Texas democratic representatives Eddie Bernice johnson and marc veasey. Rep. Veasey hi, everybody. This is marc veasey, congressman for the 33rd Congressional District. I want to thank everybody for being on this digital zoom event today. Dr. Jill biden, thank you so much. We really, really appreciate you joining us. We love you in dallas, texas. We love you in fort worth. We love you all over the state and just really appreciate your , presence here today. Thank you so much. Dr. Biden thank you. Rep. Veasey absolutely. And congresswoman Eddie Bernice johnson. The congresswoman is one of our four committee chairmen. Shes the chairperson of the science and Technology Committee and she represents the 30th , Congressional District in dallas, and i will be introducing her a little bit later, but i want to open up by saying over the past five , months, the lives of working parents have really been turned upside down, especially our working moms. Daycares are closed, summer camps are closed, vacation bible schools arent open, and mothers are out there multitasking. Theyre trying to do Conference Calls and zoom calls, just like we are today, and trying to take care of the kiddos. And we know that when school suddenly switched to distancelearning, that they had to drop everything that they were doing, including working, so they could help their kids on assignments. Look at our essential workers. A majority of them are women and disproportionately women of color, and they stayed on the job, and they still managed to be the glue for their families while really helping us try to get through covid. And this crisis im talking about with working moms existed before covid. But the virus has really cast a broad spotlight on how important workers are in what is known as the care economy. And let me tell you something, joe biden understands this. Hes cared for aging parents and he has been a single parent, and he knows how hard it is and he knows what needs to change. But donald trump doesnt get it. And worst of all, he doesnt even try to understand what working families are going through. Theres absolutely no empathy. There are some longstanding, glaring challenges in the sector that joe biden wants to fix when he is president. And one of those, number one, joe biden will better support the workforce that cares for our loved ones. And number two, when people need care, whether its for toddlers or for an aging parent, joe biden is one to make sure that families can find it, and that they can afford it. And then, lets start with challengers for the workers in this sector. They are the childcare providers who sing abcs for toddlers in daycare. They are direct care workers who help seniors with their medications or buy groceries. They are personal care assistants who help people with disabilities that need cooking at home, need help getting cleaned, dressed, and other daily activities. The vast majority of these workers that im talking about, they are women. In fact, the majority are women of color, as i mentioned before. And its unfair, but not surprising, sadly, that these workers are underpaid, and they are often set up with poor working conditions. And lets be clear. Workers in the care economy, they are essential and they always have been, and it is time we started treating them that way. And i can guarantee that Joe Joe Biden understands that, and that joe biden will fix that. And he also wants to make sure this workforce, like other workers in the dallasfort worth economy and in the economies all around our great country, he wants to make sure they have a chance to join a union if they want to. And they ought to be able to so they can collectively bargain for good rights, and so that they can collectively bargain for better pay and better working conditions. Joe bidens plan will help this essential workforce grow in number. It will improve the quality of care that is provided, and that will mean workers will finally get to share in the prosperity they make possible. Thats how we can create a more equitable economy in america, and thats how were going to fix what the coronavirus has done to upend our lives and our economy. Joe biden is running for president not just to rebuild what weve lost, but he has a build back better, but he cant do it without all of you on the call today. So together, we are going to elect joe biden as our next president and make our country better for workers and for moms. And were going to make our country better for working families, better for our children, and our childrens children. So i just really appreciate that each and every one of you for being on the call today. And now, its my pleasure to introduce the congresswoman from the 30th Congressional District in dallas, texas, also the chairman of the science, space and Technology Committee, Eddie Bernice johnson. Rep. Johnson thank you very much, marc. Let me say, let me first welcome everyone who is participating, especially dr. Biden. Make it veryy plain that i have been one of these working mothers and caregivers, all at the same time. So, i know exactly what Vice President biden means by build , because we have even been stressed more, these last five months we have dealt with this virus. And he has taken care of aging parents. Hes been a single parent. He knows just how hard it is to raise a family and to care for a sick family member. And he knows that millions of americans who are just trying to make ends meet i remember those days when i was one of them. The president has laid out a fair plan, a great plan how we can help caregivers get access to quality caregiving. They will get an adequate salary, they can work for themselves and juggle the responsibilities of work and caring for a sick parent. We have some guests here today that can tell you firsthand not just what they remember, like me, but what they are doing every day. Cell even before the pandemic, our country was experiencing a caregiving crisis. Ed some care just went unattended because they couldnt , afford it or didnt have time. This has the possibility of changing with the election of joe biden for president. We currently have a president that clearly allows us to know that he cares about no one but himself. South it is time for us to have someone who not only cares about us, he cares about us from the standpoint of experience. He knows what it is like to work every day and still be a 24 7 caregiver when you go home. He knows what its like to all of a sudden to have all your children deal with, as well as an ailing parent. So it is time for us to do ourselves a favor by electing a man who cares about people, who knows from personal experience. And i can tell you, it only takes us to make this change. It takes us to cast that vote in november. I didnt come on this program just to be political. Electing joe biden for president. So i am going to introduce a great partner, a person we can be extremely proud of as our first lady, dr. Jill biden has some remarks. Dr. Biden thank you, congresswoman johnson. Eddie bernice, you now you have been a leader on health care and infrastructure, and an incredible legislator. But as a teacher, i am incredibly grateful for your education and opportunities so , thank you for being here today. Congressman veasey, of want to andcongressman veasey, of want to thank you for being here today and figure work promoting health care, Good Union Jobs and supporting education. The fact that you are both standing beside us in this race gives me so much hope that this is the year we turn texas blue. Over the last few months, our nation has suffered incredible losses. Some of it can be measured. The over 140,000 lives lost and the tens of millions of workers who are now jobless. But in other ways, the devastation cannot be measured. The lost time with our loved ones. The mental toll of isolation and anxiety. The shattered hearts of every family that is grieving a loved one. Yet we also have seen incredible courage and resilience during this time. People sewing masks and organizing food drives. Educators learning to teach remotely, almost overnight. Frontline workers risking their health to keep us safe. This hasnt been easy, but we are finding our strength and we need leaders who will help us along and not hold us back. Right now, every day feels like a battle for families across the country. Essential workers trying to figure out who will care of their kids or elderly families. Parents are working from home trying to do their jobs while childrensugh their remote learning. They, we need help. Joe knows this t many have lost jobs, many have lost loved ones. They, we need help. Joe knows this time is important. We have to learn and adapt and find a way to move forward. And your stories are a big part of that. People need to hear your experiences. They need to know how critical this is. And that is why i am here today to lift your voices because your future is what is at stake. To lift your voices because your future is what is at stake. Now, i will pass it back to congresswoman johnson. Rep. Johnson thank you very much for the wonderful remarks. I want you to meet some people that are on the frontline. Nurse. Ho is a vocational i have worked with so many vocational nurses as a registered nurse. I want her to make some remarks. She is also a compliance director. Thank you so much, congresswoman. I really appreciate the opportunity to be here and talk a little bit about the work that i do. Care foren in hospice about the last 15 years. The last several years have been mostly administrative work and that is what i do in the compliance side of things, but i still go out and see patients. I really like what you said with the fact that we ar were dealing with the Health Care Crisis in this country before we even got into this pandemic. Hospice care is one of those it ishealth care not always offered to people when it will be most beneficial for them. It has so much to offer. There are huge gaps in a our medicare system. System is 100 coverage, but it doesnt fill in the gap for 24hour caregiving and thats the most difficult part of the loved ones at home. We can teach them how to bathe their loved ones, change them, dress them and give them their medications and all these things they need to have done but yet, if they cannot be there to do that because they have to go to work every day, then it does not get done. Time and longterm care and i was a manager of a assistedliving care facility and there were so many residents to move in with us because they didnt have another choice. Our Health Care System in this senior is stuck citizens to sell their homes, use all of their assets to provide for their care in their last days. And it doesnt have to be like that. I have a personal experience with caregiving for my parents recently. My father has dementia. Fortunately, he is still at home with my mom and does not need much physical care. He was hospitalized a couple of months ago for a blood infection. The very first option that was given was that he goes to a Skilled Nursing facility out of the hospital to be able to get the antibiotics and treatment. It was only because i understand the Health Care System and i can help my mom say that is not what we want. We want him to go home. We want home health to come in and help take care of him. [inaudible] who can care for him. It is so difficult to navigate. When you ask people his prognosis, they dont even know. Is looking to hear feedback for everyone who was working in this industry because we really need to make some changes to make it work. Thank you. You are right, we have to make some changes. Joe and i both know that through personal experience. Thank goodness, your parents have you and thank god for what you do. My gosh you really are the angels in the Health Care System. So, joe sees that and thats why he came out with his science to plan to help caregivers and educate caregivers, pay them well to get them training. , we have so much to do. It takes leadership and thats what you said. Joe biden will change things but we have to have leadership at the top that cares about these issues. I can promise you, we both care about the issues because we both dealt with it personally with own parents and members of our family who have been sick. Thank you. Rep. Johnson yes, thank you very much. I am going to ask reverend todd akin, who is a hospice chaplain. I have called on chaplain so many times as a registered nurse and i am hoping we will always have chaplains available. Reverend, give us a few words. Thank you so much. I am honored to be here. This is a hard time. I have been in hospice for 12 years now. Started my training in a hospital. I have really been touched by the families who were dealing with the isolation. Cannot tell you how many times of had to unfortunately make a call and telling a daughter or son that your mother has died, but unfortunately because of this virus, you cannot be there for their last moments. You cannot hold her hand for the last time. The best you can do is look through window at a distance and say goodbye. That has been heart wrenching. Daughtersents who or yelling from the lower floors to their mothers on the facility on the second floor. They cannot go through the doors. They are waving from parking lots trying to say i love you. It has been so hard. But i also think what is very difficult is the fact that i work with so many certified daytoday. Re there because of the shut down in nursing homes, they have to been furloughed, they have been laid off because they are not salary. Are paid per diem, per visit. They have been suffering, they have been laid off in masses. I serve a coalition in dallas. We have seen hospital housekeepers who have been laid off because there is no elective surgeries. The ramifications of what we are going through is so farreaching. As a chaplain who tries to be there for them, we try to encourage them but it gets more difficult every day. I just got off the phone with who will have somebody in surgery next saturday and he cant even see her. Its very heartwrenching and to see those people in isolation every day, face shields. Before they step home in their inside their own home, they clean themselves and put their clothes in trash bags. Make sure that they are protected so its been very difficult. It is difficult and far reaching and we believe someone who cares about those people are so often overlooked and make those sacrifices day in and day out. They work hard. Thank you for giving voice to this. Dr. Biden reverend, thank you for what youve said. I dont know how you do it. Trying to give people hope. That is what joe is trying to do, give people help, because people are working so hard. Our Health Care Workers are out there every single day. With joes build back better plan, it is all about getting people back to work. First, we have to take care of this pandemic and then get americans back to work. That is one of joes focuses so thank you for what youre doing and taking care of so Many American families because we really appreciate it. Thank you. Rep. Johnson thank you. Mother mber when my her health began to fail. My sister as an administration in education retired so i could still serve in congress. That was difficult. She was eligible to retire and willingly retired to take care of our mom. It is always going to be appreciated. We have a teacher who just retired from being an effective middle and Elementary School teacher to take care of her mom. With us jarrett is here and i would like to have her make some remarks. Thank you so much for having me. Hello, everyone. I am honored to be here today to speak. Yes, i retired to take care of my mom. My mom started having strokes, shes had 11 strokes now. So i know she is needing someone. Complaining no one can take care of me like paulette. I said ok, and i amg to retire going to take care of my mother. I didnt know it was going to be as hard as it is because its hard to get her the help that she needs with the doctors office. Its hard to get medications sometimes. Its hard transporting her sometimes, but i pray every day i go iny every day and and i take care of my mom. I know its appreciated. A look at my dads picture every day and i say ok, daddy, you left me here with her. Help me do what im supposed to do. So i take care of my mom daily, but its hard when you cant get the services you need for her so we go in our parking. I am one of the baby girls so we work hard to put our money together to make sure my mom has everything she needs. Then after she gets everything she needs, we work hard to keep her with her home health care. Medicare sometimes says she has been in Home Healthcare too long, we are going to cut off. So, they cut her off and has to be another stroke or a urinary tract infection where she has been hospitalized. Then she will have to Start Services all over. ,hen we Start Services over working hard with mom. The hard thing about it is mom has had 11 strokes, but she is a 91yearold that has much get up and go about herself. And she tries very hard to do what you need to do in order to do what the therapist tell her to do. So, they fight for my mom so they can work with her and now she has been put on maintenance so that they can come and work with her. The job is a hard one for them because they said sometimes they know they might be in jeopardy of getting their license taken because they work hard to stay in here with my mom and work. But, i appreciate everybodys help in congress and the senate and you, dr. Biden, for helping us do what we have to do. Teaching was my first baby and i loved it. I enjoyed it. But my mom needs me more so i am here taking care of my mom. I think you for listening to me talk about what i do with my mom. Ill never give up. Dr. Biden i know you wont. You know what, i love that you are an educator like me, but we have Something Else in common. I am one of five girls and we took care of my mom. We made a schedule and my mom was never alone, ever. Someone was always there. Sometimes all five of the girls were in bed with her, holding her hand. Im sure you know what thats like. It is so hard at the end of life when you know you only have a little bit more time left with your loved one. Joe knows that. His parents lived in our home with us until they died. It is hard work, but joe realizes that, he feels it in his heart because hes done it himself.