[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 168 (Thursday, November 1, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H12388]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         KEEP OUR CAMPUSES SAFE

  (Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, this week Education 
Secretary Spellings released guidelines to clarify the Family 
Educational Rights and Privacy Act, but the current law does not go far 
enough to keep our campuses safe. Schools need to be able to talk with 
parents when they think a student is at risk for violence without fear 
that they are going to be sued. That is why I introduced H.R. 2220, the 
Mental Health Security for Families and Education, or the Mental Health 
SAFE Act, to allow universities to notify parents if a student is at 
risk of suicide or homicide or assault, while holding schools harmless 
if they act in good faith. Schools should be focused on the safety of 
students, not fear of being sued if they do take action or sued if they 
don't take action. We need a law to protect students and parents.
  It is too late for Virginia Tech; it is too late for the many 
students who commit suicide or homicidal acts each year. It is not too 
late for other campuses. I ask my colleagues to please cosponsor the 
Mental Health SAFE Act. Let's work together to save lives.

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