Maloney, Warren Request GAO Review of Healthcare Effects of Gun Violence
Yesterday, Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) penned a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), asking them to examine the annual medical costs associated with gun violence in the United States.
The United States has one of the highest rates of gun violence in the world. In spite of this, there are few comprehensive studies of the healthcare costs associated with gun-related injuries in the U.S.. The few studies that do exist tend to cover the immediate costs of said injuries, without factoring in the costs of long-term care.
“A more comprehensive understanding of how these costs are borne by federal health programs – particularly Medicaid and Medicare – would help inform congressional deliberations on this critical topic,” reads the letter.
Read the full letter here.
Jackson Co-Sponsors Bill Banning Pet Sales in Retail Stores
State Senator Robert Jackson (D-Washington Heights, Fort George, Inwood) is co-sponsoring a new bill that would ban the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in retail pet stores.
The bill, introduced by Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris (D-Queens), has just passed the Domestic Animal Welfare committee, which is the first hurdle to the bill becoming a law.
“I’m proud to co-sponsor this bill because it honors those special bonds humans form with our domestic animal companions,” said Jackson. “There are so many wonderful animals in need of adoption—we must say no to puppy mills that feed a consumerist approach to our fellow living creatures.”
Espaillat to Hold Second Annual “Dominicans on the Hill”
Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-Washington Heights, Sugar Hill) will be hosting his second annual “Dominicans on the Hill” in Washington tomorrow.
During the day-long event, Dominican-Americans from around the nation will attend workshops on issues ranging from 2020 census to role and impact of Dominicans in arts, sports and entertainment.
“Dominican-Americans are the fifth-largest Latinx group in the United States and have a growing presence in communities around the nation,” said Espaillat. “With our growing population and representation across the U.S., it remains vital that Dominican-Americans and individuals of Dominican descent have an opportunity to let their voices be heard on the issues and concerns facing their communities around the nation.”
The event will take place tomorrow from 12-6 p.m. at the U.S. Capitol.
