GIFFORDS Applauds Senate Appropriations Committee for Funding Gun Violence Prevention in Appropriations Legislation

July 31, 2023

Washington DC —GIFFORDS, the gun violence prevention group led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, applauds the Senate Appropriations Committee for approving the Labor, Health & Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2024 funding bill in a 26-2 vote that provides critical funding to address the public health crisis of gun violence.

Adzi Vokhiwa, GIFFORDS Federal Affairs Director:

“Gun violence impacts communities across the country, with the deadly toll of this public health crisis leaving survivors and communities traumatized in its wake. The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to approve legislation that demonstrates an understanding of the public health implications of gun violence. The legislation includes funding to support gun violence research and data collection, as well as resources for suicide prevention and mental health and trauma support programs. We applaud the Committee for recognizing the importance of these programs and urge Senate leadership to call a vote on this lifesaving legislation.”

Funding levels in the FY24 LHHS bill for initiatives and programs to address the public health crisis of gun violence include:

$25 million for firearm injury and mortality prevention research, with $12.5 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) program and $12.5 million for the National Institutes of Health program.
$18.1 million for the CDC’s Youth Violence Prevention program to support programs that reduce and prevent youth violence.
$24.5 million for the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS). NVDRS is the most comprehensive database for violent death-related data within the U.S., which helps inform approaches to violence prevention.
Funding for Suicide Prevention Programs, including the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and the Zero Suicide program. Guns account for 5% of life-threatening suicide attempts in the United States, but because of their lethality, guns are responsible for more than 50% of suicide deaths.
$140 million for Project AWARE grants, including $17.5 million for Resilience in Communities after Stress and Trauma (ReCAST) grants. These grants are aimed at supporting youth mental health, with the goal of promoting the healthy development of school-aged youth and preventing youth violence.

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Our experts can speak to the full spectrum of gun violence prevention issues. Have a question? Email us at media@giffords.org.

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