Mike Honda: “I thank my colleague. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the previous question. If we defeat the previous question…”

“I thank my colleague. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the previous question. If we defeat the previous question, Mr. Polis will be able to offer an amendment to the rule to bring my Gun Violence Research Act to the floor for an immediate vote. My Gun Violence Research Act would lift the over 19-year-old ban on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with respect to objectively studying the health aspects of gun violence. Former Republican Congressman from Arkansas, the Honorable Jay Dickey, who was the author of the CDC ban, has gone on record regretting his decision--expressing that the prohibition was rooted in partisan politics, not sound public policy. With well over 32,000 Americans killed by gunshots per year and roughly 88 Americans killed every day--every day--gun violence is undoubtedly a public health crisis that necessitates attention. I represent Silicon Valley, and I have seen firsthand the role and value objective research plays in expanded knowledge and informed decisionmaking. Research on gun violence should not be controversial or partisan. It is a commonsense tool to help us understand why tens of thousands of our fellow citizens are being killed every year by gunshots. Without being able to adequately understand why the problem is occurring, we are unable to effectively tackle our Nation's gun violence epidemic and protect the American people whom we represent.…”