[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 139 (Thursday, September 29, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
  CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 6, IMPROVING AMERICA'S SCHOOLS ACT OF 1994

  Mr. LAUTENBERG Mr. President, I rise to congratulate the conferees on 
the elementary and secondary education bill for keeping the tough gun-
free school language that the Senate unanimously passed earlier this 
year. There were rumors floating around recently that this language, 
which requires that all schools adopt a zero tolerance for guns, was 
going to be severely weakened by the conferees.
  As many of my colleagues know, the Senate also unanimously passed 
this provision as a one-year amendment to Goals 2000 bill earlier this 
year. This provision requires every school district receiving Federal 
funds to adopt a policy of expelling a student for 1 year if he or she 
carried a gun into school. This was a tough provision but it is time to 
be tough. Now that the conferees on the Elementary and Secondary bill 
have adopted it, it will become permanent law.
  Mr. President, we must have zero tolerance for guns in our schools. 
Unfortunately, many children in our society fear walking around in 
their own neighborhoods. They are afraid of the gun violence that is 
plaguing our country. It is shame that children are afraid in their own 
communities and homes. We must do everything we can--put more police on 
the street, tighten controls on guns, get tough on criminals and give 
our young people positive reinforcement--to make our cities and towns 
safer.
  But there is one place where a child should be absolutely safe--never 
afraid of gun violence--and that is at school. A school building must 
be a safe haven for all of our children. They should feel totally 
secure at school, so that they can devote all of their attention to 
learning.
  However, if children attend school and fear for their lives they will 
not receive a high-quality education. If they do not get an excellent 
education, they will not get good jobs. And if they do not get good 
jobs they will likely live in poverty and be more likely to commit 
crimes.
  We can break this cycle if we start by making our schools completely 
safe.
  Mr. President, the problem of bringing guns to school is not a minor 
one. According to the National Education Association and the National 
School Boards Association, an estimated 135,000 guns are brought into 
our Nation's schools every day. And since 1993, there have been at 
least 35 deaths and 94 injuries that resulted from gun violence in our 
schools.
  Mr. President, this is totally unacceptable. I am pleased that the 
conferees retained this language. Our position should be loud and 
clear--no guns in our schools, period.

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