WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan today released the following statement after the Senate passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act:

“For far too long, Congress has failed to act in the aftermath of horrific incidents of gun violence in our country, but that changed today. Because of the dedicated advocacy of survivors and the loved ones of victims of gun violence, we passed bipartisan legislation that will help save lives. This legislation takes meaningful, commonsense steps to help protect schools and communities, invest in mental health, and help keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals.”

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act includes a number of measures to address gun violence that Senator Hassan has long pushed for, including:

· Incentives for states to pass and administer extreme risk protection laws that could help stop individuals at risk of harming themselves or others from committing gun violence.

· Protecting survivors of domestic violence by closing the “boyfriend loophole.”

· Enhancing background checks for gun purchasers under the age of 21.

The legislation also invests in and expands mental health supports and services in schools and communities, including:

· $150 million to support implementation of the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Senator Hassan has worked to establish this prevention lifeline.

· $240 million for SAMHSA’s Project AWARE to increase awareness of mental health issues among youth, provide training for school personnel to detect and respond to mental health issues, and connect youth and their families to needed services.

· $250 million for community violence intervention and prevention initiatives.

· $500 million through the School Based Mental Health Services Grant Program to increase the number of qualified mental health service providers in schools.

· $300 million in funding for the STOP School Violence Act to institute safety measures in and around schools and support school violence and prevention efforts. The STOP School Violence Act passed in 2018 with the support of Senator Hassan.