Reps. Deutch, Diaz-Balart Introduce Bill to Expand National Threat Assessment Center to Include School Violence Prevention Initiatives
Statement
Today, Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) introduced the EAGLES Act, legislation named for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Eagles to expand the U.S. Secret Service's National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) with a greater focus on school violence prevention.
The NTAC provides research and training for threat assessment and targeted violence, including school shootings and other school threats. This legislation creates a national program on targeted school violence prevention, including by expanding the NTAC's research and training on school violence and its dissemination of information on school violence prevention initiatives.
The Senate companion was introduced by U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Doug Jones (D-AL), and Marco Rubio (R-FL).
"The Secret Service's Threat Assessment Center was created to help train communities to prevent the kinds of targeted violence that threaten them. Sadly, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School endured a tragedy that resulted in the loss of 17 Eagles. This bill will prevent violence in other communities across the country," said Congressman Deutch. "We should use this effective model of assessing threats and developing trainings in order to prevent any more school shootings in any other community. I'm proud of this bipartisan plan to leverage some of our government's best resources to tackle this heart-breaking and preventable crisis."
"Over the years, I have been personally involved in working towards making our communities and schools a safer place," said Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart. "The safety of our children is of the utmost importance for every family. All parents should feel confident that when they drop their child off at school, that child is in a safe environment. That is why school safety should remain a top priority in our country, and that begins by taking the appropriate measures to prevent targeted violence and school violence. I am honored to co-lead this legislation, and I thank Congressman Deutch for his leadership on this issue."
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