Congresswoman Summer Lee Joins Gun Violence Prevention Tour Alongside the Pittsburgh Steelers, Highlighting 44% Drop in Gun Violence and Urging Continued Action

**For Immediate Release**

Kyla Gill, Kyla.Gill@mail.house.gov 

Vaibhav Vijay, Vaibhav.Vijay@mail.house.gov 

Congresswoman Summer Lee Joins Gun Violence Prevention Tour Alongside the Pittsburgh Steelers, Highlighting 44% Drop in Gun Violence and Urging Continued Action

Pittsburgh, PA – August 16th, 2024 – Today, Congresswoman Summer Lee joined key community leaders, advocates, and government officials at Acrisure Stadium for the Pittsburgh stop of CeaseFirePA and NextGen America’s Gun Violence Prevention Tour. The event, in partnership with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, and Everytown, marked the beginning of the Safer America Tour, which aims to elevate the significant progress made in reducing gun violence and to strategize on further actions necessary to sustain these life-saving efforts.

Congresswoman Lee passionately conveyed her message, highlighting the 44% reduction in gun violence in Pittsburgh over the past two years. “This remarkable progress shows what can be achieved when a community comes together with a coordinated, strategic approach,” said Congresswoman Lee. “But while we celebrate these successes, we must also recognize that our work is far from over. The fight to end gun violence continues, and we must remain vigilant in our efforts to protect our communities.”

The event featured several panels, including discussions on community-driven approaches to violence prevention and the critical role of government support in sustaining these initiatives. Local experts, survivors, and community leaders shared their experiences and insights, emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration and innovation in the fight against gun violence.

Legislative Wins:

Congresswoman Summer Lee has been a relentless advocate for gun violence prevention and public safety, co-leading and supporting several key legislative actions:

• People’s Response Act (H.R. 4699): Co-led with Rep. Cori Bush, this bill seeks to end the criminalization instinct in public safety systems and replace it with care-focused approaches. It includes:
  • Creation of a Division on Community Safety within HHS.
  • Launching a federal first responders unit to support states and local governments during emergency health crises.
  • Promoting alternative approaches to public safety, centering health-based and non-carceral responses across federal agencies.
  • Providing $11 billion in grant funding to state and local governments and community-based organizations to improve crisis response.
  • Establishing a $2.5 billion First Responder Hiring Grant to create jobs and support hiring of social workers, mental health counselors, and other non-law enforcement emergency responders.
• Disarm Hate Act: Co-led this legislation to help prevent hate-fueled gun violence by prohibiting individuals convicted of violent misdemeanor hate crimes from purchasing or possessing firearms.
• Gun Violence as an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE): Led a letter urging the CDC to prioritize studying gun violence as an ACE, including policy evaluation research focused on assessing the trauma caused by gun violence.
• Cosponsored Key Legislation to Address Gun Violence:
  • Ban assault weapons.
  • Enhance background checks.
  • Hold gun manufacturers accountable.
  • Require safe storage of firearms.
• Member of the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force: Actively participates in efforts to advance policies aimed at reducing gun violence nationwide.

Event Highlights:

The event included powerful testimonies from survivors and community leaders, who shared how local programs have saved lives and transformed communities. The discussion underscored the importance of federal support in sustaining and expanding these efforts.

Congresswoman Lee emphasized that while Pittsburgh’s progress is commendable, the fight against gun violence requires ongoing commitment and action at all levels of government. “Safety isn’t just the absence of violence—it’s the presence of justice, opportunity, and hope,” she said. “We must continue to invest in our communities and stand up to those who put profits over people.”

As the Safer America Tour continues, today’s event in Pittsburgh serves as both a celebration of the strides made in reducing gun violence and a call to action to ensure that these gains are not only preserved but built upon.

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Since taking office in January 2023, Lee, who serves on the House Oversight Committee and Space, Science and Technology Committee, has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $1.85 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 2,300 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.