LAX Leader

WASHINGTON, DC  – On April 20, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) spoke with Laura Coates on SiriusXM’s P.O.T.U.S Channel, where she discussed her work in the first 100 days in the House, the future of reproductive rights for women, Republican efforts to cut critical social programs in their debt limit proposal, and her resolution on the Tennessee Three. Below are excerpts of her remarks and a link to listen to the interview. 

To listen to the interview, click here. 

On the first 100 Days in the Republican House Majority

 “Well, I think these past 100 days, I've been involved in speaking the truth, speaking truth to power, and saving democracy. In Congress, we really sort of, as Democrats, [are] playing defense, trying to protect democracy and watching many of the committee hearings turning into kangaroo courts. Republicans are bringing culture bills to the Floor that they know are not going to get passed by the Senate or signed into law. [These bills are] really designed to make this country more polarized and more divisive because I think they like reality TV. So, I've been focused on talking against many of these bills. We had a bill up about [how] same sex marriage was bad. We had a bill that said, we have to basically ban trans kids. We had a bill to try to force a ban on abortion rights. So, we just have to keep coming to the podium and talking about why it's important that women have rights, that the LGBT[Q] community is seen and heard and has rights, and why we need to protect democracy because they are also being very pernicious about trying to suppress people's rights.”

On Reproductive Freedom and Abortion Access

“The reality is [that] life is hanging in the balance at in this moment in time. SCOTUS has decided to reveal that they are not completely tone deaf by allowing this stay. So, what we know right now is that Mifepristone is on the shelves, at least until Friday. But this is a slippery slope. Because what we are now looking at is the fact that we could challenge any and every drug that is in your medicine cabinet that's been approved by the FDA. Drugs that you're taking to help your…  high blood pressure, to help you manage cancer, could all of a sudden be yanked out of your medicine cabinet as a result of what we're seeing. Now, I also just want to add that this decision was made by a vocal abortion critic, which I think really calls into question the authenticity of our judicial system. And I don't think that is a road that we can afford to go down.”

On Republicans Cutting Critical Programs for Americans

“… I certainly believe that the Republicans are trying to weaponize all of our agencies…We have an extreme Republican Party that is in power right now that doesn't like government and wants to cut it. I mean, that's why we're having all of these crazy discussions about the debt limit proposal. So, I think that is concerning, because at the end of the day, government does keep people alive – Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps/SNAP benefits, child care – all of those things are designed to keep you alive. And if, all of a sudden, you start weaponizing agencies, [and] all of a sudden, you start questioning science, then you are going to be putting lives at risk – and that's something we should be very concerned about…”

“We have a responsibility to talk about the diversity of Americans…the wide spectrum of Americans who really depend on government and all of the social services that we offer to folks because of taxes that are paid to make sure people can live, get to work, be sheltered and stay alive. We've been lulled into not having to talk about those realities. But given the fact that these Republicans want to cut from just about every single department means that we have to get back on the road and talk about the things that are really going to be impacted.”

On Tennessee Three 

“I mean, [what Republicans in Tennessee did was] a playbook for other states…If I don't like what you're saying, if I'm not courageous enough to meet you where you are, and have a serious debate about the issues, then I'm just gonna talk to my homies and silence you, censor you, expel you. So, [it was] A) cowardly B) anti-democratic, then let's tack on racist because these brothers were African American and probably ageist because they were young, and using their voice and speaking to America to say: Are you kidding me? I came on this Floor to talk about gun violence and the fact that every single day, young brothers and sisters, young boys and girls are being shot by assault rifles, and you're so scared of me that you're gonna kick me out of this legislature where I was duly elected? I have so many problems with this."

“…Tennessee legislators were caught with their drawers down because they thought they could do this and it wasn't going to get the kind of attention that it got across the country and across the world. So, Amen that they got reinstated, albeit [for the] interim. Yes, they will be elected again for their full term. And yes, we're going to continue to focus on this state and every other state to make sure that this doesn't happen. You know, I did an op-ed and I said: let's also use economic power. So, athletes that are in Tennessee, if you don't like the fact that these people are afraid of you, use the transfer portal, go to another state that might be trying to court you because of your amazing talents…entertainment industry, if you're looking at producing something or creating something in Tennessee, try another state that actually cares about gun violence prevention and gun safety, reform and democracy and go to that state…they'll want your business, and they care about our voices.”

Original source can be found here.