♪♪ >> AS YOU ALL KNOW, THIS IS OUR TICKET BACK TO NORMAL AND WE ARE GETTING CLOSER TO THAT POINT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

SO AGAIN, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO AHEAD AND SIGN UP TODAY AND BE READY FOR THE EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY ON THURSDAY.

>> IT'S THE NEWS SO MANY HAVE WAITED TO HEAR.

ALL ADULTS IN GEORGIA WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR COVID-19 VACCINES THIS WEEK.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" ON THIS DAY 37 OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I'M DONNA LOWERY IN ATLANTA.

MORE ON THE BIG NEWS FROM GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP IN A MOMENT.

ALSO, BILLIONS OF NEW DOLLARS FOR K-12 EDUCATION IN GEORGIA.

TONIGHT IN OUR SHOW WE'LL HEAR FROM ALL SIX OF GEORGIA'S ASIAN-AMERICAN LAWMAKERS ONE WEEK AFTER THE TRAGIC MASS SHOOTING IN METRO ATLANTA, BUT FIRST WE HEAD TO THE CAPITAL WITH CORRESPONDENT BRENDA WATERS AT THE GOLD DOME FOR THE DAY'S NEWS.

BRENDA?

>> HI, DONNA.

THE BIG THING TO COME OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S PRESS CONFERENCE THIS AFTERNOON, GEORGIA IS ONE STEP CLOSER NOW TO GETTING ALL OF ITS RESIDENTS A SHOT IN THE ARM, BUT YOU MAY HAVE TO TRAVEL OUT OF THE ATLANTA METROPOLITAN AREA TO GET ONE OF THOSE SHOTS.

>> WHILE OVERALL DEMAND IS GREATER IN THE METRO ATLANTA AREA, WE ALSO HAVE SITES LIKE THE MERCEDES BENZ STADIUM THAT WE TOURED TODAY THAT HAVE APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE AND OPEN FOR NEXT WEEK.

IN MUCH OF RURAL GEORGIA, SOUTH OF MACON, THE DEMAND IS MUCH LOWER.

EFFECTIVE THIS THURSDAY, MARCH 25th ALL GEORGIANS OVER THE AGE OF SEASON WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINATION.

ONCE THAT EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY GOES LIVE ON THURSDAY, APPOINTMENTS WILL NO DOUBT BE HARD TO FIND IN CERTAIN REGIONS OF OUR STATE.

>> EVEN GOVERNOR KEMP IS TRAVELING AS FAR AS WAYCROSS THIS FRIDAY TO GET HIS VACCINE.

THE 2022 STATE BUDGET IS ON THE MOVE.

IT PASSED THE STATE SENATE UNANIMOUSLY TODAY DURING HIS PRESENTATION, SENATE APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR BLAKE TILLERY TALKED ABOUT IMPORTANT NEWS FOR SCHOOLS.

>> WE'RE EXPECTING $4.2 BILLION TO FLOW INTO LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION THROUGH THE MOST RECENTLY PASSED AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

THAT WILL FAR DWARF ANY ADDITIONS WE MAKE AND IT WILL MORE THAN WIPE OUT ANY REDUCTION DURING THE PANDEMIC AS OUR BUDGET IS IN A LITTLE BIT OF A CRISIS MODE.

>> THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE IS NOW WORKING OUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE VERSION OF HOUSE BILL 81.

THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 STATE BUDGET WOULD GO INTO EFFECT JULY 1st.

NOW FOR AN UPDATE ON GRACY'S LAW.

A HOUSE BILL THAT WILL BE HEARD AND VOTED ON TOMORROW IN SENATE COMMITTEE.

YOU MAY RECALL HOUSE BILL 128 IS NAMED AFTER LITTLE GRACY NOBELS WHO HAS DOWN SYNDROME AND AT ONE POINT IN HER LIFE NEEDED A HEART TRANSPLANT.

ULTIMATELY AND THANKFULLY SHE DID NOT, BUT IF GRACY HAD NEEDED THAT TRANSPLANT, GEORGIA LAWS COULD HAVE PREVENTED HER FROM GETTING IT.

TODAY, HER PARENT, THE FAMILY POLICY ALLIANCE OF GEORGIA AND THE SPONSORS OF HOUSE BILL 128 HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE.

>> HB-128 FINALLY KNOWN AS GRACY'S LAW PREVENTS PROVIDERS FROM POTENTIAL ORGAN TRANSPLANT SOLELY BASED ON THE DISABILITY.

>> THIS HAS TRULY BEEN A BIPARTISAN BILL THAT HAS BEEN FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA, WITHOUT REPRESENTATIVE MATT JACKSON BEING THERE ALONG WITH ME AND US WORKING ON THIS TOGETHER IT'S JUST BEEN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING AND WHAT TRUE POLITICS SHOULD BE HERE IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

>> AND OUR THIRD PRESS CONFERENCE UNDER THE GOLD DOME TODAY SENATE BILL 202 AND ONE OF SEVERAL ELECTION BILLS THIS SESSION PROMPTED THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS TO HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE AND IT IS HEADED FOR A HOUSE VOTE ON TUESDAY.

>> WE ARE TOTALLY OPPOSED TO THE SENATE BILL, AND WE WANT TO SAY THAT CATEGORICALLY.

THAT ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS WE STAND TO ENSURE THAT ALL VOTERS, PARTICULARLY VOTERS OF COLOR, HAVE FULL, MEANINGFUL AND NONBURDENSOME ACCESS TO THE ONE RIGHT AND THAT'S THE RIGHT TO VOTE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE STAND FOR AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR TO DEFEND THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> I'VE BEEN AROUND HERE LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT YOU PRESENT YOUR CASE AND THEN THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE VOTE.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DEBATE ON THURSDAY AND THEN WE'LL GO FROM THERE.

>> BACK ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, SENATE RESOLUTION 134 GOT A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM THE HOUSE THAT PASSED 169-0.

IT IS A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION THAT SAYS ELECTED STATE OFFICIALS WHO HAVE BEEN INDICTED WILL NO LONGER BE PAID.

>> IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE A STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIAL OR A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS UNDER INDICTMENT FOR A FELONY OFFENSE AND IT IS DETERMINED THAT THAT OFFICIAL IS TO BE SUSPENDED FROM OFFICE BECAUSE THE FELONY IS RELATED TO THE OFFICE HE OR SHE HOLDS THAT THE PAY DUE FOR THE PUBLIC OFFICE SHALL BE SUSPENDED.

THE PAY WOULD BE RECOVERABLE IF THE PERSON'S ULTIMATELY ACQUITTED.

>> THAT IS MY CAPITAL REPORT.

DONNA, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU, BRENDA.

ONE WEEK AGO TODAY A LONE GUNMAN KILLED EIGHT PEOPLE IN SPAS.

SIX WERE OF ASIAN DESCENT.

WE WILL HEAR ABOUT HOW THE DEATHS ARE PART OF A LARGER ISSUE OF ANTI-ASIAN VIOLENCE AND THEIR INTEREST IN BRINGING AWARENESS AND SOLUTIONS.

JOINING ME NOW ARE DEMOCRATIC SENATORS JAKE RAMAN AND SAM PARK, BOTH OF LAWRENCEVILLE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

WE'LL TALK WITH YOU IN A MOMENT.

FIRST, WE WANT TO GO BACK TO THE CAPITAL WHERE BRENDA WATERS HAS REPRESENTATIVE CHARLISE BERG OF WOODSTOCK.

BRENDA?

>> THANK YOU, DONNA, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS SO I GET THEM RIGHT.

WHAT MADE YOU GO TO THE HOUSE FLOOR AFTER THE SHOOTINGS AND TALK ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES.

>> THESE WERE HORRIFIC EVENTS THAT HAPPENED AGAINST PEOPLE THAT ARE LIKE MYSELF, ASIAN-AMERICANSS.

I AM A FIRST AND FOREMOST AN AMERICAN, BUT I PROUDLY WEAR MY CHINESE HERITAGE AND CULTURE.

MY DAD WAS FULL-BLOODED CHINESE.

MY MOM, IRISH AND ENGLISH AND WHEN THEY MARRIED IN 1949 IT WAS REALLY SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T EXIST AND THEY CALLED IT A MIXED MARRIAGE IN THOSE DAYS.

SO I FELT COMPELLED TO LET THEM KNOW THAT MY STORY, I DIDN'T REALIZE I WAS LOOKED ANY DIFFERENT THAN ANYONE ELSE IN MY CHILDHOOD NEIGHBORHOOD UNTIL I WENT TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THE CHILDREN PRETENDED THAT I WAS DOING JAPANESE AND STARTED SHOOTING MACHINE GUNS.

SO THAT WAS UNSETTLED AND IT IS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE PREJUDICES START FROM YOUR HOME AND UNTIL WE STOP THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE UNFORTUNATE FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE THOSE TYPES OF PREJUDICES BECAUSE THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN AND PEOPLE OF HATRED IS WHAT CAUSES THESE TYPES OF THINGS.

>> THAT REMAINS WITH YOU TO THIS DAY.

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> DEMOCRATIC ASIAN-AMERICAN LAWMAKERS ARE INTRODUCING LEGISLATION REQUIRING A FIVE-DAY WAITING PERIOD FOR FIREARM PURCHASES.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS?

>> I AM A CARD-CARRYING MEMBER, AND I BELIEVE IN THE SECOND AMENDMENT WHICH WAS PART OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS AND BECAME PART OF THE CONSTITUTION IN 1791.

IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT FOR ME TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS TO PROTECT MY FAMILY, MY HOME AND MYSELF.

NO LAWS THAT THE CONTINUE TO TRY SHOULD MAKE TACK AWAY BY RIGHT TO HAVE GUNS IN MY HOME.

ALL OF THE LAWS, THEY PASS AND IT WILL NEVER TAKE AWAY THEED ABOUT PEOPLE'S GUNS OR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE EVIL.

>> A FIVE-DAY WAITING PERIOD WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

>> I DON'T THINK IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

HAVING A DATABASE WITH ALL OF OUR NAMES ON IT AND HAVING A FIVE-DAY PERIOD DOESN'T MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENCE IN MY SIGHT.

WHEN YOU ARE READY TO PURCHASE A GUN AND I AM A LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN, I THINK I SHOULD HAVE THAT GUN AT MY DISPOSABLE -- WHEN I MAKE THAT PURCHASE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

VERY INSIGHTFUL.

REPRESENTATIVE BYRD, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU, BRENDA.

REPRESENTATIVE BYRD I WANT YOUR REACTIONS HU SPRAEPTIVE BIRD AND WHAT SHE TALKED ABOUT IN A MOMENT.

REPRESENTATIVE ROMAN, I HAVE TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING SPECIAL THAT HAPPENED ON FRIDAY, YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS AND SO DID FOUR OTHERS FROM THE ASIAN-AMERICAN DELEGATION AND THE DEMOCRATIC DELEGATION.

HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT?

>> WELL, AFTER THE TRAGEDY, THE WHITE HOUSE REACHED OUT TO US AND WANTED TO TALK TO THE LEGISLATOR AND ALL OF US WHO HAD A MEETING AND I HAD SOMETHING ON MY MIND THAT I THOUGHT IS IMPORTANT TO MENTION.

WE KNEW THAT THE PRESIDENT AND THE VICE PRESIDENT WOULD BE HERE FOR A RALLY ON FRIDAY SO I -- ON THAT PARTICULAR MEETING I PRESSED THE PRESIDENT WHEN HE COMES OVER HERE TO GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO SEE SOME OF THE ASIAN-AMERICAN LEGISLATORS AND THE COMMUNITY LEADERS BECAUSE WE THOUGHT DURING THE ELECTION WE HELPED ELECT PRESIDENT BIDEN AND JOE BIDEN AND WE GAVE TWO U.S.

SENATORS SO THAT'S WHAT I ACTUALLY MENTIONED.

I SAID -- I UNDERSTAND, YOU NEED TO GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF TIME IN BETWEEN, AND THE SAME DAY LATER ON AT NIGHT WE GOT AN E-MAIL THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY UPON AND LATER ON TLT HOW HE STARTED.

>> THAT MEETING WAS 90 MINUTES LONG.

WHAT DID YOU TAKE AWAY FROM IT?

>> IT WAS DIFFICULT UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

AS ASIAN-AMERICAN LAWMAKERS AND LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, I THINK ALL OF US REALLY WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT COULD REALLY UNDERSTAND THE FEAR, ANGER AND PAIN OF OUR COMMUNITY AND TO COMMUNICATE THAT, AND WHAT STRUCK ME WAS THEIR EMPATHY AND DESPITE, YOU HAVE THIS IMAGE IN MIND OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND HE WAS VERY CARING AND UNDERSTANDING AND THAT WAS INCREDIBLY COMFORTING DURING THIS VERY CHALLENGING PERIOD OF TIME.

>> YOUR REACTION, THOUGH.

WHAT WERE YOU ABLE TO ASK?

WERE YOU ABLE TO ASK HIM ANY QUESTIONS OR THE VICE PRESIDENT?

>> WE HAD OPENED -- THE THING ABOUT IT IS I WAS KIND OF SHOCKED AND SURPRISED.

WE WEREN'T GIVEN A TIME LIMIT.

WE WERE JUST ONE BY ONE, WE HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE NEED IN THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT LOOKED LIKE, HOW WE FELT AND THAT WAS INCREDIBLE.

I HAD TEARS AND SOME OF US WERE VERY EMOTIONAL MEETING, AND I WAS VERY NERVOUS GOING IN THE MEETING AND I ACTUALLY CALLED MY WIFE AND I WAS GOING TO SEE A SITTING PRESIDENT AND I DID NOT KNOW.

I WAS SO COMFORTABLE LISTENING AS A HUMAN BEING AND NOT AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND NOT AS A LEGISLATOR, AS A HUMAN BEING SITTING ACROSS THE TABLE AND TALKING AND LISTENING AND THAT WAS INCREDIBLE.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN TAKE AWAY.

>> THE NEXT DAY AT THE CAPITAL YOU SPOKE TO A SEA OF PEOPLE WHO CAME OUT FOR A RALLY AND SO WHAT'S NEXT AFTER HAVING WHAT HAPPENED ON FRIDAY, WHAT HAPPENED SATURDAY, WHAT'S NEXT ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AT THE CAPITOL?

>> WELL, NEXT IS WE HAVE TO PUT THIS OUT FRONT OF THE PEOPLE.

PEOPLE ARE COMING OUT NOW AND WE CANNOT JUST STAY ON THE SIDE LINES AND WE ARE AMERICAN JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE AND THIS COUNTRY IS BETTER BECAUSE ALL OF US.

NOT BECAUSE OF AN INDIVIDUAL OR ANY INDIVIDUAL RACE OR ANY BACKGROUND THAT WE COME FROM.

WE ARE A PART OF THIS SOCIETY AND I'M NOT GOING BACK.

I'M AN IMMIGRANT.

MY DAUGHTER, MY SON, MY FAMILY IS NOT GOING TO GO BACK.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE OVER HERE AND I'VE BEEN IN THIS COUNTRY FOR 40 YEARS AND I'VE BEEN COMMITTED ALL MY LIFE WITH MY JOB AND ALWAYS.

THERE WAS A POINT I WAS TOLD YOU DON'T SPEAK GOOD ENGLISH AND YOU CAN GET PROMOTED.

I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH VIS.

>> IT'S COMING OUT AND THINGS ARE AT THE FOREFRONT, FROM INSIDE AND THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS COUNTRY AND THAT'S WHY I JUST WANT TO COME BACK.

WE ARE NOT TRYING TO TAKE AWAY ANYBODY'S GUN.

THE SHOOTER WAS SAYING I HAD A BAD DAY.

I DON'T WANT SOMEONE TO WAKE UP AND SAY I HAD A BAD NIGHT AND I'M GOING TO GO SHOOT SOMEONE.

BEING WITH THAT, THAT WILL GIVE US A PAUSE.

GIVE US A PAUSE TO, YOU KNOW, PAUSE TO SOMEONE WHO HAD A BAD DREAM OR WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO, THEY'RE GOING TO STOP SOMETHING.

YOU JUST CAN'T DO IT JUST BECAUSE YOU HAD A BAD DAY OR BAD NIGHT AND YOU WANT TO GO SHOOT SOMEONE.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT.

>> HE BOUGHT THE GUN THAT DAY IS WHAT THE POLICE HAVE SAID.

>> REPRESENTATIVE PARK, I KNOW YOU HAVE FEELINGS ABOUT THIS, TOO.

>> THIS ISN'T ABOUT TAKING ANYBODY'S GUN OR VIOLATING THE SECOND AMENDMENT AND TEN STATES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HAVE SIMILAR LAWS ON THE BOOK THAT YOU SAID, THEY CREATE A WAITING PERIOD TO HELP REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE AND GUN VIOLENCE BASED ON IMPULSE.

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT WHEN IT COMES ON TO THE STATES THAT HAVE THESE WADING PERIODS INCLUDING THE NEIGHBORS AND WHEN IT COMES TO GUN VIOLENCE TOWARD OTHERS WE SEE A 17% DECLINE.

SO THE FRUSTRATING THING WE WERE TALKING ABOUT COMMON SENSE SAFETY REFORM IS WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO ACCEPT THAT MASS SHOOTINGS IN THIS COUNTRY SHOULD BE A DAILY PART OF OUR LIVES AND THAT'S UP ACCEPTABLE AND DEMANDING THE KIND OF CHANGE, ASK AGAIN, IF THOSE SITTING IN A MOTION OF POWER AND TO MAKE SURE YOU SPOKE TO THE BREAD PRESIDENT ABOUT A RACIAL RECKONING, THERE HAVE BEEN LODGE LONG OWE STANDING TENSIONS AND IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM THAT CHA DO EXIST SO WE CAN BUILD SOLIDARITY FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

IT'S A LOT OF THESE SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUITIES THAT DRIVE THE INTERRATIONAL CONFLICT AND GIVEN THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC CHALLENGE, WE NEED A SYSTEMIC SOLUTION TO THESE PROBLEMS AND ULTIMATELY AGAIN, IT COMES BACK TO POLITICS.

WE NEED TO HAVE THE FOLKS IN POSITIONS OF POWER TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THESE ISSUES AND THEN TO WORK TOGETHER WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS AND OTHER LAWMAKERS TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS THAT AFFECT ALL OF US.

>> YEAH.

THE GOOD THING IS THERE'S A CONVERSATION TAKING PLACE.

A WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO HEAR YOUR VOICES AND I'M GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT.

AND WHEN WE COME BACK, WE COME BACK INSIDE THE ROOM WHERE THE LAWMAKERS MET, WITH THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT INCLUDING WHAT BROUGHT SOME TO TEARS AND WHAT OTHER LEGISLATION CAN COME OUT OF THIS TRAGEDY.

YOU ARE WATCHING "LAWMAKERS" ON GPB.

>>> "LAWMAKERS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU WITH OVER 80 YEARS OF HELPING EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE, AFTER ALL, AG IS GEORGIA'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY.

FOOD AND FIBER PRODUCTION REPRESENTS OVER $74 MILLION OF GEORGIA'S STRONG ECONOMY.

THE GEORGIA'S LEGISLATIVE TEAM WORKS TO REPRESENT PRODUCERS AT THE STATE CAPITAL DURING YOUR SESSION AND YEAR ROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FOUNDERS.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS" ON GPB.

I'M DONNA LOWERY.

GEORGIA HAS EIGHT LAWMAKERS AND REPRESENT THE CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS ESPECIALLY IN METRO ATLANTA.

WE ARE HEARING FROM ONE REPUBLICAN AND FIVE DEMOCRATS.

I SPOKE WITH DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE MARVIN LIM OF NORCROSS.

I ASKED HIM HOW HE'S DOING ONE WEEK AFTER THE MASS SHOOTING?

>> I'M STILL FEELING VERY SAD AND HEART BROKEN PARTICULARLY KNOWING THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING AS WE KNOW IN COLORADO AND GOING BACK PARTICULARLY TO THIS SHOOTING, THE THING IS THE PROBLEM HASN'T GONE AWAY.

WANT ONLY HAS THE VICTIMS' GRIEF NOT GONE AWAY, BUT THE PROBLEM THAT LED TO THAT EVEN BEING POSSIBLE HAVE NOT GONE AWAY, THAT'S WHY ME AND MY FELLOW ASIAN LAWMAKERS HAVE DONE THINGS LIKE INTRODUCING BILLS TO START TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, BUT AS PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SAID WHEN WE MET WITH HIM ON FRIDAY IT IS HIS BELIEF THAT HATE DOES NOT GO AWAY.

IT JUST HIDES.

SO IF YOU'RE PERPETUALLY GOING TO HAVE HATE, WE'LL HAVE TO WORK TO SUPPRESS THAT HATE AND THAT'S THE LONG GAME THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.

>> YOUR CONVERSATION WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN.

TELL THEM ABOUT IT.

>> IT WAS VERY SAD, SOBERING, BUT AFFIRMING.

I SAY SAD AND SOBERING BECAUSE AT ONE POINT ONE OF THE OTHER ADVOCATES READ STAPLES FROM THE VICTIMS' FAMILIES AND THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE SO MUCH OF THE NARRATIVE IN THE MEDIA AT THAT TIME HAD STILL BEEN FOCUSING ON THE PERPETRATOR AND THE PERPETRATOR'S MOTIVES AND HATE CRIME, BUT WE ARE VERY COMMITTED TO MAKING THIS VERY VICTIM-CERTAINED AND THAT MEETING WAS VICTIM CENTERED AND WHEN THAT STATEMENT WAS READ PEOPLE WERE CRYING.

>> THERE WAS CERTAINLY SOME HOPE IN THE MOOTING, TO THEIR CREDIT THEY SPENT AN HOUR AND A HALF MEETING LISS EDGE TO THE TEN OF US WHO WERE IN THE ROOM.

THEY DIDN'T COME IN FROM THE BELTWAY AND PROPOSED TO OFFER SOLUTIONS AND THEY SPOKE OF WHAT THEY'VE DONE AND THEY SPENT MOST OF THAT TIME TALKING AND LISTENING AND WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO IF YOU NOT ONLY ADDRESS WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AND PREVENT FUTURE SUCH THINGS ABOUT HAPPENING AGAIN?

>> ONE THING I AM PARTICULARLY HOPEFUL ABOUT IS THEIR COMMITMENT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDING TO HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY DO THEIR WORK IN MORE -- CULTURALLY AND LANGUAGE ACCESSIBLE WAYS AND THEY APPROPRIATED 50 MILLION AND $140 MILLION FOR THAT KIND OF WORK.

WHEN I HAD MY FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK, I REPRESENTED GWINNETT WHERE 85% OF THE PEOPLE ARE MINORITIES AND 25% OF THE HOUSEHOLDS HAVE LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.

I.E., WHEN SOMETHING'S RLEDDY HAPPENED AND DOING PROACTIVE OUTREACH WHEN THERE IS CRIME AND WE NEED TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR THAT ACCESSIBLE WORK BY LAW ENFORCEMENT MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE WE ALL NEED TO BE WORKING TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS SAFE AND THAT'S ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE, BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ENFORCEMENT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE MARVIN LIM.

JOINING ME NOW, THERE ARE SENATOR MICHELLE LAU OF JOHN'S CREEK.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

TAKE US BACK TO THE ROOM WITH THE PRESIDENT AND THE VICE PRESIDENT LAST FRIDAY.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT HAPPENED?

>> THE TIME WE SPENT WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS WAS INCREDIBLY MEANINGFUL AS REPRESENTATIVE LIM MENTIONED.

NOT ONLY DID THEY SPEND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME WITH US DURING THE SHORT VISIT IN ATLANTA, AND IT IS A A COMMITMENT OF ATTENTION TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IN THE WAKE OF THIS TRAGEDY.

WHAT WE HAVE TO REALIZE IS THE AAPI COMMUNITY OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS AND OVER THE PAST YEAR WE'VE BEEN HAVING THESE ISSUES WITH ESCALATING VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION TOWARD OUR COMMUNITIES AND WE FELT OFTEN LIKE OUR STORIES AND OUR TROUBLES HAVE NOT BEEN SEEN, HAVE NOT BEEN HEARD AND THAT PEOPLE DON'T FEEL LIKE PEOPLE ARE TAKING THESE PROBLEMS SERIOUSLY.

SO HAVING THE VICE PRESIDENT AND THE PRESIDENT SIT WITH US SHOWS OUR COMMUNITIES AND SHOWS US THAT THEY ARE HERE FOR US.

THEY SEE US, THEY HEAR US AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THIS ALONE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE NGUYEN?

>> I THINK WHAT SENATOR MICHELLE LAU IS SAYING IT IS IN THE AAPI COMMUNITY AND I'M ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE TO BE ELECTED IN GEORGIA AND I WAS ALL ALONE UNTIL SENATOR MICHELLE JOIN MEAD THIS YEAR AND THANKS A BIG BURDEN AND RESPONSIBILITY TO CARRY AND I HAD GOTTEN VERY GOOD AT COMPARTMENTALIZING AND DETACHING, BUT IN THAT MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT AND THE VICE PRESIDENT I WAS ONE OF THE LAWMAKERS WHO DID CRY, AND I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO EXPRESS MY EMOTIONS IN ANY WAY OR PROCESS THE GRIEF OR ANGER OR RAGE THAT I HAVE FELT THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, BUT WHETHER I DID HEAR THE VICTIMS' STATEMENTS BEING READ TO THE PRESIDENT AND TO THE VICE PRESIDENT, THAT REALLY BROKE ME IN A LOT OF WAYS, AND YOU KNOW, I DID FEEL COMFORTED BY THE FACT THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT IS ALSO HALF ASIAN AND HALF BLACK.

SO WE ARE TALKING TO A WOMAN WHO UNDERSTANDS THE INTERSECTIONS OF MISOGYNY, GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, RACISM AND XENOPHOBIA AND THAT WAS COMFORTING TO ME TO HAVE HER IN THE ROOM WITH US.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION THAT WAS INTRODUCED.

IT WAS INTRODUCED TODAY.

AT LEAST ONE BILL I HEARD IN THE HOUSE AND THERE ARE SIX BILLS AND REALLY THREE, ONE ON EACH SIDE.

>> SO THERE ARE THREE PARALLEL BILLS THAT ARE ON THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE SIDE AND THEY WERE INTRODUCED SPECIFICALLY IN REACTION TO THE PROBLEMS THAT WE SAW WITH THE CRIME THAT HAPPENED ON TUESDAY.

BECAUSE WHAT WE WANT TO DO AND FOCUS ON IS NOT FOCUSING ON THE TRAGEDY, BUT CHANNELING THE GRIEF TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY STRONGER.

FIRST, IT'S RELATED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

A HUGE PROBLEM WITH WHY SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS FEEL INVISIBLE TO OUR COMMUNITIES IS BECAUSE THEY'RE VASTLY UNDERREPORTED.

PEOPLE DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE REPORTING FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.

THERE IS SOME LANGUAGE FACILITY ISSUE WITH PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE NEW AMERICANS AND IMMIGRANTS WHO DON'T SPOKE THAT WELL.

SO HAVING THAT ELEMENT IN TERMS OF CALLING 911 AND BASIC TRAINING AND CERTAIN PHRASES TO HELP PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE TRYING TO REPORT AND TRYING TO TELL THEM ABOUT INCIDENTS IS GOING TO BE A HUGE STEP, I THINK IN CULTURAL OUTREACH.

AND THE SECOND PIECE IS RELATED TO THIS EPIDEMIC OF GUN VIOLENCE, RIGHT?

I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITHOUT NOTING THAT THERE IS A UNIQUELY AMERICAN EPIDEMIC OF GUN VIOLENCE THAT IS ENDEMIC IN THIS COUNTRY, AND IF WE WANT TO STOP INCIDENTS LIKE TUESDAY FROM TAKING PLACE, JUST LAST NIGHT WE HEARD ANOTHER TERRIBLE MASS SHOOTING OUT OF COLORADO, WE REALLY HAVE TO AS A COUNTRY START LOOKING AT OURSELVES IN THE FACE AND AT WHAT WE PRIORITIZE AND TAKING A HOLT OF THIS EMDEMMIC.

>> THAT IS A FIVE-DAY WAITING PERIOD ON THE PURCHASE OF A FIREARM AND ONE MORE BILL THAT DEALS WITH 911, RIGHT?

>> ONE OF THE STORIES THAT EMERGED ABOUT THIS A FEW DAYS LATER IS THAT ONE OF THE VICTIMS' HUSBANDS ARRIVED IN THE GOLD SPA IN ATLANTA AND UPON HIS ARRIVAL HE WAS UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE OFFICER WHO WAS THERE.

HE WAS PLEADING FOR HELP IN KOREAN.

HE TRIED TO PERFORM CPR ON HIS WIFE'S BODY, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT GROWING UP, MANY CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS WERE TRANSLATORS AND PROTECTORS FOR OUR FAMILIES AND THAT REALLY HIT ME EMOTIONALLY BECAUSE I THINK OF THE TIMES IN WHICH PEOPLE CHOSE TO IGNORE MY MOM BECAUSE SHE DOES HAVE AN ACCENT WHEN SHE SPEAKS ENGLISH, AND TREATS HER LESS THAN HUMAN AND ME AS HER CHILD HAVING HER BACK.

SHE IS TALKING TO YOU.

SHE IS ASKING FOR HELP AND SHE NEEDS THIS, BUT IN THE CONTEXT OF TRAUMA IN THAT WAY, I CANNOT IMAGINE SHOWING UP AND NOT BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE IN LANGUAGE AS YOUR SPOUSE IS LYING DEAD BEFORE YOU, AND SO THAT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.

>> WHAT RESPONSE ARE YOU GETTING TO THE BILLS AT THIS POINT?

>> I THINK WE'VE BEEN TREMENDOUSLY GRATIFIED TO GET FEEDBACK FROM OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WE ARE ABLE TO CHANNEL THIS TERRIBLE TRAGEDY AND THIS GRIEF AND FOCUS IT ON SOMETHING THAT IS CONSTRUCTIVE AND CAN WORK TO MAKING THE COMMUNITIES STRONGER.

IT'S NOT JUST A REACTION TO THE GRIEF AND CONSTRUCTIVE ELEMENTS.

>> THE ONE BILL AS WE HEARD FROM REPRESENTATIVE BYRD, THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT FIND SOME OPPOSITION TO.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU'RE ALREADY HEARING IT?

YES.

WE'RE ALREADY HEARING IT AND AS THE REPRESENTATIVE BROUGHT UP EARLIER.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO TAKE AWAY ANYBODY'S GUNS AND I GREW UP IN A HOME WHERE MY DAD HAD A FIREARM AND STILL HAS ONE.

THE IDEA THAT IT IS CONFLATED IS NOT TRUE, BUT THE SUSPECT BOUGHT A FIREARM THE SAME DAY, WITHIN HOURS OF SHOOTING AND KILLING EIGHT PEOPLE.

>> I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU, ALL OF YOU LAWMAKERS FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND BEING ON THE SHOW TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES.

I KNOW OUT OF TRAGEDY SOMETHING GOOD MIGHT HAPPEN AND I KNOW YOU'RE HOPING TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN.

SO THANK YOU, SENATOR AL, REPRESENTATIVE NGUYEN AND ALL OF THOSE WHO WERE ON THE SHOW TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT FOR LAWMAKERS.

PLEASE JOIN US THURSDAY FOR LEGISLATIVE DAY 38.

GOOD NIGHT.