[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> THIS IS THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN ROADS, BRIDGES AND HIGHWAYS SINCE THE CREATION OF THE HIGHWAY SYSTEM.

>> WHAT DOES THE BILL MEAN FOR ILLINOIS.

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WEIGH-IN ON THAT AND MUCH MORE.

>> JUST AS OUR MILITARY IT TAKES MANY FORCES TO ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION.

>> AFTER EARLIER OUTBREAKS IN THE PANDEMIC THE ISSUE AT VETERAN'S HOMES HAS IMPROVED.

>> PEDIATRICIANS ARE CALLING A UNTIL EMERGENCY ON CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH.

>> HOPE YOU'RE HUNGRY A BOOK TAKES A DEEP DIVE INTO DEEP DISH AND MANY OTHER KINDS OF CHICAGO PIZZA.

>> GEOFFREY BAER HAS A STORY OF A FAMOUS WAGON COMPANY ONCE BASED IN CHICAGO IN THIS WEEK'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

[♪♪♪] >> AND CELEBRATING THE LIFE SITARIST RAVI SHANKAR IN A NEW EXHIBITION IN CHICAGO.

BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> A BODY PULLED FROM LAKE MICHIGAN LAST WEEK HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED A A DePAUL GRAD MISSING SINCE LAST MONTH.

26-YEAR-OLD ORIBI KONTEIN WAS LAST SEEN ON SECURITY CAMERA PARKING HIS CAR NEAR 31ST STREET BEACH.

THE COOK COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE IDENTIFIED HIS BODY BUT DID NOT RELEASE A CAUSE OF DEATH.

HE WAS FROM NIGERIA AND GRADUATED IN 2017.

>> A PUSH TO OVERHAUL THE EISENHOWER EXPRESSWAY.

THEY ARE CALLING FOR MONTH FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL TO SPEED UP A REBUILD OF I290 FROM JANE BYRNE TO HILLSIDE.

IT WOULD INCLUDE THE CTA'S BLUE LINE.

A REPORT FROM THE ILLINOIS ECONOMIC POLICY INSTITUTE ESTIMATES THE PROJECT'S COST AT $2.7 BILLION.

AND SAYS IT WOULD CUT TRAFFIC CONGESTION FROM 25-60%.

WE'LL HAVE MORE WITH THE CONGRESSMEN COMING UP IN THE PROGRAM.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS HEALTH NURSES ARE PROTESTING SAYING THEY ARE FACING UNSAFE WORKING CONDITIONS AND A RISE IN EMERGENCY ROOM HARASSMENT AND VIOLENCE.

>> I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED AND CHASED.

I HAVE BEEN THREATENED WITH BATTERY.

I HAVE BEEN THREATENED WITH RAPE.

I HAVE BEEN HIT IN THE FACE.

I HAVE BEEN SPAT ON.

AND I HAVE BEEN SPAT AT.

ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE LEFT ME EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY SCARED.

>> PROTESTORS SAY MANAGEMENT REJECTED CALLS FOR PAY INCREASES AND HIRING SEVEN MORE NURSES.

IN A STATEMENT, THE C.E.O.

OF U OF IHOPS SAYS MANY PATIENTS ARE SEEKING CARE THEY PUT OFF DURING THE WORST OF THE PANDEMIC CAUSING STAFFING CHALLENGES.

HE HIGHLIGHTED NEW HIRES AND POLICIES AIMED AT SUPPORTING STAFF AND PATIENTS.

QUOTE... >> UP NEXT, CHECKING IN WITH MEMBERS OF ILLINOIS' CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> ILLINOIS IS SET TO RECEIVE BILLIONS OF FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES AND PROJECTS AFTER CONGRESS PASSED A $1.2 TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

SO WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE PRESIDENT'S SIGNATURE BUILD BACK BETTER PACKAGE ALSO BEEN CALLED THE HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND MUCH MORE ARE CONGRESSMAN RODNEY DAVIS A REPUBLICAN FROM TAYLORVILLE.

MA ARE MARCH A DEMOCRAT FROM CHICAGO'S SOUTHWEST SIDE AND RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI A DEMOCRAT FROM SCHAUMBURG.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

LET'S START WITH PETE BUTTIGIEG AND WHAT HE SAID ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL'S PASSAGE.

>> THIS IS THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN ROADS, BRIDGES AND HIGHWAYS SINCE THE CREATION OF THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM AND THE LARGEST VEST.

IN OUR BRIDGES EVER SO WE CAN AVOID COLLAPSES.

>> CONGRESSMAN KRISHNAMOORTHI ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS AND INDUSTRY LEADERS SAID NUMBER ONE ON THE WISH LIST IS THE I290 KNOWN AS THE EISENHOWER EXPRESSWAY IS THAT A PROJECT THAT WILL GET FUNDED?

>> I HOPE SO.

THE 290 GOES TO MY DISTRICT THE ELGIN O'HARE EXPRESSWAY WHICH NEITHER REACHES ELGIN OR O'HARE I WOULD PUT THAT ON THE TOP 10 IF WE CAN GET TO THAT.

BUT YOU KNOW, THIS BILL IS A HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN ILLINOIS' INFRASTRUCTURE.

$17 BILLION WILL COME TO ILLINOIS NOT TO MENTION ALL THE OTHER COMPETITIVELY BID GRANTS.

SO WE WILL HAVE 10 BILLION JUST FOR HIGHWAYS.

4 BILLION DOLLARS FOR ROADS, BRIDGESES, REPAIRS.

660 MILLION FOR OUR AIRPORTS.

AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.

AND IT IS A TREMENDOUS BOOST TO OUR ECONOMY AND COMPETITIVENESS LONG-TERM.

>> AND CONGRESSMAN DAVIS YOU HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE PAST AND YOU MET WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN ABOUT THIS.

BUT YOU WERE A NO ON THIS BILL.

HOW COME?

>> WELL, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY IT WAS TIED TO ANOTHER BILL.

THAT IS GOING TO BE 1.75 BILLION OR MORE.

IT'S GOING TO CONSIST OF TAX INCREASES AND POLICIES THAT WILL MAKE THE INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLAR GO LESS FAR.

I'M CONCERNED THAT THAT IS THE NEXT STEP.

AND WHEN SOME OF MY MODERATE DEMOCRAT FRIENDS DECIDED TO SIGN A LETTER STATING THAT ONCE THE CBO SCORE CAME OUT THEY WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF SPENDING MORE MONEY ON THINGS THAT WILL CRIPPLE OUR ECONOMY AND DO NOTHING TO ADDRESS INFLATION I WAS A NO.

>> TO BE CLEAR THIS BILL WAS DECOUPLED FROM THAT BILL.

ARE YOU SAYING YOU STILL THINK THE TWO ALINKED?

>> ONLY IN WASHINGTON D.C. WOULD THESE TWO BILLS BE CONSIDERED DECOUPLED.

IT WAS A VOTE LAST WEEK.

SURE.

BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF NEGOTIATIONS AMONGST THE DEMOCRATS TO INSURE THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE A VOTE ON A PROGRAM THAT IS GOING TO BE TAX INCREASES ON EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN FAMILY COST INCREASES ON EVERY FAMILY AND POLICIES THAT ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO CRIPPLE OUR ECONOMY AND DO NOTHING TO ADDRESS INFLATION.

>> WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL IN A MOMENT.

CONGRESSWOMAN NEWMAN BIG NEEDS, LEAD PIPES, WASTEWATER TREATMENT.

PUBLIC TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS LIKE THE EXTENSION OF THE REDLINE SOUTH.

ARE THOSE PROJECTS THAT WILL GET FUNDED IN FULL BY THE BILL?

>> YEAH WE ARE GOING TO BE RECEIVING $1.7 BILLION TO ADDRESS WASTEWATER ALL OF OUR FLOODING ISSUES, POSSIBLY CONNECTING SOME OF THE SMALLER TOWNS IN THE PERIMETER THAT WERE THAT CONNECTED TO THE TUNNELS.

THESE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WILL CORRECT LONG-TERM WRONGS.

IN ADDITION WE HAVE JUST IN MY DISTRICT WE HAVE SIX BRIDGES ARE AT A D. WHAT WE HAVE TO CREATE SAFER BRIDGES.

>> LOTS OF BRIDGES IN ILLINOIS GETTING POOR GRADES ESPECIALLY ON THE EISENHOWER.

LET'S TURN TO THE HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL WITH THE INK DRYING ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI HAS HIGH HOPES FOR THE BUILD BACK BETTER BILL.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> THAT IS OUR PLAN TO PASS THE BILL THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 15TH.

AS IS INDICATED IN OUR STATEMENTS THAT WERE MADE AT THE TIME OF PASSING THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.

>> CONGRESSMAN KRISHNAMOORTHI WILL THIS BILL BE VOTED ON AS SPEAKER PELOSI AND CONGRESSMAN DAVIS SAID?

>> I THINK SO.

BUT LET'S BE CLEAR.

THESE WERE DELINKED THEY WERE NOT DEANICKED TOGETHER SOME WANTED THEM TO BE LINKED.

FOR 200 REPUBLICANS TO VOTE AGAINST IT AND TO MOVE TO TRY TO HOLD THE 13 REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED FOR IT BASICALLY, ACCOUNTABLE AND TO SECRET CONTRIBUTION AGAINST THEM IN TERMS OF REMOVING THEM FROM THEIR COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS IS REPREHENSIBLE.

IT WAS A BIPARTISAN PACKAGE THAT SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED MORE REPUBLICAN SUPPORT.

THE HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE CALLED THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT WILL ENHANCE OUR PRODUCTIVITY AS A COUNTRY.

TWO THINGS I WANT TO FOCUS ON.

ONE IS HELP WITH CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE.

MILLIONS OF WORKING MOMS DROPPED OUT OF THE WORKFORCE DURING THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T FIND ACCESS TO CHILDCARE AS THEIR CHILDREN WERE HOME FROM SCHOOL.

AND SO NOW WE'RE PROVIDING THAT ASSISTANCE SO THEY CAN GO BACK IT WORK.

THEY CAN PRODUCE MORE GOODS AND SERVICES.

AND TAMP DOWN INFLATIONARY PRESSURES.

SIMILARLY I AUTHORED THE PROVISIONS THAT INVEST INTO WORKFORCE TRAINING AND SKILLS AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION WHICH ARE DIRELY NEEDED TO ADDRESS THE SKILL SHORTAGE IN THE COUNTRY.

AGAIN, YOU EQUIP PEOPLE WITH THE I WILL SKILLS TO GO TO WORK THEY CAN PRODUCE MORE GOODS AND SERVICES AND AGAIN MAKE US MORE PRODUCTIVE OVER THE LONG RUN.

>> CONGRESSMAN DAVIS YOU TALKED ABOUT YOUR FEAR OF TAX HIKES AND RUN AWAY SPENDING.

ARE THERE ELEMENTS THAT REPUBLICANS COULD SUPPORT LIKE PAID FAMILY LEAVE OR CHILDCARE TAX CREDIT EXTENDING THOSE?

>> AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO SAY AT WHAT COST?

WE HAVE TO GET OUR ECONOMY BACK TO WHERE WE WERE PREPANDEMIC WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE PANDEMIC AS A RISK MANAGEMENT OPERATION RATHER THAN A ZERO TOLL LENS OPERATION.

WE HAVE TO LIVE WITH COVID THE REST OF OUR LIVES.

LET'S LIMIT THE RISK AND GET BACK TO OUR ECONOMIC GAINS WE HAD.

YOU KNOW WHEN IT COMES TO KICKING REPUBLICANS OFF OF COMMITTEES, I HAVE TO REMIND MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS SHOW THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT HAVE EVER KICKED OUR COLLEAGUES OFF COMMITTEES ARE NANCY PELOSI AND THE DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON.

I RESPECT MY COLLEAGUES TO CAST A VOTE THEY THINK IS BEST FOR THEIR DISTRICT BUT THERE ARE QUESTIONS RAISED STILL THE BILL HAS PASSED THAT MADE ME FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE VOTING AGAINST IT.

SECRETARY BUTTIGIEG TALKING ABOUT BRIDGES THAT ARE RACIST?

HOW MANY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WILL BE TEARING DOWN RACIST BRIDGES WHEN WE OUGHT TO BE INVESTING IN THE TRAFFIC JAM AND INVESTING IN BUILDING BETTER ROADS IN DOWN STATE ILLINOIS.

I'M JUST NOT SURE THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION AND FRANKLY GOVERNOR PRITZKER'S ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUT THESE DOLLARS TO THE BEST USE.

>> TO BE CLEAR, CONGRESSMAN, THE SECRETARY WAS REFERRING TO URBAN PLANNING DECISIONS THAT A LOT OF HISTORIANS SAY SPLIT UP NEIGHBORHOODS IN PLACES LIKE CHICAGO.

I WANT TO ASK -- >> THEN HOW MUCH IS GOING TO BE SPENT TO TEAR THESE DOWN?

HOW MANY BILLIONS WILL BE SPENT TO TEAR DOWN BRIDGES THAT ARE OPERATIONAL IN AREAS WHERE MISTAKES WERE MADE DECADES AGO AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE INVESTMENT TO ADDRESS THE REDLINE ISSUES ON THE EISENHOWER ISSUES.

>> A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

YOU STILL HAVE.

CONGRESSWOMAN NEWMAN BAN TO THE HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL IT HINGES ON WHAT TWO MODERATE DEMOCRATIC SENATORS MANCHIN INSINEMA THINK IS THERE A BILL THAT THEY SUPPORT THAT PROGRESSIVES LIKE YOURSELF WOULD STILL SUPPORT?

>> MY COLLEAGUE SAYS IT'S CRITICAL WE HAVE UNIVERSAL PRE-K.

HERE IS TWO INTERESTING STEPS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO DISCERN IS THAT 4.7 MILLION HOME HEALTHCARE JOBS WILL BE NEEDED BY 2028.

10,000 OTHER CITIZENS TURN 65 EVERYDAY.

THIS HOME HEALTHCARE INVESTMENT IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT IN THIS BILL SO WE CAN TAKE CARE OF OUR SENIORS AND ALLOW THEM TO LIVE AT HOME IN DIGNITY.

THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT THINGS.

I THINK THE REASON THAT THIS NEGOTIATION HAS BEEN LONG AND TRY SOMETHING THINK ABOUT IT THIS KAY... WE -- WAY... WE TOOK TRILLION DOLLAR ENTITIES AND VETTED THEM WHICH IS WHY THERE WAS A LOT OF DEBATE AND THERE SHOULD BE DEBATE.

AND WE SHOULD THINK TIGHTLY.

IF WE HAD TWO COMPANIES COMING TOGETHER A TRILLION APIECE IT WOULD TAKE THREE TO FIVE YEARS.

WE'VE DONE IT IN FIVE OR SIX MONTHS THE FACT WE VETTED AND DEBATED WE ARE PROUD OF THAT.

IS IT UNPLEASANT TO WATCH?

ABSOLUTELY AND WE GOT IT DONE AND Mr. MANCHIN AND MS. SIB MPEA WERE VETTING WHAT THEY WANTED.

>> THAT DEBATE WILL CONTINUE.

AND WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT HERE FOR NOW WE ARE JOINED AGAIN TO DISCUSS WHO IS RUNNING FOR WHAT.

THAT WILL BE INTERESTING THANKS TO REPRESENTATIVE RODNEY DAVIS, MARIE NEWMAN AND RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI.

>> AND NOW BRANDIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> PARIS, THANK YOU.

>> THURSDAY IS VETERAN'S DAY A LEGAL HOLIDAY SINCE THE 1920s WHEN THE UNITED STATES PAUSES TO HONOR THOSE WHO SERVED IN THE MILITARY BUT THERE ARE HOLES IN THE SERVICES MEANT TO MATERIALLY PROVIDE FOR AND PROTECT THOSE VETERANS.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH MORE.

AMANDA?

>> YES BRANDIS IT'S BEEN A YEAR OF TURMOIL AND CHANGE AT THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS BUT FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE LINDA CHAPA RESIGNING IN JANUARY AFTER ALLEGATIONS OF SYSTEMIC MISMANAGEMENT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

THAT CONTRIBUTED TO AN OUTBREAK AT THE STATE RUN VETERAN HOME IN LASALLE.

36 RESIDENTS THE THAT HOME DIED IN THE OUTBREAK AND AUDIT CAME TO THIS CONCLUSION... OUR INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS' LACK OF COVID-19 PREPARATION CONTRIBUTED TO THE SCOPE OF THE OUTBREAK THE THE HOME IN ADDITION FAILURES IN COMMUNICATION AT THE HOME AND WITHIN THE IDVA LEADERSHIP CONTINUED TO A DELAYED RESPONSE TO THE OUTBREAK.

A NEW ACTING DIRECTOR WAS BROUGHT ON IN APRIL AND HE TOLD A STATE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE TODAY THAT THE SITUATION HAS IMPROVED WITH LASALLE PASSING A FEDERAL INSPECTION.

>> IDBA EXCEEDED C.D.C.

GUIDANCE WITH OUR TESTING PROGRAMS AND TO DATE, WE'VE CONDUCTED OVER 120,000 COVID TESTS.

ALMOST DOUBLE THAT IN RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS THROUGH OUR FACILITIES.

AND BECAUSE OF THE MISSION AND THE PURE DEDICATION OF OUR EMPLOYEES, IDVA ENJOYS THE HIGHEST OVERALL STAFF VACCINATION OF ALL STATE AGENCIES AT 88%.

>> IT'S 99% BY THE WAY OF RESIDENTS OF THOSE VETERANS HOME VACCINATION.

PRINCE SAYS THAT HE TOOK A TRIAGE APPROACH TO GET IMMEDIATE NEEDS AT THE AGENCY UNDER CONTROL AND IS MOVING FORWARD WITH STRATEGIC PLANS, HIRING SOMEONE IN A VACANT POSITION TO OVERSEE THE FIVE VETERANS HOMES A WOMEN'S VETERANS COORDINATOR HAS BEEN HIRED AND ESTABLISHING INFECTION CONTROL PROGRAMS INCLUDING TECHNOLOGY HE IS LOOKING TO BRING LIKE VIDEO MONITORING AT THE HOMES.

BUT THERE ARE CHALLENGES.

LAWMAKERS HEARD THAT VETERANS HOMES ARE ONLY ABOUT HALF CAPACITY WITH 560 BEDS FILLED OF 1,000 SPACES AVAILABLE.

HUNT SAID THAT COVID HAS SLOWED MATTERS BECAUSE OF MISSIONS MUST BE HALTED ANYTIME THERE IS A COVID CASE AT A HOME.

BUT MAINLY IT IS A STAFFING ISSUE THAT IS CAUSING FAMILIES TO WAIT TO GET A LOVED ONE INTO ONE OF THESE HOMES.

>> TOLD YOU EARLIER, STAFFING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IS A TREMENDOUS ISSUE FOR ALL ORGANIZATIONS.

WHETHER IT'S AT THE STATE VETERANS HOME OR GOING TO GET YOUR LOCAL COFFEE AT YOUR LOCAL COFFEE SHOP.

ALL ORGANIZATIONS ARE FACING STAFFING CHALLENGES THAT HAVE BEEN UNSEEN IN YEARS.

THE GREAT RESIGNATION AS IT'S BEEN CALLED HAS CAUSED US TO LOOK AT IT FROM DO WE HAVE ENOUGH NURSES ON STAFF TO PROVIDE THE TWO-AND-A-HALF HOUR PLUS CARE?

AND WE WANT TO BE ABOVE AVERAGE WE WANT TO BE PROVIDING FOUR HOURS OF CARE PER RESIDENT PER DAY.

>> THOSE WHO SERVED IN VIETNAM AGE HE PREDICTS A TIDAL WAVE OF VETERANS NEEDING HIGHER LEVELS OF SERVICES AND COMMUNICATING HOW TO ACCESS THES OF ISES LIKE FEDERAL V.A.

HEALTHCARE ANOTHER CHALLENGE.

>> THE VETERANS ARE NOT PRO-ACTIVELY BEING EDUCATED OR INFORMED ABOUT HEALTHCARE BENEFITS.

JUST YESTERDAY I ENROLLED A FEMALE VETERAN IN V.A.

HEALTHCARE DISCHARGED IN JANUARY AND HAS GONE WITHOUT FORM OF HEALTHCARE SINCE THEN.

DESPITE HAVING A BRAIN TUMOR.

THAT EXAMPLE IS A WEEKLY OCCURRENCE IN OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF ILLINOIS WHOSE JOB IT IS TO HELP VETERANS ACCESS THEIR BENEFITS.

>> STATE REPRESENTATIVE CAMILLE LILLY SAYS THAT SHE IS CONCERNED ABOUT INEQUITIES OF CARE FOR BLACK AND BROWN VETERANS.

SHE IS ADVOCATING FOR MORE VETERANS SERVICE OFFICERS IN COMMUNITIES WHERE VETERANS RESIDE.

SHE WANTS ONE IN EACH STATE SENATE DISTRICT AND THAT PROPOSAL STALLED.

>> I HAVE AN ANNUAL LUNCH BRUNCH FOR OUR VETERANS DURING THIS WONDERFUL WEEK THANKING THEM FOR THEIR SERVICES.

AND THEY TELL ME EACH TIME THESE ARE VETERANS THEY DO THAT FEEL SUPPORTED.

THEY DO NOT GET THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO GO.

>> OTHER AREAS OF CONCERN INCLUDE COMBATING HIGH RATES OF SUICIDE AND HELPING VETERANS TO ACCESS AND AFFORD DENTAL CARE.

MEANWHILE THE STATE IS MOVING FORWARD WITH $270 MILLION OF REHAB AND RECONSTRUCTION OF THE VETERANS HOME IN QUINCY FOLLOWING OUTBREAKS OF LEGIONNAIRES DISEASE AND PRINCE SEVERAL TIMES TOLD LAWMAKERS THAT THE LONG UNDER CONSTRUCTION SIXTH VETERANS HOME THAT WILL BE IN CHICAGO SHOULD BE OPENING HE SAYS SOON.

BRANDIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> AMANDA, THANK YOU.

>> MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES FOR CHILDREN HAVE REACHED A NATIONAL EMERGENCY.

THAT'S THE DECLARATION FROM SEVERAL MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING 77,000 PHYSICIANS AND MORE THAN 200 CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS.

BETWEEN MARCH AND OCTOBER OF 2020, MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS FOR CHILDREN AGES 5-11 ROSE 24%.

AND FOR CHILDREN 12-17, IT WAS A 31% INCREASE.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THIS IS MASHANA SMITH, A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST WITH LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL CENTER FOR CHILDHOOD RESILIENCE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HAS LURIE EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF CHILDREN IN NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE?

>> I'M SORRY CAN YOU REPEAT THAT.

>> HAS LURIE EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF CHILDREN IN NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE?

>> WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE.

WE'VE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE SINCE 2019 OUR 2020 NUMBERS WE LOOK AT THEM AND WE HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN AN EIGHT-FOLD INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES AND PARENTS REACHING OUT FOR SERVICES ON A WEEKLY BASIS.

SO WE'VE SEEN OUR NUMBERS INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY.

NOT ONLY HAVE THE NUMBER OF INTAKES INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY, BUT OUR WAITING LIST.

IT'S THREE TIMES LARGER THAN IT WAS IN 2019.

SO BY ALL MEANS OUR DATA SHOWS WE HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE AND WE CAN SEE THE IMPACT THE CRISIS HAS HAD AND THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD ON CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH.

EIGHT-FOLD THAT IS SIGNIFICANT IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE REACHING OUT.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT THESE FAMILIES SAY THEY ARE EXPERIENCING?

>> MANY OF THE FAMILIES ARE REPORTING THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE STRUGGLING WITH FEELINGS OF DEPRESSION, ANXIETY IF YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN THROUGH WITH REGARD TO OUT OF SCHOOL TIME, PHYSICAL ISOLATION, BEING SEPARATED FROM FRIENDS AND TIMES FAMILY AS WELL.

AND THEN JUST BEING AWAY FROM THEIR ACTIVITIES.

SO THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF LOSS.

GRIEF IS CERTAINLY FRONT AND CENTER IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE EXPERIENCES THAT THE KIDS HAVE EXPERIENCED.

BUT THE DATA SHOWS THE C.D.C.

HAS IS THAT WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN SUICIDAL IDEATION ATTEMPTS AND MORE SO AMONG GIRLS.

>> AND WE KNOW THE PANDEMIC PLAYS A GREAT ROLE IN ALL OF THIS.

YOU KNOW, AMONG THE FACTORS IS THE PANDEMIC, WE KNOW BLACK AND LATINO FAMILIES HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELYLY AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC.

HOW HAS MENTAL HEALTH AFFECTED THOSE TWO GROUPS IN PARTICULAR?

>> HAPPY TO SPEAK TO THAT.

IT'S DISPROPORTIONATE IMPASSE AND WE'RE SEEN INCREASE OF INFECTION RATE AMONG BLACK AND BROWN POPULATIONS AND A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC STRESSORS THAT BLACK AND BROWN FAMILIES ARE EXPERIENCING.

AND THAT HAS HAD AN IMPACT OF CHILDREN AND COLOR.

AND ALTHOUGH WE FOCUS ON THE PANDEMIC, CERTAINLY MANY OF US REFERRED TO THE TWIN PANDEMIC.

THERE IS EXPERIENCE OF COVID, BUT THEN THERE'S BEEN THE RACIAL RECKONING WITHIN OUR COUNTRY.

THAT BLACK AND BROWN KIDS HAVE BEEN FRONT AND CENTER PARTICULARLY ADOLESCENTS.

I THINK WE'VE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON STUDENTS AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH THEY HAVE SPRERNSED STRESSORS THAT CHILDREN ARE EXPERIENCING.

THE EXPERIENCE OF LOSS AND RACIAL INJUSTICE.

ALL OF THAT HAS HAD A IMPACT ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF KIDS.

>> AND THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ISSUING THIS DECLARATION THEY POINT TO THE ONGOING STRUGGLE AND SAYING THAT THE STRUGGLE FOR RACIAL JUSTICE IS TIED TO THE INCREASE WORSENING MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS FOR CHILDREN.

HOW HAVE ALL OF THE EVENTS OF THE LAST YEAR-AND-A-HALF EXACERBATED TRENDS WE SAW HAPPENING BEFORE 2020?

>> GOOD POINT.

A COUPLE OF WAYS.

WE ALREADY WERE IN A CRISIS IF YOU WILL WITH REGARD TO CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH.

IT'S BEEN EXACERBATED BY THE NUMBERS AND THE LOSSES THAT HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCED.

MANY LOSSES COVID RELATED WERE SUDDEN AND WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT MAYBE TRAUMATIC WHEN CHILDREN EXPERIENCE TRAUMATIC GRIEF IT INTERFERES WITH THE NORMAL PROCESS AND GRIEVING PROCESS AND IT'S COMPLICATED BY THE LAYER OF TRAUMA.

THE LAYER OF SUDDEN LOSS.

IF THE LOSS HAD SIGNIFICANT IMPLICATIONS FOR LIVING ARRANGEMENTS AND YOU KNOW, CARETAKERS ET CETERA THAT IS ONE WAY WHICH THIS EXACERBATED.

THE OTHER WAY IS THAT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CHILDREN HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO TRAUMA, EASTERN IF THEY DID NOT EXPERIENCE THE TRAUMA DIRECTLY THE RACIAL RECKONING VIEWING THE TRAUMA EXPERIENCED PEOPLE BEING KILLED PARTICULARLY BLACK MEN BEING KILLED.

BUT THEN ALSO YOU KNOW, THE EXPERIENCE WITH POLICE AND DIFFERENT INJUSTICES AND OTHER THINK ABOUT THE SYSTEMIC RACISM AND THE SYSTEMIC STRUCTURES IMPACTING MENTAL HEALTH.

WE KNOW THERE IS A STRONG RELATIONSHIP FOR EXAMPLE BETWEEN POVERTY AND MENTAL HEALTH.

GIVEN ALL OF THE ECONOMIC STRESSORS IMPACTING BLACK AND BROWN FAMILIES SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THE HIGHER RATES OF I AM POVERTY WHICH IMPACT MENTAL HEALTH AND ADOLESCENTS WILL SPEAK ABOUT THIS AND THE WAY FINANCIAL STRESSORS IMPACT THEIR WELL-BEING.

>> A BIG LOAD FOR YOUNG AND SMALL PEOPLE.

MASHANA SMITH THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> NO PROBLEM THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> UP NEXT, THE LIFE OF MAESTRO RAVI SHANKAR AND HIS INFLUENCE ON WORLD MUSIC.

STAY WITH US.

>> THERE'S MUCH MORE INCLUDING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AFFECTED BY THE CONGRESSIONAL REMAP.

THE BEATLES, JOHN COLTRAIN PHILLIP GLASS ALL OF THE GIANTS AND MANY FELT THE INFLUENCE OF RAVI SHANKAR.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT" TOURED A PANDEMIC DELAYED EXHIBITION ABOUT THE SITAR VIRTUOSO AND WE MET A MUSICIAN WHO STUDIED WITH HIM IN INDIA.

MARC VITALI HAS MORE ON THE ENDURING APPEAL OF A WORLD MUSIC SUPERSTAR.

[♪♪♪] >> A HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTEREY POP FESTIVAL IN 1967 WAS THE PERFORMANCE BY A 47-YEAR-OLD VETERAN MUSICIAN FROM INDIA.

SITARIST RAVI SHANKAR ROUSED AN AUDIENCE THAT INCLUDED OTHER PERFORMERS AT THE FESTIVAL INCLUDING JIMMY HENDRICKS.

RAVI SHANKAR TUTORED GEORGE HARRISON WHO PLAYED THE SITAR ON SONGS.

A NEW EXHIBITION MAKES IT CLEAR THAT RAVI SHANKAR HAD A LONG CAREER IN THE PSYCHEDELIC 60s.

WE MET A FORMER STUDENT.

>> I COME FROM A VERY SMALL TOWN IN INDIA.

I HAPPENED TO MEET THEM IN-PERSON IN THE 80s.

AND IN MID-80s HE ACCEPTED ME AS HIS DISCIPLE AND I STAYED WITH HIM FOR SEVEN YEARS IN HIS HOME LEARNING FROM HIM.

AND THEN MY ASSOCIATION WITH HIM WAS THE VERY END OF HIS LIFE HERE.

>> THE EXHIBIT WAS PLANNED FOR THE CENTENNIAL OF RAVI SHANKAR'S BIRTH LAST YEAR BUT THE NEWLY OPENED SOUTH ASIA INSTITUTE AT 19TH AND MICHIGAN SHUTDOWN FOR THE PANDEMIC.

WE MET THE FOUNDERS OF THE INSTITUTE.

A HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM COLLECTORS WHO RETIRED FROM CAREERS IN MEDICINE.

>> SOUTH ASIANS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE SEVERAL MILLION NOW.

BUT THERE'S VERY LITTLE ABOUT OUR CULTURE AND OUR HERITAGE THAT WE'VE COMMUNICATED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON A LARGER SCALE.

>> MUCH OF THE SHOW COMES FROM THE COLLECTION OF ONE PERSON A MUSIC PROMOTER.

>> EVERY TIME I TALKED TO RAVI ABOUT COMMITTEE HE HAD A DEAR, DEAR CONNECTION TO CHICAGO.

HE PLAYED AT THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY CENTER WHEN HE WAS 13 YEARS OLD IN 1933.

AND HE PLAYED THERE HIS ENTIRE LIFE UNTIL HE PASSED IN 2012.

>> YES THIS MASTER OF WRIST I AM STARTED AS A DANCER.

>> IF YOU LISTEN TO HIS MUSIC WITHOUT KNOWING ANYTHING ANY BACKGROUND YOU WOULD REALIZE THAT HIS MUSIC IS MOVING YOU.

HIS MUSIC IS TELLING YOU A STORY.

HIS MUSIC GIVES YOU VISIONS BASICALLY YOU CAN IMAGINE THINGS.

AND MANY TIMES WHILE TEACHING OR PERFORMING AFTER PERFORMING HE SAID AT THAT TIME HE IMAGINED THE CHOREOGRAPHY TO HIS MUSIC WITHIN HIMSELF BECAUSE OF HIS DANCING DAYS.

>> THAT EXPRESSED ITSELF AND RAVI SHANKAR BECAME A 20TH CENTURY INFLUENCER.

>> THE INFLUENCE IS UNPARALLELED THE ROCK THE JAZZ THE CLASSICAL AND NEW AGE MUSIC AND THAT AMBIIENT MUSIC.

[♪♪♪] >> WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT BUILDING BRIDGES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

BUT ALSO WITH THE GENERAL HUMANITY AROUND US.

AND WE FIND THAT HE WAS DOING THIS DECADES AGO THROUGH HIS MUSIC.

[♪♪♪] >> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS MARC VITALI.

>> RAVI SHANKAR WAS FRIENDLY WITH STUDS TURKELL.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO HEAR AN INTERVIEW TURKELL RADIO ARCHIVE AND FIND OUT ABOUT THE EXHIBITION AT THE SOUTH ASIA INSTITUTE.

>> AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... WE ASKED REPRESENTATIVE MARIE NEWMAN ABOUT RUNNING AGAINST SEAN CASTEN AS A RESULT OF THE CONGRESSIONAL REMAP.

>> A NEW BOOK FROM THE FOOD GUY STEVE DOLINSKY SHOWS THERE IS MORE TO CHICAGO PIZZA THAN JUST DEEP DISH.

>> AND GEOFFREY BAER HAS THE STORY OF A CHICAGO MANUFACTURER WHO LEFT BEHIND A HAUNTED MANSION IN THIS WEEK'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

>> FIRST DONNA MORE STORIES.

>> CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE JAHMAL COLE WAS SHOT IN HYDE PARK TODAY.

COLE SAYS HE WAS SHOT AT NOON ON EAST 53rd STREET.

HE WAS NOT HURT AND DOESN'T KNOW IF HE WAS THE TARGET.

COLE FOUNDED THE GROUP MY BLOCK, MY HOOD, MY CITY AND IS RUNNING FOR ILLINOIS' FIRST CONGRESSIONAL SEAT HELD BY BOBBY RUSH.

COLE WAS SHOT IN THE ARM IN SEPTEMBER IN SOUTH SHORE BUT HAD NOT DISCLOSED THAT.

THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CONFIRMS A 24-YEAR-OLD FORMER STUDENT WAS SHOT AND KILLED TODAY IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD.

CHICAGO OFFICIALS PUSH PARENTS TO GET ELIGIBLE KIDS VACCINATED TO PREVENT ANOTHER COVID SURGE.

THE SHOTS APPROVED FOR KIDS AGES 5-11.

C.P.S.

SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED FRIDAY SO STUDENTS CAN GET A SHOT.

>> JUST DURING THE DELTA SURGE, 12-14-YEAR-OLDS WHO WERE UNVACCINATED WERE MORE THAN 10 TIMES AS LIKELY AS VACCINATED 12-14-YEAR-OLDS TO BE DIAGNOSED WITH COVID.

AND HERE IN CHICAGO UNVACCINATED 15-17-YEAR-OLDS WERE MORE THAN SEVEN TIMES AS LIKELY.

IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY, YOUR CHILDREN TO GET KIDS VACCINATED.

>> THE CITY WILL BE HOSTING CLINICS AROUND THE CITY FRIDAY AND WE HAVE DETAILS ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND FRIDAY IS THE LAST DAY TO GET A SINGLE-DOSE JOHNSON & JOHNSON SHOT OR SECOND DOSE OF MODERNA OR PFIZER TO BE IMMUNIZED IN TIME FOR THANKSGIVING.

>> CITY OFFICIALS TAKE ARKANSAS OFF CHICAGO'S TRAVEL ADVISORY BUT ACKNOWLEDGE COVID CASES HERE ARE STILL ON THE RISE.

THE WARNING COVERS 40 STATES AND GUAM AND CALLS FOR TRAVELERS TO QUARANTINE ON ARRIVAL OR GET A NEGATIVE COVID TEST.

AVMENT TECH HEADACHE AS A COMCAST OUTAGE KNOCKS OUT INTERNET.

COMPLAINTS ABOUT A MASS OUTAGE STARTED AT 7:30 THIS MORNING AND THE ISSUE SPANNED SIX STATES AND HAS BEEN RESOLVED.

IN A STATEMENT THE COMPANY CHALK TO DO UP TO A NETWORK ISSUE AND IS INVESTIGATING THE ROOT CAUSE.

>> EARLY IN THE PROGRAM WE DISCUSSED THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL PASSED IN CONGRESS AND WE ARE NOW REJOINED BY RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI AND RODNEY DAVIS AND MARIE NEWMAN.

>> CONGRESSMAN DAVIS YOU WANTED TO SEE THE MAPS BEFORE RUNNING FOR AN OFFICE THE MAPS ARE DRAWN WHAT IS YOUR DECISION?

>> WELL, THEY ARE NOT LAW YET.

>> THE GOVERNOR HAS YET TO SIGN THEM THAT'S FAIR.

>> AND JUDGING BY THE THE ELECTION RESULTS LAST TUESDAY, IN STATES LIKE VIRGINIA AND NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, MINNESOTA, STATE OF WASHINGTON, DEMOCRATS MAY BE HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW THOSE DISTRICTS LOOK EVEN THOUGH WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT CONGRESSIONAL MAP YOU CANNOT FIND A MORE GERRYMANDERED MESS THAN WHAT ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS PUSHED THROUGH WITHOUT ANY REPUBLICAN SUPPORT.

AND EVEN THAT THEY CANNOT DRAW SUBURBAN DISTRICTS THAT ARE GOING TO GUARANTEE DEMOCRATIC WINS IF I WAS A DEMOCRAT SITTING IN THE SUBURBS OF CHICAGO OR I WOULD BE CONCERNED WITH THE DISTRICTS THAT WERE DRAUB EVEN IN THAT GERRYMANDERED MAP.

>> THE RESULTS MAKE YOU LEAN TOWARD RUNNING FOR CONGRESS AGAIN THEN?

>> AGAIN, I AM WAITING UNTIL THE MAPS ARE LAW.

THERE'S ONE THING I'VE LEARNED SERVING IN CONGRESS NOW NINE YEARS AND REPRESENTING THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD AND THE STATE CAPITAL, I DON'T TRUST ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS TO FOLLOW THROUGH.

SO WHEN IT'S SIGNED INTO LAW I WILL MAKE MY DECISION BECAUSE WE'LL KNOW WHAT THE BATTLEFIELD LOOKS LIKE.

>> WE WILL AWAIT THAT.

WHAT ABOUT THAT DEMOCRATS DID NOT PERFORM WELL IN VIRGINIA THEY LOST THE GOVERNOR'S SEAT AND OTHER SEATS IN THAT STATE.

DOES THAT PORTEND BAD THINGS FOR THE MIDTERMS AND ARE DISTRICTS LIKE YOURS PERHAPS UP FOR GRABS?

>> WELL, I DON'T TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED BUT I THINK THE MESSAGE WAS LOUD AND CLEAR WHICH IS GET SOMETHING DONE AND I'M VERY HAPPY WE DID JUST THAT.

LATE FRIDAY NIGHT.

ALMOST SOLELY ON DEMOCRATIC VOTES BY THE WAY AND I THINK THAT THE VOTERS WANT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

THEY WANT OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA AS WELL.

AND I JUST DON'T THINK THEY WANT A PARTY THAT JUST STANDS FOR NO.

NO INFRASTRUCTURE.

NO CHILDCARE TAX CREDITS.

NO UNIVERSAL PRE-K. NO WORKFORCE TRAINING I THINK THEY WANT CANDIDATES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO GET THINGS DONE AND THAT IS WHAT I'M GOING TO SEEK TO TRY TO DO GOING FORWARD.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN NEWMAN THERE WERE REPORTS YOU WERE UNHAPPY CARRIES OUT TO REDRAW THE MAPS, THEY DID NOT DRAW YOU A FAVORABLE ONE AND PEOPLE CALLED THE LEADERS IS THAT TRUE?

>> WHAT HAPPEN SECOND THAT I HAVE A HUGE COALITION OF FOLKS THROUGHOUT MY DISTRICT.

AND THEY LEARNED WHAT THE PROCESS WAS.

WHICH WAS THEY WERE ABLE TO ENTER TESTIMONY AND WITNESS SLIPS AND GO TO THE HEARINGS.

ONCE THEY LEARNED THOSE WERE THE OPTIONS THEY IN FACT SHOWED UP IN FORCE HUNDREDS OF THEM.

BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO STAY TOGETHER WE WORK WELL AS A DISTRICT.

I THINK THAT ONCE THEY LEARNED THE RULES AND THEN THEY EXECUTED ON THEM THEY MADE THEIR VOICES LOUD AND CLEAR AND COULDN'T HAVE BEEN A MORE DEMOCRATIC WAY TO SHARE WHAT THEY WANTED.

>> AND YOU HAVE ANNOUNCED YOU ARE GOING TO RUN IN THE 6TH DISTRICT NOW HELD BY SEAN CASTEN.

YOU LIVE A FEW CLOCKS OUTSIDE OF IT.

WHY THAT DISTRICT?

>> LET ME EXPLAIN.

ILLINOIS SIX IS A NEW DISTRICT NOT THE OLD ILLINOIS DISTRICT.

THIS IS 50% OF MY CURRENT ILLINOIS 3 DISTRICT COUPLED WITH A SMALL PORTION OF SCHAUB CAST 10'S DISTRICT AND THE REMAINING 30% COMES FROM Mr. QUIGLEY'S DISTRICT AND BOBBY RUSH'S AND I BELIEVE COME OF RAJ'S.

IT CALL COMES TOGETHER TO CREATE A NEW DISTRICT CALLED ILLINOIS SIX.

WE ARE RUNNING IN A BRAND NEW DISTRICT CALLED THE NEW ILLINOIS SIX AND I AM A BLACK-AND-A-HALF OUT OF IT.

>> SO THAT IS A DISTRICT.

CONGRESSMAN DAVIS I WANT TO TURN TO THIS CONTROVERSIAL VIDEO TWEETED OUT BY ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES THE REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE PAUL GOSAR FROM ARIZONA.

THERE'S CALLS HE SHOULD BE CENSORED SHOULD THERE BE PUNISHMENT FOR TWEETING OUT A VIDEO THAT PURPORTED TO SHOW VIOLENCE AGAINST OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

>> I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

I HAVE YET TO SEE THAT AND I WILL GIVE YOU MY COMMENT LATER.

THERE'S NO PLACE FOR VIOLENCE.

THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE FELONIES ON THEIR RECORD BECAUSE THEY THREATENED TO BLOW MY HEAD OFF.

I RAN FROM BULLETS ON THE BASEBALL FIELD A FEW YEARS AGO BECAUSE SOME CRAZED INDIVIDUAL DECIDED TO SCREAM HEALTHCARE WHILE HE WAS FIRING AT US BECAUSE HE DISAGREED WITH US.

THE ISSUES WE NEED TO BE FACING ARE THE ISSUES WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AND WE'VE DONE THAT WE'VE INVESTED HISTORIC AMOUNT OF DOLLARS IN INFRASTRUCTURE AS PART OF OUR PANDEMIC RESPONSES UPWARDS OF NINE TIMES AS MUCH GOING TO OUR TRANSIT SYSTEMS AND AIRPORTS AND ROADS AND BRIDGES AND CARES ACT FUNDING AND PANDEMIC FUNDING.

AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT PASSED A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND AGAIN, PARIS, HOW MANY DOLLARS ARE GOING TO BE SPENT HOW MANY BILLIONS JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED DECADES AGO IF CERTAIN AREAS AND TEARING THAT DOWN INSTEAD OF INVESTING IN THE NEW PROJECTS THAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN NEWMAN GETTING BACK TO THE VIOLENCE ISSUE, CONGRESSMAN DAVIS MENTIONED RUNNING FROM BULLETS ON THE BASEBALL FIELD AND YOU'VE FELT PRESSURE FROM MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN.

THE RHETORIC IS WILD.

AND RHETORIC FROM PUBLIC OFFICIALS DRIVES SOME CONSTITUENTS TO DO CRAZY THINGS WE KNOW THAT.

WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE TEMPERATURE IN CONGRESS RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, I THINK WE DO GET ALONG.

WE HAVE PARTY DISCUSSIONS AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL AND FREQUENTLY.

BUT WE SAW JUST TONIGHT THAT CONGRESSMAN DAVIS AND MY COLLEAGUE RAJ AND I AGREE ON SOME THINGS.

THAT WE WANT TO INVEST IN STRONG PROJECTS THAT WILL PRODUCE JOBS AND RESTORE OUR STANDING IN THE WORLD IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE ARE THE 13TH RIGHT NOW.

THAT IS PITIFUL WE SHOULD BE NUMBER ONE.

AND THESE INVESTMENTS WILL HELP DO THAT.

THERE ARE VERY EFFECTIVE DISCUSSIONS THAT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME AND SOMETIMES IT'S IN THE TUNNEL OR HAVING COFFEE.

BUT THOSE ARE NOT THE THINGS THE MEDIA REPORTS ON THEY LIKE THE DRAMA.

TENSIONS DO RUN HIGH BUT OVERALL WE HAVE GOOD DISCUSSIONS AND WE LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER.

I'M NOT AS PESSIMISTIC AS MANY I'M OPTIMISTIC WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE GOOD DISCUSSIONS AND STRONG DEBATES AND SOMETIMES RAISE VOICES.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU MORE PENAS TODAY ISSUED BY THE JANUARY 6 SELECT COMMITTEE THE CRIMINAL REFERRAL NOW TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FOR STEVE BANNON DO YOU BELIEVE THE SUBPOENAS WILL BE CRIMINALLY ENFORCED BY THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT?

>> I HOPE SO.

I THINK STEVE BANNON NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO TESTIFY.

HE NEEDS TO PRODUCE DOCUMENTS.

THE GROUND ON WHICH HE IS OBJECTING TO COMING BEFORE CONGRESS ARE SO FLIMSY HE IS CLAIMING EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE THOUGH HE WAS NOT AN EMPLOYEE AT THE TIME OF SUPPOSED PRIVILEGED CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT.

HE WAS NOT AN EMPLOYEE OF THE GOVERNMENT.

AND IN ANY CASE, EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE IS ALWAYS INVOKED TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AND IN THIS CASE, INVOKING IT TO PROTECT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT INSURRECTIONIST ACTIVITIES IS ANYTHING BUT PROTECTING NATIONAL SECURITY.

SO THE DOJ NEEDS TO ENFORCE THAT SUBPOENA.

Mr. BANNON NEEDS TO PRODUCE DOCUMENTS IN HIS TESTIMONY AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO GET AT THE TRUTH THAT IS WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LEAD UP TO JANUARY 6, WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT DAY.

AND THE AFTERMATH.

AND THIS IS VERY ESSENTIAL FOR OUR DEMOCRACY IN MY OPINION.

>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANKS TO REPRESENTATIVES RODNEY DAVIS, MARIE NEWMAN AND RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT A SLICE OF CHICAGO PIZZA HISTORY.