On the recordMarch 3, 2010
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4247, the Keeping All Students Safe Act. As a cosponsor, I am certainly pleased that for the first time this bipartisan legislation will protect all children in schools from harmful uses of restraint and seclusion. The need for this legislation was highlighted by a recent GAO report that found hundreds of cases of schoolchildren being abused as a result of inappropriate uses of restraint and seclusion, often involving untrained staff. One of these cases included a locked isolation room in a school basement at a school in Rhode Island, my home State. This room was used to restrict a student who was deemed overly aggressive and another who showed undesirable behavior. Well, this bill will provide the proper guidance to ensure that our schools and educators are treating children appropriately. I have been a strong advocate in Congress to educate colleagues on the value that individuals with developmental disabilities can bring to society with the right system of support. The bill that's before us today represents an important step in ensuring that these children are treated fairly and given the opportunities they deserve to succeed in school.
