[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 107 (Thursday, June 23, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S3171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 5131. Mrs. BLACKBURN submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed by her to the bill S. 2938, to make our communities safer; 
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. TRAINING AND HIRING VETERANS AND FORMER LAW 
                   ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AS SCHOOL SECURITY 
                   OFFICERS.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) ESSER funds.--The term ``ESSER funds'' means funds 
     provided under--
       (A) section 18003 of the CARES Act (20 U.S.C. 3401 note; 
     Public Law 116-136);
       (B) section 313 of division M of the Consolidated 
     Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260; 134 Stat. 
     1929); or
       (C) section 2001 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 
     (Public Law 117-2; 135 Stat. 19).
       (2) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the 50 States, 
     the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto 
     Rico.
       (b) Training and Hiring Veterans and Former Law Enforcement 
     Officers as School Security Officers.--Notwithstanding any 
     other provision of a law relating to ESSER funds or any other 
     law, a State or local educational agency that has received 
     ESSER funds may, in lieu of the original requested, required, 
     or authorized use for such funds, use a portion of, or all, 
     of the unexpended funds to carry out any of the following 
     activities:
       (1) Establish, if necessary, and implement a State 
     certification or licensure program, or other training program 
     required by the State, that--
       (A) is designed to train individuals who are veterans or 
     former law enforcement officers to serve as school security 
     officers; and
       (B) may include firearm or de-escalation training.
       (2) Hire veterans or former law enforcement officers who 
     have completed the State's program described in paragraph (1) 
     to serve as school security officers in elementary schools 
     and secondary schools in the State.
       (c) No Federal Interference.--The Secretary of Education 
     shall not--
       (1) prevent or discourage any State or local educational 
     agency from using any ESSER funds for a school security 
     activity described in subsection (b);
       (2) impose any requirements as to the content or structure 
     of the State certification, licensure, or other training 
     program described in subsection (b)(1);
       (3) require that ESSER funds used to carry out subsection 
     (b) be used to prevent, prepare for, or respond to the 
     coronavirus; or
       (4) enforce any requirement related to ESSER funds if such 
     requirement would prevent a State or local educational agency 
     from carrying out a school security activity described in 
     subsection (b).
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