Providing for Consideration of H.R. Separation of Powers Restoration Act of Providing for Proceedings During the Period From June Through July and Providing for Consideration of Motions to Suspend the Rules
Floor Speech
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Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, the American people have been very clear. They are demanding a vote to keep American families safe from gun violence. When the Speaker announced a vote this week on gun legislation, the American people hoped this would be the moment when the silence would end and debating and voting here in Congress on commonsense proposals to curb gun violence would begin. Instead, American families have been given a bait-and-switch. And for years, the majority of Americans have supported bipartisan, commonsense legislation that has been gathering dust on the Speaker's desk.
Over the last few weeks since the horrendous event in Orlando, whether it was a sit-in on the floor of the House, to demonstrations across this country, the American people have clearly stated they will no longer stand for capitulation to the gun lobby. Yet, instead of listening to those demands, Speaker Ryan has doubled down on the gun lobby's demands.
You, in America, are 25 times more likely to be shot to death than in any other developed country. But we know it doesn't have to be this way. We can look to my home State of Massachusetts where we rolled up our sleeves. We had tough debates with local communities, with sportsmen, with gun rights advocates, with law enforcement, moms, dads, teachers, voices from across our communities and neighborhoods. We worked together to close loopholes and enact some of the strongest gun safety bills in the country.
What happened as a result?
We in the Commonwealth are the third lowest in the country in terms of gun deaths. This wasn't easy, but we fought for it because we knew it would save lives. Most importantly, the families of victims and survivors fought to make sure their voices were heard so others would not have to endure their same pain. Massachusetts lawmakers went to work for them.
Shouldn't the American people know that their Federal lawmakers work for them, too?
So I ask the Speaker: Does this Congress work for the American people? Or are we working for the gun lobby?
I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote the will of the American people, to reject a cynical bill bought and paid for by the gun lobby and that will do nothing to make Americans safe.
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Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I ask this Congress to pass comprehensive background checks and to keep guns out of the hands of suspected terrorists and defeat the previous question.
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