02.16.18

Committee Democrats Urge Majority Hearings Examining School Shootings

“We stand ready to lead and do our job with regard to this difficult subject.”

WASHINGTON – All 17 Democratic Members of the Committee on Education and the Workforce sent a letter to Chairwoman Virginia Foxx requesting hearings before the full Committee to examine school shootings. This request comes after Wednesday’s preventable tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where at least seventeen students and faculty died as a result.  In response Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has called on Congress to hold hearings on this issue.


“[Secretary DeVos] stated pointedly that ‘we have got to have an honest conversation, and Congress has to lead on this.’ Madame Chair, we are wholly in agreement with Secretary DeVos in this respect,” the Members wrote. “We stand ready to lead and do our job with regard to this difficult subject.”


Despite more than 230 school shootings since the December, 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the Committee has not held a hearing to address this public health crisis since February 2013. Democrats are urging the Chairwoman to show leadership on the issue and schedule hearings. 


The full text of the letter is enclosed below:


Dear Chairwoman Foxx:


We write to request hearings before the House Education and the Workforce Committee regarding school shootings.  As you know, per House Rule X, our Committee has jurisdiction over “education … generally.”  More specifically, the Committee Rule 2 (a) clarifies our oversight over “school safety” and other issues.


Wednesday’s preventable tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, resulted in the deaths of at least seventeen students and faculty.  Sadly, since the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School five years ago, more than 430 people have been shot in over 230 school shootings.   Despite the sobering reality, our Committee has not had a hearing to address this public health epidemic since February of 2013.


Yesterday, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos remarked during a radio interview that “Congress needs to be holding hearings on these issues.”  Secretary Devos called for us to examine this issue and “impact the future.”  She stated pointedly that “we have got to have an honest conversation, and Congress has to lead on this. It’s their job.”


Madame Chair, we are wholly in agreement with Secretary DeVos in this respect.  We stand ready to lead and do our job with regard to this difficult subject.  To that end, we respectfully ask that you schedule hearings to examine the issue of school shootings.  Thank you for your attention to this matter.


Sincerely,


Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Ranking Member
Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12)
Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL)
Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02)
Congresswoman Susan Davis (CA-53)
Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11)
Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)
Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (OH-11)
Congressman Raul M. Grijalva (AZ-03)
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08)
Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01)
Congressman Jared Polis (CO-02)
Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (NMP-AL)
Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01)
Congressman Mark Takano (CA-41)
Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (FL-24)

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