One of the bills, which passed 227-203, would require background checks on nearly all gun purchases, including transactions involving unlicensed or private sellers.
The other measure would aim to close the “Charleston loophole," which allows sale of a firearm to proceed if a background check isn’t completed within 3 days, by expanding review period to 10 days.
Democrats hold a razor-thin majority in the Senate and need 60 votes to advance most legislation. With all Democrats in favor of the bills, they would need the support of at least 10 Senate Republicans — unlikely for the measures in their current form.
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As we approach one year since the W.H.O officially labeled the outbreak a pandemic, @MSNBC will be highlighting viewers' stories to remember and honor victims of Covid-19, their families, and how they have inspired the country. Check back here for their stories. #COVIDOneYear
Remembering Raymond Simon • Born to Lebanese immigrants in 1926, Raymond Simon proudly served his country as a tank mechanic for the U.S. Army in World War II. When he got home, he started a career in insurance. Raymond didn’t retire until he was 85 years old.
He liked gardening, going to church, and the Buffalo Bills. But nothing brought him more joy than his family.
When his wife developed dementia and moved into assisted living, Raymond had lunch and dinner with her every single day.
BREAKING: US House votes 220-212 to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act; bill moves to Senate.
Legislation aims to establish a national standard for operation of police depts.; mandate data collection on encounters; invest in community-based policing programs; streamline federal law to prosecute excessive force; establish independent prosecutors for police investigations.
UPDATE: Rep. Lance Gooden, the lone Republican to vote for H.R. 1280 says, he "accidentally pressed the wrong voting button and realized it too late. I have changed the official record to reflect my opposition to the partisan George Floyd Policing Act.”
"I truly and deeply apologize for it. I feel awful about it, and frankly, I am embarrassed by it," NY Gov. Cuomo says about recent sexual harassment allegations.
"I'm not going to resign," NY Gov. Cuomo says about calls to resign after multiple women came forward and accused him of sexual harassment.
President Biden marks 500,000 lives lost in the U.S. to Covid-19. msnbc.com/live
Pres. Biden: "Today, we mark a truly grim, heartbreaking milestone. 500,071 dead. That's more Americans who have died in one year in this pandemic than in World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War combined. That's more lives lost to this virus than any other nation on Earth."
President Biden reflects on the 500,000 lives lost to Covid-19: "We often hear people described as ordinary Americans. There's no such thing. There's nothing ordinary about them. The people we lost were extraordinary. They span generations. Born in America, emigrated to America."
AG nominee Garland calls Jan. 6 “the most heinous attack on the Democratic processes that I have ever seen and one I never expected to see in my lifetime.”
He pledges "to give career prosecutors who are working on this matter 24/7 all the resources they could possibly require.”
AG nominee Garland says the Trump admin.'s policy of separating migrant families at the border is "shameful."
"I can't imagine anything worse than tearing parents from their children," he says.