Sánchez was joined by lead cosponsors Fla. Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and N.Y. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy among the total of 40 bipartisan cosponsors.The bill requires schools that receive Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act funding to implement a comprehensive anti-bullying policy that enumerates categories often targeted by bullies, including race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression and others. It also requires states to include bullying and harassment data in their state-wide needs assessments reporting.
Current federal law provides important federal support to promote school safety but does not comprehensively and expressly focus on issues of bullying or harassment.
"GLSEN would like to thank Congresswoman Sánchez and the Safe Schools Improvement Act's bipartisan cosponsors for their leadership in trying to make schools safer for all students," GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard said. "Bullying is a serious public health crisis that affects countless young people every day in America's schools. The recent suicides by two young boys who experienced constant bullying at school are a tragic reminder that more needs to be done to address the problem.
"This bill will go a long way toward laying a foundation of support for students across the country by calling for the kind of policies that matter. We urge Congress to pass this crucially important bill for the well being of America's youth."
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