Sponsors (51)
Introduced April 10, 2025 by Dwight Evans · Last progress April 10, 2025
The bill improves federal coordination, visibility, and access to resources for a broad set of gun‑violence victims but relies on existing agency and local resources (and a short sunset), so practical impact depends on agencies and governments absorbing costs and sustaining efforts without guaranteed funding or long‑term authorization.
Victims of gun violence and their families gain a dedicated HHS Advisory Council to coordinate recognition, outreach, and cross‑agency attention to victim needs.
A centralized, HHS‑led public website (with distributed printed materials) will make medical, legal, benefits, and resource information easier to find for victims and service providers.
The law explicitly covers a broad set of gun‑violence types (suicide, domestic violence, mass shootings) and a wide range of victim categories and victim‑assistance professionals, expanding who may be eligible for services and clarifying who delivers them.
The bill authorizes activities but does not provide new funding: HHS, state and local agencies, hospitals, and victim service providers may face increased demand and must absorb costs, reducing the practical reach and quality of services.
Exempting the Advisory Council from the Federal Advisory Committee Act reduces transparency and standard public‑process safeguards for its meetings and recommendations.
A five‑year sunset means the Council and some activities expire quickly unless reauthorized, risking loss of continuity in victim support and long‑term implementation of recommended practices.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Establishes an HHS Advisory Council to survey needs, identify best practices, and compile and share resources and helplines for victims of gun violence and their service providers.
Creates an Advisory Council within the Department of Health and Human Services to identify needs, review programs and best practices, and compile and share resources for victims of gun violence and the professionals who assist them. The Council must survey victims and service providers, review literature and prior programs, evaluate administration of compensation funds after mass shootings, and publish/distribute guidance, helplines, and resource lists to federal and state agencies, courts, schools, and Congress.