Indiana Sen. Todd Young on Pres. Biden’s Promise of Change

SEN. TODD YOUNG (R-IN): I do see real opportunities to work together as it relates to our national security and, most especially, as it relates to our resistance to the Chinese Communist Party and their violation of international rules and norms, and the threat that they pose to our allies and to the United States of America. In fact, on this issue in particular, we need to show unity, because the Chinese Communist Party is sending a message right now that the U.S. is divided on so many fronts. And when it comes to investing in key technologies, as we did in the wake of the Cold War, so that we might grow our economy at a more rapid rate and be able to harness many of those technologies to empower our war fighters to deter any sort of conflict. I think it`s essential that we come together. That`s why I have co-authored the Endless Frontier Act, and why I think it stands a great chance of support from Republicans and Democrats alike when it comes to the floor, I hope next month.

AMANPOUR: OK, so that`s really interesting. You have just identified America`s chief challenger, competitor as pointing to the very thing that has pretty much stymied the United States for too many years now, this division, this fracturing and partisanship. And they`re using it against you. So I wonder whether, especially now, people like yourself have got to gather more and more Republicans to — if you — if, for nothing else, than to face down the enemy, so to speak, because a new poll from CNN just showed that Americans overwhelmingly support bipartisanship; 87 percent say it`s desirable in Congress. But expectations are low; 60 percent see bipartisanship as — quote — “unlikely” in upcoming legislation. So what do you make of that given, what you have just told me?

YOUNG: Well, what I make of it is that bipartisanship consists of both political parties coming together, making accommodations wherever necessary, but, in the end, focusing on really big and important objectives of the American people. In this instance, it is preventing China from ripping off our intellectual property and continuing to prey on our workers and businesses and resisting their military encroachment and the threat that they pose to keeping open the sea lines of communication for trade of the goods that we export and import. So, we`re going to have to come together around this issue. And bipartisanship, make no mistake, it`s not an end in and of itself. But it’s a way to get things done. And, oftentimes, when we work together, we crowd in the best ideas, we leave aside the worst ideas. And when it comes to investing in 21st century cutting-edge technologies, there`s a lot of overlap.