Another Community Torn Apart

America's Epidemic of Gun Violence

Words are inadequate to describe the agony and outrage at the cold-blooded massacre of little schoolchildren and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Even before families could bury their loved ones in Buffalo, another community has been torn apart by the horrors of gun violence. This monstrous shooting stole the futures of precious children, who will never experience the joys of graduating from school, chasing the career of their dreams, falling in love, even starting a family of their own.

The hearts of all Americans are broken as we pray for the families left forever shattered and a community left forever scarred by the unspeakable grief of losing a loved one. We also extend our sympathies to all those who have lost a loved one to gun violence over time, as this horrible crime deepens their suffering.

However, our sentiments and our moments of silence are not enough. On multiple occasions, the Democratic House has passed strong, commonsense gun violence prevention legislation, including H.R. 8, which secures universal background checks, and H.R. 1446, which closes the "Charleston Loophole" that allows gun dealers to sell firearms to dangerous individuals if their FBI background check is not completed within three business days.

In the past, similar measures that became law have been proven to reduce the sale of dangerous weapons and save lives. We can and must do so again. When the House returns the week of June 6th, the House will pass Congresswoman Lucy McBath's bill to establish extreme risk protection orders nationwide, which will help keep guns out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves or others.

Across the nation, Americans are filled with righteous fury in the wake of multiple incomprehensible mass shootings in the span of just days. This a crisis of existential proportions – for our children and for every American. For too long, some in Congress have offered hollow words after these shootings while opposing all efforts to save lives. It is time for all in Congress to heed the will of the American people and join in enacting the House-passed bipartisan, commonsense, life-saving legislation into law.

Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing
Two years ago this week, our nation watched in horror as George Floyd gasped his last words, ‘I can't breathe.' In the wake of this brutal murder, courageous activists took to the streets to shine a bright light on the scourge of systemic racism and police brutality that has long plagued our nation. Inspired by these calls for justice, Democrats' work to honor George Floyd's life with deeply needed change continues to this day.

This week, President Biden signed an executive order to improve the effectiveness and accountability of policing. The President's strong and historic action will save lives:

• Promoting accountability: creating a new national database of police misconduct, mandating the adoption of body-worn camera policies and ensuring timely and thorough investigations and consistent discipline.
• Raising standards: banning the use of chokeholds, requiring new standards that limit the use of force and require de-escalation for all federal agencies, restricting the use of no-knock entries and more.
• Supporting law enforcement: updating approaches to recruitment, hiring, promotion, and retention of law enforcement officers, reimagining crisis response and prioritizing officer wellness.

In doing so, the Biden Administration is establishing a model to encourage healthier relationships between police departments and the communities they serve, while honoring the service of our men and women in blue.

President Biden's executive order is another concrete step in Democrats' fight to move our nation closer to our founding promise of equal justice under law. The Democratic House has twice passed our George Floyd Justice in Policing Act: bold legislation to help reduce police brutality, curb systemic injustice and save lives. We will not stop until this legislation is the law of the land.

Honoring Our Nation's Veterans, Servicemembers & Their Families
On Memorial Day, we join our fellow Americans to pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, remembering those who have served in defense of liberty and honoring the families and communities left behind. Every day our country is safe and our children breathe free is a day our Servicemembers and veterans made possible.

We must renew our commitment to keep our solemn promises to our nation's more than 19 million veterans, nearly 2 million Servicemembers and their families. We have an obligation to ensure they receive the high quality of care and benefits they have earned and deserve in a timely, accurate and compassionate manner.

In March, led by Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano, the House passed the Honoring our PACT Act: a comprehensive bill that will finally and fully meet the moral and health challenge of toxic exposures for our veterans. The Senate's bipartisan agreement on the House-passed Honoring our PACT Act is an important victory for America's veterans, their families and caregivers, and indeed for all of America. This bill will be transformative – including by providing access to VA health care to 3.5 million potentially exposed Post-9/11 combat veterans and granting presumptions of exposure for veterans with rare cancers and other debilitating diseases. Toxic exposures are a cost of war, and we cannot pinch pennies when it comes to addressing the needs and honoring the service of our servicemembers.

Just as the military pledges to leave no soldier behind on the battlefield, we must leave no veteran behind when they return home.

Visiting Washington D.C.?
My office is excited to share updated information on tours of the U.S. Capitol Building! U.S. Capitol Tours are now available from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Monday through Friday. You should reserve tours directly through the public Capitol Visitor Center website:

As many sites around Washington, D.C. begin to open to the public, please be aware that each tour has different hours and requirements, and my office will do all in its capacity to schedule these tours. Please take a moment to read through the information on the status of tour sites around D.C. as it will serve as your best guide on the status of tour availability.

American Rescue Plan & the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Keeping Ahead of COVID in San Francisco

Showcasing San Francisco's Youth

Congresswoman Pelosi is accepting applications for the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy.

Traveling this Summer?
This year, Congresswoman Pelosi's office has been able to help more than 40 constituents receive their passports in time for international travel. Summer is the busiest time for the passport agency, so you are encouraged to plan ahead. If you are planning on traveling, remember to check your passport's expiration date, confirm the passport requirements for your destination and apply as soon as possible for a passport renewal if needed. Last minute appointments are not guaranteed during this busy season.