>> COMING UP -- STORIES WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH TONIGHT -- WE VISIT A STREET IN WEST SPRINGFIELD WHERE THE AMERICAN DREAM IS STILL GOING STRONG.

>> YOU HAVE A PLAN, YOU CAN DO IT.

ANYONE CAN DO ANYTHING IN THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE THE BLESSING AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT GIVES YOU.

I SEE VERY FEW COUNTRIES GIVE THAT.

>>> WE DISCUSS THE RISE IN ANTI-ASIAN VIOLENCE IN THE NATION.

>> SAYING THAT ANTI-ASIAN RACISM IS UN-AMERICAN IS ACTUALLY A WAY OF AVOIDING A SYSTEMIC ANALYSIS OF THE ROOTS OF THIS VIOLENCE.

>>> AND CONGRESSMAN JIM McGOVERN ON GUN CONTROL LAWS AND THE PRESIDENT'S SWEEPING NEW INFRASTRUCTURE AND JOBS PACKAGE.

>> BIDEN IS ASKING BIG CORPORATIONS TO ACTUALLY PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE SO WE ARE NOT GOING TO ADD TO THE DEFICIT, BUT INVEST IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, JOBS AND OUR ECONOMY.

>>> DETAILS ON THOSE STORIES AND MORE, UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT"IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY LNS CAPTIONING WWW.LNSCAPTIONING.COM >> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT."

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

TO THE CASUAL OBSERVER, AT FIRST GLANCE, MAIN STREET OF WEST SPRINGFIELD MAY SEEM LIKE JUST ANOTHER STREET IN "ANYTOWN U.S.A." BUT UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, THEY'LL SEE THAT THERE'S AN ETHNIC MAKEUP THAT RUNS THE GAMUT FROM MYANMAR TO ROMANIA AND ALL POINTS IN BETWEEN.

"CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN SULLIVAN MET WITH TWO OF THE STREET'S SHOPKEEPERS WITH TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT STORIES, BUT ONE SIMILAR PURSUIT.

THE AMERICAN DREAM.

>> OFTENTIMES MAIN STREET OF BLUE COLLAR AMERICA HAS CERTAIN ELEMENTS THAT NOT ONLY GIVE IT ITS UNIQUE CHARM BUT SEPARATE FROM ITS METROPOLITAN CONTEMPORARIES.

THE FREIGHT TRAIN THAT CUTS THROUGH CENTER, THE CROSS TOWN BUS TEARING THROUGH AT BREAKNECK SPEEDS.

IT MIGHT BE THE SIDE STREET NEIGHBORHOOD THAT RESTS ON THE EDGE OF HIGHWAY WITH ROWS OF TRIPLE DECKER HOMES SEPARATED BY CHAINLINK FENCES.

A CENTURY AGO THESE STORE FRONTS MAY HAVE HAD FRENCH, ITALIAN AND IRISH GAMES.

NOW THEY CATER TO THE MOST RECENT GROUP CROSSING THE OCEAN.

THIS IS WEST SPRINGFIELD, HOME TO THE THIRD HIGHEST REFUGEE POPULATION IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

ACCORDING TO THE PAINTINGS ON THE SIDE OF MERRICK STATION, THEY HAVE TRULY TRAVELED FROM ALL POINTS OF THE GLOBE.

I WAS HERE IN 2018 WHEN THEY PABTED THIS MURAL.

WITHIN A COUPLE BLOCKS, I CAN FIND BUSINESSES FROM PEOPLE WHO CAME FROM RUSSIA, NEPAL, TURKEY AND LEBANON.

THOSE WHO ARRIVED WITH THE ENTREPRENEUR SPIRIT, THIS IS THE STREET OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.

FOR ONE ENTREPRENEUR, THAT HAD THE SOUND OF BUZZERS, SCISSORS AND SATISFIED CUSTOMERS.

HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, THAT WAS NOT ON HIS RADAR WHEN HE WAS A KID WORKING WITH HIS UNCLES IN THEIR BARBERSHOPS IN BAGHDAD.

>> AFTER THE WAR I WASN'T THINKING ABOUT LEAVING IRAQ.

OPPORTUNITY CAME AT MY DOOR AND I HAD A CHANCE TO MOVE TO THE U.S. AND I TOOK IT.

AND I TOOK IT.

AND I'M A BIG BELIEVER THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME THERE.

IT IS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT OPENING MY OWN BUSINESS.

>> BEFORE OPENING SHOP IN OCTOBER 2018, HE LEARNED THE INS AND OUTS OF AMERICAN CULTURE CUTTING HAIR IN AN IRAQI COMMUNITY IN HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

THE FIRST FEW WEEKS IN THE NUTMEG STATE HELPED SET THE TONE.

>> IT WAS HELPFUL FROM THE BEGINNING.

YOU NEED SUPPORT AND THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS YOU MOVE TO A NEW COU COUNTRY, YOU HAVE TO DEVELOP THE SKILLS OF SPEAKING A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE, OF COURSE, AND NAVIGATE FROM THERE WHAT ROUTE YOU WANT TO TAKE.

>> IN 2016, HE HAD BEEN A REFUGEE A FEW YEARS PRIOR, BECAME A FULL FLEDGED AMERICAN CITIZEN.

HERE ON THE CORNER OF RUSSELL AND MAIN STREETS, THE PRESENCE FEELS MUCH GREATER.

LEBANESE AMERICANS MAKE UP A SLIGHTLY LARGER CONTINGENT AT ROUGHLY 1.5%.

ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE AMERICAN FABRIC SINCE THE 1800s.

FOR ALL THE ASSIMILATION OVER THE CENTURIES, SOMETIMES THE SMELL OF TRADITIONAL LEBANESE CUE SEEN IS ENOUGH TO SPARK A TASTE FOR THE OLD COUNTRY.

>> I LIKE MOST OF THE PEOPLE, VERY GENEROUS, VERY NICE, GREAT COOK.

>> THAT GENEROSITY AND LOVE OF COOKING TURNED OUT TO BE THE DRIVING FORCE OF OPENING THE RESTAURANT IN AUGUST OF 2014.

THE IDEA AT FIRST SEEMED OUT OF LEFT FIELD WHEN THE OWNER'S HUSBAND PROPOSE HE QUIT HIS JOB AS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND SHE QUIT HERS AS AN INTERPRETER AND SOCIAL WORKER TO GIVE THIS THING A GO.

>> IN THE BEGINNING, ARE YOU OKAY, A BUSINESS WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT.

I LOVE COOKING.

WE USED TO HOST A LOT OF PARTIES, A LOT OF DINNERS.

WE LOVE COOKING, SHARING FOOD WITH EVERYBODY.

THIS IS MEDITERRANEAN CULTURE, YOU ARE COOKING AND SHARING WITH EVERYBODY.

HE SAID LET'S DO IT.

SO HE QUIT HIS JOB.

I QUIT MY JOB AND WE OPENED THE RESTAURANT.

>> COMING TO THE UNITED STATES ON A GREEN CARD WITH HER HUSBAND IN 1997, HER JOURNEY TO AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP WAS DIFFERENT FROM AL SADI'S WHO ARRIVED AS A REFUGEE.

MY QUESTION FOR EACH OF THEM IS THE SAME, IS THE AMERICAN DREAM STILL ALIVE?

>> YOU HAVE A PLAN, YOU CAN DO IT.

ANYONE CAN DO ANYTHING IN THIS COUNTRY.

ANYONE.

LIKE, THAT IS WHAT I TELL MY KIDS.

TAKE ADVANTAGE BECAUSE THE BLESSINGS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT GIVES YOU, I SEE VERY FEW COUNTRIES GIVE THAT.

>> STILL ALIVE, STILL EXIST.

THIS IS THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITIES.

IF YOU PUT IN THE WORK AND YOU PUT IN THE DISCIPLINE, THE HARD WORK, IT WILL DEFINITELY EXIST.

>> THE AMERICAN DREAM IS A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTRY AND FOR MANY ASIAN AMERICANS RECENTLY, THAT DREAM HAS TURNED INTO A NIGHTMARE.

TWO WEEKS AGO A GUNMAN TRAGICALLY SHOT AND KILLED EIGHT PEOPLE IN THREE ATLANTA-AREA MASSAGE BUSINESSES, SIX OUT OF THE EIGHT PEOPLE WERE OF ASIAN DESCENT, LEAVING THE ASIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY REELING.

SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC, HATE INCIDENTS AGAINST THE ASIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN ON THE RISE.

ACCORDING TO A PEW RESEARCH CENTER SURVEY, THREE IN 10 ASIAN AMERICANS REPORT HAVING EXPERIENCED RACIAL SLURS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, AND A NATIONAL REPORT RELEASED BY STOP AAPI HATE -- AAPI STANDS FOR ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER -- REVEALED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ALMOST 3,800 ANTI-ASIAN HATE INCIDENTS REPORTED SINCE LAST MARCH.

I SPOKE RECENTLY WITH IYKO DAY, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF EDUCATION AND CRITICAL SOCIAL THOUGHT AT MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE, TO HEAR HER PERSPECTIVE.

>> OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN PROFOUND ANGER AND DESPAIR ACROSS ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.

I THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF OUTRAGE AT THE WAY THE ATLANTA SHOOTER, SORRY, THE ATLANTA SHERIFF REALLY FIRST DECIDED TO PRIORITIZE THE HUMANITY OF THE WHITE MALE SHOOTER, YOU KNOW, EXPLAINING HE HAD A REALLY BAD DAY.

AND THAT HE STRUGGLED WITH A SEX ADDICTION.

YOU KNOW, THE WOMEN HE TARGETED WERE WORKERS, MOTHERS, DAUGHTERS, SISTERS, WIVES, BUT THE SHERIFF REDUCED THEIR IDENTITY TO THE RACIST FANTASIES OF THEIR KILLER REGARDLESS OF WHETHER HIS VICTIMS WERE SEX WORKERS OR NOT.

>> YOU SPOKE ON CONNECTICUT AROUND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S RHETORIC OF THE CORONAVIRUS.

HE REFERRED TO THE CORONAVIRUS AS THE KUNG FF -- FLU VIRUS.

WHAT CHANGES DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE WITH THIS NEW LEADERSHIP?

>> SADLY, WHEN IT COMES TO THE QUESTION OF XENOPHOBIA, IN YOUR REFERENCE TO DONALD TRUMP, CERTAINLY HE WAS RESPONSIBLY FOR STOKING XENO PHOBIC RACISM CALLING THE CORONAVIRUS THE CHINESE VIRUS.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS VIRTUALLY INDISTINGUISHABLE IN TERMS OF ANTI-CHINA POLICIES AS WELL.

TRUMP CALLED CHINA A THREAT TO THE WORLD AND IMPOSED, AS I MENTIONED ECONOMIC SANCTIONS, BUT THE NEW ADMINISTRATION HAS ALSO SAID THAT CHINA IS OUR PACING THREAT.

WHAT I WANT TO UNDERSCORE HERE IS U.S. FOREIGN POLICY IN ASIA HAS ALWAYS HAD AN IMPACT ON ANTI-ASIAN SENTIMENT IN THE U.S. BECAUSE MOST AMERICANS LUMP ALL ASIANS TOGETHER AS KINDS OF A FOREIGN OTHER.

WHEN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS EXPRESS FEARS OVER CHINA OR OTHER ASIAN COUNTRIES, AMERICANS OFTEN RESORT TO RACIST NARRATIVES THAT CAST OUT ON THE LOYALTY AND BELONGING OF 20 MILLION ASIAN AMERICANS.

AND WE CAN EVEN CONTRAST THIS WITH THE TREATMENT WITH THE SITUATION WITH RUSSIA, WHICH WAS ACCUSED OF HACKING AND ELECTION INTERFERENCE.

THAT HAS VIRTUALLY NO IMPACT ON AMERICANS OF RUSSIAN DESCENT.

WE CAN SEE THE DISPARITY OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF CHINA SABER RATTLING THAT HAS FOLLOWED FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION INTO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

>> SIMILAR TO THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT, PROTOASTING AND RALLIES ARE ONE ACTION TO TAKE AGAINST THIS TYPE OF DISCRIMINATION.

WHAT ARE SOME OTHER ACTIONS PEOPLE CAN TAKE AGAINST ANTI-ASIAN VIOLENCE?

>> I THINK THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE FOR THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION IS TO ASK THEM TO STOP SAYING THAT ANTI-ASIAN RACISM IS SOMEHOW UN-AMERICAN, WHICH IS WHAT PRESIDENT -- HOW PRESIDENT BIDEN DESCRIBED THE ANTI-ASIAN VIOLENCE IN THE ATLANTA SHOOTING AT A PRESS BRIEFING RECENTLY.

ALL WE NEED TO DO IS IS REVIEW THE HISTORY TO DETERMINE WHAT IS AMERICAN AND UN-AMERICAN ABOUT ANTI-ASIAN VIOLENCE.

THERE WAS THE VIOLENT ANTI-CHINESE LABOR MOVEMENTS IN THE LATE 19th AND 20th CENTURIES, CONGRESS PASSED THE PAGE LAW THAT BARRED CHINESE WOMEN BASED ON THEIR IMMORAL SEXUALITY.

IN 1882 CONGRESS PASSED THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT RESTRICTING CHINESE IMMIGRATION FOR OVER HALF A CENTURY.

DURING WORLD WAR II WE SAW THE WEST COAST EXPULSION AND JAPANESE AMERICANS IN REMOTE CONCENTRATION CAMPS.

IN 1982 TWO WHITE AMERICAN AUTOWORKERS MURDERED VINCENT CHIN BLAMING HIM FOR THE DECLINE TO THE U.S. AUTO INDUSTRY TO CHINESE COMPETITION.

BOTH MEN WERE ACQUITTED AND NEVER SERVED ONE DAY IN PRISON.

IN 1999 WHEN HO LEE CHINESE AMERICAN SCIENTIST WAS ACCUSED OF BEING A SPY WHO PASSED NUCLEAR SECRETS TO CHINA.

HE WAS IN PRISON FOR NINE MONTHS IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT BEFORE HE WAS EXONERATED.

THEN, OF COURSE, OF 9/11, WE WITNESSED THE DRAMATIC ESCALATION OF RACIAL PROFILING AGAINST ASIAN AND ANY MUSLIM LOOKING PEOPLE.

IN A NUTSHELL, ANTI-ASIAN RACISM IS, IN FACT, IT HAS BEEN ALL TOO AMERICAN.

SAYING ANTI-ASIAN RACISM IS UN-AMERICAN IS ACTUALLY A WAY OF AVOIDING THE SYSTEMIC ANALYSIS OF THE ROOTS OF THIS VIOLENCE THAT WOULD INVOLVE IMPLICATED WHITE SUPREMACY, XENOPHOBIA AND U.S. IMPERIAL VIOLENCE.

>>> EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND IDEAS THAT MATTER MOST TO WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANY TIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT, INCLUDING THIS LOOK AT SPRINGTIME IN WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, AS "CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN SULLIVAN SHOWCASES THE BEAUTY OF THE REGION AS IT WAKES FROM ITS WINTERTIME SLUMBER.

>> DON'T MISS THIS DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE, AVAILABLE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS, BLUE RIDER STABLE IN GREAT BARRINGTON HAS PROVIDED REHABILITATION SERVICES THROUGH HORSEBACK RIDING.

LAST SUMMER THEY RECEIVED ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST CHALLENGES WHEN KHALI ZABIAN ARRIVED FOR HER FIRST LESSON.

KHALI HAD NEARLY DIED A YEAR PRIOR WHEN SHE WAS HIT BY A CAR, BUT THROUGH MONTHS OF HARD WORK, SHE'S TAKING THE SMALL STEPS TO ONE DAY WALK ON HER OWN AGAIN.

"CONNECTING POINT'S" ROSS LIPPMAN INTRODUCES US TO THE ZABIAN FAMILY, AND THE UNLIKELY SURVIVAL OF THEIR DAUGHTER.

>> MOST DAYS START AND END THE SAME.

AT BLUE RIDER STABLE IN GREAT BARRINGTON.

REALLY, ALL DAY LONG, THE SOUNDS ARE THE SAME.

>> THERE, NOW WE ARE FAST, TOO.

>> BUT FOR THE LAST 29 YEARS, EVERYONE CLIENT IS DIFFERENT.

WITH UNIQUE NEEDS THAT GO WAY BEYOND LIEARNING TO RIDE A HORS.

>> WE'RE GOOD RIGHT NOW.

>> LIKE 20-YEAR-OLD KHALI ZABIAN.

THIS IS HER SEVENTH WEEK RIDING.

EACH STEP AND TROT ALONGSIDE INSTRUCTOR BECKY DA DONNA.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO HOLD THE HANDLE, YOU CAN HOLD THE REIN.

>> IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE KHALI PHYSICAL THERAPY.

DID YOU THINK KHALI WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THE TYPE OF RECOVERY SHE HAS SO FAR?

>> I DIDN'T THINK WE WOULD BE PROGRESSING AS QUICKLY AS WE ARE PROGRESSING.

>> LET'S WATCH WHAT MOM IS DOING.

>> YOU HAVE TO WATCH WA KHALI'S MOTHER, LISA SAW ON THE NIGHT OF AUGUST 7, 2019.

>> THEY SAID YOU NEED TO COME IN AND SEE KHALI.

MY HUSBAND AND I, THEY BROUGHT US INTO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND SHE WAS ON THE TABLE, HER EYES WERE ROLLED BACK IN HER HEAD.

SHE WAS NONRESPONSIVE, OBVIOUSLY.

THEY SAID KISS HER.

GIVE HER A KISS.

TELL HER YOU LOVE HER.

I THINK THEY DIDN'T THINK SHE WOULD MAKE IT.

>> KHALI WAS DRIVING WHEN SHE STRUCK THE GUARDRAIL NEAR THE POND IN GREAT BARRINGTON.

WHEN SHE WAS OUTSIDE OF HER CAR, SHE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, BREAKING MULTIPLE BONES AND CAUSING SEVERE BRAIN DAMAGE.

ONCE YOU SAW HER, DID YOU THINK SHE WAS GOING TO MAKE IT?

>> I THINK I DID.

THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS ACCEPTING THE FACT THAT SHE WAS GOING TO DIE.

I JUST, FROM THE SECOND I GOT THAT PHONE CALL FROM OLLIE, I STARTED PRAYING AND I DIDN'T STOP FOR A SECOND.

I KEPT PRAYING AND PRAYING AND PRAYING.

I JUST SAID, KEEP HER ALIVE.

IF SHE IS ALIVE, I KNOW SHE WILL HEAL.

>> AS KHALI'S CONDITION SLOWLY IMPROVED, LISA STARTED DOCUMENTING EVERY MOMENT.

FROM OPENING HER HAND.

>> KHALI.

NOW CLOSE YOUR HAND.

GO AHEAD.

CLOSE IT, KHALI, MAKE IT TIGHT.

>> TO OPENING HER EYES.

SITTING UP.

>> SIT UP TALL.

>> FIRST STEPS.

EVERY SMALL VICTORY THAT CAME.

>> COME ON, KHALI.

>> UNTIL FINALLY -- >> THERE YOU GO, KHALI, WELCOME HOME >> SHE WAS HOME AGAIN.

>> WELCOME HOME.

>> NOW -- >> CAN YOU ASK HIM TO WALK ON?

>> YEAH.

WALK ON.

>> KHALI'S DAYS ARE FILLED WITH THE WORK TO REGAIN FULL MOBILITY, WHICH INCLUDES HER WEEKLY VISIT TO BLUE RIDER.

>> SO AGAIN, I WAS PRAYING ONE MORNING AND I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT?

SHE NEEDS TO RIDE A HORSE.

KHALI NEVER LIKED HORSES.

>> YOU SPECIFICALLY SAID SHE NEEDS TO BE RIDING A HORSE.

WHY A HORSE?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I WAS LIKE SHE NEEDS TO RIDE A HORSE, DO THERAPY ON A HORSE.

>> SHOW ME HOW TALL YOU CAN SIT.

>> I WAS SCARED AT FIRST, BUT WITH HER BEHIND ME, THEY ARE HOLDING MY LEGS IN THE EXACT SPOT THEY SHOULD STAY.

>> WE HAVE DEALT WITH SOME REALLY FUN CHALLENGES OVER THE YEARS.

KHALI SEEMED LIKE WE HAD OUR WORK CUT OUT FOR US.

>> I THOUGHT THAT IS WHAT IT WAS LIKE.

>> AND IT IS BECOMING EASIER FOR KHALI.

>> THAT WAS A WHILE AGO.

>> THE STRENGTH REQUIRED TO STAY UPRIGHT WHILE RIDING FALKER, ONE OF BLUE RIDER'S THERAPY HORSES IS PAYING OFF IN EVERY ASPECT OF HER LIFE.

>> THREE, TWO, ONE, OH.

>> LIKE ON HER DAILY WALK -- >> KHALI, SAY HI.

>> THROUGH FAIR MOUNT CEMETERY, RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE ZABIAN'S HOME AND WHERE LISA SAYS KHALI WOULD HAVE BEEN LAID TO REST HAD THINGS ENDED THE WAY DOCTORS EXPECTED 20 MONTHS AGO.

BUT NOW KHALI HARDLY EVER RESTS.

HER GOALS ARE TOO BIG TO STOP NOW.

>> MY NEXT GOAL IS TO BE ABLE TO WALK WITHOUT MY BRACE AND JUST WALK LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

YOU KNOW, GET TO JOGGING AND RUNNING AGAIN.

>> I WANT TO SHOW YOU CAN GET THROUGH A TRAGEDY.

AND NOT ONLY CAN YOU GET THROUGH IT, BUT YOU CAN GET THROUGH IT WITH JOY AND LAUGHTER AND TEARS.

AND ALL OF IT.

AND IT IS ALL GOING TO BE OKAY, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU WALK WITH GOD.

¶ ¶ >>> ON WEDNESDAY, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN INTRODUCED A SWEEPING $2 TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE AND JOBS PACKAGE.

THE PROPOSAL AIMS TO RESHAPE THE AMERICAN ECONOMY, IN ADDITION TO MAKING THE MOST WIDE-RANGING U.S. INVESTMENTS IN GENERATIONS.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE COMES AS THE DEBATE OVER TOUGHER GUN CONTROL LAWS HEATS UP FOLLOWING RECENT MASS SHOOTINGS IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, AND BOULDER, COLORADO.

"CONNECTING POINT'S" RAY HERSHEL SPOKE WITH MASSACHUSETTS SECOND DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN JIM McGOVERN TO GET HIS THOUGHTS ON WHAT THE CHANCES ARE THAT MORE RESTRICTIVE GUN LAWS COULD BECOME A REALITY THIS YEAR, AS WELL AS HIS REACTION TO THE PRESIDENT'S MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSAL.

>> WE HAVE NEGLECTED OUR INFRASTRUCTURE FOR DECADES.

AND WE SEE THE RESULTS.

AGING ROADS AND BRIDGES, WATER AND SHORE FACILITIES THAT ARE -- NEED TO BE REPAIRED.

YO KNOW, WE ARE NOT INVESTING IN HOUSING.

WE ARE NOT INVESTING IN RAIL OR OUR AIRPORTS.

I CAN GO RIGHT DOWN THE LIST.

SO THIS IS A MUCH-NEEDED INITIATIVE AND IT IS PAID FOR.

BIDEN IS ASKING BIG CORPORATIONS, MANY OF THEM WHO HAVE ESCAPED PAYING TAXES BECAUSE ALL OF THE LOOPHOLES AND SOME OF THE TAX BILLS THAT WERE PASSED OVER THE YEARS, INCLUDING TRUMP'S TAX BILL, TO ACTUALLY PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE.

SO WE ARE NOT GOING TO ADD TO THE DEFICIT, BUT INVEST IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR ECONOMY.

I'M GOING TO TRY TO BRING IT OVER THE FINISH LINE.

>> WHAT WOULD THIS INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AS THE PRESIDENT DETAILED IT MEAN FOR MASSACHUSETTS ITSELF?

HW WOULD IT HELP THE BAY STATE?

>> CONGRESSMAN NEAL AND I HAVE BEEN A HUGE CHEERLEADER FOR EAST/WEST RAIL.

I WOULD EXPECT A HUGE CHUNK OF THIS BILL WILL GO TO SUPPORT RAIL PROJECTS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING THE ONE WE WANT TO SEE HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

IT MEANS UPGRADES IN AGING WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS, UPGRADES OF ROADS AND BRIDGES IN DISREPAIR.

WE CAN INVEST IN HOUSING WHICH IS A NECESSITY AND SCHOOL REPAIRS WHICH WOULD ALSO BE COVERED BY THIS.

MASSACHUSETTS, WHICH IS AN OLD STATE AND WED HAVE OLD INFRASTRUCTURE, WILL BENEFIT GREATLY FROM THIS.

>> SENATOR MINORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL CALLED THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSAL A TROJAN HORSE WITH BIG TAX HIKES.

WITH THAT KIND OF OPPOSITION AND FEELING, WHAT DO YOU FEEL GOING FORWARD?

ARE YOU GOING TO GET REPUBLICAN SUPPORT?

>> I DON'T CARE WHAT MITCH McCONNELL SAYS.

HE HAS BEEN A HINDRANCE FOR MOVING PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATION FORWARD FOR MANY YEARS NOW.

WHEN THE REPUBLICANS WERE IN CHARGE OF THE SENATE, THE HOUSE AND THE PRESIDENCY, THEY DID NOGS ON INFRASTRUCTURE.

THIS WAS NOT A PRIORITY.

AND THE FACT IS THEIR PRIORITY WAS TAX CUTS MOSTLY FOR RICH PEOPLE, A TAX BILL THAT ALLOWED BIG CORPORATIONS, MANY OF THEM TO ESCAPE PAYING ANY FEDERAL TAXES, AND THEIR OTHER PRIORITY WAS TRYING TO OVERTURN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ABOUT AND THROW MILLIONS OF PEOPLE OFF OF HEALTH INSURANCE.

WE HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF PRIORITIES.

WHETHER OR NOT WE GET REPUBLICAN SENATORS AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO SUPPORT IT OR NOT REMAINS TO BE SEEN, BUT WE NEED TO GET IT DONE.

>> CONGRESSMAN McGOVERN, WE WANT TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON ANOTHER ISSUE THAT HAS COME UP OBVIOUSLY YEAR AFTER YEAR AND CERTAINLY NOW IN THE WAKE OF RECENT MASS SHOT SHOOTINGS IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, AND BOULDER, COLORADO.

WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD WE COULD SEE MEANINGFUL, TOUGHER GUN LEGISLATION ENACTED INTO LAW THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

>> WELL, I'M SICK ABOUT THE FACT THAT IN SPITE OF MASSACRES THAT HAVE OCCURRED ON A REGULAR BASIS IN THIS COUNTRY, IN SPITE OF THE HIGH UPTICK OF GUN-RELATED DEATHS THAT CONGRESS HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET ANYTHING DONE.

WE HAD A PRESIDENT TRUMP WHO WAS IN THE BACK POCKET OF THE GUN LOBBY WHO DIDN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING.

PRESIDENT BIDEN WANTS TO SPEND UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS, CLOSE LOOPHOLES, HE SUPPORTS THE BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS.

WHY DOES ANYBODY NEED AN ASSAULT WEAPON?

WHY DO YOU NEED A WEAPON OF WAR UNLESS IT IS TO KILL SOMEBODY?

I POLLED TODAY 75% OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FAVOR UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS.

65% FAVOR A BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS.

THIS IS WIDELY POPULAR.

THE ONLY PLACE IT IS NOT POPULAR IS WITH SOME SENATORS IN THE BACK POCKET OF THE GUN LOBBY WHO BENEFIT FINANCIALLY FROM THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND WHO ARE MORE COMMITTED THO SUPPORTING SPECIAL INTEREST THAN PUBLIC INTEREST.

>> CONGRESSMAN, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT HAS COME UP WITH REGARD TO BACKGROUND CHECKS IS THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, SENATOR JOE MANCHIN, A DEMOCRAT, CAN'T SUPPORT THE HOUSE-PASSED BILLS, THE TWO BILLS PASSED IN THE BILLS WITH REGARD TO BACKGROUND CHECKS, OF COURSE, AND ASSAULT WEAPONS.

WITH REGARD TO THE BACKGROUND CHECKS, IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS SELLING PRIVATELY, I WANT TO SELL YOU A GUN, THAT INDIVIDUAL SHOULDN'T HAVE TO UNDERGO BACKGROUND CHECKS.

YES, MAYBE FOR COMMERCIAL SALES.

COULD YOU SUPPORT A PROPOSAL NOT ALLOWING BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR INDIVIDUAL SELLS?

>> LOOK, I THINK SENATOR MANCHIN'S CONCERN IS UNWARRANTED AND FRANKLY MISSES THE POINT.

I SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SELL A GUN TO SOMEBODY WHO HAS A -- WHO WOULD FAIL A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK.

WHY DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

IT REALLY IS OFFENSIVE THAT PARENTS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR CHILDREN TO GUN VIOLENCE COME TO CONGRESS AND PLEAD WITH SENATORS AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO DO SOMETHING AND UP UNTIL NOW, NOTHING HAPPENS.

THAT JUST HAS TO CHANGE.

WE HAVE A DEMOCRATIC HOUSE, A DEMOCRATIC SENATE AND A DEMOCRATIC WHITE HOUSE WHO ACTUALLY UNDERSTANDS THE PAIN OF GUN VIOLENCE IN THIS COUNTRY.

SO MAYBE THE STARS ARE ALIGNED THAT WE CAN GET SOMETHING DONE.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" FOR APRIL 2, 2021.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW TONIGHT, AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, AND MORE ONLINE ANY TIME AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

AND PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 6:00 RIGHT HERE ON NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA FOR MORE STORIES OF THE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND IDEAS THAT MATTER MOST TO WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

BE SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT"IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.