Washington, D.C. – Representative Mark Meadows (NC-11) released the following statement after introducing the Protect America’s Schools Act of 2013.

This legislation would revitalize the Cops in Schools (CIS) grant program which has not been funded since FY 2005, and fund it at $30 million annually. The CIS program, which was introduced by the Clinton administration over 14 years ago, is specifically designed to assist local law enforcement agencies in the hiring of new officers. The $30 million to pay for this critical grant program would be offset by taking unspent funds from the operations budget of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“The recent school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut sent shockwaves across the country,” said Meadows. “As a father, I grieved with the families who lost a loved one that day. And as a legislator, I vowed that I would take action to prevent future tragedies. According to a recent Gallup poll, 53 percent of Americans believe that increasing police presence at schools would be very effective in preventing future tragedies. After speaking to local law enforcement, superintendents and principals in my district, I believe this is the best path forward. That is why I introduced the Protect America’s Schools Act today.

“The Protect America’s Schools Act is a bipartisan, solutions-oriented approach to addressing school shootings that should transcend party lines. It is not the only answer, but it is a critical step forward to protect our nation’s children. Keeping our children safe is not only an area that both political parties can find common ground, but as lawmakers, it is our moral obligation.”

Representatives Bill Cassidy (LA-06), Cynthia Lummis (WY), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Tom Rooney (FL-17), Rich Nugent (FL-11) and David Joyce (OH-14) are original cosponsors.