The Fight to Expand Fertility Care in the Military

>>> AND NOW, TO A DEEPLY PERSONAL STRUGGLE THAT AFFECTS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD, THAT IS INFERTILITY.

IN AMERICA, ONE OF TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PROMISES WAS TO MAKE FERTILITY TREATMENTS MORE AFFORDABLE FOR AMERICANS, BUT LITTLE HAS BEEN DELIVERED.

ONE YOUNG DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE, SARA JACOBS OF CALIFORNIA, IS NOW LEADING THE PUSH TO EXPAND COVERAGE OF PROCEDURES LIKE IVF.

MICHEL MARTIN ASKED HER WHY SHE'S FOCUSING HER INITIAL EFFORTS ON PROVIDING THIS FOR U.S.

SERVICE MEMBERS.

>> THANKS, CHRISTIANE.

CONGRESSWOMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> I DO WANT TO FOCUS ON YOUR BILL, PROVISIONS THAT WERE IN THE DEFENSE BILL THAT JUST PASSED, BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, WHAT'S THE ATMOSPHERE ON THE HILL?

IT'S JUST BEEN A VERY -- LOOK, TUMULTUOUS DOESN'T REALLY CAPTURE IT, BUT IT'S BEEN A REALLY DIFFICULT COUPLE OF DAYS, WE'RE TALKING IN THE WAKE OF THE MURDER OF THE, YOU KNOW, CONTROVERSIAL CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST CHARLIE KIRK.

THAT STIMULATED, YOU KNOW, SOME FEELINGS, YOU KNOW, IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS.

AND I JUST WONDERED, WHAT IS THE ATMOSPHERE ON THE HILL RIGHT NOW?

>> YEAH, I'LL BE HONEST, IT'S REALLY TENSE HERE.

I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR FIVE YEARS NOW, WHICH MEANS MY FIRST WEEK IN OFFICE WAS JANUARY 6th, 2020.

AND IT FEELS VERY SIMILAR TO THE TIME RIGHT AFTER THAT, WHERE MEMBERS ARE DISTRUSTFUL OF OTHER MEMBERS, AND THEIR INTENTIONS -- THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN AROUND SAFETY FOR MEMBERS, FOR OUR STAFF, AND JUST A LOT OF TRIOL BEING THROWN AROUND.

AND IT'S A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME TO BE HERE, AND OBVIOUSLY, THAT ECHOES THE DIFFICULTY THAT THE COUNTRY IS FEELING RIGHT NOW.

>> I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED JANUARY 6th, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE ISSUES RIGHT NOW IS POLITICAL VIOLENCE.

THAT'S OBVIOUS, I MEAN, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT MR.

KIRK WAS TARGETED BECAUSE OF PUBLIC STATEMENTS THAT HE'S MADE AND THAT, YOU KNOW, HE WAS OBVIOUSLY A VERY KIND OF ADMIRED AND EVEN LOVED FIGURE IN SOME QUARTERS, BUT OTHER PEOPLE FOUND HIM INSENSITIVE.

NOT -- POLARIZING DOESN'T REALLY CAPTURE THAT.

SOME PEOPLE FOUND HIS COMMENTS RACIST, SEXIST,S SET TRA.

JANUARY 6th, THIS WAS AN INSTANCE OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE ON THE I'LL SAY LIBERAL/PROGRESSIVE/DEMOCRATIC SIDE FEEL AGGRIEVED RIGHT NOW THAT THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AN APPRECIATION OF HOW TRAUMATIC THAT WAS FOR PEOPLE, AND I'M JUST WONDERING, HOW DO YOU NAVIGATE THIS GOING FORWARD?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT, RIGHT?

I WAS IN THE HOUSE GALLERY ON JANUARY 6th, TRAPPED, LITERALLY INTRODUCING MYSELF TO MY NEW COLLEAGUES, WHILE HIDING UNDER A CHAIR.

>> OH.

>> AND IT WAS REALLY SCARY.

AND MY BACKGROUND IS IN ACTUALLY WORKING IN POST-CONFLICT TRANSITIONS AND POLITICAL VIOLENCE AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND THE U.N., AND SO, I KNOW ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE NEED IN THIS MOMENT IS LEADERSHIP TO STEP UP AND SAY THAT VIOLENCE IS NOT OKAY, WE CAN DISAGREE, BUT WE SHOULD NEVER USE VIOLENCE AS A TOOL TO SETTLE OUR POLITICAL DISAGREEMENTS.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW.

AND, YOU KNOW, JANUARY 6th, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, MELISSA HORTMAN IN MINNESOTA, RIGHT?

THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT'S TOUCHED BOTH SIDES, AND IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT HARD FOR ALL OF US TO COME TOGETHER AND SAY THAT IN THIS COUNTRY, WE DECIDE OUR POLITICAL DISAGREEMENTS THROUGH THE BALLOT BOX, NOT THROUGH THE BARREL OF A GUN.

>> AND THIS IS THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE ABOUT THIS, THE ADMINISTRATION, THE PRESIDENT, THE VICE PRESIDENT, A NUMBER OF OTHER CONSERVATIVE ACTIVISTS HAVE BEEN DETERMINED TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM OF WHAT THEY CALL THE RADICAL LEFT.

AND THE PRESIDENT'S FIRST PUBLIC REMARKS ABOUT THIS, HE DIDN'T EVEN MENTION THE MINNESOTA LAWMAKERS WHO WERE GUNNED DOWN IN THEIR OWN HOME, ALONG WITH THEIR SPOUSES, ONE COUPLE FATALLY, THE OTHER COUPLE GRIEVOUSLY WOUNDED.

DIDN'T MENTION THEM.

DIDN'T MENTION ANY OF THE DEMOCRATS THAT HAVE BEEN TARGETS OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE.

SO, GIVEN AN ENVIRONMENT LIKE THAT, WHERE YOU HAVE TOP POLITICAL LEADERSHIP DETERMINED TO LAY THE BLAME AT ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER, I JUST WONDER HOW YOU, AS A DEMOCRAT, WHO IS NOT PART OF THAT GROUP, HOW DO YOU FACE THIS MOMENT WOULD SORT OF FEEDING INTO THE VITRIOL AND THIS KIND OF POINTING FINGERS?

>> YEAH, LOOK, THE DATA DOES NOT BEAR OUT WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID, RIGHT?

THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS HAPPENING TO PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

AND WE ARE ALL AMERICANS, AND WE SHOULD ALL BE AMERICANS FIRST AND ONE OF THE CORE PRINCIPLES OF OUR COUNTRY IS THAT WE SETTLE OUR DIFFERENCES THROUGH ELECTIONS.

NOT THROUGH VIOLENCE.

>> SO, LET'S MOVE ONTO A BILL THAT -- SOME PROVISIONS OF A BILL THAT YOU JUST GOT PASSED, THE ANNUAL DEFENSE BILL, THE HOUSE JUST PASSED THE ANNUAL DEFENSE BILL.

YOU HAVE PROVISIONS TO EXPAND FERTILITY COVERAGE FOR MILITARY FAMILIES, REQUIRES IVF AND EGG FREEZING TO BE COVERED.

SO, FIRST OF ALL, WHY DID YOU CONSIDER THIS NECESSARY?

AND WHY WAS THIS DEFENSE POLICY BILL THE RIGHT PLACE TO ADVANCE THIS LEGISLATION?

>> SO, WE KNOW THAT MILITARY FAMILIES FACE HIGHER LEVELS OF INFERTILITY THAN YOUR AVERAGE POPULATION, AND IT MAKES SENSE, RIGHT?

WE'RE ASKING THEM TO BE FAR AWAY FROM THEIR LOVED ONES AND DO REALLY DANGEROUS THINGS IN THEIR PRIMARY PRODUCTIVE YEARS.

RIGHT NOW, UNDER TRICARE, THE MILITARY INSURANCE PROGRAM, THEY CAN ONLY GET FERTILITY TREATMENTS COVERED IF THEY CAN PROVE A SERVICE CONNECTION TO THEIR INFERTILITY, WHICH IS REALLY HARD TO DO.

AND SO, I'VE HEARD FROM SO MANY SERVICE MEMBERS WHO BASICALLY WERE FACED WITH THREE CHOICES, LIKE, FOREGO BUILDING A FAMILY, PAY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OUT OF POCKET, IN ORDER TO DO IT, OR LEAVE THE MILITARY TO GET A JOB IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR THAT HAS HEALTH INSURANCE THAT COVERS THIS KIND OF TREATMENT.

AND THOSE ARE NOT GREAT OF COURSE OPTIONS.

I'MAL 38-YEAR-OLD WOMAN, I TALK ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME.

I FROZE MY EGGS, I'M IN THE PROCESS OF DOING ANOTHER ROUND OF FREEZING MY EGGS RIGHT NOW.

AND IN TALKING PUBLICLY ABOUT THAT, I ACTUALLY HEARD FROM SERVICE MEMBERS WHO TOLD ME THEY WISH THEY COULD DO THE SAME THING, BUT IT WASN'T AVAILABLE TO THEM.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE FULL RANGE OF FERTILITY TREATMENTS COVERED BY THEIR INSURANCE.

BUT I THINK OUR MILITARY COMMUNITY IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP, AND COULD BE A FIRST STEP THAT COULD ENABLE OR PUSH OR INCENTIVIZE PRIVATE INSURANCERS TO START COVERING THIS, AS WELL.

>> HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN TO COLLEAGUES AND CONSTITUENTS WHY ACCESS TO FERTILITY TREATMENT IN THIS MORE EXPANSIVE DEFINITION, NOT EVEN IF YOU CAN'T DIRECTLY TIE IT TO MILITARY SERVICE, WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT TO SUPPORTING MILITARY FAMILIES AND SUPPORTING READINESS?

>> YEAH, SO, LOOK, WE INVEST A LOT OF MONEY IN OUR SERVICE MEMBERS' TRAINING, RIGHT?

LIKE, MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TRAINING THESE FOLKS.

AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO THEN BE ABLE TO RETAIN THE BEST OF THEM TO MOVE UP THE RANKS.

AND IF PEOPLE ARE LEAVING THE MILITARY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T BUILD A FAMILY AND NEED TO MAKE OTHER CHOICES, THAT'S REALLY BAD FOR OUR READINESS.

AND I THINK THIS WILL ALSO BE AN IMPORTANT THING WHEN WE'RE DOING RECRUITMENT, WHICH NUMBERS HAVE BEEN DOWN, THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT INCENTIVE THAT PEOPLE MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN JOINING THE MILITARY IN ORDER TO ACCESS.

>> SO, SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, WELL, THAT'S WHY WOMEN SHOULDN'T BE IN THE MILITARY.

SO, JUST OR CLARITY'S SAKE, THIS IS FOR SPOUSES OF MALE SERVICE MEMBERS, SO THEY KW CAN PRESERVE THEIR FERTILITY, WHILE MEN ARE ON THESE LONG DEPLOYMENTS, OR ARE PERHAPS EXPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, ELEMENTS THAT MIGHT COMPROMISE THEIR FERTILITY, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THIS IS SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR SPOUSES.

>> YOU ACTUALLY TALKED PUBLICLY ABOUT -- YOU JUST SAID IT, ABOUT FREEZING YOUR EGGS.

A, WHY DID YOU TALK ABOUT IT, AND WHY DID YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT IT?

>> I MEAN, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO DESTIGMATIZE THESE THINGS, RIGHT?

LIKE, THIS IS WHAT I TALK ABOUT WITH MY FRIENDS ALL THE TIME.

WHO IS HAVING A BABY, WHO IS NOT HAVING A BABY, WHO IS GOING THROUGH IVF, WHO CAN'T AFFORD CHILD CARE?

AND THE IDEA THAT THIS SHOULD BE SHAMEFUL, LIKE, PEOPLE OFTEN THINK ABOUT FREEZING YOUR EGGS AS THIS, LIKE, SAD THING, RIGHT?

LIKE, OH, YOU'RE SO OLD, YOU DIDN'T FIND A PARTNER.

BUT IN REALITY, LIKE, I FIND IT VERY EMPOWERING, LIKE, I'M ABLE TO TAKE AGENCY IN THE DECISIONS ABOUT MY LIFE AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS A BIGGER DECISION THAN WHEN AND HOW TO START A FAMILY?

AND ALSO, LIKE, I WORK IN A BODY WHERE IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE LAWS FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

AND SO MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES DON'T UNDERSTAND THESE TECHNOLOGIES, HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THEM.

IT'S NO SECRET THAT THIS IS THE THIRD-OLDEST CONGRESS IN HISTORY, AND SO, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, ANOTHER BIG PART OF IT IS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE GOOD POLICY IF WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES, BECAUSE IF MY COLLEAGUES DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT THEM, WE'RE NOT MAKING POLICY ABOUT THEM, AND THIS IS AN AREA WHERE WE NEED TO BE MAKING GOOD POLICY, AND EXPANDING ACCESS.

>> SO, WHAT WAS IT LIKE WHEN YOU FIRST SURFACED THIS PUBLICLY WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES?

I KNOW YOU SAID, WITH YOUR FRIENDS, YOU TALK ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME, BUT WHAT ABOUT WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES?

DO EYEBROWS RAISE?

THEY'RE LIKE, OH, LITTLE SQUEAMISHNESS, YOU KNOW?

>> DEFINITELY.

DEFINITELY ALL OF THAT.

THERE'S ALSO JUST, I THINK, A LOT OF, LIKE, DIS AND MISINFORMATION ABOUT FERTILITY OUT THERE.

THERE'S A LOT OF EDUCATION THAT HAS TO BE DONE.

MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW REPRODUCTION WORKS, LIKE?

I HAD A REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUE WHO WANTED TO INTRODUCE A BILL THAT BANNED ABORTION AT SIX DAYS.

BUT YOU ACTUALLY START COUNTING PREGNANCY BY YOUR LAST PERIOD, SO, YOU'RE LITERALLY NOT EVEN PREGNANT YET BY SIX DAYS.

AND SO, LIKE -- THERE'S JUST SO MUCH MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION OUT THERE, AND YET, AT THE SAME TIME, WOMEN ARE FEELING SO PRESSURED TO BUILD A FAMILY, AND HAVE KIDS.

BY THIS ADMINISTRATION, BY OTHERS.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TALK ABOUT HOW THAT REALLY WORKS AND WHAT IS -- WHAT ARE THE REAL POLICIES WE CAN DO TO HELP PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BUILD THEIR FAMILIES?

>> IT'S MY UNDERSTAND THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO CONSIDERING BANNING ABORTION ACCESS AT V.A.

FACILITIES.

I DON'T KNOW, IS THAT ALSO PART OF THIS BILL OR CAN THEY DO THAT BY REGULATION OR BY EXECUTIVE ORDER?

>> THIS BILL ONLY COVERS ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS.

BUT WE ARE WORKING ON OTHER EFFORTS TO TRY AND COMBAT WHAT THEY'RE DOING AT THE V.A.

>> SO, THAT HASN'T SET IN STONE YET?

>> THEY CAN DO IT BY EXECUTIVE ORDER, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO PUSH BACK.

>> IT'S A CONUNDRUM, IN A WAY, BECAUSE ONE ARGUMENT MIGHT BE, LOOK, IF ON THE ONE HAND, YOU'RE SAYING YOU WANT TO BAN ABORTION, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WRONG, BUT YOU WON'T ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO HAVE FAMILIES OR SUPPORT THEM IN DOING SO -- I DON'T KNOW IF THOSE ARE RELATED ARGUMENTS OR IF YOU'VE HEARD THOSE LINKED IN THAT WAY.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY ROLLED BACK THE -- THE POLICY THAT ALLOWED SERVICE MEMBERS TO TRAVEL IN ORDER TO GET ABORTIONS IF THEY WERE STATIONED IN STATES THAT DIDN'T -- DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO ABORTION, AND SO, NO, I THINK IT'S A HUGE COMPONENT OF IT.

IT'S WHY I SPEND SO MUCH TIME THINKING ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR SERVICE MEMBERS.

I REPRESENT SAN DIEGO, THE BIGGEST MILITARY COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTRY.

AND WHEN YOU TALK TO SERVICE MEMBERS, THE THINGS THEY WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT ARE, LIKE, CHILD CARE, HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

BUT WE HAVE, LIKE, THESE FOLKS ARE SERVING OUR COUNTRY.

WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES, TOO, NOT TO MENTION THAT IF THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES AT HOME OR THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO BUILD THEIR FAMILY OR TO AFFORD IT OR CAN'T FIND CHILD CARE, LIKE, THEY'RE NOT FULLY FOCUSED ON THE JOB WE NEED THEM TO DO.

>> WELL, IN FACT, THERE'S A BLUE STAR FAMILY SURVEY FOUND THAT ABOUT 1 IN 4 SERVICE MEMBERS OR THEIR SPOUSES REPORT INFERTILITY.

CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN, WHAT IS IT ABOUT MILITARY SERVICE THAT MIGHT MAKE THAT UNIQUELY TRUE?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

LOOK, THE MILITARY POPULATION IS MORE LIKELY TO BE OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE, SO, THAT INCREASES JUST THE NUMBER IN GENERAL, BUT THEN IF YOU THINK ABOUT, LIKE, MILITARY SERVICE, IT'S DURING YOUR PRIME REPRODUCTIVE YEARS, THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN THE MILITARY ARE UNDER 40 YEARS OLD.

AND WE'RE ASKING THEM, ONE, TO BE AWAY FROM THEIR LOVED ONES DURING THOSE YEARS, ON LONG DEPLOYMENTS.

BUT ALSO, THE THINGS WE'RE ASKING THEM TO DO ARE REALLY DANGEROUS, RIGHT?

THEY'RE INTERACTING WITH A LOT OF CHEMICALS, WITH EXPLOSIVES, WITH OTHER KINDS OF THINGS.

AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, IN RECENT YEARS, OBVIOUSLY, ALSO HAVE BEEN SENDING THEM INTO LITERAL WAR ZONES.

AND CONFLICTS.

AND SO, I THINK IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE THAT THEY THEN ARE HAVING MORE OF THESE STRUGGLES WITH FERTILITY THAN THE AVERAGE POPULATION.

BECAUSE OF THE THINGS WE'RE ASKING OF THEM.

>> BUT YOU KNOW, EVEN PRESIDENT TRUMP DURING HIS CAMPAIGN FOR THIS TERM CALLED FOR MAKING IVF MORE AFFORDABLE.

DO YOU SEE ANY EVIDENCE THAT THERE'S A MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION?

>> YOU KNOW, WE'VE NOT SEEN ANY EVIDENCE OF THAT, ALTHOUGH I'M STILL HOPEFUL, BECAUSE I DO THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND WHILE OUR BILL THAT IMPACTS MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS DOES NOT COVER EVERYONE, IT STILL COVERS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, AND WE HAVE OFTEN SEEN THAT WHEN TRICARE STARTS TO COVER SOMETHING, PRY VAULT INSURERS TEND TO FOLLOW.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DISTINGUISHES YOUR TENURE IS SORT OF TRYING TO FIND KIND OF NUANCED APPROACHES TO DIFFICULT ISSUES.

FERTILITY COVERAGE, BUT ALSO, ON ANOTHER POLARIZING ISSUE, ISRAEL AND GAZA.

YOU'VE SUPPORTED ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF, BUT YOU'VE ALSO TRIED TO SPEAK UP FOR HUMANITARIAN ACCESS, CALLING OUT ATROCITIES.

AND I JUST -- I JUST HAVE TO WONDER, ARE YOU KIND OF A CAUCUS OF ONE IN THAT?

OR DO YOU FEEL LIKE THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE LOOKING FOR THAT MIDDLE SPACE?

I MEAN, THERE HAVE BEEN THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS OVER TIME, YOU KNOW, THE PROBLEM SOLVERS CAUCUS, THE BLUE DOG DEMOCRATS, PEOPLE WHO SAW THEMSELVES AS PEOPLE WHO WERE LOOKING FOR THESE CENTRIST POSITIONS, BUT DO YOU -- DO YOU FEEL THAT THERE'S SPACE FOR SOMEBODY LIKE YOU?

>> I'M THE YOUNGEST JEWISH MEMBER OF CONGRESS, SO, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, THE ISSUES IN ISRAEL ARE VERY PERSONAL.

I HAVE FAMILY WHO LIVES IN TEL AVIV, AND, IN FACT, YOU KNOW, MY FIRST COUSIN ACTUALLY MOVED TO SAN DIEGO AFTER OCTOBER 7th, BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T WANT HER KIDS TO BE IN A BOMB SHELTER EVERY NIGHT.

AND, YOU KNOW, MY COUSINS, MY AUNT AND UNCLE SEND PICTURES OF THEM IN THE BOMB SHELTER MANY NIGHTS.

AND I THINK ABOUT THE FAMILIES IN GAZA WHO DON'T HAVE BOMB SHELTERS TO GO TO.

AND I'VE BEEN ALL OVER ISRAEL MANY TIMES, I'VE BEEN TO GAZA, I'VE BEEN TO THE WEST BANK.

FOR ME, I THINK IT'S MAYBE BECAUSE OF THAT, EASIER TO SEE THE HUMANITY ON BOTH SIDES, BUT I ACTUALLY THINK THAT MY POSITION IS WHAT THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS FEEL, THAT OCTOBER 7th WAS REALLY BAD, THAT ISRAEL HAS A RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF, BUT ALSO, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN GAZA RIGHT NOW IS HORRIFIC AND TERRIBLE AND SHOULD BE STOPPED.

AND THAT'S PARTICULARLY TRUE OF YOUNG JEWS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK -- IT'S OFTEN HARD HERE IN CONGRESS TO -- TO FIND A NUANCED POSITION, RIGHT?

EVERYONE WANTS YOU TO PICK A SIDE, BUT I ACTUALLY THINK THAT MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES AND MOST OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY WHERE I AM, AND I JUST HAVE THE PERSONAL STORY TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT MORE LOUDLY.

>> AND AS WE ARE SPEAKING NOW, ANOTHER POSSIBLE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, BECAUSE OF AN INABILITY TO PASS A BUDGET ON TIME.

AND AN ABILITY TO RETURN TO WHAT'S CALLED REGULAR ORDER, WHICH MEANS JUST DOING WHAT WE ALL LEARNED ABOUT IN FIFTH GRADE, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, COMMITTEES MEET, THEY TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET, BOTH SIDES PASS IT, PRESIDENT SIGNS IT, THEY WORK OUT THEIR DIFFERENCES IN COMMITTEE THAT'S NOT HAPPENING FOR THE MOST PART.

SO -- >> LOOK, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO END UP IN A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

I MYSELF DON'T THINK I CAN VOTE FOR A CONTINUING RESOLUTION THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE PROTECTING PEOPLE'S HEALTH CARE, THAT WE KNOW IS BEING GUTTED WITH THEIR CUTS TO MEDICAID, NOT TO MENTION THE THINGS THEY PUT INTO THIS ACTUAL CONTINUING RESOLUTION.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE ONGOING, BUT I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT BASICALLY IN MY WHOLE TIME IN CONGRESS WE'VE HAD TO GET TO THIS POINT WHERE IT'S A CRISIS BEFORE WE CAN GET A NEGOTIATION.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT IS TO KNOW THAT WE CAN GET THINGS DONE, AND THAT'S -- THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO SHOW HERE.

>> ARE YOU STILL GLAD YOU CAME?

TO CONGRESS, I MEAN.

I MEAN, YOU SERVED IN PUBLIC SERVICE BEFORE IN OTHER AREAS, BUT ARE YOU STILL GLAD YOU'RE SITTING IN THAT CHAIR?

>> MOST DAYS, YES.

SOME DAYS, NO.

BUT IT IS TRULY MY HONOR TO GET TO REPRESENT MY COMMUNITY DURING THIS REALLY DIFFICULT TIME.

I NEVER THOUGHT MY BACKGROUND WOULD BE QUITE SO RELEVANT TO WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IF I WASN'T IN A POSITION TO TRY TO MAKE THINGS BETTER, I WOULD ACTUALLY FEEL WORSE, SO, EVEN ON THE HARDEST DAYS, I REMEMBER TO BE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY I HAVE TO TRY AND FIX THINGS.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN SARA JACOBS, THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING WITH US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>>> AND FINALLY, TOGETHER FOR PALESTINE.

LONDON'S WEMBLEY STADIUM HOSTED A STAR-STUDDED FUND-RAISING CONCERT LAST NIGHT, WITH PROCEEDING GOING TO PALESTINIAN-LED NGOs.

IT BROUGHT PALESTINIAN AND BRITISH ARTIST S TOGETHER.

BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH READ A POEM BY A PALESTINIAN POET.

AND RICHARD GERE, ONCE ON THIS SAME STAGE, INTRODUCING NELSON MANDELA'S BENEFIT CONCERT WHEN HE WAS STILL IN JAIL IN 1988, SUMMED UP THE NIGHT.

>> THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I WAS ON STAGE AND I INTRODUCED DIRE STRAITS AT THE CONCERTS FOR NELSON MANDELA.

>> WOW!

WOW.

>> FOR NELSON MANDELA.

BUT I THINK IT'S ONLY RIGHT THAT THE SECOND TIME I COME, IT'S FOR OUR PALESTINIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

>> MANY OF THE SPEAKERS CALLED FOR A CEASE-FIRE AND AN END TO THE WAR.

>>> AND THAT'S IT FOR OUR PROGRAM TONIGHT.

IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT'S COMING UP EVERY NIGHT, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AT PBS.ORG/AMANPOUR.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND GOOD-BYE FROM LONDON.