CNN "Newsroom" - Transcript: Interview with Sylvia Garcia

Interview

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WHITFIELD: A huge gathering happening today in Washington, D.C. Right now, thousands are gathering for a women's march in support of reproductive rights.

The demonstration is in response to a restrictive anti-abortion law in Texas. And it's one of 600 marches happening across the country just two days before the Supreme Court term begins.

With us now from a similar march but in Texas, it's taking place in Houston, in fact, Democratic Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia of Texas, who's joining us on the phone. Congresswoman, so glad you could be with us.

So talk to me. You know, Texas, the flash point of this reproductive rights fight now that the state has passed a law banning abortion as early as six weeks into a woman's pregnancy. So what is your message today there.

REP. SYLVIA GARCIA (D-TX): Well Fredricka, first of all, thank you for having me.

And for us, I mean, it goes down to an old saying in Texas, you just don't mess with a Texas woman. It was a Texas woman who went before the Supreme Court to argue Roe v. Wade. Now we're going to work like hell to make sure that we protect Roe v. Wade.

The Congress has acted in the House. It's up to the Senate to pass the bill that will codify Roe v. Wade.

You know, this bill is not only horrific, it is on its face unconstitutional. It is unconscionable. The government has no right to control the freedom for women to make their own decisions, their own decisions about what to do about their health care.

We will put a stop to this. We're just happy to be here to join in with all the other women across the nation.

It's raining here in Houston. I'm drenched but the crowd is strong. We're over 10,000 in front of city hall. Women are saying don't mess with Texas women. Don't mess with women, period.

[11:39:52]

WHITFIELD: Well Congresswoman, let me shift gears, I know you're in a rainy Houston right now. But let me also, you know, get your focus on Capitol Hill right now where this stalemate continues on the Infrastructure and the Build Back Better bills.

And progressives such as yourself have made it clear that you are advocating for, say, universal child care, and early pre-k education, decreasing health care costs for 43 million seniors, dealing with the issues of climate change by investing on green infrastructure.

But are you clear about what moderates want? Are they saying they don't want those things or is it strictly a price tag issue?

GARCIA: Well, I think, you know, the president came to visit us in our conference yesterday, and he was very clear. We need to make sure we know which in the senate plan and reconciliation in their plan for Build Back Better, and to know what their priorities are before we can move on with infrastructure.

So I think that we are all now taking a little pause to continue the negotiations. And I'm confident that the president's vision, not only providing good jobs for everyone through the infrastructure bill but also making sure that people can get those jobs.

You know, you can't tell people here's a job, and not provide the transportation to get to that job or without providing the child care to be able to get to that job. You can't do without providing the good salaries.

So it's all together, you know, it takes two to tango and on this one, I think we need to look at also, we need continue our work with the Senate. And we're already, and we know we're on call as soon as the votes are there that we need to come back. We're going to be ready to go vote, and make sure that the president's agenda and his vision continues to grow our economy and continues to build back better.

WHITFIELD: And I think I heard you mention Republicans and trying to work with them, but what most of us are seeing is that it's among Democrats who are having a difficult time seeing eye to eye.

And I mean, one would think the president would have some advantage working with the Democrats, but it doesn't seem to be the case. He was up on Capitol Hill. It seems as though he's perhaps in a real struggle right now, a real challenge trying to get the party together.

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WHITFIELD: What -- I mean, how do you explain this? GARCIA: You know -- well, Fredricka, I was very encouraged yesterday.

I mean I think -- I think we've began to see some movement. I have to give you a look at where we were a week ago where there's some movement.

But as the president said, you know, this is not something he hasn't talked about before. He talked about it during the campaign. All of us who were elected to do our jobs, and it really comes down to working for the people.

The people who send us to Washington, we got to make sure that we grow our economy, that it is inclusive for everyone, that no one is left behind. And I think that he'll continue to work, you know, there's no magic to getting it done today or tomorrow.

You know, we will be back and make sure that it gets done. He's continued to work with the Senators that he still needs to talk to and continue to work with the members of the House that may need some nudging.

But I think there's a lot of unity in the room when he visited with us. I think the numbers are probably a little bit different today than they were yesterday.

WHITFIELD: Ok. I'm hearing your optimism. Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, thank you so much. Hopefully it stops raining where you are at the march and stay dry and stay well.

GARCIA: Yes, ma'am. All right. Thank you for having me. Bye-bye.

WHITFIELD: Thank you. We'll be right back.

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