MSNBC "All in with Chris Hayes" - Transcript: Interview with Rep. Joe Neguse

Interview

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HAYES: Joining me now for more on today`s hearings, freshman Democratic  Congressman Joe Neguse of Colorado who participated in both the climate  change hearing and a gun violence hearing today. A busy day for you a,  sir. As a freshman, first let me start with Congressman Cummings comments.  How central is this broad effort to enfranchise for H.R. 1 to what you view  as the mandate of the Democratic Party`s new majority?

REP. JOE NEGUSE (D), COLORADO: Well, thank you for having me Chris. I  think it`s the core of our agenda in this 116th Congress. As you know,  Chairman Cummings is incredibly eloquent and today was no exception. I  thought his remarks were so powerful. You know something that is often  lost I think on folks is the reality that we have many civil rights heroes  serving in this congress, people like Elijah Cummings, our whip, Jim  Clyburn, of course John Lewis. And so when you hear them speaking out, as  the chairman did today, with such passion and such credibility on the  issue it`s because they were on the front line

So and of course and the fact that the hearing today in oversight took  place on a HR1 speaks to how important that bill is to the House Democratic  agenda and 116th Congress, so it is foundational in my view.

HAYES: You were in a climate hearing today, which is I think the largest  threat that the country and planet faces, above anything else. The IPCC  says we have 12 years to cut emissions in half. There hasn`t been a  hearing in six years in one committee, eight in the other. What was it  like to talk about the topic?

NEGUSE: You know, as I said during the committee hearing, it was a breath  of fresh air. You know, I believe, as you do, Chris, that climate really  is the defining issue of our time. I think about it as young father as I  know you are, my wife and I have a six month old, and the world that she  will inherit. And so again -- you know, when you think of last year`s  election, the voters spoke in a very resounding way, that they wanted  leadership, that they wanted a congress that would tackle the big problems.  And there is no problem bigger than climate change.

So the fact that the natural resources committee, of which I`m a member,  held its first hearing and the fact that was on a climate change again  speaks to resolve of the House Democratic caucus in making really progress  and moving the needle on some of these incredible challenges that we face  as a country and as a world.

HAYES: I want to get to the gun hearing in a second, but just to follow up  on that. What is your understanding of the purpose of these hearings?  It`s divided government. I don`t think Mitch McConnell is going to move a  climate bill. That means crazier things have happened in American  politics, but that`s just my guess
What do you see as the role of what you`re doing over in the House where  you do have a majority and have control of the committees?

NEGUSE: Well, I mean, one, I think it`s two-fold. I think first and  foremost, I think we intend to get things done for the American people.  And I know we`ll talk about the gun violence prevention hearing in a  moment, but that bipartisan background check bill, HR8, that we heard today  has many  Republican sponsors. And if I think if we build enough pressure, we could get that across the finishline in the House and in the Senate.

But, you know, second reason that these hearings are important is  ultimately shining a light again on these vexing public policy challenges  that we face. And so today`s hearing, the ability to bring in scientists  so that we can ultimately hear the facts and we can talk about about an  issue like climate change, it`s incredibly important for the American  people to be able to hear those witnesses and for us to give them that  platform.

HAYES: Final question. You referred to the gun safety hearing today, it  was sparsely attended on the Republican side. There are Republicans co- sponsors on the underlying legislation. One attendee is a congressman from  Florida who sort of has developed a reputation for himself as a bit of a  troll, I think it`s fair to say. I don`t even know if he`d disagree with  the characterization.

I want to play a little bit about how he purported himself in the hearing  and get your reaction to what it was like. Take a look.

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HAYES: Manual Oliver is the man you saw standing there in objection. He  lost his son in the Parkland shooting. Matt Gaetz tried to have him thrown  out What was that atmosphere like, congressman?

NEGUSE: Well, I found the remarks that were made by that particularly  congressman deep disappointing. As you might imagine, I think as you know,  Chris, my parents are immigrants. They came here as refugees. And so the  notion that yet again when we`re talking about an incredibly important  issue like the pandemic of gun violence in our country that you have folks  on this side of the aisle who then default, again, to demonizing rhetoric  around immigrants I just think is unfortunate.

And I wish they would have spent more time listening to the stories that we  heard. You know, one of the survivors of the Parkland shooting was one of  the witnesses who spoke today during the hearing and her testimony was so  powerful there was not a dry eye in that room, and I wish -- I wish they`d  spend more time listening to those folks then, you know, bloviating about  immigration and so forth.

HAYES: All right, Congressman Joe Neguseof Colorado, a freshman who is now  working -- the shutdown is over, you`re working. You`re in it. It`s good  to have you, congressman.

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