Dear friend,

Thirteen years ago today, we lost 26 beautiful lives in the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. What should have been a regular day at school turned into a horrific tragedy. This story is becoming all too common in our country. Today, we mourn and remember the lives we senselessly lost to gun violence.

When I came to Congress, I made a commitment to do everything in my power to put an end to the epidemic of gun violence. The frequency of gun violence in our schools continues to rise. As a teacher, and a mother, it pains me that children go to school worrying about the threat of gun violence. The classroom is a place where students are meant to feel safe, not fear for their lives.

I recently sent a letter to the Chairman of the Committee on Education and Workforce and Ranking Member Scott requesting a hearing on school shootings and safety in American schools. I sent this letter on September 12th and have not yet received a response. This committee can enact real change. It is past time that we come together to have a conversation about real solutions to combat this epidemic.

Throughout my time in Congress, I have introduced several pieces of legislation to disrupt the cycle of gun violence. This Congress, I introduced the Supporting Trauma-Informed Education Practices Act, which provides school-based trauma support services and mental health care to children who have been exposed to abuse, violence, parental addiction, or adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). You can read the full text of the bill here. Additionally, I introduced the School Violence Prevention Act to provide organizations with grants to create or expand school-based programs to support children at the highest risk for involvement in gun violence. 

As the Deputy Whip on the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, I recognize that the solution to gun violence is multifaceted and requires interventions such as mental health support, community engagement, gun safety measures, and education programs. To keep our schools safe, it is essential we engage in conversation across the aisle and adopt programs that our communities desperately need to prevent any further school shootings.

This past week, I attended the 13th Annual National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence in Washington, D.C. which brings together survivors of gun violence, the families of victims, lawmakers, faith leaders, concerned citizens, and activists across the nation. We spent the evening paying tribute to the 1.3 million Americans who been killed or injured by guns since Sandy Hook. I joined the Newtown Action Alliance Foundation to mourn those we have lost, and ensure our country does not forget about the issue of gun violence and the dire need to address it.

May the memories of those who died at Sandy Hook live on forever in our hearts.

Jahana Hayes
Member of Congress