00:00So
00:49We're standing over here, it would be great for us today.
00:51Thanks, appreciate you.
00:54It's like first day of school, right?
00:56No, I'm really excited.
00:57I'm Fred Wellman from Missouri's 2nd Congressional District.
01:00We flipped a hard seat, and now we're getting work for the people.
01:03I think you asked earlier what I plan to do.
01:04I told my constituents, which is a weird word, but here I am, we are going to be day one
01:09Democrats.
01:10Our job is to get stuff done for the people immediately.
01:12For too long, we've been waiting for change, for cost, addressing the corruption, addressing the chaos here in Washington, D
01:17.C.
01:17I promised my voters that I would come here and get to work right away.
01:26You know, what I heard loud and clear from people in my district is that the cost of living crisis
01:31is urgent, and we have to move right now.
01:33You know, I heard from a senior in Rahway, which is one of the biggest towns in my district, that
01:36his home heating oil is going from $300 to $900.
01:39People do not have that money to be able to adjust in their budget, and so we have to move
01:44in a sense of urgency.
01:45And also, we have to recognize that the corruption in Washington is a big part of why we're seeing these
01:50prices that are happening.
01:51And so they are interconnected, and it's about making sure that we are holding this administration accountable and also tackling
01:56the cost of living crisis that we're dealing with.
01:57The voters overwhelmingly revolted against this administration, which is jacking up people's cost of living, and getting us into war,
02:08and doing all the things that people don't want, so we need to pivot.
02:11It's a great day. We have massive grins on our face.
02:15Those brand new members, I want to call up.
02:17The question will be, who are the Democrats? What do Democrats stand for?
02:20And this class shows you, we are, and these members are, the members that deliver for their communities, that fight
02:29like hell, to make sure we raise paychecks, lower prices, and deliver human rights, civil rights, and a government that
02:37works for you.
02:38And you can see that in every single one of these members.
02:42I have never felt better standing in front of this Capitol building than at this moment.
02:46So many of us new members were elected with a massive mandate, a mandate to actually fight for the issues
02:52that the American people are demanding that we fight for.
02:56What we are fighting for is basic dignity for every single person.
03:00And it's not that we don't know how to get it done.
03:02We know that Medicare for all is the answer to the health care crisis.
03:05We know that public housing is the answer to the housing crisis.
03:08We know that tuition-free public college is the answer to the education crisis.
03:11We have what we need to get things done.
03:14People often ask progressives, how are you going to pay for things?
03:19Well, guess what?
03:20The money's in the system already, right?
03:22The fact that a trillion dollars was cut from health care, to do what with it?
03:27The fact that over a billion dollars a day is spent on an illegal war that we didn't approve, right?
03:35I want to highlight this over and over and over again.
03:37We want an America that truly cares about its people first and foremost.
03:45Ready?
03:46One, two...
03:49If you can't see the camera...
03:51Go ahead!
03:52Go ahead!
03:54Alright.
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04:06Alright.
04:07You
