WashingTown

Rep. Ben McAdams is interviewed by his sister, Jackie Pack

In this episode Congressman Ben McAdams meets with USARA (Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness) about the realities of addiction and what programs and strategies help people escape the grip of addiction. Rep. McAdams talks with those in recovering about what helps – and what doesn’t – and how partnerships between community organizations and government entities can provide a lifeline to people and families.The conversation includes statistical analysis of local programs and how data can help tell the story of addiction and recovery.

In this episode of WashingTown, Congressman Ben McAdams talks with two of his colleagues from the House of Representatives about the tenuous relationship between the U.S. and Iran. He talks with one member from each of the major parties – Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat who represents Michigan’s 8th District, and Rep. Mark Green, a Republican who represents Tennessee’s 7th District. They each bring a unique and thought-provoking perspective to a political situation that is not well understood among many Americans. Rep. Green is a physician and veteran who served one tour in Afghanistan and two tours in Iraq, while Rep. Slotkin is a former CIA analyst and Defense Department official who served three tours in the Middle East, and has worked on issues related to Iran most of her professional career.

In this episode of WashingTown, Congressman Ben McAdams talks with Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill about how the federal government supports local efforts to solve crimes and support victims.Mr. Gill discusses how federal money means better investigative techniques, more training and less trauma for victims of sexual assault, especially children. They have a wide-ranging discussion that reveals just how valuable it is to have local and federal officials working in tandem to solve problems.

In this episode, Congressman Ben McAdams talks with Luis Garza, executive director of Comunidades Unidas (https://www.cuutah.org/) and several Utah students, who discuss how they feel about the House of Representatives passing the Dream and Promise Act. The Act gives those who were brought to the U.S. as children legal status and opportunities for permanent legal status in the only country most of them know. “The individuals known as Dreamers are our classmates, our coworkers, our neighbors and members of our congregations,” McAdams said after the bi-partisan bill passed on June 4, 2019. “Brought here as young children, this is the only home most of them have ever known. They are working, serving in the military, enrolled in college, and are giving back to the community. For too long, they have been in limbo about their future and this legislation offers a solution.”

In this episode Congressman Ben McAdams talks with Phil Smith from the Concord Coalition (https://www.concordcoalition.org) about a budget workshop they held with some of McAdams’ constituents. The nonpartisan group advocates for fiscal responsibility and raises awareness about how federal money is actually being spent.In the workshop, about 40 people were divided into seven different committees that looked at how the federal government is funded and then they propose cuts. Smith and McAdams discuss the realities of a federal deficit, the Trump tax cuts and whether a balanced federal budget is a realistic possibility.

In this episode, Congressman Ben McAdams has a wide-ranging conversation that includes, building Olympians through youth programs, the mindset of a gold medalist, and how the lessons of sports and teamwork apply to the job we ask of our federal representatives. Congressman McAdams shares his frustration with the partisan language that undermines the spirit of cooperation and compromise. Derek Parra shares how representing the country should unite us in finding solutions rather than pit us against each other.

In this episode, Congressman Ben McAdams talks with another member of Utah’s Congressional delegation – Republican Rep. John Curtis. They discuss working together on Utah issues, and what gets in the way when they try to work across party lines at the federal level. They also discuss successes and current issues in this unique public discussion of Washington’s partisan system.

Actor and Congressional Intern Joshua Rush talks with Ben McAdams about working in the Capitol

This is a conversation with Ashish Patel, who came to the U.S. on an H1B Visa, a visa that allows companies to hire highly skilled, specialized workers from around the world. He was granted status as an immigrant in 2011, but will wait decades for a green card without changes to the current immigration laws. In this conversation, Patel discusses his 10-year effort to change the immigraiton quota system that now means immigrants from countries like India would wait more than 150 years for a green card.He also discusses why his wife couldn’t work, and what it’s like to live with uncertainty. For some, he said, the U.S. system is too difficult to navigate, and recently many are opting to make their homes in Canada instead.