Paul Tonko: “Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4247, the Keeping All Students Safe Act. This bill is aimed at restricting…”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4247, the Keeping All Students Safe Act. This bill is aimed at restricting some of the most abusive practices still employed in certain schools around the country: negligent restraint and abusive seclusion. Last spring, the Education and Labor Committee heard testimony from the Government Accountability Office, which investigated the use of these practices in schools. What the GAO found was stunning. There were many instances of serious injury and abuse and even some accounts of death. Even more troubling to me, as a strong supporter of disability rights in special education, was that many of the victims were students with intellectual disabilities. This bill is meant to protect our most vulnerable students against the worst kinds of abuse. The committee heard about a 4-year-old girl with cerebral palsy and autism who was restrained in the chair with leather straps for being uncooperative at school. The girl suffered bruises and was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.”