Providing for Consideration of H.R. Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2017

Floor Speech

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Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, there is an African proverb that says: ``When you pray, move your feet.''

But this Congress meets our gun violence crisis with only deadly silence. Forty-nine people massacred on a dance floor, silence. First graders and their teachers shot in their elementary school, silence. Students and professors shot in their college classrooms, silence. Parishioners shot after Bible study in their church, silence. Social workers and disabled clients shot at a holiday party, silence. Moviegoers shot watching a film, silence. Our colleague shot while meeting with constituents, silence. Neighborhood sidewalks and parks transformed into blood-soaked memorials, silence.

Over the past 12 years, gun violence has claimed more American lives than war, AIDS, and illegal drug overdoses combined. Since Newtown, tens of thousands of lives have been lost to this deadly crisis.

Yet the number of bills that have been debated and passed by this Congress to help prevent such deaths, to put an end, to start to slow this violence: zero.

Inaction is a choice. Inaction is costing lives, and that is why I am asking this House to have a vote that we perform our basic responsibilities as Members of Congress and members of our communities. Let's debate and vote on two commonsense measures to curb gun violence. Let's vote on expanding background checks and preventing suspected terrorists from being able to buy a gun.

Why is this so paralyzing? It is widely supported by the American people. Why is the only proposal scheduled for a vote drafted by the NRA?

Does House leadership really believe that our Constitution and liberties are so fragile that we have to tolerate carnage like we saw in Orlando rather than risk a vote?

These proposals are widely supported by people of all types of political ideologies. The American people get it. They understand we could protect our constitutional rights and take reasoned steps to reduce gun violence.

Moments of silence should be where the action begins. Sadly, in this Congress, it is the only action ever taken.

No more silence. I urge us to bring up these two practical proposals for a vote. Our communities and our democracy deserve that.

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