[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 28, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E79-E80]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCING THE TEACHER VICTIMS' FAMILY ASSISTANCE ACT OF 2002

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 28, 2003

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, a study conducted by the 
National School Safety Center on School Associated Violent Deaths notes 
that between 1992 and 2001, 33 teachers, school administrators, school 
employees, or volunteers, were fatal victims of school violence. This 
means that during that nine-year period, a teacher, school 
administrator or some other school employee in America was killed while 
performing the duties of his or her job every fourteen weeks.
  A similar study done by the U.S. Department of Justice last year 
stated that teachers, school administrators and other school employees 
accounted for nearly 10 percent of all fatalities from school violence 
on campuses nationwide. Even more disturbing is that the majority of 
faculty fatalities occurred when a school employee attempted to stop a 
fight or some type of disagreement between students or other faculty 
members. In trying to stop school violence, these school employees 
became victims of school violence themselves.
  On May 26, 2000, my district was struck with horror when a thirteen 
year old student walked into Lake Worth Middle School and shot and 
killed his teacher, Mr. Barry Grunow. While this tragic event once 
again raised the important issues of school safety, gun control, and 
the minimum age at which a child can be tried as an adult, to the 
Grunow family, the tragic death of Barry Grunow has meant much more.
  In addition to the painful loss of a father and husband, Barry 
Grunow's death had a long-term affect on the entire Grunow family. 
Barry's death meant that, within six months, the entire Grunow family 
would find themselves without health care coverage; Barry's death meant 
that the Grunow family would incur added and unexpected expenses; and, 
ultimately, Barry's death means one less income that can be used to 
support Pam Grunow and her two children in the years to come.
  In Spring 2001, the Florida State Legislature passed and the Governor 
signed the Barry Grunow Act, a measure that provided death benefits to 
the spouses and children of victims of school violence. Today, I come 
to the floor of the House of Representatives to say that it is time for 
Congress to follow Florida's lead and pass a similar measure.
  I rise today to reintroduce the Teacher Victims' Assistance Act of 
2002. The 108th Congress is the second consecutive Congress that I have 
introduced this legislation. Similar to Florida's Barry Grunow Act, the 
Teacher Victims' Assistance Act places teachers, school administrators, 
school employees and school volunteers in the same high-risk category 
in which we currently place many of country's most important role 
models.
  My bill provides the spouses and children of educators who are killed 
as a result of school violence with the following death benefits: a 
one-time death benefit of $75,000, $1,500 to be used to assist with any 
funeral expenses, $900 per month in living assistance to the victims' 
surviving spouse, $225 per month in living assistance to each dependent 
of the victim until the age of 17, $7,500 per year, for up to five 
years, for each dependent to be used to pay for college or other forms 
of higher education before the age of 25, opportunity to enroll in the 
Medicare health benefits program, and exempts the family members from 
having to pay any accumulated income tax by the victim as a result of 
school employment.
  Mr. Speaker, never before has Congress made the historic statement 
that we need to compensate the families of educators who are victims of 
school violence. Many of us understand that violence in our schools is 
virtually impossible to eliminate completely. However, it is possible 
for Congress to ensure every educator in the country that if another 
school shooting such as those which occurred at Lake Worth High School, 
the future of educators' families shall never be in jeopardy.
  The Teacher Victims' Family Assistance Act of 2003 makes such a 
commitment, and I urge my colleagues to pass it immediately.

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