♪♪ >>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS" WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, SYLVIA A.

AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION.

AND BY -- JANET PRINDLE SEIDLER, JODY AND JOHN ARNHOLD, CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY, JUDY AND JOSH WESTON, DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION, AND THE JPB FOUNDATION.

>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS," I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.

THE LAST TIME WE SPOKE WITH OUR NEXT GUEST, HE HAD JUST PULLED OFF ONE OF THE POLITICAL UPSETS IN 2020 BY DEFEATING A LONGTIME DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT.

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, CONGRESSMAN JAMAAL BOWMAN PROMISED TO PURSUE PROGRESSIVE POLICIES THAT WOULD TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF EVERYDAY NEW YORKERS.

AND HERE WE ARE, A YEAR LATER AND HE'S FIGHTING TO GET THOSE PRIORITIES THROUGH CONGRESS.

BOWMAN AND HIS FELLOW DEMOCRATS ARE CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING A MASSIVE EXPANSION TO THE AMERICAN SOCIETAL SAFETY NET CALLED BUILD BACK BETTER.

THE RECONCILIATION PACKAGE WOULD HELP ADDRESS RACIAL INEQUITIES AND IT COULD INCLUDE FREE CHILD CARE, FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND IMPROVED HEALTH BENEFITS FOR SENIORS.

NOW, PRESIDENT BIDEN IS HOPING THAT IT WILL BE HIS LEGACY LANDMARK PIECE OF LEGISLATION, BUT IT'S BEEN HELD UP BY MODERATE DEMOCRATS WHO ARE BALKING AT THE $3.5 TRILLION PRICE TAG.

THIS WEEK, THERE ARE SIGNS THAT A DEAL COULD -- AND WAIT TO STRESS COULD -- BE COMING AS NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE.

AND WE COULDN'T HELP BUT ASK OURSELVES, WHAT WOULD THIS BILL MEAN FOR NEW YORKERS AND WHEN MIGHT DEMOCRATS ACTUALLY GET IT PASSED?

SO, FOR HIS PERSPECTIVE ON ALL OF THIS, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME BACK CONGRESSMAN BOWMAN, WHO REPRESENTS NEW YORK'S 16th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN THE BRONX AND WESTCHESTER AND JOINS US TONIGHT AS PART OF OUR "CHASING THE DREAM" INITIATIVE.

CONGRESSMAN BOWMAN, WELCOME BACK TO "METROFOCUS."

>> HOW YOU DOING?

GOOD TO BE HERE.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU.

BUT THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH -- I GUESS THE BIGGEST QUESTION TO ASK IS, HOW MUCH CAN YOU TELL US OF WHERE NEGOTIATIONS STAND?

>> SO, NEGOTIATIONS ARE IN A VERY GOOD PLACE.

AS YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR INTRO, THE CHAIR OF THE CPC HAS MET THIS WEEK WITH SENATOR MANCHIN, WHICH IS A GREAT SIGN, SENATOR MANCHIN AND BERNIE SANDERS ARE TALKING, THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

THE WHITE HOUSE IS MEETING WITH BOTH FROM PROGRESSIVES AND MODERATES THIS WEEK.

AND TONIGHT I'M GOING TO BE ATTENDING A DEBRIEF WITH THE CPC EXECUTIVE BOARD.

SO, CONVERSATIONS ARE HAPPENING AND THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING WHEN PEOPLE ARE TALKING TO EACH OTHER.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALSO POINT OUT THAT THE REASON WHY WE ARE HERE IS BECAUSE THE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PRAMILA JAYAPAL STOOD FAST ON PRESIDENT BIDEN'S AGENDA.

WE HAVE BEEN IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE PRESIDENT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

HE WANTED TO GO BIG IN THIS MOMENT ON CLIMATE, IN TERMS OF OUR RESPONSE TO COVID AND IN TERMS OF BUILDING BACK BETTER WITH THE FOCUS ON RACIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND FINALLY UPLIFTING COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY NEGLECTED, NEGLECTED FOR FAR TOO LONG.

SO, WE'RE IN A GOOD PLACE.

THINGS ARE GOING WELL.

WE WANT TO REMAIN AS CLOSE TO $3.5 TRILLION AS POSSIBLE.

WHY?

BECAUSE THAT IS ALREADY A COMPROMISE.

THE SUNRISE MOVEMENT, THROUGH THEIR RESEARCH, HAVE FOUND THAT WE NEED AT LEAST $10 TRILLION OF INESTMENT IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE TO DEAL WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, PRESIDENT BIDEN AND SENATOR SANDERS CAME UP WITH A $6 TRILLION PRICE TAG, SO 3.5 HAS ALREADY BEEN A COMPROMISE AND IT WAS VOTED OUT OF THE SENATE AT 3.5 SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO STAY AS CLOSE TO THAT NUMBER AS POSSIBLE AND THEN ONE LAST THING, WE HAVE OFFSETS.

WE HAVE PAY FORS, SO, IT'S NOT 3.5 IN AND OF ITSELF, IT'S 3.5 OVER TEN YEARS AND WE HAVE PAY FORS TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT DONE.

>> OKAY, AND THAT WAS GOING TO BE ONE OF MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PRICE TAG.

I THINK ANY, YOU KNOW -- I THINK ANY AMERICAN, EVEN IF YOU ARE A BILLIONAIRE, WOULD PROBABLY RAISE ABOUT EYEBROW AT 3.5 TRILLION, BUT MUCH LIKE WHEN YOU PURCHASE A CAR, THE PAYMENTS, NOT THE ACTUAL FULL TICKET PRICE.

SO, IS THERE ANY WIGGLE ROOM?

BECAUSE YOU JUST SAID THAT 3.5 WAS ALREADY A COMPROMISE.

BUT SOME OF THE LANGUAGE THAT WE'VE BEFORE HEARING FROM SOME OF THE MODERATES IS THEY'RE STILL UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT PRICE TAG.

>> UH-HUH.

UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF THE MODERATES CONTINUE TO THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO INCREASE INFLATION, IS GOING TO PASS DOWN DEBT TO OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN, BUT THEY ARE ALSO UNCOMFORTABLE WITH RAISING THE CORPORATE TAX RATE, WHICH SHOULD BE HIGHER, IT WAS LOWERED DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

THEY'RE UNCOMFORTABLE, SOME OF THEM, WITH ENSURING THE WEALTHY PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE, ENSURING FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES PAY TO CLEAN UP THEIR POLLUTION.

SO, THERE IS SOME WIGGLE ROOM IN TERMS OF MAYBE YEARS, YOU KNOW, CUTTING DOWN ON SOME OF THE YEARS OR SOME OF THE PROGRAMS, BUT IN TERMS OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE NEED TO KEEP PART OF THIS, THAT'S NOT NEGOTIABLE FOR ME.

I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE, UNIVERSAL PRE-K PROGRAMS, FINALLY DEALING WITH THE CLIMATE CRISIS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY IN, $2.5 BILLION, AT LEAST $2.5 BILLION FOR VIOLENCE REDUCTION, WHICH HAS SKYROCKETED AFTER COVID.

LOWERING THE MEDICARE AGE ELIGIBILITY AND INCLUDING DENTAL AND OPTICAL AND VISION AS PART OF THAT.

SO, SO MUCH, MAKING THE CHILD TAX CREDIT PERM INNOCENT, WHICH WE HAVE DONE THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR, BUT IF WE MAKE IT PERMANENT, WE'LL LIFT 50% OF CHILDREN OUT OF POVERTY.

THAT IS HOW WE BUILD BACK BETTER.

WE FOUS CONDITION 0 THE AREAS AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED AND IN THE LONG RUN, IT MAKES OUR ECONOMY HEALTHIER, STRONGER FOR EVERYONE AND IMPROVES THE LIFE EXPECTANCY AND WELL BEING FOR ALL AMERICANS.

>> AND OF COURSE, SPECIFICALLY FOR NEW YORKERS, YOU TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THE BROAD STROKES OF THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT I WOULD ASSUME THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HEARD ABOUT, BUT WHEN THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD IN YOUR DISTRICT, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SEEING IF THIS BILL IN ITS ENTIRETY GOT THROUGH AT THE -- IN THE ENTIRETY.

I DON'T WANT TO STICK ON THE PRICE TAG, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S NOT QUITE THE HEADLINE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO LET'S TAKE PUBLIC HOUSING FOR EXAMPLE.

ON THE BRONX SIDE OF MY DISTRICT, WE HAVE FOUR PUBLIC HOUSING COMPLEXES.

WE HAVE EAST CHESTER, EDEN WALL, BOSTON SEA PORT AND GUN HILL.

PUBLIC HOUSING HASN'T RECEIVED A DIME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN OVER TEN YEARS AND IT'S BEEN DISINVESTED IN IN OVER 30 YEARS.

WE WILL FINALLY GET THE REPAIRS THAT ARE LONG OVERDUE.

REPAIRS RELATED TO SANITATION, LEAD PAINT, MOLD AND MILDEW.

REPAIRS THAT, BECAUSE OF THE NEGLECT, HAVE LED TO RODENT AND ROACH INFESTATION IN MANY OF OUR PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS, HAS LED TO POOR AIR QUALITY.

AND THAT'S WHY YOU'VE SEEN A DISPROPASSIONATE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN PUBLIC HOUSING DIE OF COVID BECAUSE THEY HAVE UPPER RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS AND COMORBIDITIES RELATED TO THE POOR CONDITIONS THEY'VE BEEN LIVING IN.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT JOBS.

JOBS, JOBS AND MORE JOBS.

JOBS NOT JUST FOR ROADS, BRIDGES AND TUNNELS BUT JOBS IN THE AREAS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AS WELL AS HOME CARE.

IN MY DISTRICT, WE HAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HOME CARE WORKERS WHO STILL DO NOT EARN A LIVING WAGE.

THEY HAVE TO FIGHT AND SCRATCH AND CLAW TO EVEN EARN A MINIMUM WAGE.

SO, THIS WILL ALLOW US TO INVEST $400 BILLION IN HOME CARE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN EARN A LIVING WAGE, THEY CAN EARN PAID LEAVE, THEY CAN HAVE -- FINALLY HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE.

AND LIVE WITH DIGNITY WHILE THEY TAKE CARE OF OUR SENIORS.

SO, THERE'S SO MUCH TO THIS.

THIS IS THE PRESIDENT'S NEW DEAL MOMENT, THIS IS OUR NEW DEAL MOMENT.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NOW AND THEN IS THEN, DOMESTIC WORKERS AND HOME CARE WORKERS WERE LEFT OUT AND THOSE WERE MOSTLY BLACK AND LATINO WOMEN AND THE WHITE SUBURBS WERE BUILT WHILE BLACKS DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE LOANS TO BUY HOMES IN THE SUBURBS AND OUR COMMUNITIES WERE RED LINED.

SO, THIS IS GOING TO FIX ALL OF THAT AND PROPEL US, AGAIN, TO A STRONGER, HEALTHIER ECONOMY.

>> AND, OF COURSE, THAT WOULD BE ADDRESSING THE RACIAL INEQUITIES THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE LEAD.

SPEAKING OF PUBLIC, THERE'S ALSO THE ISSUE OF EDUCATION.

BEFORE WE GET INTO HOW THIS LEGISLATION WOULD BENEFIT SCHOOLS, PARTICULARLY SCHOOLS IN NEW YORK, I DO WANT TO ASK, AS SOMEONE WHO SPENT THE PREVIOUS PART OF THEIR CAREER IN EDUCATION AS A MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, I'M WONDERING, HOW MUCH OF YOUR SKILL SET HAVE YOU HAD TO DRAW ON FROM NOT ONLY BEING IN THE EDUCATIONAL SETTING, BUT FROM DEALING WITH MIDDLE SCHOOLERS THAT YOU FOUND APPLYING TO NEGOTIATING WITH CONGRESS?

>> I'VE HAD TO DRAW ON EVERY OUNCE OF IT.

EVERY OUNCE OF MY PREVIOUS CAREER.

SO, I WAS A TEACHER, A SCHOOL COUNSELOR AND MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.

SO, THE SKILLS OF RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, LISTENING AND NEGOTIATING WITH 6-YEAR-OLDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING SO THEY CAN GET THE BIGGEST BENEFIT FROM THE CLASSROOM, RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARENTS AND ENGAGING PARENTS AS PART OF THE EDUCATION PROCESS.

NOW I'M ENGAING THEM AS PART OF THE POLITICAL PROCESS.

SO, RELATIONSHIPS AND NEGOTIATIONS HERE IN WASHINGTON ARE A BIG PART OF MY JOB AS WELL AS COMMUNICATION SKILLS, BUT AT HOME, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAS EXPANDED IS MY ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH MORE PARENTS, ENGAGE THEM IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS AND HELP THEM TO FEEL EMPOWERED AND HAVE A VOICE IN EVERYTHING I'M DOING IN WASHINGTON.

BECAUSE I'M HERE FOR THEM, I'M HERE TO FIGHT WITH THEM AND FOR THEM AND TO SERVE THEM.

BUT I NEED TO WORK WITH THEM TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THOSE NEEDS ARE.

SO EVERY OUNCE OF IT, I MEAN, EDUCATION AND BEING AN EDUCATOR IS GREAT TRAINING, IF SOMEONE WANTS TO ULTIMATELY ONE DAY TRANSITION TO BEING AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

>> WELL, AS WE STAY ON THE SUBJECT OF EDUCATION THEN, HOW WOULD BUILD BACK BETTER BENEFIT NEW YORK AND WESTCHESTER, I GUESS, PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS?

>> SO, WE INTRODUCED OUR GREEN NEW DEAL FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACT, WHICH IS A LANDMARK PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD INVEST $1.43 TRILLION IN PUBLIC SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE TARGETING TITLE ONE SCHOOLS.

IT WOULD RETROFIT OUR SCHOOLS TO BE ENERGY EFFICIENT AND IT WOULD MAKE SURE EVERY NEW SCHOOL THAT IS BUILT IS NOT DEPENDENT ON FOSSIL FUELS TO FUNCTION.

IT WOULD ALSO CREATE A TEACHER PIPELINE PROGRAM SO PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY CAN BEGIN TO WORK IN OUR SCHOOLS AS TEACHER ASSISTANTS AND TEACHERS AS PART OF A GROW YOUR OWN PROGRAM.

BUT ALSO INVESTING IN TITLE ONE AND OUR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

SO, THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT DOES A LOT OF THAT, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE, BUT IT DIDN'T DO IT AT THE NUMBER THAT WE WANT.

SO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK AND NEGOTIATE A BIT FURTHER TO GET THE NUMBER WE WANT, BUT IT DOES INVEST $86 BILLION FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN THE RETROFITTING PROCESS AND END OUR DEPENDENCY ON FOSSIL FUELS WHICH IS GOING TO BE HUGE.

IN ADDITION TO FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND PRE-K PROGRAMS, WHICH WILL BE PART OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, AS WELL, WE'RE TAKING A PRENATAL -- WHEN YOU LOOK AT CHILD CARE -- TO PROFESSION APPROACH.

MAKING SURE THE SAFETY NET IS THERE ACROSS THE LIFE SPAN.

>> SO, CONGRESSMAN, YOU JUST MENTIONED FOSSIL FUELS AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST ROAD BLOCKS, IF YOU WILL, PEOPLE WHO ARE HOLDING UP OR LET'S SAY STILL NEGOTIATING IS SENATOR JOE MANCHIN AND HE COMES FROM A COAL-PRODUCING STATE AND HE'S CITED THAT AS ONE OF HIS PRIME REASONS FOR NOT BEING FOR THE ASPECT ON CLIMATE CHANGE, THAT HE FEELS IT WOULD ACTUALLY HARM HIS STATE.

SO, I'M WONDERING, GOING BACK TO YOUR NEGOTIATION SKILLS AND BY ALL MEANS, I'M NOT COMPARING A MEMBER OF THE SENATE TO A CHILD, BUT I AM INTERESTED IN HOW YOU USE YOUR NEGOTIATION SKILLS TO WORK WITH SOMEBODY WHO IS SAYING, ABSOLUTELY NO TO THE CLIMATE CHANGE BILL OR, OF COURSE, TO THE OTHER SENATOR, KYRSTEN SINEMA, WHO STILL HASN'T BEEN CLEAR ON EXACTLY WHAT SHE DOES WANT IN THIS LEGISLATION.

>> SO, WHAT WE TRIED TO COMMUNICATE TO SENATOR MANCHIN IS YES, WE WE'VE UNDERSTAND WEST VIRGINIA HAS A HUGE COAL INDUSTRY AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT, WE DO NOT WANT TO DESTROY INDUSTRY.

BUT THERE IS A PROCESS OF TRANSITIONING FROM COAL TO CLEAN, RENEWABLE, SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND THIS BILL WILL SUPPORT COMPANIES IN THAT TRANSITION AND HELP THEM AND MAKE SURE THEY BENEFIT FROM THE TRANSITION FROM COAL TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

SENATOR MANCHIN BELIEVES THAT THAT TRANSITION IS ALREADY HAPPENING, WHY DO WE NEED TO PAY THEM FOR IT TO HAPPEN, BUT IT'S NOT HAPPENING AT THE SCALE THAT IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN ORDER FOR US TO REACH OUR CLIMATE GOALS AND THE CLIMATE GOALS OF THE IPCC, WHICH ARE GLOBAL CLIMATE GOALS TO GET TO NET ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS BY 2035 AT THE LATEST.

SO, THAT IS PART OF THE CONVERSATION, AS WELL AS LOOKING AT SOME OF THE CLIMATE FACTORS AND THE POVERTY FACTORS IN WEST VIRGINIA, LIKE IN MY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, THIS BILL LOOKS TO HARD INFRASTRUCTURE AND SOFT INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WILL HELP HIS STATE, AS WELL.

SO, THAT'S WHERE THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO DEBRIEFING WITH MY COLLEAGUES THIS EVENING TO SEE EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE ON THAT POINT.

>> WELL, WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER RED LINE THAT SENATOR MANCHIN HAS DRAWN?

AND THAT IS THAT IF THERE'S TO BE A PERMANENT CHILD TAX CREDIT THAT THERE MUST BE AN ESTABLISHED WORK REQUIREMENT AND A FAMILY INCOME LIMIT OF $60,000.

I UNDERSTAND THAT $60,000 IS ONE THING IN WEST VIRGINIA, IT IS SOMETHING ELSE ENTIRELY IN NEW YORK CITY.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, EVEN IN WEST VIRGINIA, I MEAN, TWO PARENTS EARNING $30,000 EACH, IT WOULD BE TOUGH FOR THEM, NOT JUST IN NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK STATE, ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO STILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD ADEQUATE CHILD CARE WITH ALL THE OTHER EXPENSES THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

SO, THAT NUMBER, TO ME, -- TO ME, THAT'S A NONSTARTER AND THE IDEA OF MEANS TESTING IS SUCH A HEAVY LIFT LOGISTICALLY AND IN TERMS OF INSTRA TRUCK SURE.

THE COST THAT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE COST ON MAKING THAT PROGRAM WORK CAN BE INVESTED IN THE CHILD CARE PROGRAM OVERALL, SO, WE DON'T THINK IT'S NEEDED.

YOU'LL HAVE FAMILIES JUST GETTING ANY JOB SO THAT THEY CAN BENEFIT FROM THE CHILD TAX CREDIT WHILE NOT GETTING A JOB THAT REALLY PAYS THEM A DECENT WAGE AND TREATS THEM WITH DIGNITY AND ALLOWS THEM TO EARN ENOUGH MONEY SO THEY CAN REINVEST IN THE ECONOMY.

A HEALTHY ECONOMY IS AN ECONOMY WHERE CASH IS FLOWING THROUGHOUT IT, NOT BEING CONCENTRATED IN THE HANDS OF A FEW WHILE THE MANY STRUGGLE.

SO, THAT'S WHY I DO NOT SUPPORT THE WORK REQUIREMENTS, BECAUSE IT LEADS TO PEOPLE TAKING HORRIBLE JOBS AND DESTROYS QUALITY OF LIFE AND IS NOT SUSTAINABLE IN TERMS OF THE WELL BEING OF A PERSON OR COMMUNITY.

>> WELL, TO GO BACK TO THE PRICE TAG, WHICH EVERYONE KEEPS QUOTING AS THE TOTAL PRICE TAG OF $3.5 TRILLION, BUT OF COURSE, THAT IS A PRICE TAG ACCUMULATED OVER TIME.

YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE ALREADY PAY FORS LATE OUT IN THIS.

SO, JUST TELL US HOW THIS GETS PAID FOR IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T PERHAPS FEEL QUITE AS JARRING AS $3.5 TRILLION?

>> YEAH, SO RAISE THE CORPORATE TAX RATE TO PREVIOUS LEVELS TO ENSURE CORPORATIONS CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR FAIR SHARE TO OUR DEMOCRACY.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE AT LEAST 50 CORPORATIONS THAT HAVEN'T PAID FEDERAL TAX IN SEVERAL YEARS.

THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

RAISING THE CORPORATE TAX RATE ON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN HIDING, ARE HIDING A TOTAL OF SEVERAL TRILLION DOLLARS OVERSEAS AS WE SPEAK.

ENSURING THE WEALTHY PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE THROUGH ONE PROCESS COULD BE TAXING UNREALIZED CAPITAL GAINS AT THE 40% RATE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT THE PRESIDENT SUPPORTS.

WE HAVE A BILL THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE INTRODUCING TO CREATE A POLLUTERS PAY CLIMATE FUND, WHERE WE'VE IDENTIFIED THE TOP 20 COMPANIES THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTD THE MOST TO CLIMATE POLLUTION OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS AND THOSE COMPANIES WILL PAY INTO A FUND TO HELP US CLEAR UP THE MESS THEY'VE CAUSED OVER 30 YEARS.

AND THAT COULD RAISE AS MUCH AS $500 BILLION OVER TEN YEARS.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT THIS 3.5 NUMBER IS 3.5 OVER TEN YEARS, NOT IMMEDIATELY.

I THINK THAT'S A KEY THING TO RECOGNIZE, SO, ABOUT $350 BILLION A YEAR.

AND IT'S ALSO KEY TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE CURRENTLY SPEND $7.6 TRILLION ON OUR MILITARY EVERY TEN YEARS AND NO ONE BATS AN EYE AT THAT NUMBER.

ONE LAST THING.

DURING THE NEW DEAL, WE SPENT 40% OF GDP TO REBUILD THE ECONOMY DURING THE NEW DEAL, DURING THE INMRE MENATION OF THE NEW DEAL.

40% OF GPD NOW WOULD BE OVER 8 TRILLION DECIDE.

SO YOU WE'RE NOT WHERE WE NEED TO BE IN TERMS OF MEETING THE SCALE AND SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT IN A HISTORICAL CONTEXT AS WELL AS THE PAY FORS WE HAVE IN PLACE.

>> ALL RIGHT, WELL, CONGRESSMAN BOWMAN, UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF WHAT IS AN INCREDIBLY BUSINESS CYST TIME IN CONGRESS AND BRINGING US UP TO DATE ON THE STATE OF BUILD BACK BETTER.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU BACK WHEN SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THAT SOMETHING IS, SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS," I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.

OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH AND HERE'S A FANTASTIC STATISTIC.

DID YOU KNOW THAT IF BREAST CANCER IS CAUGHT EARLY, THE FIVE-YEAR SURVIVAL LATE IS ALMOST 100%?

ONE OF THOSE SURVIVALS IS SHERYL CROW.

WITH NO FAMILY HISTORY OR ANY SIGNIFICANT RISK FACTORS, SHE WAS DIAGNOSED AT JUST 44 YEARS OLD.

SHERYL JOINS US NOW FROM NASHVILLE ALONG WITH OBGYN AND WOMEN'S HEALTH EXPERT JESSICA SHEPHERD.

WELCOME TO YOU BOTH.

>> GOOD MORNING.

>> SHERYL, I WANT TO START WITH YOU AND ASK, GIVEN THAT YOU HAD NO TRADITION ALLRED FLAGS IN REGARDS TO BREAST CANCER, WHAT WAS THAT LIKE WHEN YOU FIRST GOT THE DIAGNOSIS CONFIRMED?

>> OH, MY GOODNESS, I WAS IN SHOCK, YOU KNOW, I THINK FOR SOMEONE WHO IS VERY HEALTHY AND WHO TAKES CARE OF THEMSELVES, HAS NO FAMILY HISTORY AND WAS DILIGENT ABOUT GETTING MAMMOGRAMS, IT WAS JUST A VERY EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE AND EVERYTHING NORMAL CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT.

I AM NOW 13 YEARS OUT.

I HAVE ENJOYED THE DUBIOUS HONOR OF BEING KIND OF THE POSTER CHILD FOR EARLY DETECTION AND I CELEBRATE THAT AND EMBRACE THAT, BECAUSE MY STORY IS THE STORY OF CURE AND UNTIL THERE IS A CURE FOR BREAST CANCER, EARLY DETECTION IS OUR GREATEST WEAPON.

SO, I LIKE TO UTILIZE MY PROFILE, REALLY, JUST TO TALK TO THE WOMEN WHO FOLLOW ME, WHO HAVE BEEN FANS FOR YEARS AND THEY'RE NOW MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS AND GRANDMOTHERS AND REALLY ENCOURAGE THEM TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH AND BE DILIGENT AT THE AGE OF 40 OF GETTING THEIR YEARLY MAMMOGRAM.

>> DR. SHEPHERD, I WANT TO ASK YOU, THERE IS ALSO A TROUBLING STATISTIC THAT GOES ALONG WITH BREAST CANCER AWARAWARENESS, AND THAT IS THAT WOMEN OF COLOR ARE MORE LIKELY TO DIE, NOT MORE LIKELY TO GET, BUT DIE FROM THE DISEASE.

WHY IS THAT?

>> YEAH, THERE'S MULTIPLE REASONS WHY THAT CAN HAPPEN.

I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.

FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN, ACTUALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTIC OF BREAST CANCER, THERE ARE MORE CAUCASIAN WOMEN THAT ARE DIAGNOSED, BUT TRIPLE NEGATIVE CANCER, MORE BLACK WOMEN ARE DIAGNOSED WITH TRIPLE NEGATIVE CANCER, WHICH, ONE, IS HARDER TO TREAT, BUT WHAT GOES INTO THAT IS THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE STATISTICS FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN, THEY ARE USUALLY DIAGNOSED LATER ON.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, SHERYL WAS ALLUDING TO EARLY DETECTION -- THAT DEFINITELY SHOULD TRANSCEND IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, BECAUSE EARLY DETECTION IS KEY, BECAUSE MOST TIMES IT WILL BE DIAGNOSED LATER ON AND WITH TRIPLE NEGATIVE CANCER, WHICH IS HARDER TO TREAT.

AND SO, I HOPE THAT THAT MESSAGE RESONATES TODAY FOR ANYONE WHO IS LISTENING.

>> NOW, OF COURSE, SO MANY WOMEN ARE TAUGHT TO DO SELF-BREAST EXAMINES IN THE SHOWER, ET CETERA, BUT THIS IS GOING A STEP FURTHER IN MAKING SURE YOU GET THAT MAMMOGRAM.

WHAT ARE THE FIRST STEPS, SPECIFICALLY FOR WOMEN WHO PERHAPS DON'T HAVE THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO HAVE THAT SPECIALTY DOCTOR OR TO BE ABLE TO GO.

WHAT ARE THOSE FIRST STEPS THEY SHOULD BE TAKING?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO, WHEN EVEN WE LOOK AT MEDICAID, MEDICARE, ANNUAL WELL WOMAN VISIT, A MAMMOGRAM FALLS INTO THAT BREAST CANCER SCREENING CATEGORY AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY THOSE TYPES OF INSURANCES.

NOW, FOR WOMEN WHO DON'T HAVE INSURANCE COVERAGE, THERE ARE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT DEVOTE THEIR RESOURCES TO GETTING MAMMOGRAMS TO WOMEN WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THAT, WHETHER THAT BE THROUGH HOSPITAL PROXIMITY OR AN INSURANCE ISSUE.

SO, I DO FEEL THAT WE HAVE -- WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT WE DO HAVE RESOURCES FOR WOMEN WHO DO NOT V ACCESS TO CARE OR DON'T HAVE INSURANCE.

>> I WANT TO TURN BACK TO SHERYL CROW AND ASK, YOU SPOKE A LITTLE BIT EARLIER ABOUT HAVING, YOU KNOW, LEADING A VERY HEALTHY LIFE AND I'M WONDERING, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL STEPS THAT YOU'RE TAKING NOW TO KEEP YOURSELF CANCER FREE?

>> WELL, I THINK WHAT YOU PUT INTO YOUR BODY IS TAUNT MOUNT.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO EAT HEALTHY AND EXERCISE.

WE KNOW THE BODY FUNCTIONS AT A HIGHER LEVEL IF WE'RE EXERCISING AT LEAST 30 MINUTES A DAY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT MY DIAGNOSIS IS THAT 13 YEARS AGO, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENTS THAT WE HAD NOW.

I WAS BASICALLY RELEGATED TO THE TWO-D TECHNOLOGY AND WAS TOLD TO COME BACK IN SIX MONTHS, BUT RATHER THAN WAITING THE SIX MONTHS, MY DOCTOR SAID, LET'S NOT WAIT SIX MONTHS, SOMETHING COULD HAPPEN IF IT IS SOMETHING.

SO ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO ENJOY TODAY IS THE ADVANCEMENT OF TECHNOLOGY WITH THIS 3D TECHNOLOGY WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO SEE THROUGH DENSITY IN THE BREAST AND SOMETHING THAT MIGHT TURN OUT TO BE INVASIVE CANCER.

SO, WE'RE REALLY URGING WOMEN TO GET YOUR MAMMOGRAMS, ASK YOUR DOCTOR OR GO TO GENIUS 3D NEAR ME, FOUND OUT WHERE THE CLOSEST GENIUS 3D EXAMINE IS, BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING FAR LESS FALSE POSITIVES AND A BETTER RATE OF EARLY DETECTION WITH 3D THAN WE DID WITH 2D.

>> ALL RIGHT, LADIES, SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME NOW, BUT I WANT TO ASK A QUICK QUESTION -- IF YOU HAD A GIRLFRIEND THAT JUST GOT A POSITIVE TEST RESULT BACK, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL HER?

>> YOU KNOW, I WOULD REALLY TELL HER I APPLAUD HER FOR GOING TO GET THE TESTING THAT SHE NEEDS IN ORDER TO HAVE THE DIE KNOW SIS, NOW WE CAN FIND TREATMENT FOR HER.

>> WHEN YOU'RE DIAGNOSED, YOUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS DIAGNOSED.

THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE AROUND YOU THAT LOVE YOU, YOUR CHILDREN, YOUR PARENTS, YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER, TO TRY TO JUST KEEP THINGS AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE, HONOR YOURSELF, PUT YOURSELF FIRST, GIVE VOICE TO WHAT IT IS YOU NEED OR DON'T NEED AND TO JUST KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN AND SEE HOW AT THE END OF IT, HOW YOUR LIFE IS ENHANCED.

DON'T MISS THE BIG LESSONS.

>> WISE WORDS.

LADIES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE GENIUS EXAMINE AND WHERE YOU CAN FIND A FACILITY IN YOUR COMMUNITY, YOU CAN VISIT YOUR WEBSITE AT METROFOCUS.ORG.

>>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, SYLVIA A.

AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION.

AND BY -- JANET PRINDLE SEIDLER, JODY AND JOHN ARNHOLD, CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY, JUDY AND JOSH WESTON, DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION,