WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to reduce the threat of gun violence, enhance school safety, crack down on gun trafficking, and help save lives, the U.S. Senate today voted 65-34 to end debate on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and set up final passage.

U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) voted in support of the bill and called it “both modest and historic.”  The final package includes key provisions based on bipartisan legislation co-authored and championed by Senator Reed.  But Senator Reed noted it falls short of some of the commonsense steps he has long advocated, such as strengthening background checks, banning assault rifles, and repealing the law that grants gun makers and sellers immunity from lawsuits, and enact other effective gun violence reduction strategies.

Today, Senator Reed stated:

“This is both a modest and historic step.  This bipartisan legislation includes overdue steps to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous people, crack down on gun trafficking, and invests significant funding in mental health and school safety measures.  It doesn’t go nearly far enough toward strengthening background checks or keeping weapons of war off our streets, but it is a positive sign that Congress can come together to take needed action to help reduce gun violence.”

Senator Reed noted that the final legislation includes three key provisions he championed:

  • Invests $750 million over the next five years to support crisis intervention services, including the implementation of state “extreme risk” or “red flag” laws, which allow courts to suspend an individual’s access to firearms if they are deemed a threat to themselves or others. The bill will also incentivize more states to adopt red flag laws.  Nineteen states, including Rhode Island, already have such laws.
  • Invests $150 million to strengthen the 9-8-8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a nationwide network of crisis centers linked through a 24/7 toll-free number that connects callers in crisis to immediate intervention services and care with trained counselors.  The bill also includes a national expansion of community behavioral health clinics, which would bring new resources to Rhode Island to tackle mental health and substance use disorders. 
  • Establishes the first ever federal laws against interstate gun trafficking and straw purchasing to stop the flow of illegal guns into cities.

Today’s vote keeps the Senate on schedule to pass the bill before the Senate adjourns for a July 4 state work period.

After the U.S. Senate passes the bill, it then moves to the U.S. House of Representatives where it must be approved before being sent to President Biden's desk to be signed into law.