We are full of grief for the 17 lives lost in Parkland, Fla., last month. As representatives of communities – Isla Vista, Calif.; Newtown, Conn.; and Alexandria, Va. – which have been the site of major mass shootings, we are keenly aware that their loss is shared by too many families across the country every year. Nationally, the epidemic of gun violence claims tens of thousands of American lives every year. But those of us who have fought in Congress for years for gun reforms – for too little p... Read more

As students returned to classes at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School following the tragic Parkland shooting, they continued their calls for gun reform. Their advocacy helped drive growing momentum in Washington and in state capitals across the country for gun violence restraining order (GVRO) laws, which saw legislative actions on state measures and endorsements of such measures by key political leaders from both parties. The only bill in Congress to help states adopt GVRO laws, the Gun Viole... Read more

Today, the Congressional Safe Climate Caucus sent a letter condemning the White House’s systematic effort to reduce and suppress public access to climate change resources through federal channels. The members highlighted many examples and expressed their concerns that these efforts violate the intent of the Federal Records Act. The letter comes after a report issued by the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative confirmed concerns that the Administration has been altering federal websites t... Read more

Today Rep. Don Beyer, House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva, and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Ranking Member Donald McEachin requested a briefing from the Department of the Interior (DOI) on the Department’s body camera and policing policies, the status of implementation of the policies, and the current status of deployment of police cameras throughout DOI. The Members wrote: “As you know, the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) Office... Read more

Rep. Don Beyer this week joined Congressman David Cicilline to introduce H.R. 5087, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2018. “We need the Assault Weapons Ban because we have to get weapons of war out of America’s communities,” said Rep. Beyer. “It is too late to stop the shootings in Parkland, Newtown, Aurora, and so many others which were carried out with an AR-15 style rifle, but we must act to prevent future such massacres. Congress should listen to the young people in Florida and across the country ... Read more

Rep. Don Beyer today sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) asking for a rehearing on the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) and the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP). Congressman Beyer is deeply concerned that an incomplete, divided Commission rubberstamped the pipelines despite three significant issues: there was a lack of verified need for the infrastructure, there is potential for the pipelines to ruin the ANST and its environs, and finally, the proposals considered were no... Read more

As students in Florida and across the country express their outrage over inaction to strengthen lax gun laws, political leaders from both parties are coming out in support of gun violence restraining orders (GVRO’s). In the past few days, GVRO’s have been written about favorably in the National Review, and supported by Florida Senator Marco Rubio, former Governor Jeb Bush, and other prominent conservatives. More on GVRO’s: National Review: “A Gun-Control Measure Conservatives Should Consider” AB... Read more

Rep. Don Beyer gave the following remarks last night at the vigil for victims of the Parkland, Florida shooting held in Falls Church at George Mason High School. Video is available here, courtesy of Blue Virginia. “Thank you for showing up on a cold, gray February holiday afternoon. Change is only driven by the people who show up. And we must, must deal with the prevalence of gun violence in this country. Let me give you some statistics. In 2016, more than 39,000 Americans were killed by guns: 9... Read more

Today, in response to the tragic shooting killing seventeen students and educators at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Representatives Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Elizabeth Esty (CT-05), and Don Beyer (VA-08) urged passage of H.R. 2598, the Gun Violence Restraining Order Act (GVRO). The bill would allow family members or law enforcement officials to petition a judge to temporarily remove firearms from an individual in crisis. “While the troubling details of the shooting in... Read more

“President Trump’s budget presents a dystopian vision of the United States. We would see massive, promise-breaking cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, as well as to nutrition programs for the poor. And we would see this while giving the wealthiest Americans huge tax cuts. This budget proposes that we cripple the EPA, give up on the promise of clean air and clean water, and sell out public lands and treasured natural spaces like the Chesapeake Bay to benefit polluters and fossil fuel companies. It cal... Read more