Dear John,

Five years ago, when I came to Congress, I brought with me a slip of paper with the names of 20 children and 6 adults on it. 

I brought with me their stories, their memories, and the hopes and dreams they would never get a chance to realize. 

I brought with me a promise and a commitment to action.

A promise to not let the lives of those killed at Sandy Hook be in vain and to create real solutions to end the gun violence epidemic.

Today, on the 11th anniversary of this tragedy, I have not forgotten that commitment.

In Congress, I am committed to ensuring no other community is torn apart by gun violence. As Deputy Whip of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, I continue to push for common-sense gun safety legislation. We must honor the lives lost at Sandy Hook through ACTION. 

In the 118th Congress, I have taken action by:

     1. Leading the School Violence Prevention Act to provide funding      opportunities for organizations to create or expand school-based      support programs for children at the highest risk for involvement      in gun violence.

     2. Co-leading the Handgun Permit to Purchase Act, legislation to      incentivize state and local governments to follow Connecticut’s      example and adopt permit to purchase laws.

     3. Co-leading the School Shooting Safety and Preparedness Act to      collect data on gun violence in and around school campuses and      provide actionable solutions to help prevent these tragic incidents.

     4. Signing onto three discharge petitions to force a vote on      common sense gun violence prevention measures – the Bipartisan      Background Checks Act, Enhanced Background Checks Act, and      the Assault Weapons Ban.

While progress has been made, the work is not over.

Since Sandy Hook, guns have become the leading cause of death for children in the United States. No community is immune from the tragedies of gun violence.

Today, as we solemnly mark the 11th anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, as we remember the 26 beautiful lives lost to a senseless, preventable act of violence, I ask my colleagues in Congress to remember their commitments to the people they serve.

I ask that we work together to make our schools and our communities safe, to ensure tragedies like Sandy Hook Elementary School are a thing of the past.

Recording of the Sandy Hook Anniversary floor remarks is available here. 

Jahana Hayes
Member of Congress