[upbeat latin-tinged music] congressman torres has been fighting for the south bronx since he was 25 years old, first as a new york city council member. - i have made the decision to allocate $25,000 to establish a food pantry for employees who have felt the immediate impact of the government shutdown. - and then in the house of representatives winning new york s 15th congressional district at 32, becoming the first openly gay afro-latino representative in congress. - ritchie. - oh, john, how are you? - how s it going? how are you? - it s good to see you. i m a huge fan. - i m a big fan as well. - it s an honor to have you. - thank you for having me. so exciting being here in the house. - there s never a dull moment in d.c. - oh, i bet. you must be exhausted. - look, if someone had said to me a few years ago that i would become a member of congress during a global pandemic and witness an insurrection against the u.s. capitol and then vote to impeach an outgoing president, and all of th
a puerto rican representative from the bronx, doesn t think so either. [upbeat latin-tinged music] congressman torres has been fighting for the south bronx since he was 25 years old, first as a new york city council member. - i have made the decision to allocate $25,000 to establish a food pantry for employees who have felt the immediate impact of the government shutdown. - and then in the house of representatives winning new york s 15th congressional district at 32, becoming the first openly gay afro-latino representative in congress. - ritchie. - oh, john, how are you? - how s it going? how are you? - it s good to see you. i m a huge fan. - i m a big fan as well. - it s an honor to have you. - thank you for having me. so exciting being here in the house. - there s never a dull moment in d.c. - oh, i bet. you must be exhausted. - look, if someone had said to me a few years ago that i would become a member of congress during a global pandemic and witness an insurrection against the u.s
where it s also expected to pass that head over to the presidents desk. despite this very important step forward, it s an incremental step but it s important. many are still concerned and rightfully so about the need for additional protections left out of the legislation. joining me now to discuss is congressman ritchie torres, he s a democrat representing new york s 15th congressional district. very good to see you again, sir. let me first get your thoughts on the significance of this upcoming vote in the house. i believe it s scheduled for tuesday? yes. and the respect of marriage act represents we in congress are doing for marriage. what we should ve done for the right to an abortion. more trying to get in front of overawe. and how to protect it from the wings of the supreme court. on the federal rights for marriages essentially insurance policy against the far-right supreme court. and the risk it poses to marriage equality. as you said, clarence thomas was on a mission to overt
homeland security secretary alejandro mayorkas testified that the southern border is secure before appearing to reverse course. last month over 230,000 migrants were encountered at the southern border, a record for the month of october. it s only poised to get worse after a federal judge last week ordered the lifting of title 42 which is the effective trump era policy that stopped illegal border crossings. officials with the biden administration told the washington post that once 42 goes away, they estimate that at least 18,000 migrants will illegally cross the border every day. that amounts to the 6.5 million migrants a year on top of the 5 million who have already crossed in on joe biden s watch in the last two years. joining me right now is republican monica de la cruz who will be representing texas 15th congressional district beginning in january. monica de la cruz, congratulations to you on your victory. what can you do to make a difference at the southern border? thank you s