[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 65 (Thursday, May 6, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4890-S4891]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ROBB (for himself, Mr. Kerry, and Mrs. Feinstein):
  S. 973. A bill to provide for school safety, and for other purposes; 
to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


                 school safety enhancement act of 1999

  Mr. ROBB. Mr. President, I rise this afternoon to introduce 
legislation that I have been working on for several months and had not 
planned to introduce until later this year when the Senate considers 
the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. 
However, the tragic event in Littleton has moved everyone's timetable 
forward.
  When I was Governor of Virginia, education was my top priority. I 
might note that I know it was a top priority for the Presiding Officer 
when he was Governor of Ohio. Since I have been in the Senate I have 
become increasingly concerned about school safety. We simply cannot 
have good schools unless we have safe schools.
  In 1993 I was able to get legislation enacted to create a commission 
on school violence. Regrettably, that commission was never funded, but 
it should have been. Two years ago the Senate approved an amendment I 
offered to allow COPS funding to be used for school safety. Last year 
we significantly expanded on that program, and I am grateful for the 
Senate's and the President's commitment to that important effort.
  Over the past year, a year in which we have had too many horrible 
tragedies in our schools, we have all noticed that the most common 
questions asked following an incident of school violence are: Why 
didn't we see it coming? What could we have done to spot the warning 
signs and intervene before it was too late?
  The legislation I offer today is designed to address one essential 
component of the school violence crisis: Prevention and intervention. 
In the coming weeks the Senate will consider a variety of proposals to 
address the issues of preventing school violence, how to manage crises 
when they occur, and how to punish those who engage in violence in our 
schools. I look forward to working with our colleagues to develop a 
comprehensive approach to school violence which incorporates this 
legislation and acknowledges the need for prevention and intervention 
efforts.
  Out of respect for the families in Littleton and deference to the 
majority leader's request that we not take up

[[Page S4891]]

legislation until next week at the earliest, I will not make extended 
remarks at this time and will defer to a later time. For now, I simply 
offer my continued prayers for those in Littleton who are still coping 
with a tremendous loss to their community.
  Simply going to school should not be an act of courage.
                                 ______