[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 25 (Thursday, February 6, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H853]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      GUN VIOLENCE SURVIVORS WEEK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Gun Violence Survivors Week.
  The gun violence epidemic in our Nation is destroying lives. A recent 
study found that 58 percent of adults in America reported that they or 
someone they care about has experienced gun violence in their lifetime. 
Think about that. More than half of the adults in America have been 
touched by gun violence. It doesn't have to be this way.
  In January of last year, our former colleague and gun violence 
survivor, Gabby Giffords, joined me, the Speaker, and members of the 
Gun Violence Prevention Task Force as we introduced H.R. 8, the 
Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019. It was 8 years to the day 
that she was shot. Gabby had one message for us in Congress. She said: 
``We must never stop fighting.''
  And the House did just that. We kept fighting, and we passed H.R. 8 
almost 1 year ago, 344 days ago, to be exact.
  Majority Leader McConnell has had 344 days to act--to fight gun 
violence. What has he done? Nothing. Nothing. Not one vote, not one 
hearing. Survivors have called on him to act. More than 90 percent of 
Americans support the bill. Why won't he give the bill a vote?

  Every time there is a mass shooting that makes headlines, the 
Republican leadership sends thoughts and prayers.
  Survivors don't want your thoughts and prayers; they want a vote. 
They want to keep guns away from felons. They want to keep guns away 
from domestic abusers.
  I call on the Senate to act. Honor survivors. Do your job. Pass H.R. 
8 for Gabby and for every survivor across our country.

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