More than “Thoughts & Prayers”- Addressing the American Gun Violence Epidemic: A Message from Rep. Huffman

Hello,

Last week, we lost 21 innocent lives in a senseless act of terror at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. This comes on the heels of the horrific, racist attack at the Tops Friendly Markets store in Buffalo, New York and the mass shooting at the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, California.  

I am sick and tired of the senseless bloodshed. Let me be clear: this is an epidemic that is uniquely American.  Since 2020, gun violence has been the leading cause of death among children and teenagers. Every day, over 110 Americans are killed due to gun violence. This year alone, there have been 27 school shootings, and these gut-wrenching tragedies continue to wreak havoc across the country at a relentless rate.  

While the GOP is beholden to the gun lobby and continues to rake in donations from the NRA, I won’t stand by and let the horrors of gun violence continue. House Democrats have twice passed commonsense gun violence prevention bills. These include the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and the Enhanced Background Checks Act, which would close current loopholes that allow people to purchase guns without a background check, as well as prevent gun sales from going through before background checks are completed. We also recently passed the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act to address the scourge of white supremacy and combat the deadly threat of domestic terror. There is simply no good reason for the Senate to keep the filibuster and continue to choose inaction. This is a public safety crisis that demands urgency, and I call on the Senate to finally send this overdue legislation to President Biden’s desk. 

As we mourn this enormous loss, I’m committed to working harder than ever to ensure that no family endures such a senseless tragedy ever again. We can prevent this. We can end gun violence and save lives. Enough is enough. 

What Else I’ve Been Working On:

• Celebrating Community Project Funding: I toured the Anderson Valley Housing Community Project, for which I helped secure $400,000 in community project funding in this year’s appropriations law. There is a significant shortage of affordable housing in the area, and the Anderson Valley Housing Association (AVHA) has over 40 individuals on its waiting list. It was great to meet with AVHA folks who are working to provide affordable housing for our underserved communities. 
• Standing Up to the Toxic Coal Train: In a recent hearing for the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, I questioned the Surface Transportation Board (STB) about its policies regarding how it weighs local community support for proposed projects, as well as its standards for vetting the financial viability of companies that submit offers for rail lines. While I was pleased to hear assurances from the STB Chair regarding these key factors, the recent ruling by the Board concerning the future of the Great Redwood Trail is highly disappointing. I will continue working with our many community leaders and agency partners to make sure the toxic coal train proposal never comes to fruition.   
• Advocating for a Global Clean Energy Transition: In a joint letter to American and European leadership, I teamed up with Senator Jeff Merkley and Member of the European Parliament Marie Toussaint to send a clear message about our shared climate goals. In our letter, we urge the joint Task Force for Energy Security to focus on a swift transition to sustainable, clean energy. New fossil fuel infrastructure will lock us into decades of planet-killing pollution, and it won’t provide the supply we need now for our energy demands.  
• Addressing the Infant Formula Shortage: I voted for two bills to help get more baby formula back on store shelves as soon as possible. This includes legislation to grant emergency authority to the WIC program to address supply chain disruptions and recalls, as well as $28 million in emergency funding for the FDA to quickly fix the shortage and prevent it from happening again. At the same time, the Biden administration is taking action by invoking the Defense Production Act, launching Operation Formula Fly to speed up the import of infant formula, and working to safely reopen a major formula-producing facility. The Biden administration and House Democrats are pulling every lever to get more infant formula to families in the U.S. as quickly as possible. 
• Honoring Student Artists: I am pleased to announce the winner of this year’s Congressional Art Competition. Congratulations to Zexuan Wu from San Anslemo, whose work of art will be displayed in the Capitol throughout the coming year. You can find the complete list of finalists as well as view their works of art here. 

Helping You 
Whether it’s help working with a federal agency, or providing information about legislation and policy, don’t forget – my staff and I are here to help. Below is an example of some of the work my office has done to help our constituents. 

“My husband and I applied for a VA home loan and needed a DD 214 document to prove my husband was a veteran. After waiting for more than six months we contacted Representative Huffman’s office for help. It looked like we might lose the home. The congressman’s staff contacted VA records and the form was sent to us promptly. We are so excited to be moving into our new home!”

–  Terri and Stanley Stornetta, Point Arena

If you’re in need of assistance, you can submit a Casework Authorization Form on my website.  

If you would like to keep up with the work I am doing as your representative, please subscribe to my newsletter, and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Best,

Jared Huffman
Member of Congress

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