Washington, DC—Today, U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) released the following statement in response to his vote in favor of the bipartisan Safer Communities Act:

“Our families, our neighbors, and our children are hurting from the increased violent crime and gun violence that is plaguing this nation. We saw it here at home—families were torn apart at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Our children are scared for their safety in schools, in places of worship, in grocery stores, in movie theaters. It is time for change,” said Congressman Cuellar, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. “The House and Senate passage of renewed gun legislation—the first of its kind in 30 years—is a critical step in protecting our communities. I am incredibly grateful to the bipartisan group of Senators, and my colleagues in the House, that worked across the aisle to get this past the finish line.”

Congressman Cuellar continued, “Let me be clear. I am an ardent supporter of the 2^nd amendment and will never vote to take that right away from American citizens. At the end of the day, however, my objective is to keep you and your families safe. That is my number one priority.”

“This legislation is the first step, but we must continue to invest in our communities.  That is why I was the lead sponsor of the national criminal background check system (NICS) Act of 2017 and secured $85 million through the Appropriations Committee for this program. That is why I voted for both the Bipartisan Background Check of 2021 and Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021. That is why I also supported legislation on law enforcement training to combat the mental health crisis in our nation. That is why I secured $132 million in funding for the STOP School Violence Act grant program through my position on the appropriations committee. I will continue to invest in South Texas to ensure our families, our children and our wider community has the resources it needs to thrive and succeed. I look forward to the President signing this bill into legislation so South Texas, and other communities inflicted with gun violence, can begin to heal.”

Specific provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act include:

Support for State Crisis Intervention Orders:  Creates $750 million for states to create and administer laws that will ensure deadly weapons are kept out of the hands of individuals determined by a court.

Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence by Closing the Boyfriend Loophole:  Adds convicted domestic violence abusers in dating relationships to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

Penalties for Straw Purchasing:  Creates federal straw purchasing and gun trafficking criminal offenses, allowing prosecutors to target dangerous illegal gunrunners. . 

Clarified Definition of Federally Licensed Firearms Dealer:  Cracks down on criminals who illegally evade licensing requirements and clarifies which sellers need to register, conduct background checks, and keep appropriate records.

Enhanced Background Checks for People Under 21: Requires an investigative period to review juvenile and mental health records, including checks with state databases and local law enforcement, for buyers under 21 years of age, creating an enhanced, longer background check of up to ten days.

Anti-Violence Community Initiatives:  Provides $250 million in funding for community-based violence prevention initiatives.

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