Tennessee Republicans in Congress Introduce Bills to Provide Security to All Schools

After expressing their grief over the recent mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, three Tennessee Republicans have introduced legislation in Congress aimed at improving security in US schools.

The Securing Aid for Every (SAFE) School Act (S. 1107) was proposed on March 30 by U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), who had introduced similar legislation in the previous Congress, and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), with U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.) introducing a companion bill (H.R. 2491) in the House.

The bills propose a $900 million grant program that will enable public and private schools to train and hire veterans and former law enforcement officers as school safety officers, hire off-duty law enforcement officers, and offer funding to harden schools and increase physical security.

“I am beyond heartbroken at the shooting that occurred at the Covenant School in Nashville,” Blackburn said in a statement. “This legislation will allow both public and private schools to train and hire veterans and former law enforcement officers to serve as school safety officers as well as increase physical security measures to harden schools.”

Hagerty said, “That’s why I’ve joined Senator Blackburn in introducing this legislation to provide additional security resources to keep our schools and children safe.”

According to Fleischmann, “We must protect our nation’s schools and children from evil individuals who seek to cause senseless harm to others.”

These bills are aimed at providing better security in US schools and ensuring the safety and protection of the children while they learn and play.