Tom Harkin: “throughout my career in public service I have been committed to ensuring that children in this country receive a quality…”

“throughout my career in public service I have been committed to ensuring that children in this country receive a quality education. I believe that each child should be educated in a supportive, caring, stimulating environment in which they are treated as an individual and provided with the tools they need to succeed. I also believe no child should be subjected to abusive disciplinary strategies or violent behavioral interventions while in school and no child should be secluded or unnecessarily restrained. I have fought to ensure that all children be treated fairly in schools in this country, and as a result I am pleased to introduce today the Keeping All Students Safe Act. This important legislation will protect school children against ineffective harmful and life-threatening seclusion and restraint practices. In 2009 the Government Accountability Office conducted a study on seclusion and restraint in schools. This study revealed that although the Children's Health Act of 2000 amended Title V of the Public Health Service Act and regulated the use of seclusion and restraint on residents and children in hospital facilities that receive Federal funds, there was no Federal law restricting the use of seclusion and restraint in schools. In a hearing on May 19, 2009 parents of children who were injured or killed as a result of the use of seclusion and restraint in schools testified before the House Committee on Education and Labor.…”