Joseph Woodrow Hatchett United States Courthouse and Federal Building--

Floor Speech

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Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I come to the floor tonight sharing the concerns of every Member of this body, to find the best way to protect children who go to school, so that children can go to school in safety and parents can send their children to school feeling that the children will be safe.

And after we have seen the tragedies across the country, I think every Member is here trying to find the best solution, and I think that the one that Senator Cruz and I have offered is one that will provide the kind of safety and security for our kids, for our schools, and for our communities; and that is why we have introduced this substitute amendment that we are bringing to the floor this evening in an effort to do just that. We bring this at a time when the Nation's attention is focused on what has happened at schools and communities across the country and how to best address it.

And as a physician, a doctor who served in a State legislature and now in this body, I have seen the devastating impact of mental health challenges and problems in families and how much that has contributed to what we have seen with these terrible acts. So what we bring here tonight is legislation focused on safe schools and mental health while protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.

And, with that, I would turn to Senator Cruz to make a motion to that effect.

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