Representative DeSaulnier and Ranking Member Scott Call for a Hearing on Gun Violence in Schools

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) and Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA) sent a letter to House Committee on Education & Workforce Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) urging him to schedule a hearing on the epidemic of gun violence in schools. This letter comes after the recent school shootings at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Evergreen High School in Evergreen, Colorado, which represent just two of the 118 incidents of gunfire on school grounds so far in 2025 alone.

In the letter, Representatives DeSaulnier and Scott wrote, “Because of frequent tragedies like these, students often feel unsafe in school, which can have negative consequences for their engagement level and mental health. As you know, the Education & Workforce Committee has jurisdiction over school safety and school-based mental health programs, and under your leadership the Committee has the unique opportunity to foster solutions by holding a hearing on gun violence in schools and considering legislation which would support the behavioral needs of students and youth like the Mental Health Matters Act.

Ranking Member Scott has requested such a hearing, most recently when he urged you at a recent full Committee markup to invite Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to testify regarding his Department’s proposed elimination of many mental health programs, including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. These cuts move our efforts to address mental health issues and gun violence in the wrong direction, and we hope we will have the opportunity to examine them in depth.”

The full text of the letter can be found here.

Congressman DeSaulnier is a longtime advocate for gun violence prevention and a proud recipient of an “F” rating from the NRA. He has authored several bills to reduce gun thefts and increase community safety throughout his time in elected office. He is also a member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and authored the Mental Health Matters Act, comprehensive legislation that would strengthen school-based behavioral health care.