1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 1: This is Latino USA, the radio journal of News and 2 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:09,280 Speaker 1: Curtur Latino US Latin Latino USA. I'm Maria Inojosa. We 3 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:13,000 Speaker 1: bring you stories that are underreported but that mattered to you, 4 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: overlooked by the rest of the media. And while the 5 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 1: country is struggling to deal with these, we listen to 6 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:20,960 Speaker 1: the stories of Black and Latino Studios United Latino Front, 7 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: a cultural renaissance organizing at the forefront of the movement. 8 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 1: I'm Maria Ino Jossa. 9 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 2: I have the privilege of introducing the twenty fifth Secretary 10 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 2: of HHS, the first Latino secretary in the role, Secretary 11 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 2: Javier Visera. 12 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 3: Related Happy Thanksgiving to everybody. I hope it was good. 13 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 3: Can we bring some coffee in here? Please? Actually, if 14 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 3: you're like me, you need something else because we don't. 15 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 3: I don't drink coffee. I think we all recognize that, 16 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:09,759 Speaker 3: have you The things that give us joy, that make 17 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:13,120 Speaker 3: us happy, that make us smile without even realizing it, 18 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:15,760 Speaker 3: are the things that keep us healthy. 19 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 1: It is a pretty cold morning in December and we 20 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 1: find ourselves in the large lobby of the Health and 21 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:31,320 Speaker 1: Human Services Headquarters. There is a stage set up, there's instruments, 22 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 1: there which doesn't seem like a big deal because it's 23 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 1: a morning concert near the holidays. Well it turns out 24 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 1: this is, in fact, for the HHS, a big deal. 25 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:45,319 Speaker 1: They tell me that they've never had a music concert 26 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 1: in the building before. Faber Besera will talk to his 27 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 1: employees and some of the people from the community who 28 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:56,919 Speaker 1: are here about the power of music as healing, which 29 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 1: itself is not such a revolutionary concept. But for the 30 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 1: Secretary of Health and Human Services to be promoting this 31 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 1: instead of let's say a visit to a hospital or 32 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 1: an antidepressant, well, it's interesting. 33 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 3: Healthcare professionals, doctors. My wife, who's a physician, will say 34 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:18,639 Speaker 3: to me, you need some good medicine. What we're learning 35 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 3: is some of the best medicine has nothing to do 36 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 3: with a pill or some invasive procedure. It just has 37 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 3: to do with reaching your heart without ever having to 38 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 3: physically touch anything. And in so many ways that's what 39 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 3: music does right. 40 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:41,359 Speaker 1: The event was officially named Music is Medicine, and there 41 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:44,919 Speaker 1: was a focus on how mental health can be impacted 42 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 1: by music. So there were kids playing steel drums, an 43 00:02:51,720 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 1: elderly choir, yes, some good old DC Go Go music 44 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 1: made up by a band of guys who worked for 45 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: the EMS and the DC Fire Department. After the hour 46 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 1: long concert, I went to his massive office for a 47 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 1: sit down interview. Welcome Secretary Fabierre to Latino, USA. You 48 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 1: may have made some enemies today, you know why. No, Well, 49 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 1: because what you were saying was you said, so the 50 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 1: thing about music is that it can actually, in many 51 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 1: ways help you heal. You don't need a pill? 52 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, you know what, and some of our days, 53 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 3: our folks couldn't afford the pills, they couldn't afford to 54 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:03,839 Speaker 3: go into the doctor's office. You had the that they 55 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 3: you had the remedies that came from the previous generations, 56 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 3: and you know what, sometimes they work pretty good. 57 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 1: My mom was doing copying way before. And obviously then 58 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:13,680 Speaker 1: there's big. 59 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:17,599 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, I have no qualm staying. Let's let's 60 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:20,039 Speaker 3: just put it this way. I guarantee you listening to 61 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 3: a song is a lot less expensive than taking one 62 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 3: of those pills. 63 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 1: So when you need to heal, let's just say, what's 64 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 1: what's your go to? 65 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:30,840 Speaker 3: Well, I could show you my mix and it is 66 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:34,719 Speaker 3: an eclectic mix. Okay, okay, so here we go. So 67 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 3: it's obviously lots of songs, lots of songs. But I'll 68 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 3: just go through a quick clist for you. Okay, uh 69 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 3: La Murga, Willi. 70 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 4: Cologne, Okay, Okay, Jose, Jose Okay, Spit. 71 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 1: Don't know what about it? 72 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 3: Si La Moore, Ceva, Roberto Carlos. 73 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: Wow, mister Romandigo. 74 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 3: Silamo, and then updating Michael Jackson, and then now with 75 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 3: the girls, my daughters. Uh keeping up with some of 76 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 3: the more recent music. Music is Medicine. 77 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:34,279 Speaker 1: From Futuro Media and PRX. It's Latino USA. I'm Maria 78 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 1: in Josa Today. A conversation with Health and Human Services 79 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 1: Secretary javierve Cerra. Javiervecera was born sixty six years ago 80 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: in Sacramento, California. His mother is an immigrant from Hallisco, Mexico. 81 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:59,559 Speaker 1: His father was a US born day laborer who later 82 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 1: worked in construction. Secretary of Bessera's life in political office 83 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:09,279 Speaker 1: spans decades. He became a US Congressman in nineteen ninety 84 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:13,360 Speaker 1: two and served for twelve terms until twenty seventeen, when 85 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 1: he succeeded Kamala Harris as the Attorney General for the 86 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 1: state of California. I Haveaveer Bisera dosalom Is swear do. 87 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 5: Solemnly swear that I will support and defend. 88 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:26,040 Speaker 3: That I will support and defend. 89 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:28,599 Speaker 1: A constitution of the United States Constitution. 90 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 3: Of the United States. 91 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:34,280 Speaker 1: During his tenure as Attorney General, besserrasud former President Trump 92 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:37,120 Speaker 1: multiple times over DHAKA. 93 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 3: The Great State of California will be filing a lawsuit 94 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:46,720 Speaker 3: today against the Trump administration for its unconstitutional and illegal 95 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:50,719 Speaker 3: termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. 96 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 1: Program over the border wall. 97 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:56,720 Speaker 3: If the President is essentially stealing money that's been allocated 98 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 3: to go to the various states for various purposes, but 99 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:03,280 Speaker 3: no longer will. We're being harmed, Our people are being harmed. 100 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 3: You don't have to reside in Texas. And by the way, 101 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 3: on behalf of the people of Texas. We'll be trying 102 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 3: to defend their right to have their taxpayer dollars use 103 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 3: the right way, not an unconstitutional way. 104 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 1: And international students visas. 105 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 3: It's ridiculous. You don't do business this way, and we're 106 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 3: not going to let the president do it this way. 107 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 1: In twenty twenty, President Biden nominated bessra to lead the 108 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 1: Department of Health and Human Services, an office he took 109 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 1: over a few months later. In his role, the Secretary 110 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 1: oversees agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 111 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 1: the Food and Drug Administration, and the Office of Refugee Resettlement, 112 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:49,320 Speaker 1: which works with migrant children. And that's just to name 113 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:53,480 Speaker 1: a few of the offices under his direction. During the 114 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 1: Secretary's tenure, HHS has kepped the cost of insulin for 115 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 1: nearly four million senior citizens on Medicare. This is something 116 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 1: the Biden campaign brings up a lot, as the President 117 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 1: is running for reelection and because of President Biden's Inflation 118 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 1: Reduction Act, Medicare is able for the first time to 119 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 1: directly negotiate with drug companies to lower the cost of 120 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 1: some important and yet traditionally expensive prescription drugs used for 121 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:25,120 Speaker 1: blood plots and chronic kidney disease, for example. But the 122 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 1: administration and the agency and the Secretary have also received 123 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:33,439 Speaker 1: pushback and critiques, especially related to the treatment of migrant children, 124 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:36,240 Speaker 1: some of whom, even though they were under the care 125 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 1: of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, ended up in the 126 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 1: hands of human traffickers and labor exploiters. So today, as 127 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 1: part of our election year coverage, the Latino factor how 128 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 1: we vote. We sit down with the Secretary of Health 129 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 1: and Human Services. Here's my one on one conversation with 130 00:08:54,280 --> 00:09:02,200 Speaker 1: Secretary Fabier Visera. Secretary, you have a real focus on 131 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,080 Speaker 1: mental health. In fact, it's one of the things that 132 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:07,359 Speaker 1: you have consistently brought up in your role as Secretary 133 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 1: of HHS. And you also know that Latina teenagers battle 134 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 1: major mental health issues, including attempted suicide. 135 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 3: There's no doubt that there are a lot of young people, 136 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 3: young women Latinas who experience suffer quite a bit. Certainly 137 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 3: here in this job as Secretary of AHHS, I get 138 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:35,360 Speaker 3: to focus on that more. But as a member of Congress, 139 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 3: I worked on a number of behavioral health issues. 140 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: You call it behavioral health as opposed to mental health. 141 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:46,199 Speaker 3: Yeah, because behavioral health. If you talk mental health, do 142 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:49,319 Speaker 3: you often leave out the issues that arise from substance 143 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 3: use disorders And sometimes they go hand in hand. If 144 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:56,000 Speaker 3: you have a substance use disorder, sometimes it leads to 145 00:09:56,080 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 3: depression or anxiety or other mental health issues or vice versa. 146 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,839 Speaker 1: I'm very public about a lot of health issues. I'm 147 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:10,480 Speaker 1: super public about having had PTSD, having had two abortions. 148 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 1: But I'm also very public about having a therapist. Still, 149 00:10:14,559 --> 00:10:15,559 Speaker 1: have you done therapy? 150 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 3: I mean, some people probably would say, why haven't you 151 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:20,320 Speaker 3: seen a therapist in your life? 152 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 1: You haven't seen a therapist? 153 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:22,679 Speaker 3: I have not. 154 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 6: No. 155 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:25,199 Speaker 1: I mean because it would be a big deal, right 156 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 1: if the Secretary of HHS said, well, you know what, 157 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 1: after all of these years, I've decided I'm going to 158 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 1: try some therapy. 159 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 3: Well, you know, therapy isn't just for someone who's about 160 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 3: to take the wrong fork in the road. Therapy can 161 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 3: be for just somebody who's feeling a little down or 162 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:48,120 Speaker 3: had a bad stretch of events. Your checkup should include 163 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 3: not just your blood pressure, your weight, but also your 164 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:53,560 Speaker 3: mental condition. 165 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:57,679 Speaker 1: You've invested nearly a billion dollars on the crisis Prevention hotline, 166 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:02,160 Speaker 1: which is nine to eight eight is essentially the response 167 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:04,600 Speaker 1: to nine one one on the question of if you 168 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:09,400 Speaker 1: are feeling suicidal, suicide, ideation, severe mental health called nine 169 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 1: eight eight, am I right? 170 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:16,600 Speaker 3: Or you want to stop taking a drug and you 171 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 3: just don't know how to quit. You've lost hope, you 172 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:24,920 Speaker 3: have anxiety that's becoming worse, You are in a state 173 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:29,200 Speaker 3: of depression that may lead you to go further down 174 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:29,720 Speaker 3: that road. 175 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:33,400 Speaker 1: All of those things when was nine eight eight established 176 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:36,319 Speaker 1: a year and a half ago, Okay, and the numbers 177 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 1: in a year and a half, you've received more or 178 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 1: less millions millions of calls in Spanish two. 179 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:42,719 Speaker 3: In Spanish too. 180 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 1: I didn't know about it, So I'm just like, did 181 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:48,480 Speaker 1: I miss it? Did I not see it? So what's 182 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 1: your sense of kind of a criticism that exists about 183 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: the entire administration is not actually tooting your own horn, 184 00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:00,440 Speaker 1: kind of not putting yourselves out there enough. So what 185 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:02,640 Speaker 1: would be the reason why there wouldn't be nine eight 186 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 1: eight everywhere on the bus stops, in every kind of 187 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 1: public building. 188 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 3: Great question. It does take money. I hope you're going 189 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 3: to use your social media platforms to talk nine to 190 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 3: eight eight after we finish this, we just we have 191 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 3: to get it out there. It is difficult to get 192 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:28,840 Speaker 3: word out sometimes unless you've got some real resources to 193 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 3: help you with that campaign. We're fortunately getting more and 194 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:39,120 Speaker 3: more people athletes, entertainers, respected leaders to mention nine eight eight. 195 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 1: The issue of guns has actually become really important for 196 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:47,000 Speaker 1: Latino and Latina voters. So from your position at HHS, 197 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:49,840 Speaker 1: somebody who cares about mental health and et cetera. But 198 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:54,440 Speaker 1: you know, there is the gun problem, So what can 199 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:56,960 Speaker 1: you do? What are you doing? What is your perspective 200 00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:59,720 Speaker 1: on what should be done on this particular issue. Specifically 201 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 1: because as Latino and Latina of voters care about it. 202 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:06,360 Speaker 3: Much of the focus has been on the mental state 203 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 3: of many of the perpetrators of the gun violence. The 204 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 3: Department of Health Human Services has work with states and 205 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 3: local communities to try to provide them with more resources 206 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:22,000 Speaker 3: to deal with the need for mental health services. Clearly 207 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:27,480 Speaker 3: communities need more assistance. The federal government tries to assist, 208 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:31,440 Speaker 3: but we don't have the jurisdiction the authority to tell 209 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:35,079 Speaker 3: a state what to do on healthcare, including mental health. 210 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:37,719 Speaker 3: What we can do is offer some dollars to get 211 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:40,760 Speaker 3: them to move in a particular direction. So for example 212 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:44,680 Speaker 3: nine eight eight. It's really operated by the states, but 213 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 3: because we have so heavily invested in making it work, 214 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 3: we've served as the glue to keep them together. We 215 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:55,400 Speaker 3: have certified community behavioral health centers which are twenty four 216 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:55,839 Speaker 3: to seven. 217 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 1: I'm thinking, well, one of the people who might be 218 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:02,720 Speaker 1: calling could be a young Latina in the state of 219 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 1: Texas who wants an abortion and can't get it. Cannot access, 220 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:13,760 Speaker 1: works as a server, works six days a week, can't 221 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 1: get the money to put it together to travel to 222 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:19,320 Speaker 1: another state, can't get the days off. And as you know, 223 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,360 Speaker 1: reproductive rights, the issue of abortion of actually in the 224 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 1: top issues again for Latino and Latina voters. So what 225 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 1: do you say as HHS on the issue of reproductive 226 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: rights and abortion and access at a time when the 227 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 1: Supreme Court overturned this basic right to healthcare and privacy 228 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 1: for women. 229 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 3: I disagree with what the Supreme Court said in regards 230 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:50,080 Speaker 3: to Dobbs. Everyone has the right to decide what to 231 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:54,040 Speaker 3: do with their own self their own body. Politicians have 232 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:55,800 Speaker 3: no right to tell you what to do with your 233 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 3: own body. And now the Supreme Courts entered their game, 234 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 3: which I think is devastating not just for people's healthcare 235 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 3: rights and certainly women's reproductive rights, but for the Supreme 236 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:12,080 Speaker 3: Court because it's so undermined its credibility to be an 237 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:16,560 Speaker 3: arbiter at the highest level for the toughest decisions in 238 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:21,560 Speaker 3: our country. When the Supreme Court loses its credibility, we're 239 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 3: in real trouble. 240 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:29,640 Speaker 1: Coming up on Latino usay. My conversation with HHS Secretary 241 00:15:29,720 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 1: Jabra continues, stay with us, Welcome back to Latino USA. 242 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 1: We're going to continue my conversation now with the first 243 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:28,040 Speaker 1: Latino to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, 244 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:31,720 Speaker 1: Secretary Cabier Bresserra. We're going to talk now about Latino 245 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 1: representation in the White House, immigration and more. Here's the 246 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:40,040 Speaker 1: rest of my conversation. So, I don't know if you 247 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:43,960 Speaker 1: remember this Secretary of Besea, but actually you were on 248 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 1: our show on Latino USA in the nineteen nineties. You 249 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 1: were a congressman in California. Let's listen to this cut 250 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:53,280 Speaker 1: of tape and then we're going to talk about it. 251 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 1: A quick aside. Dear listener, this is the voice of 252 00:16:57,280 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 1: Maria Martin, the founding executive producer of Latino USA. 253 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:04,800 Speaker 6: Well, let's take a look then and get your assessment 254 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:08,360 Speaker 6: of the issues of acting Latinos and the role that 255 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 6: Latinos will play in the second Clinton administration. Some people 256 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:16,200 Speaker 6: have criticized the president, for instance, for naming only one 257 00:17:16,280 --> 00:17:20,320 Speaker 6: Latino to his second cabinet. How do you view the 258 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:23,040 Speaker 6: role that Latinos are and will be playing in his 259 00:17:23,119 --> 00:17:24,080 Speaker 6: second administration? 260 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:26,320 Speaker 7: Well, certainly, I think you must say that the first 261 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 7: role that Latinos played was to get the president elected. 262 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:32,439 Speaker 7: There's no doubt that Latinos were a major force behind 263 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 7: the president's reelection in nineteen ninety six. Did he recognize 264 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:39,000 Speaker 7: that as he should have? I think in his first 265 00:17:39,040 --> 00:17:42,880 Speaker 7: instance he failed. As you said, he only appointed one 266 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 7: Latino to his cabinet. He did appoint to other high 267 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:48,760 Speaker 7: level Latinos, but still we went from two to one 268 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:52,320 Speaker 7: in the cabinet. I'm very concerned now that there will 269 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:55,880 Speaker 7: only be one if we're lucky Latino within the White 270 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 7: House at the higher levels of assistant to the President, 271 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:01,359 Speaker 7: when there are some twenty or twit to twenty two positions, 272 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:02,959 Speaker 7: that would concern me greatly. 273 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:08,680 Speaker 1: We have a reality, a numbers reality about Latinos and 274 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 1: Latinas in the United States. Right, our growth is extraordinary 275 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:16,280 Speaker 1: and not from immigration from births. Right, we know that, 276 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:20,480 Speaker 1: but every minute a Latino or Latina turns eighteen. So 277 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:26,640 Speaker 1: the possibilities of our role in democracy literally in our hands. 278 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 1: But you know, the next the follow up question, which 279 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:32,119 Speaker 1: is going to be like, well, that's great that there's 280 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:35,440 Speaker 1: four members of the cabinet, what does it really mean 281 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:41,800 Speaker 1: for Latinos and Latinas. It is representation by numbers. How 282 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:43,960 Speaker 1: far does it get us with the distance that you 283 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 1: have now in your thirty years in this business. 284 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:51,360 Speaker 3: So it's it's not the end all to have numbers, 285 00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:53,960 Speaker 3: because at the the end of the day, we're not 286 00:18:54,200 --> 00:19:00,560 Speaker 3: just Latinos and Latinas. We're Americans. We're human beings. It 287 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:05,280 Speaker 3: matters because when one of those four Cabinet secretaries stands up, 288 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:10,399 Speaker 3: some young kid is going to say, PAPIs it is? 289 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 3: And I'll say, gottle can see. But tip your hat 290 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 3: to President Joe Biden for naming four of us as 291 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:25,880 Speaker 3: Americans who are of Latino descent. Big deal, not end all, 292 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:30,320 Speaker 3: but a pretty big deal. So we want folks to 293 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:33,719 Speaker 3: see that we're all good Americans and we can all 294 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:40,119 Speaker 3: be accomplished and do things for this great country. You 295 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:42,199 Speaker 3: just got to let us prove it. I don't know 296 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:44,560 Speaker 3: if in another country I'd got a chance to do 297 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:47,040 Speaker 3: this as the son of two individuals who never got 298 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:52,840 Speaker 3: to college. So we keep improving in this country. That's 299 00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:54,040 Speaker 3: the beauty of America. Right. 300 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 1: So, as you know, we were with the Vice President 301 00:19:57,640 --> 00:20:01,640 Speaker 1: recently where she's specifically going out and actually rallying young 302 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:06,360 Speaker 1: Latino and Latina voters, Black voters. Joe Biden has been 303 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:09,239 Speaker 1: around for a long time, right, there's nothing that he 304 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:12,479 Speaker 1: doesn't know about the politics of this country. Do you 305 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:15,959 Speaker 1: think that he gets the importance of the Latino Latina 306 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:19,600 Speaker 1: vote like profoundly? Because I think the feeling out there honestly, 307 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:21,159 Speaker 1: and I know you know this too, because you have 308 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:24,679 Speaker 1: daughters who are in their twenties, is that not? Is 309 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:28,560 Speaker 1: there a connection there between Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and 310 00:20:28,640 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 1: Latino and Latina voters and enthusiasm and we're going to 311 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:35,320 Speaker 1: register for you? Do you think he gets that and 312 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:38,160 Speaker 1: how important it could be to getting him over the top. 313 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:41,520 Speaker 3: So I could give you the simple answer of yes. 314 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:43,720 Speaker 3: But rather than give you that and have you say, ah, yeah, 315 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:46,199 Speaker 3: that's what you have to say, let me pose it 316 00:20:46,240 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 3: a different way. Name me another president who has in 317 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:53,800 Speaker 3: a limited number of cabinet slots named for Latinos to 318 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:58,080 Speaker 3: serve in his cabinet in important positions. I'll let the 319 00:20:58,119 --> 00:21:00,639 Speaker 3: clock tick, But why waste time because you won't be 320 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:03,080 Speaker 3: able to name another president who's done that. Name another 321 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:06,560 Speaker 3: president who has said that he would make the most 322 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:11,479 Speaker 3: expensive medicine through a vaccine made available to the American 323 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:16,360 Speaker 3: public available to everyone for free, including people who are 324 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:19,560 Speaker 3: not US citizens. I'll wait a little while longer, but 325 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:21,560 Speaker 3: will waste time if I do, because there's never been 326 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:25,280 Speaker 3: another president other than Joe Biden. Name me another president 327 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:28,480 Speaker 3: who has stood up and on his very first day 328 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:33,480 Speaker 3: introduced legislation to reform a broken immigration system. Maybe there's 329 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 3: one other one I can think of that did that. 330 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:37,400 Speaker 3: I'm not sure I know one that did, and that's 331 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:40,960 Speaker 3: President Joe Biden. Now, maybe some people don't think that 332 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:45,160 Speaker 3: Joe Biden gets Latinos, but it sure is a very coincidental, 333 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:48,920 Speaker 3: accidental luck that President Joe Biden is doing a lot 334 00:21:48,920 --> 00:21:51,480 Speaker 3: of things exactly where we need him to do them 335 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:54,800 Speaker 3: to help Latino families who are trying really hard like 336 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:58,680 Speaker 3: my parents did. And I'm more interested in not when 337 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:02,280 Speaker 3: someone says, but what some one does. I always tell people, 338 00:22:02,359 --> 00:22:03,560 Speaker 3: you want to know what a leader is going to 339 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:06,040 Speaker 3: do for you, where they going to take you, know 340 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:09,160 Speaker 3: where they came from. I know Joe Biden came from 341 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:12,399 Speaker 3: working class roots, and I think that's where it's hard is. 342 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:15,640 Speaker 3: And most Latinos are working class. And so when we 343 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:18,679 Speaker 3: broke records on the number of people who enrolled in 344 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 3: health insurance coverage through the affordable care marketplace. Guess who 345 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:27,919 Speaker 3: benefited the most? Latinos When we are fighting now to 346 00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:31,119 Speaker 3: keep people on the Medicaid program during this process of 347 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:36,600 Speaker 3: re enrollment that's occurring now after the public health crisis 348 00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:41,440 Speaker 3: in COVID, Guess who's benefiting most. In so many ways, 349 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:46,160 Speaker 3: what President Biden is doing is helping Latinos the most, 350 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:50,400 Speaker 3: not because they're Latinos, necessarily because like Joe Biden, they 351 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:53,240 Speaker 3: come from working class, blue collar backgrounds. 352 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:57,560 Speaker 1: So what he's doing on this issue of immigration intersects 353 00:22:57,560 --> 00:23:02,879 Speaker 1: with you because of your in managing refugee resettlement and 354 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:08,800 Speaker 1: children and health in general. I mean, there has to 355 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 1: be some frustration there with all due respect, and my 356 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:16,520 Speaker 1: sense is that there was an opportunity there still is 357 00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:19,280 Speaker 1: right for this administration for you to actually change the 358 00:23:19,359 --> 00:23:22,200 Speaker 1: narrative entirely. That's not what people are feeling. 359 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 3: I want to answer this as directly as I can, 360 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:32,399 Speaker 3: because I have lived it, I've witnessed it, and for 361 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:35,760 Speaker 3: years and years I worked this issue of immigration right 362 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:39,080 Speaker 3: as a member of Congress. First, my first year nineteen 363 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:42,640 Speaker 3: ninety three, I was on the Immigration sub Committee. At 364 00:23:42,640 --> 00:23:45,560 Speaker 3: that point I was finding not just against Republicans, but 365 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:48,760 Speaker 3: even some conservative Democrats who are not really good on 366 00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:52,439 Speaker 3: the issue. So I have a lot of perspective on 367 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:54,680 Speaker 3: this and I will this is what I will tell you. 368 00:23:55,240 --> 00:23:59,480 Speaker 3: Immigration has never been an easy political issue, Republican or Democrat. 369 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:02,879 Speaker 3: It's been a tough issue for them. For someone like me, 370 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:07,040 Speaker 3: not so tough. I'm the son of immigrants. I had 371 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:09,120 Speaker 3: a congressional district where a lot of the folks were 372 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:13,160 Speaker 3: hard working immigrants. I have no problem. I sued by 373 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:17,200 Speaker 3: President because of the way he was treating immigrants at 374 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:22,560 Speaker 3: the border and in detention facilities. I have watched a 375 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:27,400 Speaker 3: president who has tried to treat people humanely at the border, 376 00:24:27,560 --> 00:24:31,199 Speaker 3: and I can tell you from a very personal and 377 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:37,520 Speaker 3: direct work experience that we don't cage kids coming across 378 00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 3: the border. We offer them the kind of care that 379 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:43,440 Speaker 3: in many cases they don't even have in the home country, 380 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:48,560 Speaker 3: because they're just children to us. I'm licensed to do 381 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:51,800 Speaker 3: that by the President of the United States, to treat 382 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:55,159 Speaker 3: those individuals as human beings. 383 00:24:56,600 --> 00:25:00,600 Speaker 1: Let's pause here for a second. The Trump administrator did 384 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:04,880 Speaker 1: get national attention for its caging of people with chain 385 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:09,600 Speaker 1: link fences. Now there have been severe critiques of the 386 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:14,000 Speaker 1: conditions under which children and migrants and refugees have been 387 00:25:14,040 --> 00:25:18,600 Speaker 1: held under the Biden administration. Now back to our conversation 388 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:20,080 Speaker 1: with Secretary Bessera. 389 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:25,200 Speaker 3: I think Joe Biden, in the specter of what presidents 390 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:28,040 Speaker 3: have done and how they've treated people who are coming 391 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:32,680 Speaker 3: from other lands, he has treated people with dignity. And 392 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:36,800 Speaker 3: he is dealing with a broken immigration system and broken 393 00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:41,439 Speaker 3: immigration laws, so he's limited in how he can display that. 394 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 3: But I will tell you that with regard to what 395 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:51,240 Speaker 3: the president has done on immigration, I would come work 396 00:25:51,240 --> 00:25:56,280 Speaker 3: for him again understanding what he's trying to accomplish. 397 00:25:56,680 --> 00:26:00,080 Speaker 1: That's a ringing endorsement, which is interesting because again and 398 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:02,600 Speaker 1: it intersects with your work, especially because you have a 399 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:06,359 Speaker 1: wife who's a medical doctor. You had HHS because you 400 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:10,040 Speaker 1: know the controversy run Title forty two. I do, which 401 00:26:10,080 --> 00:26:13,400 Speaker 1: is that everybody thought, oh my god, Joe Biden is elected. 402 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:15,640 Speaker 1: Now Title forty two is going to go away again. 403 00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:19,480 Speaker 1: Title forty two created under Donald Trump as a way 404 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:22,439 Speaker 1: to say you're bringing COVID into the United States, you 405 00:26:22,480 --> 00:26:24,680 Speaker 1: don't get to come, don't even cross the border. You're 406 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 1: turned away right here. And sadly it didn't happen in 407 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:34,439 Speaker 1: President Biden's first year. It just was rescinded. Where are 408 00:26:34,480 --> 00:26:38,200 Speaker 1: we three years? And the anger that that, the lingering 409 00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:41,719 Speaker 1: anger and distrust that that has created Madia. 410 00:26:41,760 --> 00:26:44,760 Speaker 3: What you've left at is that a court ordered this 411 00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:49,520 Speaker 3: administration not to pull down Title forty two, and for 412 00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:55,040 Speaker 3: many many months, even while the administration was working on 413 00:26:55,119 --> 00:26:59,520 Speaker 3: how to handle Title forty two in it's aftermath, there 414 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:05,919 Speaker 3: was a court ruling that guided much of what this 415 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:07,040 Speaker 3: administration can do. 416 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:11,600 Speaker 1: Another quick pause for context. It is true that a 417 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:15,560 Speaker 1: judge stopped the Biden administration from ending Title forty two 418 00:27:15,920 --> 00:27:19,000 Speaker 1: until twenty twenty three, but it's also true that the 419 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:22,520 Speaker 1: Biden administration did not officially take action to end the 420 00:27:22,560 --> 00:27:26,800 Speaker 1: measure until May of twenty twenty two, almost two and 421 00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:30,800 Speaker 1: a half years into President Biden's first term, and that 422 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:33,959 Speaker 1: was after MASK mandates across the country had eased up, 423 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:37,280 Speaker 1: businesses had reopened, and millions of people had already been 424 00:27:37,320 --> 00:27:42,240 Speaker 1: fully vaccinated. And during the entire pandemic, US citizens who 425 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:45,560 Speaker 1: went back to Mexico were actually allowed to come back 426 00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:48,919 Speaker 1: into the United States without being tested for COVID or 427 00:27:49,040 --> 00:27:53,119 Speaker 1: required to have had any of the vaccines, but immigrants 428 00:27:53,119 --> 00:27:57,440 Speaker 1: and refugees were kept out. All right, let's go back 429 00:27:57,440 --> 00:27:59,360 Speaker 1: to my conversation with Secretary Besserra. 430 00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:03,640 Speaker 3: By the way, I'm not saying that what the Biden 431 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:08,800 Speaker 3: administration has done on immigration makes sense to everyone, but 432 00:28:09,359 --> 00:28:12,160 Speaker 3: this is what happens when you're trying to work with 433 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:15,439 Speaker 3: laws that have been in place for decades and didn't 434 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:18,879 Speaker 3: work after they were passed, and certainly now after decades, 435 00:28:19,040 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 3: are clearly showing there's signs of decrepitness and inferiority. And 436 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:29,719 Speaker 3: now what the President is doing is trying to figure 437 00:28:29,720 --> 00:28:32,199 Speaker 3: out how to work this the best he can with 438 00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:37,560 Speaker 3: a broken immigration system. And so seeing how he has 439 00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:41,520 Speaker 3: handled it, I at least know that he's respecting that 440 00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:44,640 Speaker 3: these are human beings, but he's also expecting that folks 441 00:28:44,640 --> 00:28:49,000 Speaker 3: will recognize those These individuals have to respect what American 442 00:28:49,080 --> 00:28:51,640 Speaker 3: loss has with regard to their status in this country. 443 00:28:53,240 --> 00:28:55,440 Speaker 1: So I'm going to paint an image for you, and 444 00:28:55,480 --> 00:28:57,880 Speaker 1: I want to know what your immediate reaction is because 445 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:00,840 Speaker 1: we're not going to talk just about Joe Biden, right, 446 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:04,840 Speaker 1: this is about Secretary Haabrera. There have been moments right 447 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:12,240 Speaker 1: where you actually welcome the children. I mean literally, get 448 00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:16,160 Speaker 1: on your knees with one of these children who has 449 00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:19,840 Speaker 1: come as a refugee with their parents, etc. And say 450 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:23,840 Speaker 1: bin menilo. I mean I've said that to people in 451 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:27,640 Speaker 1: the New York City subway and it's made them cry. 452 00:29:29,440 --> 00:29:33,640 Speaker 1: I mean you're a politician, secretary. You know the power 453 00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:36,280 Speaker 1: of that image. Were you to get on your knees 454 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:39,719 Speaker 1: and say, welcome to this country, I will protect you. 455 00:29:40,480 --> 00:29:43,080 Speaker 1: And yet not even a we don't even get the performative. 456 00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:45,640 Speaker 1: And I'm like, I mean you could do that. 457 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:52,400 Speaker 3: So do you want performance or do you want results? 458 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:54,760 Speaker 1: I mean that's part of the like, isn't that part 459 00:29:54,800 --> 00:29:55,360 Speaker 1: of the dilemma? 460 00:29:55,440 --> 00:29:55,600 Speaker 3: Right? 461 00:29:55,640 --> 00:29:58,880 Speaker 1: Which is the rough but the Democratic Party, it's perceived. 462 00:29:58,920 --> 00:30:02,760 Speaker 1: It's like, what have you done? Maybe you need to 463 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:05,440 Speaker 1: be more performative, maybe you need to show us in 464 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:08,560 Speaker 1: a big way. And you're like, well, we're doing things quietly. 465 00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:12,040 Speaker 3: I mean I tried for twenty four years to do 466 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:15,040 Speaker 3: immigration reform. Every year I was in Congress, I try 467 00:30:15,080 --> 00:30:20,640 Speaker 3: to do immigration reform. Didn't happen. That hurts. I've seen 468 00:30:21,120 --> 00:30:24,719 Speaker 3: no presidents succeed in coming up with a great immigration 469 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:28,760 Speaker 3: system because no Congress that I've seen has given the 470 00:30:28,760 --> 00:30:33,440 Speaker 3: president the tools to do it, and so is the 471 00:30:33,480 --> 00:30:35,960 Speaker 3: work that you would like to see the president do 472 00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:39,280 Speaker 3: showing up? I think it is, and that we are 473 00:30:39,280 --> 00:30:43,760 Speaker 3: Do you see immigrant families afraid to come forward and 474 00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:48,800 Speaker 3: in my case, declare their sponsorship for this unaccompanied child 475 00:30:48,960 --> 00:30:52,160 Speaker 3: that I have in my custody. Do you see families 476 00:30:52,880 --> 00:30:56,120 Speaker 3: afraid to say that their child is a US citizen 477 00:30:56,160 --> 00:30:57,760 Speaker 3: and it qualifies for medicaid. 478 00:30:58,400 --> 00:31:01,760 Speaker 1: You're saying that under the bar An administration, unlike under 479 00:31:01,760 --> 00:31:04,800 Speaker 1: the Trump administration, if they come forward, they will not 480 00:31:04,840 --> 00:31:05,880 Speaker 1: be immediately deported. 481 00:31:06,280 --> 00:31:09,360 Speaker 3: If families who are working hard in this country come forward, 482 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:17,280 Speaker 3: DOCA recipients, others, the immediate reaction of this president is 483 00:31:17,320 --> 00:31:21,080 Speaker 3: not so I must deport you. The President will say 484 00:31:21,560 --> 00:31:26,640 Speaker 3: you are going to be deported if you have committed crimes, 485 00:31:26,680 --> 00:31:28,600 Speaker 3: done things the wrong way in this country. 486 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:30,959 Speaker 1: When you say done things the wrong way, you're not 487 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:32,840 Speaker 1: saying crossing the border without papers. 488 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:35,600 Speaker 3: There are many people in this country who've been here 489 00:31:35,640 --> 00:31:39,720 Speaker 3: for years, who have worked for years and years. They 490 00:31:39,800 --> 00:31:42,040 Speaker 3: served us. They're mowing our lawn, They're caring for our 491 00:31:42,120 --> 00:31:46,080 Speaker 3: elderly and our children. The reason I don't believe it's 492 00:31:46,120 --> 00:31:48,680 Speaker 3: fair to just tell someone you've been here for twenty years, 493 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:51,480 Speaker 3: we found out you don't have documents, you should be deported. 494 00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:54,400 Speaker 3: As we tangled with them for those twenty years. How 495 00:31:54,400 --> 00:31:57,160 Speaker 3: do you now just say get out of town. You're 496 00:31:57,280 --> 00:31:59,120 Speaker 3: entitled to a chance to prove that you have a 497 00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:02,040 Speaker 3: right to stay, but that doesn't grant you this day. 498 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:03,560 Speaker 3: You have to prove that you have a right to stay. 499 00:32:04,120 --> 00:32:07,000 Speaker 3: At least we have a president who trying to work 500 00:32:07,080 --> 00:32:10,040 Speaker 3: through this broken immigration system, is trying to give people 501 00:32:10,040 --> 00:32:10,959 Speaker 3: a chance to prove it. 502 00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:14,400 Speaker 1: So Secretariat, we just have to talk about because it's 503 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:17,640 Speaker 1: what's happening in Gaza, right and so, as you know, 504 00:32:18,520 --> 00:32:22,960 Speaker 1: hospitals have been bombed in Gaza. One of my early 505 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:26,240 Speaker 1: memories as a journalist was being in El Salvador during 506 00:32:26,920 --> 00:32:29,400 Speaker 1: the offensive of eighty nine and being in a hospital 507 00:32:29,400 --> 00:32:33,000 Speaker 1: that had been bombed, and just the horror of hospitals 508 00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:37,920 Speaker 1: being bombed in Gaza in other wars. And you head 509 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:42,320 Speaker 1: up Health and Human Services, and everybody is clamoring for 510 00:32:44,040 --> 00:32:46,920 Speaker 1: more in terms of you and the administration on the 511 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:51,760 Speaker 1: question of what's happening in Gaza. 512 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:58,640 Speaker 3: So I have had conversations with the Health Minister of 513 00:32:58,760 --> 00:33:04,480 Speaker 3: Israel with the health minister for the Palestinian Authority. You're 514 00:33:04,520 --> 00:33:14,280 Speaker 3: asking me a question about a matter that is it 515 00:33:14,560 --> 00:33:18,240 Speaker 3: is tough for me. I'm the Secretary of Health human 516 00:33:18,280 --> 00:33:24,240 Speaker 3: Services and so I absolutely care about health human services, 517 00:33:24,320 --> 00:33:26,640 Speaker 3: not just for Americans, but just generally. I mean, the 518 00:33:26,680 --> 00:33:30,120 Speaker 3: pandemic COVID showed that we are not alone. I'm not 519 00:33:30,160 --> 00:33:32,760 Speaker 3: safe until you're safe. We're not safe until people outside 520 00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:44,080 Speaker 3: the US are safe. Humanity doesn't deserve to perish because 521 00:33:45,360 --> 00:33:49,040 Speaker 3: individuals decide to take the sanctity of life into their 522 00:33:49,080 --> 00:33:56,560 Speaker 3: own hands. I won't go into this whole situation in 523 00:33:56,600 --> 00:34:02,920 Speaker 3: Gaza except to say, even in war, there are rules 524 00:34:03,000 --> 00:34:08,719 Speaker 3: of engagement and no life deserves to be lost. And 525 00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:14,520 Speaker 3: so I'm in those conversations with the two health ministers, 526 00:34:15,320 --> 00:34:19,279 Speaker 3: it was clear the need to be supportive of life 527 00:34:19,480 --> 00:34:24,800 Speaker 3: and to provide resources to help save lives. 528 00:34:25,280 --> 00:34:28,160 Speaker 1: I mean, it's interesting that this issue has for Latino 529 00:34:28,200 --> 00:34:32,680 Speaker 1: and Latino voters really like your kids in their twenties, 530 00:34:32,880 --> 00:34:33,880 Speaker 1: It's front and center. 531 00:34:34,560 --> 00:34:39,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, I hope everyone in America, but especially our young folks, 532 00:34:39,560 --> 00:34:45,160 Speaker 3: pay close attention. We need the voices of everyone, and 533 00:34:45,200 --> 00:34:51,280 Speaker 3: we want everyone to understand how important subjects are, including 534 00:34:51,280 --> 00:34:54,560 Speaker 3: those that aren't happening here in the US, and so 535 00:34:56,520 --> 00:34:58,640 Speaker 3: we are fortunate to have in this country the ability 536 00:34:58,680 --> 00:34:59,680 Speaker 3: to express ourselves. 537 00:35:00,080 --> 00:35:05,560 Speaker 1: So do it well, Secretary, you handle some pretty intense topics. 538 00:35:06,480 --> 00:35:07,440 Speaker 3: You better believe it. 539 00:35:07,760 --> 00:35:10,160 Speaker 1: You wanted to be Secretary of HHS. 540 00:35:10,440 --> 00:35:13,200 Speaker 3: I wanted to make a difference. And I knew health. 541 00:35:13,239 --> 00:35:15,520 Speaker 3: I had worked health for so many years. I had 542 00:35:15,560 --> 00:35:19,440 Speaker 3: heard health for decades because Carolina was so immersed in 543 00:35:19,480 --> 00:35:22,400 Speaker 3: it and so good at it, and I knew I 544 00:35:22,400 --> 00:35:26,360 Speaker 3: could make a difference, especially in this moment of time, 545 00:35:26,719 --> 00:35:29,960 Speaker 3: especially when we were facing a pandemic and we were 546 00:35:30,040 --> 00:35:32,560 Speaker 3: seeing what we typically see. The folks who were dying 547 00:35:32,600 --> 00:35:34,799 Speaker 3: most were the folks who had the least access to 548 00:35:34,840 --> 00:35:38,400 Speaker 3: the care. And so could I make a difference. This 549 00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:41,160 Speaker 3: was set up just for a guy like me who 550 00:35:41,239 --> 00:35:42,280 Speaker 3: wants to make a difference. 551 00:35:43,160 --> 00:35:45,120 Speaker 1: So in the midst of all of that, how do 552 00:35:45,120 --> 00:35:47,279 Speaker 1: you find that, like, Okay, I'm doing this again, I'm 553 00:35:47,280 --> 00:35:48,160 Speaker 1: going back out there. 554 00:35:49,400 --> 00:35:56,120 Speaker 3: For me, it's pretty simple. Get home. I've done a 555 00:35:56,120 --> 00:35:58,840 Speaker 3: lot of work that's taken me away from my home. 556 00:36:00,040 --> 00:36:02,560 Speaker 3: I have a home in DC, but that's not home. 557 00:36:03,080 --> 00:36:07,600 Speaker 3: My home is where Gotrolina is where god Relina and 558 00:36:07,640 --> 00:36:10,080 Speaker 3: my three daughters were before they all grew up and 559 00:36:10,120 --> 00:36:13,400 Speaker 3: moved out. Joy is pretty simple. 560 00:36:13,880 --> 00:36:16,800 Speaker 1: So it's literally the littlest things. 561 00:36:17,400 --> 00:36:20,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, I used to love to do outdoor things like 562 00:36:21,080 --> 00:36:23,160 Speaker 3: I used to love the game of golf. I just 563 00:36:23,200 --> 00:36:25,680 Speaker 3: don't have time to spend four six hours, you know, 564 00:36:25,760 --> 00:36:30,360 Speaker 3: golf course. And so if I can, you know, see 565 00:36:30,360 --> 00:36:34,200 Speaker 3: family's it's fun. Whether it's because they're helping me install 566 00:36:34,239 --> 00:36:39,000 Speaker 3: a microwave or because we're helping cook the Thanksgiving dinner. 567 00:36:39,560 --> 00:36:44,239 Speaker 3: You know, it doesn't take much. And you know, now, 568 00:36:44,520 --> 00:36:45,759 Speaker 3: if I have a chance, I'm going to try to 569 00:36:45,800 --> 00:36:47,880 Speaker 3: do a little bit more traveling with got Relina because 570 00:36:48,320 --> 00:36:50,759 Speaker 3: we hope to Now that we're not having to worry 571 00:36:50,760 --> 00:36:52,960 Speaker 3: about where the kids are in school and so forth, 572 00:36:54,040 --> 00:36:55,040 Speaker 3: maybe we'll have more time. 573 00:36:57,520 --> 00:37:01,320 Speaker 1: Secretary, thank you so much for joining me on Latino USA. 574 00:37:01,880 --> 00:37:03,759 Speaker 3: Maria to you, and thank you for having me. 575 00:37:27,480 --> 00:37:30,759 Speaker 1: This episode was produced by Reinaldo Leanos Junior. It was 576 00:37:30,880 --> 00:37:34,920 Speaker 1: edited by Andrea Lopez Crusado. It was mixed by Julia Caruso. 577 00:37:35,440 --> 00:37:39,160 Speaker 1: BacT checking for this episode by Roxanna Aguire. The Latino 578 00:37:39,239 --> 00:37:44,279 Speaker 1: USA team also includes Victoria Estrada, Dori mar Marquez, Marta Martinez, 579 00:37:44,360 --> 00:37:48,799 Speaker 1: Mike Sargent, Nor Saudi and Nancy Trujillo. Nile Ramirez is 580 00:37:48,840 --> 00:37:53,080 Speaker 1: our co executive producer. Our director of engineering is Stephanie Lebau. 581 00:37:53,440 --> 00:37:57,719 Speaker 1: Additional engineering support by Gabriel Lebiez and JJ Carubin. Our 582 00:37:57,760 --> 00:38:02,040 Speaker 1: marketing manager is Luis Luna. Our theme music was composed 583 00:38:02,040 --> 00:38:05,960 Speaker 1: by Sage Rubinos. I'm your host and executive producer Maria Jojosa. 584 00:38:06,200 --> 00:38:09,960 Speaker 1: Join us again next time, and in the meantime, remember 585 00:38:10,320 --> 00:38:14,399 Speaker 1: Noeva yes. And here's something important. If you are ever 586 00:38:14,480 --> 00:38:18,919 Speaker 1: in need of emotional support or have a mental health emergency, 587 00:38:19,080 --> 00:38:22,680 Speaker 1: remember you can call nine eight eight again. That's nine 588 00:38:22,680 --> 00:38:28,040 Speaker 1: to eighty eight. In Spanish nuebe oo ocho orcia casonas 589 00:38:28,040 --> 00:38:34,920 Speaker 1: ayula contuestavomentali not albides astella proxima by Chao. 590 00:38:36,480 --> 00:38:40,440 Speaker 5: Latino. USA is made possible in part by the Heising 591 00:38:40,520 --> 00:38:47,720 Speaker 5: Simons Foundation Unlocking Knowledge, opportunity and possibilities More at hsfoundation 592 00:38:47,960 --> 00:38:52,279 Speaker 5: dot org, the Ford Foundation, working with visionaries on the 593 00:38:52,280 --> 00:38:56,560 Speaker 5: front lines of social change worldwide, and the John D. 594 00:38:56,840 --> 00:38:58,600 Speaker 5: And Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. 595 00:39:00,200 --> 00:39:00,480 Speaker 4: Hello