Reid Floor Remarks On Tragedy At Boston Marathon

Statement

Nevada Senator Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding Monday's tragedy at the Boston Marathon. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

Americans are still reeling from the senseless violence at the Boston Marathon yesterday. Our nation is united in its sympathy for the victims of the attack and their families.

Adding to the horror of the tragedy are the questions about who did this and why. The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security are investigating this attack as aggressively as possible. And, as President Obama said last night, rest assured that the perpetrators will feel the full weight of justice for their horrific crimes.

On the anti-gun violence legislation before the Senate, we are making good progress in the effort to schedule a series of votes on amendments. I have had several constructive discussions with the Republican leader.

The American people deserve to know where we stand on these important anti-violence proposals. We have already spent a week and a half on this legislation. It is time to begin processing amendments. And I hope we will be able to reach an agreement later today to hold votes on several amendments, including both Democratic and Republican amendments.

That series of votes would include a compromise background check proposal crafted by Senators Manchin and Toomey. This bipartisan measure has the support of anti-violence advocates and law enforcement groups as well as reasonable Second Amendment advocates. The measure would keep guns out of the hands of dangerous criminals by requiring background checks for private gun sales at gun shows and over the internet.

I am optimistic that cooperation from both sides will continue, and that victims of gun violence will get the debate and the votes they rightly deserve.

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