[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 184 (Monday, November 18, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H8911-H8912]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CALL FOR SENATE TO ACT AFTER FRESNO MASS SHOOTING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Costa) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, it saddens me once again to hear another mass 
shooting has occurred in our country, this time in my district.
  Last night, in Fresno, California, another senseless mass shooting 
occurred, where four people lost their lives and six more were injured. 
This happened at a family gathering in a neighborhood not far from the 
airport near Fresno, where 35 or more people were gathered.
  Children were present at this meaningless act while they were 
watching a football game. While none of the children were harmed, 
certainly their lives will be changed forever as a result of the trauma 
they experienced last night.
  I have reached out to local law enforcement, and we are ready to 
assist in any way possible. I have spoken with the mayor and the chief 
of police.
  Certainly, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their 
families, but as a community and as a country,

[[Page H8912]]

thoughts and prayers are just not enough. The daily tragedy of gun 
violence continues to inflict terror and violence on individuals and 
neighborhoods across our country, and that is a fact.

  The threat to public safety is not normal, nor should it be seen as 
acceptable. It is unacceptable.
  My office has been working with community leaders to identify 
resources for those affected, such as counseling, mental health 
support, victims' compensation, and community outreach.
  This is in a neighborhood where a great deal of Southeast Asian 
families live. These are immigrants past and immigrants present. They 
came after the Vietnam war, where they stood shoulder to shoulder with 
Americans fighting in that conflict. They have been assimilating and 
contributing to our community in Fresno and throughout the valley.
  Americans and members of our community deserve real action to keep 
them safe. In February, the House passed meaningful bipartisan gun 
safety legislation that Senator Mitch McConnell refuses to bring up in 
the Senate. This legislation, combined with State and local efforts, 
would help make a difference. It is not a silver bullet, clearly. Bad 
term. Let me take that back because there are way too many guns and too 
many bullets out there.
  Republicans and Democrats have good and different ideas on how to 
deal with gun violence in America. Wouldn't it be refreshing if the 
President were to bring us together in a bipartisan effort to talk 
about violence in America and solutions on how we deal with violence in 
America because no community, no town, no hamlet, regardless of the 
size, is not impacted by the gun violence that takes place every day?
  The fact remains that too many Americans in too many communities are 
forced to live in fear. I know. I live near this downtown community 
where, nightly, you can hear guns going off. Last night, one of the 
neighbors said they are fearful of even working on their car in front 
of their home or when people drive by.
  Americans should not be forced to live in that kind of fear in their 
neighborhoods. It is not right. The Senate must allow a vote on a 
bipartisan, commonsense gun violence prevention program. The House 
acted on that legislation 260 days ago--260 days ago.
  We must come together in our community in Fresno. I spoke with the 
mayor and talked about figuring out ways to bring our community 
together with local law enforcement agencies and community 
organizations to help us heal.
  The question is, how many more American lives must be lost to 
senseless violence before action is taken? That is the question we must 
ask.
  I will do everything I can to promote safety in our neighborhoods.

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