[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 10178]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1415
                             GIVE US A VOTE

  (Mr. SARBANES asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, a moment ago, the House Chaplain expressed 
the hope--I would imagine it is a fervent hope--that we would return to 
this place with ``a spirit of common purpose.'' Those are the words 
that he used.
  Nothing would reflect the common purpose of the American people more 
than allowing us to have a vote on gun safety legislation in this 
House. Ninety percent of Americans support universal background checks. 
That is common purpose. A majority of responsible gun owners in this 
country support universal background checks. That is common purpose. 
Eighty-five percent of Americans say that, if you can't fly on a plane 
because you are too dangerous, you shouldn't be able to buy a weapon. 
That is common purpose.
  So, what is the problem? Why can't we bring legislation? Why can't we 
respond to the anguish and grief of so many families and communities 
around this country? The Speaker of this House will not allow 
legislation to come to the floor. He won't allow us to express the 
common purpose of the American people.
  Give us a vote. Give us a chance to demonstrate that common purpose 
and address this scourge of violence in our country.

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