Keep Wearing Orange

Statement

Dear Friend,

As we observe Gun Violence Awareness Month throughout June in New York, we are reminded that we still have a great deal of work to do to prevent gun violence in our communities across the nation. A murder-suicide at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) on June 1st prompted a campus-wide lockdown and forced hundreds of terrified students to hide in buildings. The tragedy at UCLA is only one example of the violence that must be stopped. On June 2nd, as people across America wore orange for the second annual Gun Violence Awareness Day, I hosted a Wear Orange Gun Violence Rally and Film Screening of "Making a Killing: Guns, Greed, and the NRA,"at the Harlem Hospital to discuss ways to make our own community safer.

In Congress I will continue to push for my resolution that designates the month of June as "National Gun Violence Awareness Month" as observed in New York. As gun violence increases during the summer months, Congress needs to take action to curtail further tragedies. I will keep urging my colleagues to pass my commonsense legislation, the Enforce Existing Gun Laws Act, to give the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) the ability to investigate gun trafficking and stop the flow of guns to criminals, individuals with mental illness, and people who might hurt themselves or others with guns.
It is my priority to ensure public safety and affordable housing for my constituents. Every night, at least 14,000 homeless families with 23,000 children go to sleep in New York City without a permanent home.This week, New York State launched the first phase of a plan to help homeless individuals and families in New York. The first phase includes funding for 1200 supportive housing units, 513 beds for homeless shelters, the creation of an Interagency Council on Homelessness, and inspections for all homeless shelters in the state. I am pleased that 99 of the emergency beds will be going to rehab centers in our district. I applaud Governor Cuomo for securing additional funding to reduce homelessness. Not only will this plan provide a stable home, the plan will help people get back on their feet. Everyone deserves a roof over their heads and a bed to sleep in.

As we continue to invest in reducing homelessness and rebuilding our local economy, it is assuring to see that for the 75th consecutive month, the economy has shown positive levels of private sector job growth in May's job report. The unemployment rate decreased to 4.7 percent, which is the lowest it has been since the recession of 2008. America continues to make progress after the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, but there is still much work to be done. Unfortunately, the unemployment rates for Hispanics (5.6 percent), Blacks (8.2 percent), and youth (16.0 percent) have shown little change. I will continue to build on the growth and to equalize our workforce by fighting for raising the minimum wage, improving innovation and infrastructure, and ensuring that equal pay is offered for equal work.

Thank you for the honor of serving you. Have a wonderful weekend!

Source