Washington (January 15, 2021) –
Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Congresswoman
Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12) released the following statement today
after the Trump administration announced a proposal to rescind $12.3 million of
the $12.5 million appropriated in Fiscal Year 2021 for Firearm Injury and
Mortality Prevention Research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC). Senator Markey and Rep. Maloney were successful in
securing
$25 million each year in the past two fiscal years for gun
violence research at the CDC. Since 2013, they have introduced the
Gun Violence Prevention Research
Act, which would fund research
at the CDC on firearms safety and gun violence prevention at $50 million per
year for five years.
“This is one last, desperate
attempt by Donald Trump, in service to his gun lobby cronies, to claw back
vital funding for gun violence prevention that Congress already passed.
Thankfully, this craven move will go nowhere, and we will soon begin working with
the Biden administration to ensure this funding stays in place. With gun
violence deaths on the rise during the pandemic, now more than ever, the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention needs funding for gun violence
prevention research. We will continue to push for an increase in this funding
and will be re-introducing the ‘Gun Violence Prevention Act’ this Congress to
make gun violence research funding permanent for the next five years. With a
committed Biden administration we can make passing comprehensive gun safety
reform a priority this Congress.”
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