Waters Delivers Opening Statement at Subcommittee Hearing Examining How Mass Shootings Harm Communities, Local Economies, and Economic Growth

Hearing

Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services, gave the following statement at a Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing entitled, "Thoughts and Prayers Are Not Enough: How Mass Shootings Harm Communities, Local Economies, and Economic Growth."

Thank you very much, Chairman Green. To Mayor Brown and all of the witnesses here today, I thank you for coming to help us deal with this very difficult and complicated issue.

The first thing I must say is, not all Democrats have said, "defund the police." And so, let's be clear about that.

From the mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, to the recent tragedy in Highland Park, Illinois, these horrific incidents have been far too frequent. In this year alone, there have been more than 300 mass shootings, devastating families and communities.

The reverberations of loss and grief are felt long after the last bullet is shot. Neighborhoods and local businesses in affected areas struggle to cope with changing dynamics within the community, including negative impacts to the housing market, store closures, additional costs for security, and unexpected loss of revenue and employment. I urge my fellow Members of Congress to stop the bleeding and take action to support healing in these communities across our great nation.

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