[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 87 (Tuesday, June 2, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E822]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       INTRODUCTION STATEMENT: GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH LEGISLATION

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                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 2, 2015

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to 
reintroduce legislation to finally permit the use of federal funds for 
long overdue research on firearm safety and gun violence.
  For too long, Congress has failed to address the public health crisis 
caused by gun violence. On average, there are 32,000 deaths and 76,000 
injuries from gun violence each year in the United States. Gun deaths 
now outpace traffic fatalities in our country. It is time to address 
the epidemic of gun violence and prevent future incidents. Public 
health research will help identify effective solutions we can implement 
in order to save lives.
  The bill I introduce today, with companion legislation introduced by 
Sen. Ed Markey, would authorize $10 million in annual funding for the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through Fiscal Year 
2021. This funding will allow the CDC to implement the research agenda 
outlined in a 2013 report issued by the Institutes of Medicine that 
identified areas in need of study to better understand the underlying 
causes of gun violence and develop strategies for prevention.
  Federal funding for gun violence research halted in the mid-1990s. As 
a result, policymakers and community leaders lack the authoritative 
public health research they need to address the horrifying persistence 
of gun violence. We have more gun-related deaths than any other 
developed country, yet we lack comprehensive, scientific information 
about the causes and characteristics of gun violence.
  This public health crisis cannot be ignored any longer, and I'm proud 
to introduce this legislation that addresses the epidemic of gun 
violence and identifies the best strategies to prevent future 
incidents.

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