June 30, 2022

Protecting Our Communities

Dear Friends,  

Like you, I was heartbroken and furious after the mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde. In the wake of those horrific tragedies, Americans across the country called their elected officials and said – no more. I’m proud to report that that surge of momentum has delivered historic change.

After weeks of bipartisan negotiations led by Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), Congress passed historic legislation that broke through 30 years of gridlock on gun safety. Last weekend, President Biden signed S. 2938, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, into law.

This is not a perfect law, but it is going to save lives. This legislation confronts the scourge of gun violence by implementing reasonable, commonsense policies that are widely supported by American voters, including responsible gun owners.

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act provides $750 million to help states create and implement “red flag” laws that keep guns away from individuals who are a threat to themselves or others. It also closes the “boyfriend loophole” by prohibiting convicted domestic abusers from purchasing guns.

This legislation expands background checks for purchasers under the age of 21, and it establishes harsher penalties for gun traffickers in order to crack down on straw purchasing.

We know that these regulations are most effective when paired with community intervention, so this legislation also invests $250 million in community-based violence prevention initiatives and provides additional support to America’s schools for mental health and school safety programs.

I was incredibly proud to vote for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, and I am grateful to the members of the Senate who brokered this deal. Together, we have taken an important step forward in our collective fight against gun violence.  

To keep up with my work in Washington and in our district, please visit my website and follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. 

Sincerely,

Roe v. Wade Just last week, the U.S. Supreme Court took the extreme step of overturning decades of settled case law by striking down Roe v. Wade. This dangerous assault on precedent and our democracy will strip away the constitutional rights of millions of women to make their most personal healthcare decisions, which should be left to women and their doctors. I am deeply concerned that this Court is dragging our nation in a very dangerous direction, and I fear that this decision will only further divide an already divided country.

Supporting Our Military Each year, Congress passes the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to lay out our top military priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I play a critical role in preparing the NDAA. This year, I fought to strengthen our nation’s cybersecurity, make national security buildings accessible to intelligence professionals with disabilities, invest in Rhode Island’s world-class submarine and shipbuilding manufacturing base, and so much more. The committee passed these provisions last week, and the NDAA will come to the House floor for a full vote later this summer.