Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the Senate
Appropriations Committee approved $850,000 for PAX/Real Solutions in
the FY10 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill for a
national program that encourages more students to report weapon-related
threats in their schools and communities. Senator Gillibrand
aggressively lobbied members of the Appropriations Committee to include
funding for the project in this year’s spending bill.
“I
have met with students, parents, educators and community leaders who
have been affected by the tragedy of gun violence, and it’s clear that
students need a better way to report violence and potential threats,”
Senator Gillibrand said. “This federal investment will help give
PAX/Real Solutions the resources it needs to empower more students to
report threats of violence in their schools and communities – helping
us prevent tragedies and combat gang violence. I pledge to always be a
voice for our young people, and work to make sure they are safe and
have every opportunity to succeed.”
PAX/Real Solutions is
a New York-based non-profit organization that works to bring new,
effective solutions to combat youth gun violence. PAX will use the
$850,000 federal investment to strengthen its national “SPEAK UP
Campaign” – an effort to encourage more students to report
weapon-related threats in their schools and communities. The investment
will increase access to the SPEAK UP hotline and awareness campaign.
A
2002 report from the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Department of
Education revealed that in 81 percent of school shootings, the
attackers told other students about their plans beforehand. Further
studies show that when weapons are confiscated in schools, 92 percent
of the time the tip comes from another student. PAX also reports that
the majority of young people are willing to report threats of
weapon-related violence if given the appropriate tools.
With
these federal dollars, the PAX SPEAK Up Campaign will empower more
students with the resources they need to anonymously report threats of
violence in their schools and communities, and prevent tragedies.
Late
yesterday, the Appropriations Bill for Commerce, Justice and Science
passed the full committee. The legislation will head to the floor for a
full vote before the Senate. The bill will then proceed to the
House-Senate Conference Committee, before final passage in both
chambers, and sent to the President to become law.