Espaillat, Escobar Resolution Declares Gun Violence a Public Health Crisis

Press Release

Representatives Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) introduced H.Res.1165 - a resolution declaring gun violence a public health crisis.

The Espaillat-Escobar resolution:

Urges a whole-of-government effort to address the gun violence public health crisis and ensure the safety of all children;

Urges the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to continue its work utilizing the 4-step public health approach to violence prevention and collaborate with other Federal Government agencies to resolve the gun violence public health crisis;

Urges the Surgeon General to issue a report on firearm injuries and violence prevention;

Supports the resolutions drafted, introduced, and adopted by cities, localities, and States across the Nation declaring gun violence a public health crisis or emergency;

Commits the House of Representatives to ending the gun violence public health crisis so that all people can enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

"Addressing the daily horrific acts of violence that take the lives of our children and loved ones should be among our nation's top priorities," said Congressman Espaillat. "In my district, gun violence has taken the lives of one too many -- including Krystal Baron-Nieves in East Harlem, NYPD Officers Rivera and Mora in Harlem, and severely injuring an 11-month-old in the Bronx who only recently was released from the hospital, and many others. This resolution calls for a whole-of-government effort and commits the House to ending the gun violence public health crisis."

"The gun violence epidemic in our country has long been a public health crisis," said Congresswoman Escobar. "Today's resolution acknowledges the severity of this issue, urging our nation to designate the appropriate federal resources to the tragically high number of communities impacted by gun violence while also working to prevent the next tragedy. We must commit to ending this public health crisis so that future generations of Americans can live worry-free from the impacts of gun violence."

"YWCA is devastated and outraged at the ongoing gun violence epidemic impacting our communities," said YWCA USA CEO Margaret Mitchell. "As the largest network of domestic violence and sexual assault service providers, YWCAs see firsthand the need to take immediate action to address this growing public health crisis. YWCA applauds the introduction of this resolution that lifts up the intersection of gun violence and domestic violence and also highlights the real threats YWCAs experience each day in our communities while working to meet the needs of the survivors and families we serve. The time for our legislators to implement common sense measures to keep our communities safe is NOW. We urge the House to pass this legislation without delay."

The resolution is cosponsored by: Reps. Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Juan Vargas (CA-51), Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-05), Jim Cooper (TN-05), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), John B. Larson (CT-01), and Dwight Evans (PA-03), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Thomas Suozzi (NY-03), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Eric Swalwell (CA-15), John Garamendi (CA-03), Tony Cardenas (CA-29), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Albio Sires (NJ-08), Anthony G. Brown (MD-04), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), Dina Titus (NV-01), Danny Davis (IL-07), Andre Carson (IN-07), Paul D. Tonko (NY-20), David Trone (MD-06), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), Jim Himes (CT-04), Jim Cooper (TN-05), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Colin Allred (TX-32).

Endorsing Organizations: Giffords, March for Our Lives, National Education Association, Newton Action Alliance, YWCA USA, Maine Gun Safety Coalition, CT against Gun Violence, Ceasefire PA, Orange Ribbons For Gun Safety, Gun Sense Vermont, Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort, TX Gun Sense.

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