President Trump gave a nudge to the Senate on Wednesday, saying the safety of America’s children must come first after the House passed a bipartisan bill that would provide schools with funding for security improvements and programs designed to prevent school violence.
“Today the House took major steps toward securing our schools by passing the STOP School Violence Act,” Trump tweeted Wednesday. “We must put the safety of America’s children FIRST by improving training and by giving schools and law enforcement better tools. A tragedy like Parkland can’t happen ever again!”
Today the House took major steps toward securing our schools by passing the STOP School Violence Act. We must put the safety of America’s children FIRST by improving training and by giving schools and law enforcement better tools. A tragedy like Parkland can’t happen ever again!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 14, 2018
The STOP School Violence Act would permit the Justice Department to extend grants to train students, school personnel, and law enforcement to be aware of red flags associated with violence and ways to intervene so people do not cause harm to themselves or others. The legislation also seeks to support states incorporating technology such as an anonymous reporting systems.
The Senate would now need to pass the bill if it is to make its way to Trump’s desk. So far the Senate Judiciary Committee has announced an oversight hearing on last month’s shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., and overall school safety.
The House’s passage of the legislation comes after the White House backed the measure in a policy proposal unveiled on Sunday, in response to the shooting in Florida that took the lives of 17 individuals.
The attack has prompted renewed calls for stricter gun laws and solutions for improving school safety.
