by politics. The American People want resolution. 80 of americans are behind the dream act. The fact that one has not been an active falls straight out of politics. Im concerned about where we will go and how will reach this resolution. Thank you for joining us tonight. Saidf our earlier guests the debate will be taking place here in washington in this next week. We are under temporary government funding now, how do you see things playing out . I am very concerned that there has not been Movement Toward resolving the basic spending bill that is supposed to have been in place in september for the last fiscal year. Our republican colleagues are first obsessed with trying to pass a bill that would Health Care Away from some 22 billion to 32 millionon americans. Here we are, we have not. Ddressed the Opioid Epidemic it is killing more people in america than automobile accidents are killing. Republicans keep saying they want to do something about it and then they do nothing to resolve this. We have not addressed many of our fundamentals including refinancing or reauthorizing our Community Health clinics, which are such an important front door to many other americans. These clinics are be left on both sides of the aisle and yet my republican colleagues cannot bring themselves to address something that would improve health care. Thank you and thanks again for bringing the guest tonight. On now to the congressman from oklahoma. State to us about one of your areas of expertise, Armed Services and what you heard from the president tonight. I agree that prosperity and peace come from the strength our military. Will we have to do now is get it out to our military. That really is the party of congress. I agree with him that we need to end the sequester. We all stand and applaud that every year and only dont do it. I was amazed that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle during the threeday shutdown circus, we all drag out our veterans and said how much we care about them. Where were we in december . It. Hutdown circuit to call circus you call it. What needs to happen . These are measures that have passed both the house and senate signed by the president. Those dollarse and get that out of the way and then we can do the other. The president is correct and i thought he made a concerted effort tonight to reconnect lawmakers to the American People. The capital does not belong to us it longs to we the people. That was a good reminder to all of us. That being said, what is the mood up here like these days . What are your observations . I was reading an article last week that the popularity of congress was 16 . I was surprised it was a high. We are the mood is getting things done and we need to continue to move on. The president set some of that goal tonight. He did lay out some of his immigration points. Congress has to do immigration law. The fact that we know what his priorities are, we can see at the legislative and executive branches can come together. Republican of oklahoma thank you for joining us tonight. We continue on here in statuary hall tonight get a reaction from members of congress to the president s state of the union speech tonight. He will release his budget at some point in the next several weeks. A member of the Budget Committee is joining us now. Democrat from new mexico. What are you looking forward to when the time comes from the president . He laid out several things that i think most members of congress are interested in. When he talked about crumbling infrastructure, i agree. Are going to identify a strategy udget that gets to Infrastructure Spending and is that going to look like a balance between Public Partnerships inside local bodies of government without cautioning it all to them, and are these private partnerships going to be meaningful and accountable partnerships . I need the level of detail. That is a very interesting roadmap and i hoping to see the in cbc spending my talk about cancer and clinical trials. Im hoping to see the trifecta. That are going to be resources and serious strategies about the Opioid Epidemic and other going to be government investments and strategies to hold the pharmaceutical industry accountable . Wealth to be here tonight . To things i was disappointed in. Where we are going and give me a little more detail on that. Broad, sweeping statements. In two of those statements, i felt like we were right back to the innovation speech. Inauguration speech. We talked about making sure we dont support any nations in his view about how they are supporting us. , about the immigration statements although he did not mention the wall, were more Campaign Rhetoric that did not get to we do have an obligation to address many of these issues. The lack of fact that were accurate and that immigration statement, i was really disappointed in that. Tell us more about what you heard from the president tonight are what you would like to see happen in that realm. I reallys an easy one. Need the president cannot perpetuate discriminatory falsehoods about immigrant communities. Tying them to all being serious criminal offenders and gang members. Is to the unification and diversity visas, it is not helpful. We want americans and our voters in constituents to believe that differentrting strategies to address those issues. One you disagree, you have a meaningful opportunity. Thatve asked discriminatory leaning not come out of the white house. Thank you for joining us tonight. Moving on now to our next guests. I was thrilled. Proud to be an american. If i was very optimistic, it was unifying, he laid out a very vision. An finding Common Ground and getting things done, is that doable . I think so. We will continue to negotiate in good faith. It is time. We owe it to the American People. What are you hearing from constituents these days . I think they are excited. We have not been able to do this to congress in decades. I think the president has offered a compromise after listening to both parties and houses of congress. Tell us about your district. Of the department of common security, we have the borders. We also enforce the immigration and laws of this country. All four pillars affect us. Your the secretary of Homeland Security. What did you hear about the president tonight that is going to be the biggest lift for you . Clear that hey has been willing to compromise and he has offered up a compromise. To gives us all the structure we need, and now we just need to get it done. Is there enough money out there to do the job . Absolutely. The good men and women of dhs have gone above and beyond. We will work with congress and explain that and make sure they understand what we need. What about those four pillars, what is reasonable and what is practicable. What can work in houston can it work . Work . Soon can it he is showing his compassion. The number of daca he is offering to pass citizenship is three times that of the last evisceration or any administration. Tonk he is also saying that family, letsear focus on getting them to the system. There are more than 80 ways to come here. Changing the diversity visa allows us some flexibility to work on that. Thank you for joining us tonight. The u. S. To a member of house of representatives and a member of the Financial Services committee, their republican from michigan. T did you think of them as the speech . Quite honestly the best speech i have seen the president give since he has been on the national scene. Tell name and what you do. I own several businesses in west michigan. What do you want to say tonight in terms of your areas of expertise . First of all, it was a great experience. Definitely honored to be here. Goes, as the tax reform it is allowing us to have the opportunity to pay more wages to our existing employees, hire more employees, by new locations considered renting them, and really compete against the big guys. Ask a decision is not for everybody necessarily, doesnt benefit them, what is your reaction . I think they are so off base. We are seeing Large Companies and Small Companies and mediumsize companies in michigan. We have the three Largest Office furniture makers. We have deferred profits food processors. They are all benefiting and their employees are benefiting. For someone to throw out this notion that these are crimes and dont mean anything to families is completely off base. And is well over 50 of all families cannot come up with 1000 in an Emergency Fund to go fix the car a pair or take a trip to the doctor. When we are seeing those kinds stockmises being made, options being offered, that is real money. Member of the Financial Services committee, what is next on the agenda for you this year . I chair the Capital Market subcommittee and we are dealing with securities and exchange commission. Are going to be continuing to try to make sure that we have the deepest most liquid markets here in the u. S. We have done some things of the last 10 years that have changed that. It is time to really open those backup. Chairman clayton is very committed to do that. Men and women who are investing in whether it is College Funds or their retirement funds, but they are protected but getting the maximum return as well. How many terms . I am in my fourth term. How would you describe the mood after these days . Challenging. The president at tonight who has been given a reputation as being partisan really try to reach out. You have the chairwoman of the hispanic caucus and also the secretary of dhs back to back here talking about immigration. There is desires, i have the largest hispanic population of all congressional districts in michigan and it is everything from construction to highly educated folks to Agricultural Workers and i think there is a lot of us in congress right left and center that no we need to tackle this and take it had on. The other question is how to tackle it. The president mentioned his four pillars tonight. Do you see more something more comprehensive . I call it the coalitions of the willing. You are going to have to marry at up with some things that you really like and some things maybe you dont really like. The other side might really like some of it and really not like some of it. When the president is talking about border integrity and talking about trying to make sure that we are ending this extended migration family ability to emigrate, but offering 1. 8 Million People an opportunity for citizenship and status adjustment, those are some big things that some conservatives on the right are a little nervous about that. As you heard from the chairwoman of the hispanic caucus, they have made it feel like any to go further. Think there are some military areas in ground that we can have some commonality. I am married to an immigrant. She is from canada originally and her parents came from europe. Whether it is canada, cambodia, or cameroon, the system is broken and needs to be revamped. We appreciate your time tonight. We will stay here for a few more minutes. You can watch a president speech writer on cspan right here on cspan. We have a member of the Armed Services and the foreign intelligence committee. What are your takeaways from the speech . This was a more subdued speech by the president. It was less bombastic than you would usually see him give. And that when it was different, but i do think that he issued a like theled promises infrastructure promises and the paid family leave bill, which have not come from the white house in the last year since he has been president. He also missed an opportunity to talk about some very important issues of our time. Too movement, but also he did not talk at all about russian interference in our elections last year. That,mportant than instead of looking back at the past, he did not talk at all about how we are going to prevent that in the future and how the white house is willing to work with congress on that. There are some important issues that he failed to address. Lets get to immigration as well. I am optimistic. I think we have to be optimistic, because the future and lives of a hundred thousand ng people are on the line 800,000 young people are on the line. Putting it in writing i got was even though itep, really disagree with at least a few of those core demands and cannot support a bill that looked like that right now. We are going to try to get it done in february, but most certainly by march 5. One of the most pressing what are the most pressing issues in Foreign Affairs . Our relationship with russia and how we hold them accountable for their imposition and interference in our election. The fact that the president has refused to impose the sanction that congress has passed. That could be leading us towards a constitutional crisis. For the president and executive branch not to impose these sanctions that congress has commanded, that is going to continue to be a big problem. But also north korea, the fact that the president s strategy saber rattling instead of. The strategy that he has taken their, so these issues of course. The issue of peace in the middle east between israelis and palestinians and the fact that the president has gone back and forth between eight one states and twostate solution. That has also been troubling. And your take on the russia probe as it stands now . The russia probe is moving forward. You know, you basically have three probes. Ours is continuing to move forward. I hope we will visit with more witnesses and receive more documents. I suspect that is going to take many more months to complete. Representative, democrat from texas, thank you for joining us. Thanks for having me. We have a democratic congressman from illinois. What did you make of the speech . It was one hour and 20 minutes long. At about the one hour and 15 minute mark, i was not sure that i was going to catch my flight back home tomorrow morning. It wrapped up, he had some nice sentiments at times about unity and coming together. There was not enough substance and his actions of the past year do not exactly match up with the rhetoric. I think at least on a few issues, my interest would peak, but i wanted to hear more substance. Important to the constituents back home . Everybody wants to get on the up escalator in the economy. They want to have a successful small business, that is one thing. The second part is that they want to feel good about their government, their president , they want to feel good about how people are being treated, that there is equality, that people are treated with dignity. I think those are some of the sentiments that im hearing. You are a member of the education committee, correct . Yes. What are the most important points for you to remember to work on on behalf of your constituents in education . One think that i was very interested in is career technical Vocational Education and the statements that he made on that issue. I am the lead democrat in the house on the passing of the modernization of the fundings here. I wish he had said lets call it for a vote. That would be a huge boost for our economy. I would like to see a little more sentiment at the white house about taking action on the rhetoric that they may tonight. How long have you been in congress now . I am in the second year of might first term my first term. How has your experience been so far . Rolleras been a wild coaster ride, but it is an honor to serve. Thank you very much for your time congressman. Thank you. Continuing on with interviews with members of congress. This is the democrat from florida, thank you for joining us tonight. What were your big takeaways tonight . I thought the president spent a lot of time on empty promises with very little detail. He pandered and gave us a fairly divisive and hateful speech that proposed changing immigration that allows families to Stay Together and that allows us to have diversity in this nation. I was offended and thought it was tomorrow. Immoral. W what is doable . Allowed ify the Republican Leadership simply allowed the dream act and theion on the house senate, we would have an overwhelming bipartisan majority that would vote in favor and. We need to deal with comprehensive education reform and we can, but we do not need hostagese dreamers as or ransom in that. Almost throughout our history come american policy of being a beacon of light for the world and allowing people who have been oppressed to come to this country and make a better way of lives for themselves. Lets talk about money, spending, appropriations. We are under very shortterm government funding at this point. What is the path forward and how do you get there . While the path forward is not what the president proposed in his speech tonight. I am all for making sure that we have a strong military. We need to make sure that we have a budget deal and a full fiscal year budget deal that raises the cap. We live c. R. To c. R. , that is grossly irresponsible. No person or business will be able to sustain himself. When you to sit down and Work Together to hammer out a budget deal. On that larger overall area, the budget, what are you looking forward to . I am eight glasses have ass is halfon a gl filled person. The president claims that we are. Weve actually have the slowest rate of growth in jobs since 2010. Some of the growth was created when president obama was in office. Some transparency would be nice and actually bringing at the outset, republicans and democrats on the Budget Committee together so we can try to hammer out the priorities of the country. Democrat from florida, as always, thank you for joining us. Our coverage of tonights state of the Union Address will continue in just a moment. Ashington journal is live every day with stories that impact you. Join the conversation all morning with your phone calls, emails, Facebook Comments and tweets. Thursday we are live in montgomery, alabama for the next stop on the cspan bus 50 capitals tour. Be sure to watch cspans wash ington journal, live every morning starting at 7 a. M. Eastern. Senator Susan Collins and steny hoyer and representative adam schiff will sit down with veteran journalist to talk about the priorities President Trump laid out earlier. That is live at 8 00 a. M. On cspan2. Newsbobternoon, cbs schieffer joins a panel to break down the president s address. We looked at the history of the state of the union. President Donald Trumps first state of the Union Address will begin in about an hour. The democratic response will follow. President and mrs. Trump will depart. Cspan cameras will show you the departure. Tonight our goal is to provide a , behind the scenes look at the state of the union, live coverage of the address, interviews with members of congress, political analysis, and most importantly, your