Senate lawmakers finalized on Tuesday an ambitious rewrite of the nation’s firearm and school safety laws, but odds remain long that Congress can pass the measure before adjourning for a two-week recess.
A group of bipartisan senators, led by Republican John Cornyn of Texas and Democrat Chris Murphy of Connecticut, released the 80-page bill after last-minute changes delayed their initial pledge to make it public earlier this week.
The bill would boost funding for school security and mental health treatment, while tightening the background check system for gun purchases. It also would create a new block grant program to subsidize states that adopt red flag laws, which allow courts to confiscate firearms from individuals deemed a threat, or set up other crisis-intervention programs.