SIA Supports EAGLES Act School Violence Prevention Bill

On Feb. 23, Congress introduced S. 495, the EAGLES Act of 2021, a safe school initiative with bipartisan support named for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mascot. The EAGLES Act would establish a national program on targeted school violence prevention and provide additional resources to expand research and training on a national scale. The Security Industry Association (SIA) applauds the introduction of this bill and is listed as a supporter of the legislation.

The EAGLES Act would expand the U.S. Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) with a greater focus on school violence prevention. Through the bill’s school safety initiative, the NTAC would coordinate trainings and plans with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education. The bill also requires the Secret Service to provide periodic progress reports to Congress. The NTAC, created in 1998, provides research and training for threat assessment and targeted violence, including shootings and other threats in schools.

The Senate legislation is sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) along with Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine.). The identical bill in the House of Representatives is led by U.S. Reps. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.).

SIA is dedicated to working to enhance the safety and security of schools in the United States. SIA supports increased federal assistance to schools struggling with the cost of meeting security needs, the adoption of successful state school security assistance programs and initiatives and nationwide use of best practices for school security. Learn more about SIA’s school safety advocacy efforts here.