>> Renee: HOME OF THE BIRTH PLACE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK AND FORT KNOX, THE 2nd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY IS REPRESENTED BY BRETT GUTHRIE WHO WAS BEEN IN WASHINGTON SINCE FIRST BEING ELECTED IN 2008 THE WEST POINT GRADUATE SERVES ON THE HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE AND IS THE TOP REPUBLICAN ON THAT COMMITTEE'S HEALTH SUBCOMM.

I TALKED WITH THE CONGRESSMAN ABOUT HIS ADVOCACY OF THE COVID VACCINE, HIS MEASURE TO LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS, HIS WORK TO ADDRESS THE INTERSECTION OF THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING, SUICIDE AMONG VETERANS AND MORE ON THIS EDITION OF "CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE."

CONGRESSMAN BRETT GUTHRIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US VIA SKYPE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE.

I WISH I WAS HOME IN KENTUCKY TODAY, BUT WE'RE IN DC, SO THANK FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TO YOU VIA SKYPE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN WE STARTED RECORDING THESE INTERVIEWS, YOU ALL WERE IN YOUR HOME DISTRICTS, AND THINGS CHANGE AS THEY DO IN THE BELTWAY AND YOU ON MONDAY MADE THE SOJOURN BACK TO DC TO VOTE ON INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE.

DO YOU BELIEVE BY THE TIME THIS AIRS ON FRIDAY EVENING THAT THERE WILL BE RESOLUTION ON THAT BILL?

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT THIS WEEK?

>> WELL, WE'LL SEE.

I GUESS YOU'LL KNOW BY THE TIME YOU WATCH THIS WHAT THE STORY IS.

CURRENTLY THE ISSUE IS NOT NECESSARILY THE INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE AS MUCH AS THE $3.5 TRILLION REALIGNING GOVERNMENT WITH AMERICA BILL THAT THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD, AND SO THE QUESTION RIGHT NOW, AS WE'RE SITTING HERE, THERE ARE A GROUP OF DEMOCRATS -- IT WILL BE -- IT'S A ONE PARTY, PRESIDENT BIDEN'S BIG PUSH AND SO IT'S GOING TO BE EITHER IT'S GOING GET ALL THE VOTES OF HIS OWN PARTY OR NOT.

WE WILL HAVE A LOT MORE FREE MARKET AND NOT CHANGING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AMERICANS AND THEIR GOVERNMENT.

THE QUESTION OF THE ELECTION WAS ESSENTIALLY TIED.

AND SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

HE'S TRYING TO GET VOTES.

THERE ARE MODERATE DEMOCRATS, AT LEAST NINE OF THEM WHO SAID THEY ONTARIO WON'T VOTE FOR IT.

WE'LL SEE WHAT THEY DO.

THE MEETING IS IN SATISFACTION WE SPEAK.

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS DON'T BELIEVE THIS BILL REPRESENTS THEIR DISTRICT.

WE'LL SEE HOW THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE, VOTE THEIR DISTRICT OR VOTE THEIR PARTY.

WHAT'LL WE'LL KNOW BY FRIDAY.

>> WE'LL KEEP OUR EYES PEELED ON THAT.

I DON'T WANT START WITH COVID.

IT SEEMS LIKE SO MUCH OF OUR DISCUSSIONS THESE DAYS ARE CENTERED SQUARELY OH COVID.

THERE WAS SOME GOOD NEWS ON MONDAY.

WE LEARNED THAT THE FDA HAD GIVEN FULL APPROVAL AND AUTHORITY TO PFIZER VACCINE FOR THOSE 16 YEARS AND OLDER.

IN KENTUCKY YOU KNOW OF THE DEVELOPMENTS AROUND THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT AND THE GOVERNOR ON MONDAY WHEN WE SPOKE HAD RESCINDED HIS MASK MANDATE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CHILD CARE SETTINGS.

SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THAT'S GOING ON WITH COVID, CONGRESSMAN, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT CONGRESS SHOULD BE DOING WHEN IT COMES TO EASING THIS PANDEMIC AND ITS FALLOUT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU SAY WE'RE GOING TO START WITH COVID, AND I'M ON THE COMMITTEE THAT HAS OVERSIGHT FOR THE HSS HAS OVERSIGHT FOR THE CDC AND THE FDA AND ALL THE OTHER AGENCIES, SO I'VE BEEN REALLY INVOLVED IN MAKING SURE THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH SCIENCE AND TRY TO MOVE SCIENCE FORWARD, AND I THINK IT'S THE MESSAGING HAS BEEN CONFUSING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I WILL TELL YOU I WAS GLAD TO SEE THE FDA APPROVE THE PFIZER VACCINE TODAY WITH ITS FULL APPROVAL.

WE'VE HAD OVER -- HUNDREDS -- OVER 100 MILLION PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED WITH THIS SO WE SHOULD HAVE PLENTY OF INFORMATION MOVING FORWARD, AND PEOPLE SAY, ARE THERE ANY RISKS TO THE VACCINE?

I THINK WE HAVE TO BE HONEST AND SAY, I MEAN, HOW MUCH OF US WATCH PHARMACEUTICAL COMMERCIALS AND AT THE VERY END THEY GO THROUGH A LIST OF THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN WITH ANYTHING ANYBODY TAKES.

SO IF ANYBODY IS TAKING ANY PHARMACEUTICAL, THERE ARE SOME RISKS AND SIDE EFFECTS.

THIS VACCINE IS ALMOST MINIMAL.

AND SO I'M NOT FOR A FEDERAL MANDATE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO TAKE VACCINES.

I ABSOLUTELY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE VACCINES.

I WAS TALKING WITH THE JUDGE OF WASHINGTON COUNTY LAST WEEK.

HE SAID THEY HAD 69 CASES THAT WERE CONFIRMED.

66 WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE UNVACCINATED.

WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED WILL SAY, YOU'RE SEEING PEOPLE THAT ARE VACCINATED COME DOWN POSITIVE WITH COVID.

I TELL YOU MOST PEOPLE I KNOW THAT HAVE BEEN VACCINATED -- THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS, THERE ABSOLUTELY ARE AND WE HAVE TO BE HONEST, BUT MOST PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AND HAVE TESTED POSITIVE HAVE LITTLE SYSTEMS OR THEY ONLY GOT TESTED BECAUSE THEY WERE EXPOSED.

AND SO VACCINATIONS, THESE WORK.

I THINK THEY'RE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS.

THERE'S BEEN BLOOD CLOTS IN YOUNG WOMEN.

MYOCARDITIS IN YOUNG MEN.

THOSE ARE MALL AND IN BETWEEN.

WHEN PEOPLE SAY WE DON'T KNOW THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF THE VACCINE WHICH IS ACCURATE.

THE RESEARCH HAS BEEN AROUND ABOUT TEN YEARS BUT OBVIOUSLY DEALING WITH COVID ONLY FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS BUT I WILL TELL YOU WE DON'T KNOW THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF COVID, AND I THINK THAT ANY -- THE RISK OF HAVING LONG-TERM EFFECTS FROM COVID FAR WITHOUT I WEIGHS ANY OTHER CONCERNS WITH THE VACCINE.

>> LAST WEEK ON FOX NEWS PERFORM PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WENT ON THE AIRWAYS AND SAID HE'S VERY PROUD,, QUOTE/UNQUOTE,, OF THE VACCINE THAT HE GOT APPROVAL IN LESS THAN NINE MONTHS WHICH WAS EXCEEDING THE EXPECTINGTATIONS OF EVEN HEALTH OFFICIALS.

HE CONSIDERS IT, QUOTE, A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT.

YET YOU ALLUDED TO THIS, CONGRESSMAN GUTHRIE, THE DISINFORMATION AND MISINFORMATION ABOUT THE VACCINE.

MANY PEOPLE ALSO LAY SOME BLAME AT THE FEET OF REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE POLITICIZED THE ISSUE.

DO YOU THINK THAT A FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, IF HE, WHEN IT'S HIS TURN TO GET THE POSTER, WHICH WE NOW KNOW IS HAPPENING AND WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ADULTS SEPTEMBER 20th, DO YOU THINK IF HE WERE TO GET THAT SHOT ON NATIONAL TELEVISION, IT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE, PARTICULARLY WITH THOSE WHO ARE VACCINE HESITANT OR HAVE REFUSED IT SO FAR?

>> WELL, YES.

I THINK THAT NICK HE CAN DO TO PROMOTE THE VACCINE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE WAY THE VACCINE CAME TO BEING, IT WAS AN UNPRECEDENTED EFFORT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

SO PRESIDENT TRUMP OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T CREATE ONE OF THE VACCINES, BUT HE CREATED THE ENVIRONMENT FOR IT TO COME TO THE MARKETPLACE AS QUICKLY AS DID IT.

OPERATION WARP SPEED WASN'T JUST ABOUT GETTING THE VACCINE APPROVED.

IT WAS ALSO ABOUT GETTING THE VACCINE DISTRIBUTED.

YOU CAN TO GO CLAREMONT, KENTUCKY.

I WAS THERE LAST WEEK.

THERE WAS A BUILDING, THERE'S A BUILDING THAT WAS THERE BUT IT'S A MASSIVE BUILDING AND WITHIN 68 DAYS WHICH NORMALLY WOULD TAKE TWO YEARS, THEY SAID, THEY GOT THE DISTRIBUTION UP AND READY TO RUN SO THEY COULD DISTRIBUTE THE VACCINE, SO IT'S A PHENOMENAL PROGRAM, AND I KNOW YOU MENTIONED REPUBLICANS AND MISINFORMATION ABOUT THE VACCINE.

WE'VE GOT TO REMEMBER IN OCTOBER, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER OF 2020 THE MISNEXT FOR THE VACCINE WAS COMING FROM -- MISINFORMATION WAS COMING FROM VP HARRIS BEFORE SHE WAS VICE PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT BIDEN EVEN DISMISSED THE VACCINE, ANYTHING THAT TRUMP IS IN CHARGE OF IS ONE PARAPHRASE.

I KNOW SHE SAID THAT.

I KNOW THERE'S A CAMPAIGN BY THE AMERICANS FOR PROGRESS WHICH IS A LEFT-WING ORGANIZATION TO TRY TO PREVENT THE VACCINE FROM BEING PUT OUT BEFORE THE ELECTION OR THEY WERE TRYING TO PUT PRESSURE ON PFIZER NOT TO PUT THE VACCINE OUT BEFORE THE ELECTION.

I WANT TO SAY THAT CORRECTLY.

SO THERE WAS A LOT OF MISINFORMATION THAT WAY.

FOR SOME REASON, RIGHT AFTER THE ELECTION IT SWITCHED FROM THE LEFT BEING VACCINE HESITANT TO THE -- OR CRITICIZING THE VACCINE WHEN THE YOU VACCINE BECAME AVAILABLE IT.

DOES APPEAR THAT MORE PEOPLE FROM CONSERVATIVE BACKGROUNDS ARE THE ONES NOT GETTING VACCINATED.

I THINK THIS IS A TRIBUTE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S LEADERSHIP AND EFFORT, AND I THINK IF HE TOOK THE VACCINE IN PUBLIC IN FRONT OF PEOPLE, HIS BOOSTER SHOT, I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

>> I WANT TO MOVE TO ANOTHER COVID-RELATED MATTER THAT YOU'RE THE SPONSOR OF WHAT'S CALLED THE CONTINUOUS PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING BILL.

YOU MENTIONED THAT A CHALLENGE TO OPERATION WARP SPEED UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS FINDING MANUFACTURING CAPACITY IN THE U.S. TO QUICKLY DELIVER AND DEPLOY THE COVID-19 VACCINES.

HOW WOULD YOUR ACT THAT IS PENDING IN CONGRESS CHANGE THAT IN THE FUTURE?

>> WELL, IT'S IMPORTANT.

AND SO WHAT WE FOUND WITH THE VACCINE IS A LOT OF INGREDIENTS FROM PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES, A LOT OF INFORMING FROM PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES ARE DONE IN CHINA AND OTHER COUNTRIES.

AND I BELIEVE IN TRADE.

I BELIEVE IN WORLD TRADE.

BELIEVE IT HAS TO BE FAIR.

BUT I DO BELIEVE IN TRADE, AND SOMETIMES OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE AN ADVANTAGE AND WE HAVE AN ADVANTAGE LIKE AGRICULTURE THAT WE SHIP AROUND THE WORLD.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO A PRODUCT OF NATIONAL SECURITY AND NATIONAL INTERESTS, PHARMACEUTICALS ARE THERE, AND WE SAW A PROBLEM, PARTICULARLY WITH PPE, WE SAW A PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF MANUFACTURING IN CHINA, AND, YOU KNOW, CHINA CAN OPERATE IN THE FIRST WORLD AND BE A WORLD TRADING PARTNER, BUT IF IN TIMES OF CRUNCH THEY'RE GOING TO SHUT DOWN AND NOT LET US PARTICIPATE, WE HAVE TO BE MANUFACTURING IN A DIFFERENT WAY IN ANOTHER AREA, AND SO IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE JUST CHOOSING TO MAKE SOME PRODUCT OVERSEAS.

YOU'RE CHOOSING TO MAKE A PRODUCT THAT'S VITAL IN TERMS OF A PANDEMIC, AS WE LEARNED, AND SO HOW CAN WE STILL DO IT AND BE COMPETITIVE?

WE DON'T WANT THE PRICE TO SKYROCKET BECAUSE WE BROUGHT EVERYTHING BACK TO AMERICA, AND SO I'M IN MANUFACTURING AND THERE'S A LOT OF CONTINUOUS MANUFACTURING ALREADY IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS PUT MONEY INTO RESEARCH IN OUR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS TO WORK WITH, INSTEAD OF GOING FROM BATCH MANUFACTURING OF PHARMACEUTICALS TO CONTINUOUS MANUFACTURING, SO THAT WE CAN BE MORE COMPETITIVE IN A PRODUCTION PROCESS SO WE CAN DO IT IN AMERICA.

AND THE REASON WE'RE -- THE QUESTION WOULD BE, WELL, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS FOR PHARMACEUTICALS, NOT OTHER PRODUCTS?

IN OTHER PRODUCTS THE MARKET IS GOING TO WORK IT.

WORKS IN PHARMACEUTICALS, BUT WE SAY IF THE MARKET PRICES MADE IN AMERICA OUT OF THE MARKETPLACE, WE'RE -- WE WANT TO MAKE THE EFFORT TO MAKE SURE IT STAYS HERE BECAUSE WE LEARNED DURING THIS NATIONAL PANDEMIC THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE DOMESTIC PRODUCTION OF OUR PHARMACEUTICALS, AND THIS IS -- THE EFFORT IS BIPARTISAN.

BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS DO TOGETHER.

THE CHAIRMAN OF MY COMMITTEE FRANK AND MYSELF ARE WORKING THIS BILL TOGETHER L. DETECT.

SENATE OF, A LOT OF BILLS THAT WE WORK ARE MORE BIPARTISAN THAN NOT, AND SO I KNOW THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY ALWAYS GET ON THE NEWS, BUT WE ARE WORKING THAT TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> IS YOUR PRESCRIPTION DRUG MEASURE, IS THAT BIPARTISAN IN NATURE?

WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE SPONSOR OF HOUSE RESOLUTION 19, THE LOWER COST, MORE CURES ACT TO LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI AND DEMOCRATS HAVE A COMPETING RIVAL MEASURE THAT THEY SAY WILL DO EXACTLY WHAT YOURS WILL DO BUT DOES IT DIFFERENTLY.

WHAT DOES YOUR BILL DO?

AND HOW IS IT BETTER THAN WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE PROPOSING?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO EVERY PROVISION IN MY BILL IS BIPARTISAN, SO IT ABSOLUTELY IS BIPARTISAN, SO WHAT MOST DEMOCRATS WERE SAY, WE AGREE WITH EVERYTHING IN YOUR BILL.

WE JUST WANT TO GO FURTHER.

AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY I DON'T WANT TO GO FURTHER THE WAY THAT THEY WANT TO GO.

SO OUR BILL BASICALLY BRINGS GENERIC ON THE MARKETPLACE QUICKER.

THERE IS PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES CAN CHANGE A PORTION -- ONCE YOU SEE ALL THESE PHARMACEUTICALS, YOU SEE EXTRA STRENGTH, NEW STRENGTH, ALL THESE OTHER KIND OF THINGS THAT YOU SEE THAT IF YOU CHANGE SOME SMALL PART OF YOUR FORMULA, YOU KEEP YOUR PATENT LONGER AND IT PREVENTS GENERICS FROM COMING TO THE MARKETPLACE.

WE WANT TO ASSEMBLY FI THAT AND SAY THAT YOU CAN'T MAKE SMALL CHANGES TO YOUR PROCESSES.

AND REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AGREE ON THAT.

WE WANT TO FIX MEDICARE PART B WHERE SENIORS HAVE A GAP ON THEIR OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES.

REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AGREE ON THAT.

WE ALSO -- THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER PROVISIONS BUT MOST OF IT IS IS TO BRING GENERICS, CAP OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES FOR SENIORS.

THE OTHER THING IS I HAVE SENIORS TELL EMPLOYEE THEY BUY EVERYTHING THEY CAN IN DECEMBER BECAUSE IN JANUARY THE FULL DEDUCTIBLE KICKS IN.

WE WANT TO SMOOTH THE DEDUCTIBLE SO IT IS OVER THE YEAR SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY EVERYTHING IN JANUARY AND EVERYTHING DEDUCTIBLE GETS COVERED UNTIL DECEMBER.

BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AGREE ON THAT.

THE DIFFERENCE IS THE DEMOCRATS WOULD SAY WHAT THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH IS NEGOTIATING WITH THE GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATING WITH DRUG COMPANIES.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE PROMOTING AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HEAR.

WHY IS THAT?

WHY DO WE DISAGREE WITH THAT?

THIS IS THEIR NEGOTIATION.

THEY WILL TEL-DRUG COMPANIES THE PRICE THEY WILL PAY FOR THEIR DRUG FOR MEDICARE.

HERE'S THE PRICE.

THIS IS THE NEGOTIATION.

IF YOU TAKE IT THEN WE'LL AGREE ON THE PRICE.

IF YOU THINK THAT PRICE IS TOO LOW AND REFUSE IT, WE'RE GOING DO TAX 95% OF YOUR REVENUE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR ON THAT DRUG.

NOT 95% OF THE PROFIT.

95% OF THE REVENUE FOR THAT DRUG.

SO IT'S PRICE SETTING.

THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.

THEY'RE GOING TO SAY IT'S NEGOTIATION, BUT IF I'M NEGOTIATING WITH YOU, RENEE, AND I SAY, HEIRS HERE'S MY PRICE.

EITHER YOU TAKE THAT OR I'M GOING TO TAKE ALL YOUR MONEY FROM LAST YEAR, THAT'S NOT A NEGOTIATION.

THE PROBLEM IS FOR SOME REASON NEAR IN LOVE WITH THE WAY EUROPE DOES PHARMACEUTICAL PRICING.

THEY DO PAY LESS IN EUROPE, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS, AND WE NEED TO WORK ON IT.

THAT'S WHAT MY BILL WORKED WORK ON TO PUT A MERE EVEN KEEL VALUE-BASED PRICING GOING FORWARD, BUT EUROPE CHOSE TO DO THEIR OPERATION WARP SPEED BASED ON PRICE, AND THEY WENT WITH ASTRAZENECA BECAUSE ASTRAZENECA SAID WE'RE A NON-PROFIT.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY PROFIT OFF OUR VACCINE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO THEY ESTIMATE EUROPE SAVED A FEW BILLION DOLLARS IN PRICE, BUT THEY'VE LOST TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THEIR ECONOMY BY MAKING THAT DECISION.

SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS SAY, LET'S HAVE A PROCEED ROBUST PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY.

WE CAN CURE HEPATITIS RC WITH A PILL NOW.

USED TO BE A LIVER TRANSPLANT.

SICKLE CELL ANEMIA CAN BE CURED, CURED NOW, NOT TREATED, CURED.

WE'RE SEEING ALL KIND OF STAGE 4 MELANOMAS THAT ARE BEING CLEARED IF YOU HAVE THE GENETIC MARKER THAT THEIR LOOKING FOR.

PEOPLE WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS ARE GOING TO LIVE TO 75 AND 80 WHERE THEY USED TO LIVE TO 25 AND 30 IF THEY LIVED THAT LONG.

AND SO THIS IS WHAT'S COMING IDENTIFY OUR PHARMACEUTICAL WORLD AND WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT.

WE WANT IT TO BE AFFORDABLE.

WE WANT IT TO BE COMPETITIVE.

BUT WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT.

AND THE BATH PAY THEY'RE GOING DOWN, I THINK THEY REALLY BELIEVE THEY CAN CHANGE THE WAY THEY PAY FOR IT WITHOUT CHANGING WHAT THEY GET, BUT I WILL TELL YOU IF WE -- I BELIEVE, AND MATTER OF FACT, NON-PARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET BUDGET OFFICE SAYS WE WILL LOSE INNOVATIVE PHARMACEUTICALS IF WE GO DOWN THE PATH THEY WANT TO GO.

IF IT SAVES MONEY, THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE MONEY OUT OF MEDICARE AND NATIVITY OTHER PLACES WHICH IS ANOTHER VERSION OF THEIR BILL.

THEY SAY THIS SAVES SEVERAL HUNDRED BILLIONS AND THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND IN IT THIS $3.5 TRILLION BILL.

I DON'T THINK MEDICARE PART B SHOULDY BE DIVERTED.

THAT'S ANOTHER ARGUMENT IN THE PRINCIPLEY AGAINST THEIR BILL.

>> IN THE NINE MINUTES WE HAVE REMAINING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER ISSUE YOU'VE BEEN VERY ACTIVE AND EVEN IN THE STATE WITH ANOTHER STATION WIDE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER, AND THAT'S THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON WHERE YOU ALL HAVE FORMED A COLLABORATION OF ADDRESSING OPIOID ADDICTION THAT INTERSECTS WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW HOW THOSE TWO SURGES MEET, BUT WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE PARTNERSHIP THAT YOU ARE FORGING WITH THE KENTUCKY ATTORNEY GENERAL?

AND WHAT IS IT YOU HOPE TO ADDRESS IN TERMS OF REDUCING OPIOID EPIDEMIC OR HUMAN TRAFFICKING OR BOTH AT THE SAME TIME?

>> WELL, AS YOU KNOW, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE COMMONWEALTH, SO I'M A LEGISLATOR.

ALL EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY IS IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, AND SO THEREFORE WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO ONE, MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES MOVING FORWARD TO DEAL WITH THE OPIOID ADDICTION AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND THE LEGAL STAND TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO, BUT WE NEED ENFORCEMENT OF IT AS WELL, AND SO I AM ALWAYS WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE BRANCH TOGETHER.

I'M WILLING TO WORK WITH ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO PUT A SCOURGE ON THE DRUG PROBLEM IN AMERICA, AND I SEEMS MORE AND MORE PLACES ARE SAYING LET IT BE LEGALIZED, AND THAT'S NOT WHERE I AM.

AND SO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND I DID HAVE A ROUNDTABLE MEETING IN DANVILLE.

WE TALKED TO PEOPLE THAT ARE PROVIDERS OF REHABILITATION AND PEOPLE IN RECOVERY.

THAT'S IMPORTANT.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPENT A LOT OF MONEY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS ON THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC, AND I WANTED TO SPEND THIS AUGUST AT HOME, AND WE SPENT A LOT OF FEDERAL MONEY, AND SO WE BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER TO SEE HOW THEY WERE SPENDING THE MONEY.

OF COURSE WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY WE NEED MORE TIME, WE NEED MORE EFFORT TO MOVE FORWARD BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE PEOPLE IN RECOVERY AND NOT JUST BE -- WHERE THE LAWS ARE.

SO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMES IN WITH THE LAWS THAT WE HAVE GUIDELINES AND PROBABLY ORVILLE RESTRICTIVE, AND WE NEED TO U.S.

ADJUST THOSE.

SO WE DON'T WANT A SIMPLE USER IN JAIL FOR A ALONG TIME.

WE'D RATHER HAVE THEM TREATED BECAUSE A LOT OF TIME THEIR CRIME COMES BECAUSE OF THEIR ADDICTION, AND IF YOU CURE THEIR ADDICTION WEEK YOU CURE THEIR CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

WE ALSO LOOKED AT LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TELLING US THAT A LOT OF METH IS NO LONGER BEING MADE LOCALLY BECAUSE IT'S SO EASILY -- BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE BORDER SITUATION ON THE SOUTH BORDER IS COMING ACROSS THE BORDER, THAT SOMEBODY CAN'T MAKE METH AS CHEAP AS THEY BUY IT, SO IT SHOWS US AS A FEDERAL LEGISLATURE WE HAVE TO TO GET CONTROL OF THE BORDER WE HAVE TO GET CONTROL OF THAT P. AND IT ALLOWED ATTORNEY GENERAL CAMERON TO HEAR FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ABOUT PARTICULARLY, ONE OF THE THINGS I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT -- YOU LEARN THINGS WHEN YOU SIT AND LISTEN TO PEOPLE, AND ONE THING I NEVER LEARNED IS I WANT PEOPLE WHO ARE SIMPLE LOW-LEVEL DRUG USERS TO BE DIVERTED TO RECOVERY SO THEY CAN GET THEIR LIFE TOGETHER AND LIVE ON WITH A PRODUCTIVE LIFE.

I THINK WE ALL WANT THAT.

BUT SOME OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE WERE SAYING, OUR BIGGEST TOOL WAS THE THREAT OF SENDING SOMEONE TO JAIL BECAUSE IF WE THREATEN TO SEND THEM TO JAIL, THEY WERE GOING TO SELL US UP THE CHAIN WHERE THEY GOT THE DRUGS FROM SO WE CAN GET TO THE BIGGER FISH, AND THEY SAID WE HAVE LOST SOME OF THE LEVERAGE THAT BUT WE ALL AGREED THAT WE HAVE DIVERGENCE, BUT IT ALSO SAYS THAT THERE'S OTHER PROBLEMS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.

SO WE NEED TO WORK ALL OF ONCE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.

JUDICIAL BRANCH CAN WORK ON THE OWN.

>> THE 2020 OVERDOSE FATALITY REPORT THAT CAME OUT A FEW WEEKS AGO INDICATED THAT MORE THAN 1964 KENTUCKIANS DIED FROM DRUG OVERDOSES IN 2020.

IT WAS A 49% INCREASE COMPARED WITH THE YEAR PRIOR.

CONGRESSMAN GUTHRIE, I KNOW THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS LOTS OF OVERLAYS, AND MANY PEOPLE WE NOW BELIEVE THE STUDIES ARE TELLING US THAT THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC WAS EXACERBATED DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC.

I'M CURIOUS IN YOUR DISTRICT, AND YOU MENTIONED METHAMPHETAMINE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD THAT IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE THAT'S BECOME THE DRUG OF CHOICE OTHER THAN HEROIN AND ARE THAT EACH TIME YOU TRY TO COME UP WITH ONE CURE TO HOPEFULLY ABATE DRUG ADDICTION, IT JUST MORPHS INTO ANOTHER PROBLEM.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE WHAC-A-MOLE TO BE FRANK ABOUT IT.

SO WHAT CAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DO TO REVERSE THE TREND THAT WE'RE SEEING SO FAR IN THE 2020 OVERDOSE FATALITY REPORT?

>> ONE WE NEED TO DEAL 1 EM EPIDEMIC.

WE WERE SEEING THINGS GO POSITIVE AFTER THE CONGRESSIONAL -- CONGRESS REALLY FOCUSED ON IT IN A BIPARTISAN WAY, THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC AND WORKED TOGETHER REALLY HARD TO PUT MONEY IN PLACE AND GET TREATMENT IN PLACE AND OTHER THINGS IN PLACE.

THEN WE WERE HIT WITH THE PANDEMIC.

WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THE PANDEMIC.

PEOPLE ARE ALONE, THEY'RE ISOLATED, AND THEY'RE TURNING TO DRUGS AND ALCOHOL, AND WE CAN'T DISMISS -- IT'S NOT JUST DRUGS, IT'S DRUGS AND ALCOHOL WITH, WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT.

SO THAT'S WHAT CONGRESS IS FOCUSED ON, AND WE HAVE PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO RECOVERY, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE IS BEING SPENT, IS BEING SPENT WELL AND PEOPLE ARE BEING -- ARE BEING TREATED IN RECOVERY.

OF COURSE, IT TAKES PEOPLE USUALLY A FEW TIMES TO GO THROUGH RECOVERY BEFORE THEY CAN FULLY REACH WHATEVER LEVEL, SOMETIMES PEOPLE CAN GO THROUGH THE FIRST TIME.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE CAN DO IT -- SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO GO THROUGH TREATMENT CENTERS AND SOME MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT WE NEED TO BE THERE, WE NEED TO LISTEN, AND WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT.

WHEN I WAS IN THE GENERAL SIMPLY, WE WERE TALKING BEFORE WE STARTED HOW WE FIRST MET IN FRANKFORT WHEN I WAS A STATE SENATOR AND WE THOUGHT ONCE WE COULD -- IT WAS PRESCRIPTION OPIOIDS, OXYCONTIN, ONCE WE PUT THE LIMITS ON PRESCRIPTION, HEROIN BECAME EASIER TO GET THAN A DRUG PRESCRIPTION, AND THEN WE FOCUSED ON OPIOIDS AND HEROIN AND HEROINE A DINGS AND NOW METHAMPHETAMINE.

WHICH METH HAS ALWAYS BEEN A RURAL DISEASE, BUT NOW -- I'M LOSING MY EARPLUG HERE -- IT'S ALL -- NOW IT'S HARDER TO GET HEROIN BECAUSE SOME OF THE ACTIONS.

NOW IT'S GONE TO METHAMPHETAMINE, AND IT JUST MEANS WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE EVERYTHING STRATEGY INSTEAD OF -- WE REALLY FOCUSED ON OPIOIDS, AND WE SHOULD HAVE FOCUSED MORE AND OPEN.

SO WHAT I LEARNED IS WE'VE GOT TO OPEN SOME OF THESE CATEGORIES OF MONEY THAT ARE SET FOR OPIOIDS ALSO TO BE FOR OTHER DRUGS AS WELL.

>> THE FINAL TOPIC I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT, IT'S KIND OF TWOFOLD: AFGHANISTAN, BUT ALSO YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN DIMINISHING VETERAN SUICIDE.

AND I'M CURIOUS ABOUT YOUR EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH TRAINING ON THIS ISSUE, AND WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT APPROACHING IN JUST A FEW WEEKS THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 AND CONSIDERING THE UPROAR THAT'S GOING ON IN AFGHANISTAN NOW AND ON THE EVE OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE WAR ON TERROR, THE 20th ANNIVERSARY, YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE STRATEGY SO FAR BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IN AFGHANISTAN AND HOW THAT COULD EXACERBATE MAYBE SOME ANXIETY AMONG VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED IN WHAT YOU'RE PREVIOUS PRESIDENT CALLED THE FOREVER WAR.

>> WELL, WHAT WE'RE -- I WAS HOME IN AUGUST AND WE DID HAVE A ROUNDTABLE ON VETERAN SUICIDE.

I BROUGHT THE DA WHO ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON IT.

THE ARMY, I CAN SPEAK MORE FOR THE ARMY BECAUSE THAT'S MY -- BUT ALSO THE MILITARY, HAS REALLY FOCUSED ON MENTAL HEALTH FOR SOLDIERS AND SAILORS AND AIRMEN.

WHEN I WAS IN, IT'S JUST LIKE GET -- I WASN'T IN DURING A COMBAT SITUATION SO IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT -- A LOT DIFFERENT.

BUT IT WAS -- MENTAL HEALTH WAS KIND OF, IF YOU'RE LETTING MENTAL HEALTH GET IN YOUR WAY, IT'S GOING AFFECT YOUR CAREER, IT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE THINGS THAT YOU DO.

THE MILITARY HAS MOVED BEYOND THAT WHICH IS A GREAT THING.

WE KNOW PEOPLE THAT HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND ARE STRUGGLING WITH THEM.

THE VA IS TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER PROGRAMS.

WE BROUGHT LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRST RESPONDERS, PEOPLE WHO DEAL WITH THE VETERAN COMMUNITY, HOW DO YOU DETECT SUICIDE AND PREVENT PEOPLE FROM DOING IT?

THE THING IS IF YOU CAN STOP SOMEBODY FROM DOING IT, THEN THEY TYPICALLY DON'T TRY THE SECOND SORRY THIRD TIME BECAUSE ONE OF SERGEANTS IF SOMEBODY'S GOING TO DO IT, THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT ANYWAY, AND THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY TRUE.

SOMETIMES IT IS BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY TRUE.

THE OTHER THING ON AFGHANISTAN AND HOW SOLDIERS MUST BE ANXIOUS, ONE OF THE THINGS WAS MY EFFORT WORTH IT.

AND IT ABSOLUTELY IS WORTH IT.

EVERY MAN AND WOMAN WHO VOLUNTEERED TO BE -- I'VE BEEN TO BAG GRAM AIR FORCE BASE AND NOW THAT AIMED OLDER HOW YOUNG THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WEARING THE UNIFORM, AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM VOLUNTEERED TO BE THERE, AND WE KEPT OUR COUNTRY FROM BEING INVADE BY AL-QAEDA AND OTHER GROUPS FOR 20 YEARS.

IT'S JUST A SHAME.

I DIDN'T AGREE WITH THE FULL PULL-OUT.

I BELIEVED WITH H.R.

McMASTER'S STRATEGY WHO I HAVE KNOWN SINCE I WAS AT WEST APPOINT 19 YEARS OLD IN HIS BOOK BATTLEGROUND BATTLEFIELD.

WE COULD HAVE HAD A SMALL FORCE.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN ENGAGED IN COMBAT SINCE 2014 AND RECENTLY -- NOT RECENTLY THE ALL ENTREPRENEUR PRESIDENT BIDEN DEAD THE AFGHANS ARE REFUSING TO FIGHT FOR THEIR COUNTRY.

THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE FIGHTING.

WITH WHAT COLLAPSED WAS WHEN OVERNIGHT WITHOUT EVENING TELLING THE AFGHAN COMMANDING OFFICER, WE PULLED OUT OF BAGRAM AIR FORCE BASE, AND ONCE THE AFGHANS REALIZED THAT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO HAVE ANY AIR SUPPORTER FROM THE UNITED STATES, IT JUST COLLAPSED, AND THAT DIDN'T NEED TO HAPPEN.

I KNOW PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTED TO PULL OUT AS WELL.

I WAS ONE THAT WE HAVE PEACEKEEPERS IN THE SINAI PENINSULA.

WE HAVE PEACEKEEPERS IN KOREA.

WE HAVE THEM -- AND THERE'S A BIG ISSUE IN HAVING THEM IN EUROPE THE LAST YEAR YOU SINCE THEY HAVE BECOME THE UNION BUT WE STILL HAVE RUSSIA THERE.

WE HAVE PEACEKEEPERS THAT KEPT THE PEACE IN THE LATE '40S, '50s AND '60s AND '70s IN EUROPE.

WHY NOT HAVE A SMALL PIECE KEEPING OTHERS THERE?

WE ALSO HAD ANOTHER 5,000 NATO SOLDIERS THERE AS WELL.

NOW WE WENT FROM 2500 HOPING TO GO TO ZERO.

NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER 5,000 SOLDIERS THERE JUST TRYING TO EVICT THE AIRPORT.

AND WHY WE DIDN'T -- WHY WE CHOSE TO GO DOWN THAT BATH, I JUST DON'T AGREE WITH.

I THOUGHT THAT AFGHANISTAN WOULD COLLAPSE IF WE PULLED OUT ALTOGETHER ONE WAZE OR THE OTHER, IT'S JUST HASTENED AND IT WAS A BOTCHED SITUATION, AND I THINK H.R.

McMASTER SAID MORE ABOUT JAKE SULLIVAN'S COMMENTS WITH THE PRESIDENT IS THAT THE AFGHANS WON'T FIGHT FOR THEIR COUNTRY BECAUSE THOSE MEN AND AMERICAN WOMEN IN UNIFORM SAY THEY HAVE BEEN THERE,Y THERE ARE ACH GANS THAT SAVED THEIR LIVES THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO GET INTO OUR COUNTRY, GET BACK HERE AND WE NEED TO HAVE THOSE HOAS FOUGHT ALONGSIDE OUR MEN AND WOMEN AFTER OUR MEN AND WOMEN SHARE OUR VALUES.

THAT'S WHY THEY WERE FIGHTING WITH US.

WE NEED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO BE HERE AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU, CONGRESSMAN WET GUTHRIE FOR YOUR INSIGHT AND FOR YOUR TIME THIS AFTERNOON.

GOOD LUCK THERE IN WASHINGTONEST DC AND WE HOPE WE CAN CATCH UP WITH YOU SOON.

THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RENEE.

IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO BE WERE YOU.

>> >> Senator Ritchie: ON MONDAY NIGHT OUR SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH MEMBERS OF KENTUCKY'S SIGNAL DELEGATION CONTINUES WITH AN INTERVIEW WITH 3rd DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN JOHN YARMOUTH LOUISVILLE.

TUNE IN MONDAY AT 6:30, 5:30 CENTRAL FOR "CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE."