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  • Washington Highlights

    AAMC Signs Letter to Address Gun Violence

    Tannaz Rasouli, Sr. Director, Public Policy & Strategic Outreach

    The AAMC joined 57 national public health, medical, and research organizations in a June 19 letter urging the Senate to approve two amendments to address gun violence.

    The letter, organized by the American Academy of Pediatrics, asked senators to vote for two amendments to the fiscal year (FY) 2017 Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill (H.R. 2578).

    The amendments, which the letter said “represent critical steps to protect the public health,” were S.Amdt. 4750, offered by Sen. Christopher Murphy (D-Conn.), to expand background checks on all gun purchases, and S.Amdt. 4720, offered by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), to make it more difficult for known or suspected terrorists to purchase firearms.

    The Senate June 20 rejected both proposals, which needed 60 votes for passage.

    The letter also stated, “In addition to passing these two amendments, we would welcome the opportunity to work with you in the future to support funding for gun violence prevention research and public health surveillance, including $10 million to support gun violence prevention research at the CDC.”