June 23, 2022

Manchin: It's the Child Protection Bill, As Far As I'm Concerned

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) spoke on the Senate Floor on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

Senator Manchin said in part, “Something has to be done. It's not open season on children…If you can't, as a parent, or grandparent send your child off to school, knowing full well they're going to return home safe. If you have that doubt in your mind, and that child has that doubt, and they're scared to go to school, then something is wrong with our system in America…But the bottom line is, we have got to take a position that we're going to protect our children, this is what it's about. It's the child protection bill, as far as I'm concerned. And if you can't protect the children in America, if you can't protect the children in your neighborhood, in your school system, that go to school, the same school as your children and grandchildren, then God help us all.”

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act will:
  • Support state crisis intervention orders
  • Increase protections for victims of domestic violence
  • Clarify definition of ‘federally licensed firearms dealer’
  • Strengthen review process for 18-21 year olds
  • Reinforce penalties for ‘straw purchasing’
  • Support violence interruption funding
  • Invest in children and family mental health services
  • Increase funding for school safety

To watch Senator Manchin’s floor speech, click here
Background one pager on the bill can be found here
Bill text can be found here