CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE SAYS LET’S ACT NOW TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Co-chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Justice Reform Working Group and a Senior Member of the House Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding the recent shooting in Santa Barbara, California this past weekend and the need to pass legislation NOW to prevent gun violence:

“Our thoughts and prayers today remain with the parents and loved ones of the victims of the Santa Barbara shooting, with the wounded still fighting to recover, with the students and the entire campus community.  Such violence has no place in our society, and this horrific tragedy is simply the latest reminder that action is needed, and needed now, to prevent gun violence.

“Today, the House has the opportunity to meet our charge to protect and defend the American people. I call on my colleagues to vote for the an amendment today on the House floor that would invest an additional $19.5 million to help states improve submissions to the national background check system.

“One amendment will not address all of our challenges, but it represents a strong step forward – and we must do more by enacting the King-Thompson legislation to strengthen the Brady background checks, currently with 189 Members on the bill. We must also pass legislation that strengthens mental health intervention and research, and keep guns away from those who shouldn’t have them. We must also make much-needed investments in the mental health system.

“As more details emerge about the Santa Barbara shooter, it is clear that we must keep guns away from those most at-risk of hurting themselves and others. The families of Santa Barbara, like the families of Newtown, Tucson, Aurora, Columbine, and the streets of our cities every day, deserve a vote. After 3 ½ years, House Republicans have next to nothing to show for their time in the majority, aside from failed leadership, debilitating dysfunction, and a culture of crisis.

“Republicans’ reckless policies resulted in a first-ever downgrade in our credit rating and brought us the 16-day Republican Government Shutdown. The Do-Nothing Republican 113th Congress is setting a new low of obstruction and contempt for the priorities of the American people – refusing to create jobs, refusing to renew emergency unemployment insurance, refusing to raise the minimum wage, and refusing to address comprehensive immigration reform.

“The Ryan Republican budget reveals the full extent of House Republicans’ disregard for working Americans. The GOP Budget would end the Medicare guarantee, increase prescription drug costs by an average of nearly $1,200 per year, and make traditional Medicare premiums soar by 50 percent. Republicans would raise taxes on middle class families with children by $2,000, but give millionaires a $200,000 tax break.  The Ryan Republican road to recession would cost 1.1 million jobs in 2015, rising to 3 million the next year.

“It is time for Republicans to abandon their hollow and toxic partisan agenda, and work with Democrats to create jobs and build an economy that works for everyone – not just the wealthy.”

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