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♪ HI, EVERYBODY, WELCOME TO "CHATBOX," I'M DAVID CRUZ.

IT'S WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, A OPPORTUNITY TO STOP AND RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR WORLD, MADE BY WOMEN.

TODAY WE TALK WITH SEVERAL WOMEN CLOSELY INVOLVED WITH CURRENT EVENTS SHAPING OUR NATION FROM THE ECONOMY TO OUR POLITICS, TO OUR NATIONAL POLICIES.

LET'S START IN CONGRESS WITH THE HOUSE JUST APPROVED THE PANDEMIC CENTER, OF RECOVERY PACKAGE OF ALMOST $2 TRILLION.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST SUPPORTERS IS THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE 12TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

WHO JOINS US NOW, CONGRESSWOMAN ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU, WELCOME WITH.

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> SO, THE MORE I READ ABOUT THIS PACKAGE, THE MORE IT SOUNDS LIKE A MAJOR RESTRUCTURING OF ECONOMIC POLICY, I MEAN, IT SLASHES POVERTY BY A THIRD.

AND COULD CUT CHILD POVERTY IN HALF.

THAT'S IN A YEAR, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, SO WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME OF THOSE INITIATIVES BECOME INSTITUTIONALIZED IN THEIR OWN PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

BUT, IT DOES, IT DOES A LOT OF GOOD THINGS, YOU KNOW, IT GIVES FAMILY WITH DIRECT PAYMENTS, AND IT SUPPORTS THE STATE AND THE LOCAL MUNICIPALI ITYS AND COUNTS WITH MILLIONS DOLLARS.

>> I HAVE IT UP ON THE GRAPHIC.

>> OH, OKAY.

>> SO LET'S LOOK AT THE EXTENSION OF THE FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

$300 THROUGH THE SIXTH OF SEPTEMBER.

$1400 DIRECT PAYMENTS TO INDIVIDUALS.

DOUBLE THAT TO COUPLES.

$350 BILLION FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, $130 BILLION FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

$10 BILLION FOR STATE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

$14 BILLION FOR VACCINE DISTRIBUTION.

$30 BILLION FOR TRANSIT.

$45 BILLION IN RENTAL, AND UTILITY AND MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE.

OF COURSE THE EXPANSION OF THE CHILD TAX CREDITS.

TALK ABOUT WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PART OF ALL THIS FOR YOU?

>> THE BIGGEST PART OF THIS IS THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE RESOURCES CONTAINED IN THE BILL ARE DOING TO HELP FAMILIES WORKING FAMILIES, POORER FAMILIES.

SINGLE PARENTS.

IT'S GOING TO ACT, CREATE A GREATER ACCESS TO THE VACCINE AND TO THE TESTING AND THE CONTACT TRACING FOR UNDER SERVED COMMUNITIES.

IT'S DOING TO LIFT CHILDREN, A GOOD NUMBER OF CHILDREN ON OUT OF POVERTY.

AND IT REPRESENTS -- TO LOOK AT THE FANTASTIC BILL, IT'S NOT PER EQUITY AND IT'S A GREAT BILL.

WE NEED TO SEE WHAT NEEDS TO BE INSTITUTIONALIZED AND LIFTING PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY IS VITALLY IMPORTANT.

>> SO YOU HAVE AIDE DIRECTLY TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, WHAT'S THAT GOODING TO MEAN HERE, AND NEW JERSEY.

NEW JERSEY D$6.5 MILLION.

AND LOCAL MUNICIPALITYS GET $3.5 MILLION.

AND THOSE OVER 50,000 GET THEIR MONEY DIRECTLY, OTHERWISE, THE REST OF THEM GET IT THROUGH THE STATE.

BUT THE STATE DOESN'T HAVE ANY FLEXIBILITY IN GIVING THEM THE MONEY THAT IS ALLOCATED FOR THEM.

SO, THERE'S MONEY TO HELP THESE MUNICIPALITYS TO OVER COME THE TREMENDOUS REVENUE LOSSES AND OTHER COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH GETTING US THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

AND THAT DOESN'T EVEN INCLUDE THE EDUCATION MONEY.

>> THAT'S GOING TO GO DIRECTLY TO SCHOOLS FOR EXPANSION OF SCHOOL YEARS.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TEACHERS ARE VACCINATED AND THE OTHER EDUCATORS ARE VACCINATED.

THE MONEY IS DOING TO GET USED BY THE SCHOOL, PREDICATED ON THEIR NEED.

>> YEAH.

>> THE CRITICISM OF THE LAST BIG DEMOCRAT STIMULUS, I GUESS, OBAMA IN 2008, IT WAS TOO SMALL TO HAVE REALLY BIG IMPACT.

SOME REPUBLICANS SAY THAT THIS CONGRESS WENT TOO BIG HERE WITH STUFF LIKE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE MONEY FOR SCHOOLS AND TRANSIT.

IN THE CASE OF THE BILL THOUGH, BIGGER WAS THE GOAL, RIGHT?

>> YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE DEAL, IF YOU ARE A MILLIONAIRE OF BILLIONAIRE, THERE'S NOT EVER TOO MUCH TO BEGIN WITH.

IF YOU ARE A POOR OR HARD WORKING AND YOU NEED ASSISTANCE AND YOU NEED SUPPORT, IT'S NEVER TOO LITTLE.

SO WE ARE ALWAYS NEGOTIATING OVER NICKELS AND DIMES FOR THOSE THAT NEED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SHOW UP AS IT SHOULD.

IT'S THE MIND-SET OF THE REPUBLICANS.

WE DID THIS, UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DIDN'T SUPPORT THIS BILL.

THEY HAVE NOT ONE OF THEM IN THE SENATE OR THE HOUSE VOTED FOR THIS BILL.

BUT THEY WILL BE OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITIES TRYING TO CLAIM THE BENEFITS OF THE BILL.

BECAUSE EVEN IF PEOPLE LIVE IN THEIR DISTRICTS AND THEY DID NOTHING TO LIFT A HAND TO SUPPORT THIS BILL, THOSE CONSTITUENTS WILL ALSO GET THE BENEFIT OF THIS BILL.

>> ONE OF THE IRONIC THINGS ABOUT THIS, IS THAT DISS FIGHT THE FACT THAT IT'S A DEMOCRATIC BILL, IT HAS PRETTY WIDE PUBLIC SUPPORT EVEN REPUBLICAN VOTERS ARE EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THIS BILL.

>> YES, SO, EVERY DAY PEOPLE SUPPORT THIS BILL OVERWHELMINGLY.

IT IS ONLY THE POLITICOS DOWN IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WHO ARE SCARED OF THE FORM PRESIDENT, GOD KNOWS WHY, HE IS GOING TO BE BUSY WITH ALL THE LEGAL THINGS HE HAS TO DEAL WITH.

SO THEY NEED TO FIND THEIR CONSCIOUS AND THEIR SPINE.

BUT THE PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES SUPPORT THE BILL OVERWHELMINGLY AND LOOKING FOR THE RELIEF THAT IT WILL BRING TO THEM.

>> WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MADE PERMANENT?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I AM, I THINK OF THE $2000, PER INDIVIDUAL OUGHT TO BE SOMETHING THAT LASTS AS LONG AS THE PANDEMIC LASTS.

AT LEAST FOR THE YEAR.

I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT WE LOWERED THE THRESHOLD ON ELIGIBILITY FOR INDIVIDUALS AND AS WELL AS FAMILIES.

THE CHILD TAX CREDIT IS SOMETHING AND THE TAX BENEFIT THAT IT GIVES, NOT HAVING TO PAY TAX ON IT, I THINK THAT THOSE THINGS SHOULD BE INSTITUTIONALIZED.

THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT A THIRD OF THE CHILDREN IN POVERTY WILL BE LIFTED BY THIS, SO WHY AREN'T WE GOING TO DO IT?

>> YOU KNOW, WE HAVE WITH AN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL HERE.

IT'S PART OF THIS, IT'S A PIECE OF THE PUZZLE WHERE ARE WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR A BIGGER INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

AND I AM NOT SURE THAT WE HAVE DONE RIGHT BY THE IMMIGRANTS THAT ARE HERE THAT ARE HERE FOR A BETTER, SAFER WAY OF LIFE.

I THINK THAT WE TRIED TO SOME EXTENT, GOT PUSHED BACK AND THERE WAS MORE TO BE DONE AND WE NEED TO MOVE ON TO REAL IMMIGRATION REFORM SO WE CAN TREAT PEOPLE WITH THE DIGNITY AND THE CARE AND CONCERN AND COMPASSION THAT THEY DESERVE.

>> SOMETHING WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.

THE $15 MINIMUM WAGE DID NOT MAKE IT IN TO THE FINAL BILL.

I KNOW IT'S A DISAPPOINTMENT FOR PROGRESSIVES.

IS THIS A PRESIDENT THAT YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING TO NEED TO KEEP PULLING TO THE LEFT AS HE TRIES TO STAY IN THE CENTER?

>> NO, I THINK THAT JOE BIDEN IS VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF $15 MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE, I THINK THAT WHEN HE SPOKE ON IT, HE WAS SPEAKING TO THE SENIORITY OF THE HISTORY OF THE SENATE AS IT WOULD RELATE TO THAT BILL AS PART OF THE PACKAGE.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS SUPPORTING IT.

HE FULLY SUPPORTS IT AS HE FULLY SUPPORTS THE ABILITY TO UNIONIZE.

I THINK WE ARE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP PLUGGING AWAY AT IT AND KEEP PUTTING IT IN THE FACE OF SENATORS AND SEE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO.

YOU KNOW, WE WERE FIGHTING FOR $15 A LONG TIME AGO.

SO YOU KNOW IT'S NOT REALLY A LIVING WAGE.

IT'S A MINIMUM HWAGE IF THAT.

>> INFRASTRUCTURE, NEXT ON THE AGENDA.

WE WILL HAVE YOU BACK WHEN THAT BILL COMES UP, CONGRESS WOMAN BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN.

ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>> THANK YOU, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

TAKE CARE.

>> WOMEN ARE GOING TO NEED ALL THE MONEY THAT THEY CAN GET FROM THE FEDERAL STIMULUS.

THEY HAVE BEEN DECIMATED ECONOMICALLY FROM THE PANDEMIC AND ARE DESTINED TO HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING BACK TO THE PAY AND OTHER DISPARITIES THAT EXISTED BEFORE THE CORONAVIRUS VIRUS PANDEMIC.

OUR NEXT GUEST IS RIGHT ON THE FRONT LINE OF THAT EFFORT FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

SHE IS A BIT OF A FOLK HERO AROUND THE STATE, ALSO ALL JERSEY.

DEPARTMENT THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR.

WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU, AND I AM GLAD TO BE JUDGED BY THE FOLKS THAT DISLIKE ME, THAT MEANS I'M DOING THE RIGHT THING ON BEHALF OF WORKERS AND WORKING CLASS PEOPLE.

>> THAT'S WHY I SAY, YOU ARE WELL DISLIKED.

WE HAD YOU HERE ONCE OVER THE SUMMER.

BUT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, WE PASSED EACH OTHER AT O'HARA DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

NOW YOU ARE A WASHINGTON BIGWIG, LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR WORK AT LABOR AND HOW YOU ARE GOING TO FIX THINGS FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE JUST BEEN HAMMERED ECONOMICALLY BY COVID, LET'S STARTS FROM THE JUMP.

JOBS LOST, THOSE HIT THE HARDEST, WOMEN.

BLACK AND BROWN.

WHO ARE THEY AND WHAT ARE THE JOB ISSUES?

>> WHAT WE HAVE SEEN THROUGH THE PANDEMIC IS A MASSIVE LOSSES OF JOBS AND ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR ALL AMERICANS.

BUT PARTICULARLY WOMEN WHO HAVE EITHER BEEN PUSHED OUT OF THE WORKFORCE BECAUSE THEIR JOBS WENT AWAY OR BECAUSE THEY HAD TO TAKE A STEP BACK WITH SCHOOL CLOSURES, WITH THE ABSENCE OF CHILD CARE NEEDING TO STAY HOME AND CARE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

AND SO, WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS ABOUT 4.2 MILLION WOMEN, HAVE DISAPPEARED FROM THE WORKFORCE.

1.6 MILLION OF THESE ARE MOTHERS.

WE HAVE 1$1.6 1.6 MILLION LESSS UNDER THE AGE OF 18.

COUPLE THIS WITH THE FACT THAT SYSTEMIC RACISM ANDSESSION IS RA -- SEGRAGATION.

AND MOST, AND VERY VULNERABLE, THE WOMEN ARE TAKING THE BRUNT OF THE HIT.

IT'S UPWARDS, IT'S THE LABOR FORCE, THE DECREASE OF 1.9.

>>> MAYBE IT'S GONE AND NOT COMING BACK.

IT DEPENDS ON, AGAIN, THIS IS WHY THE AMERICAN RECOVERY PACKAGES IS SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE TO REINVEST IN OUR ECONOMY, REINVEST IN JOBS.

MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE REBUILD, WE ACTUALLY BUILD BACK BETTER LIKE JOE BIDEN SAYS.

WE HAVE TO DO MAKE SURE THOUGH THAT AS JOBS START TO RETURN IN THE ECONOMY.

AS THE ECONOMY STARTS TO REOPEN, THAT WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF WORKING WOMEN, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE ACCESSIBLE QUALITY CHILD CARE, THAT CAN ADDRESSES AND ALLOW, FRANKLY, THESE WOMEN TO RETURN IF THEY SO CHOOSE.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT CHILD CARE, A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST DON'T GET IT.

YOU KNOW, MOMS DROP OUT OF THE WORKFORCE WHEN THEIR KIDS HAVE TO REMOTE LEARN.

THERE'S NO OPTION TO SEND THE CHILD HERE OR THERE.

AND FOR A TIME, THE DAYCARES WERE CLOSED.

IF KIDS HAVE TO BE HOME, MOTHERS LOSE THEIR JOBS, RIGHT?

>> WELL, WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS DISPROPORTIONATELY YES.

WOMEN ARE TAKING, WE ALREADY KNEW THAT WOMEN TEND TO PUT IN MORE HOURS IN TO THE HOME, IN TO CHILD CARE, IN TO THE MAINTENANCE OF THE HOME.

AND THIS WAS PREPANDEMIC.

WHEN YOU HAVE LIKE YOU SAID, SCHOOL CLOSURES, DAYCARE CENTERS CLOSING, CHILD CARE CENTERS CLOSING, YOU HAVE A PERFECT STORM OF WOMEN BEING UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORKFORCE, TRYING TO BE, YOU KNOW, BOTH A WORKER, A TEACHER IN THE HOME, AND ALL THINGS MAINTENANCE.

AND IT'S EXPERIENCED DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON WHAT SOCIO ECONOMIC HAD LEVEL YOU ARE AT.

IF YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL OR WHITE COLLAR WORKER, YOU MAY BE, YOU MAY HAVE THE OPTION TO ZOOM IN TO WORK.

BUT HOW ARE YOU MAINTAINING YOUR CHILDREN WHO ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO ZOOM IN TO SCHOOL?

AND IF YOU ARE AN ESSENTIAL QUOTE UNQUOTE WORKER.

IF YOU ARE A WORKING IN WHICH YOU CANNOT ZOOM IN TO THE JOB.

WHAT DO YOU DO THEN?

>> HOW MUCH CAN YOU QUANTIFY WHAT THE IMPACT OF COVID HAS BEEN?

HOW FAR BACK HAS IT SET WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE, 30 YEARS.

>> 30 YEARS.

THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE GAINS THAT ALMOST AN ENTIRE GENERATION HAS MADE.

IT'S SLIPPING AWAY FROM MANY WORKING FAMILIES.

SO, THIS ADMINISTRATION IS VERY POEXED ON MAKING SURE THAT PITS ADDRESSED.

THAT THE NEEDS OF WORKING WOMEN, OF FAMILIES ARE ACTUALLY MET.

THAT WHILE WE ARE THINKING OF REOPENING, WHILE WE ARE PREPARING OURSELVES FOR THE STRENGTHENING AND REBUILDING OUR ECONOMY.

IT'S WHAT WOMEN NEED, IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, WE ARE LUCKY.

WE HAVE PAID SICK LEAVE -- WE HAVE $15 MINIMUM WAGE AND ALL OF THESE FACTORS, ALL OF THE PIECES HELP WOMEN, HELP FAMILIES BE ABLE ON TO RETAIN A LITTLE BIT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY ACROSS OUR NATION, UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS NOT THE CASE FOR EVERY WORKER.

>> WHAT KIND OF POLICY CHANGES ARE WE GOING TO SEE IN THIS ADMINISTRATION.

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS FROM THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION BUT, SHOWS SOMETHING SPECIFIC TO WOMEN WHO SPECIALLY PUT THIS PRESIDENT IN TO OFFICE THAT HE UNDERSTANDS THEIR PLIGHT.

>> SO THE PRESIDENT FROM THE MOMENT HE WAS THROUGH THE CAMPAIGN, BUT MOST CERTAINLY THROUGH THE MOMENT HE WAS ELECTED AND THROUGH THE TRANSITION PROCESS.

FOCUSED GREATLY ON THE CARE ECONOMY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE EXPAND IT AND STRENGTHEN THE QUALITY OF JOBS AVAILABLE FOR MOSTLY WOMEN WHO ARE EITHER IN CHILD CARE, ELDER CARE, CARE OF THE IN FIRMED.

WE ALSO ARE FOCUSED ON HOW DO WE EXPAND AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN IN NOT TRADITIONAL ROLES.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT WILL COME UP, THERE'S A FOCUS, THERE'S A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON HOW WE ENSURE THAT A GREATER PERCENT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE JOBSS GO TO WOMEN.

AND THAT MEANS GIVING THEM A HAND UP.

MOVING THEM UP THE ECONOMIC LADDER AND IN TO GREATER ECONOMIC SECURITY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WE WILL KEEP OUR EYES ON THE ISSUE AND HAVE YOU BACK WITH US, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR HANGING OUT WITH US.

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

>> FINALLY TODAY, WE PICK UP ON THE IMMIGRATION DEBATE.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS SIGNALED THE MAJOR SHIFT OF THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.

SOME CRITICS ARE SAYING AND I TOLD YOU SO WITH REPORTS FROM TEXAS OF FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN, SHOWING UP AT CROSSINGS, HOPING FOR SOME KIND OF TEMPORARY STATUS IN IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND THAT IS FILLING DETENTION CENTERS WITH KIDS AND PUTTING THE U.S. CLOSER TO WHERE IT WAS UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

SARAH IS DIRECTOR OF MAKE THE ROAD NEW JERSEY.

SHE IS JOINING US FOR A FEW MINUTES ON THIS SITUATION.

SARAH, HAD HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> DOING WELL, GOOD TO SEE YOU, DAVID.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

WE HAVE SEEN REPORTING ABOUT THIS, AND JUST WHAT IS HAPPENING DOWN AT THE U.S./MEXICO BORDER.

LET'S HEAR FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ON THIS.

THIS IS ROBERTA JACOBSON SHE IS THE WHITE HOUSE COORDINATOR FOR THE BORDER AND ANSWERING THE QUESTION WITH OF THE DAY.

>> CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT IS HA HAPPENING -- >> I'M REALLY NOT TRYING TO BE CUTE HERE.

BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER HERE, WE HAVE ON DO WHAT WE DO REGARDLESS OF WHAT CAUSED THE SITUATION.

WE ARE FOCUSED ON THE SITUATION ON IMPROVING THE SITUATION.

ON CHANGING THE MORE HUMANE SYSTEM, AND WHAT YOU CALL IT WON'T CHANGE WHAT WE ARE DOING.

WE HAVE URGENCY FROM THE PRESIDENT ON DOWN TO FIX OUR SYSTEM.

AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BETTER AT DEALING WITH THE HOPES AND THE DREAMS OF THOSE PEOPLE.

>> WHAT ARE THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THEY ARE BEING HELD?

>> SURE, WELL WITH, THERE'S 8,000 CHILDREN AT THE BORDER, MOST OF THEM UNACCOMPANIED MINORS AND 3,500 THAT ARE WAITING TO BE ABLE TO CROSS.

THESE ARE KIDS FLEEING VIOLENCE, FLEEING HURRICANES, AND REALLY PERSECUTION, GANG VIOLENCE IN THEIR COUNTRIES AND MANY OF THEM ARE SPEEKING TO REUNITE WITH THEIR FAMILY.

THEY ARE NOT THE CRISIS.

THEY ARE TRYING TO COME TO THE COUNTRY FOR SAFETY, TO REUNITE WITH FAMILY AND TO LOOK FOR A BETTER LIFE.

THE CRISIS IS THE DEVASTATION THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION LEFT AT THE BORDER.

YOU KNOW, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ATTEMPTED TO SEAL THE BORDER.

THEY PUT KIDS IN CAGES.

THEY SEPARATED FAMILIES.

THEY TERRORIZED COMMUNITIES AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION NOW IS ATTEMPTING TO DISMANTLE THE CHAOS THAT THE TRUMP ADMINI ADMINISTRATION SEWED AT THE BORDER.

THAT TAKES TIME, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ACTS QUICKLY.

THEY NEED TO FULLY REFOSTORE ASYLUM.

THEY ARE TAKING THE STEPS, THEY NEED TO DO MORE.

BUT THEY ARE TAKING STRONG STEPS.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, THESE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE, REALLY SEEKING, HALF OF THEM ARE SEEKING TO REUNITE WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND THAT SENDS A MESSAGE.

IT'S ABOUT FAMILIES BEING ABLE TO STAY TOGETHER.

>> WE KEEP HEARING THAT THE SIGNALS FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OF A MORE WELCOMING POLICY IS WHAT'S CAUSING PEOPLE WHO MAY IS HAVE BEEN STAYING HOME TO COME TO THE U.S. NOW.

THINKING THAT THEY HAVE A BETTER SHOT AT ASYLUM.

IS THERE EVIDENCE THAT IT'S HAPPENING?

>> IMMIGRANTS HAVE COME TO THE COUNTRY UNDER THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION, UNDER CLINTON.

UNDER OBAMA.

AND TRUMP, AND IT'S AND THEY ARE ALSO ALSO FLEEING NOW, REALLY SEVERE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

VIOLENCE IN THEIR HOME COUNTRIES AND THE PANDEMIC.

AND THERE'S AN INCREDIBLE BACKLOG, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FORBADE PEOPLE TO CROSS THE BORDER.

THEY WERE STAYING IN MEXICO WAITING FOR THEIR HEARING OF THE CASES.

>>> WE HAVE A VIEWER QUESTION HERE, THE U.S. CITIZEN ACT OF 2021, THE MENENDEZ BILL.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS OF THAT?

>> THAT'S LEGISLATION THAT PROVIDES A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP TO 11 MILLION UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS THAT CALL THE COUNTRY HOME.

IT'S ONE OF THE BOLD ESTEST PIEF LEGISLATIONS THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN A LONG TIME.

IT'S CURRENTLY INTRODUCED AND HAS MANY SPONSORS, INCLUDING BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN WHO WAS JUST ON THE SHOW AND OF COURSE IS BEING CHAMPIONED BY SENATOR MENENDEZ ON THE SENATE SIDE.

AND YOU KNOW, WE ARE ENCOURAGING ALL OF OUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, OUR ENTIRE DELEGATION TO SUPPORT THE LEGISLATION.

IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT FIX.

BUT THE BILL HAS NOT MOVED YET AND YOU KNOW, IN THE MEANTIME, WHILE WE PUSH FOR THE BROAD REFORM FOR ALL 11 MILLION, IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY SINGLE OPPORTUNITY USING RECONCILIATION TO LEGALIZE ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

THERE'S A DREAM AND PROMISE ACT COMING UP THIS WEEK.

AND FARM WORKER BILLS WILL BE DEBATED ON THE FLOOR OF CONGRESS.

CONGRESS HAS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO PUT ALL 11 MILLION PEOPLE ON A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP, IT'S BEEN WAITING FOR TOO MANY DECADES AND IT'S TIME FOR ACTION.

>> HERE IN NEW JERSEY, HALF A MILLION IS A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE.

UNAUTHORIZATIONED RESIDENTS.

SUFFERING LIKE MILLIONS OTHERS WHO ARE HERE WITH DOCUMENTATION, EXCEPT THE HALF MILLION IMMIGRANTS DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAME SLIM SAFETY NET THAT IS OUT THERE FOR THE REST OF US.--W THERE'S A PUSH TO GETTY THE FOLKS HELP FROM THE STATE.

HOW IS THAT EFFORT GOING?

IS GOVERNOR MURPHY PROVING TO BE AN ALLY?

>> THAT IS RIGHT, DAVID.

HALF A MILLION IMMIGRANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND FROM ALMOST EVERY FORM OF AID FOR THE LAST YEAR.

CAN YOU IMAGINE SURVIVING WITHOUT A PAYCHECK, WITHOUT UNEMPLOYMENT, WITHOUT A STIMULUS CHECK.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST BEEN DEVASTATING AND WE ARE SEEING IT, TRUE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN NEW JERSEY.

WE ARE HOPEFUL, WE HAVE PUSHED HARD FOR IMMIGRANTS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE FEDERAL STIMULUS.

UNFORTUNATELY 9 MILLION WERE LEFT BEHIND.

AND WE ARE HOPEFUL NOW THAT OUR STATE WILL BE ABLE TO STAND UP AND CREATE A PANDEMIC RELIEF FUND THAT WILL GIVE REAL, RELIEF.

REAL RELIEF TO OUR I AM GRNT BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

>> WE ARE GOING TO KEEP TRACKING THIS BILL AND THIS POLICY, AS IT MAKES ITS WAY THROUGH CONGRESS.

SARAH, MAKE THE ROAD NJ NNG, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> THAT'S "CHATBOX" FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU TO OUR GUESTS.

JOIN US NEXT WEEK WHERE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SHEILA OLIVER IS OUR GUEST.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER@DAVID CRUZ ( J, AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR MORE CHAT BOX AND OTHER GREAT CONTENT LIKE REPORTER'S ROUNT TABLE, NJ BUSINESS BEAT AND NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

FOR ALL THE CREW, THANKS FOR WATCHING, WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

MAJOR FUNDING FOR CHATBOX WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

THE FUEL YOU MERCHANT'S ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY.

THE NATIONAL OIL HEAT RESEARCH ALLIANCE AND BIO HEAT, THE EVOLUTION OF OIL HEAT.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY INSIDER NJ, A POLITICAL GENERALS NETWORK DEDICATED TO NEW JERSEY POLITICAL NEWS, IT'S COMMITTED TO GIVING SERIOUS IS POLITICAL PLAYERS AN INTERACTIVE FORUM FOR IDEAS, DISCUSSION, AND INSIGHT.

ONLINE AT INSIDER NJ.COM.

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