Gun Violence Prevention
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Committee on Appropriations and Chair of the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee, announced that he has secured more than $16.5 million in Community Project Funding in the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations government funding package, which has now passed the House and Senate. The bill is headed to the President's desk for signature.
I know Americans are counting on Congress to take action on the issues that matter the most to you - increasing prices, inflation, and the climate crisis. I'm back in Washington, D.C. this week to vote on the Inflation Reduction Act. This legislation is a historic investment in fighting the climate change crisis, reducing inflation, and bringing down prices for prescription drugs and health care.
As I prepare to vote for this momentous bill, I want to take a moment to update you on what I have accomplished for Illinois' 5th District so far this year.
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) released the following statement following the House passage of the Assault Weapons Ban, H.R. 1808:
Over the past several weeks, our nation has been devastated by gun violence. While we were still reeling from the racially-motivated shooting in Buffalo, NY, a gunman massacred elementary school children in Uvalde, TX. This week alone we have seen shootings at a hospital in Tulsa, OK, a Walmart in Pittson, PA, and a high school in Los Angeles, CA.
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley released the following statement after nineteen students and two adults were murdered in a mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas:
"This horror should be unimaginable but in the United States, this is the 212th mass shooting of the year. In Chicago, more than 200 people have died from gun violence so far in 2022.
"I am sick of hearing about thoughts and prayers from my Republican colleagues—the very same colleagues who claim to be ‘pro-life' then block legislation that could actually save lives. Our children deserve better."
U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05) and Madeleine Dean (PA-04) have begun circulating a letter to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) calling for increased accountability for bad actors among gun dealers. The letter highlights the need for bold leadership by ATF while the Senate considers the nomination of Steve Dettelbach to serve as ATF Director. It also criticizes historical failures to punish gun dealers who repeatedly break the law, putting the public at serious risk.
U.S. Representative Mike Quigley's (IL-05) legislation the NICS Denial Notification Act has been signed into law by President Joe Biden as part of the FY22 Omnibus package. The NICS Denial Notification Act will require federal authorities to alert state and local law enforcement within 24 hours when an ineligible individual lies on a background check and tries to purchase a firearm, which can be a warning sign of future criminal behavior.
U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Appropriations and Intelligence Committees, released the following statement in reaction to President Joe Biden's first State of the Union Address:
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) reintroduced the Trafficking Reduction and Criminal Enforcement (TRACE) Act, to help the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reduce illegal firearms trafficking and make it harder for criminals to obtain deadly weapons.
Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05), Ted Deutch (FL-22), and Gerry Connolly (VA-11) reintroduced the "Buyback Our Safety Act," legislation that would create a Department of Justice program to support local gun buyback initiatives.
This bill would authorize a new matching grant available for local law enforcement agencies to help offset costs of buyback programs. The bill also requires the Department of Justice to report back to Congress on the success of the grant program.