[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 8, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H742-H743]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       MEMBERS MOCKING GUN VIOLENCE BY WEARING ASSAULT RIFLE PINS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Pennsylvania (Ms. Scanlon) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, last week was National Gun Violence 
Survivors Week, when we reflect on the toll that gun violence takes on 
all of us.
  It is disgraceful enough that our Republican colleagues are unwilling 
to confront gun violence as the leading cause of death among American 
children, but last week, several Members of this body chose to mock the 
somber week by wearing assault rifle pins.
  Those Members paraded through the Halls of Congress and on this 
floor, celebrating the weapon of choice for military combatants, mass 
murderers, and those who have fetishized the Second Amendment.
  This shameless gesture was received loud and clear by Americans, 
including

[[Page H743]]

a mother in my district who recently lost her son to gun violence.
  She called my office after seeing those Members, distraught by their 
casual cruelty and their dangerous promotion of violence.
  I rise today as the voice in Congress for that brokenhearted mother 
to make this very clear: House Democrats are united in the fight to end 
senseless gun violence. We want to advance real solutions, and we will 
always stand up to extremist behavior that threatens the safety of our 
communities.

                              {time}  1015


     Recognizing Betsy Walls, Public Health Emergency Preparedness 
                              Trailblazer

  Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a constituent 
whose decades of public health service have made our community 
stronger.
  Betsy Walls is being recognized by the CDC and Prevention as a public 
health emergency preparedness trailblazer from Pennsylvania. She is one 
of 48 Americans being recognized for their tireless work to protect our 
communities from a range of public health threats.
  Betsy's distinguished career in serving her community includes 
serving as a flight nurse for the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, 
where she retired as a lieutenant colonel; she spent 30 years at 
Delaware County Memorial Hospital, first as a staff nurse, then a head 
nurse, then an evening supervisor, and, finally, as director of staff 
education; and she served as director of personal health at the Chester 
County Health Department for 18 years.
  Betsy's commitment to ensuring our community is ready and able to 
respond to disasters has touched thousands of lives. Our community owes 
Betsy Walls an enormous debt of gratitude for the strong foundation she 
has built to keep our communities strong and healthy for years to come.


  Recognizing Philadelphia Eagles Changemaker Award Winner, Dr. Ruth 
                                 Abaya

  Ms. SCANLON. The Philadelphia Eagles are headed to the Super Bowl 
this weekend, and I want to recognize the team's 2022 Inspire Change 
Changemaker Award winner, Dr. Ruth Abaya, an emergency physician at 
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a scholar of the hospital's 
Center for Violence Prevention.
  As our country works to tackle gun violence, Dr. Abaya is on the 
front lines, treating this issue like the public health crisis that it 
is.
  In her role as program manager for the Injury Prevention Program at 
Philadelphia's Department of Health, she is helping to identify the 
most promising practices for violence prevention and intervention for 
young people in our region.
  A public health approach to gun violence requires a comprehensive, 
multifaceted response driven by research and data. It means a focus on 
prevention, in addition to treatment. Dr. Abaya's work is moving us 
toward the solutions we need to face this crisis head-on and give our 
children brighter futures.
  I am grateful for Dr. Abaya's dedication to making our community a 
safer place for everyone and to the Philadelphia Eagles for their 
support for her program.
  This weekend, go Birds.

                          ____________________