Zoe Lofgren

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis).

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent for 1 additional minute for each side.

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2\3/4\ minutes to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers), the ranking member of the committee. (Mr. CONYERS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Wynn).

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney). (Mrs. MALONEY of New York asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) for the purpose of closing the debate.

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, although I am not opposed to the amendment, I rise to claim the time in opposition.

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This amendment is supported by the administration, and it would ban juveniles found delinquent of certain serious violent crimes from buying guns. That is to the good. The amendment extends the lifetime ban on firearms possessions to any juvenile who is found delinquent of a crime that would be a serious violent felony as defined by 18 U.S. Code 3559(c)(2)(F)(i). These offenses include murder, sexual abuse, carjacking, and extortion, among other offenses punishable by more than 10 years in prison. However, I think it is worth pointing out that some serious violent felonies are excluded from the amendment. The amendment would not extend the lifetime ban to the State law offenses punishable by 10 years or more that have as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force, including assault with a deadly weapon, vehicular manslaughter and mayhem. Nevertheless, the amendment does represent progress. The administration believes all crimes committed by juveniles of serious violent felonies would be preferable. I believe as well that that is the case, but I intend to vote for the amendment. I would note, however, that even though this amendment improves the situation on Brady checks for juveniles, it is ironic that because of what we did in the dark of night, the extension of the check to juveniles is merely appended to a weakening of our current gun laws. As we sort through what this body did last night, the retreat we made from sensible gun safety measures, it seems to me that licensed gun dealers will now go to the flea markets, the pawn shops, the parking lot, and they will sell unchecked, due to the Dingell loophole, guns to people who would not otherwise be eligible, and that will include the juveniles who would have been covered by this amendment that is before us. So while I support the amendment, recognizing it is weaker than it should be, I would note that it is not going to be sufficient to save this very flawed effort that we are engaged in here. We have failed the mothers and fathers of America who look to us to stand up to the special interests and to stand up for the children of America. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, may I ask how much time remains?

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I would close by saying that it is fine to vote for the Rogan amendment, but let us not fool ourselves. We are voting to extend the Brady background check to juveniles. That is fine. But, in the dead of night, when they thought no one was watching, we weakened the Brady law so that criminals, and I would add juvenile criminals, are going to be able to buy these guns in the parking lots, in the flea markets, in the gun shows. I do not think the American people have been fooled one bit. This is not what the mothers and fathers of America expected us to do in the wake of the massacre at Columbine High.

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, do we not have the right to close as defending the committee's position?

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee), a member of the committee.

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to manage the time controlled by the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney).

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Clement).

Ms. LOFGREN. Did I not then ask unanimous consent to control the time and was that not agreed to?

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition.

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 45 seconds to the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella). (Mrs. MORELLA asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire as to how much time remains?