[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 8, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H5343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ADDRESSING GUN VIOLENCE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Costa) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, gun violence, as we know, is plaguing our 
Nation. In 2022, this year, there have already been 200 mass shootings 
in the United States. Think about that. It is absolutely horrific.
  We ask ourselves, when is enough enough?
  Our constituents across the country ask us, how many more innocent 
people must die before any reasonable, commonsense gun reform 
legislation can pass and add more protection for the American public?
  Let's pass the Protecting Our Kids Act, which raises the purchasing 
age for semiautomatic weapons from 18 to 21, a commonsense idea. Let's 
also deal with the subject of ghost gun purchases and background 
checks. Again, commonsense ideas, and cracks down on gun trafficking 
and straw purchases.
  If the combination of the Protecting Our Kids Act is something that 
you might find objectionable in some instance, we have individual 
pieces of legislation, resources for victims of gun violence, 
bipartisan background checks, assault weapons ban, legislation that 
would also go further to provide protection in condemning the horrific 
shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, and dealing with hate, bigotry, and 
violence against Asian-American and Pacific-Islander communities.
  We also have legislation that would designate June 4th National Gun 
Violence Awareness Day. There is legislation that deals with disarming 
of hate, and to try to provide extreme risk protection for Federal 
firearms sales to include those who are subject to extreme risk 
protection that we know red-flag legislation would help protect us 
against.
  So, there are a lot of things we can do. Will we totally eliminate 
the threats to the public? Of course not.
  But there are commonsense ideas we can do to improve and increase 
safety for our schools, for our churches, and for people who are just 
going to shop for groceries one afternoon. These are things we can do, 
and we should do.
  As chair of the Congressional Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus, I 
am advocating for resources for survivors of gun violence to cope with 
their trauma, whether it be in Sacramento or Fresno or anywhere else 
around this country.
  I support the Second Amendment for responsible gun ownership. Let 
that be clear. But America deserves better, and I call on all House 
Members to join me in this effort. Let's put partisanship aside and 
take action to address the gun epidemic once and for all.

  Madam Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman has 2 minutes remaining.


                      Celebrating Dia de Portugal

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today also to celebrate Dia de 
Portugal, which is a significant holiday for Portuguese people all over 
the world.
  My grandparents came to the United States from the Azore Islands in 
the late 19th century and the turn of the 20th century, 1897 to 1904. 
Illiterate, non-English speaking, like immigrants past and immigrants 
present, coming to America to have a better life for themselves. But 
they never, ever left their pride of their home country, Portugal, or 
their sense of culture, which lives in me today.
  Portugal is one of America's longest and strongest allies, as it was 
the first to recognize the United States as an independent Nation after 
the Revolutionary War.
  I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the AMIGOS Act, introduced 
by our colleague and Congressman   David Cicilline. It would create 
more American jobs and increase investment in the United States by 
strengthening our bonds with Portugal. As the co-chair of the 
Portuguese Caucus, I think it is important that we continue to build on 
this relationship and the trade that already exists today.
  I urge the Senate to pass this bipartisan legislation and, again, we 
will continue to work with other colleagues of ours who are part of our 
Portuguese-American Caucus to continue to advocate for mutual 
interests, not only for Portugal but for the United States and the 
Portuguese-American community.
  ``Happy Portugal Day.'' ``Feliz Dia de Portugal.''
  Let us celebrate and let us remember that America is a stronger 
country because of our welcoming of immigrants past and present, and 
this is a part of that recognition.

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