[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 163 (Wednesday, October 16, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1293-E1294]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE 2019 WEEK OF POSITIVE CHANGE, NONVIOLENCE, AND 
                             OPPORTUNITIES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 16, 2019

  Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 2019 Week of 
Positive Change, Nonviolence and Opportunities which runs from October 
12 to October 19, 2019. This week was created to remind us of the toll 
that violence is taking in our communities but also to remind and 
reaffirm that we can all help to end the violence.
  During this week, events will take place in communities throughout 
the nation to discuss solutions and partnerships that will help to 
protect our communities from violence. I urge my colleagues to learn 
more about the events in their communities.

[[Page E1294]]

  As Congress considers ways to address the deadly gun violence that is 
plaguing too many of our communities, one of the central themes and 
solutions to consider are ways to increase resources and training 
available to community members themselves to help prevent or de-
escalate conflict that can help break the deadly cycle that violence 
has in our communities.
  There is no question that stronger gun laws are an important part of 
efforts to prevent gun violence. I again urge Senator McConnell to take 
up the bills the House has already passed that would help strengthen 
background checks, a move which is broadly supported by the American 
public, and to close the Charleston loophole that allows gun sales to 
go through if not completed within three days.
  But just as critical is the need to develop and strengthen community 
wide resources and tools that can help prevent violence, including gun 
violence, in the first place. One such way is to increase support so 
that a broader range of individuals in communities can learn conflict 
prevention and de-escalation and violence interruption strategies that 
can help prevent situations from turning violent while helping to 
connect individuals to community supports.
  Now more than ever we need to explore all the ways to end this 
epidemic of violence. A study published in the October 2019 issue of 
Health Affairs shows that the rate at which Americans died from firearm 
injuries increased sharply starting in 2015. And while high profile 
mass shootings make up a small portion of these incidences, the vast 
majority are from the daily violence that too many of our communities 
continue to endure.
  According to that study, the United States saw a 14 percent rise in 
the rate of gun-related deaths of all kinds from 2015 to 2017 compared 
with the rate from 1999 to 2014.
  Like other cities around the country, the city of Milwaukee has 
experienced multiple forms of violence that have caused significant 
injury and trauma for individuals, families, and neighborhoods. From 
2010 to 2016, there has been a 76 percent increase in firearm-related 
homicide victims, a 38 percent increase in nonfatal shooting victims, 
and a 43 percent increase in combined victims.
  During this time of crisis with violence happening around the 
country, we need to focus on how all elements of our society, 
government and the communities themselves, can work to help end 
violence.
  We need to invest in policies and programs that could literally save 
lives. Communities standing together can make a difference.
  I applaud the organizations that have come together to sponsor this 
week and help make our communities safer including Black Women for 
Positive Change, the National Black Nurses Association, Moms Demand 
Action and others.
  In addition, governors in Wisconsin, Colorado, Michigan, and Virginia 
have all issued proclamations recognizing this week.

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