Dear Friend,

This past week I heard first-hand from those impacted by the mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde as they testified before my Oversight Committee. Their stories were heartbreaking, and they want to see real action taken to stop these tragedies from happening.

That is why I proudly voted for two separate gun violence prevention measures. This commonsense legislation included provisions from my bill to punish gun traffickers and keep unlicensed firearms from entering New York City. While these steps are a good start, I will never stop fighting to see more protections passed. Read about these actions and more below.

Oversight Committee Hearing on the Gun Violence Epidemic

On Wednesday, my Oversight Committee held a hearing on the gun violence epidemic. It was my hope that my colleagues would listen to survivors and loved ones recounted one of the darkest days of their lives so we can save lives. A survivor of the Uvalde mass shooting, 11-year-old Miah Cerrillo, bravely described how she had to cover herself in the blood of a classmate to play dead. I also heard from the parents of recent victims and survivors of the mass shootings in Uvalde and Buffalo. Their haunting and harrowing testimony was heartbreaking, and their unequivocal call for action came through loud and clear.

Voting to Protect Our Kids from Gun Violence

I voted this past week for the “Protecting Our Kids Act” which includes key provisions from my bipartisan Gun Trafficking and Crime Prevention Act. I also voted for the Federal ‘Red Flag’ law which would temporarily remove access to guns from those who pose a danger to themselves or others, while incentivizing states to adopt their own so-called red flag laws.

I have spent over a decade fighting for gun trafficking and straw purchases to be made a federal offense so that we can combat the illegal interstate movement of firearms into New York known as the “Iron Pipeline” and prevent the deadly violence it causes. I am proud those vital provisions were passed by the House to help keep New Yorkers safe.

Visiting NYC Overdose Prevention Center

On Friday, I visited the New York Harm Reduction Educators’ East Harlem location. The location opened in late 2021 and offers supervised, hygienic spaces for people who use drugs to do so safely, and provide connection to health promoting services, such as harm reduction, medical care, mental health therapy, drug treatment, and social support. In 2020, more than 2,000 people experienced fatal drug overdoses in New York City—an increase of more than 500 fatal overdoses from 2019. Across the country, approximately 100,000 people died of drug overdoses between May 2020 and May 2021, an increase of more than 20 percent over the previous year.

During my visit, I met with care providers and clients. We talked about the organization and the resources it needs to run smoothly and efficiently. OPCs are critical to combatting the overdose crisis, and there is no doubt that these facilities are saving lives each day. During my conversations today, we all agreed that now more than ever, the federal government must step up and provide our communities with the sustained funding to expand treatment access and turn the tide on this epidemic.

Investigating Former President Trump’s Failure to Account for Foreign Gifts in Violation of Federal Law

On Tuesday, I sent a letter to the Archivist of the United States seeking documents and information on former President Trump’s apparent failure to account for gifts from foreign government officials while in office. Public reporting indicates that President Trump accepted multiple gifts from foreign sources in 2020, yet these gifts do not appear on the State Department’s list of foreign gifts as required by law. These revelations raise concerns about the potential for undue influence over former President Trump by foreign governments.

You’re Invited

On Friday, June 17th at 3:30 PM, I will be hosting a roundtable on the importance of teaching LGBTQ+ and women’s history in the classroom. According to the New-York Historical Society Museum & Library, only 13 percent of named historical figures in textbooks across the United States are women. LGBTQ+ history is rarely taught in schools, and some states have passed laws to prevent teachers from administering instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom.

The panel will be held at Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College at 47-49 East 65th Street. It will be moderated by Stacie Brensilver Bermanm, Visiting Assistant Professor at NYU and author of LGBTQ+ History in High School Classes in the United States since 1990. Panelists include Sarah Seidman, Puffin Foundation Curator of Social Activism, Museum of the City of New York; Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, Executive Director of GLSEN, formerly the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network; and Mitchell Klages-Bombich, Behavior Specialist with the United Federation of Teacher’s Positive Learning Collaborative. Proof of vaccination will be required at the door and masks are encouraged.

RSVP by Thursday, June 16th here.

NY-12 Snapshot 

This past Sunday, I was honored to be a part of two amazing parades celebrating communities which are vital to the life and heritage of New York City. In the morning, I marched in the Philippine Independence Day Parade in midtown which marks the Philippines declaring freedom from Spain in 1898. In the afternoon, I was honored to march as a Grand Marshal in the New York Greek Independence Day Parade. The Hellenic community continues to be an invaluable part of New York’s heritage. I was so grateful to join my Greek American friends in their celebration. And on Monday, I joined Governor Hochul and other lawmakers at a signing ceremony for a set of new rules to help protect New Yorkers from gun violence.

Sincerely,

Carolyn B. Maloney
Member of Congress

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