VIDEO: Gillen Urges House Judiciary Committee to Advance Bipartisan Gio’s Law During Member Day Hearing
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congresswoman Laura Gillen (NY-04) testified in front of the House Judiciary Committee, urging its Members to advance H.R. 4019, a bipartisan bill introduced by Rep. Gillen (D-NY-04) and Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-02) to equip law enforcement officers with lifesaving EpiPens. H.R. 4019, also known as Gio’s Law, is named in honor of Lynbrook native Giovanni Cipriano, who tragically passed away from a severe allergic reaction. A video of Gillen’s testimony and a copy of her remarks as prepared for delivery are below:
Watch the full testimony here.
(As prepared for delivery)
"Chairman Jordan, Ranking Member Raskin, and Members of the Judiciary Committee,
"Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to highlight how we can take action, together -- in a bipartisan way -- to save precious lives and prevent tragedies.
"I’m here today because of this extraordinary woman alongside me -- Georgina Cornago, from Lynbrook, New York, who I am honored to represent in Congress.
"Georgina traveled from Long Island to join me here today to honor the memory of her beloved son, Giovanni Cipriano, and to help me urge our colleagues to prevent future, heartbreaking tragedies by passing H.R. 4019, Gio’s Law.
"This bipartisan legislation, which I introduced with my Republican colleague from Long Island, Chairman Andrew Garbarino, would help equip law enforcement officers across this country with access to lifesaving Epi-Pens for emergencies.
"Mr. Chairman, Gio was a son. A brother. A teammate on a local travel baseball team. An honor student. He had just started his freshman year at Holy Trinity High School on Long Island, when he suffered a sudden, severe allergic reaction from a snack that contained peanuts.
"His heart stopped while he was rushed to the hospital, and he left us on October 18, 2013. His passing was an unfathomable tragedy, and we can and must never forget it.
"Since his loss, Georgina has been tireless in doing everything possible to prevent another family from enduring this pain. That is because more than 32 million Americans live with life-threatening food allergies and other severe allergic conditions. Anaphylaxis can be triggered by food, insect stings, or medications – things we come into contact every day.
"She established the 'Love For Giovanni Foundation,' and succeeded in passing New York State’s Gio’s Law in 2019, enabling police departments across the state to carry epinephrine. Starting with her hometown police department in Lynbrook, she has worked to expand these programs in Nassau, Westchester, and Suffolk County – where earlier this year, cops saved the life of a 72-year-old bee-sting victim suffering a life-threatening allergic reaction, just two days after they started stocking EpiPens in their vehicles.
"Thanks to the incredible work of advocates like Georgina -- and other moms and activists in the community -- each day, more police departments across the country are stepping up to equip officers with Epi-Pens.
"However, these devices can cost up to $600 per use, which can make it difficult for many departments to be able to purchase them.
"That is why our bipartisan bill, Gio’s Law, would establish the first-ever federal grant program at the U.S. Department of Justice to equip law enforcement across the country with EpiPens and train officers on how to safely use them.
"This competitive grant program would help offset the cost of epinephrine for qualified state and local enforcement agencies – just like the existing OJP and COPS grant programs for body-worn cameras, bulletproof vests, and other equipment and technology.
"The bill would also standardize training for officers on how to recognize the symptoms of anaphylaxis and how to administer epinephrine; it would ensure that there are “Good Samaritan” safe harbor protections for police; and it would promote outreach and awareness about the use of epinephrine.
"This is a bipartisan, pro-law enforcement, public safety issue. Our brave police officers are often the first to arrive on the scene in an emergency, and they deserve to have the equipment they need to save lives.
"I’m proud that this bill has been endorsed by the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the Food Allergy Nurses Association, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
"Mr. Chairman, we should not have to read about yet another American who lost his or her life due to a severe allergic reaction -- when we can take steps to prevent these tragedies. Let’s fund our police and give them the tools that they need so that they can continue to be heroes in our communities.
"I am asking for your help to advance this critical, bipartisan measure, in memory of Gio, to better equip our police, save lives, and help the American people.
"Chairman Jordan and Ranking Member Raskin, thank you for your time today, and your work on this Committee to serve our country and support law enforcement. I look forward to working with you and colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make progress on this critical issue and to help save lives by passing Gio’s Law. Thank you, and I yield back."
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