School Resource Officer Assessment Act of 2018

Floor Speech

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Mr. ROKITA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5242) to require the Attorney General and the Secretary of Education to conduct a survey of all public schools to determine the number of school resource officers at such schools, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5242

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``School Resource Officer Assessment Act of 2018''. SEC. 2. SURVEY OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Education shall jointly conduct and submit to Congress, a survey of the assignment of school resource officers at public elementary schools and secondary schools, which shall include, with respect to each such school that chose to respond to such survey, a determination of whether--

(1) on or after January 1, 2018, such a school has been assigned a school resource officer; and

(2) in the case of a school that has been assigned such an officer--

(A) the number of such assignments; and

(B) whether each such assignment is on a full-time or part- time basis. SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) ESEA terms.--The terms ``elementary school'' and ``secondary school'' have the meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

(2) School resource officer.--The term ``school resource officer'' has the meaning given the term in section 1709(4) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10389(4)).

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Mr. ROKITA. 5242.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5242, the School Resource Officer Assessment Act of 2018. As we focus on our work in this Chamber this afternoon, it is fitting that we recognize that it is, as my colleagues have so far pointed out, National Police Week.

One of my great privileges as a Member of Congress is to interact with members of the law enforcement community and see firsthand the selflessness and true sense of service that they bring to their work.

Any one of us might say we want to protect and serve our communities, but it is these fine men and women who walk the walk every day. Their tireless efforts to improve public safety and build relationships across communities and with all of their fellow citizens deserve our appreciation and our total support and respect.

One of the best ways we as legislators can support members of the law enforcement community is by using data and not emotion as the basis of the decisions we make here in Washington that impact the way local law enforcement officials have to do their jobs.

H.R. 5242, the School Resource Officer Assessment Act of 2018, seeks to improve our decisions by providing better data on the work of law enforcement in schools.

The research and evidence that comes from the appropriate use of data can improve our understanding of how these policies work and the best ways to support the efforts of community leaders across our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I commend the tireless sacrifices made by those in the law enforcement community and their families especially, and I thank them for their service.

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Mr. ROKITA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for supporting the bill.

I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Higgins), my good friend.

I thank the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Higgins), my friend, for introducing this bill. I am bringing it forward as an opportunity to support safer communities and those who take on the responsibility and make the sacrifices to make our schools safer.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Higgins for his service not just to this institution and to his constituents, but to the citizens of this country he protected as a military police officer, as well as those in Louisiana, where he served as local law enforcement. Like all of the men and women we honor for National Police Week this week, our colleague from Louisiana has ``walked the walk'' and it is an honor to serve with him.

Mr. Speaker, I simply urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 5242, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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