Ms. Pelosi good afternoon. Thank you for being accommodating. We had important legislation on the floor. So thank you. We have an interesting week, right . Today i just want to talk about two important things. Both begin with a c. The coronavirus and the census. Earlier this morning some of us were together right in this very spot talking about the census and how its starting now and we want everyone to participate. We want everybody in america to help define the size and the character of the quality and quantity, not only that, the beautiful diversity of america. And we want to hope to avoid some of the attempts that are coming to undermine an accurate count. One of them is a mailer thats gone out by someone claiming its an official census. Fill out this form. Of course, it isnt real. Were tracking that down. Were very concerned about what facebook has done. Facebook has something with the authority of the president of the United States faking waits way into looking like something to do its way into looking like something to do with this census. It is not. And when they were asked they said it was consistent with their policy, even though it. S a false transmission it wasnt an official census. And were excited, this morning we talked about the fact that part of the census will be electronic and we want to make sure that everybody has that capability, has access to it linguistically and culturally and geographically in every way. That reduces some of the need for the geographics, to go online. But were very concerned about what facebook we told them to take down that site. To take down that site. Its a lie and it undermines who we are and it may be god for their profits, but good for their profits but its not what counts for us in the census. Sadly, we have more concern about moving on to the coronavirus, we have more concerns about additional awareness, anyway, of the spread of it. I dont know if there are additional cases or were just learning more about what is out there. Some loss of life. Very sad. But we really have to were very proud that yesterday we came to the floor, had a very strong bipartisan piece of legislation, much improved on what was sent to us originally in terms of the appropriation of the coronavirus. And but again, except for i think it was only three who voted against it, strong bipartisan support, which shortly will be voted upon in the senate, sent over. Well have a signing ceremony, send it over to the president. As go forward, we have to just stipulate to fact. We have to dispel some of the misinformation that has been put out there and for that purpose weve had the opportunity in a number of meetings, yesterday with the Vice President , today with the wide range of representatives of the administration, to just try to correct the record. When the president says there are only 15 and there are four or five times that many at that time, there are more now, thats just not right. When the president said, go to work. No. There are other guidances that should be out there. When the president said, and he did say, precisely the Obama Administration made a decision on testing that turned out to be very detrimental to what we are doing he said that wednesday at a meeting addressing the virus, the outbreak. And we did that decision a few days ago so the testing can take place at a much more rapid and accurate fashion. The aide to senator alexander said the administration, the Obama Administration made no such rule change. And a policy expert at the association of Public Health laboratories said, we arent sure what rule he was referencing. There was intense interest in doing some things, but he agreed with lamars excuse me, mr. Chairmans aides statement that there was no such rule change. So, again, we go down this list of things. Now, were trying at our briefing yesterday, we were honored to have the Vice President visit, as the representative of the president in terms of fighting this virus. We had concerns and theyre going to get back to us on some of the answers, the concerns regarded not only the number of the tests, but the integrity of the tests. Having to correct tests that not reliable before. Next on that is when you take the test, then it has to go someplace to be analyzed and what is the turnaround time and are people walking not the streets not knowing whether they are positive or negative . We need to ramp that up so that that shortens the time between the test and the judgment as to whether its positive or negative. We also have concerns about travel. Were getting some that said, use common sense when you travel. We have others that are more specific in what theyre recommending. And theyre going to get back to that on us. We have concerns about the workplace. Do people get Unemployment Insurance if they are told to stay home . From work. Or if their business schutz down. Sadly then how are they compensated . How do they live under those circumstances . So we want them to get back to us on that. We were pleased that in our bill we were able to get the s. B. A. Loans approved that would go to businesses that are negatively impacted, Small Businesses that were negatively impacted. In terms of fact, what the proposal was that was sent to us was 2. 5 billion. Some of which was ran sacking the ebola account and the home heating account for poor people , liheap account. Those kinds of accounts. Instead what we passed yesterday was 8. 3 billion of new funds, not ran sacking anything, and designated specifically for the purpose as spelled out in the legislation. Addressing some of the concerns we have about testing, about analysis, processing of it. Getting information there. Other questions that came up at our meeting with the Vice President yesterday regarded Health Care Providers and their exposure and how we protect them. Whether its with advisories or whether its with masks or whatever physical possibilities there are. There are more than just the masks. The gowns, whatever. So it is its sad. Hopefully this is all redundant. Hopefully we are taking precautions that will prevent more from happening. But its a giant step forward. We think we need to do more, depending on how this expands. But we dont we want to have what we need to have because we want the people to have confidence. I think one way, an important way to have confidence is for us to have truth and trust in what is being said. To have the resources necessary in realtime that compensate state and local government and other entities that are already pending resources, using accommodations, having the opportunity for whatever else they might be doing. Again, working together in a completely apolitical way on this. Based on science and evidence and fact and truth. And the true epidemiology of s coronavirus and how it where it exists and how it spread and how america can be a resource to the world because, as you know, these viruses know no boundary. In the humanitarian way, as we did with ebola, we want to help to stop it and prevent it. But it also is in our interest to do so. Those two. Next week we have a number of bills coming up. The repealing the muslim no ban issues that relate to later well be doing the surprise billing but hopefully very soon on that were coming to cloture on bipartisan proposal in that regard. But next week, we hope to reauthorize fisa and we hope to we plan to pass senator cains bipartisan war powers resolution, among other things that well do next week. So, again, though, everything is overwhelmed by the coronavirus because this is about the health and wellbeing of the American People and how coordinated, governmentwide way, respond to it. As i say, were proud of the bipartisan nature of the bill. We were able to negotiate yesterday. It took some time to add Small Business administration, as mbers came in with ideas, im very proud of california, Mike Thompson and others from rural areas, talked about telemedicine, telehealth and we were able, after much negotiation, to finally get that into the legislation as well. Solisening to members and trying to listening to members and trying to accommodate their experience and what can be helpful from that experience in the legislation. So it was good. And i look forward to signing the enrollment, enrolling the bill before we send it to the president later this afternoon. Reporter Chuck Schumer said that [indiscernible] kavanaugh were [indiscernible] voting against abortion rights. Were those comments appropriate in your ms. Pelosi i believe he also said on the floor today that his words were not appropriate. I support him in that. Its unfortunate because, as you see, i think the republicans say its ok if the president does it, but its not ok if other people do it. It wasnt right for anybody to do it and chuck recognized those words. Reporter do you feel you have gotten a full explanation at this point for why the u. S. Was so much slower to get test kits out the door than some other countries . Ms. Pelosi lets just say, right now in china, ive been told by some people that in china they are saying that this all started in the United States. Well, we know that it did not. But we do know that when it started in china, there was a delay in informing the chinese and the world as to what was happening. At the same time the president , heck of a job president xi. Making that he was such a great leader, was going to take care of this as soon as the weather warmed up. But i think that part of the problem was lack of notice and a timely, responsible, scientific fashion as to what was existing. Then our exposure to it. We werent ready in terms of the advisories that were being put forth by the c. D. C. Saying only test somebody if they just had a trip to china or if theyre old and have diabetes or Something Like that. Well, that was not the appropriate guidance. They know they had to correct that. So lets talk about the future. Lets say many of the tests were not good enough. The analysis is still in some cases taking too long. But was not in appropriate time fashion to let people know you should selfquarantine or go to work. And the list goes on. But what we think we can do in this bill is to correct a great deal of that and then to go forward. Now, again, we can go through a whole list of things. In 2018 the president shut down the part of the National Security council that deals with this issue. Just shut it down. Never appointed other people in the role. 700 budget, he cut out million for c. D. C. When asked, he said, you just dont like having a lot i just dont like having a lot of employees around. When we need them, well get them back. Well, theyre doing a job and we have to recognize the value of their worth and have them trust the fact that they will not be here today, gone tomorrow, and oh, dont get another job because we may her you back later hire you back later. So it i think there were some mistakes nearpped. But not so much to dwell on them but to go into the future and say, we cant do that. The people who are there in the Obama Administration, in the National Security council and related agencies, were there for this particular purpose. If you want to see a template about how to deal with such an epidemic as ebola, look to what the Obama Administration did. It was picture perfect. It was really excellent in terms of how to husband and allocate resources, also talent, talent. To put some of our scientists in a place where we could really evaluate what the epidemiology, what are the prospects for more people catching it, what can we do about that . Much of that was erased in the trump administration. I think the reality of this, even if the president thinks its 15 when its 65 or whatever it was that day, i think the reality is in the Public Domain thanks to many of you. And hopefully some of the people in the trump administration. So right now its about how we go forward, recognizing that there were we were on a path that wasnt working. But not blaming it on somebody else. But taking responsibility for it now. [talking simultaneously] ms. Pelosi we just want to get people well. We just right now want to make sure this does not spread and that people get well as we go forward from this, though, we should have afteraction review and say, how can we be better poised for how we go forward . But this is we have simply idea of how much this may spread. So our focus has to be on stopping the spread and curing people. So that means we also have to invest as we do very heavily in our bill and a vaccine, help prevent. But that takes time also. And the pharmaceuticals that will the therapies that will help, possibly cure. One thing we did in the bill was to try to ensure 100 success of that that the prices that were charged by the private sector for any vaccine or other therapies would be reasonable and fair. That is how the federal government contracts. Reasonable and fair. And not have an exploitation by the private sector of the taxpayer or of the patients. We were only able to succeed with that in the private in the Public Sector piece of the bill. We fought until the end to get it in the private sector so that people with insurance and the rest would not be subjected to any price gouge. Hopefully they wont be. But we wanted to ensure that hey wouldnt be. The research that goes into the vaccine, you have to make sure you have the resources so that you can, with certainly, continue the research, keep the people employed who were doing that great work, and when we rein this in and hopefully that will be soon, but who knows, then we can do after afteraction review as to what we need to be fully prepared. Because it is an insurance policy. Insurance is something you have in case you need it. But it isnt something you have because you know youre going to need it. Cause nobody would be in the insurance business. Reporter [indiscernible] ms. Pelosi yeah, yeah, yeah. [laughter] reporter what are your concerns about the threat in this building . I know you met with other congressional leaders yesterday, about congressional operations. This is a very different work environment. People come to visit the cap to. Constituent comesing and going capitol. Constituents coming and going. How do you see the potential here and how that could impact [indiscernible] ms. Pelosi we are a place where many people come. Especially at this time of the year in the spring. So what we want to do is make sure that our visitors, our press, our staff and our members take the precautions necessary or in their own lives, for wherever they do live, but especially when they come to a place like this, where many people come together. So some of what we were briefed on yesterday was in a classified nature. Some not. Some of it is just about good hygiene and washing down your table top and washing your hands for 20 minutes and sneezing into a tissue and throwing it away. You know, that kind of thing. An that is part of the briefing that we received from the capitol physicians office. But from the capitol police, we were assured about and i think this will be a public document. But i know its not classified what im going to tell you now. In case there is a need for people to work from home, that all of the offices, not only congressional offices, but offices that serve the purpose of the capitol, will have the technology up to date in order to do that. Not everybody in our offices is at the same level of sophistication, all of that. But to make sure everybody is good enough in case we have to work from home. We cant vote from home, however. So its about security, its not about testing everybody who comes into the building. Thats not realistic. But it is also hopefully that the message that goes out more globally is that people will be more responsible about their methods. Tive one thing they said the other day was, dont hug anybody who is sick. Ok. Stay home if youre sick. Ok. Sneeze in a tissue and throw it away. Ok. Wash your hands for 20 seconds or is it 24 . Do 24 just in case. [laughter] with soap. Those kinds of things. I think were going to be developing good habits as we go forward. Some of that sounds very basic and mundane but it does prevent the spread and, again, the police chief gave us a presentation about what was being done to make sure that the Police Security that protects the capitol is secure as well. The leader of the capitol is always concerned about the security of the capitol. Now it is coming down more in terms of not only security, but the health security. Reporter [indiscernible] hygiene. Ms. Pelosi we heard from the office of the capitol physician. We heard from the clerk of the house, we heard from the chief chief of police, separate from the sergeant of arms, the arc tect of the capitol, just logistics and under whose auspices certain things fell. But well be ready should something come along. But we just what we mostly do is pray. Reporter last week you said that you talked to Vice President pence and you didnt think he was up to the job with managing the administrations response. After meeting with him yesterday, your experience over the last week, [indiscernible] ms. Pelosi i dont know if i said he wasnt up to the response. I was saying i had concerns because of his experience in not being up to the task as governor of indiana when it came to the hivaids challenge that he had there. I think the record is very poor there and i have concern that his own director of Health Policy there is now the Surgeon General of the United States. Again, were in a new setting, new urgency. Another set of scientists. Some with more experience than others in the Public Sector. All with some experience. So hopefully they will listen to the scientists. Ive had confidence in dr. Fauci. He has confidence in others. But i think we have a sufficient number of answers of ill get back to you that we are continuing our vigilance. Reporter next march 15 [indiscernible] expire. [indiscernible] some of your members willing to see it expire. Are you willing to see it expire . Some of your mens want to hold individuals [indiscernible] impeachment probe in contempt. Ms. Pelosi are we allowing people to have two completely different questions . Should we move on to another person . Let me start with fisa. Thats my wheelhouse, intelligence. Ive been there for almost all of the fisa legislation and the rest. We have to have an a reauthorization of fisa. Were having our own negotiations within our own group. But also among the democrats and visavis the republicans. As i said, were hoping we can be ready for something next week. But well come to the floor when were ready. I was very much oppose the to opposed to putting a fisa bill on coronavirus bill. Really . If i had my objections to a fisa bill, as you mentioned some do, if i want to vote for the coronavirus supplemental, i have to vote for fisa . Were not putting people in that kind of a situation. What was the second one . Reporter holding individuals in contempt. Ms. Pelosi right now were trying to save lives, prevent a spreading. Spreading. We had enough to challenge us with the with getting a supplemental that the republicans would agree to, of size that we needed. That doesnt mean we abandon any of our responsibilities to protect and defend the constitution of the United States and a congressional oversight will always continue. Reporter i wonder if you have any reflections on this being a twoperson race now and Elizabeth Warren ms. Pelosi you want to talk politics under the dome of the capitol . [laughter] reporter who would do that . [talking simultaneously] [indiscernible] reporter Elizabeth Warren. Ms. Pelosi are we talking civics here . Reporter yes. [indiscernible] your partys race being down to two people. Ms. Pelosi that was interesting, wasnt it . Reporter which part . [laughter] ms. Pelosi that being the last part. The elizabeth part. That was interesting. My daughters such an avid supporter of women. I dont know if shes going to be in a place today, my daughter, country teen christine. We all are. But nonetheless, that was her focus. Heres the thing. Im so proud to be a democrat because, to be a democrat is to respect other opinions. Including even republican opinions. But the beautiful diversity in our caucus has always been our strength. As i say, our diversity is our strength. But our unity is our power. And as we respect each others point of views on some of these subjects, we have to realize that whatever differences we have are minor compared to the chasm between us and the president of the United States. So when we come together, i may have said to you before that we would madly embrace whoever the nominee of the party is. Thats what i said last week. This week i say well madly elbow bump [laughter] its exciting. To have a difference of opinion as to the role of government and where you come down, one way or another, is, again, the vitality of the democratic way. I hope we wont have any having disagreements is otherwise only one of us needs to show up, right . If everybody thought alike. But we dont. We respect our different regions, our different philosophies, our different ethnicities, all the rest. Im encouraged by the debate that is taking place, that i hope will take place. Now with clarity between two people. I wouldnt have objected if other people were still in the race. But should take advantage of the opportunity of having a twoparty race. Again, make no mistake. We are for the winner of the person who wins our nomination. And we respect what the public has to say about that. Last question. Reporter what does Elizabeth Warrens withdrawal from this race say about the willingness of americans and the Democratic Party to put a woman at the top of the ticket . [indiscernible] ms. Pelosi i so wish every time i get introduced as the most poweringful woman, i almost cry. Because i wish that were not true. I so wish we had a woman president of the United States and we came very close to doing that, a woman who was Better Qualified than so many people have sought that office and even won it. But i do i think that the American People are ready. I never thought we would have a woman speaker of the house before a woman president. If you want to talk about tradition or whatever that is, this is a marble ceiling. Its not a glass ceiling. I always thought that would be something that the public would be much more ready for than members of congress. Well, well. Now we won. So i dont i think we had great candidates. They represented different points of view. Amy, more moderate and middle america. Heartland of america. Articulate spokesperson for her point of view. So proud her. Also elizabeth to get down to the final two who were still in the race, elizabeth. So knowledgeable and the rest. Its just i dont know whether men think about being president from the day theyre born and start running then. But i dont know that women do that. And maybe we should. Somebody should. But i think the American People are ready for it. Its a competition. You run and you make your pitch and people respond to it. I do think there is well, its a whole subject for another day. We dont have time for it right now because i have to go to georgetown and talk about women in power. And how important that is. But i do think theres a certain element ofmy someny that is there of misogeny that is there. Some of it isnt meanspiretted meanspirited, it just isnt their experience. Many will tell you, they have strong mom, doctor sttrs, aughters sisters, daughters, but they have their own insecurities, i guess you would say. I think america is ready for a woman president. Nd i think that kamala, all of them. How many did we have . Amala and tulsi. Tulsi gabbard. Kamala harris. Williamson. We had a wide range. Of course amy and elizabeth. And i think they all supported themselves very well with purpose. This is why im running. Knowledge. This is what i know the most about. And i have judgment on strategic thinking, about how to get something done. And they connected well with the American People. Now the question is, what is their Political Base and how do you expand that . And just to get into the race doesnt mean you have a Political Base. So, if theres going to be a woman president , those who might be thinking in that direction should be making decisions in favor of it rather than just going into a race because there is one. Reporter none of those candidates are at the top are going to be at the top of the ticket. Theyre not going to be president this time. So, when you speak in georgetown at the women in power ms. Pelosi come on over and hear what i have to say. Reporter why are they not going to be why were they rejected . Ms. Pelosi i dont think they were rejected. Just being a woman in all of this. You know, when i ran for a leadership position, the worst thing i could have ever said to anybody or any of my supporters could say to anybody is, we should be for nancy because we should have a woman. Loser proposition. Winning proposition is, we should be for nancy because shed be the best one to do the job. So, again, what is the job . The job is president of the United States. Leader of the free world. Commander in chief. With all the authority that goes with the article 2. But not all of the authority of article 1, 2 and 3. But article 2. Thats very big. In other countries they have parliamentary systems. They had it here, they had it there. Systems. Parliamentary your party has to win. Than winning in an Electoral College in the United States. Dont think its necessarily, in most cases, a fair comparison and size as well. Were so big. All of those candidates, them, helps be trailblazers for and maybe one of them will be that person in another several years from now however many years from now. See everything as an opportunity. We have an opportunity because these women put themselves out there. Because n opportunity Hillary Clinton did in such a was so she led the way for these women to go and be thinkingmen will about it earlier, though. Not just getting in the race, preparing preparing for it. Many gain, we have distinguished governors in the country and has executive and executive experience counts for something. Also have w, people have to know you. Hats what i think these two candidates they have run before. And joe biden had been Vice President. Credentials. Knowing is helpful as well. Advance ave to do is women and have standing on issues like National Security do. They women having standing on economy. The not well take care of the soft issues. No. Theyre important to the america, but there are other broader issues. If the women succeeds, america succeeds. Wholesome formore anything than having more women participate and be in the leadership of it. You get a woman president saying, you need a woman. For this is the best person the job. And any one of them could have fulfilled that description. You. Reporter do you think afraid voters were Speaker Pelosi no, i dont think so. I think anybody can be president. Republican leader Kevin Mccarthy also held his Weekly Briefing today with capitol hill reporters. Mr. Mccarthy all right. Begin. When house members depart this week, the American People could feel better about the fact we now one step closer to delivering on the funds needed Americas Health first. I wish we were able to do this last week but this straightforward emergency funding bill passed the house overwhelmingly esterday and speed up the development of vaccines,