Newhouse Introduces Life-Saving Legislation to Support School Resource Officers and Students

Statement

Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement after introducing H.R. 7189, theSchool Resource Officers Save Lives Act. Original cosponsors of this legislation include Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Chris Jacobs (R-NY), John Rutherford (R-FL), and Richard Hudson (R-NC). According to the CDC, the largest percentage increase in drug overdose death rates from 2019 to 2020 occurred in the 15-24 age group.This legislation would create a pilot program for Narcan administration to allow grants to school districts to train school resource officers, security personnel, and school nurses to administer Narcan and to purchase individual Narcan kits.

"Fatal drug overdoses and drug use, often fueled by the fentanyl crisis, are on the rise in our Central Washington communities and across the country. This alarming trend has tragically taken the lives of students in Washington State and across the United States. School resource officers are often the first to respond to an incident, including an overdose, at school. Following feedback from my community--including parents, law enforcement officers, and school administrators--I introduced legislation to provide school resource officers with the tools and training they need to assist them in saving the lives of students in the case of an overdose.

Even further, this bill supports the positive relationship that already exists between our Central Washington school resource officers and the students they protect. We are a shining example of how communities can come together to provide children with a positive interaction and impression of the law enforcement community, while delivering much-needed support to our school resource officers so they can continue to save young lives."

In 2017, a Richland High School student overdosed while at school. The district's school resource officer and school nurse both responded.

Two weeks ago, two Portland students at the same high school overdosed within 24 hours of each other from suspected fentanyl overdoses.

Last week, a Colorado Springs student consumed fentanyl in a school bathroom and tragically died during class.

"School resource officers work tirelessly every day to protect our children and build meaningful relationships in the community," said Rep. Jacobs. "I am proud to join Rep. Newhouse in this effort to give another tool to our resource officers to keep kids safe and put an end to the opioid epidemic"

"As a former sheriff, I know that school resource officers are often the first line of defense in a crisis situation," said Rep. Rutherford. "If a student is experiencing a narcotic overdose, there should be someone on the scene with the training to provide lifesaving medication. This legislation will give schools the tools they need to train school resource officers on Narcan administration, creating a safer school environment for all."

"As the fentanyl crisis has increased drug overdoses even in children, our School Resource Officers should have every tool available to them to protect our students from these tragic consequences," said Rep. Stefanik. "I'm proud to work to make equipment and training available for our law enforcement officers who protect our students to create a safer environment for schools."

"Driven by a fentanyl crisis on our southern border, drug overdoses are at record levels and impacting teens and young adults in every community at devastating rates. I am proud to cosponsor the School Resource Officers Save Lives Act to support law enforcement and our schools' ability to save lives," said Rep. Hudson. "I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this commonsense legislation."

"This amendment to provide a pilot program for Narcan Administration Training to School Resource Officers, School Nurses, and School Security, is welcome news and will provide us with another important tool to help save the lives of students." -- Mo Canady, Executive Director, National Association of School Resource Officers

"On behalf of the more than 364,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, we are proud to support this necessary legislation." -- Patrick Yoes, National President, Fraternal Order of Police

"The National Sheriffs' Association unequivocally supports this legislation, which will save lives. The opioid crisis and the scourge of fentanyl are wreaking havoc on families who have lost loved ones to overdoses. Resources are needed in schools and this bill will save young people from a terrible fate." - Jonathan Thompson, Executive Director & CEO, National Sheriffs' Association

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