CNN "State of the Union with Jake Tapper" - Transcript Interview with Kirsten Gillibrand

Interview

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TAPPER: And, Senator Gillibrand, you have introduced this legislation to help the estimated 3.5 million veterans who may have been exposed to burn pits.

[09:55:05]

How has the response been? Obviously, Republicans control the Senate. Any positive reaction, any assurances from Senate Republicans that they will get on board?

SEN. KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND (D-NY): So, I have had several conversations with my Republican colleagues. And many of them are looking at the bill right now.

I believe this will be a bipartisan bill, because, frankly, this issue is nonpartisan. These are men and women who served. They got sick. And they should be covered.

STEWART: This is an issue that we should have addressed in 1990, in 1991, in 1980, and 1970.

The way this country has gone to war, we have always had endless funds to wage war, and no funds for the consequences of war to the war fighter when they come home. And that has to change. We have to change the paradigm that we operate in.

Look, ultimately, in theory, everyone is supportive of this, the idea that America's war fighters have gone over there and been exposed to things, and now they're sick. But the reality of it is, it's money. There is no perfect science, but we know that these toxic exposures

cause the illnesses that are listed as presumptive in the bill, right? So, this is purely money.

And that's an untenable argument, in my eyes, for this country. We can't sweep this under the rug. And that's what -- Rosie enlisted John and I to be relentless and to not allow this to happen in the dark. And that's what we plan to do.

We're going to bring everyone there and force the government to witness this situation.

TAPPER: And, Senator Gillibrand, the Pentagon says that nine open burn pits are still currently in use as of last year.

Why hasn't the Pentagon shut down these sites, given that they're so harmful?

GILLIBRAND: Because it's about money, just as Jon said.

And this is nothing new. The VA and the Department of Defense have denied covering service members for a long time. What they're throwing into these pits are the same things that burned on 9/11, electronics, computers, clothing. They use jet fuel to light them on fire.

They emit some of the worst toxins known to man. All those toxins are known to cause horrible cancers. The Defense Department and the VA say over and over again that we're not paying for it because there's no science.

Well, that's total B.S., because the truth is, there's lots of science. And, also, this is the cost of war. If you're going to send our troops into harm's way, this is what war costs. And it should be covered, and there should be no debate about it.

TAPPER: And, Rosie, what do you say to lawmakers or Pentagon officials who may say, as Senator Gillibrand just suggested, there isn't enough evidence, there isn't enough scientific evidence to prove a link between burn pits and long-term health effects?

What what's your message to them?

TORRES: The message is, the greatest disservice to those who serve is to become invisible.

So, it's time that they do their jobs and acknowledge these deaths and these illnesses as an instrumentality of war.

TAPPER: Jon, before we go, I know we all hope...

STEWART: Right.

TAPPER: ... supporting veterans is an issue that can unite the country, especially at a time when it's so divided.

When you look at the state of politics today in America, do you have hope?

STEWART: Always.

Listen, systems become so corrupt, and that's what leads to change. When the rot becomes untenable, from the ground up, people awaken and arise.

And, in this situation in particular, it's egregious because of how venerated, politically, we make our veterans. We are patriots in the most symbolic of ways. We support the troops, until, apparently, the troops need support.

The smoking gun in this case is literally smoking guns. They put weaponry in there and lit them with jet fuel.

And the tragedy here is, the VA shouldn't be the inquisitor. They shouldn't be putting veterans individually on trial to have to be their own doctors and scientists and lawyers.

The VA should be the advocate. The VA should be the one fighting Congress to get the appropriations for these illnesses.

We have this backwards.

TAPPER: Jon Stewart, Rosie, Senator Gillibrand, thank you so much for your time today. And best of luck with this mission.

I am here to help in any way I can.

GILLIBRAND: Thanks, Jake.

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