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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 19, 2013 CONTACT: Rachel MacKnight 202-228-1122

CHAIRWOMAN MIKULSKI PUTS FUNDS IN THE FEDERAL CHECKBOOK TO PREVENT AND REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE
Provides funding for programs to protect families, schools, and communities from gun violence Senate Appropriations Committee Approves FY 2014 Bill WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee, today announced the fiscal year 2014 CJS spending bill passed by the Appropriations Committee includes $1.4 billion, adding $379 million to FY 2013 levels, for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to support Federal, State, and local efforts to reduce gun violence across the United States. The CJS spending bill provides a total of $28.5 billion to fight crime and terrorism, and protect communities and families. America was shocked when a lone gunman walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School and killed 26 children and teachers. Those tragic shootings have sparked a national debate over gun safety for the first time in decades, Chairwoman Mikulski said. Even while efforts to pass a comprehensive gun safety bill are stymied, I want to make sure that we are making strong investments in programs that give law enforcement the tools they need to reduce violent crime, prevent homicides, enforce Federal firearms laws, and keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill. Children should not have to live in fear of walking out of their homes and into school or along the street and being gunned down. Parents should not have to live in fear that their children may not return home to them, Chairwoman Mikulski said. Thats why I make sure this bill provides robust support for the FBI to run timely criminal background checks on prospective buyers, and the ATF to better enforce gun laws and go after illegal gun traffickers. The bill also helps States improve the quality of their criminal and mental health records; allows schools to identify and close critical gaps in their safety plans; and trains police how to respond to active shooters.

Specifically, the $1.4 billion provided in the CJS to reduce gun violence includes: $168 million to enhance the FBIs capacity to run background checks so prospective legal buyers can exercise their Second Amendment rights while keeping guns out of the hands of known criminals; $978 million to give the ATF criminal enforcement, investigations, and inspections tools to enforce gun laws, trace firearms found at crime scenes, and keep illegal guns away from traffickers and criminals; $50 million for all States to improve the quality of criminal and mental health records so interstate background checks are more effective; $150 million through the COPS Office for a comprehensive school safety initiative that allows communities to hire school safety personnel, provides positive behavioral supports, offers counseling and mental health interventions, conducts school safety assessments, and fills gaps in school safety plans; $15 million to train local police how to respond to active shooter situations so police and bystanders can get to safety; and $2 million to encourage developments in innovative gun safety technology.

In the next step of the appropriations process, the bill will move to the Senate floor for a vote, which has not yet been scheduled.

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