♪ ♪ >> Renee: KENTUCKY'S 5TH DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN HAL ROGERS IS SOON TO BECOME THE LONGEST SERVING MEMBER OF CONGRESS IN KENTUCKY HISTORY.

HAVING BEEN ELECTED TO 21 CONSECUTIVE TERMS REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE OF SOUTHERN AND EASTERN KENTUCKY.

KET'S PUBLIC AFFAIRS TEAM TRAVELED TO SOMERSET TO TALK WITH ROGERS ABOUT HIS SERVICE AND RE-ELECTION PLANS.

A DECREASE IN OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS IN HIS REGION, THE DEPOPULATION OCCURRING IN HIS DISTRICT, THE IMPACT OF CONGRESS' COVID-RELIEF MEASURES AND MORE.

AS WE CONTINUE OUR IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS WITH MEMBERS OF KENTUCKY'S FEDERAL DELEGATION ON "CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE".

♪ ♪ CONGRESSMAN ROGERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO COME TO YOUR HOME PLACE THIS TIME.

WE'VE OFTEN MET IN YOU WASHINGTON, BUT IT'S GOOD TO BE IN YOUR DISTRICT AND IN YOUR OFFICE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> LET'S JUST FIRST OF ALL START BY GIVING YOU CONGRATULATIONS, THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT COME SEPTEMBER 2ND YOU WILL BE THE LONGEST-SERVING MEMBER, EITHER HOUSE OR SENATE, IN WASHINGTON.

>> FROM KENTUCKY.

>> Renee: FROM KENTUCKY.

FROM KENTUCKY.

SO THAT'S A MAJOR MILESTONE, SIR.

>> WELL, IT IS, AND I'M PROUD OF IT.

I'M SCARED OF IT.

>> Renee: WHY ARE YOU SCARED OF IT?

>> WELL, PEOPLE EXPECT A LOT OF YOU.

ANYWAY, IT'S A GREAT HONOR, AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS STATE AND THE HEROS, LIKE HENRY CLAY, WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE CONGRESS FROM KENTUCKY, IT MAKES YOU FEEL PRETTY LITTLE.

>> Renee: OH.

THAT'S A HUMBLING WAY OF LOOKING AT IT, ISN'T IT?

YOU'RE SURPASSING WILLIAM NATCHER WHO IS FROM WESTERN KENTUCKY, A DEMOCRAT, SO -- >> AND A GREAT MAN.

I REALLY ADMIRED HIM.

>> Renee: YOU REMEMBER THE TIME THAT YOU SPENT.

>> YES.

>> Renee -- SERVING WITH HIM.

>> YES.

>> Renee: SO TO GET TO THIS MILESTONE, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT MCCONNELL HAS ACKNOWLEDGED AND HAVE YOU TOUTED YOUR SENIORITY IN THAT RESPECT?

>> OH, NO, NO, NO, NO.

WE GET ALONG GREAT.

WE HELP EACH OTHER.

AND HE'S, YOU KNOW, HE'S GOT A RECORD GOING, TOO, OF BEING THE LONGEST-SERVING MAJORITY LEADER IN THE SENATE, WHICH IS A HUGE HONOR.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

WELL, CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ON THAT.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME REGIONAL ISSUES FIRST IF WE MIGHT.

SOME GOOD NEWS THAT CAME OUT FAIRLY RECENTLY ABOUT THE DECLINING NUMBER OF OVERDOSE DEATHS IN SEVERAL EASTERN KENTUCKY COUNTIES, AND THIS IS GOOD NEWS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS HEARD ABOUT THAT TREND, ABOUT IT SEEMS THAT OVER A FEW YEARS' TIME THAT'S SHOWING THAT A LOT OF EFFORTS, WHETHER THOSE WERE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES OR ACCESS TO TREATMENT HAVE REALLY PAID OFF WELL IN SAVING LIVES IN THIS AREA.

>> WHEN WE STARTED UNITE, UNLAWFULL NARCOTICS INVESTIGATIONS TREATMENT, INVESTIGATION, THE THREE-PRONGED HOLISTIC ATTACK ON THE OPIOID OVERDOSE PROBLEM, THAT'S NOW PAYING OFF.

AND UNTIL THIS PANDEMIC HIT US, WE HAD THOSE OVERDOSE DEATHS GOING DOWN DRAMATICALLY, BUT NOW, WITH THE PANDEMIC GOING ON, WE'VE GOT AN EPIDEMIC WITHIN THAT ON OVERDOSE DEATHS IN THE NATION.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT IN KENTUCKY AND IN MY DISTRICT ESPECIALLY, WE ARE DOING REALLY GOOD.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO AND IF HAVE THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY JOINED TOGETHER FOR A STUDY AND ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM, AND THEY SAY THAT OUT OF THE TOP 20 COUNTIES IN THE NATION FOR 14 OF THOSE, OF THOSE 20 WERE IN MY DISTRICT IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY.

AND THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE UNDERTAKING AND AN INCREDIBLE RESULT.

BUT IT SHOWS THAT THE DEDICATION OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE BOARD AND THIS HOLISTIC APPROACH ON THE PROBLEM, IT WORKS.

>> Renee: AND LIKE YOU MENTIONED, UNITE, AND GREAT FOLKS LIKE NANCY HALE WHO WE KNOW ARE WONDERFUL ADVOCATES AND ALSO DESTIGMATIZING TREATMENT AND REFRAMING THE TREATMENT AROUND ADDICTION.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S GIVEN WAY TO A BRIGHTER PATH AND THIS DECLINE THAT WE'RE SEEING?

>> I DO.

THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE THAT UNITE HAS HAD TO OVERCOME IS THE APATHY OF PEOPLE TOWARD DRUG USE AND OVERDOSE.

SO THAT HAS HELPED US GET TO THE NEXT STAGE, WHICH IS TREATMENT.

AND PREVENTION AND THEN EDUCATING THE OTHERS.

>> THE DRUG WAR IS ALWAYS EVER EVOLVING, YOU KNOW, PILL MILLS WE TALKED ABOUT SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND THEN IT BECAME OPIOID ADDICTION, HEROINE.

WE KNOW THAT IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE METHAMPHETAMINE IS MAKING A COMEBACK.

HOW DO YOU GET YOUR ARMS AROUND AN EVER-MOVING TARGET THAT IS DRUG ADDICTION?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, BEFORE I WAS IN CONGRESS, I WAS A PROSECUTOR.

I WAS A COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY IN SOMERSET AND ADJOINING COUNTIES.

AND WHAT CONTINUES, CONTINUES TO SCARE ME IS THAT ONCE YOU THINK YOU'VE GOT A PARTICULAR DRUG PROBLEM LICKED, IT POPS UP IN ANOTHER PLACE AND ANOTHER LIFE UNDER A DIFFERENT NAME.

>> Renee: RIGHT.

>> SO AT THE OUTSET WE WERE GOING AFTER MARIJUANA.

OF COURSE, THAT'S LONG PAST.

AND THEN IT SWITCHED TO THIS DRUG OR THAT DRUG, THEN TO METH AND THEN TO OPIOIDS, AND THEN BACK TO METH, AND SO IT'S A MOVING TARGET.

AND ONCE YOU THINK YOU'VE GOT IT FIXED FOR GOOD, DON'T GO TO BED HAPPY.

>> Renee: RIGHT.

AS YOU KNOW, THERE IS A CONVERSATION IN KENTUCKY, AND I GUESS REALLY ACROSS THE NATION ABOUT LEGALIZING PARTICULARLY MEDICINAL MARIJUANA.

MANY STATES HAVE CHOSEN TO GO RECREATIONAL ROUTE.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.

AS YOU MENTIONED, IT STARTED OFF AS AN ERADICATION OF MARIJUANA USE, BUT NOW THE SENTIMENT TOWARD THAT SEEMS TO HAVE CHANGED IN THAT MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT MARIJUANA CAN BE AN OFFSET TO EVEN STARTING ON THESE NARCOTIC PAINKILLERS THAT CAN CAUSE MUCH MORE DAMAGE.

YOUR POSITION ON WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S A WISE MOVE TO LOOK TO RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA AS A THERAPEUTIC.

>> WELL, IF YOU STICK WITH JUST THE SCIENCE OF IT, ALL THE EXPERTS SAY THAT THE USE OF MARIJUANA IS AN INTRODUCTION TO OTHER MORE SERIOUS DRUGS, SO THAT'S WHERE I COME FROM.

WE'VE GOT ENOUGH PROBLEMS AS IT IS.

>> ANOTHER BIT OF NEWS THAT WE'VE LEARNED IN RECENT WEEKS IS ABOUT POPULATION SHIFTS BECAUSE THE U.S. CENSUS DATA HAS COME OUT, AND WE KNOW -- I DON'T THINK IT COMES AS MUCH SURPRISE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A DEPOPULATION OCCURRING IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE, AND SEVERAL COUNTIES OF LOST POPULATION.

HOW DO YOU TRANSLATE THOSE NUMBERS INTO WHAT ACTION NEEDS TO COME NOW?

AND HOW WILL THIS ADDRESS THE KINDS OF RESOURCES THAT COULD COME TO YOUR DISTRICT BECAUSE OF THIS LOSS OF POPULATION?

>> WELL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PICK UP IN MY DISTRICT SOME 57,000 PEOPLE, THEY SAY, MAINLY BECAUSE WE LOST POPULATION IN THE HEAVY COAL, FORMER COAL COUNTIES IN THE FAR EAST.

SO WE'LL REDISTRICT.

THE LEGISLATURE WILL REDISTRICT, OF COURSE, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ALL OF THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF -- IN KENTUCKY, HOW THEIR DISTRICTS FARED, AND SOME, TWO OR THREE OF THE DISTRICTS WILL GAIN -- HAVE GAINED POPULATION.

TWO OR THREE OTHERS HAVE LOST POPULATION.

AND THE LEGISLATURE WILL FIX THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHO KNOWS WHAT KIND OF ASSETS -- THE COUNTIES THAT THEY GIVE ME IN REDISTRICTING, SOME MAY HAVE ASSETS THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO WORK WITH YET, AND THAT WILL BE A CHALLENGE AND AN OPPORTUNITY.

>> RIGHT.

I THINK I'VE ALSO READ THAT WESTERN KENTUCKY'S FACING SIMILAR SITUATION AS WELL.

>> YES.

>> BUT DURING THAT REDISTRICTING PROGRESS -- PROCESS, THE CONGRESSMEN ARE ABLE TO CHIME IN, RIGHT, ON THAT, THAT THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T TAKE MAYBE A UNILATERAL APPROACH WITHOUT CONSULTING KENTUCKY'S FEDERAL DELEGATION ON REDRAWING THOSE DISTRICTS, CORRECT?

>> YEAH, HISTORICALLY THE SITTING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE A CHANCE TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINION TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE, WHICH DOES THE REDISTRICTING, SO I HOPE THAT'LL HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> RIGHT.

AND WE'LL WAIT FOR THAT TO COME.

COVID, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION THESE DAYS, CONGRESSMAN, WITHOUT MENTIONING THE IMPACT THAT THAT'S HAVING AND THE RESURGENCE OF THIS VIRUS, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THE DELTA VARIANT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS ALSO RELATED TO A BORDER CRISIS, THAT THE SURGE IN NUMBERS, BECAUSE OF DELTA IS COMING FROM THE SOUTHERN BORDER AND THAT THERE'S A MIGRATION ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?

AND WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT WE SHOULD UNDERSTAND ABOUT COVID, WHETHER IT'S FROM THE ORIGINS OF THE VIRUS?

HOW FAR SHOULD WE TAKE ALL OF THAT IN ORDER TO MITIGATE THIS DISEASE?

>> WELL, NO DOUBT, AND THEY SAY WITH SOME ASSURANCE THAT THE PEOPLE COMING ACROSS THE BORDER IN TEXAS AND THE SOUTHWEST, A GOOD PERCENTAGE OF THEM, A HEAVY PERCENT ARE INFECTED OR ARE CARRIERS OF COVID.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE WHOLE PROBLEM.

IT'S A PART OF IT.

BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER WAYS THAT THE DISEASE, VIRUS IS INFECTING US.

AND VACCINATION IS THE ANSWER, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THE PRESIDENT SAYING THAT AND EVERYBODY ELSE.

BUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED MUST REALIZE THAT THEY ARE ENDANGERING THEIR OWN LIFE BUT ALSO THEY'RE ENDANGERING THE REST OF US.

AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL GET VACCINATED.

THAT'S THE ANSWER TO COVID.

>> Renee: THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THE FEDERAL DELEGATION, SENATOR AND A HOUSE MEMBER WHO HAVE DIFFERING OPINIONS ABOUT VACCINES.

THEY'RE CURIOUS OR THEY QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT VACCINES PROVIDE GREATER PROTECTION THAN IF SOMEONE HAD BEEN INFECTED NATURALLY WITH COVID.

DO YOU GIVE MUCH CREDENCE TO THOSE ARGUMENTS, THOSE PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT IF YOU'VE ALREADY HAD COVID, YOU'VE BUILT UP THE ANTIBODIES AND NATURAL IMMUNITY TO THAT DISEASE JUST AS MUCH OR MAYBE EVEN MORE SO THAN SOMEONE WHOSE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED?

>> YOU KNOW, THE FIGURES DON'T LIE.

PRACTICALLY ALL OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID WERE UNVACCINATED.

VACCINATION WORKS.

THAT'S HOW WE HAVE KILLED DISEASES OVER THE YEARS AND DECADES OF TIME.

VACCINATIONS FOR SMALLPOX AND YOU NAME IT.

AS KIDS, WE ALL GOT THOSE SHOTS BECAUSE THEY WORK, AND THEY'RE NOT HARMFUL TO YOU IN ANY WAY.

>> Renee: THE VACCINATION RATES IN YOUR DISTRICT, IN THIS REGION, ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THOSE RATES?

AND WHAT MORE COULD BE DONE TO CONVINCE MORE PEOPLE TO TRUST THE VACCINE AND TO GET THE VACCINE?

>> I'M NOT HAPPY WITH THE VACCINATIONS IN MY DISTRICT.

WE NEED TO DO MORE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE METROPOLITAN AREAS OF THE STATE SEEM TO ALWAYS GET THE BETTER DEAL, AND I THINK THAT THEY'RE GETTING BETTER VACCINATION RECORDS THAN THE RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE LIKE MINE, BUT WE NEED TO DO MORE TO GET PEOPLE TO TAKE THOSE SHOTS.

>> Renee: WITH THE INFORMATION COMING OUT ABOUT THE BOOSTER, MANY PEOPLE MAY BE CONFUSED ABOUT THAT AND SAY, THAT'S PROOF POSITIVE THAT THE OTHER SERIES DIDN'T WORK.

I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION AND SOME HAVE EVEN CLASSIFIED IT AS DISINFORMATION ABOUT THE VACCINE.

AND I'M CURIOUS, CONGRESSMAN, BECAUSE THERE DOES SEEM TO BE MORE VACCINE HESITANCY OR REFUSAL FROM THOSE WHO AFFILIATE AND IDENTIFY WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY MORE THAN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

WHY IS THIS SUCH A POLITICAL ISSUE AND WHAT CAN REPUBLICANS DO TO HELP DEPOLITICIZE THE ISSUE OF VACCINATION FOR COVID-19?

>> WELL, I THINK WE NEED TO GET POLITICS OUT OF THIS DISCUSSION ALTOGETHER ABOUT VACCINATIONS BECAUSE THE SCIENTISTS, THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY KNOW, TELL US THAT IT'S AN ABSOLUTE KILLER OF THE DISEASE, THE VIRUS, AND THAT IT WORKS.

NOW, WE'RE TALKING NOW ABOUT A BOOSTER SHOT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD THE FIRST TWO SHOTS, WHICH I THINK IS OKAY.

APPARENTLY THE SCIENTISTS TELL US THAT THE EFFICIENCY OR PROFICIENCY OF THE FIRST TWO SHOTS IS DECLINING A BIT OVER TIME, A BIT, NOT MUCH, AND THEY WANT TO PLUG THAT HOLE, SO A THIRD SHOT.

>> Renee: BY THE TIME THIS INTERVIEW AIRS, YOU WILL HAVE SPENT A COUPLE OF DAYS ALREADY BACK IN DC WORKING ON INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE, WHICH I'LL GET TO, BUT WE KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME CONSTERNATION ABOUT SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI'S MASK MANDATE AND WEARING MASKS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

DO YOU SEE AN ISSUE WITH THAT?

WILL YOU COMPLY WITH THAT MANDATE?

AND DO YOU UNDERSTAND COLLEAGUES WHO MAY REFUSE?

>> WELL, OF COURSE, I'LL WEAR THE MASK ON THE FLOOR IF THAT'S THE ORDER OF THE SPEAKER.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY FRANKLY, BECAUSE THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE IS OCCUPIED REALLY SO SPARELY OVER TIME.

BUT ANYWAY, WE WILL COMPLY WITH THAT MASK MANDATE.

>> SO LET'S PIVOT TO TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS CUTTING THE RECESS IN AUGUST A LITTLE SHORT.

YOUR EXPECTATIONS ABOUT THE TYPE OF DEBATE THAT WILL BE HAD IN THE HOUSE, YOU KNOW, $1.2 TRILLION PACKAGE THAT WAS SUPPORTED BY LEADER MCCONNELL, NOT BY SENATOR RAND PAUL.

DO YOU BELIEVE IT'S A GOOD PACKAGE?

WILL YOU VOTE FOR IT?

>> OH, YEAH.

WE'VE NEEDED AN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL FOR YEARS.

OUR ROADS ARE DETERIORATING, BRIDGES ARE FALLING IN, AND SO ON WEEKS, SO THE NEED FOR AN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL HAS BEEN SCREAMING AT US FOR YEARS, AND FINALLY NOW HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING TO PASS AN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL WITH ENOUGH MONEY TO GET AT ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS, ROADS AND BRIDGES, TRACKS, WATERWAYS, BROADBAND AND SO ON.

AND KENTUCKY WILL RECEIVE A BIG CHUNK OF THAT FUNDING.

WHICH WE DESPERATELY NEED.

SO, YES, I'LL VOTE FOR IT AND CHEER.

>> Renee: AS WE DRIVE IN FROM LEXINGTON, WE SEE A LOT OF PROGRESS ALREADY.

AND, OF COURSE, THERE'S LOTS TO BE KNOWN ABOUT THE WATER CRISIS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY IN MARTIN COUNTY IN PARTICULAR THAT PEOPLE HAVE READ A LOT ABOUT, BROADBAND HAS BEEN AN ISSUE, SO YOU SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY BE A BIG BOON FOR EASTERN KENTUCKY IN PARTICULAR GIVEN ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THE REGION HAS, AND WILL IT HELP EVERY NEED, INFRASTRUCTURE NEED THAT YOUR DISTRICT HAS?

>> WELL, IT WILL HELP PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING, BUT THERE WILL BE ROAD MONEY, HIGHWAY MONEY, AND THERE WILL BE BROADBAND MONEY AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO EXTEND BROADBAND DOWN TO EVERY PERSON, AND ALSO WATER.

IN MY DISTRICT AND SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THIS OFFICE, THAT'S BEEN A MAJOR EFFORT TO OUR PART TO PROVIDE GOOD WATER TO PEOPLE'S HOMES.

THOUSANDS ARE NOW THE BENEFICIARY OF THAT.

BUT THERE'S MORE TO BE DONE.

AND THIS MONEY IN THIS BILL, THERE WILL BE MONEY IN THIS BILL FOR WATER SYSTEMS AND SEWER SYSTEMS, AND THAT'S BEEN A PROJECT THAT PRIDE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY HAS HAD A MAJOR ROLE IN HELPING, AND THAT'S THE WATER AND SEWAGE.

>> Renee: MANY PEOPLE HAVE READ THE STORIES ABOUT BROWN WATER COMING OUT OF TAPS AND PEOPLE NOT EVEN ABLE TO BATHE OR DRINK THEIR WATER WHICH SEEMS LOOK A PROBLEM TO BE DISCUSSED DECADES, CENTURIES AGO AND THE FACT THAT THIS REGION STILL IS STRUGGLING WITH A BASIC NECESSITY.

DO YOU BEAR ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SLOWNESS, PERHAPS, OF THE PROGRESS IN THOSE AREAS OF CLEAN WATER AND HAVING ADEQUATE ROADS?

>> WE STARTED IN MY DISTRICT -- I STARTED IN MY DISTRICT WITH A PROGRAM CALLED PRIDE, PERSONAL RESPONDENT AND A DESIRABLE ENVIRONMENT.

AND THAT GROUP WITH COUNTY CHAPTERS OVER THE YEARS HAS TACKLED THE WATER AND WASTEWATER PROBLEMS IN THE REGION.

AND THEY'VE DONE INCREDIBLE JOBS, WORK.

PEOPLE HAVE WATER NOW THAT DIDN'T HAVE IT BEFORE.

YES, THERE ARE SOME YET TO GO, BUT IT'S MAINLY SMALL COMMUNITIES WITH LIMITED RESOURCES, LIMITED TAX BASE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO REBUILD THEIR ENTIRE SYSTEM.

IN THE MEANTIME, THOSE WATER PIPES AND THOSE GROUNDS HAVE RUSTED AND ROTTED AWAY, SO IT TAKES A HUGE INVESTMENT MONEY TO REPLACE COMPLETELY THE WATER LINES IN A GIVEN COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T HAVE ITS OWN TAX BASE SUFFICIENT TO AFFORD TO DO THESE THINGS ON THEIR OWN.

AND WE'VE HELPED THEM WITH FEDERAL FUNDS TO SUPPLEMENT WHAT THEY ARE DOING THEMSELVES.

TO MAKE BETTER WATER.

BUT THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY OF MINE.

>> Renee: AND I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK ABOUT WHAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS TELL YOU WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO ACCOMPLISH IN THIS TERM ALONG WITH CLEAN DRINKING WATER.

WHAT IS IT THAT PEOPLE OF THE 5TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SAY THEY NEED FROM THEIR CONGRESSMAN?

>> WELL, WE DO LOT OF CASEWORK, PEOPLE WHO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THEIR BENEFITS, SOCIAL SECURITY, VETERANS, DISABILITY AND SO ON, SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO HELP PEOPLE INDIVIDUALLY WITH THEIR NEEDS.

WE'LL ALSO CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE OPIOID DRUG PROBLEM, OVERDOSE DEATHS.

NATIONALLY WE WILL SUPPORT STRONG NATIONAL DEFENSE.

AND A PREVENTION OF WHAT HAPPENED TO US IN AFGHANISTAN, WHICH IS AN ABSOLUTE CRYING SHAME, AND I'M GOING TO HAVE SOME TOUGH QUESTIONS FOR THE PRESIDENT AND FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL, AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

THEY'RE ALL CULPRITS IN THIS.

IT'S AN ABSOLUTE UNMITIGATED DISASTER.

>> THE IDEA TO WITHDRAW TROOPS DID COME FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP WHO SET A TIMELINE.

WE'VE HEARD MINORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL SAY THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN DIDN'T HAVE TO ABIDE BY THAT.

THE CHOICE WAS CLEARLY HIS TO CHOOSE TO GO THAT ROUTE OR YOU CHOOSE DIFFERENTLY, SO YOU HAVE HAD SOME PRETTY STRONG AND STERN WORDS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION ABOUT THEIR APPROACH ON TROOP WITHDRAWAL FROM THE REGION.

WHAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED?

>> WELL, WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT WE WERE DOING.

THE EXPERTS SAY THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW AND WERE SURPRISED BY THE QUICK TAKEOVER BY THE TALIBAN IN AFGHANISTAN.

BUT, MY GOSH, WE'VE GOT TO CIA AND NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL AND THE MILITARY AND THE SATELLITES.

WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN, BUT THE RESULT IS THAT WE'RE LOOKING ABSOLUTELY STUPID, AND WE HAVE RUINED OUR COUNTRY'S REPUTATION AROUND THE WORLD.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME TO BRING BACK AND RESTORE.

>> BASED ON THIS SINGULAR EVENT THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT'S DIMINISHED THE PRESENCE OF THIS COUNTRY OR THE WORLD STAGE JUST BASED ON WHAT YOU SEE AS THE SNAFUS AND GUFFAWS MADE IN THIS SITUATION.

THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERN EMERGING ABOUT THE REFUGEES AND THE ALLIES IN AFGHANISTAN ABOUT RESETTLEMENT OF THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE SIDE AND STOOD WITH AMERICA.

WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON RESETTLEMENT OF THOSE PEOPLE?

AND WHERE WOULD THEY BE RESETTLED?

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES AND OPTIONS?

>> WELL, IN THE SHORT TERM THEY WILL BE GOING TO MILITARY BASES IN THE U.S., AND THEN THE STATE DEPARTMENT WILL WORK WITH THEM TO DO THE PAPERWORK.

WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO RISKED THEIR LIFE OVER THE YEARS HELPING US WHILE WE WERE TRYING TO HELP THEM -- MILITARILY IN AFGHANISTAN.

SO WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION, I THINK, HEARTFELT TO TAKE CARE OF THEM NOW THAT THEY ARE IN EXTREME DANGER.

>> AND THAT WOULD BE IN EXPANDING THE SPECIAL IMMIGRATION VISAS YOU SUPPORT.

THAT IS AN IDEA.

AND WHAT DOES THAT DO ESSENTIALLY?

AND IS IT ENOUGH?

>> WELL, YOU HAVE TO DO THAT.

YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM LEGAL STATURE OVER HERE.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THEM AWAY FROM THEIR COUNTRY IN WHICH THEY ARE THREATENED WITH DEATH, THEY AND THEIR FAMILY, THEN YOU HAVE TO -- YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION, I THINK, TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS YOU WANT THE ADMINISTRATION TO ANSWER AND TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO?

YOU JUST MENTIONED THAT YOU HAD A SET OF QUESTIONS THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE ANSWERED.

WHAT ARE THEY?

>> WELL, THAT LIST WILL GROW.

>> Renee: I'M SURE.

>> AS TIME GOES ON AND WE LEARN MORE.

>> Renee: RIGHT.

>> BUT WHY WERE WE UNPREPARED TO TAKE OUR FRIENDS AND OUR FORCES, FRIENDS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN?

WHY DO WE NOT HAVE THAT PLANNED MUCH BETTER?

I MEAN, THIS WAS A CHAOTIC, STILL IS A CHAOTIC SCENE.

SO THAT'S NUMBER OF ONE.

NUMBER TWO, WHY DID YOU OVERRULE YOUR TOP MILITARY LEADERS AND IF DATE OF THE WITHDRAWAL OF OUR TROOPS.

HE OVERRULED THEM WITH NO GOOD REASON, IN MY JUDGMENT.

BUT THOSE ARE TWO I WANT TO ASK, AND I'LL HAVE MORE AS TIME PASSES.

>> Renee: AS TIME GOES ON, YES, SIR.

WELL, FINALLY, IN THE COUPLE OF MINUTES WE HAVE REMAINING, I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR POLITICAL FUTURE.

YOU HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT YOU WILL SEEK RE-ELECTION FOR A 22ND TERM.

IS THAT CORRECT?

>> YES.

>> Renee: AND SO MANY PEOPLE WOULD WONDER WHAT KEEPS HIM GOING?

WHAT'S HIS INCENTIVE AND MOTIVATION TO STILL SERVE IN WASHINGTON AFTER ALL OF THIS TIME?

YOUR RESPONSE.

>> THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE PEOPLE.

THIS JOB IS NOT THE GLAMOROUS WAY OF LIFE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK.

IT'S HARD WORK, AND IT'S FULL-TIME, AND YOU'VE GOT -- I'VE ACTUALLY GOT TWO JOBS, ONE UP THERE AND ONE DOWN HERE.

>> Renee: RIGHT.

>> BUT I ENJOY HELPING PEOPLE AND I ENJOY SEEING GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO PEOPLE, AND I WANT TO KEEP THAT GOING AS LONG AS THE LORD GIVES ME ENERGY AND THE PEOPLE GIVE ME THEIR VOTE.

>> Renee: WELL, GOOD WORDS TO END ON.

CONGRESSMAN, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

AND ONCE AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR MILESTONE OF ACHIEVEMENT IN SERVING THIS GREAT STATE AND REPRESENTING THIS DISTRICT AND THE STATE IN WASHINGTON.

SO THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU, MA'AM.

>> Renee: NEXT TIME ON "CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE," 6TH DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR JOINS US FROM OUR LEXINGTON STUDIOS AS WE TONIGHT CONTINUE OUR SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH MEMBERS OF KENTUCKY'S FEDERAL DELEGATION.

WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT 6:30 EASTERN, 5:30 CENTRAL FOR "CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE."

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, AND GOOD NIGHT.