Gun Safety

Today, the House of Representatives adopted the conference report for the FY20 National Defense Authorization Act, which included amendments offered by Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) regarding the proposed elimination of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the government-wide backlog of security clearance adjudications, and the loopholes that still allow servicemembers who have been convicted in domestic violence cases to purchase firearms. The report also included a provision, backed b... Read more

Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, and Rep. Jamie Raskin, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, sent letters to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) referring public reports of alleged financial wrongdoing by the National Rifle Association (NRA). “Public reporting of self-dealing, private inurement of earnings, and possible financial fraud on the part of the NRA and its senio... Read more

Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Peter King (R-NY), and Mike Turner (R-OH) introduced H.R. 4264, the Safe Homefront Act, to ensure that no U.S. servicemember with a felony-level domestic violence conviction is able to legally purchase firearms. This bipartisan legislation would codify and strengthen the Department of Defense’s (DOD) policies regarding the reporting of domestic violence convictions and Military Protective Orders (MPOs) to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). ... Read more

Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) joined Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chairman Mike Thompson (D-CA) and 213 Members of the House Democratic Caucus in writing to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to demand he immediately call the Senate back into session to pass H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, and H.R. 1112, the Enhanced Background Checks Act. Both these bipartisan bills were passed by the House in February of this year and have been blocked for a vote by McConnell for mo... Read more

Last night, the House of Representatives adopted a bipartisan amendment offered by Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Congressman Peter King (R-NY) that would ensure the FBI has the information it needs to keep firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers. Specifically, the amendment would codify and strengthen the Department of Defense’s (DOD) policies regarding the reporting of domestic violence to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). According to the Department of... Read more

Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, and Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, led House Democrats in sending a letter urging the House Committee on Appropriations to deny funds for the implementation of President Trump’s government reorganization plan and the proposed merger of Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the General Services Administration (GSA). “We have grave concerns about the Admini... Read more

I have heard from many federal employees who are either furloughed or working without pay since the shutdown began. The current situation is a true hardship on our dedicated civil servants and their families and I will continue to support legislation and actions that will bring do everything possible to fund and reopen the government. To date, I have supported numerous bills that together would fully restore funding to agencies that have been impacted by the shutdown, as well as bills that will ... Read more

Robert McCartney Democrats’ takeover of the U.S. House in Tuesday’s election instantly strengthened the Washington region’s deep blue congressional delegation, a change that may advance local goals such as Metro funding, statehood for the District, and protecting federal workers and the Chesapeake Bay. “It’s the difference between being in the back seat and being the driver,” said Rep. Jamie B. Raskin (D-Md.), whose district includes much of Montgomery County. Raskin is one of several Democrats... Read more

Paul Blumenthal and Chris D'Angelo After Democrats won control of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, President Donald Trump will face actual oversight from Congress for the first time. His most controversial policies will immediately come under investigation ― as will the scandals that circled the first two years of his presidency. Trump’s family separation policy, efforts to sabotage the Affordable Care Act, rollbacks of environmental regulations, the inclusion of a citizenship question ... Read more

Gerald E. Connolly, U.S. Representative (VA-11) Families throughout our community have been shaken by the recent rise in gang activity across the Washington region. This is a serious issue that must be addressed with collaboration and cooperation from all levels of government. We know the problem, and now we must find the right solution. Fairfax County offers a model for what our country can do to fight gang violence. When I was chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, we worked wit... Read more