Thank you, Madam Chair. And thank you so much for your leadership on this important topic.

supporting a robust patent filing and litigation system is paramount to ensuring American innovation.

Allowing the ATF to publicly release illegal-gun-tracing data helps us tackle gun trafficking and instills hope rather than fear in our citizens.

It is imperative that we work together to combat this public health crisis.

Last week, our committee held a hearing on two commonsense gun bills that keep our fellow Americans safe while respecting their Second Amendment rights.

I agree with you 100 percent that addressing mental health alone does not actually directly address this problem of gun violence.

I am a huge proponent of red flag laws. As you know, the House passed a red flag law last week.

This lack of protection and accountability is especially concerning.

It is critical that we pass legislation to establish protections.

In my home State of North Carolina, the State has refused to expand Medicaid, leaving hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians without health insurance and more vulnerable to this pandemic.

Our goal today should be to address the systemic gaps that left us vulnerable to this crisis in the first place and to ensure that science is not politicized, especially when it concerns the health of millions, not only in our Nation but around the world.