CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript: Interview With Rep. Denny Heck

Interview

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Joining us now, Congressman Denny Heck. He's a Democrat of Washington state. Congressman, thanks so much for joining us. I know there's a lot of

problems from the coronavirus in your home state.

What do you want to hear from the president when he addresses the nation later tonight?

REP. DENNY HECK (D-WA): Well, frankly, Wolf -- and I'm not being facetious here -- I wish the president would just stop talking. He doesn't seem to add anything constructively when he enters into this dialogue about what it is we should do and can do going forward.

I'd much rather that he allowed the health care professionals that work within the administration to do their job. This is a serious situation, and it's getting more serious.

Unfortunately, I'm to the point, Wolf, where I'm getting nearly hourly updates on the number of infected cases in Washington state and deaths, frankly; 29 out of the 37 deaths so far in this country come from Washington state.

So, we have the tragic distinction of being ground zero. This is basic public health block and tackling. And that's what led Governor Inslee this morning to declare that there will be no public gatherings of more than 250 people in Central Puget Sound in and around Seattle.

We have to stop this in its tracks, or it could escalate out of complete control.

BLITZER: Yes, your state has been hit very hard. And, as you point out, the governor has banned events more than 250 people in various areas hardest-hit by this deadly virus, including part, by the way, we understand, of your district.

So what will that mean for the residents there?

HECK: So, obviously, we have had not only the governor's announcement of no public gatherings of any kind, weddings or church services or sporting events or entertainment events.

But we're also beginning to see -- and I do predict it is just the beginning -- large-scale school closures. This started in Seattle. They have closed for two weeks. I know that the people in Pierce County, which is the county to the south of Seattle, where Tacoma is, have begun discussing whether or not to close schools.

I think many of them will. Some already have. I think many more will.

And, of course, this is going to have an impact on the economy. Look, first and foremost, this is the human tragedy of people becoming sick and some people dying.

But, if we don't contain it, it also means that it bears with it the risk of spiraling this economy into a recession. And people get hurt in recessions too, Wolf. They lose their jobs, and then they lose their homes. And that's real harm to people too. All the more important that we

respect the recommendations of the CDC and the social distancing parameters that have been placed by Governor Inslee and some other governors.

BLITZER: Thousands of people visit Capitol Hill almost on a daily basis. A lot of tourists come to Washington.

As you know, Senator Dianne Feinstein, she has recommended, among others, that perhaps this be closed, the Capitol be closed, at least for the time being, because of the coronavirus.

What do you think?

HECK: Well, at least for the time being, I think absolutely nobody should be coming here if they don't really have to.

If they're coming here to petition their federal government, which is their constitutional right, I would strongly recommend they do that either via telephone, letter or e-mail. There's no reason to come here to make their concerns known at this time that outweighs the risk of flying on an airplane or being around hundreds of people in this kind of an environment.

BLITZER: You think most of your colleagues agree with you on that, that they think this is not the time for all these people to be coming to Capitol Hill?

HECK: As long as they have an alternative means of communicating and conveying to us what their concerns are, I do think that's the case.

Obviously, the first time a member of Congress is diagnosed, if that should happen with coronavirus, then it's going to put into very stark relief the difficult questions and decisions that will have to be made here.

We will just hope and pray that doesn't happen, as we do for all the rest of the population.

BLITZER: We know that six members of the House and Senate have -- are now in self-quarantine, because they were in contact with someone who did apparently have the coronavirus.

Congressman Denny Heck, thanks so much for joining us.

HECK: You're welcome, sir.

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