NEWTOWN, Conn. – Today, by a vote of 82-15, the U.S. Senate passed a package of several FY 2026 Appropriations bills including the Commerce, Justice, Science bill that includes funding for the STOP School Violence Act through September 2026.
This legislation advances critical investments that support public safety, scientific research, environmental protection, and essential infrastructure across the country. By moving this package forward, the Senate has taken an important step toward ensuring that federal agencies and programs have the resources they need to serve communities effectively.
In response, Lauren Levin, chief advocacy officer of the Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund, issued the following statement:
“Continued funding for the STOP School Violence Act is vital to keeping kids safe in school, as it is the only federal program dedicated to proactive prevention and early intervention.
“We are grateful to our STOP School Violence champions, Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Charles Grassley (R-IA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Todd Young (R-IN), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) who prioritized protecting kids.
“As a result of passage, more children will have access to life-saving programs that help schools teach the warning signs to prevent violence and suicide and connect young people to care when they need it. We urge the administration to release these funds as soon as possible, so that students have access to these much-needed resources.”
Sandy Hook Promise proudly worked with Republicans and Democrats to write and pass this evidence-informed legislation 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