U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) led a bicameral letter with U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) urging U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to implement the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act as Congress intended and restore federal funding for educational activities like hunting and archery:    

The lawmakers wrote: “This pivotal piece of legislation provided resources for local, state, and federal agencies to respond to communities in crisis, provide mental health services, and build proactive safety responses to avoid future tragedies. The legislation was also carefully negotiated and drafted to protect and preserve law-abiding citizens’ Second Amendment rights.”

“Unfortunately, and contrary to Congressional intent, the Department of Education (“the Department”) has misinterpreted the language to exclude certain educational activities from receiving federal resources.”

“This is concerning because of the important role these enrichment programs can play in students’ lives. Archery is an inclusive extracurricular activity that empowers students from all backgrounds to learn a sport and compete. Hunter safety classes and programs play an important role in teaching safety, wildlife management, landowner relations, and personal responsibility to students.”

“We ask that the Department interpret the language as Congress intended and no longer ask educational entities to seek other funding sources for educational enrichment programs that align with the intent of ESEA- supporting student achievement and student well-being.”

In addition to Heinrich and Cornyn, the letter was signed by Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wiis., Lisa Murkowski (R-Ark.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).

After the elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, in May 2022, Sen. Heinrich joined a small group of Senate colleagues – including Senators Cornyn, Sinema, and Collins – to negotiate the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first significant federal gun safety legislation in 30 years. Sens. Heinrich and Collins specifically worked together to secure two key provisions that made both firearm straw purchases  and trafficking firearms out of the United States criminal offenses punishable by up to 15 years in prison.  

The full text of this letter is here