The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“INTRODUCTION OF THE CAN DO BILL” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E2097 on Sept. 28, 2008.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
INTRODUCTION OF THE CAN DO BILL
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HON. BOBBY L. RUSH
of illinois
in the house of representatives
Friday, September 26, 2008
Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the Communities in Action Neighborhood and Opportunity bill, also known as the CAN DO bill. The Department of Justice reports that, on average, 45 people are shot and killed daily in America. Annually, there are 16,000-17,000 gun deaths in America.
In contrast, the total number of American casualties in Iraq, over the entire 5-year span of the war, is about 4,155 and for Afghanistan, it's at least 500. The combined total of casualties for Iraq and Afghanistan is less than 5,000 since both wars began. More Americans are killed in America than American soldiers killed in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.
Madam Speaker, as elected leaders of this country, we must address this critical issue that inflicts so many of our most vulnerable communities. This issue of gun violence affects all Americans, white, black, Latino, and Asian. And gun violence pervades in all of our communities: urban, suburban, and rural.
This issue is not a black or white issue, and it is not an urban or rural issue. This is an American issue that we must address with all of the resources we have at our disposal.
The CAN DO bill offers a new strategy in dealing with gun violence. It combines strict law enforcement practices, along with new opportunities for mental health counseling, job programs, and educational and recreational services for at-risk youth and their families.
This bill is also unique in that it brings together the entire community to deal with the issue of gun violence by establishing partnerships between public agencies, businesses, community-based nonprofits, churches, schools, and universities. There is an ``all hands on'' approach in order to get all of the stakeholders involved and provide a comprehensive and effective strategy that families and communities can support and get behind.
As it is recorded by the Prophet Isaiah, ``They will turn their swords into plows, and their spears into pruning knives. Nations will not take up the sword against other nations and they will never again train for war''.
Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the CAN DO bill and help end the destruction that is tearing apart so many of our communities. Americans of conscious must come together to stop the senseless death of ``The Daily 45.'' When will we say ``enough is enough, stop the killing''.
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