Here is my quote to the media:
“Today is an important milestone in the fight to end gun violence. The $25 million Congress has appropriated for gun violence research will help us find data-driven solutions to this epidemic. Thank you to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Congressman John Yarmuth for voting “Yea” on this meaningful funding.”
Before I give you context regarding my statement, I must first share how happy I am. Since I was shot 15 months ago there have been ZERO legislative wins at the federal level. We’ve been to D.C. We’ve had a front row seat to the many opposing viewpoints of those in power. It often feels like making change is insurmountable. But on Friday, all that changed.
The House AND the Senate agreed to fund $25M into the CDC and NIH for gun violence prevention research. This is HUGE! Not just for the researchers clamoring for dollars to save lives, but also because we finally got a win. This issue is not impenetrable! This is the best Christmas present I could have ever received!
For a better understanding of how research can help save lives, see the Five Thirty Eight article we posted last week. Now for some context.
After 15 months of navigating the world of legislation, both at the state and federal levels, I can tell you unequivocally that getting a gun violence prevention bill passed is tough.
From the start, you’ve got extreme points of view sucking the air out of nearly every conversation. Next, and once you’ve moved past the radical points, you’ll find that reasonable people on both sides of the aisle have real concerns that deserve consideration. And with our focus on D.C., there is no clear majority with the power to get their bill through both chambers.
As a result and in the case of this appropriations bill, the $50M requested by the House (led by Democrats), wasn’t agreed to by the Senate (led by Republicans). When the two chambers do not agree they can go one of two ways.
The Senate can ignore the bill as it is too far away from anything they’d consider for passage. This is what happened to HR 8, aka Comprehensive Background Checks.
OR
2. The Senate can take the bill and re-work based upon what they think will muster passage.
With this bill, the latter happened and I’m so glad it did! This request did not go the way of the House gun violence prevention bill graveyard. While there are valid reasons to be frustrated with why that has happened historically, that’s not the way we roll at Whitney/Strong. We believe in incremental wins and will revel when legislators make the right decision, regardless of when or why they get there.
This bill ended up with $25M and not $50M. This was a spending bill. Funds are allocated for many worthy causes, such as military aid, school violence prevention, suicide prevention, etc. I cannot opine on how the deal was struck and why certain initiatives received more dollars than others. I can only tell you this: The Senate got on board in a way they haven’t in the past. Our legislator meetings, the many email and phone communications, and ultimately, our strategy, is working!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Revel in this win with us!