[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 15 (Tuesday, February 22, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        SAFE SCHOOLS ACT OF 1994

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2455) to help local school systems achieve goal six of the 
national education goals, which provides that by the year 2000, every 
school in America will be free of drugs and violence and will offer a 
disciplined environment conducive to learning, by ensuring that all 
schools are safe and free of violence, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2455

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Safe Schools Act of 1994''.

     SEC. 2. SAFE SCHOOLS PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

       (a) In General.--With funds appropriated under subsection 
     (b)(1), the Secretary of Education shall make competitive 
     grants to eligible local educational agencies to carry out 
     projects designed to achieve Goal Six of the National 
     Education Goals, which provides that by the year 2000, every 
     school in America will be free of drugs and violence and will 
     offer a disciplined environment conducive to learning, by 
     helping to ensure that all schools are safe and free of 
     violence.
       (b) Model Project.--The Secretary of Education, shall 
     develop a written safe schools model so all schools can 
     develop models that enable all students to participate 
     regardless of any language barriers.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations and Reservation.--
       (1) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     to carry out this Act $50,000,000 for fiscal year 1994.
       (2) Reservation.--From the sums appropriated to carry out 
     this Act for any fiscal year, the Secretary may reserve not 
     more than 5 percent to carry out national leadership 
     activities under section 6.

     SEC. 3. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS.

       To be eligible to receive a grant under this Act, a local 
     educational agency shall demonstrate in its application under 
     section 4(a) that it--
       (1) serves an area in which there is a high rate of--
       (A) homicides committed by persons between the ages 5 to 
     18, inclusive;
       (B) referrals of youth to juvenile court;
       (C) youth under the supervision of the courts;
       (D) expulsions and suspensions of students from school;
       (E) referrals of youth, for disciplinary reasons, to 
     alternative schools; or
       (F) victimization of youth by violence, crime, or other 
     forms of abuse; and
       (2) has serious school crime, violence, and discipline 
     problems, as indicated by other appropriate data.

     SEC. 4. APPLICATIONS AND PLANS.

       (a) In General.--In order to receive a grant under this 
     Act, an eligible local educational agency shall submit to the 
     Secretary an application that includes--
       (1) an assessment of the current violence and crime 
     problems in the schools to be served by the grant and in the 
     community to be served by the applicant;
       (2) an assurance that the applicant has written policies 
     regarding school safety, student discipline, and the 
     appropriate handling of violent or disruptive acts;
       (3) a description of the schools and communities to be 
     served by the grant, the activities and projects to be 
     carried out with grant funds, and how these activities and 
     projects will help to reduce the current violence and crime 
     problems in the schools and communities served;
       (4) a description of educational materials to be developed 
     in the second most predominate language of the schools and 
     communities to be served by the grant, if applicable;
       (5) if the local educational agency receives Federal 
     education funds, an explanation of how activities assisted 
     under this Act will be coordinated with and support any 
     systemic education improvement plan prepared with such funds;
       (6) the applicant's plan to establish school-level advisory 
     committees, which include faculty, parents, staff, and 
     students, for each school to be served by the grant and a 
     description of how each committee will assist in assessing 
     that school's violence and discipline problems as well as in 
     designing appropriate programs, policies, and practices to 
     combat those problems;
       (7) the applicant's plan for collecting baseline and future 
     data, by individual schools, to monitor violence and 
     discipline problems and to measure its progress in achieving 
     the purpose of this Act;
       (8) a description of how, in subsequent fiscal years, the 
     grantee will integrate the violence prevention activities it 
     carries out with funds under this Act with activities carried 
     out under its comprehensive plan for drug and violence 
     prevention adopted under the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and 
     Communities Act of 1986;
       (9) a description of how the grantee will coordinate its 
     school crime and violence prevention efforts with education, 
     law enforcement, judicial, health, social service, programs 
     supported under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
     Prevention Act of 1974, and other appropriate agencies and 
     organizations serving the community;
       (10) a description of how the grantee will inform parents 
     about the extent of crime and violence in their children's 
     schools and maximize the participation of parents in its 
     violence prevention activities;
       (11) an assurance that grant funds under this Act will be 
     used to supplement and not supplant State and local funds 
     that would, in the absence of funds under this Act, be made 
     available by the applicant for the purposes of the grant;
       (12) an assurance that the applicant will cooperate with, 
     and provide assistance to, the Secretary in gathering 
     statistics and other data the Secretary determines are 
     necessary to determine the effectiveness of projects and 
     activities under this Act or the extent of school violence 
     and discipline problems throughout the Nation; and
       (13) such other information as the Secretary may require.
       (b) Priorities.--In awarding grants under this Act, the 
     Secretary shall take into account the special needs of local 
     educational agencies located in both rural and urban 
     communities.

     SEC. 5. GRANTS AND USE OF FUNDS.

       (a) Duration and Amount of Grants.--Grants under this Act 
     may not exceed--
       (1) 1 year in duration; and
       (2) $3,000,000.
       (b) Use of Funds.--
       (1) Activities.--A local educational agency may use funds 
     awarded under section 2(a) for 1 or more of the following 
     activities:
       (A) Identifying and assessing school violence and 
     discipline problems, including coordinating needs assessment 
     activities with education, law-enforcement, judicial, health, 
     social service, juvenile justice programs, gang prevention 
     activities, and other appropriate agencies and organizations.
       (B) Conducting school safety reviews or violence prevention 
     reviews of programs, policies, practices, and facilities to 
     determine what changes are needed to reduce or prevent 
     violence and promote safety and discipline.
       (C) Planning for comprehensive, long-term strategies for 
     combating and preventing school violence and discipline 
     problems through the involvement and coordination of school 
     programs with other education, law-enforcement, judicial, 
     health, social service, and other appropriate agencies and 
     organizations.
       (D) Activities which involve parents in efforts to promote 
     school safety and prevent school violence;
       (E) Community education programs involving parents, 
     businesses, local government, the medical, and other 
     appropriate entities about the local educational agency's 
     plan to promote school safety and reduce and prevent school 
     violence and discipline problems and the need for community 
     support.
       (F) Coordination of school-based activities designed to 
     promote school safety and reduce or prevent school violence 
     and discipline problems with related efforts of education, 
     law-enforcement, judicial, health, social service, juvenile 
     justice programs, and other appropriate agencies and 
     organizations.
       (G) Developing and implementing violence prevention 
     activities and materials, including--
       (i) conflict resolution and social skills development for 
     students, teachers, aides, other school personnel, and 
     parents;
       (ii) disciplinary alternatives to expulsion and suspension 
     of students who exhibit violent or anti-social behavior;
       (iii) student-led activities such as peer mediation, peer 
     counseling, and student courts; or
       (iv) alternative after-school programs that provide safe 
     havens for students, which may include cultural, 
     recreational, educational and instructional activities, and 
     mentoring and community service programs.
       (H) Educating students and parents about the dangers of 
     guns and other weapons and the consequences of their use.
       (I) Developing and implementing innovative curricula to 
     prevent violence in schools and training staff how to stop 
     disruptive or violent behavior if it occurs.
       (J) Supporting ``safe zones of passage'' for students 
     between home and school through such measures as Drug- and 
     Weapon-Free School Zones, enhanced law enforcement, and 
     neighborhood patrols.
       (K) Counseling programs for victims and witnesses of school 
     violence and crime.
       (L) Evaluating its project under this Act.
       (M) The cost of administering the project of the local 
     educational agency under this Act.
       (N) Other activities that meet the purposes of this Act.
       (2) Other limitations.--A local educational agency may use 
     not more than 5 percent of its grant for activities described 
     in paragraph (1)(M).
       (3) Construction.--A local educational agency may not use 
     funds under this Act for construction.

     SEC. 6. NATIONAL LEADERSHIP.

       To carry out the purpose of this Act, the Secretary may use 
     funds reserved under section 2(b)(2) to conduct national 
     leadership activities such as research, program development 
     and evaluation, data collection, public awareness activities, 
     training and technical assistance, to provide grants to 
     noncommercial telecommunications entities for the production 
     and distribution of national video-based projects that 
     provide young people with models for conflict resolution and 
     responsible decisionmaking, and to conduct peer review of 
     applications under this Act. The Secretary may carry out such 
     activities directly, through interagency agreements, or 
     through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements.

     SEC. 7. REPORTS.

       (a) Report to Secretary.--Local educational agencies that 
     receive funds under this part shall submit to the Secretary a 
     report not later than March 1, 1995, that describes progress 
     achieved in carrying out the plan required under section 4.
       (b) Report to Congress.--The Secretary shall submit to the 
     Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
     Representatives a report not later than October 1, 1995, 
     which contains a detailed statement regarding grant awards, 
     activities of grant recipients, a compilation of statistical 
     information submitted by applicants under section 4, and an 
     evaluation of programs established under this part.

     SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

       For purposes of this Act:
       (1) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational 
     agency'' has the meaning given such term in section 1471(12) 
     of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
     U.S.C. 2891(12)).
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Education.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Michigan [Mr. Kildee] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Goodling] will be recognized for 20 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Kildee].
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, violence in our schools is a problem of national 
concern.
  In testimony before my Subcommmitte on Elementary, Secondary, and 
Vocational Education, Madeleine Kunin, Deputy Secretary of Education, 
stated that:
  Approximately 3 million thefts and violent crimes occur on or near 
schools every year;
  Sixteen percent of high school seniors reported having been 
threatened with a weapon at school during the previous year; and,
  Seven percent reported being injured with a weapon.
  H.R. 2455 takes a first step toward making our schools safer.
  The next step will come on Thursday when H.R. 6, which includes the 
reauthorization of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, 
comes to the floor.
  That program provides funds for activities aimed at making schools 
safer such as the DARE Program.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2455 authorizes $50 million in funds to enable 
schools to implement comprehensive violence reduction strategies 
designed to reduce the incidence of violence in schools and to increase 
opportunities for schools to maintain disciplined environments 
conducive to learning.
  Authorized activities include:
  Developing student-led programs incorporating peer counseling and 
peer mediation;
  Teaching conflict resolution techniques to students and teachers; 
and,
  Developing community education programs involving parents, 
businesses, local governments, and others.
  Mr. Speaker, the fiscal year 1994 appropriations bill contained $20 
million to address violence in schools subject to the enactment of 
legislation.
  This bill will enable the Department of Education to begin work in 
this important area.
  I want to commend Major Owens for introducing this legislation on 
behalf of the administration and to thank him for his hard work on the 
issue.
  I am pleased to be able to bring the bill to the House floor in a 
timely manner.
  H.R. 2455 addresses a critical need which has long been a concern to 
teachers and parents in the State of Michigan.
  Unfortunately, this issue struck close to home when just recently a 
student in Flint, MI in my district was shot by another student while 
at school.
  H.R. 2455 is a good bill and I urge its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. GOODLING asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I recently read the following, and I 
quote: ``Mom, can I tell you something? I'm worried. All of the boys I 
grew up with are dead. I lie awake at night and think about it. What am 
I supposed to do?''
  The question was asked by a 13-year-old boy in New Orleans. His 
mother suddenly realized that of a group of 6-year-olds who had started 
school together 7 years earlier, only her son was still living. All the 
others had met violent deaths.
  Nearly 1 million adolescents between the ages of 12 and 19 are 
victims of violent crimes each year, and this has been true at least 
since 1985. The victimization of adolescents, particularly 12- to 15-
year-olds, is growing. Teenagers are twice as likely to be assaulted as 
persons aged 20 and older. The rate and intensity of violence involving 
children and youth, moreover, has escalated dramatically, and much of 
it is accounted for by adolescents attacking their peers. Adolescent 
homicide rates have reached the highest levels in history.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2455, the Safe Schools Act.
  I am alarmed, as I am sure is everyone in this body, at the growing 
number of violent acts in our Nation's schools. Children are afraid to 
walk to and from school because they don't know if one of their 
classmates is waiting around the corner with a weapon to attack them 
because of something they said. When students are in school they are 
also afraid because they do not know when one of their classmates may, 
at the slightest provocation, pull out a gun and start shooting.
  Mr. Speaker, this is not an environment conducive to learning and it 
is no wonder that children in such surroundings have a difficult time 
concentrating on their education.
  The bill we have before us today takes a modest step at addressing 
this problem by giving schools riddled with crime, violence, and 
discipline problems some additional dollars to develop and implement 
violence prevention activities. For instance, it allows funds to be 
used for conflict resolution programs, which help teach children 
alternative methods of resolving their differences.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out that H.R. 2455, as reported by 
the Committee on Education and Labor, recognizes that violence is not 
limited to urban schools. As the representative of a rural area in 
Pennsylvania, I can tell you that school violence exists no matter 
where you go. It is a serious problem that affects the ability of 
educators to provide students with the skills they need to graduate and 
become productive citizens. I am very pleased that this legislation 
recognizes this fact and encourages the Secretary to award grants to 
initiate programs in rural areas.
  I urge enactment of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield, such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from Connecticut [Ms. DeLauro].

                              {time}  1430

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of h.R. 2455, the 
Safe Schools Act, and I commend its sponsor, Representative Owens, and 
Chairman Kildee, and the other members of the Education and Labor 
Committee for their leadership on this legislation.
  Soon, we will embark on one of the most crucial debates of this 
session--the debate over crime. I am particularly pleased that before 
our deliberations begin, we are coming together, in a bipartisan 
spirit, to pass the Safe Schools Act. Our action today sends a clear 
signal to the American people: Congress is committed to helping rid 
schools of violence and crime. By authorizing $50 million for the 
Department of Education to develop model programs and policies to 
promote school safety and reduce and prevent violence in schools, the 
act will encourage the development of more innovative programs, such 
as: Alternative after-school activities, peer mediation and counseling, 
and conflict resolution programs.
  This legislation is especially meaningful to me because last fall, I 
established a regional anti-crime youth council, this council, which is 
comprised of junior and high school students, has been meeting to 
discuss the crime problems they face. They are now developing their own 
creative solutions to these problems, and the problems the Safe Schools 
Act authorizes will help these students translate their ideas into 
action.
  The Safe Schools Act is an important investment in our children--and 
a critical investment in our fight against crime. I urge your strong 
support.
  Mr. FORD of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2455, 
the Safe Schools Act of 1994.
  We will soon confer with the Senate on our respective versions of the 
Goals 2000 Educate America Act and the School-to-Work Opportunities 
Act. But neither bill will achieve our intentions if we do not provide 
an environment where children can learn and teachers can teach.
  This legislation could not come sooner. It will help promote school 
safety and prevent school violence. It will assist school 
administrators, teachers and parents as they work to abate crime.
  H.R. 2455 would authorize $50 million in competitive grants to local 
equation agencies that serve areas with high rates of youth crime and 
violence. Individual grants are limited to $3 million and 1 year.
  Local agencies applying for the grants would assess their needs, 
described how they will coordinate their activities with other school 
improvement plans and the Safe and Drug-Free Schools initiatives to 
come.
  It should be a national imperative that all children enrolled in our 
15,173 school districts be offered a rigorous and challenging 
curriculum, but it is a given that their schools should be safe and 
secure.
  A recent Louis Harris poll found that nearly 1 in 4 students and 1 in 
10 teachers have been victims of violence on or near school property. 
Thirteen percent of students said that they had carried a weapon to 
school. Six percent of the boys and 1 percent of the girls said they 
had threatened someone with a knife or gun in or around school.
  The New York Times reported on a Justice Department survey that 
indicate that more than one-fifth of the boys at 10 inner city high 
schools owned guns. A Harvard University survey showed that 15 percent 
of students had carried a handgun within a month of the poll.
  It is clear that excellence in academic performance is impossible 
amid the shootings, brutality and sociopathic behavior that engulf many 
of our school campuses.
  Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government has a vital role to play in 
restoring safety to our schools. Every child has a right to learn in an 
environment free of intimidation, tension, and violence. We hope this 
bill will help our students be free. I urge my colleagues to vote for 
the bill.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Montgomery). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Kildee] that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2455, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________