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REPASSING SOME MOSTLY NONCONTROVERSIAL HOMELAND SECURITY BILLS IS EQUIVALENT TO JUST ANOTHER MOMENT OF SILENCE

June 16, 2016

“House Republicans Repassing These Homeland Security Bills Does Not Respond to the Orlando Mass Shooting,” stated Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a Senior Member of the House Judiciary Committee and the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Subcommittee and a Senior Member of the House Homeland Security, released the following statement regarding the Republican response to the Orlando mass shooting by combining legislation and repackaging three homeland security bills that the House has already passed:

“In response to the Orlando mass shooting, House Republicans are combining together and repassing three mostly noncontroversial homeland security bills that the House has already passed and sent to the Senate. Since these bills are already in the Senate, repassing these bills has no effect. House Republicans are desperately trying to convince the public that they are doing something to make Americans safer this week, when they are really doing nothing.

“As Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Subcommittee and as a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee, I have introduced H.R. 5470, the “Stop Mass Killings by Violent Terrorists Act,” which will prohibit a firearms dealer from transferring a semiautomatic assault weapon or large capacity ammunition clips to a purchaser until the Attorney General has verified that the prospective transferee has truthfully answered new questions on the firearms background check questionnaire regarding contacts between the prospective purchaser or transferee and federal law enforcement authorities.

“On Tuesday, House Republicans introduced a bill (H.R. 5471) that incorporates the three mostly noncontroversial homeland security bills. Today, the House will consider H.R. 5471 under suspension of the rules. Most of my colleagues are expected to vote YEA. However, Democrats argue that instead of Republicans doing the meaningless gesture of passing this bill, the House instead should be considering H.R. 1076, the bipartisan “No Fly, No Buy” and H.R. 5470, the “Stop Mass Killings by Violent Terrorists Act immediately!!!!”

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