Sen. Casey Talks With Constituents In Bristol Twp.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey brought his drive-in town hall series to Bristol Township Thursday evening.

In the rear parking lot of the Bucks County Community College’s Gene and Marlene Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks, Ify Aduba moderated the town hall with the Democratic senator.

Citing the recent flooding and storm damage, Casey said his office was working with residents and advocating for assistance for those impacted.

“We want to help in the intermediate term and long-term … We have to confront the challenge of climate change,” he said, noting the proposed infrastructure spending plan and upcoming Democratic-backed federal budget would help residents vulnerable to flooding and related issues.

Casey, whose father was governor in the 1980s and 1990s, said it is important that the federal government combats climate change, supports families, and creates “millions of good-paying jobs.” Talking to the crowd, he said the goals of the infrastructure and federal spending packages are to make things better for Americans.

The senator said the spending in the bills is an investment in “our children” and handling big challenges, including domestic issues and taking on China.

“I don’t care what you’re talking about,” he said. “It starts with investment in our children and families.”

Sue-Ann DiVito, co-founder of Bucks County-based Immigrant Rights Action, asked Casey where he stands on a pathway for citizenship for immigrants.

Casey said there have been false hopes of getting a plan approved for years, and some of those in the Senate who previously supported one in 2013 have backed off. However, he feels there is a chance that progress can be made.

“It would be good for all of us for a much more orderly process and to give those children a piece of mind that their mom or dad will be treated fairly,” he said. “Immigration reform is essential, just not for human dignity, but for security and economic growth.”

Colleen, a Pennsbury School District teacher, asked about funding for investing in school facilities in the bipartisan infrastructure bill.

“My straight answer is there is not enough,” Casey said.

The senator said the bipartisan agreement that created the compromised $1 trillion piece of legislation that needs to go before the U.S. House of Representatives didn’t include the “robust investment in school buildings that we would want.” However, he said, there is a broadband investment that will help schools, and the federal budget proposal supports new school buses. Further, he added that he supported another senator’s proposal to invest in school infrastructure.

Resident Kierstyn Zolfo, a member of liberal group Indivisible Bucks County, had concerns about states that were removing voting rights and the effort to end the filibuster.

The lawmaker answered that he supported reforming the filibuster and ratifying a voting-rights bill with a simple majority.

Dan O’Brien, a Bristol resident, probed the senator about access to affordable education and care for kids. He said many parents are unable to return to work without access to affordable and quality childcare.

Casey urged people to put pressure on the Senate to support the Build Back Better budget that would fund universal pre-K and federal investments in childcare. He said the American Rescue Plan Act included funding for opening schools and vaccinations to keep schools open, but he said the child tax credit that recently began will be a boon for families.

“A lot of that is short-term, but we want to keep that going,” he said.

The senator additionally stated he supports an additional $18 billion for early learning programs and $7 billion for more childcare funding to states.

The moderator asked Casey a question which was submitted online. The question asked how Casey would combat systemic racism.

The senator noted it was a question that deserved a long answer, but he summarized. He said lawmakers need to recognized the reach of systemic racist and its impact on nearly every aspect of society, citing health care, housing, and climate change. Casey said some might not think of it, but minority communities have often seen under investments in clean air and water.

“We’re trying to recognize this basic problem,” he said, noting the infrastructure and budget bills have some investment to make fixes.

“The child credit that helps families helps those who have been left out,” he said.

Kai Mateo, the federal climate campaign manager for Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania, asked Casey what he would do to make sure investments in the fight against climate change are bold and robust.

The senator said Democrats supporting the bill are generally on the same page, which is important in making progress in tackling climate change.

“If we don’t make the investments here, it will certainly be too late in a matter of years,” he said.

The moderator asked an online question that probed what Casey was doing to support nursing homes and their residents and staff.

Prior of COVID-19, policies for nursing homes and congregate care facilities needed an overhaul, Casey said, adding the pandemic focused more attention on the issues.

The senator, who is chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, said the federal Special Focus Facility Program should be better supported to keep an eye on nursing homes with problems, changes need to be made so the federal government will not fail again in getting nursing homes quality PPE, and investments need to be made in staffing and safety.

Eleanor, a retired social worker and school counselor, queried the senator about misinformation and conspiracy theories that have been mainstreamed.

“What can we do and what can congress do?” she asked.

Casey said it was “among the more important questions we have to wrestle with.” He added the lies about the 2020 election were a threat to democracy itself.

“A lot of us, and I’ll include myself in this, were probably too complacent about the strength of our democracy … and it wasn’t as strong as we thought it was,” he said.

The senator said an independent judicial system and people who upheld the truth were key. He stated people should set the record straight and speak the truth. While speaking, he pointed to the fact former President Donald Trump tricked his supporter into believing then-Vice President Mike Pence could stop the certification of the election on January 6.

Casey said efforts to limit voting access comes from seeds that Donald Trump planted.

The moderator asked Casey what he can do to protect abortion rights in Pennsylvania.

Casey said the recent law in Texas has big flaws – it allows the public to police the law and it doesn’t have basic exceptions that most people agree with. The senator said he supports efforts to cut down on the number of abortions by helping women, but not by blocking access to family planning. He said he supports keeping funding for Planned Parenthood and programs that help families.

To close out the town hall, which was open to those who filled out an online form, Casey said places like Bucks County were poised for growth. He thanked those who attended the event.

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