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Calling on the United States Congress to pass the Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act, sponsored by Senator Bob Casey and Congressman Dwight Evans, and to ensure that victims and co-victims of gun violence have access to the resources and support necessary to recover from the impacts of gun violence.
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WHEREAS, The Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act is a bill proposed by Senator Bob Casey and Congressman Dwight Evans that would establish a federal advisory council to help victims of gun violence, including gun violence survivors and the families, classmates and coworkers of individuals affected by gun violence, learn about and access the resources, programs and benefits that could help them meet a wide range of personal needs; and
WHEREAS, The advisory council proposed under the Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act will be composed of representatives from across a range of federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Justice, the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Social Security Administration, as well as victims of gun violence and victim assistance professionals. The council would be responsible for assessing the needs of gun violence victims and for disseminating information related to resources, programs, and benefits that could assist victims of gun violence. The council would also be responsible for reporting on existing resources for victims of gun violence and identifying additional resources that are necessary to better meet the needs of these individuals; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), under the leadership of its chair, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, announced the creation of a Resources for Victims of Gun Violence initiative modeled after the federal proposal sponsored by Senator Casey and Congressman Evans. PCCD’s Victims’ Services Advisory Committee will lead the initiative’s work to identify the Commonwealth’s existing resources and make recommendations for additional services to support gun violence victims; and
WHEREAS, The injuries and trauma that victims of gun violence experience impose a major financial burden on survivors and their families. Kris Brown, president of the Brady Campaign, has explained that “no other country has this level of gun violence, or the cost shifted to individuals for treatment of the wounds they suffered as a result of that gun violence.” According to The Philadelphia Roadmap to Safer Communities, published by the City in 2018, gun violence survivors face more than $46,000, on average, in medical costs and lost productivity as a result of their injuries. While existing federal programs, such as Medicaid, provides important assistance to those who cannot afford medical care, there are gaps in the existing programs’ coverage that can create major financial burdens for gun violence survivors and their families. And for those who suffer severe injuries resulting in disability, the burdens are even greater and can become insurmountable without additional support; and
WHEREAS, According to CDC data, nearly 118,000 individuals, on average, are shot each year in the United States; more than 76,000 individuals survive their injuries. The Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act will ensure that these individuals and their families, friends, and loved ones are receiving the support that they need to live healthy and productive lives; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY, Calls on the United States Congress to pass the Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act, sponsored by Senator Bob Casey and Congressman Dwight Evans, and to ensure that victims and co-victims of gun violence have access to the resources and support necessary to recover from the impacts of gun violence.
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