Last week, U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla., unveiled the “Preparing Leaders to Assess Needs (PLAN) for School Safety Act.”
The bill “would provide resources to states to establish school safety development centers that will help schools conduct assessments of their safety, identify evidence-based solutions to improve security, and access state and federal grant funding.”
U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Col., is the main co-sponsor.
“Every child has a right to be safe in school. I am proud of the significant federal resources Congress has made available to schools to improve security measures; however, many schools struggle to find and apply for these resources,” said Rutherford. “The PLAN for School Safety Act will build on our efforts by connecting subject matter experts with school leaders to better facilitate participation in school safety programs and grants. As a former sheriff and lifelong member of law enforcement, I know firsthand the importance of investing in security to prevent violence before it occurs.”
“Today, we applaud members of Congress for their leadership in ensuring the safety of our children through the PLAN Act. When it comes to preventing the next school shooting, there are sensible, proactive solutions that educators can help implement. Unfortunately, the reality is that schools lack the necessary resources to access these programs. The PLAN Act unlocks the critical support required for effective planning paramount to keeping our schools and communities safe,” said Mark Barden, the co-founder and CEO of the Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund. Barden’s son Daniel, was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
“One month after the Parkland school shooting, Rep. Rutherford shepherded his landmark school safety legislation, the STOP School Violence Act through the U.S. House of Representatives. That bill has resulted in $702 million of school safety funding flowing into schools since 2018,” said Max Schachter, the father of Parkland shooting victim Alex Schachter and the ounder of Safe Schools for Alex. “By introducing the PLAN for School Safety Act today, Rep. Rutherford along with Rep. Neguse, are giving schools the necessary resources they need to reduce the epidemic of violence our children face every day. John Rutherford understands that school safety must be prioritized over education because we can’t teach dead kids. I look forward to working alongside John to pass another of his crucial school safety bills.”
There are six other co-sponsors besides Neguse.
The bill was sent to the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Committee. So far, there is no companion measure over in the U.S. Senate.
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