Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) voted for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, S. 2938, legislation that takes a vital step forward to address gun violence and save lives.

“The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is a historic, common-sense, bipartisan bill that takes meaningful and necessary steps to make our community and communities across the country safer from the threat of gun violence,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “For too long, we have witnessed tragic and preventable shootings affect communities in Sandy Hook, Sutherland Springs, Parkland, Santa Fe, El Paso, Buffalo, and Uvalde, and we know that gun violence devastates families across the country each and every day.  I was glad to vote for this important legislation, and I will continue to work to protect our communities from gun violence.”

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act: 

• Creates a grant program for states to enact red flag laws and temporarily remove firearms from those who pose a threat to themselves or others;
• Adds convicted domestic violence abusers in dating relationships to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), closing the “boyfriend loophole;”  
• Clarifies the definition of “federally licensed firearms dealer,” cracking down on criminals who illegally evade licensing requirements;
• Requires the NICS to conduct an enhanced background check of gun purchasers under the age of 21; 
• Creates federal straw purchasing and trafficking criminal offenses, allowing prosecutors to target gun traffickers;
• Funds the implementation of the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to provide free and confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress; 
• Improves access to mental health services for children, youth, and families through the Medicaid program and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP);
• Makes investments to expand provider training in mental health, suicide prevention, and crisis and trauma intervention and recovery; and
• Increases funding for schools to invest in early identification and intervention programs, school-based mental health services, and improvements to school-wide learning conditions. 

Earlier this month, Congresswoman Fletcher co-sponsored and voted for the bipartisan Protecting Our Kids Act, H.R. 7910, a comprehensive package of common-sense gun safety legislation.  She also voted for the bipartisan Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act, H.R. 2377, to establish a national red flag law to temporarily remove firearms from those who pose a threat to themselves or others.  

Congresswoman Fletcher co-sponsored and voted for the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021, H.R. 8, to require universal background checks and close the loopholes in national background check systems that enable domestic abusers and convicted felons to purchase guns, and voted for the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021, H.R. 1446, which would close the Charleston Loophole, a federal law that allows gun purchases to move forward by default after three business days even if a background check has not been completed.  Both bills passed the House in March 2021.  

Congresswoman Fletcher is also a co-sponsor of the Assault Weapons Ban of 2021, H.R. 1808.