I want to thank Congresswoman Robin Kelly for introducing H.R. 1114, legislation that requires the U.S. Surgeon General to provide an annual report to Congress on the public health impacts and the costs of gun violence in America.

Thank you, Bobby, very much for inviting us--asking the subcommittee to come here.

This is the very first Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the gun violence epidemic in our country as a public health issue.

I want to make sure that both Congresswoman Kelly and Congressman Kinzinger get to ask their questions.

We are here to treat American gun violence for what it is: an epidemic.

I'm proud the House voted to provide $50 million for gun violence research at the CDC and NIH.

One hundred Americans are killed with a gun and hundreds more are shot and injured every day.

Collectively, I think your presence and your testimony is going to fuel our action.

I am proud that the House voted to provide $50 million for gun violence research at the CDC and the NIH, and the Senate needs to do the same.

I think our constituents deserve a much better deal.

We may just end up having some differences, and we need to respect that with one another.

The Speaker is second in line in the Constitution to the presidency, whomever that individual is. This is such a top priority for us that it came from there.