STOP SCHOOL VIOLENCE ACT PASSES HOUSE

Stop School Violence Act Passes House With Near Unanimous Support - Free Beacon

The House of Representatives passed the Stop School Violence Act with broad support from both parties on Wednesday. By a vote of 407 to 10 the House passed HR 4909, the Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act of 2018, as part of Congress's response to the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., which left 17 dead. The bill would provide new grants to train law enforcement and school personnel on the warning signs for school violence and how to intervene to prevent that violence. It would also provide grants for anonymous alert systems as well as funding for advanced door locks, further cooperation between schools and local law enforcement, and funding for crisis intervention teams.

"At a time when people are asking Washington to do something, Congress took action today to not just do something, but to start addressing the problem with a strong bill of the Stop School Violence Act that gives students, teachers, and law enforcement more tools to actively identify a potential shooter before a tragedy happens," Representative Steve Scalise (R., La.) said at a press conference after the bill was passed.

Scalise said the bipartisan nature of the bill shows how committed Congress is to preventing future school shootings. "What you saw today was a 407 to 10 vote to specifically start addressing the problem to stop school violence," he said. "I think that overwhelming bipartisan vote shows how serious this bill is and, clearly, there's more things that need to be done. But this is one of those things that actually gets to the heart of addressing school violence before a tragedy happens."

Father, You are our source of protection and strength - we pray for the fundamental heart change necessary among our people, repentance and choosing to make You Lord over our nation again.

"Protect me from harm; keep an eye on me like you would a child reflected in the twinkling of your eye. Yes, hide me within the shelter of your embrace, under your outstretched wings." Psalm 17:8