Investigative Assistance for Violent Crimes Act of 2012

Floor Speech

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Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I am very quick to thank the former chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime, Bobby Scott of Virginia, and of course Mr. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina for his very great contribution to H.R. 2076, as amended, that the House originally passed in 2011 by a vote of 358-9.

H.R. 2076 gives the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security the specific statutory authority to respond to requests from State and local law enforcement agencies for assistance in the investigation of violent acts and shootings occurring in public places, and in the investigation of mass killings and attempted mass killings. It's very appropriate, of course, under the recent circumstances that the leaders on both sides of the aisle have mentioned. So this bill, unfortunately, due to the tragic shooting in Newtown, the consideration of this bill is appropriately timely.

Of course we should pass the bill today so that the President may sign it into law, but it is unfortunate that we're not also sending the President even more urgently needed legislation to protect us from gun violence. While we must take steps to assist in the investigation of such incidents, it is critical that we prevent them from occurring in the first place. We're simply not doing all we can do to protect our citizens, but we celebrate that we have come this far.

So I urge my colleagues to support the Senate amendment to H.R. 2076.

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