Ralph Lee Abraham: “today I voted for both the Coverdell and Boxer sense of the Senate amendments relating to school safety. I voted for…”

“today I voted for both the Coverdell and Boxer sense of the Senate amendments relating to school safety. I voted for both amendments because I believe that Congress can and should enact legislation to provide for safer schools and a secure learning environment. The language of Senator Boxer's Sense of the Senate stated that "Congress shall make schools safe for learning by implementing policies that will reduce the threat of gun violence in schools"; I rise now to briefly explain a few of the wholly-attainable measures that I believe would truly make a difference. During the Juvenile Justice debate I offered a commonsense amendment that would allow local school districts to access existing funds available under the Safe and Drug Free Schools Act to conduct locker searches for guns, explosives, other weapons, or drugs. Mr. President, no one involved opposes cleansing our schools of these elements, other than those criminals who possess them; and to those few, I have no sympathy for any inconvenience these searches may cause. I am pleased that my colleagues supported my amendment, which was accepted by voice vote. I also suggest that Congress should build upon a current tax deduction and reward businesses that donate school safety devices to K-12 schools. Qualified security equipment and technologies should include metal detectors, electronic locks and surveillance cameras.”