Empowers local officials with resources to harden schools, keep students safe

On August 21, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced a school safety amendment to the Defense-Labor-HHS appropriations bill, which allows local communities to utilize Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) grants for measures that reinforce school safety infrastructure and technology.

“Americans have become all too familiar with the horror of school shootings,” Sen. Cruz said. “In the face of evil, horrific, violent attacks on our students, local school boards, teachers, and communities across the county have united to find a solution. By expanding the use of these grants, this amendment empowers our local community leaders and education officials with the resources they need to harden our schools and hire school safety officers to keep our children safe.”

The full text of the amendment may be viewed here. The grants may be used to hire school safety officers, in addition to infrastructure or technologies that:

• Control access to school premises or facilities, through the use of metal detectors or other technology with evidence-based effectiveness;
• Cover and conceal students within the school during crisis situations;
• Install technologies to provide prompt notification to relevant law enforcement and first responders during such a situation;
• Provide school safety reinforcement, including bullet-resistant doors and windows;
• Install any technology or system that would reduce the time needed to disseminate official information to parents regarding the safety of their children during and immediately following a crisis.

In May, Sen. Cruz participated in a school safety roundtable with Gov. Greg Abbott, local law enforcement officials, and the victims and survivors of the Santa Fe High School, Alpine High School, and Sutherland Springs church shootings.