New year, new Congress | Texas: The Issue Is
The new U.S. Congress was sworn in on Friday and with it, some changes to control.
Republicans now control the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives by a slim margin.
Fox 4's Steven Dial sat down with Texas Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Tx.) and Jasmine Crockett (D-Tx.) to talk about the new session, goals and concerns moving forward.
What concerns do you have going into this session?
Crockett: "My biggest concerns are around the types of executive orders that [President-elect Donald Trump] may issue.
"I think as it relates to laws and the laws being changed, I think that we won't necessarily see anything happen to fast. We know that walking into the 119th Congress there is a slimmer majority for the Republicans than they had in the 118th and we know that the house is the reason that we were the most unproductive Congress in the history of Congress. So, I don't really know that legislation will be the biggest concern, at least for the first part of his term."
Van Duyne: "We've got a lot of work to do. The concerns I have, I want to make sure we're cutting spending. I want to make sure we're responsive to voters. I think they were very clear on two things that were bothering them.
"That's actually our border security and how it is creeping into crime being committed in our community.
"I think it's the economy. It's concerns about inflation. Rising costs. They want to make sure there's job opportunities and they want to make sure there's economic growth."
On Immigration
Dial: "Do you think President-elect Trump's promise of mass deportation is that realistic? Will that realistically happen?"
Van Duyne: "They definitely have a path way forward to doing that. There's a strategy. As you know, when I was a local representative in Irving, Texas, we had a great relationship with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. We partnered with them.
"I think it's looking at those cities that are willing to work with the federal government and partnering with them. Whether it's a 287 G program or a cap 24-7 program, which is what we created in Irving.
"It's having a relationship with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. It is targeting criminal illegal aliens, because they pose the most immediate threat to your communities."
Crockett: "The first term he talked about building the wall. This time he talked about shipping people out.
"I think the people are starting to recognize that the gig is up. That Trump along with his billionaire buddies, who he is lacing his entire administration with, that they rely on immigrants. Consistently.
"And the reality is that this entire country benefits from immigration. Does that mean that there aren't fixes that need to be made? Absolutely not. Because there are no systems that are perfect."
Tariffs
Dial: Do you think the tariff talk from President-elect Trump is all talk, or do you think he'll actually follow through on those?
Crockett: "I need most of us to understand that we don't exist on an island by ourselves floating in the United States. We actually are a huge world economy.
"And so those tariffs will hit us really hard. And for those that are very upset because the price of groceries has not gone down to those pre-pandemic levels, let me just tell you, our food specifically will get a lot more expensive if he does make good on his promise of introducing these tariffs."
Van Duyne: "I think it's a very strong negotiating tool.
"And as you've seen, you've got, you know, world leaders from around the world who have, you know, last four years basically turned their backs on America, ignored, you know, any kind of leadership role that they thought we ever had.
"They are now coming to the table before President Trump is even sworn in. And so, yes, I think tariffs are going to play a very important role in making sure that American leadership, American markets are open and fair."
On commuting or pardoning those convicted for their role in Jan. 6
Van Duyne: "I think anybody who actually committed a crime and who defaced public property in a way that they did, if anybody assaulted an officer or others, they should be held accountable.
"If we have people who are being held as political prisoners simply because one party was trying to make a political statement, which in many cases it would seem that was the case, they absolutely should happen.
"I don't want our federal bureaus, our federal agencies to be politicized. I don't think that they should be part of a party. "
Crockett: "Trump is absolutely going to pardon January sixers.
"Now, that is one promise that I think he will fulfill.
"As we know, during his first administration, he was consistently pardoning those that were closest to him and had shown their loyalty to him. And the reality is that those people that went to the Capitol on Jan. 6, they went at his behest.
"That is why he had charges that were pending against him. And so, I do think that he will return the favor to them because he doesn't believe in law and order."
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