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Reps. Upton, Gottheimer introduce bill to install silent alarms in schools

U.S. Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) introduced a bill to require silent panic alarms in all schools to immediately alert law enforcement of an active shooter.

The bill is called the Alyssa’s Legacy Youth in School Safety Alert Act (the ALYSSA Act) — named after Alyssa Alhadeff who died in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., in 2018.

“Too often in recent years, parents have sent their children to school – and tragically, it would be the last time they saw them. The pain and grief is unthinkable. We have to do more to put an end to school shootings in this country,” Upton said. “The ALYSSA Act is a concrete, commonsense step to better protect our children and our schools. As I reached out to my education and law enforcement leaders, they all concurred that doing anything to shorten the time for a response is a very good thing that ultimately saves lives.”

In addition to requiring silent alarms in schools, the ALYSSA Act would increase investment for School Resource Officers, who can help protect students and faculty.

“We are here today to honor Alyssa and turn her memory and the pain her family and friends carry every day into action. We are here to announce bipartisan legislation — the ALYSSA Act — to help protect children, like Alyssa, and all students, in the one public place they should feel safest: their schools,” Gottheimer said. “Together, with silent alarms in every school directly connected to local law enforcement agencies and with School Resource Officers at more schools around the country, we are taking concrete steps to help further protect our children in their schools.”

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, only 29 percent of schools use silent alarms that are directly connected to local law enforcement. The lawmakers estimate that they cost around $1,000 per school to install.

“In a life-threatening emergency situation, seconds count. The ALYSSA Act will save lives by empowering our teachers to push a button that is directly linked to law enforcement. The ALYSSA Act needs to be an equitable, standard level of school safety protection in every school around the country. This is a movement, and together we will Make Our Schools Safe!” Lori Alhadeff, the mother of Alyssa Alhadeff and co-founder of Make Our Schools Safe.

Dave Kovaleski

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