WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Steve Stivers (R-OH) and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-OH) sent a letter along with thirteen Members of the Ohio Delegation to the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) in support of the State of Ohio’s applications for grant awards under the Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Act Program.

Passed in March, the STOP School Violence Act created a grant program to train students, teachers, school officials, and local law enforcement how to identify and intervene early when signs of violence arise, create a coordinated reporting system, and implement FBI & Secret Service-based school threat assessment protocols to prevent school shootings before they happen.

“As a father, I want to ensure the safety of all of our kids as we send them off to school, and I was proud to be a supporter and cosponsor of the STOP School Violence Act when it was considered in March,” Stivers said. “These grants would provide critical support for students, educators, and local law enforcement in Ohio to keep our kids safe. I am hopeful that the BJA will give full consideration to Ohio’s application, and that Ohio will receive funding to implement important school safety programs.”

“We owe it to every student, in every classroom across America, to do everything in our power to minimize the threat of gun violence,” Beatty said. “Unfortunately, many children and their parents are rightly concerned and are calling on Congress to act.” Beatty continued, “In that spirit, I join my congressional colleagues in urging BJA provide the needed resources and support so that we can ensure that Ohio schools and those in every community are safer places of learning.”

The final letter can be viewed by clicking here.

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