Hudson Continues Push for School Safety After Vote Blocked on House Floor
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (R-NC) is continuing his push for school safety and mental health legislation after House Democrats blocked consideration of his H.R. 7966, the STOP II, Secure Every School and Protect Our Nation's Children Act.
On Wednesday, Rep. Hudson offered the Republican alternative to a House Democrat gun control bill being debated on the floor, forcing a vote to consider his STOP II Act legislation which failed.
"I am disappointed a vote on my STOP II Act was blocked last night, but I will not stop advancing this common sense bill and seeking common ground to protect schools, improve mental health, and save lives," said Rep. Hudson.
Earlier in the day, Rep. Hudson spoke on the House floor to discuss his bill and offer his motion to replace the gun control bill with H.R. 7966.
Rep. Hudson forces a vote on his STOP II Act, June 8, 2022
"As the father of an elementary school child, I am devastated every time we have a school shooting. That’s why identifying solutions to stop these tragedies is so important to me.
There are only two significant gun safety bills to recently pass Congress: both were Republican bills, passed by a Republican majority, signed by a Republican president.
The Democrat mantra has been “do something.” But my House Republican colleagues and I know the American people expect us to do something that matters.
That’s why I introduced HR 7966, the STOP II, Secure Every School and Protect our Nation’s Children Act.
It builds on the STOP School Violence Act signed into law in 2018 and redirects unused COVID-19 funding to provide $1 billion to hire School Resource Officers.
It provides $1 billion to hire mental health guidance counselors. Our guidance counselors are wonderful, caring people who are stretched too thin. They may not always have the time they need to reach all the children who need help.
$5 billion is included to fund Stop School Violence programs that harden schools, expand active shooter training, and provide resources for law enforcement, school officials, and students to intervene before someone reaches a breaking point.
Under my legislation, schools can also apply for threat assessments to identify weakness in security and in mental health services. A clearinghouse is also codified under Homeland Security to share best practices for school safety.
My STOP II Act is one of 12 bills that House Republicans are bringing forward that actually solve problems and actually save lives, all without threatening the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. If gun control worked, Chicago would be one of the safest cities in America.
But my colleagues across the aisle have so far refused to work with us where there is common ground on this issue. They and the media know the bills we are considering today have no chance of becoming law.
But I ask my colleagues across the aisle to set aside this partisan agenda.
Instead, help me to harden schools. Help me to intervene with students in a mental health crisis before they reach a breaking point.
Imagine the impact if we had intervened and gotten the help that this young man in Uvalde needed before he dropped out of high school.
Help me to protect our children and teachers and make sure tragedies like these never happen again."
Watch Rep. Hudson's full remarks here.
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