Friend,

On Friday, we marked the 14th anniversary of the Virginia Tech shooting. And the same day, we woke up to news of another deadly mass shooting, this time in Indianapolis. It was the 45th mass shooting America has experienced in the course of just one month.

This tragedy came at the end of a week that was already incredibly difficult for our country -- a week where racial inequities were once again laid bare as we saw the painful deaths of Daunte Wright and Adam Toledo at the hands of police.

Even as more people get vaccinated and the country gradually re-opens, the epidemic of gun violence, the persistent deaths of Black and Brown Americans at the hands of law enforcement, and the recent spike of anti-Asian violence remind us of the many ingrained problems in our society. These recent weeks have reinforced that "back to normal" simply is not enough, and that we must all strive to do more to build a safer, more equitable society.

I will continue to use my platform in Congress to advocate for urgently-needed reforms, such as the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, background checks for all gun sales, and legislation to increase protections against hate crimes. And I'll always work to help elevate the voices of those demanding change.

In trying times like these, I find it's always good to check in with each other. So if you have a minute, I'd love to hear from you. In as many or as few words as you'd like, tell me how you're holding up, and how you've been trying to make positive change during these difficult times.

Thank you,

Jennifer