Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' 3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing Cruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish MORE (D-N.Y.) is pledging that Democrats will push Republicans to act on gun reforms after a recent spate of mass shootings.

Schumer, in a letter sent Thursday to every member of the Senate Democratic Conference, pointed to gun control as a top priority for Democrats this fall, saying Americans are calling "for real, meaningful action to address the scourge of gun violence that is shattering so many families and communities."

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"President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE and Senate Republicans have failed to act on the issue of gun violence, bowing repeatedly to the NRA and the hard right by choosing inaction or half-measures over real, meaningful legislation. Comprehensive, evidence-based solutions ... must be a part of any congressional action to curb gun violence," Schumer wrote in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Hill.

He added that "Democrats will work as hard as we can to prevail on the majority to finally address the gun violence epidemic and on many other pressing issues."

Schumer's letter comes as the Senate is scheduled to return from its five-week August recess on Monday, more than a month after more than 30 people were killed in shootings in Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas. An additional seven were killed in a shooting in Odessa, Texas, on Saturday.

The White House is talking with lawmakers about potential legislation, but Trump has sent mixed signals about what he would support.

While he raised strengthening background checks last month, he's more recently focused on mental health. Trump said over the weekend that “as strong as you make your background checks, they would not have stopped any of it," raising new questions about if he'll support legislation to expand background checks.

Schumer pledged that Democrats "in the coming days and weeks" will push Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellDemocratic senator to party: 'A little message discipline wouldn't kill us' House to vote on resolution affirming peaceful transition of power Republican lawyers brush off Trump's election comments MORE (R-Ky.) to give the House-passed universal background check bill a vote.

"Despite the severity of the gun violence epidemic in the United States, bipartisan, House-passed background check legislation still languishes in Leader McConnell’s legislative graveyard. ... Republicans must work with Democrats to answer the American people’s call to action and pass comprehensive background checks for all gun sales," Schumer wrote.

In addition to trying to pass new gun reform, Schumer said Democrats would also try to rescind the administration's guidance that loosened the requirements for state ObamaCare waivers and try to pass new election security measures in the upcoming government funding bills.

Schumer also wrote that a "multi-employer pension crisis needs to be front and center," and that he's urging McConnell to put bipartisan legislation supporting Hong King on the floor.

"Senate Democrats must work to increase pressure on Leader McConnell to stop burying bills he doesn’t like in his graveyard and to get the Senate working again by actually debating and voting on legislation to address our nation’s greatest challenges," Schumer wrote.