[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 6, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H5075]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     ACTION TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE

  (Mr. TONKO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, during this summer's historically long 53-day 
recess, I heard from many in New York's capital region about Congress' 
failure to pass commonsense gun violence prevention measures.
  They wonder why nothing will be done after 93 days, the period 
between Memorial Day and Labor Day, where we witnessed unfathomable 
horrors like the worst mass shooting in modern American history in 
Orlando, law enforcement's deadliest day since 9/11 in Dallas, and a 
gun homicide death toll of 4,100 Americans around the country. This is 
way beyond unacceptable.
  Each new report of a shooting, regardless of its scale, begs the 
question: What will it take for the House leadership to finally bring 
legislation to the floor that addresses the root cause of these 
tragedies?
  With more than 90 percent of Americans demanding congressional action 
to reduce gun violence, I am certain my colleagues on the other side 
heard similar requests from their constituents last month, imploring 
all of us to take a stand against the national gun lobby and to fight 
to make all of our communities safer places in which to live.
  I urge my colleagues to listen to these voices and to join House 
Democrats in debating and ultimately passing legislation that will 
prevent dangerous individuals from purchasing firearms.

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