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Shipments of Baby Formula from Overseas Arriving in U.S. to Help Alleviate Supply Shortages; Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA) Interviewed on Steps Biden Administration and Congress Can Take to Address Current and Possible Future Shortages of Baby Formula in U.S.; President Biden Visits South Korea; Russian Forces Capture Ukrainian City of Mariupol; Georgia Governor Brian Kemp Leading Trump-Endorsed Primary Opponent David Perdue in Polls. Aired 10-11a ET

Aired May 21, 2022 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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[10:00:26]

AMARA WALKER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you. It is Saturday, May 21st. I'm Amara Walker.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Great to be with you, Amara. I'm Boris Sanchez. You are live in the CNN Newsroom.

And we begin this Saturday with new developments in the nationwide frenzy for baby formula and the efforts to ease a severe shortage. This is brand new video into CNN of the first batch of formula the Biden administration has secured from Europe. U.S. troops packed it up for a flight to the United States using a military plane to transport formula. Just one of the latest and extreme and unusual measures by the White House in response to this crisis, which critics say the U.S. government should have seen coming much sooner. The FDA is coming under fire for the four-month lag after a whistleblower complaint of problems at a plant of formula maker Abbott.

WALKER: Those are some extraordinary images. The shutdown of that facility exacerbated the shortage.

And just this morning, while in Asia President Biden signed a new bill into law to help deal with the lack of supply. Last week 45 percent of formula products nationwide were out of stock, nearly half. The new law allows a waiver of some requirements in the federal nutrition program to help expand access to formula.

CNN's senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is at Ramstein Air Base in Germany tracking the supply headed to the U.S. Hi there, Elizabeth. I'm asking the questions to parents, what they want to know. When is the formula going to be reaching the U.S.?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: The formula will be reaching the U.S. tomorrow. It is being flown to Indiana. What you're seeing is what will end up in Indiana, 14 of these huge pallets will be loaded up on a plane and flown out tomorrow. Now, here at Ramstein they fly things and people out all the time,

that's what they do. But talking to the staff here, they actually were kind of emotional about it. They said this time we're flying in really liquid gold to help babies, to help save babies in the United States.

So let's take a look at what this is. It's Nestle Alfamino. This is a product for babies who have allergies. It really can be drunk by other babies as well, but it's a hypoallergenic formula needed in the United States right now. Nestle, of course, is a familiar name in the United States, but really you don't find imported formula very much in the United States. There's a reason for that. We were always able to take care of our own. We didn't need to be saved by other countries. But that's unfortunately what the situation is right now.

So this is so this is 1,5 million eight-ounce bottles. That's a lot, no question about it. It's going to be an airplane full of formula. But just to keep things in perspective, there are millions of babies under the age of one in the United States. So 1.5 million eight-ounce bottles is a great thing, but it is not going to change this situation. It's not going to all of a sudden make formula plentiful in the U.S. There are lots of things that are being done, for example, the second largest maker of formula, the Enfamil products, they've ratcheted up their production by 35 percent, but still we have the shortage. It's probably going to be many weeks until parents see full shelves again. Boris, Amara?

WALKER: Yes, many weeks until they see full shelves. As you say, it's something, but obviously not enough at this moment. Elizabeth Cohen, thank you so much.

And let's go now to CNN's Polo Sandoval. He's talked to one couple struggling to feed their baby.

SANCHEZ: Yes, Polo, their infant struggles from an allergy right now. Go ahead.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is, because the thing about it, when you hear these stories, Boris, and when you hear from these families, it really adds perspective when you see just that liquid gold that is on its way to the United States and so many families that are waiting to see how much of an impact that will have, and just how soon. We're talking Adrianna and Justin Eith here in Long Island, New York. We spent some time with them yesterday, heard their story. Like so many parents, they have really been just scrambling to try to find baby powder formula.

However, there's yet another layer of complication for this couple because little Cooper, their baby who just turned four months yesterday, he has certain dietary restrictions, not only because he has digestive issues, but also a dairy allergy.

[10:05:00]

So after multiple tries, trying about five different formulas, they finally found one that works for this baby, PurAmino, which not only happens to be hypoallergenic, but also it's extremely hard to find. And that's why this couple has been really turning to family and friends from New York to California to try and track down this specific formula that's only available at most pharmacies here, and check in with those pharmacies. They're told that they still have not been able to stock up.

So far mom telling me yesterday that they've been able to secure at least two weeks worth. But the question is with the FDA announcing that it's going to be several weeks before we finally begin to see shelves stocking up, and the question is how will they be able to stock up long-term for baby Cooper and also other babies as well?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ADRIANNA EITH, MOTHER: I don't sit here wanting to make it seem that my son has a greater need, because I believe every baby has a need. Every baby needs to be fed. But it is scary when there is a medical need. And even past my son, there are kids with greater health issues. How do they eat?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: Yesterday some pretty positive news for couples like the Eiths. PurAmino, the manufacturer, the company actually announced that they've been able to sustain about a 35 percent increase in production since its competitor Abbott Nutrition announced their recall. They've also been able to announce unlimited overtime for employees to be able to produce this formula.

Ultimately, though, Boris and Amara, the big question is just when will we see those positive impacts? But of course, a tip of the hat to Elizabeth Cohen for that bit of reporting from Reckitt, which is a manufacturer of Cooper's formula. This is the kind of news that more parents want to hear. But again, they're holding their breath. They're hopeful, but they're still a bit skeptical about when they will see that positive impact at grocery stores or their pharmacies.

WALKER: Several weeks is a long time for many parents to wait who are just filled with anxiety right now. Polo Sandoval, thank you.

SANDOVAL: Thanks, guys.

SANCHEZ: Let's bring in Democratic Congresswoman Kim Schrier form Washington state. She's the first pediatrician elected to Congress. And earlier this week Congresswoman Schrier and some her colleagues sent a letter to the FDA demanding action and answers on this baby formula shortage. Congresswoman, we're grateful that you're sharing part of your weekend with us. I want you to listen to what the parents of a premature baby who are struggling to find the right formula for her told us this morning. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAC JAEHNERT, DAUGHTER BORN PREMATURE IN NEED OF SPECIAL FORMULA: As the parents of premature kids who are dependent on this product, we were not warned in any way proactive proactively by the manufacturer, by anyone who is in a position to know that a critical shortage was coming. This absolutely blindsided us. So when did they know, and why weren't we warned of this shortage? Because it has put a lot of families in a really devastating position.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Congresswoman, there were signs that a shortage was coming. Why weren't parents warned? Who should be held accountable for that?

REP. KIM SCHRIER (D-WA): Boris, I have exactly the same questions. Why is it we have an early warning system when medications are running low, but we don't have that for specialty formulas or regular formulas for infants, because it's not really just food. Newborns, preemies, they don't have any other options. And so, we're having an oversight hearing this week in my subcommittee to answer exactly those questions. Why such a sluggish response so many months late when they knew that there would be a dramatic drop in production?

SANCHEZ: Congresswoman, as a pediatrician, what's your advice to parents like Emily and Mac who we just heard from?

SCHRIER: I really appreciate that question. And I think the advice for them would be to talk with their doctor. But I think there's broader advice for families out there, because I think all parents of children up to one who rely on formula are really worried right now. And this is most important for the children who are under six months, and even those who are breast-feeding, most of them rely on formula to some degree.

And so, here's what I would ask, that if you have a child who is six months or up, try to get more of their nutrition from food. You can blend anything up, you can get lots of nutrients that way. They can be less reliant on formula. And the American Academy of Pediatrics says go ahead temporarily and use cows' milk. That will free up more formula for infants under six months old who really don't have any other choice. And in the meantime, shipping this formula from overseas will fill in those gaps. But we're the United States of America, and this should not be happening.

SANCHEZ: It's fascinating to see shelves empty here in the United States while they're full in Mexico and Canada.

[10:10:01]

I'm wondering what else you think needs to be done to prevent something like this from happening again.

SCHRIER: That's right. I was in my local grocery store and saw empty shelves for many of the formulas. And to make sure this doesn't happen again, I referred to an early warning system. We need to have some formula in our strategic national stockpile. That just makes sense. Imagine what would happen in a national emergency without that formula?

And the other thing is having that early warning system so that if something like this happens, like in Sturgis, Michigan. Remember, 40 percent of Similac formula was made in that one factory, 98 percent of formula is made right here in the United States. We need to have Enfamil, for example, who's stepping up now, the FDA should have encouraged that, the administration should have encouraged that back in February when this recall happened.

SANCHEZ: So I do want to pivot for a moment because the House just passed a bill you cosponsored. It would allow the FTC, the Federal Trade Commission, to investigate energy companies for alleged price gouging. But there are critics including some Democrats who worry the move could actually further reduce the gas supply at a critical time. What's your response to that criticism?

SCHRIER: Look, I'm hearing from constituents all over my district that these gas prices are killing them. I have a big, rural area. People drive long distances. They drive in trucks, and this is really devastating for them. And there are not that many things that we can do to crack down, because let me remind you that these prices are increasing even as the cost of a barrel of gas is decreasing. They are increasing far more than would be expected simply from cutting out Russian gas, which is only eight percent of our supply. But prices are up just in the last couple of months, 20 percent.

So we need answers. We need to crack down when they are making record profits, like higher at any point in almost a decade at a time when Americans are hurting. The FTC needs power.

SANCHEZ: Congresswoman, Kim Schrier, we appreciate the conversation. We have to leave it there. Thanks so much for the time.

SCHRIER: Thank you, Boris.

SANCHEZ: Of course.

So right now, President Biden is meeting with the president of South Korea against the backdrop of nuclear tensions with North Korea.

WALKER: Mr. Biden and South Korean leader Yoon Suk-yeol say they agreed to expand joint military exercises as a deterrent to North Korea. This is President Biden's first visit to Asia since taking office, and the trip is an effort to shore up these key alliances and strengthen economic ties.

SANCHEZ: Let's take you now to Seoul and CNN chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins who is traveling with the president. Kaitlan, what's the significance of this decision to expand the joint military drills between the United States and South Korea? It's not something that happened during the Trump administration.

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: No. It's basically a complete reversal of what actually happened during the Trump administration when they brought these joint exercises between the United States and South Korea to a pause because that was an effort that President Trump made to try and get Kim Jong-un to the negotiating table. Obviously, he had two summits with him. They did not materialize in anything when it comes to denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, which was the ultimate goal of those summits. And so you're seeing President Biden taking a very different turn

here, a very different method that he is pursuing when it comes to South Korea. And so they said not only are they continuing those joint exercises between the two militaries, they are looking at expanding the scope of them. That is obviously not something Kim Jong-un wants to see. It is something he has complained about many times before, saying it's a provocation.

And so that is really going to be the focus of the relationship here, and when you look at the larger picture of what President Biden is trying to do here, he's trying to really revitalize this relationship with South Korea. That is why he came here first on his first stop -- on his first trip to Asia since taking office, obviously something that was delayed because of COVID-19. But he is also trying to project a larger message while here about what he believes is ultimately going to be ultimately successful when it comes to democracies versus autocracies.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, (D) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: But I really do think we're at an inflection point in world history. Things are changing so rapidly that I think you're going to see more of. This is going to be a competition between democracies and autocracies. And I mean that sincerely. And unfortunately, I think I'm being proven correct, not just here but around the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Obviously that statement there at the end from President Biden a clear reference what is happening in Ukraine with President Putin. He talked about the invasion several times.

[10:15:00]

And White House and officials have talked about the fact that could be a lesson. There's a concern that could be something you see happen here in Asia when, of course, it comes to Taiwan and China. That is a massive concern for this White House and for officials here in this region. So that will be part of this effort of President Biden's trip when he wraps up here in South Korea and then goes onto Tokyo, Boris.

WALKER: Kaitlan Collins, appreciate your reporting there. Thank you so much.

And still to come this morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowing to end Russia's bloody war through democracy. But just how long will that take? We're going to go live to Lviv with the latest.

Plus, two people are dead after a powerful tornado ripped through a city in Michigan. The emergency situation in Gaylord is just ahead.

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SANCHEZ: This morning President Biden signing a $40 billion aid package for Ukraine on the sidelines of his trip to Asia.

[10:20:01]

This comes as Ukraine's president marks his three-year anniversary in office. Volodymyr Zelenskyy predicting that after bloody battles the war will end with diplomacy. But as the war rages on, Russia is now claiming complete control of a symbol of the resistance and a last hold out for Ukrainian forces.

WALKER: CNN national correspondent Suzanne Malveaux joining us now live from Lviv, Ukraine. Hi there, Suzanne. What more are you hearing from President Zelenskyy and from the battered steel plant there in Mariupol?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: President Zelenskyy is trying to give some hope to the Ukrainian people. As you can imagine, they are tired of the fight, of the battle ahead, but there will be additional battles. But with the fall of Mariupol and those who evacuated this steel plant really does turn the tide here and suggest that the focus will now be to the east of the country. Those inside the steel plant, the Ukrainian military, the Russians say about 530 or so came out yesterday, the last of the group to evacuate. CNN has not been able to confirm, independently confirm those numbers.

But the families of those evacuated very concerned, very worried about their loved ones. One of the wives of those soldiers saying that her husband left one hell to go to another hell. This is because they are in Russia's hands. Whether or not they are deeply, severely wounded in the hospital controlled by the Russians or if they're at the detention center, also controlled by the Russians, they don't know just what will happen next. Russian officials say they will be treated in accordance with international law, but at the same time have also said, yes, they will be interrogated, and some potentially tried for war crimes.

President Zelenskyy today in an interview with Ukrainian television really trying to bolster his people and acknowledge that, yes, there is more fight to come.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: The victory will be extremely difficult, too. It will be a bloody victory in the battle. However, the end will definitely be in diplomacy. I'm convinced because there are some things which we would not be able to end without a negotiation table, because we want to take back everything, but the Russian Federation doesn't want to return anything.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: And Kharkiv, that is where a cultural center was blown up, was destroyed. The president again saying -- calling it absolute evil, absolute stupidity, part of an effort, he believes, to erase the Ukrainian culture as well as the people.

WALKER: And the atrocities and suffering continues. Suzanne Malveaux, thank you.

Well, the vote count continues in a high stakes GOP primary race between TV personality Dr. Mehmet Oz and former hedge fund CEO David McCormick. We're live in Pennsylvania with what's at stake as another battle brews further south in Georgia.

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[10:27:37]

SANCHEZ: Former President Trump's midterm political endorsements are facing a major test in the battleground states of Pennsylvania and Georgia. In Pennsylvania's Republican Senate primary, the race still too close to call, with celebrity Dr. Mehmet Oz, who Trump endorsed, holding onto a narrow lead, about 1,070 votes, against former hedge fund manager David McCormick.

WALKER: And Georgia's GOP primary will take centerstage next week with a highly anticipated matchup between Governor Brian Kemp and Trump's favorite, former senator David Perdue. Here is CNN's Melanie Zanona and Eva McKend. Let's talk about Pennsylvania first, Melanie. This race there is likely headed for a recount, right?

MELANIE ZANONA, CNN CAPITOL HILL REPORTER: Yes, absolutely. This race is neck and neck. Mehmet Oz continues to hold a very narrow lead over David McCormick. It's the difference of just 1,000 votes. And there are only a small number of votes left to be counted. Canvassing is going to continue over the next few days. We do not expect many new vote totals to trickle in over the weekend, but we should know next week whether this is indeed heading to a recount, which would be automatically triggered if the race is within half a percentage point.

Now, both campaigns are already gearing up for that potentially bruising and drawn-out scenario. They are adding lawyers and experts who have experience with recounts. But both teams are also eager to put the primary behind them. They want to pivot to the general election and start attacking the Democratic nominee, John Fetterman. And it's worth reminding viewers at home how much is at stake in this race, because whoever wins in November could determine control of the United States Senate.

And there's also a lot on the line for Donald Trump as well. He decided to get in this race. He endorsed Dr. Oz. It was not enough to give him a decisive victory here. And so Trump, like many in the GOP, are eagerly watching to see who ultimately prevails in this Senate primary.

SANCHEZ: The former president also has some skin in the game in the peach state. Let's get over to Eva McKend. Eva, this is the final weekend before primary day on Tuesday. I'm wondering what you're hearing from voters there.

EVA MCKEND, CNN NATIONAL POLITICS REPORTER: Boris, we were at a voting site in Atlanta yesterday on the last day of early voting, a heavily Democratic area, so mostly Democratic voters. On the top of the ticket, Stacey Abrams running for governor. She's running uncontested. [10:30:00]

So there is not as much action there. But still voters, they tell us they are paying attention.

Now, according to the secretary of state's office, Georgia voters are turning out in record numbers during the early vote period, more than 700,000 people, more than 400,000 Republicans, about 300,000 Democrats. Again, not as much action on the Democratic side, but still Democratic voters are turning out. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBYNE GORDON, GEORGIA VOTER: I don't think people are interested being bystanders anymore. I want my vote to count, and I'm going to show up and annoy every family member and friend to make sure they do the same.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCKEND: Meanwhile, incumbent Governor Brian Kemp running against David Perdue. He is, Governor Kemp, favored to do well on Tuesday. Though Perdue -- though former President Trump endorsed Perdue, Kemp seems to be really holding onto the momentum. And that essentially is because he is in the job already. For instance, he's holding events, a big announcement this week about economic development. That is not officially a campaign event, but it might as well be. And so Perdue has had some challenges in gaining ground. But still a few days left for both to continue to make their case to voters. Boris?

WALKER: I'll take it. Thanks so much, Eva McKend and Melanie Zanona.

So let's talk about Georgia and what's going to happen on Tuesday. Here with me to discuss this further is Tia Mitchell. She is Washington Correspondent for the "Atlanta Journal-Constitution." Tia, thanks so much for coming in early. Good morning to you.

TIA MITCHELL, WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT, "ATLANTA JOURNAL- CONSTITUTION": Good morning.

WALKER: As we were saying, the GOP primary here in Georgia is going to be a very high stakes race, especially for Trump, right, who's endorsed David Perdue. Just look at the latest FOX polling, and it shows that Kemp is ahead by 60 percent compared to just 28 percent for Perdue.

Explain to our viewers out there what actually is going on, because Kemp is someone who's been relentlessly attacked by Trump, yet he is ahead, way ahead.

MITCHELL: Yes, so part of what's happened is Trump's platform to attack him doesn't have the reach that it once did. But Kemp also has a record to run on, and it's a conservative record. He cut taxes and sent a check to every Georgian just last week. He signed an open carry gun law. He has defended the state's new law that would limit abortions. And so it's hard to just paint him as this guy who doesn't care about Republican values.

I also think that Donald Trump's main attacks are tied that 2020 election and the big lie. And although Governor Kemp did not do what Donald Trump wanted, he was not out there being super critical of the president. And I think in some ways he's not as closely tied to Donald Trump's criticism as a Secretary Raffensperger is, who was more closer to it. He was more vocal in saying Trump is wrong, we're not going to do this, this isn't right. Kemp was resolute, didn't give Trump what he wanted, but he wasn't making these grand speeches criticizing Donald Trump that you can now bring that up.

But all of that together has put Kemp as an incumbent in the driver's seat. And I also think David Perdue just didn't have much to run on besides I was endorsed by Donald Trump. And we're seeing that's not enough for voters. It helps, but it's not everything.

WALKER: It's interesting to see how Governor Kemp and also the other incumbent you just mentioned, the Secretary of State Raffensperger, walking that fine line by not outright criticizing Trump but championing or supporting that controversial voting restrictive legislation.

So what will happen, or what will it mean if Senator Perdue, the former senator, loses big? Obviously, Trump likes to win and he wants to have a good endorsement record right now, which looks quite mixed.

MITCHELL: Yes, very mixed. I think it's two things. Number one, I think it's going to continue to give Republicans a blueprint for how to win even if the candidate doesn't have a Trump endorsement, which in some ways I think Republicans are looking for. They want to get past the age of Trump. In a swing state like Georgia, Trump can bring you down in a general election. So candidates like Glenn Youngkin and Brian Kemp are showing you can win without being super MAGA, super Trumpy. And that will put them in a better position in a general election as we did see in Virginia.

I also think it's showing that I think we're going to see maybe President Trump coming back and not doing as many endorsements, being a little bit more cautious, perhaps listening to some of the people who said we don't think this is a good idea.

[10:35:09]

Maybe he's going to be a little bit more limited and judicious as he considers who to endorse going forward.

WALKER: Do you think it also talks to the momentous shift that we're seeing in Georgia in terms of demographics, especially when you're seeing a Trump backed candidate like Perdue not really tracking. And although it's a different story for the secretary of state. We'll get to him in just a bit. But it does symbolically show what's happening in Georgia.

MITCHELL: I think politically in Georgia, conservative voters tend to not be the most diverse electorate on the Republican side. But they're mindful of what it will take to win in the general election, and Republican voters are very pragmatic. And I think that's something they're thinking about. Who is the candidate we think can go up against Stacey Abrams in November?

WALKER: I wish we had more time. Just a quick question, how are voters, or GOP voters differentiating Kemp versus Raffensperger, both of whom have been attacked by Trump? Because Raffensperger is obviously in a much tighter race with Trump-backed Jody Hice.

MITCHELL: He is. He is. I think voters are taking each race one by one. And Brian Kemp is just better known. Raffensperger, secretary of state, they have very big jobs, but they're not usually household names.

WALKER: He's a household name now.

MITCHELL: But he's a household name on the Republican side with a more negative connotation. There's a lot more undecided voters as well in the secretary of state's race, which is usual for a down ballot race. So it's just a very different dynamic when you're further down the ballot. Again, when you're a candidate whose name I.D. does probably have a little bit more negative connotation.

WALKER: Sure, sure. Interesting. Tia Mitchel, I wish we had more time. Just stick around during the break. We'll talk off the air, but thanks so much for coming in, Tia. Appreciate it.

Boris?

SANCHEZ: Still ahead, helping veterans exposed to toxic burn pits. Lawmakers reach a bipartisan deal to help veterans and their families. Coming up, we're going to hear from the family of one service member who fought to get the benefits they earned about the impact of this bill. Stay with us.

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[10:41:51]

SANCHEZ: This week Senate leaders reached a deal to help veterans exposed to toxic smoke from burn pits. The pits were commonly used to incinerate everything from trash and munitions to hazardous materials and chemical compounds. They could be found at military sites throughout Iraq and Afghanistan and other warzones up until about 2010. The Senate bill is named in honor of Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson. He died in 2020 from lung cancer after toxic exposure tied to his military service. Sergeant Robinson's widow, Danielle, was a guest at this year's State of the Union. During the address President Biden praised Heath's service and called on Congress to take action.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, (D) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He was born a soldier, Army National Guard, combat medic in Kosovo and Iraq, stationed near Baghdad just yards from burn pits the size of football fields. Cancer from prolonged exposure to burn pits ravaged Heath's lungs and body. Danielle says Heath was a fighter to the very end. He didn't know how to stop fighting, and neither did she. Through her pain she found purpose to demand that we do better. Tonight, Danielle, we are going to do better.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Joining us now is Danielle Robinson, widow of Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson. Danielle, we appreciate your work and your time, and we honor Heath's service. First, I want to understand how you connected his diagnosis, lung cancer in his mid-30s, to his exposure to burn pits. What did he tell you about them?

DANIELLE ROBINSON, HUSBAND DIED OF LUNG CANCER AFTER EXPOSURE TO BURN PITS: Well, I wasn't aware of a burn pit until 2017. We actually went to his oncologist for the first time after he was having gushing nose bleeds and lost his voice, and an ENT did a biopsy on a lymph node and found it to be cancer. And when we saw our oncologist in Columbus, Ohio, the first thing he said when we came in the room was what have you been exposed to. The way this cancer is presenting is only due to toxic exposure. And he didn't have any genetic factors. He was a nonsmoker, he was running half-marathons about six months before his diagnosis. So it was actually our oncologist that brought it up first.

SANCHEZ: But I understand that you had some issues trying to get help for him because there was a burden of proof that members of the military had to meet in order to get aid. What was that like?

ROBINSON: So he was active duty when he was diagnosed, and he was medically separated from the military, and he was granted service connection 100 percent due to his lung cancer. But once we entered the V.A., we were getting denials on medications, getting delayed imaging, getting delayed treatments. And then I was denied caregiver benefits because they said they could not tie it in to being exposed to toxic burn pits in Iraq and Kosovo. So that's where even though he was 100 percent service connected at the time he was denied benefits.

[10:45:05]

SANCHEZ: And what is it like when you speak to the families of other veterans who may be in a similar position, and they share with you the struggles they face? What advice do you have for them? What kind of support can you offer them?

ROBINSON: There are veterans groups out there to help them, such as burn pits 360 and the VFW and Wounded Warrior Project and so many other veteran organizations if you do reach out to them, they will help you with the paperwork divergent the process of the V.A. But we want this legislation passed so that these families don't have to be their own advocates and own lawyers as they're trying to take care of their loved ones who are in dire need of health care and they're coming down with these toxic exposure illnesses. So with legislation like this, we hope to get that taken care of and get the V.A. working towards these claims processed in a good manner and getting them approved so they don't have to battle denials and appeals.

SANCHEZ: The Senate is expected to take up the bill when it returns from a break in June. I'm wondering what your message to these lawmakers who are going to vote on this is. What would you say to them?

ROBINSON: I want them to know what it's like to see your loved one on the floor and literally have a gushing bloody nose at the same time they're throwing up and they're trying to breathe, and you're trying to get them through getting through the day and night. And they serve our country. They go overseas, and now this is the war that has followed them home. And we need to take care of them at home.

As you go through Senate building and the House of Representatives and Congress and Capitol Hill, you see POW flags all over the place, and you see these senators saying that they are here for veterans. These soldiers are actually prisoner of war at home in their own bodies as they're battling these health-related illnesses from toxic exposures. And I'm asking you that we need this passed now. We have soldiers that are literally entering into hospice right now and not getting the diagnosis they need and not the health care they need in their final years, months, weeks, and days of their life. This is detrimental, and this is urgent, and this has to happen now.

SANCHEZ: The war that followed them home. Danielle Robinson, again, we appreciate your work. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us.

ROBINSON: Thank you, Boris.

SANCHEZ: Of course.

NEW DAY is back after a few minutes. Stay with us.

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[10:52:10]

SANCHEZ: An update now to a story we've been following closely all morning. A second person has been confirmed killed from a rare tornado in northern Michigan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow! Look at that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Witnesses describe hearing what sounded like a freight train as the tornado tore through the town of Gaylord. Michigan authorities just gave an update in the last hour. They say 44 people were also hurt. One person remains unaccounted for at this hour. About 6,600 homes still have no power. Many roads remain blocked by debris, and another curfew will be in place there tonight. Weather officials say the first tornado warning came in about 3:38 p.m. local time yesterday, a tornado hitting about 10 minutes later.

Over 35 million people across the northeast are under heat advisories today with temperatures expected to climb well into the 90s. New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, here in Washington, D.C., all expected to be hit by rising heat and humidity. WALKER: CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar joining us now with more on

that. It's a lot of red behind you.

ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, it is. And I get it, these are temperatures you normally see in the summer, but that's the point. People need time to acclimate. And unfortunately, when you get these big heat waves that hit this early in the season, people's bodies don't have quite as much time to adapt to them. So you'll see people falling ill with other heat related illnesses, heat-strokes, things like that, because they aren't yet ready to deal with the intense heat.

You have over 60 locations stretching from Texas all the way up to New Hampshire that could end up breaking temperatures not only today but some places two days in a row. You've got heat advisories out across states in the northeast that stretches from northern Delaware all the way up into New Hampshire, a lot of the locations looking at potential record highs. Philadelphia, forecast high of 96. The record is 95. Washington, D.C. likely to tie their record as well. A lot of locations in the northeast the same.

We're also talking about that storm system, the same one that produced the tornado across Michigan now moving farther to the east. So everywhere from Maine back down to Texas has the potential for some strong to severe thunderstorms today. Damaging winds, hail and tornados will all be threats with this system. You have some ongoing showers and thunderstorms already right now, but the bulk of the strongest thunderstorms will actually hold off until the afternoon and the evening hours. And, yes, some of these could linger into the overnight hours. So please make sure, Amara and Boris, that if you are in any of these areas that you have a way to get those alerts before you go to bed.

WALKER: Good to know. Thank you so much, Allison Chinchar.

And in a new episode of "Stanley Tucci, Searching for Italy," Stanley steps outside of Italy and into London where he explores an unexpected wealth of amazing Italian food. Catch an all new episode of "Stanley Tucci, Searching for Italy," tomorrow at 9:00 p.m. on CNN.

And thanks so much for watching and being with us. I'm Amara Walker.

SANCHEZ: Thanks for being with us today, Amara. Come back tomorrow early, bright and early.

WALKER: Yes, I think I will.

(LAUGHTER)

SANCHEZ: Of course, there's still much more ahead in the next hour of the CNN Newsroom. Alex Marquardt, our friend, picks up for Fredricka Whitfield after a quick break. Stay with us.

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