[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 3 (Monday, January 14, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H76-H82]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CBC HOUR: A CULTURE OF VIOLENCE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Barr). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 3, 2013, the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Fudge) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.


                             General Leave

  Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the subject of 
this Special Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. FUDGE. The Congressional Black Caucus, better known as the CBC, 
is proud to anchor this hour. My name is Marcia Fudge, and I represent 
the 11th Congressional District of Ohio, and I'm currently the chair of 
the Congressional Black Caucus. CBC Members stand firm as the voice of 
the people and as the conscience of the Congress. We are dedicated to 
providing focused services to the citizens who elected us to these 
offices.
  Tonight, the CBC will focus its attention on the culture of violence. 
With no end in sight, the culture of violence continues to permeate and 
define our society, Mr. Speaker. We cannot hide from it. It is 
everywhere we go.
  Merriam-Webster defines an epidemic as ``something affecting or 
tending to affect a disproportionately large number of individuals 
within a population, community, or region at the same time.'' It is 
clear the culture of violence is an American epidemic. It is time for 
us to face the music.
  We are complicit in the violence that takes place in our Nation if we 
fail to strengthen our gun laws, if we fail to invest more resources 
into our mental health services, and address the issue of bullying. We 
must take meaningful and immediate action to eradicate the culture of 
violence in our country.
  Mr. Speaker, this evening I am joined by a number of members of the 
Congressional Black Caucus, and I now yield to the gentleman from 
Illinois, Mr. Danny Davis.
  Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the 
chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus for not only anchoring this 
hour, but also providing an opportunity for the rest of us.
  I had decided to develop a statement, but then I had 16 young 
students visit me this afternoon from Oak Park, Illinois, and they 
presented to me their statement. Their statement was so similar to my 
statement that I told them that their statement was better than mine 
and I would use it. So I'm going to read it as they presented it to me. 
They said:

       Hello, my name is Joey Cofsky, and my name is Sebastian 
     Torero, and we are here on behalf of the Religious Action 
     Center of Reform Judaism to talk about gun violence 
     prevention. We hope that you will offer support for the Fix 
     Gun Checks Act when it is introduced.
       Unfortunately, it took an inconceivable amount of gun-
     related tragedies, and a recent catastrophic elementary 
     school massacre, to once again raise awareness of the need 
     for stricter gun laws. Nearly every day, I hear on the news 
     that a common child has been shot to death in my very own 
     city. Statistics furthermore illuminate this occurrence as 
     eight young Americans die each day under the age of 19 from 
     gun violence. By June of 2012, 228 people were killed in the 
     city of Chicago. In that same period of time, 144 United 
     States soldiers had been killed in Afghanistan. Instead of 
     continuously cringing at these statistics in disbelief every 
     time we read them, it is time to curb the pattern of violence 
     that has made the inner-city streets more violent than our 
     very own battlefields.
       Today marks the month anniversary of one of the most 
     horrific mass shootings in our Nation's history. On this day, 
     I personally think about the innocent 20 children whose

[[Page H77]]

     lives were prematurely taken at a peaceful elementary school. 
     I wonder about the difference in the world those 20 children 
     could have made. That day, we all seemed to realize we had 
     seen this too many times before. Mass shootings grab our 
     Nation by surprise, and after every one, we feel a sense of 
     deja vu. At first, people's passion for change is re-ignited, 
     and the driving force of action is full throttle; but as the 
     weeks go by, the clamor dies down. The memory of the victims 
     fades from our consciousness, that is, until another shooting 
     occurs. I, and the people of this country, have grieved over 
     too many caskets. It is time to match our words with actions.
       In the Talmud, a collection of Jewish laws and lessons, we 
     are taught that he who takes one life, it is as though he has 
     destroyed a universe. And he who saves a life, it is as 
     though he has saved a universe. As a Jew, and as a person, 
     this quotation resonates strongly with me. It tells me that 
     it is not only important to save lives in immediate danger, 
     but to prevent the loss of life in general. It has become 
     clear to many of us, and for some it has been clear for quite 
     some time, that an effective way to prevent death in our 
     country and in essence save a universe is to enact a policy 
     that would stem the flow of gun violence. Gun violence in our 
     country takes 12 times the amount of lives that it does in 
     the other 25 wealthiest nations combined. It is clear that in 
     our Nation, guns are a major problem.

  We are told to save lives, and we can do that. So I would urge every 
American to know that lives saved is like saving a universe.

       Hello, my name is Joey Cofsky, and my name is Sebastian 
     Torero and we are here on the behalf of the Religious Action 
     Center of Reform Judaism to talk about Gun Violence 
     Prevention. We hope that you will offer support for the Fix 
     Gun Checks Act when it is introduced.
       Unfortunately, it took an inconceivable amount of gun 
     related tragedies, and a recent catastrophic elementary 
     school massacre, to once again raise awareness of the need 
     for stricter gun control laws. Nearly every day, I hear on 
     the news that a common child has been shot to death in my 
     very own city. Statistics furthermore illuminate this 
     occurrence as 8 young Americans die each day under the age of 
     19 from gun violence. By June of 2012, 228 people were killed 
     in the city of Chicago. In that same period of time, 144 U.S. 
     soldiers had been killed in Afghanistan. Instead of 
     continuously cringing at these statistics in disbelief, every 
     time we read them, it is time to curb the pattern of the 
     violence that has made the inner city streets more violent 
     than our very own battlefields.
       Today marks the month anniversary of one of the most 
     horrific mass shootings in our nation's history. On this day, 
     I personally think about the innocent 20 children whose lives 
     were prematurely taken at a peaceful elementary school. I 
     wonder about the difference in the world those 20 children 
     could have made. That day, we all seemed to realize we had 
     seen this too many times before. Mass shootings grab our 
     nation by surprise, and after every one, we feel a sense of 
     deja vu. At first, people's passion for change is reignited, 
     and the driving force of action is full throttle. But as 
     weeks go by, the clamor dies down. The memory of the victims 
     fades from our consciousness. That is, until another shooting 
     occurs. I, and the people of this country, have grieved over 
     too many caskets. It is time to match our words with actions.
       In the Talmud, a collection of Jewish laws and lessons, we 
     are taught that he who takes one life, it is as though he has 
     destroyed a universe, and he who saves a life, it is as 
     though he has saved a universe. As a Jew, and as a person, 
     this quotation resonates strongly with me. It tells me that 
     it is not only important to save lives in immediate danger, 
     but to prevent the loss of life in general. It has become 
     clear to many of us, and for some, it has been clear for 
     quite some time, that an effective way to prevent death in 
     our country, and in essence, save a universe, is to enact 
     policy that would stem the flow of gun violence. Gun violence 
     in our country takes 12 times the amount of lives that it 
     does in the other 25 wealthiest nations combined. It is clear 
     that, in our nation, guns are a major problem. Jews are told 
     to save lives, and laws that will prevent gun violence serve 
     that purpose.
       In America, an average of 30,000 lives are lost to gun 
     violence each year. This, and all we have said before it, 
     explicitly demonstrates how dangerous guns can be, yet it can 
     be easier to obtain a gun than it is to vote. 4 out of 10 
     guns are sold by unlicensed sellers with no background check 
     conducted. Because of the Gun Show Loophole, anyone can walk 
     up to a private set at a gun show, purchase a gun, and carry 
     it out of the event. Domestic violence abusers, convicted 
     felons, people with mental illnesses, and terrorists can 
     purchase guns because of this loophole. 30% of illegally 
     trafficked guns are connected to gun shows. Actions must be 
     taken to prevent guns from falling into the hands of people 
     who would not pass a background check, but can obtain a 
     firearm because of this loophole. The Fix Gun Checks Act 
     (H.R. 137) would eliminate this loophole by requiring 
     background checks for any gun sales event that provides a 
     venue for the sale or transaction of firearms. We thank you 
     for cosponsoring this bill, and hope you will continue to 
     support it in the future.

  Ms. FUDGE. I thank my friend from Illinois for those words and for 
bringing us the words of young people who are affected by this violence 
every day.
  Mr. Speaker, we are joined by the former chair of the CBC, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).
  Ms. LEE. First, let me thank you, Congresswoman Fudge, our new chair 
of the Congressional Black Caucus, for bringing us here together 
tonight to discuss this important issue. Also, I wanted to say that 
Congresswoman Fudge is such a tremendous leader and now, as chair of 
the Congressional Black Caucus, has really chartered a very powerful 
course for equity, justice, and for nonviolence. So thank you very much 
for your leadership.
  I can think of no more important subject than the culture of violence 
which Congresswoman Fudge has brought us here together to discuss 
tonight, and specifically gun violence that has been destroying 
communities, taking lives, and injuring too many people for much too 
long across America.

                              {time}  1940

  As President Obama so eloquently said the Sunday after the tragedy in 
Newtown which shook the conscience of this country, and which we all 
still continue to mourn and offer our condolences to the families and 
friends and the entire community, We cannot accept this violence, the 
President said. This is visited on children year after year, and 
somehow is the price of freedom.
  We cannot accept this. We cannot accept one more innocent life being 
lost to violence, not one in Newtown, not one in Chicago or Cleveland, 
not one in Oakland, California, not one in any town, in any city, in 
any school, in any theater or in any place of worship, in any mall, or 
in any of our neighborhoods.
  We have an obligation to our children to ensure that Newtown marks a 
turning point that made us finally say enough is enough. We must come 
together to build an America where our children do not have to live in 
fear and where they do have a future.
  Last week I was at an event in my district in west Oakland. It was 
the unveiling of a mural painted by several talented young artists. 
This Tree of Life mural depicted the hope and the faith that my young 
people have for a future without violence. Yet they've seen and 
experienced so much gun violence in their communities throughout their 
young lives.
  Just over the weekend, 11 people were tragically shot in my 
congressional district. Too many of my constituents have been affected 
by gun violence, have pleaded for help in protecting their children 
from the horrors of gun violence, only to see the status quo continue 
at the Federal level.
  Mr. Speaker, we need to take some serious action that includes 
commonsense measures such as Federal gun buyback programs, banning 
high-capacity magazines, expanding the 24-hour gun background check, 
closing the gun show loophole, and re-instituting the assault weapon 
ban. We need to do this immediately.
  But we also need to work to end domestic violence in our homes and 
reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. For whatever reason, 
unfortunately, it got stuck last Congress. We need to do this right 
away.
  We also must seek input from our young people, community 
stakeholders, faith communities and others. We can work together to 
identify the root causes of this Nation's more than 16,000 homicides a 
year.
  Let me call to your attention the work of a magnificent community-
based organization in my district that I actually am very proud of that 
I helped found in the early nineties called the Martin Luther King, Jr. 
Freedom Center. These young people continue to work on conflict 
resolution and violence prevention efforts day and night, but they 
constantly tell us that their work is thwarted due to too many guns in 
the streets.
  Finally, we must recognize gun violence as a critical public health 
crisis and continue to support comprehensive violence prevention plans.
  This week, Congresswoman DeLauro and myself, we're offering an 
amendment that would end a prohibition, mind you--and Congresswoman 
Fudge, this is mind-boggling when you see

[[Page H78]]

that we have a prohibition at the Department of Health and Human 
Services that would not allow us to analyze gun violence in terms of 
public health. We have a prohibition against that. So we're trying to 
offer an amendment that would take away this prohibition.
  As a psychiatric social worker by profession and someone who founded 
a community mental health center when the psychiatric facilities began 
to shut down in California, I understand firsthand why we need to help 
people struggling with mental illness, give them the treatment they 
need, and reduce the stigma associated with seeking help.
  So I'm going to introduce, once again, my bill to add mental health 
counselors to our schools, which will help children and families 
struggling with emotional issues who could actually be on the brink; 
but if we had mental health counselors there, they could really help 
steer them away from whatever tragedy that could occur.
  So we can't allow the status quo to continue, to allow our children 
and grandchildren to grow up in this culture of violence, in a world 
where violence threatens our schools, our homes, and our communities.
  Let me thank again Congresswoman Fudge for gathering us here tonight 
to discuss this very important issue. I just want to remind us that 
next Monday we will once again celebrate the birthday of our great drum 
major for justice, the prince of peace, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
  We must rededicate our lives and our work to the principles of 
nonviolence, which are more important now more than ever. Dr. King 
reminded us that violence should never be an option if we really want a 
world worthy of our children and grandchildren.
  Yes, as a major part of this, it does mean getting guns off the 
streets and working for a culture of peace and security.
  Thank you again.
  Ms. FUDGE. I thank you so much.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from California because, as she 
was the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, it was she who gave me 
the opportunity to anchor this hour for my first 2 years as a freshman 
in this caucus, so I thank you.
  My friend from Texas, Congressman Al Green, it is a pleasure to have 
you with us this evening.
  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Thank you, Madam Chair. And I thank the 
Speaker for the time.
  I congratulate you, Madam Chair, on being the newly elected 
chairperson of the CBC, and I pledge to work with you to do all that I 
can to assist you, not only with the many programs that we have, but 
also with ending this culture of violence.
  Madam Chair, on this, the eve of the birthday of Dr. King, it is 
appropriate to quote him. He reminded us that the truest measure of the 
person is not where you stand in times of comfort and convenience, when 
all is right with the world, your health is good, your bills are paid, 
friends are all around. The truest measure of the person is where do 
you stand in times of challenge and controversy.
  Challenge and controversy, when young people are dying in the street, 
when domestic violence is claiming the lives of spouses and paramours 
and lovers and friends, when churches are being shot up, where do you 
stand?
  Let's talk for just a moment about some of these circumstances. I 
attended a funeral just recently. It was the funeral of Ms. Latasha 
Jones. Ms. Jones was killed on Christmas Eve, December 2012. She lost 
her life in the presence of her son. Her daughter lost her life as 
well, victim of domestic violence.
  It's one thing to know and use the term ``victim,'' another thing to 
attend the funeral of a victim. It was a sad occasion. Mother and 
daughter, son there to only suffer heartache knowing that he will never 
see his mother or his sister again.
  I have the program from that funeral, and I have the obituary. I 
shall place this in the Record.

                            Latasha R. Jones

                   October 14, 1977-December 24, 2012

       On October 14, 1977 in Houston, Texas, a baby girl was born 
     to Clarence M. Jones and Patricia Jones. They named her 
     Latasha Rochelle Jones. Latasha confessed to Christ at an 
     early age at South Park Baptist Church, in Houston, Texas. 
     She attended Houston area public schools and graduated from 
     North Shore High School in 1997, in Houston, Texas.
       On September 27, 1994, she had her first daughter: 
     Chamarea' Schane' Hoskin. On February 8, 1999, she gave birth 
     to her second daughter: JaKaela Neshae Newhouse. On May 24, 
     2005, she gave birth to her first son: Chance Javion-Lee 
     Adams. Latasha was a kind-hearted, loving caregiver. She 
     pursued her dream of caring for children while she was 
     employed with many different daycare facilities. While 
     employed at KinderCare, she was a Senior Quest Teacher. She 
     truly had a passion for educating and nurturing children. 
     Latasha also traveled down other avenues of care-giving by 
     completing her education and dream of becoming a Certified 
     Medical Assistant at PCI (Professional Careers Institute). 
     Latasha completed the course and graduated on June 20, 2012. 
     While attending PCI. Latasha was employed with Home Depot, 
     where she worked very hard to provide for her family.
       Latasha was preceded in death by her father, Clarence M. 
     Jones, her grandmother Shirley McDonald, three cousins: 
     Cheryl L. McDonald, Jermaine McDonald and Byron J. Scranton, 
     her step-brother: Clarence Owens.
       Her loving memory will linger on in the hearts of her 
     Mother and Pow-Pow: Patricia A. Wilson and Earnest ``Lee'' 
     Wilson, Sr.; her daughter: Chamarea' Hoskin, her son: Chance 
     J.L. Adams; her sisters: Candi Jones, Alicia Jarmon (Jai 
     Francis, Sr.), Rashaunda Jarmon; step-sister: Wendy W. Thomas 
     (Randy) and Desiree Jarmon; step-brothers: Ernest L. Wilson, 
     Jr. and Marcus Vivian; her nieces: Jailicia Martinez (Robert 
     M.), Morgan Francis, Jordyn Lassaint, Avry Francis and Zoey 
     Sarumi; her nephews: Jai Francis, Jr., Tristen Francis, 
     Randall Thomas, Caden Francis, Seven Francis, Shia Francis 
     and Tru Irven, a host of loving Aunts, Uncles, cousins her 
     God-Mother Emori Davis, and a host of other loving relatives 
     and friends.
       May Latasha R.I.P. with her daughter, JaKaela.
                                  ____



                          JaKaela N. Newhouse

                   February 8, 1977-December 24, 2012

       On February 8, 1999 in Houston, Texas, a baby girl was born 
     to Herman Newhouse, Jr. and Latasha Jones. They named her 
     JaKaela Neshae Newhouse. She attended Houston area public 
     schools and was currently an 8th grade student at Killough 
     Middle School, in Houston, Texas. She has two older sisters: 
     Janesha McCartaney, who was born on July 19, 1991 and 
     Chamarea' Schane' Hoskin, who was born on September 27, 1994. 
     She became the proud big-sister to her younger brothers, 
     Zaquarius Newhouse, who was born on December 12, 2003 and 
     Chance Javion-Lee Adams, who was born on May 24, 2005.
       JaKaela was a loving, curious and happy teenager. She was a 
     very ``studious student'' who took pride in her schoolwork. 
     Her favorite pastime was to Sci-Fi books. She loved her 
     family and her best friend Shakira Romero.
       JaKaela was preceded in death by her father Herman 
     Newhouse, Jr., her grandfather Clarence M. Jones, her great-
     grandmother Shirley McDonald, three great-cousins: Cheryl L. 
     McDonald, Jermaine McDonald and Byron J. Scranton, her uncle: 
     Clarence Owens. Her loving memory will linger on in the 
     hearts of her Grandmother and Pow-Pow: Patricia A. and 
     Earnest ``Lee'' Wilson, Sr. and her paternal grandparents 
     Herman and Norma Newhouse; her Step-Mother, Vondalin Johnson; 
     her sisters: Janesha McCartaney and Chamarea' Hoskin, her 
     Step-Sister, Quawntina Johnson; her brothers: Zaquarius 
     Newhouse and Chance J.L. Adams; her Step-brother, Quiwnton 
     Johnson; her aunts: Candi Jones, LaTricia Newhouse, Alicia 
     Jarmon (Jai Francis, Sr.), Rashaunda Jarmon, Wendy W. Thomas 
     (Randy) and Desiree Jarmon; her uncle: Ernest L. Wilson, Jr. 
     and Marcus Vivian; her cousins: Jailicia Martinez (Robert 
     M.), Morgan Francis, Jordyn Lassaint, Avry Francis, Zoey 
     Sarumi, Jai Francis, Jr., Tristen Francis, Randall Thomas, 
     Caden Francis, Seven Francis, Shia Francis and Tru Irven, a 
     host of loving Great-Aunts, Great-Uncles, and a host of other 
     loving relatives and friends.
       May JaKaela R.I.P. in the arms of her mother, Latasha.

  Gang violence. In my district, Robert Baptiste was a victim of gang 
violence, and on August 2012, at his funeral, there was a shootout at 
the church.
  Where do you stand when you have gang violence and domestic violence?
  Joshua Woods, 22 years of age, went out to buy a new pair of 
sneakers, December 2012. On the way home, accosted, lost his life, 
shot--died over sneakers.
  I had the opportunity to speak to his mother just recently. It was a 
heartbreaking conversation for a mother to explain how her son worked 
hard, and this was something that he had worked hard for. He was a good 
kid. His mother loved him.
  When the natural order of things is circumvented, it's very difficult 
to reconcile.
  And then I would call to your attention Ryan Spikes, killed in a 
drive-by shooting at a spring break party. Indiscriminate violence.
  Where do we stand is the question that Dr. King would put to us.

[[Page H79]]

                              {time}  1950

  But he would also remind us that we must learn to live together as 
brothers and sisters or we will perish together as fools. And the 
notion of a gun for a gun is not the solution. We've tried eye for an 
eye, tooth for a tooth. That only leaves us blind and toothless. Guns 
will lead to shoot-outs.
  This is not the solution. We must do more, not only to rid society of 
these weapons of war, but also to help our children learn that they can 
live together as brothers and sisters. There is but one race, and 
that's the human race. We were all created by God to live in harmony, 
and we must teach our children that they should respect each other and 
live together with each other.
  This is not an easy task. There will be no silver bullet, there will 
be no easy solution, but we have to do all that we can. When you can't 
do enough, you have a duty to do all that you can.
  I pledge to do all that I can to work with you, Madam Chair, to make 
sure that we end domestic violence, gang violence, indiscriminate 
violence, and that we don't resort to a gun for a gun, which is a 
nouveau version of an eye for an eye.
  I thank the gentlelady for yielding.
  Ms. FUDGE. I thank my friend. Thank you so very much.
  I now yield to the vice chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and 
my good friend from New York, Representative Yvette Clarke.
  Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the chairwoman of the 
Congressional Black Caucus, the gentlelady from Ohio (Ms. Fudge), for 
summoning us to be a part of this Special Order this evening. It is 
quite timely as we mark the 1-month anniversary of the slaughter of the 
innocents in Newtown, Connecticut, as we all reflect on the many 
challenges that we face within our own neighborhoods, our own 
communities, of longstanding reckless gun violence.
  Mr. Speaker, just last week a 90-year-old woman by the name of Gloria 
Johnson, 90 years old, was shot twice as she walked to the laundromat 
in East New York, Brooklyn. She lived 90 years to be gunned down in 
Brooklyn, New York.
  Two weeks ago, AK-47 shells were found in Queens, New York, at the 
scene of the murder of a 17-year-old child--AK-47. You find those types 
of shells in Iraq, in Afghanistan, not in Queens, New York. But there's 
a new reality that we are all facing, and that is assault weapons in an 
urban environment.
  And this summer a young 13-year-old boy named Ronald Wallace III was 
shot in the back by a barrage of gunfire in the streets of Brownsville, 
Brooklyn, within my own district.
  Although New York City has some of the strictest gun laws in the 
Nation, senseless crimes like these occur all too frequently in my 
district and across New York City and in other urban communities across 
the United States.
  In 2012, the New York City Police Department reported 226 incidents 
of handgun violence in Brooklyn, New York, alone.
  Illegal gun trafficking and gaping holes in Federal background check 
requirements are to blame for many of these incidents. Eighty-five 
percent of the guns used in crimes in New York City are first purchased 
in States like Virginia and Georgia that do not extend the background 
check to purchase limitation requirements for private sellers.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand with my fellow lawmakers in Congress, with Mayor 
Michael Bloomberg and with Governor Cuomo, in demanding Federal 
legislation that specifically addresses illegal trafficking of guns 
across State lines and the requirement of background checks in all gun 
purchase transactions.
  To truly put an end to the random gun violence that plagues New York 
City and other urban areas, however, we must also address other policy 
areas that have profound effects on the level of gun violence that we 
see.
  Yes, I agree that mental health and mental illness are important 
factors that have to be explored and addressed when trying to mitigate 
against gun violence; however, there's some additional factors that 
contribute to what has become tantamount to a public health crisis. One 
such factor is poor educational outcomes.
  According to the American Economic Review, a 1-year increase in the 
average years of education completed reduces violent crime by nearly 30 
percent. In fact, between 2000 and 2005, New York State increased its 
higher education expenditures by roughly 40 percent. During the same 
period, the State violent crime rate decreased by roughly 20 percent. 
These statistics are an indication that there is a direct correlation 
between investment in education and the reduction of violent crime, 
specifically gun crime.
  It is my hope that any legislative measure brought to the floor for 
consideration also takes into account true and real investment in the 
inadequate or ineffectual educational systems across this Nation. By 
bolstering our educational institutions, we help set our children on a 
path to success instead of one that leads to violent crime, death, and 
incarceration.
  Gun violence is not an inevitable part of life, yet it continues to 
plague our communities. We are not helpless in this endeavor. We owe it 
to our constituents, to our Nation, and to future generations to act 
with urgency and conviction to put an end to the senseless pattern of 
gun violence, not only in suburban America, but in every community 
across this Nation, urban America as well.
  Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, I look forward to working with you in 
whatever capacity necessary to save another family from the hurt, the 
harm, and the trauma of the senseless acts of violence that take place 
in our communities across this Nation due to illegal handguns and gun 
trafficking.
  With that, Madam Chair, I thank you for yielding.
  Ms. FUDGE. I thank the gentlelady from New York.
  Mr. Speaker, I want you to know that the gentlelady from New York has 
been a strong and steady voice in our caucus, and I so much appreciate 
it.
  Mr. Speaker, I now yield to my colleague from Ohio, who I'm so 
pleased has joined this House, the Honorable Joyce Beatty.
  Mrs. BEATTY. Thank you, Madam Chair.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to take my first opportunity to address my 
colleagues from the House floor, to participate in a discussion on an 
issue that I find very troubling, at a crisis point for our Nation.
  But first let me thank our chairwoman, Marcia Fudge, for her 
outstanding leadership and for organizing the Special Order hour to 
address the issue of the senseless violence facing our Nation.
  Our country, more than ever, is facing a culture of violence. 
Unfortunately, we are now living in a society where mass killings have 
gone from being an extremely rare occurrence to a common occurrence.
  According to Harvard Health Policy Review, each year approximately 
30,000 people in the United States die as a result of gunfire, and 
about 80,000 people are wounded. We are faced with living in a culture 
where, now, more than 6.6 million violent crimes--murder, rape, 
assault, and robbery--are committed each year.

                              {time}  2000

  We are living in a culture of violence where our children see 8,000 
murders and 100,000 other acts of violence in media and in their 
communities at a very early age. Colleagues, these statistics are too 
many, and it is time for action now. This problem must be fixed. We 
must remember, when we talk about rights, children have a right to be 
safe.
  So I applaud President Obama and Vice President Biden for proactively 
taking the necessary steps to address this critical issue. It's going 
to take all of us united, regardless of party affiliation or our 
differing views on constitutional rights, to stem this tide of 
violence.
  More importantly, we must take a hard look at funding for mental 
health services and other services; we must look at synching technology 
to ensure proper and tighter access to firearms; we must place adequate 
controls on ammunition.
  Bottom line: We must protect our schools, our communities. Children 
and families must be safe.
  I respectfully ask my colleagues to make this issue of violence a 
priority

[[Page H80]]

and to support our Nation's leadership as they work through resolving 
this challenge, which should not be difficult if we compromise and keep 
focusing on saving lives.
  Madam Chair, I pledge to support you and to support all my other 
colleagues with the Congressional Black Caucus to make a difficult task 
safe and to protect the lives of our children and families from gunfire 
and a culture of violence.
  I thank you for my time.
  Ms. FUDGE. I so much thank the gentlelady from Ohio for 
participating. We certainly know how difficult this is going to be as 
we move forward, but I am pleased. Thank you very much.
  I now yield to the gentleman from New Jersey, who has joined our 
caucus and we are so pleased to have him, the Honorable Representative 
Donald Payne, Jr.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, let me first begin by thanking my good friend 
and colleague, my chairwoman, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge from the State 
of Ohio, for anchoring this evening's Special Order on the culture of 
violence.
  Coming together to address gun violence and bullying in America is 
long overdue. There must be something extraordinary done to truly curb 
these atrocities from occurring in our communities. Too many innocent 
men, women, and children have died because of the ease of access to 
illegal firearms. Fifteen of the 25 worst mass shootings in our history 
have occurred in America in the last 50 years.
  Harvard Injury Control Research Center studies indicate that in 
homes, cities, States, and regions in the U.S. where there are guns, 
both men and women are at a higher risk for homicide, particularly from 
firearms. These statistics are tragic. We must do something, and we 
must do something now.
  On the issue of bullying, bullying is also a major concern in our 
Nation. Who will be able to tell what will become of the next 
generation if statistics continue to rise with each national report on 
bullying? I'm very sensitive to this issue because I have three young 
children at home, and I perish the thought that they would be subjected 
to such actions.
  We are losing our next generation of poets, musicians, doctors, 
lawyers, scientists, and athletes to senseless gun violence and 
aggressive bullying. One out of every four teenagers is bullied and, 
furthermore, deterred from their academic potential. 282,000 students 
are physically bullied in secondary schools each month. One out of 10 
children drop out of school because of bullying.
  We must take measures to protect our Nation's future generations. 
From the mass murder at the movie theater in Colorado, to Sandy Hook 
Elementary School in Connecticut, to the schoolyard killings at Mount 
Vernon Elementary School in Newark, New Jersey--four youngsters with 
their whole futures ahead of them were violently murdered by a gang 
behind a school--I have seen what damage guns can do in the wrong 
hands. Let us be steadfast in making sure that events like these never 
happen again.
  Gun violence and bullying in America are not just problems, they are 
national health issues.
  What are the solutions? Well, Federal action is yielding some 
progress. The Brady law of 1994 has blocked the sale of firearms to 
over 1.6 million felons, fugitives, and other individuals. Still, more 
is needed. Proactive approaches include renewing the assault weapons 
ban, closing the gun show loophole, mandating installation of trigger 
locks, and eliminating influxes of cheaply made weapons. This does not 
infringe on anyone's right to bear arms in this Nation, but we have to 
do things that make common sense.
  There are guns that have been outlawed in this Nation's history. You 
cannot get a submachine gun. You cannot get a sawed-off shotgun. Why 
shouldn't assault weapons be added to that group?
  Also, gun buyback programs in my district and my State have removed 
hundreds of guns from the streets, and I am considering offering 
legislation to bring these programs to scale on the Federal level to 
help stem the tide of violence. These measures would undoubtedly save 
lives.
  Enough is enough. It is time to take action.
  Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
  Ms. FUDGE. Thank you so much. I thank the gentleman. I certainly am 
pleased to know how supportive you are of efforts to make this a safer 
country for our young people.
  Mr. Speaker, each year, in its Uniform Crime Report, the FBI compiles 
a list of the cities with the most murders per capita. According to the 
most recent report, which uses data from 2011, there were over 3,300 
murders that occurred in just 15 cities. There were 515 murders in New 
York City in 2011; 431 in Chicago, Illinois; 344 in Detroit, Michigan; 
324 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; 297 in Los Angeles, California; 200 
in New Orleans, Louisiana; 198 in Houston, Texas; 196 in Baltimore, 
Maryland; 133 in Dallas, Texas; 117 in Memphis, Tennessee; 116 in 
Phoenix, Arizona; 113 in St. Louis, Missouri; 108 in Washington, D.C.; 
108 in Kansas City, Missouri; and 104 in Oakland, California.
  Now, some people may think that violence is only prevalent in urban 
America, but that is just not true. Recent mass murders have occurred 
in places like Tucson, Arizona; Aurora, Colorado; Oak Creek, Wisconsin; 
and Newtown, Connecticut. Violence is truly all around us. It is at our 
movie theaters, our shopping centers, colleges, places of worship, and 
even our elementary schools.
  During the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, a 
gunman took the lives of 26 people, including 20 children as young as 
the age of 5. The victims of this heinous crime were killed at a place 
that we all consider to be safe.
  Since 1982, there have been more than 60 mass murders carried out 
with firearms across this country. We have had 19 mass shootings in the 
last 5 years alone. That is a rate of more than one every 4 months. The 
uptick in these types of crimes should be enough to push our Nation 
forward on reassessing our gun laws. Unfortunately, our country appears 
to be at a standstill. Each year, 30,000 Americans lose their lives as 
a result of gunfire, and about 80,000 Americans were wounded in that 
same period of time.

                              {time}  2010

  The number of gun crimes continues to be high; and yet, we, as a 
Nation, are hesitant to take immediate action to address this issue.
  Thirty-three Americans are murdered with guns every single day. Our 
Nation has the distinction of having the highest rate of firearm 
violence in the world.
  Proponents of gun rights say that there is an absolute right to bear 
arms. Mr. Speaker, I disagree. All rights are subject to reasonable 
restrictions. One can support the Second Amendment while also 
advocating for policies that keep guns out of the hands of criminals 
and other dangerous people. We must act immediately on creating a 
comprehensive, national gun policy that eliminates loopholes in the 
laws, bans assault weapons, and places limits on high-capacity 
magazines.
  Under current Federal law, background checks are only required for 
gun sales at licensed dealers. According to Mayors Against Illegal 
Guns, approximately 6.6 million guns are sold each year in America by 
unlicensed private sellers. That translates to 40 percent of all U.S. 
gun sales. These transactions typically occur online or at gun shows 
without the buyer having to pass a background check.
  Federal law carves out a broad exception for private gun sellers who 
only make what are called ``occasional sales'' or who sell from a 
``personal collection.'' What is problematic about this is that there's 
no set standard for what is considered an ``occasional'' sale.
  In a national survey of inmates--listen to this--in a national survey 
of inmates conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, it was found 
that nearly 80 percent of those who used a handgun in a crime acquired 
it in a private transfer. In another troubling statistic, a 2009 New 
York City undercover investigation at seven gun shows in three States 
found that 63 percent of private sellers at those shows were willing to 
sell to someone who admitted that he couldn't pass a background check.
  The private-sale loophole has made it far too easy for criminals to 
exploit the system to obtain guns. For example, in October 2012, 
Radcliffe Haughton was able to purchase a gun from a private

[[Page H81]]

seller even though he was federally prohibited from doing so. His wife 
had initiated a restraining order against him. He used the gun that he 
purchased online to go to a spa where his wife worked. He killed her 
and two other people and injured four other people before killing 
himself.
  Requiring uniform, criminal background checks for every gun sale is 
something that has garnered broad support. A 2012 survey by Republican 
pollster Frank Luntz revealed that 82 percent of gun owners, including 
74 percent of National Rifle Association members, support requiring 
criminal background checks for potential gun owners. This is a prime 
example of a sensible gun regulation that should be implemented now.
  Failing to fully enforce current laws can be just as bad as not 
having any laws at all, Mr. Speaker. Since its creation in 1999, the 
National Instant Criminal Background Check System, better known as 
NICS, has prevented more than 1.7 million permit applications and gun 
sales to felons. The seriously mentally ill and drug abusers have also 
been stopped in some instances. But despite its success, NICS has a 
number of gaps and limitations that still enable firearms to be sold to 
dangerous people. Many prohibited purchasers are able to get their 
hands on guns because NICS is missing millions of relevant records due 
to lax reporting by State and Federal agencies.
  Twenty-three States and the District of Columbia have submitted fewer 
than 100 mental health records to NICS--100. Seventeen States have 
submitted fewer than 10 mental health records, and four States have not 
submitted any mental health records at all. State substance abuse 
records have always been significantly underreported. Forty-four States 
have submitted fewer than 10 records to the Federal database, and 33 
States have not submitted any records at all.
  Federal agencies have also dragged their feet in fulfilling their 
reporting responsibilities. Despite being required to do so, many 
Federal agencies have shared very few mental health records. Only nine 
of the 60 Federal agencies listed in relevant FBI data have submitted 
any mental health records.
  Incomplete records have allowed dangerous killers to purchase guns. 
In 2007, Seung Hui Cho shot and killed 32 people at Virginia Tech 
before taking his own life. Cho had been found mentally ill by a judge; 
and, as a result, he should have been prohibited from buying a gun. He 
was able to slip through the cracks and pass a background check at a 
licensed gun dealer because his mental health records were never 
submitted to NICS. It is clear that our background check system is 
broken and needs to be fixed.
  The prevalence of assault weapons is another issue that raises great 
concern for me. These military-style weapons with high-capacity 
magazines tend to be the weapon of choice in mass shootings and police 
murders. Those kinds of weapons have been used to inflict the greatest 
amount of pain in the shortest amount of time.

  In a study of high-profile shootings over the past 4 years, Mayors 
Against Illegal Guns has found that at least one-third of those 
shootings involved assault weapons and/or high-capacity magazines.
  They were used in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14, 2012, to kill 
26 people; in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, on August 5 to kill six people and 
wound three others; in Aurora, Colorado, on July 20, 2012, to kill 12 
people and injure 58 others; in Tucson, Arizona, on January 8, 2011, to 
kill six people and wound 13 others; in Fort Hood, Texas, on November 
5, 2009, to kill 13 people and wound 34 others; and in Binghamton, New 
York, on April 3, 2009, to kill 13 people and injure four others.
  Assault weapons are also a threat to our local law enforcement. On 
June 8, 2009, in Chesapeake, Virginia, a gunman shot two police 
officers with a semiautomatic AK-47 assault weapon, firing at least 30 
rounds.
  In St. Louis, Missouri, on January 7, 2010, Timothy Hendron entered 
the ABB, Inc. factory with two handguns, a shotgun, and a semiautomatic 
AK-47 rifle with high-capacity ammunition magazines. He fired 
approximately 115 rounds, killing three and wounding five before taking 
his own life. After the shooting, the police chief of St. Louis, Daniel 
Isom, said:

       Our officers didn't have sufficient weapons systems to 
     engage a person with an AK-47.

  On January 26, 2011, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, a police officer was 
ambushed by a teenager who fired a semiautomatic weapon 26 times. 
Responding to the crime, Oklahoma City Police Chief Bill Citty stated:

       There are just more and more assault rifles out there, and 
     it is becoming a bigger threat to law enforcement each day. 
     They are outgunned.

  Reinstating the assault weapon ban must be a priority for our Nation. 
It is estimated that there are nearly 18 million assault weapons in 
circulation in the United States. A 2010 survey by the Police Executive 
Research Forum revealed that there has been an increase in criminal use 
of assault weapons since the Federal ban expired in 2004. Thirty-seven 
percent of police agencies have reported noticeable increases.
  Weapons with the ability to carry out such deadly force do not belong 
on our streets, Mr. Speaker. There is no justification for the use of 
these weapons anywhere but on the battlefield for which they were 
designed. I firmly support banning assault weapons of all types.
  A ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines has been 
endorsed by several organizations, including Mayors Against Illegal 
Guns, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Major Cities 
Chiefs Association, the National Association of Women Law Enforcement 
Executives, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement 
Executives, the Police Executive Research Forum, the Police Foundation, 
and the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement 
Administrators.

                              {time}  2020

  The culture of violence doesn't necessarily start with guns. It can 
often be traced back to mental health concerns and bullying.
  According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration's 2009 national survey on drug use and health, there 
were an estimated 45.1 million U.S. adults living with a mental 
illness. That is 20 percent of all American adults. Sadly, only 17 
million of these adults received services to address their illness. A 
significant number of the country's inmates also have mental health 
problems. According to the Department of Justice's 2004 survey of 
inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities and its 2002 
surveys in local jails, nearly 45 percent of all inmates in Federal 
prison have a mental health problem; over 55 percent of the inmates in 
State prison have a mental health problem; and nearly 65 percent of 
inmates in local jails have a mental problem.
  We cannot continue to ignore the fact that we need to do more to 
address the issue of mental health. Turning our back on this problem 
will not make it go away.
  The issue of bullying has become rampant in our society. Too many of 
our children are being bullied during and after school and on the 
Internet. According to Stomp Out Bullying, it is estimated that one out 
of four teens is bullied during their lifetime. Fifty-eight percent of 
kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More 
than 40 percent say it has happened to them more than once. Fifty-three 
percent of kids admit having said something mean or hurtful to another 
person online, and more than one in three has done it more than once. 
Fifty-eight percent have not told their parents or an adult about 
something mean or hurtful that happened to them online.
  Many believe that bullying is a right of passage. I'm here to tell 
you that it is not. Bullying is intentional, it is cruel, and abusive. 
It can set the tone for a lifetime of hurt. Many people are never the 
same after being bullied. Depression, anxiety, and many other 
psychological problems can result from bullying. Some turn to substance 
abuse, even suicide.
  Bullying is no joking matter. It is not something to be taken 
lightly. We must inform our children of the consequences of bullying. 
We must be attentive and listen to their cries for help. How many of 
our children need to fall victim to this cruel behavior before we are 
moved to act? We must address this issue now.

[[Page H82]]

  Mr. Speaker, as I close, it is very clear that we live in a culture 
of violence. The culture of violence has ravaged our communities, 
taking the lives of innocent Americans, ripping apart American 
families, and destroying families along the way. We must act now 
because our Nation is depending on us. Anyone who believes that it is 
okay to use a gun in an open theater is not really thinking very 
rationally. Someone who believes that you can put a police officer at 
every single entrance into a school is really not thinking very 
rationally.
  We have to do something. No matter what our personal beliefs are, we 
are all here to work for the American public, not ourselves. We may 
have a personal opinion as to what should be done about guns, but the 
people of America are speaking, and we need to listen to them.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
express my serious concerns about the recent acts of violence 
throughout the United States. The tragedy that struck the Sandy Hook 
Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, last month was a devastating 
loss for the families and friends of the students and educators who 
were killed. As the second deadliest school shooting in U.S. history, 
the Newtown tragedy has underscored the fundamental need to reevaluate 
our approach to gun violence and mental illness.
  Any strategy to reduce gun violence must be inclusive in its approach 
to finding a solution. Every viable consideration must be on the table 
as we look to enact comprehensive legislation at the federal level. 
With the total number of privately owned firearms in circulation 
estimated to be more than 270 million, we must take reasonable steps to 
ensure that these firearms do not fall into the wrong hands, while also 
protecting the Second Amendment rights of responsible gun owners.
  The topic of mental illness is one that is neglected, particularly in 
regard to its connection to gun violence. In 2009, approximately 11 
million adults in the United States had a serious mental illness. Forty 
percent of those adults did not receive any type of treatment for that 
illness. We now know that each of the shooters in the most recent 
incidents suffered from mental illness. Addressing mental illness can 
be a critical component of a comprehensive approach to reducing 
violence in our schools and other public places.
  Mr. Speaker, we must take deliberate steps going forward to prevent 
another tragedy from occurring. There is absolutely no place for 
violence in our schools, and we are compelled to do everything within 
our power to avert future catastrophe. There is a large mental health 
component to this debate that needs greater consideration, and I hope 
that my colleagues will continue to take a holistic approach during 
this process.

                          ____________________