E252 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 5, 2018 and other health care services designed to im- that compiled and distributed sacks of food The United States ranks No. 1 in the world prove patient health and reduce overall health and toiletries to homeless members of her in terms of firearms per capita—with 88.8 care costs. Pharmacists are also expanding community. guns per 100 people—and it has the highest their role into new models of care based on Mickayla Vannatter was recognized as a homicide-by-firearm rate in the developed quality of services and outcomes, such as ac- Distinguished Finalist for her program that en- world. countable care organizations (ACOs) and courages children at her school to choose in- The problem is so endemic that gun vio- medical homes. clusion over bullying. lence is now the third leading cause of death The pharmacy advocates of NACDS Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend for children in the U.S. RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill will be pro- my congratulations to Logan, Seamus, Sadie, An average of 1,297 children die annually moting an access agenda. They know that we and Mickayla. They have set excellent exam- from gun-related injuries. face difficult debates about the future of health ples for their friends and families, and I appre- Guns are linked to roughly 33 thousand care and the pharmacy community wishes to ciate all they do to support the great state of deaths in the U.S. per year; about two-thirds work with us to help in the effort to develop Wyoming and our great country. of them are suicides. comprehensive and consistent approaches to f According to Pew Research Center, a ma- public policy that put pharmacy’s value to work jority of Americans (across partisan lines) sup- GUN VIOLENCE for patients and payers. They understand well port gun policy proposals such as barring peo- that the issues we are debating today are SPEECH OF ple with mental illnesses from buying guns; highly connected and vital to pharmacy, to all prohibiting gun purchases by people on fed- of health care, and to society as a whole. HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE eral no-fly or watch lists; and background I believe Congress should look at every op- OF TEXAS checks for private gun sales and sales at gun portunity to make sure that pharmacists are al- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES shows. lowed to utilize their training to the fullest to Monday, February 26, 2018 America has six times as many firearm provide the services that can improve care, in- homicides as Canada, and nearly 16 times as Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to crease access and lower costs. In recognition many as Germany. discuss the issue of gun violence in America. of the Tenth Annual NACDS RxIMPACT Day United Nations data shows that America far This Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2018, on Capitol Hill, I would like to congratulate and away leads other developed countries marked the thirtieth mass shooting in our pharmacy leaders, pharmacists, students, and when it comes to gun-related homicides. country this year, when a mentally unstable the entire pharmacy community represented America has 4.4 percent of the world’s pop- 19-year-old opened fire on Marjorie Stoneman by NACDS, for their contributions to the health ulation, but almost half of the civilian-owned Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida with and wellness of the American people. guns around the world. an AR–15 military style weapon, killing 17 indi- f In December 2012, a gunman walked into viduals and injuring 15 others. Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, IN HONOR OF LOGAN GROSZ AND We extend our deepest sympathies to all Connecticut, and killed 20 children, six adults, SEAMUS CASEY’S SELECTION AS those affected by this tragedy and recognize and himself. WYOMING’S TOP YOUTH VOLUN- the skill and heroism of the law enforcement Since then, there have been at least 1,518 TEERS, AND SADIE HOGAN AND officers and first responders who came to the mass shootings, with at least 1,715 people MICKAYLA VANNATTER AS DIS- aid of others. killed and 6,089 wounded. TINGUISHED FINALISTS BY THE We commend the efforts of those who are The fairly broad definition of ‘‘mass shoot- PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT OF COMMU- working to care for the injured and investigate ing’’ includes not only shootings in which four NITY AWARDS this horrific incident. or more people were murdered, but shootings We extend our heartfelt condolences and in which four or more people were shot at all prayers to the families of the fallen, and to all (excluding the shooter). HON. LIZ CHENEY those affected in the community of Parkland, Even under this broad definition, mass OF WYOMING Florida and in the United States. shootings make up a tiny portion of America’s IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The horrifying events in Parkland mark the firearm deaths, which totaled more than Monday, March 5, 2018 378th mass shooting in the U.S. since 2017, 33,000 in 2014. and the 30th this year, according to Gun Vio- Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to On average, there is more than one mass lence Archive. congratulate Logan Grosz and Seamus Casey shooting for each day in America. Mass shootings are a near daily occurrence for being honored as Wyoming’s top youth vol- Whenever a mass shooting occurs, sup- in America, but what happened in Las Vegas unteers by the Prudential Spirit of Community porters of gun rights often argue that it is inap- on October 1, 2017 stands out: It was the Awards, and Sadie Hogan and Mickayla propriate to bring up political debates about deadliest such incident in U.S. history, with Vannatter for being recognized as Distin- gun control in the aftermath of a tragedy. more than 58 killed and 515 injured. guished Finalists. For example, former Louisiana Governor A mass shooting is defined by Gun Violence The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Bobby Jindal, a strong supporter of gun rights, Archive as any incident in which four or more is a nationwide program that recognizes four criticized former President Barack Obama for are shot and/or killed in a single event, at the middle level and high school students from ‘‘trying to score cheap political points’’ when same general time and location not including each state for their outstanding volunteerism. Obama mentioned gun control after a mass the shooter. Each year, two students are selected as the Recent U.S. mass shootings include: shooting in Charleston, South Carolina. State Honorees, and two as Distinguished Fi- Las Vegas, 2017: 58 killed; 515 wounded But if this argument is followed to its logical nalists. This year’s honored students are com- Orlando, 2016: 50 killed end, then it will never be the right time to dis- mitted to service and to going above and be- Virginia Tech, 2007: 32 killed cuss mass shootings. yond for their communities. Sandy Hook, 2012: 27 killed Under the-broader definition of mass shoot- Logan Grosz was selected as the High San Ysirdo, 1984: 21 killed ings, America has nearly one mass shooting a School State Honoree for Wyoming for his San Bernadino, 2015: 14 killed day. dedication to supporting the Children’s Hos- Edmond, 1986: 14 killed So if Congress is forced to wait for a time pital Colorado. As a patient and its Champion Fort Hood, 2009: 13 killed when there is not a mass shooting to talk gun for the State of Wyoming, he organizes and Columbine, 1999: 13 killed control, Congress could find itself waiting for a runs fundraisers that have raised over $7,500 Charleston, 2015: 9 killed very long time. for the hospital and its other patients. There were more than 11,600 deaths linked The time for responding to mass shootings Seamus Casey is this year’s Middle Level to gun violence in 2017, which is roughly with thoughts and prayers has long since State Honoree for his support of the Folds of equivalent to nearly four 9/11 attacks in terms passed. Honor Foundation. Last summer, he designed of the total number killed on September 11, The time for responding with effective legis- and completed his own triathlon, raising 2001. lation is now. $10,000 for the Foundation’s scholarships for Comparatively, more than 15 thousand were I have called upon this Administration to se- family members of fallen or disabled service- killed by gun violence in 2016, and there were cure the passage of H.R. 4268, the ‘‘Gun men. 383 mass shootings. Safety Not Sorry Act,’’ legislation I have intro- Sadie Hogan was recognized as a Distin- It is horrifying to admit that gun violence duced that would impose a 7-day waiting, or guished Finalist for her leadership in a project now seems to be a staple of American life. ‘‘cooling off,’’ period prior to the purchase or

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:19 Mar 06, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K05MR8.004 E05MRPT1 March 5, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E253 transfer of ownership of a semiautomatic fire- HONORING THE LIFE OF MARCUS THE INVALUABLE HELP OF ANDY arm, silencers, armor piercing ammunition, or RASKIN IGREJAS IN STRENGTHENING large capacity ammunition magazines. THE LAUTENBERG TSCA RE- FORM ACT According to Newsweek, the ‘‘Gun Safety HON. BARBARA LEE Not Sorry Act’’ is the No. 1 legislative proposal that Congress can and should pass right now. OF CALIFORNIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR. The majority must cut its close ties to the powerful gun lobby to facilitate useful gun con- Monday, March 5, 2018 OF NEW JERSEY trol legislation necessary immediately. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor The ‘‘Gun Safety Not Sorry Act will not the extraordinary life of a strong voice in the Monday, March 5, 2018 abridge the Second Amendment, it will not progressive movement, and a great mentor take away gun rights, and it does not impose and friend, Marcus Raskin. Marcus’ excep- Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recog- greater restrictions on gun ownership—it will tional work as a national security staffer, polit- nize the outstanding contributions Andy Igrejas not stop all mass shootings but it will certainly ical theorist, and progressive thought leader has made in improving the lives of the Amer- help. has deeply shaped our nation’s consciousness ican people through his tireless advocacy and In the wake of the horrific Valentine’s Day about war, economic inequality, and civil expertise in reducing public exposure to harm- mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, the rights. ful chemicals. emboldened survivors of the high school Born in 1934 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, A native of Bloomfield, New Jersey and a shooting are calling for immediate gun reform. Marcus initially pursued a career as a pianist, proud graduate of Rutgers College, Andy has States with tighter gun control laws have before changing direction and studying law worked on environmental health and govern- fewer gun-related deaths. and policy at the University of Chicago. After ment reform issues in New Jersey, California, attaining his law degree, Marcus moved to and Washington, D.C. over his decades of I will soon introduce legislation to keep our Washington D.C. and became a staffer for service. children safe from mass shootings: the ‘‘No Representatives Robert W. Kastenmeier & Every day, we see the steps the Environ- More Atrocities with Guns Act’’ (No MAGA James Roosevelt. Act) raises the minimum age from 18 to 21 for mental Protection Agency is taking to imple- He quickly distinguished himself as a lead- ment the Lautenberg TSCA Reform law a person to purchase or possess semi-auto- ing voice of liberal thought, and was hired as matic assault weapons. passed in 2016. While that implementation is staff on the National Security Council by Presi- so far not living up to the letter of the law, we Teenagers, whose brains are not yet fully dent Kennedy’s National Security Advisor, will continue to work to hold the EPA account- developed should not yet be entrusted with a McGeorge Bundy. He also later served in the able for meeting its essential duty under the weapon that is designed to inflict maximum Bureau of the Budget (now the Office of Man- law: removing toxic chemicals from commerce damage in minimum time. agement and Budget), and the Presidential and from our homes. Panel on Education. Americans cannot understand how it is le- We are only able to do this because of im- gally possible for a 19-year-old mentally unsta- Following his service in the Kennedy Admin- portant changes that were made in the Lau- ble person to purchase such a highly lethal istration, Raskin formed the Institute for Policy tenberg Act as it went through Congress— weapon such as the AR–15 assault rifle and Studies (IPS) along with Richard Barnet. As a changes that came about because of Andy’s then use that weapon to slaughter 17 high progressive policy think-tank, IPS was the first tireless work and dedication as Executive Di- school students. of its kind. To this day, the institute remains rector of the Safer Chemicals Healthy Families committed to economic and racial justice, cli- Coalition. Although Americans say they want to pro- mate justice, peace and foreign policy, com- tect the right to bear arms, they are very much munity engagement, and leadership develop- The work to reform the Toxic Substances supportive of many gun policy proposals—in- ment. Control Act began in earnest in 2009, when cluding some fairly contentious ideas, such as the major stakeholders published principles for Marcus also played a pivotal role in the re- more background checks on private and gun reform. It was that year that Andy organized lease of the Pentagon Papers during the show sales and banning semi-automatic and the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coali- Nixon Administration. His criticisms of the Viet- assault-style weapons. tion to create a unified voice for health, envi- nam War and American military policy led to ronmental, and labor organizations interested Mass shootings occur more frequently in Daniel Ellsberg noticing Marcus and relying on in advancing chemical policy reform. states that do not require background checks his help to get the leaked documents to re- for all gun sales. porters at the New York Times. This initiated With Andy as its director, the coalition has Analyses of mass shootings in the United a watershed moment in our country’s history grown to include 450 organizations and small States between 2009 and 2015 document that about the need for transparency and account- businesses from across the country and the majority of mass shootings occur in ability in government. across the political spectrum. By unifying venues where the carrying of firearm is not re- I first met Marcus Raskin, during the mid- these groups, Andy made their voices strong- stricted. 1970’s, while I worked on Capitol Hill for Con- er, strong enough to stand up to extraordinary expenditures from industry interests. In states that require background checks for gressman Ron Dellums, and I am grateful to all handgun sales, including guns offered in him for his wise counsel over the years. Andy’s work also kept the interest in TSCA unlicensed sales online and at gun shows, Marcus was one of the first to congratulate me reform alive when negotiating a deal seemed there are 52 percent fewer mass shootings. on my election to Congress, and acted as a impossible. Andy’s appreciation for the role of reassuring confidant as I considered my vote entrepreneurship and the private sector in cre- Congress must take action to prevent other against the overly broad 2001 authorization to ating positive social change led to the coali- incidents such as the recent act of terror and use military force. tion’s decision to launch Mind the Store, an hatred in Parkland, Florida that resulted in the Marcus Raskin passed on December 24, initiative challenging the nation’s largest retail- tragic loss of 17 innocent lives. 2017, and is survived by his wife, Lynn, and ers to restrict hazardous chemicals in their There have been 32 moments of silence ob- his children Erika, Eden, Noah, and my col- supply chains. It was that effort at the retail served on the House Floor related to Gun Vio- league in Congress—JAMIE. level, along with legislative efforts in the lence since 2012. Today, on behalf of California’s 13th Con- states, which kept industry at the table pur- suing a comprehensive federal program. The time for moments of silence has long gressional District, it is my honor to commend since passed. Marcus Raskin for his moral leadership and to I want to thank Andy for his bold thinking, thank him for his mentorship. I cherish my tireless efforts, and strategic counsel to me The American people are demanding mo- time serving alongside his son, Representative and my staff, without which many of the public ments of action. JAMIE RASKIN of Maryland’s 8th Congressional health and environmental improvements in the I pledge to continue to work to reduce gun District and wish my sincere condolences to Lautenberg TSCA reform law would not have violence and prevent mass shootings. the rest of his surviving family. been possible.

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