Statements On Introduced Bills And Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

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Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, today, I am pleased to join Senator Robert Casey and eight of my colleagues in introducing the Safe Schools Improvement Act. This important legislation will help to address a crisis going on in our schools--the bullying and harassment of our children. We know that no child can achieve the high academic standards set for them if they are living in fear of bullying or harassment. This legislation will help change the culture in our classrooms and provide schools with the tools they need to promote a safe learning environment.

Findings from the 2007 National School Climate Survey demonstrated that a significant number of students experienced harassment in our schools, often because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This study also revealed that 96 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students in New York often heard words such as ``gay'' used in a negative connotation. Furthermore, 93 percent of students regularly heard homophobic remarks. The National School Climate Survey also found that 20 percent of students in New York were physically assaulted in their school because of their sexual orientation, while another 13 percent were assaulted because of their gender expression.

This environment of harassment and bullying in our schools lowers the academic performance of our students. In fact, 35 percent of LGBT students reported to have skipped classes at least once in the past month because they felt unsafe in their own school. I find this to be unacceptable.

The Safe Schools Improvement Act will require schools and districts receiving designated Federal funds to adopt codes of conduct specifically prohibiting bullying and harassment, including conduct based on a student's actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion. The act would ensure that schools and school districts focus on effective prevention programs in order to better prevent and respond to incidences of bullying and harassment, and would require that States report data on incidences of bullying and harassment to the Department of Education.

This bill has received support from a broad coalition of nearly 70 education, civil rights, disability, religious, and youth service organizations, such as the American Association of School Administrators, American Federation of Teachers, American School Health Association, National Association of School Psychologists, National Education Association, National Parent Teacher Association, American Association of University Women, Asian American Justice Center, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, Human Rights Campaign and the National Council of La Raza. Additionally the National Safe Schools Partnership, strongly endorses the Safe Schools Improvement Act.

I urge my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring the Safe Schools Improvement Act. I believe that we must support this legislation to ensure that all our children can learn in a safe and productive environment.

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