John Rutherford: “I thank the chairman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, today the House of Representatives has a chance to take an…”

“I thank the chairman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, today the House of Representatives has a chance to take an important first step towards keeping our students and our teachers safe by passing the STOP School Violence Act. This bill is the result of bipartisan work of Representative Hal Rogers, Representative Ted Deutch, and also Representative Kilmer. We also incorporated, as we mentioned earlier, excellent ideas and key elements from legislation by Chairwoman Granger, Representatives Susan Brooks, Chabot, Rodney Davis, Messer, and Bost. I want to thank all of them for their work and commitment to this very important issue. I would also like to recognize in a very special way the dedication and passion of the parents and members of Sandy Hook Promise, who have been integral to us moving this bill forward. I really cannot say enough about that organization. As a career law enforcement officer and sheriff for 12 years in my hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, I know firsthand the importance of communities working together to spot early warning signs of violence. This is why this bill invests in early intervention and prevention programs in our local schools, so that our communities and law enforcement can be partners in preventing these horrific acts from occurring.…”