Federal Officials Voice Support for Research on Gun Violence, AACN Joins with Partners

Following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida last week, Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar told the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health that gun violence research is a priority for the department. However, the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2019 proposed a cut of $19.2 million, or 6.7%, from Fiscal Year 2017 levels for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, responsible for leading research on violence prevention. Federal officials are increasingly asking to reexamine public health policies. To this end, AACN joins with the broader healthcare community in sending a letter urging Congress to provide funding for federal research and public health surveillance on firearm-related injuries.