Dear Friends,

The passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act marks the first time in three decades that Congress has been able to advance a significant piece of legislation addressing America’s epidemic of gun violence. While there is still work to be done, this commonsense legislation is a meaningful step towards protecting our communities.

I am especially proud that this bill closes the “boyfriend” loophole, a critical policy that was included in the Lori Jackson Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act, which I lead along with Senators Blumenthal and Murphy. The changes will expand the definition of “intimate partner” to include dating relationships, and prevent someone from getting a firearm if they were convicted of abusing a partner they are currently or were recently dating.

Other provisions in this bill include:

• Providing funding for state crisis intervention programs, including $750 million for states to adopt or implement programs like red flag laws, which allow courts to temporarily prevent a person in crisis from accessing a gun if they’re presented with proof that the person is a threat to themselves or others. Connecticut is one of nineteen states with a version of this law on the books.
• Boosting funding for community violence intervention programs, including $250 million for community-based violence intervention initiatives, which help connect people at risk of committing gun violence to social and economic services and resources.
• Providing nearly $15 billion in new funding to grow, strengthen, and improve mental health services in our schools and communities and make school environments safer.
• Restricting the ability to use federal education funding to train people to use or equip them with dangerous weapons in schools.
• Requiring Enhanced Under-21 Background Checks.

It’s not enough. We know that a vast majority of Americans support commonsense gun violence prevention measures like universal background checks, raising the minimum age to buy an assault rifle, and safe storage laws. But after years of inaction from Congress in the aftermath of repeated tragedy, the passage of this legislation restores a small piece of faith in our sacred institution, this democracy. This vote is proof that real, lifesaving change can be made when lawmakers choose policy over partisanship.

Know that I will not stop fighting to change a culture that values the absolute right to firearms over the safety of our families.

Sincerely,

Jim