Foster Statement on Vote for Bipartisan Gun Violence Prevention Package
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act – the most significant piece of gun violence legislation in nearly three decades. This package includes common sense gun safety measures to protect America's children, keep our schools safe, and reduce the threat of violence across the nation:
"Every American deserves the right to live life free from the fear of gun violence. As elected representatives, we have a duty to address the problems our constituents sent us here to tackle. Chief among them is gun violence that kills over 40,000 people each year, injures over 100,000, and is the leading cause of death for children in America.
"Today, I was proud to vote for common sense measures to curb the gun violence epidemic that has been allowed to shatter too many communities, including communities right here in our own district, for far too long. I am proud that sensible leaders put partisanship aside to pursue real solutions to gun violence and find common ground. While more is needed, this legislation is a historic first step that will save lives."
Provisions in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act include:
Support for State Crisis Intervention Orders: Creates $750 million for states to create and administer laws that will ensure deadly weapons are kept out of the hands of individuals determined by a court to be a significant danger to themselves or others, and for extreme risk protection orders that have sufficient due process.
Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence by Closing the Boyfriend Loophole: Adds convicted domestic violence abusers in dating relationships to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
Banning Gun Trafficking & Cracking Down on Straw Purchases: Cracks down on criminals who illegally evade licensing requirements and clarifies which sellers need to register, conduct background checks, and keep appropriate records, and creates federal straw purchasing and trafficking criminal offenses for the first time, allowing prosecutors to target dangerous illegal gunrunners.
Enhanced Background Checks for People Under 21: Requires an investigative period to review juvenile and mental health records, including checks with state databases and local law enforcement, for buyers under 21 years of age, creating an enhanced, longer background check of up to ten days.
Anti-Violence Community Initiatives: Provides $250 million in funding for community-based violence prevention initiatives.
Investing in Children & Family Mental Health Services: Supports the national expansion of community behavioral health center model; improves access to mental health services for children, youth, and families through the Medicaid program and CHIP; increases access to mental health services for youth and families in crisis via telehealth; and provides major investments at the Department of Health and Human Services to programs that expand provider training in mental health, support suicide prevention, crisis and trauma intervention and recovery.
Investing in Safe Schools: Invests in programs to expand mental health and supportive services in schools, including: early identification and intervention programs, school-based mental health and wrap-around services, improvements to school-wide learning conditions, and school safety.
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