On the recordFebruary 27, 2015
Madam Chair, I rise in support of the Democratic substitute. H.R. 5 lacks essential protections for our kids. It is our responsibility to make sure our kids are safe at school. Too often, dangerous and abusive techniques are used to discipline our students, disproportionately subjecting minority students and students with disabilities to seclusion and restraint in the classroom. The Democratic substitute would protect our students by developing appropriate national standards on the use of seclusion and restraint. We cannot reduce the Federal oversight role for the very reason that our kids need to be safe in order to be educated.
