Transcript of Speaker Pelosi’s Remarks at Weekly Press Conference

Contact: Speaker's Press Office,

202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi held her weekly press conference today in the Capitol Visitor Center. Below are the Speaker's remarks:

Speaker Pelosi. Good morning, everyone. Here we are on a Friday morning. Such an action-packed week. We're very excited that yesterday we had a 60 vote margin in victory for the CHIPS bill. We had 100 percent voting from the Democratic side and, once we got to 218, a large number of Republicans voting as well, which was encouraging because we always worked on this as a bipartisan bill. Six of the bills – at least six of the bills in the package were Republican bills; many of the others are bipartisan.

It's very exciting. It's going to be transformative in terms of how it enables America to reassert itself as preeminent in the world. It's called the CHIPS and Science Act, and I'm very pleased with that, because maybe more than a week or ten days ago it was just the CHIPS bill. And we're having – or, shall we say, encouraging for it to go beyond chips, because chips are very important, semiconductors, very important, but it's about the here and now as we go forward in the near future. The science part is about the future, the future, the future, and the science, science, and science, research, education, expanding the diversity and inclusion of many more people making scientific decisions and learning about it and teaching us about it, as well as doing so in every corner of the country.

You know what it does? It lowers costs for consumers. It creates 100,000 good-paying union jobs. It reduces U.S. dependence on foreign manufacturing, as it brings chips manufacturing home – as Steny always says, ‘Make It In America', which is a national security priority as well as an economic necessity. And it turbo-charges American innovation, really powering our preeminence on both research and next-generation technology.

I want to salute Eddie Bernice Johnson, the Chair of the Science, Space and Technology Committee. She got much of – not all, but a good deal of her bill's bipartisan legislation into the package. And Frank Pallone doing the CHIPS piece of this in a very effective way. As well as 100,000 prevailing wage jobs. Bobby Scott, Richie Neal – I could go on and on about all of the Members – of our Chairs who played such an important role and all of our Members who did so as well.

And I just want to tell you a couple more things about it. It ensures that CHIPS funding comes with strong guardrails against corporate profiteering. It secures provisions to diversify the innovation workforce so our best minds can power our technologies of the future, and including it in our legislation, to drive decades of discovery with important money, strong investments, National Science Foundation, [Science] Office at the Department of Energy, and NIST.

And now, me, I enrolled it outside, with the backdrop of the Washington Monument, our tribute to our Founders who were committed to the future. That's what this legislation honors. And we send it on to the President. That's pretty exciting for us.

We had – I'm excited today because, for a long time now, I have wanted to reinstate the assault weapon ban. You weren't here, maybe you weren't even born, when we did this in the 90s. It was hard, but it happened. And it saved lives. And I'm looking forward to our having a good – the passage of it this afternoon.

When I talk about it on the Floor this afternoon, I'm going to show – I'm going to show a presentation of what some totally irresponsible people are putting out there about little children, toddlers, learning how to use an assault weapon, smaller assault weapons but a gun like mommy and daddy, smaller assault weapons but getting their muscles ready to be able to use it. Is that sick? Anyway, we're hopeful on our vote on the assault weapon ban and the outcry for it in the country.

I think the best, most important thing to do is to have background checks. That probably saves the most lives on the ongoing. But a very – to go with that – very important is to reinstate – we like to say ‘reinstate' because we did pass this before, and it did save lives.

We take an oath of office to protect and defend – to protect and defend our Constitution, the American people, making our community safe. And Democrats are committed to having strong support for our law enforcement and our first responders. We want – I'm so proud to announce that, as of late last night, we've come to terms in terms of how we support our law enforcement and do so with accountability.

I have to pay tribute to Joyce Beatty, the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus; to Josh Gottheimer, who really has been a leader on this issue, and Abigail Spanberger, she had a bill too. And they found a way to do what we want, to support our men and women in uniform, but to also do so with accountability.

Since we talked about a security package bill, we've been flooded with so many bills that people have that we need to, shall we say – we have to have the bandwidth to deal with all of them. And hopefully – not hopefully, we plan to bring the support for our men and women in law enforcement with accountability, to the Floor in the second week of August when we come back. That is what I think will comply with – conform to when the Senate may be ready to send us the very important legislation whose title is Inflation Reduction Act.

So we're very excited about the fact that we have a breakthrough there. It isn't everything we want. How many times have I said that? You cannot judge something from what it doesn't do, but respect it for what it does. And what this does do is quite remarkable in terms of our investment in protecting the planet, in addition to which, it lowers health care costs with the subsidies that are extended for three years in the bill, as well as to have for the first time historic, historic opportunity for the Secretary of HHS to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices.

The cost of prescription drugs is a kitchen table issue in our country, and this legislation will reduce that cost but also give people hope. And part of our lower cost – we're always saying ‘safer communities, lower costs.' Again, we'll bring this legislation to the Floor, the public safety bills, at the time when we have the legislation coming over from the Senate.

In the Inflation Reduction package – you know what it is, lowers costs of health care for millions, slashes prescription drug prices, historic action to combat the climate crisis and lowers energy costs and advances energy security. Again, it does what we want to do to fight inflation by lowering costs. It's fully paid for and no new taxes, as President Biden has said, for families making under $400,000 a year.

We had – I talk with great enthusiasm and excitement about the advancement we're making in preparing legislation, passing legislation and the rest. As we speak here, right now on the Floor we're addressing drought and fires. And as a Californian, as a Westerner, this is very, very important legislation for many – for everyone in our country, but in particular, we've benefited from the intellectual resource that our Western Members are, on that.

But we had a sad thing happen, and that was when the Senate failed to pass the PACT Act. How do you explain how 80 percent of the Republicans in the United States Senate said ‘no.' Said ‘no' to our veterans?

Every time we're at – and, just last week, I had my regular meeting with the Veterans Service Organizations, and I always promise them, and we try to honor that promise by acting always in a bipartisan way so they don't have to get involved in one decision or another. We have our differences of opinion as to allocation of resources, but to do so in the most bipartisan way. And the PACT Act is a very bipartisan bill. Eighty-some Senators voted for it the first time it came on the Floor there.

That they would vote against that, when people are waiting, people are dying, people are sick because they were exposed to these burn pits, huge burn pits. If you don't know about them, read about them, because they're deadly.

In addition to which, if you live in North Carolina or served at Camp Lejeune, anyone in your family, you will know that the water there is deadly, and not only for the Servicemember but for their families who may live there with them. And that is covered in this legislation.

So for them to say, well, we're not going to vote for it because you've come to an agreement on the reconciliation [package], as they were calling it, is so ridiculous. Wait a minute. You're not going to help our veterans because we want to lower the cost of prescription drugs, because we want to lower the cost of health care, because we want to protect the planet? Of course you don't agree with any of those things, but would you use that to vote against our veterans?

It's really immoral, almost criminal. Because these people were exposed and they – and, you know, I've been on this issue since Agent Orange, for a long time. And the sooner that we can do this, the healthier our veterans will be.

As I said yesterday at our rally, in the military we say, ‘On the battlefield, we leave no soldier behind, and when they come home, we leave no veteran behind.' But the Republicans in the Senate did just that, by 80 percent of them voting ‘No.' Isn't that unbelievable? And, actually, when the bill passed in the Senate the first time, it had 84 votes.

Anyway. People Over Politics. You know, our Democratic Policy and Communications Committee put forth our agenda, our For the People Agenda, People Over Politics. We are very excited about that. It, too, has three things: lower costs, again, safer communities and better jobs. And that's what we are about.

In any event, it's a comparison to what the Republicans are doing. In contrast, the MAGA Republicans are criminalizing women's health care, planning to end Social Security and Medicare – don't take it from me, read their stuff. Attacking democracy, undermining the right to vote.

So we think we have a clear contrast in terms of why we are here, what our ‘why' is, and how we go forward.

Any questions?

Q. Madam Speaker?

Speaker Pelosi. Okay. Since we talked baseball last night.

Q. We talked baseball last night; we'll talk policy and legislation today.

Speaker Pelosi. Okay. I'm with you.

Q. So, on this reconciliation package, it seems as though, you know, you have pushed to try to get something done before August here. There might be problems getting this through the Senate.

Do you feel like some of your Members might say, here we are, we're on the hook again, if they can't get this through the Senate – even though Senator Manchin is on board, but there's other issues there – and also just having the numbers to pass the bill for COVID?

And how does that translate to winning in November?

Speaker Pelosi. So you want to talk politics?

Q. Well – but, obviously –

Speaker Pelosi. Yeah. Well, let me just say, our purpose is to meet the needs of the American people. I – You'll have to talk to the Senate about the dynamic over there in regard to this bill. It is, shall we say, not everything that I want – I mean, not even close, not even half. But, nonetheless, what is in there is very good. Historic. The first time the HHS Secretary can negotiate for lower prescription drug prices. Not as big as I would like, but it's in the door. Historic.

In terms of not – the three-year extension of the subsidies, the Affordable Care Act, strengthening the Affordable Care Act – fabulous. And, by the way, I wanted more. That is to say, I wanted the Medicaid piece and the rest of that. But that doesn't mean that we don't support the bill.

But probably the biggest difference, although those are substantial for kitchen table issues, is what it does in terms of climate. You may recall that when I was Speaker the first time, climate was my flagship issue. And we established a committee, we passed legislation, all of that.

So this is of the highest importance, because it's about the children, it's about the future. It is a short fuse that we are on. The thermal management of the planet is greatly at risk. The rising sea levels, the encroachment of deserts, the – so many things that are happening in communities, that – they have to move.

So it's a health issue: clean air, clean water. It's an economic issue: preeminence in the green technologies in the world. It's a security issue, because the encroachment – all of these impacts of climate, the climate crisis, cause competition and conflict over resources and habitat, and the national security people come in to us and say, this is a security issue. And, of course, it's a values issue.

So this, for us, when I learned of what was in there, was just transformational. We've never spent this much money, even as much as we had originally. We've never invested this much in such an important way, in a public-private way, to have the private sector play its role in this, so we get more advantage than is just right there.

So it's beautiful to behold and I feel pretty confident.

Q. But you don't think that you're stringing people along again? You said you can't worry about the Senate, the Senate's going to do what it's going to do. And –

Speaker Pelosi. Yeah. And when they send it to us, we'll pass it.

Q. But you're confident that's going to happen?

Speaker Pelosi. Yeah.

Q. They're going to get it?

Speaker Pelosi. Yeah.

Jake?

Q. Madam Speaker?

Speaker Pelosi. Yes, ma'am.

Q. Madam Speaker, on the police funding bill, I realize that Democrats can now say that, ‘We actually fund the police.' But being that this would be contingent upon certain accountability measures, are we talking about consent decrees? Are we talking about DEI measures or anti-bias training?

Can't the Republicans just turn around and say, ‘Hey, you're only going to get your funding over these police departments if you go by what the Democrats want you to actually go by, such as their policy agendas? That's not real police funding. That's like saying, you do this and you'll get your money?'

Speaker Pelosi. No, it's police funding. It's police funding with accountability.

Q. So – but won't –

Speaker Pelosi. It's police funding with accountability. We feel very proud of the compromises that were made, and with much discussion on the other side of the aisle and people outside. So that's what I have to say about that.

Jake?

Q. Madam Speaker, are you confident you'll get the assault weapons ban through today?

Speaker Pelosi. Yeah.

Q. You are?

Speaker Pelosi. Yeah. Next?

[Laughter]

Q. Madam Speaker, you've repeatedly said that you want Republicans to take back their party. You said in May, quote, ‘Here I am, Nancy Pelosi, saying this country needs a strong Republican Party, not a cult.'

Speaker Pelosi. Yes.

Q. How does that square with your party now spending money to boost election denying candidates in Republican primaries, including against House Republicans who voted to impeach President Trump?

Speaker Pelosi. I said that we need a strong Republican Party, not a cult of personality. That didn't mean we shouldn't have a strong Democratic Party as well. And the political decisions that are made out there are made in furtherance of our winning the election, because we think the contrast between Democrats and Republicans as they are now is so drastic that we have to win. And I feel confident. What did I just see? What is it? What's that called? The 6 points 44 to – what's it called, the poll? George has it? Yeah. Well, anyway, the most recent poll that came out has us 44 to 38. This whole thing has changed.

But make no mistake, I've said to you, we have every intention of winning this election. As people make judgements in campaigns around the country, that's that, but it has nothing to do with whether we should have a strong Grand Old Party, which has done great things for our country.

Q. Madam Speaker?

Speaker Pelosi. Yes, ma'am.

Q. Just really quickly, I know you don't want to talk about your travel, but can you at least talk about the significance of visiting Asia, what type of message you and a congressional delegation would want to send if you, in fact, make this trip?

Speaker Pelosi. Well, I don't ever talk about my travel because, as some of you know, it's a security issue. It's a security issue for every Member of Congress traveling – especially abroad. But for the Speaker it is an additional security issue and for those traveling with me – not just Members, but staff, et cetera.

The President earlier – well, earlier in his term – talked about a strong emphasis on the Asian Pacific. He has visited there. His Vice President has visited there, the Secretary of Commerce and others. And we want the Congress of the United States to be part of that initiative. Of course, as a West Coast person we see the Pacific as, you know, that's our – that's our home. We're part of that as well. That is not to diminish the importance of our transatlantic relationships as well. But I'm very excited, should we go to the countries that we – you'll be hearing about along the way about how – the conversations we have now.

Earlier this year, a couple months ago I guess it was, we had nine leaders of the ASEAN, the Southeast Asian countries, at the House. It was bipartisan – and in fact we invited the Senate to come and some participated – to have a conversation, hear their presentations. Another symbol, that the President had that ASEAN meeting in Washington, D.C. and we were very much a part of it.

So again, we have global responsibilities, whether it comes to three things, I always say: security, economy and governance. And this will be part of that. That's it. Thank you all. Bye bye.

Q. You told me last night there was going to be a comeback in the ball game. What happened? You said, ‘It ain't over till it's over.' It's over. So your comment on the ball game?

Speaker Pelosi. The rain didn't interfere long enough.

[Laughter]

Q. You were losing, though. It was a regulation game. Four innings in a seven inning game is a regulation game.

Speaker Pelosi. Is that it?

Q. I was told one time.

Speaker Pelosi. Well, let me just say this one thing. Did you see the trophy? This trophy puts the Stanley Cup – dwarfs it. The Lombardi, you name any of them. This thing is gigantic. Have you seen it?

Q. Oh, yes.

Speaker Pelosi. It looks like you have won the World Series, the Super Bowl, Stanley Cup – name something else – the World Cup. There it is. So I congratulate the Republicans. It's a ball game. It's fun. Thank you.

# # #