Sponsors (53)
The bill centralizes and broadens federal coordination, resources, and expertise to support gun-violence victims, but offers no dedicated funding, includes a temporary sunset, and reduces some advisory transparency—improving access in principle while leaving durability and resource sufficiency uncertain.
Victims of gun violence (including wounded, threatened, witnesses, and associates) gain a centralized HHS-led clearinghouse (website and distributed materials) that makes medical, legal, benefits, and recovery resources easier to find.
Victims and their families receive formal recognition and coordinated attention through a dedicated Federal Advisory Council focused on gun-violence victim assistance and policy advice.
The bill defines a broad set of covered gun-violence types (suicide, domestic violence, mass shootings, etc.), expanding who is identified for assistance and bringing more forms of victimization into policy and service considerations.
Hospitals, state and local governments, and victims may face increased demand for services and outreach without new funding, risking strained providers, limited materials/outreach, and reduced program reach.
Exempting the Advisory Council from the Federal Advisory Committee Act reduces transparency and public oversight of advisory activities and internal deliberations.
The Council and related provisions sunset after five years, risking loss of continuity, sustained implementation of recommended practices, and long-term supports unless reauthorized.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Establishes an HHS Advisory Council to survey needs, identify best practices, and publish/distribute resources to support victims of gun violence and their service providers.
Official title: To establish a Federal Advisory Council to Support Victims of Gun Violence.
Introduced April 10, 2025 by Dwight Evans · Last progress April 10, 2025
Creates an HHS Advisory Council to Support Victims of Gun Violence to identify needs, collect best and promising practices, survey victims and victim assistance professionals, review existing programs and compensation processes, and publicly distribute information and resource lists to help victims meet medical, financial, mental‑health, legal, education, housing, and other needs. The Council will include federal officials, 2–5 victims of gun violence, and 2–5 victim assistance professionals; HHS is the lead agency and must publish and distribute materials online and in print to federal and state offices and other stakeholders.