Sen. Cruz: ‘To My Colleagues in Congress, We Need to Unite Together to Make Our Schools Safer’

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) participated in KHOU's special broadcast series ‘Santa Fe: One Year Later' where he discussed his efforts on behalf of the Santa Fe community and all victims of mass shootings, including his efforts to secure funding to enhance school safety.

Last year, as reported by KHOU, Congress authorized at least a billion dollars for school safety measures including adding metal detectors and armed police officers, an effort Sen. Cruz has led since 2013. Watch the video here.

On Tuesday, Sen. Cruz delivered remarks on the Senate floor and called for a moment of silence to honor the precious lives of the students and faculty members lost during the horrific events that unfolded on May 18, 2018. Later in the day, Sen. Cruz, joined by Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) reintroduced the bipartisan School Security Enhancement Act, which allows local communities to utilize Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) grants for measures that reinforce school safety infrastructure and technology. Today, Sens. Cruz and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) reintroduced the Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act, which prevents gun violence by ensuring that relevant agencies and institutions accurately submit records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

Several media outlets covered Sen. Cruz's floor remarks and efforts to enhance school safety and prevent gun violence. Selected news coverage is below:

KRIV (VIDEO): Sen. Cruz Says More Must Be Done to Stop School Shootings
"Saturday will mark one year since 10 people were killed in the Santa Fe High School shooting. And today, Senator Ted Cruz spoke about the tragedy here on the Senate floor honoring the students and faculty members who lost their lives. Cruz also promised to reintroduce two bills to enhance school safety and prevent gun violence. ‘I want to conclude by saying to the families in Santa Fe, we are with you, we support you, we love you, and we're there for you. And to my colleagues in Congress, we need to unite together to make our schools safer,' Sen. Cruz said. Now one bill that he's reintroducing authorizes more funding for school safety infrastructure and technology. The other creates a gun crime taskforce at the Department of Justice to ensure federal convictions are in the national background check system, and also it directs the DOJ to prosecute felons who try to illegally buy guns."

The Galveston Daily News: As Santa Fe anniversary approaches, Cruz re-ups safety bills
"U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz took to the floor of the Senate on Tuesday to honor the victims of the May 18, 2018, mass shooting at Santa Fe. ‘One year ago, on May 18th, a deeply disturbed and deranged student committed an unspeakable act of evil which shook Santa Fe, shook Texas, and shook the entire country,' Cruz said. ‘It left our nation weeping.' Ten people were killed in the May 18 shooting at Santa Fe High School, and another 13 people were injured. Cruz used his speech to laud the victims and the families of the victims of the shooting. He called Santa Fe Independent School District police officer John Barnes, who was shot in the arm during the attack, ‘incredibly brave' and said Santa Fe High School student Riley Garcia was a hero for holding a door shut to help other students who were trying to escape the gunshots. During the speech, Cruz said he planned to reintroduce two bills he said would address school safety issues across the country - the Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act and the School Security Enhancement Act into Congress. The first act is mostly focused on the issue of felons trying to purchase firearms, and includes $125 million in appropriations to improve and expand reporting to the National Criminal Instant Background Check System. The second bill would provide grants to schools to upgrade security measures such as metal detectors and bullet-proof doors and windows."

KPRC (VIDEO): Sen. Cruz honors Santa Fe High School shooting victims in Congress
"It has been nearly a year since the horrific events that unfolded at Santa Fe High School, and this week Senator Cruz is honoring those who lost their lives. Cruz announced that this week he will reintroduce two bills to enhance school safety and prevent gun violence. The bills will make it easier for communities to utilize grants for measures that reinforce school safety infrastructure and technology and help prevent gun violence. ‘We need to unite together to make our schools safer, to prosecute felons and fugitives before they commit acts of murder, and to do everything to stop this horrific mass shooting epidemic. And we need to do it now,' Sen. Cruz said. Eight students and two teachers were killed in that shooting. Thirteen other people were wounded including three substitute teachers."

KVUE: U.S. Senators Cruz, Jones introduce School Security Enhancement Act
"On Tuesday, U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Doug Jones (D-Alabama) introduced the School Security Enhancement Act, a bipartisan bill they say would allow for Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) grants awarded to local communities to be used for evidence-based school safety technology and infrastructure. ‘I am proud to introduce this bipartisan bill with Sen. Doug Jones, to empower schools and make America's classrooms safer for our students,' Sen. Cruz said. ‘By expanding the use of these SSAE grants, schools will be equipped with additional resources to prevent further tragedies from taking place, and ensure education officials and community leaders can choose the safety infrastructure or technologies that work best within the context of the school's learning environment.'"

KAVU: Sen. Cruz honors Santa Fe High School shooting victims
"U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Tuesday delivered remarks on the Senate floor to honor the precious lives of the students and faculty members lost during the horrific events that unfolded at Santa Fe High School nearly one year ago killing ten people. This week, Sen. Cruz will reintroduce two bills to enhance school safety and prevent gun violence, including the Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act and the School Security Enhancement Act, which allows local communities to utilize Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) grants for measures that reinforce school safety infrastructure and technology. ‘The last year has been an extremely difficult year for the Santa Fe families and for the community,' Sen. Cruz said. ‘That mourning is indelibly marked onto that community. At the same time, they've been able to lean on each other and rely upon each other to support each other and to lift each other up in prayer,' Cruz said."

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