Cruz amendment would allow schools to use grants for safety measures

An amendment to the Defense-Labor-HHS appropriations bill would allow communities to utilize Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants to reinforce school safety infrastructure and technology.

“Americans have become all too familiar with the horror of school shootings,” U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who introduced the amendment, 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.”

If the amendment is approved, schools can use the grants to hire school safety officers, install any technology or system that would reduce the time needed to disseminate official information to parents. It would also allow schools to implement technologies to provide prompt notification to relevant law enforcement and first responders during crisis situations, cover and conceal students within the school during crisis situations, control access to school premises or facilities, and provide school safety reinforcement.

In May, Cruz participated in a roundtable discussion on school safety with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, law enforcement officials, and the survivors of school and church shootings.