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Pelosi Remarks at Gun Violence Prevention Task Forum Entitled ‘No More Silence: Commonsense Solutions to Address the Gun Violence Epidemic’

December 8, 2015

Contact: Drew Hammill/Evangeline George, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks today at a Gun Violence Prevention Task Forum on the causes, costs and best practices to reduce gun violence. Below are the Leader's remarks:

"Good morning, everyone.

"We really should be almost beginning this hearing with a prayer. We have moments of silence on the Floor over and over again on the occasion of high-profile attacks on our people, but we cannot remain silent. For us to honor the responsibilities that we have to protect and defend the American people – we must not only have moments of silence, we must have days of action.

"That's why I'm so grateful to Congressman Mike Thompson, the Chair of our House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and Congresswoman Robin Kelly, the Vice Chair of the Task Force, for bringing us together this morning. That's why I'm so pleased that so many of our Members are here today to bear witness because it's not just the high-profile occasions, as much as they challenge our conscience and tear at our heartstrings, it's the everyday violence in our country that must be addressed. So, I thank our colleagues for hosting this forum and for their relentless efforts and determined leadership in confronting the gun violence crisis. We are grateful to our expert panelists for sharing their insights, experience and solutions. They will be introduced by our two co-chairs here today, but I wanted to personally welcome them and thank them as well.

"Again, we're here to say, ‘No more silence. We must take commonsense action to prevent gun violence.' To start, we can and must bring up the bipartisan Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act to close the loophole that allows suspects to purchase guns, which Republicans have locked from debate three times.

"This is a Republican bill. So this isn't about partisanship. This is a Republican bill that we're asking to be brought up. And we must pass the bipartisan King-Thompson – again bipartisan – legislation to beef up background checks and keep guns out of the hands of the wrong people. And we must create the Select Committee to Prevent Gun Violence so that we can determine and report back commonsense solutions to confront this crisis.

"Our inaction is unconscionable. Our silence is just inconceivable. How can we remain silent? Enough is enough. No more violence. No more silence. And with that, I'm pleased to yield to our distinguished Chair of the Task Force, Mr. Thompson."

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