Rep. Marino Introduces Legislation Protecting our Students

Press Release

Today, Congressman Tom Marino (PA-10) introduced H.R. 5427, the School and Student Safety Act. H.R. 5427 reauthorizes the COPS in Schools (CIS) program, which provided federal grants for hiring school resource officers (SRO) between 1999 and 2005. H.R. 5427 also requires schools that receive grant funding to give preference to military veterans and retired law enforcement officers when hiring SROs.

SROs are sworn law enforcement officials who provide an enhanced level of safety at schools by making arrests, issuing citations on campus, and responding to unauthorized persons on school property.

Congressman Marino issued the following statement regarding the bill:

"After many tragic school shootings, we must ensure that our schoolchildren are protected in the classroom. My legislation will place some of our nation's finest in schools to safeguard students, teachers, and faculty. With tens of thousands of veterans struggling to find employment, Congress has a tremendous opportunity to protect America's schoolchildren while providing quality jobs to those who have sacrificed for our freedoms."

"Military veterans and retired law enforcement officers have honed their skills through years of training, and they are well-suited to provide effective security for schools. I look forward to continue working with my colleagues in the House to implement policies that provide greater safety for our schoolchildren."

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