NEWTOWN, Conn. – The House Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies subcommittee approved a $2 million increase to STOP School Violence Act funding through the Bureau of Justice Assistance during its Fiscal Year 2027 markup.
In response, Lauren Levin, chief advocacy officer of the Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund, issued the following statement:
“Every school shooting that has been stopped had something in common – someone saw warning signs and acted. Research shows that in 94% of averted school shooting cases, the attacker exhibited warning signs beforehand. Prevention works, but only when schools have the resources to do it.
“That’s what the STOP School Violence Act makes possible. With ever-shrinking budgets, schools in America rely on these federal grants to fund the proven prevention programs, including warning signs training and anonymous reporting systems that turn awareness into action and keep kids safe.
“Youth violence — including school shootings, threats of harm, bullying, and suicide — is preventable when warning signs are recognized early, taken seriously, and acted upon immediately. We are thankful for the $2 million increase, as it recognizes the value and commitment to school safety and youth violence prevention. We urge policymakers to continue supporting increased funding as the FY 2027 bill moves through the legislative process. Now is the time to fund prevention – the costs are too high if we don’t.”
Sandy Hook Promise proudly worked with Republicans and Democrats to write and pass the evidence-informed STOP School Violence Act in 2018 during President Trump’s first term. The program provides grants to school districts, states, and tribes for the purposes of training students, school personnel, and law enforcement to recognize signs of violence and intervene to prevent people from hurting themselves or others. It also supports the development of anonymous reporting systems along with school threat assessment and intervention teams.
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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.
Media Contact:
Claudia Montecinos | [email protected] | 203-304-9780 Ext. 336