# What the Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act Does

This bill creates a new federal advisory council designed to help people affected by gun violence find the resources and support they need. Think of it as a coordinating body that brings together different government agencies to identify what help is available and make sure victims know how to access it.

The council will be made up of leaders from major federal agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services, the Justice Department, the Education Department, and others, along with a few actual victims of gun violence and professionals who work with victims. The council's main job is to figure out what resources already exist to help people who've been shot, threatened, or witnessed violence involving guns, and then spread the word about those resources. This includes help with medical bills, mental health support, legal assistance, housing, job training, and government benefits that victims might qualify for. The council will create a website with this information and distribute hard copies to hospitals, schools, prosecutor's offices, and members of Congress so people can easily find what they need.

Within six months of the bill passing, the council must publish a report identifying the best practices for helping gun violence victims, highlighting any gaps in available services, and recommending what new laws or programs might be needed. Two years later, they'll publish an updated report. The council will also actively reach out to victims, support organizations, and communities hit hardest by gun violence to get their input on what's working and what's missing. Importantly, this bill doesn't create any new funding—it just reorganizes existing government resources to work together more effectively. The council will automatically shut down after five years.