Evans: House Passes Bill with $50 Million for Gun Violence Research; Congressman Renews Call for Senate to Act on House-Passed Gun Bills

Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-03) welcomed today's House passage of a major funding bill that includes $50 million Evans requested for research into prevention and causes of gun violence.

"Last weekend's spike in gun violence in Philadelphia is another tragic reminder that the federal government hasn't funded research into preventing gun violence or what causes it for 23 years. I worked with Democratic colleagues to request a restoration of this funding because the time is now for us to know the policies, measures and/or practices that will help stop the onslaught of violence communities throughout our nation are facing," Evans said.

"Restoring research funding would be another tool in the toolbox. The new House Democratic majority has also passed two common-sense gun reform bills nearly four months ago – in February! – that have seen zero action in the Senate Republicans' ‘legislative graveyard.' We need these common-sense protections: universal background checks and closing the ‘Charleston loophole' that allowed a racist, neo-Nazi shooter to get a gun and murder nine African Americans in a church in 2015. The Senate needs to act – every day, about 100 Americans die from gun-related injuries."

Evans has also introduced a bill to restore gun violence victims' ability to hold gun manufacturing companies accountable in court and a bill to help gun violence victims find and access the resources that are available to them.

The $50 million in gun violence research funding in the bill passed today would be split equally between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health.

"This bill pushes back on President Trump's proposed budget cuts and would provide vital funding in several areas such as jobs, education and health care," Evans said. "House Democrats are passing spending bills several months before the Oct. 1 deadline because we don't want another government shutdown."

A more detailed summary of the bill is available here.

Evans represents the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia.