Press Releases

Thank you.

I’m delighted to be here today among those I count as my friends and allies.

"I support President Obama doing everything within the power of his office to keep the American people safe by keeping guns out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have them. Our country is facing an epidemic of gun violence and something must be done. This Republican Congress is ignoring this crisis and forced the President to act.

Today, the House of Representatives voted on the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, a $1.1T bill to fund the day-to-day operations of the federal government and make critical investments in our national security and programs that serve the American people. Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-MN) released the following statement regarding her vote in support of this legislation:

Mr. Speaker, we have an epidemic of gun violence in this country and Congress is doing nothing to end the killing.

Right now, a person on the FBI’s Terrorists Watch List can go into a gun store and purchase a firearm legally.

Good evening.

Ambassador Sayavongs and Madam Sayavongs, I am honored to be with you tonight to celebrate sixty years of diplomatic relations between our countries, as well as the fortieth anniversary of the Lao PDR.

My relationship with the people of Laos is very special and I strongly support strengthening our bilateral relations.

Yesterday’s massacre in San Bernardino, CA was the 355th mass shooting in the U.S. this year in which there were 4 or more victims. Over the past decade, 280,000 Americans have died due to gun violence.