Newsletter: Gun Safety Reforms
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Last week, President Trump continued his destructive efforts to undermine the Affordable Care Act – first through an executive order unravelling parts of the law and second through an announcement that the Administration would end Cost Sharing Reduction (CSR) payments that help lower out-of-pocket costs. This is playing politics with Americans' health care, plain and simple. The President's actions are intended to collapse the individual markets and will raise health care costs across the country.
Instead of sabotage, the President and Congress should be urgently considering proposals to stabilize and strengthen the individual markets -- ideas like what the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus put forward this summer. I'll continue to push for this bipartisan framework and continue to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle committed to improving Americans' health care, not dismantling it.
Please read on for more updates on a bill I introduced this week to strengthen reporting requirements on the sales of long guns, such as those used in the mass shooting in Las Vegas, and my thoughts on President Trump's decision to not certify Iran's compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
GUN SAFETY REFORMS
Last week, I partnered with my colleagues Reps. Norma Torres (D-CA) and Eliot Engel (D-NY) to introduce a bill to require a federal firearms licensees to report the sale of two or more long guns, including semi-automatic rifles such as the AR-15, to the same person within a five-day period.
A long-standing provision in the federal code already requires gun dealers to file a report to law enforcement when two or more handguns or pistol are purchased. This same standard should apply to semi-automatic rifles.
It's outrageous that some rifles are exempt from the reporting requirements that apply when someone purchases multiple handguns. This bill is a commonsense update to apply the same rules to all firearm purchases
Learn more about the bill on our website.
PREVENTING A NUCLEAR IRAN
Preventing Iran from ever acquiring a nuclear weapon, and curbing their malign regional and global influence is of paramount importance for American national security and the security of our allies. We must be clear-eyed in what actions move us closer and further away from this objective.
While I opposed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), now that it's in place, we must aggressively and rigorously enforce it. The urgent responsibility of our government at this time, in conjunction with our partners and our regional allies, is to develop a comprehensive strategy and commit the necessary resources to work to close the gaps and reduce the risks in the JCPOA, including the sunset provisions.
As many national security experts have advised in testimony to Congress and elsewhere, we should be strengthening the parameters of the JCPOA, not seeking to unravel it. President Trump's decision not to certify under the terms of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA) jeopardizes the restrictions already in place on Iran's nuclear activity at a time when we should be urgently working to shore up the Iran Deal's shortcomings and holding Iran to account for its dangerous behavior outside the agreement.
That includes Iran's support for Hizballah and other terrorist proxies, illicit weapons transfers, ballistic missile program, and human rights abuses. The President's decision risks isolating us from our international allies at the exact moment we need to work together to accomplish these goals.
Earlier in the week, the House Foreign Affairs Committee considered, or "marked-up," legislation to sanction supporters of Iran's ballistic missile program and weapon transfers. I was proud an amendment I introduced was included to require a report on violations of the travel restrictions on sanctioned Iranian individuals per UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2231 and any exemptions that have been approved by the Security Council. This follows troubling news reports that Iran's Commander of the IRGC's Quds Force, General Qasem Soleimani, has traveled to Russia in violation of UNSCR 2231. These restrictions were put in place for good reason and we deserve to know whether in fact violations have occurred.
More information on this amendment is on our website.
COMMUTER TOWN HALL
Tomorrow morning, I'll be riding the Pace bus from Waukegan to College of Lake County, and then back again. This is another great opportunity to meet and hear directly from constituents. Make sure to say hello and share what's on your mind.
What: Commuter Town Hall on PACE Route 572 – from Waukegan to College of Lake County and back
When: Tuesday, October 17 at 8:00am
Where: depart from Waukegan Metra Station - 95 North Spring St., Waukegan, IL 60085
NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE HOURS
Our office hosts frequent Neighborhood Office Hours for constituents to more easily meet with caseworkers and staff to discuss any federal issues that they may have and learn more about services our office can provide. We're here to help if you have issues with Medicare, Social Security, the Veterans Administration, immigration and more.
This week, we'll be in Mt. Prospect and Grayslake. Check out the full schedule on our website and come meet with us when we're in your community!
WEEKLY WRAP-UP
On Saturday, we held our 14th Congress On Your Corner in Buffalo Grove. Discussed protecting Affordable Care Act, the need for commonsense gun safety reforms, and more with attendees.
Speaking with Citizens Climate Lobby - Lake County, IL about President Trump's harmful decision to repeal the Clean Power Plan and need to #actonclimate.
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I spoke on the House Floor against President Trump's shameful executive order allowing employers to deny women insurance coverage for contraception. Click the above image to watch video.
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The opioid epidemic has hit communities in the Tenth District hard. Last week, I testified at House Committee on Energy and Commerce about the Opioid PACE Act I introduced to cut down on overprescribing and ensure our doctors have the latest addiction treatment techniques through continuing education requirements. Click the above image to watch video.
Talking with Carl from Highland Park to help complete requirements of his Citizenship Merit Badge.
With the Exchange Club of Grayslake at their pancake breakfast to support local organizations preventing child abuse. Pictured here with State Sen. Melinda Bush and Fire Chief John Christian.
Visit our Facebook and Twitter pages for more photos and updates.
As always, please continue to stay in touch and share your thoughts, either by calling our DC office at (202) 225-4835 or emailing via our website.