[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 31, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E75-E76]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SAFER AMERICA FOR EVERYONE'S CHILDREN ACT (SAFE CHILDREN ACT), H.R. 255

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                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 31, 2001

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing H.R. 255, the Safer 
America for Everyone's Children Act, or Safe Children Act. The

[[Page E76]]

Safe Children Act is a nine-point program which will reward those 
States and communities who work to keep guns out of the hands of 
children, promote opportunities for students, and support programs 
which keep our kids off the streets and away from drugs. By supporting 
communities who take the initiative to combat school violence, we are 
encouraging parents and educators to work together to make the 
decisions which will effectively help our children and provide an 
appropriate and common sense solution.
  The Safe Children Act creates new safe communities and safe States 
block grants which can be used to supplement, expand, or enforce 
programs which combat school violence. To be eligible for the new 
grants, ``safe communities'' will have to offer a bi-annual gun buyback 
program, provide working programs to create safe and drug-free schools, 
and offer after-school programs, which focus on the social, physical, 
emotional, moral, and cognitive well-being of students. ``Safe States'' 
will have to enact legislation to require individuals to be 21 years 
old to purchase a handgun, require safety locks to be sold with 
firearms at the time of sale, and create a public-private partnership 
to support organizations and municipalities which promote safe schools 
and gun safety.
  Furthermore, the Safe Children Act creates a school counseling 
demonstration program to award grants to schools to establish or expand 
school psychological counseling programs, offering individual schools 
the opportunity and funding necessary to have on-site or on-contract 
child psychologists to assist troubled students. Additionally, the 
measure promotes the safety of law enforcement personnel by prohibiting 
the importation of large capacity ammunition feeding devices and 
exempts qualified law enforcement officers and retired officers from 
state laws prohibiting the carrying of concealed firearms.
  Mr. Speaker, I have been meeting with parents, teachers, students, 
and law enforcement officials, to discuss the root of the problems in 
our Nation's schools to find a resolution. The Safe Children Act is an 
important first step, because it promotes and supports community 
initiatives and inclusion.
  It is obvious that no one solution exists for solving the increase in 
school shootings, but it is imperative that we all dedicate ourselves 
to working together within our families and communities to stop the 
violence among our youth.
  The real solution to combating school violence will not be found in 
the Halls of Congress, rather in our schools, homes, and communities 
throughout our Nation. The Safe Children Act will reward those 
communities which work together to provide a safer America for 
everyone's children.

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