Before the questions, though, Delgado talked for a few minutes about what he’s been doing since taking office. He mentioned the first bill that he introduced, aimed at amending the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require certain reports filed under such Act to include the disclosure of persons who are registered lobbyists under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. The bill still needs cosponsors. On the contentious issue of President Trump’s demand to build a wall along the southern border, Delgado told an adamant resident that “we can agree to disagree. There are other ways we can secure our border that are more effective,” he said, pointing to the use of technology instead of a wall. “I’m happy to have a robust debate on border security,” he said, adding that he suggests a public hearing so the American people can hear both sides of the argument. But he added, “I’m not hearing experts say we need a wall.” Delgado also walked a fine line in talking about the motivations of those who support the wall. “I don’t assume that if somebody’s for the wall that they want to divide..are divisive or that they are hateful,” he said. “But the origin of this concept..is not consistent with our values as Americans.” But he seemed to take a harder line against those in Congress and other places of influence who deny climate change is harming the environment. “There’s little tolerance for those who are saying that climate change isn’t real, given the science,” he said. Delgado suggested that a select committee be created “to figure out what concrete steps need to be taken to bring down carbon emissions, to incentivize investment in renewable energy and transition away from fossil fuels.” He also sees a big opportunity for job creation out of new energy investments, including the retraining of workers. Staying on the issue of the environment, Delgado said he is confronting the Environmental Protection Agency over deregulation involving drinking water and also wants the agency to start cleaning up contaminated sites like in Hoosick Falls. Regarding the drug crisis, Delgado doesn’t think mass incarceration is a good idea as a one-size-fits all approach. “I’m a big proponent of how we decriminalize substance abuse,” he said. “And make sure we put more money into drug treatment centers.” Delgado, responding to a farmer’s concern about how corporations have monopolized the industry and have hurt small family farms, said “as a general matter, the monopolization of any industry I find profoundly problematic.” On his campaign website, Delgado (who is on the House Agriculture Committee) stated that “the farmers in our district have been forced to
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