Washington, D.C.--Congressman Eliot Engel has co-sponsored legislation designed to prevent bullying and keep children safe in school. The Safe Schools Improvement Act (HR 2262) requires schools receiving federal Safe and Drug Free Schools funding to collect data regarding bullying and harassment incidents.

“By studying the frequency and specifics regarding bullying and harassment, schools will be better able to teach students about the consequences of these actions and to develop and implement programs designed to prevent them from happening in the first place,” said Rep. Engel. “As a former public school teacher, I am proud to co-sponsor this measure. Schools should be a safe haven for children, and a place where they can earn an education free from the insensitivity and cruelty that sadly occurs way too often. This legislation will help those students better succeed academically, rather than become drop outs as a result of harassment and, in some cases, violence.”

On Wednesday, July 8, the House Subcommittees on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education and Healthy Families and Communities are holding a joint hearing to examine strategies for improving school safety, including ways to prevent violence, bullying and harassment. HR 2262, the Safe Schools Improvement Act, is sponsored by Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY).

As a former guidance counselor and as a parent, Rep. Engel has had a long-standing interest in promoting school safety and preventing harassment of students as they work for their high school diploma. Each Congress, Rep. Engel introduces a resolution highlighting the National Day of Silence (H. Con. Res. 92) with Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). This is a day in which students from around the country take a vow of silence to bring attention to the anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) name-calling, bullying and harassment faced in schools by students, teachers and other school staff. This year’s Day of Silence, coordinated nationally by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), took place on April 17, 2009.

“Sadly, violence and discrimination against LGBT youth is all-too-common in American schools. It is a national disgrace that students feel threatened in school simply because of their sexual orientation. The Day of Silence and legislation such as HR 2262 are important steps in the process to educate our students, faculty and parents of the dangers of bullying and other forms of harassment. This legislation will hopefully lead to the day when such bullying and harassment will become a thing of the past,” said Rep. Engel.