CNN "CNN Newsroom" - Transcript: Interview with Rep. Pramila Jayapal

Interview

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CAMEROTA: Joining us now, Democratic Congressman Pramila Jayapal of Washington State. Congresswoman, great to see you. We should just mention, you are one of multiple lawmakers who joined the NAACP lawsuit in April against Giuliani and former President Trump for, you say, conspiring to incite the riot and insurrection on the U.S. Capitol. So what did you think of the raid on his apartment and office today? REP. PRAMILA JAYAPAL (D-WA): Well, going back to the first impeachment

trial, Alisyn, and by the way it's great to see you in this new spot, going back to the first impeachment trial, we knew that Rudy Giuliani was a very important figure in everything that was happening. And so I'm not surprised by this. I think it's an important development, and we have to keep people accountable. And I'm glad that the FBI is doing what they're doing.

CAMEROTA: Okay. Let's move on to President Biden and how he's doing. One of your progressive - your fellow progressives in the House, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, says that he's exceeded her expectations and expectations for progressives. Do you agree?

JAYAPAL: I do. You know, I think that this has been a really interesting time for us to see how the progressive movement, at large, all the progressive voters, young voters, voters of color that came out and turned out for the president in November, helping us to win the White House, the Senate, and the House, and the pandemic and the way in which it has just really shined such a bright light on all the inequalities that have existed, I think President Biden has risen to the moment.

And I really do give him an A in what he's done so far. It's been bold, it's been progressive, it's been what the country needs, he hasn't shied away from it, he has leaned into it, and we're hoping the same continues to happen as we go through the process to pass the Jobs and Families Plan.

CAMEROTA: I mean, that said, I know you haven't been completely on board with all of his plans, and you've expressed some disappointment, the refugee cap, for instance, and in terms of his public polling, it's about how he's handling immigration that he gets some of his lowest marks. So what do you need to hear from him tonight?

JAYAPAL: Well, on immigration, I have spoken with the White House directly about this. They are going to fix the refugee cap issue. You know, I think it was a big mistake. I've told them that. I said it publicly. I said it privately. But they're going to fix it.

On immigration, the president has, you know, he's sort of gone back and forth. He released a very strong day one immigration bill, and we really applaud him for that, it's a great vision coming from the top.

But if we are going to be successful, Democrats cannot do what Democrats and Republicans have done for too long, which is, you know, use immigrants as a political football and run away from the issue or cave in to people who are using immigrants as a political football.

So, I want to hear from him that he is deeply committed to getting this done, and that he's going to lean into the incredible, you know, promise that immigrants have. And I, as an immigrant member of Congress, of course, feel very strongly that we contribute so much and we want to be recognized for that contribution and for the values that America holds so dear. They are so grounded in welcoming immigrants.

CAMEROTA: In terms of what we're going to hear from the president tonight, and what he's already done, you know, these are big dollar -- big dollar items, big ticket items. So, you know, the $1.9 trillion stimulus that passed, the $1.3 trillion infrastructure plan that's proposed, the $1.8 trillion American Families Act that you're talking about.

And some people, all - I mean, all republicans, but even people like Senator Joe Manchin are not comfortable with these dollar signs. And so are these proposal just kind of pie in the sky hopes or do you think that he'll really be able to have trillion dollars worth - many trillions more in spending?

JAYAPAL: I think we're going to get this done. And the reason, Alisyn, is because the American people support us. On the infrastructure plan, the Jobs Plan that the president released, 68 percent of the country supports that plan. On the Families Plan today, 65 percent of the country supports the plan already. So, these are incredibly popular because the country has faced so much devastation around jobs, around infrastructure, around the economy, around health care.

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And they are ready for a government that cares about the people and is ready to help people get back on their feet again and give opportunity to people. So, the president is going to be on great footing if he continues to be bold, and if he continues to do the things that put food on the table, money in people's pockets, and address their health care.

This is an area that I've been clear with the White House about. I think we need to include drug pricing savings into this Families Plan, and we need to lower the Medicare eligibility age to at least 60 and expand benefits because this is such a crucial piece of dealing with the pandemic are these rising health care costs, and I don't think we've done enough yet.

CAMEROTA: Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, great to see you. Thank you very much for being on with us.

JAYAPAL: Thank you, Alisyn.

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