>> FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE WOMEN I CAN TELL YOU EXPERIENCE BEING HERE IN THIS JUST IN GENERAL, MORE WOMEN WOULD HELP US WORK TOWARDS BETTER POLICY.

AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT, I THINK WOMEN BRING A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

[♪♪] >> HELLO I'M BONNIE ERBE.

WELCOME TO THE CONTRARY.

THIS WEEK, WE CONTINUE OUR SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH WOMEN THOUGHT LEADERS.

OUR GUEST IS NEVADA SENATOR KATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO, THE FIRST WOMAN ELECTED FROM NEVADA TO SERVE IN THE U.S. SENATE AND THE FIRST LATINA TO SERVE IN THE U.S. SENATE.

COURT 'TIS MASTO IS A RECORD OF 22 WOMEN SERVING IN THE U.S. SENATE.

17 OF THE WOMEN ARE DEMOCRATS, FIVE ARE REPUBLICANS.

IN 2017, SHE REPLACED OUTGOING SENATOR HARRY REID WHO ENDORSED HER.

HE SERVED AS SENATE MAJORITY LEADER.

>> SO HELP YOU GOD?

CONGRATULATIONS, SENATORS.

>> SENATOR CORTEZ MASTO'S BACKGROUND INCLUDES BEING ELECTED THE 32nd ATTORNEY GENERAL IN NEVADA WHERE SHE SERVED EIGHT YEARS AND WAS A CIVIL ATTORNEY, A CRIMINAL PROSECUTOR AND CHIEF OF STAFF FOR FORMER NEVADA GOVERNOR BOB MILLER.

HER FIRST SPEECH BEFORE THE FULL U.S. SENATE WAS NOT WHAT SHE ORIGINALLY PLANNED.

>> THE SPEECH WAS MEANT TO DEMAND THAT OUR COUNTRY'S LEADERS RESPECT EVERY AMERICAN REGARDLESS OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN OR HOW THEY CHOOSE TO WORSHIP.

UNFORTUNATELY, Mr. PRESIDENT, MY MAIDEN SPEECH ON THE FLOOR OF THIS BODY WILL INSTEAD TALK ABOUT MASS MURDER.

TODAY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE COURAGE OF HEROS AND FIRST RESPONDERS AND HONOR THE WOUNDED AND THOSE MURDERED.

>> SHE CALLED ON CONGRESS TO PASS COMMON SENSE GUN SAFETY REFORM.

THE FIRST BILL SHE INTRODUCED AS A U.S.

SENATOR WAS LEGISLATION TO TAKE BACK PRESIDENT TRUMP'S EXECUTIVE ORDER DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO PRIORITIZE THE DEPORTATION OF A VAST MAJORITY OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.

>> SENATOR CORTEZ MASTO, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> TELL ME, YOU ARE THE FIRST LATINA IN THE U.S. SENATE.

YOU ARE PROBABLY GETTING SICK OF RESPONDING TO THE QUESTION BY NOW.

BUT IS THE SENATE LATINA-FRIENDLY PLACE?

>> MAKING IT MORE, YES, IT IS.

BUT WE CAN OBVIOUSLY WORK HARDER TO MAKE SURE WE ARE OPENING UP MORE OF THAT DIVERSITY AND THAT HAS BEEN MY GOAL.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE WORKED ON.

I ALWAYS FELT THAT WHETHER I WAS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NEVADA OR WORKING HERE, I THINK OUR GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE JUST AS DIVERSE OF THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND I THINK HERE IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE WE CAN OPEN THAT DOOR WIDER AND MAKE SURE WE'RE OPENING UP AND GIVING EVERYBODY AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED.

THAT WHY I HAVE BEEN WORKING SO HARD TO MEET WITH SOME OF THE VARIOUS STAFF THAT WORK HERE.

>> BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT I DO WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT YOUR DIVERSITY INITIATIVES.

WHAT IS IT LIKE ON THE SENATE FLOOR?

THERE ARE A LOT MORE WHITE MALES IN THE POPULATION ON THE SENATE FLOOR THAN THE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES OR EVEN NEVADA, I IMAGINE?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE WOMEN.

I CAN TELL YOU EXPERIENCE BEING HERE IN THIS JUST IN GENERAL, MORE WOMEN WOULD HELP US WORK TOWARDS BETTER POLICY.

AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT, I THINK WOMEN BRING A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE BUT MORE WILLING TO GET THINGS DONE.

WE ARE PROBLEM SOLVERS.

>> LIKE THE SENATOR FROM IOWA WHO IS AS HARD RIGHT-WING AS ANY OF THE MEN DO YOU FIND IT EASIER TO NEGOTIATE WITH HER?

>> LET ME TELL YOU IT WAS NOT THE FIRST MONTH HAD PASSED WHEN I WAS SWORN IN WITH MY COLLEAGUES WHEN WE HAD THE FIRST BIPARTISAN WOMEN'S SENATE DINNER.

WE MET AS WOMEN SENATORS TO GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER AND TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS.

AND I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS WHERE IT STARTS.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO AGREE ON EVERYTHING BUT WE CAN FIND COMMON GROUND AND IT STARTS WITH BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP AND GETTING TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER.

AND ABSOLUTELY I'VE DONE THAT WITH ALL OF THE WOMEN SENATORS.

BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.

>> WERE YOU SURPRISED WHEN YOU ACTUALLY GOT HERE BECAUSE THE MOOD ON CAPITOL HILL IS DESCRIBED AS EXTREMELY COMBATIVE.

AND ALL THE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S LEGISLATION THAT COMES HERE PARTICULARLY TO THE SENATE FAILS ON JUST ABOUT A PARTY LINE.

NO DEMOCRATS ARE VOTING FOR IT.

AND SOMETIMES A COUPLE OF REPUBLICANS ARE DEFECTING.

BUT THAT IS NOT ALL THE TIME.

AND IN OTHER WORDS SHOW ME WHERE THERE IS -- WHERE YOU CAN CLOSE THE GAP SOMEHOW?

>> FIRST OF ALL, WOULD I LIKE TO SEE MORE BIPARTISAN WORK BEING DONE?

ABSOLUTELY.

I LIKE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY WE SHOULD BE WORKING IN A BIPARTISAN WAY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS AND MOVE POLICY AND GET THINGS DONE.

THAT IS HOW I'VE OPERATED EVEN WHEN I WAS ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NEVADA.

AND I WAS AN ATTORNEY GENERAL AND I GOT TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION IN THE LEGISLATURE AND EVERYTHING THAT I INTRODUCED WAS BIPARTISAN AND ALWAYS SIGNED BY A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR AND THAT IS WHAT I EXPECT.

BUT YOU DO NOT SEE THAT.

YOU SEE A LOT OF THE BICKERING AND THE PARTISANSHIP WHICH I THINK WE NEED TO DO AWAY WITH.

NOW, IS THERE SOME WORK BEING DONE?

ABSOLUTELY.

I SIT ON SIX COMMITTEES AND EVERYONE OF THE COMMITTEES, THERE'S BIPARTISAN WORK BEING DONE.

I KNOW BECAUSE I HAVE INTRODUCED BILLS AND THE FIRST PERSON THAT I TALKED TO TO TRY TO COSPONSOR AND WORK WITH ME IS SOMEBODY FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE I'LL REPUBLICAN.

AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO SO.

AND YOU KNOW THAT IS WHAT I TELL PEOPLE WHEN I GO HOME.

YOU SEE ALL OF THE BICKERING THAT IS GOING ON.

BUT YOU DON'T SEE THERE ARE SOME OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO GET THINGS DONE.

WE ARE WORKING IN THE COMMITTEES TO INTRODUCE GOOD LEGISLATION AND WORK TOGETHER.

>> IS IT GETTING TO THE SENATE FLOOR?

>> YES.

WE'RE STILL WORKING ON A NUMBER OF THINGS.

>> GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OR TWO, PLEASE.

>> SURE, SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA.

>> THE SENATE WILL TAKE A FINAL VOTE ON A BIPARTISAN STEP TO HOLD IRAN AND RUSSIA ACCOUNTABLE.

>> LAST NIGHT WE VOTED IN BIPARTISAN FASHION TO STRENGTHEN A PACKAGE OF SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA.

>> I CAN TELL YOU THAT WAS BIPARTISAN AND IT MOVED QUICKLY.

I AM ON BANKING, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOP MANY.

I AM ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

I SIT ON SCIENCE, COMMERCE, TRANSPORTATION.

I SIT ON INDIAN AFFAIRS, SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING AND SENATE RULES COMMITTEE.

THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF THAT WE'RE DOING IN A BIPARTISAN WAY.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT, MANDATORY TRAINING, RULES COMMITTEE WE PASSED THAT OUT AND IT'S GONE THROUGH.

THERE'S WORK THAT IS BEING DONE.

AND IT CAN BE.

AND IT IS A MATTER OF MAKING SURE YOU ARE WORKING WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES.

BUT THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT THERE IS NOT PARTISANSHIP GETTING IN THE WAY OF SOME THINGS WE ABSOLUTELY SEE IT.

AND IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN.

>> SEXUAL HARASSMENT WHAT IS THE MOOD HERE?

THERE HAVE BEEN HOUSE MEMBERS WHO HAVE COME OUT AND SAID THERE HAS BEEN SENATE SEXUAL HARASSMENT BY SITTING HOUSE MEMBERS OF WOMEN.

WOULD THAT HAPPEN IN THE SENATE?

COULD IT HAPPEN IN THE SENATE?

>> THE MOOD IS IT SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED.

I'M DOING EVERYTHING I CAN TO INSURE THAT ON THE RULES COMMITTEE WE ARE PASSING RULES TO MANDATE TRAINING NECESSARY MANDATORY TRAINING FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

AND THEN WE ARE CHANGING THE LAWS SO THAT THE VICTIMS FEEL EMPOWERED TO COME FORWARD THEY ARE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT RETALIATION.

THEY KNOW IF THEY COME FORWARD THERE'S GOING TO BE AN IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION AND EXAMINATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

THE LAW THAT WE HAVE PASSED IN 1995 DOES NOT DO THAT.

IN FACT, IT JUST DOES JUST THE OPPOSITE IT KEEPS VICTIMS UNWILLING TO COME FORWARD.

I SIGNED ON TO SENATOR GILLIBRAND'S BILL AND WORKING HARD ON THE RULES COMMITTEE AS A PART OF A GROUP TO CHANGE THAT TO MAKE THAT ENVIRONMENT DIFFERENT.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

THIS IS AN AREA I'VE WORKED ON MOST OF MY CAREER.

>> HAVE YOU PROSECUTED SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES?

>> I HAVE NOT PROSECUTED SEXUAL ASSAULT BUT I'VE WORKED HARD AS ATTORNEY GENERAL TO WORK ON PASSING LAWS THAT ADDRESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION, SEX TRAFFICKING PREVENTION, SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION.

THOSE ARE AREAS THAT I HAVE WORKED ON MY ENTIRE CAREER TO MAKE SURE NOT ONLY ARE WE DOING RIGHT BY THE VICTIM AND EMPOWERING THAT VICTIM, BUT WE ARE GIVING THEM TOOLS TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST THEIR PERPETRATORS AND INCREASING THE LAWS AGAINST THE PERPETRATORS TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND MAKING SURE THERE IS THAT ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> WHAT TOOLS HAVE YOU GIVEN TO SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT?

>> SURVIVORS IN GENERAL IN THE STATE OF NEVADA WORKED VERY HARD TO PASS VICTIMS' RIGHTS LAWS.

SO COUPLE OF THE THINGS PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO SURVIVORS GIVING THEM THE RIGHT TO SUE THEIR PERPETRATORS CIVILLY.

THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

MAKING SURE THAT THE VICTIMS HAVE THE RIGHT TO COME FORWARD AND FEEL SAFE SO THAT WE HAVE CERTAIN NURSES, NURSES THAT CAN REALLY FEEL COMFORTABLE TALKING WITH THE VICTIMS.

THE VICTIMS WITH THE NURSES MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE VICTIMS COMPENSATION FUND IN THE STATE OF NEVADA.

WORKED HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE VICTIM COMPENSATION FUNDS WERE THERE TO SUPPORT THE VICTIMS.

>> ARE YOU TRYING TO GET IT FEDERALLY.

>> WE HAVE IT, FEDERALLY.

IT DOES EXIST AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FEDERAL LAWS WITH RESPECT TO VICTIMS' COMPENSATION FUNDS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT STATE LAWS AS WELL AND VICE VERSA AND MAKING SURE THE VICTIMS HAVE THE RIGHT TO COME FORWARD AND THEY ARE GOING TO GET COMPENSATION.

AND MAKING SURE WE ARE DOING RIGHT BY THEM.

AND THERE'S SO MANY THINGS.

>> THIS OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A SEA CHANGE GOING ON WITH SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ALL THE WOMEN WHO HAVE COME OUT AGAINST MEN IN POWER, MEN IN HIGH POSITIONS IN CORPORATIONS AND THE MEDIA, ET CETERA.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE WOMAN IN A DINER IN A SMALL TOWN IN NEVADA WHO IS GETTING CONSTANTLY SEXUALLY HARASSED AND MAYBE ASSAULTED BY HER BOSS?

ARE WHAT YOU DOING GOING TO HELP THAT WOMAN WHO IS NOT GOING TO GET NATIONAL MEDIA ATTENTION?

>> ABSOLUTELY THOSE ARE THE LAWS I'VE WORKED FOR TO ADDRESS.

IN NEVADA, THERE IS A LAW THAT SAYS THAT IF YOU ARE A VICTIM AND YOU COME FORWARD AND YOU GO GET THAT EXAMINATION FROM A NURSE, THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO FILE A COMPLAINT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO.

OR IF YOU CHOOSE TO FILE A COMPLAINT, THEN THERE WILL BE IMMEDIATE ACTION AND EXAMINATION AND INVESTIGATION TAKEN.

PART OF WHAT THE GOAL IS WITH VICTIMS IS MAKING SURE THEY ARE EMPOWERED TO COME FORWARD BUT WE DON'T WANT TO REVICTIMMIZE THEM.

AND THOSE ARE THE LAWS THAT WE PASSED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE FIGHTING FOR THEM AND GIVING THEM THE ABILITY TO FEEL SAFE COMING FORWARD AND THERE'S TRAINING.

PART OF WHAT WE DID IN THE STATE OF NEVADA AS WELL IS MAKING SURE THAT THE FEDERAL FUNDS THAT CAME INTO THE STATE THROUGH VOWA ACTUALLY CAME IN TO SUPPORT TRAINING FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT TRAINING, SEX TRAFFICKING TRAINING.

>> IS TRAINING GOING TO DO IT?

>> IT'S PART OF IT.

AND NOT JUST TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT BUT JUDGES AND TRAINING FOR ADVOCATES AND TRAINING FOR PROSECUTORS, TRAINING FOR TREATMENT PROVIDERS AND MAKING SURE EVERYBODY HAS THE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO WORK WITH A VICTIM.

AND PARTICULARLY WITH A VICTIM IT SHOULD BE VICTIM-BASED.

EVIDENCE-BASED AND VICTIM-BASED SO WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE NEEDS OF THE VICTIM AND NOT EVERYONE ELSE.

THAT IS PART OF THE TRAINING.

PART OF IT IS THE LAWS.

PASSING LAWS TO STRENGTHEN THE ACCOUNTABILITY AGAINST THE PERPETRATORS AND GIVE NEW TOOLS FOR THE VICTIMS.

AND PART OF IT IS THE ENFORCEMENT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE ENFORCEMENT IS OCCURRING AND THE TREATMENT IS THERE AS WELL.

>> YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SEXUAL SEX TRAFFICKING.

TELL ME ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING THERE AND WHY IT IS A PASSION?

>> THERE IS SO MUCH SEX TRAFFICKING GOING ON AND LET ME TELL YOU THIS IS A CRIME THAT IS SO PREVALENT AND THANK YOU FOR BEING A VOICE.

BECAUSE IT IS NOT AN EASY FOR YOU TO GET HERE AND TELL YOUR DAUGHTER'S STORY AND YOUR STORY IS ONE I'VE HEARD TOO MANY TIMES IN MY STATE AND THIS IS AN ISSUE WE HAVE TO STOP.

WE HAVE TO STOP IT.

AND IT IS NOT JUST FOR FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO STOP IT.

IT IS FOR ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

FOR STATE, LOCAL, TO TAKE ACTION AND THAT IS ALL WE'RE ASKING IS THAT STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVE THAT ABILITY BECAUSE IT IS SO PREVALENT >> YES, WHEN I WAS ATTORNEY GENERAL IN NEVADA, I MET TOO MANY TIMES YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WERE VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING.

AND WE DID NOT HAVE THE LAWS ON THE BOOKS TO NOT ONLY IDENTIFY THE CRIME BUT MAKE IT CRIMINAL AND HOLD THOSE PERPETRATORS ACCOUNTABLE.

BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION AS AN ATTORNEY GENERAL, I INTRODUCED FOR THE FIRST TIME, SEX TRAFFICKING CRIME IN THE STATE OF NEVADA.

MAKING IT A FELONY HOLDING THOSE PERPETRATORS ACCOUNTABLE, INCREASE PUNISHMENT AND GIVING VICTIMS RIGHTS.

AND MAKING SURE WE ARE DOING MORE FOR THEM FOR TREATMENT AND GIVING THEM THE TOOLS TO BECOME SURVIVORS AT THE END OF THE DAY.

THAT WAS THE LAW THAT I INTRODUCED.

IT WAS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AND SIGNED BY REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR.

NOW, WE NEED TO CONTINUE ON THE TREATMENT SIDE OF IT.

NOW WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT BY THOSE VICTIMS ALSO.

MANY VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING ARE BECAUSE THEY ARE ARRESTED FOR PROSTITUTION OR TRESPASSING, THEY HAVE A LOT OF UNFORTUNATELY PREVIOUS CRIMES ON THE BOOKS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF.

WE NEED TO CLEAN UP THE RECORDS.

THEY ARE VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING WHO ARE REALLY WE WANT TO MAKE THEM SURVIVORS.

MAKE SURE WE HAVE LAWS ON THE BOOKS WHERE THEY CAN CLEAN UP THEIR RECORD.

PART OF THAT -- >> AND PUT MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CRIME ON THE JOHN.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

ON THE DEMAND SIDE.

THAT IS THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS.

I WAS ABLE IN THE STATE OF NEVADA WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO INCREASE SOME OF THE PENALTIES AGAINST THE DEMAND, THE JOHN'S BUT WE NEED TO DO MORE.

AND WE NEED TO DO MORE RIGHT BY THE VICTIMS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TREATMENT FOR THE VICTIMS.

IN THE STATE OF NEVADA WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TREATMENT WHERE THEY CAN SEEK HELP AND BE PROTECTED FROM THEIR PIMPS, THEIR PERPETRATORS.

>> DO YOU THINK THE CRIMINAL PART OF IT SHOULD BE ALL PUT ON THE DEMAND SIDE?

PROSECUTE THE CUSTOMERS NOT THE WOMEN WHO ARE FORCED INTO PROSTITUTION?

>> NO.

YES.

WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING IS PROSECUTING THE CUSTOMERS AND PROSECUTING THE PIMPS.

THE WOMEN ARE VICTIMS.

WE SHOULD BE TREATING THEM LIKE VICTIMS.

THAT BRINGS INTO SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS.

INSTEAD OF ARRESTING THEM AND LOCKING THEM UP WE PUT THEM INTO A DIVERSION PROGRAM WHERE THEY CAN START BECOMING SURVIVORS AND GET THE TREATMENT AND HELP AND SAFE AWAY FROM THEIR THE PIMPS.

BECAUSE NINE TIMES OUT OF 10 THE PIMPS WILL CIRCLE BACK AND THREATEN THEM TO NOT TESTIFY AGAINST THEM IN TRIAL.

WE HAVE GIVEN PROSECUTORS TOOLS.

>> WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON DIVERSITY IN THE SENATE?

YOU ARE MEETING WITH GROUPS OF WOMEN FROM DIFFERENT MINORITIES, RIGHT?

>> I AM.

INCREDIBLE.

SO I'VE HAD THE IN THIS ROOM TO INVITE IN LATINAS, WORKING ON THE HILL.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN, WOMEN FROM ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFICKER POPULATION, LGBTQ MEMBERS TO SIT AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS HOW WE TEAR DOWN THE BARRIERS TO MORE DIVERSITY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND HONESTLY IN CONGRESS.

AND SO WE'VE HAD GREAT CANDID CONVERSATIONS AND THEY ARE FULL OF IDEAS ON HOW WE CAN OPEN THAT DOOR UP WIDER.

AND MAKE SURE THERE'S MORE DIVERSITY HERE.

>> LOOKING FORWARD TO THE END OF 2018 AND THEN, OF COURSE, 2020, IN 2018 DO YOU THINK THE DEMOCRATS WILL TAKE BACK THE HOUSE?

>> WELL, I'M COUNTING ON IT AND I'M WORKING VERY HARD AS THE CHAIR TO NOT ONLY GET MY COLLEAGUES REELECTED AND HELP GET ELECTED ADDITIONAL WOMEN SENATORS AND I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE ABSOLUTELY.

AND RIGHTFULLY SO.

WE NEED TO HAVE MORE WOMEN HERE.

I THINK THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY FOCUS ON GOOD POLICY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THIS COUNTRY.

THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE AND FOR WORKING FAMILIES WHO ARE STILL STRUGGLING.

>> IF THE TRUMP BUDGET WERE TO BECOME LAW THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY EXPERTS LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS SAYING THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE REALLY HURT ARE THE VERY LOW INCOME WOMEN, MANY OF WHOM IN THIS COUNTRY ARE LATINA AND NATIVE-AMERICAN AND ALSO A LARGE POPULATION IN YOUR HOME STATE, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE TRUMP BUDGET IT ZEROS EVERYTHING OUT.

EVERYBODY WOULD BE HARMED FROM AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO ENVIRONMENT, YOU NAME IT.

IT DEVASTATES EVERY SINGLE AGENCY AND DEVASTATES THE PEOPLE IN MY STATE.

>> AND THEY ARE ALREADY DOING THE BUDGET HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED, THEY ARE ALREADY CUTTING BACK AT AGENCIES.

>> AND LET ME SAY THAT.

THAT IS WHY TO ME THE TRUMP BUDGET IS A NONSTARTER.

IT WOULD HARM TOO MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY INCLUDING IN NEVADA.

THAT IS WHY WE ARE FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PUTTING FUNDING IN FOR CHIP, THAT WE ARE NOT REPEALING HEALTHCARE, THAT WE HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE STILL STRUGGLING IN MY STATE.

WE HAVE BLOCK GRANTS THAT ARE STILL COMING INTO THE STATE TO HELP OUR COMMUNITIES.

THERE IS A LOT OF ITEMS THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION CLAIMS THAT THEY WANT TO HELP WORKING FAMILIES ARE DOING JUST THE OPPOSITE IF YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE BUDGET THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, THEY DON'T GET TO PASS THE BUDGET WE DO.

AND IN CONGRESS RIGHT NOW WE ARE FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE KEEPING THAT MONEY IN, THAT SUPPORTS OUR WORKING FAMILIES.

THAT SUPPORTS NIH FOR RESEARCH.

>> IS IT GOING OUT TO THE FAMILIES STILL?

OR IS IT BEING CUT BACK?

BECAUSE FOR EXAMPLE, I JUST HAPPENED TO TALK TO A WOMAN WHO RECENTLY RETIRED FROM EPA SHE WAS WORKING ON THE IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS ON NATIVE-AMERICAN RESERVATIONS, AND THEY CUT BACK ALL HER TRAVEL SO SHE COULD NOT REALLY DO HER JOB ANYMORE.

AND SHE TOOK EARLY RETIREMENT AND THEY ARE SQUEEZINGS PEOPLE OUT.

>> AND THAT IS THE OTHER CONCERN.

THIS ADMINISTRATION IF THEY CAN'T GET CUT THE BUDGET THEY WILL UNDERMINE BY NOT FILLING POSITIONS AND CUTTING BACK THE SERVICES THAT THEY SHOULD BE PROVIDING TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY ARE BUDGETED FOR AND MANDATED TO DO.

AND THAT IS THE TRAGEDY OF THIS.

I'M HEARING IT.

>> DO YOU GET IT -- FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

>> I HEAR IT FROM MY CONSTITUENTS THAT HAVE CONCERNS THAT THE MONEY IS NOT COMING THEIR WAY.

AND LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT NOT FILLING POSITIONS.

YOU HAVE WHAT I HAVE SEEN IS THIS ADMINISTRATION REALLY TRYING TO UNDERMINE THE VERY AGENCIES THAT ARE THERE TO SUPPORT THE FAMILIES THAT ARE RELYING ON THAT SUPPORT.

>> LOOKING FORWARD TO 2020, AND AS A RESULT OF WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE FEDERAL BUDGET, A NUMBER OF YOUR FEMALE COLLEAGUES ARE OFTEN NAMES ARE BANTIED ABOUT AS POTENTIAL DEMOCRATIC NOMINEES FOR PRESIDENT INCLUDING SENATOR GILLIBRAND, SENATOR HARRIS, DO YOU THINK THE DEMOCRATS WILL HAVE A FEMALE NOMINEE NEXT TIME AROUND?

>> I HAVE NO IDEA.

BUT IS IT TIME TO ELECT A FEMALE PRESIDENT?

ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK WE'VE GOT SOME INCREDIBLE WOMEN RIGHT NOW IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

IF WE WERE IN MAJORITY MANY OF THESE WOMEN WOULD BE CHAIRING THE COMMITTEES FROM HOMELAND SECURITY TO AGRICULTURE.

YOU NAME IT.

SMALL BUSINESSES.

THEY HAVE TO HEALTHCARE.

THEY HAVE EXPERTISE IN AREAS THEY ARE SMART, THEY REALLY FOCUSED ON SOLVING PROBLEMS AND GETTING THINGS DONE FOR THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.

AND I THINK THEY WOULD DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB.

>> WHO DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST LIKELY TO GET THE NOMINATION?

>> GOODNESS, I COULD NOT ANSWER THAT.

>> WHY NOT?

>> BECAUSE THERE'S TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT WILL COME FORWARD THERE ARE GREAT FOLKS OUT THERE AND WE HAVE GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

>> YOU THINK SOMEBODY WILL BE COMING FROM NOT FROM THE SENATE -- >> YOU NEVER KNOW.

BILL CLINTON DID NOT COME FROM THE SENATE AND OTHERS DID NOT COME FROM THE SENATE TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

OR WE DIDN'T KNOW AT THE TIME.

WE KNOW IN THE PAST MANY GOVERNORS RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

AND THEY BECOME GOOD PRESIDENTS.

YOU JUST DON'T KNOW.

>> DO YOU SEE NEVADA ELECTING MORE DEMOCRATIC HOUSE MEMBERS AS A RESULT OF BUDGETS THAT ARE BEING CUT?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW OUT OF THE FOUR WE HAVE THREE DEMOCRATIC HOUSE MEMBERS.

I THINK THERE IS A GOOD SHOT WE'LL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT IN GENERAL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO GET THE JOB DONE FOR THE STATE OF NEVADA.

>> IS THERE ANGER OUT THERE?

>> THERE'S FRUSTRATION.

I KNOW IN NEVADA, LISTEN THIS LAST ELECTION WE TURNED THE STATE BLUE.

HILLARY WON.

I WON.

WE WON TWO SEATS AND FLIPPED BOTH STATE HOUSES DEMOCRAT.

AND THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE PEOPLE THAT CAME OUT, THAT SUPPORTED THE MESSAGE THAT SUPPORTED WHAT THEY HEARD PEOPLE WERE GOING TO FIGHT FOR ON THEIR BEHALF WHETHER IT IS JOBS, WAGES, IMMIGRATION REFORM, YOU NAME IT.

THINGS THAT THEY CARED ABOUT, THAT THEY STILL CARE ABOUT, EDUCATION SYSTEM FOR THEIR KIDS.

MAKING SURE THEIR KIDS DO NOT GRADUATE WITH TONS OF DEBT IN NEVADA AND THE COUNTRY IF YOU SIT DOWN AND LISTEN TO HARD-WORKING FAMILIES, YOU WILL FIND COMMON GROUND AND TALK ABOUT HOW TOGETHER YOU CAN REALLY BRING HERE TO WASHINGTON A MESSAGE THAT RESONATES.

AND THAT IS WHAT I'VE SAID TO NEVADA IT IS NOT MY VOICE IT'S YOUR VOICES.

I GO HOME TO MY STATE AND I ON A REGULAR BASIS I MEET WITH DREAMERS AND THEIR AUTO FAMILIES AND IT IS NO DIFFERENT.

WE SIT AROUND AND TALK AND TELL STORIES ABOUT THEIR STRUGGLE AND FIGHT JUST TO HAVE THAT AMERICAN DREAM.

AND THEY ARE CRYING MANY ARE AFRAID TO TELL THEIR STORIES.

I WILL TELL YOU THE FIRST TIME I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT WITH DREAMERS THEY HAD NEVER TOLD THEIR STORY BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO AFRAID TO TELL IT.

THEY WERE TOO AFRAID IF THEY TOLD IT AND LEFT THEIR HOME AND WENT TO HOME OR SCHOOL IF THEY CAME BACK THEIR PARENTS WOULD NOT BE THERE.

AND THAT IS NO DIFFERENT NOW.

THIS ADMINISTRATION AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS CONTINUING THE FEAR IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND THAT IS WHY NOW MORE THAN EVER WE HAVE TO PASS THE DREAM ACT.

>> WE NEED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AND WE NEED TO TALK WHAT AM I FIGHTING FOR YOU AND HOW CAN WE DO THIS TOGETHER?

>> THANK YOU SENATOR.

THIS WAS FABULOUS.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF TO THE CONTRARY.

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER.

AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.

AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

PT OR TO SEE AN ON-LINE VERSION OF THIS EPISODE OF TO THE CONTRARY VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.

[♪♪]