[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 10181]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            THE TIME IS NOW

  (Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, the American people have 
been clear: they are demanding a vote to keep Americans safe from gun 
violence.
  When the Speaker announced a vote this week on gun violence, the 
American people hoped this would be a vote for families and children, a 
vote to honor victims and survivors of senseless gun violence, and a 
vote to keep Americans safe from harm. Instead, the American families 
have been given a bait-and-switch.
  The bill we have in front of us is a vote for powerful special 
interests, a vote to honor the millions of dollars of the NRA's 
campaign spending, and a vote for a bill that does nothing to keep 
Americans safe from harm. This is a bill backed by the heavyhanded gun 
lobby that ensures it is easier for terrorist suspects to buy an 
assault rifle than to get on a plane.
  Last week, representing half a million people, the mayors in my 
district came together and asked me to deliver a letter to Speaker 
Ryan. In part it reads:
  ``A strong and growing number of our constituents are deeply 
frustrated with the inaction of this Congress. We urge you to allow 
debate and votes on expanding background checks and keeping guns out of 
the hands of suspected terrorists.''
  The time is now for those votes.

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