It’s a crucial week on Capitol Hill. Negotiators in both parties moved a step closer to completing a years-long quest to pass gun violence legislation by striking a framework deal on Sunday, and the Jan. 6 Committee convenes today for its next phase of hearings.
A group of 20 members unveiled the gun safety framework after more than two weeks of discussions in the aftermath of a mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
Included in the nine-point outline are proposed federal resources for state red flag laws to keep guns away from individuals considered by courts to be dangers to a community, more funding for mental health services, new safety measures at schools and new criminal background check requirements for gun buyers younger than 21.
“Today, we are announcing a commonsense, bipartisan proposal to protect America’s children, keep our schools safe and reduce the threat of violence across our country,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement.
The bottom line: The gun safety accord, which is more modest than provisions President Biden and Democrats proposed, is seen as a breakthrough after a decade of tragedy, advocacy and national arguments that Congress needs to act.
Key figures were quick to throw their weight behind it. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said that he would put a bill on the floor right away once legislative text is hammered out. Sen. John Cornyn (Texas), the lead GOP negotiator, had indicated last week that he was hopeful...
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