Newtown, Conn. – Representatives John James (R-MI) and Angie Craig (D-MN), alongside Representatives Maria Salazar (R-FL) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI), reintroduced the bipartisan Kid PROOF Act (H.R. 6396) in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund worked closely with members of Congress from both parties to draft this critical legislation.
The proposed bill helps to address the nation’s high rates of youth suicide and overdose by empowering health care providers to work with parents when their child is in crisis. The Kid PROOF Act provides grants to children’s health care providers for lockboxes or safes to help families of children who may be at risk of suicide or overdose to store medications or other potentially dangerous items.
Research shows that nine out of ten families used medication lockboxes when they were provided, and that 95% of individuals in crisis did not go on to die by suicide when means were stored properly.
“Reintroducing the Kid PROOF Act is an important step forward in protecting kids where they should feel safest: at home. By supporting families with simple, practical tools like lockboxes, this bill reduces the chance that a moment of crisis becomes a tragedy,” said Mark Barden, co-founder of the Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund and father of Daniel, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy. “We are grateful to Representatives James and Craig for championing this practical solution to protect children. That is what the Kid PROOF Act is all about — saving young lives — and why we are proud that members of Congress worked together and with us to write this important bill.”
“Protecting children is something we all agree on,” said Lauren Levin, chief advocacy officer of the Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund. “The Kid PROOF Act is about putting proven solutions into action—so every child has the chance to grow up safe, and every community has the tools to prevent tragedy before it happens.”
“My generation was still in school when the Columbine Massacre happened. I know what it’s like to walk into class with the fear that I may not walk out,” said Rep. John James, co-lead of the bill. “Now as the father of three school-aged boys, I pray every day that the Lord allows them to return home safe and sound. It’s insane that millions of parents have to make that prayer every day in America. It’s incensing that dozens of parents’ prayers have not been answered in a generation. Prayer is powerful but we must do more than pray. We must change policy too. The Second Amendment is not optional, and neither is keeping our kids safe from violence. We deserve an America that can protect itself from tyranny without leaving its children vulnerable to terrorism. Gun deaths are symptoms of cultural decay and hopelessness in America. Doing nothing to address those symptoms is unacceptable, which is why I’m proud to introduce this commonsense school safety bill to the U.S. House of Representatives. We are tackling an area that seems to have the least number of solutions – school safety – by first addressing mental health and constitutional responsibility from both sides of the aisle.”
“One child lost to suicide or overdose is one too many,” said Rep. Angie Craig, co-lead of the bill.“As a mother and a grandmother, I feel strongly that we should be doing everything in our power to keep at-risk youth safe, and that’s exactly what this legislation is about. The Kid PROOF Act takes an evidence-based approach to protecting our kids, and I look forward to working with Reps. James, Dingell, and Salazar to get it signed into law.”
“Protecting America’s children starts at home,” said Rep. Maria Salazar. “I am proud to support this compassionate legislation to give healthcare providers the resources they need to empower parents to protect their children. Our national mental health crisis requires bold and incisive solutions, and this bill is a great step toward our ultimate objective: saving lives.”
“The families of children at risk of suicide or overdose should have all available resources to help prevent kids from harming themselves,” said Rep. Debbie Dingell. “The Kid PROOF Act would make supplies like medication lockboxes and safes – that are proven effective in preventing suicide – more readily available to parents to parents who need them. I’m proud to co-sponsor this legislation and will continue to work to support families and young people dealing with mental health challenges and substance abuse.”
“Ensuring families and communities have increased access to safety supplies, including lock boxes and safes, is an essential and proven component of suicide prevention,” said Laurel Stine, J.D., M.A., executive vice president and chief policy and advocacy officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “AFSP is committed to working with Congress to advance the Kid PROOF Act, vital legislation to help reduce access to lethal means for our nation’s at-risk youth.”
“We commend Representatives Craig and James for reintroducing the Kid PROOF Act and continuing to put our children first. We know that safe storage prevents suicide and accidental death, making it a critical tool in helping children thrive into adulthood,” said Matthew Cook, chief executive officer at the Children’s Hospital Association. “The mental health crisis is still very real for children; while we work to support children’s mental health, we must also help families keep their kids safe by reducing access to lethal means.”
The Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund urges swift passage of the Kid PROOF Act to give families the support they need to protect children and teens from preventable harm.
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The Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund (SHPAF) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization committed to protecting all children from gun violence in schools, homes, and communities. The SHP Action Fund advances a holistic policy platform that promotes gun safety, youth mental health, and violence prevention education. The organization works at the state and federal level to pass nonpartisan legislation through inclusive partnerships, diverse grassroots education, and community mobilization. It is part of Sandy Hook Promise, founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
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