Active Shooter Alert Act of 2022

Floor Speech

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Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Active Shooter Alert Act, another strong step to help save lives from the scourge of gun violence.

On average, more than 300 Americans are shot every day across the country--including more than 20 precious children.

Many are horrifically murdered in mass shootings, as we have sadly witnessed in Uvalde, Buffalo and many more communities.

And tragically, hundreds more fall victim to the daily massacre of gun crime, which rarely makes the evening news.

These shootings often unfold in the heart of our communities:

in homes and in our neighborhoods;

in our schools and on our streets;

at our malls and in our movie theaters.

But right now, there's no efficient and effective way for law enforcement to warn nearby families to avoid the site of a shooting-- which is putting more innocent lives at risk.

That is why, today, the House will pass strong, bipartisan legislation to quickly warn communities when a gunman opens fire.

Our Active Shooter Alert Act will help set up a system similar to AMBER Alerts--helping state and local law enforcement agencies to notify those in the area of an active shooter threat.

With a more unified, streamlined and standardized system, we can keep communities better informed and prevent more innocent families from unknowingly walking into danger.

Let us salute an unyielding champion in the fight against gun violence, Congressman David Cicilline, for crafting this commonsense and life-saving measure.

And importantly, this vital legislation has the support of many major law enforcement organizations, who have called for its passage, including:

the National Sherriffs' Association;

the Major Cities Chiefs Associations;

the National Association of Police Organizations;

the Fraternal Order of Police;

the National Police Foundation;

and the National District Attorneys Association.

As we pass this bill today, we remain prayerful that the Senate will pass bipartisan legislation to prevent gun violence.

While more is needed, this bill will take steps to save lives.

These measures would represent the most significant gun violence prevention legislation in three decades--breaking through the gridlock that has long blocked House-passed bills from becoming law.

At the same time, our Democratic House Majority will never stop fighting for more life-saving measures.

House Democrats have twice passed the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and the Enhanced Background Checks Act, to secure universal background checks on all gun purchases.

Earlier this month, we passed our Protecting Our Kids Act to:

raise the age to 21 years old to buy weapons of war;

ban high-capacity magazines designed for mass murder;

ensure safe storage to protect our children from tragic accidents;

and take additional steps to save lives.

Mr. Speaker, our fight to prevent gun violence is of, by and for the children.

Of the children, because they are suffering. It is heartbreaking that, in America, more children die from guns than any other cause.

By the children, because they are leading. We see them marching in the streets, testifying before the Congress, demanding action.

And always For The Children: building a future where every child can reach his or her fulfillment, free from the fear of gun violence.

Protecting our children must be a unifying mission in the Congress-- as it is a unifying issue for the American people.

And nowhere will we find more agreement than this commonsense measure to help keep innocent families out of the line of fire.

I urge a strong, bipartisan ``aye'' vote for this life-saving legislation.

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