Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the motion to instruct, but also to call for the inclusion of one specific improvement to the Labor-HHS appropriations bill that makes it clear that taxpayer money cannot be spent to arm teachers.

Two weeks ago, news reports revealed the Department of Education was considering allowing States to use Federal education funding to purchase firearms and firearms training for teachers. The Department has since confirmed those reports.

Last week, I was joined by 172 Members of the House to call on Secretary DeVos to issue formal guidance prohibiting the use of taxpayer money to put guns in classrooms. In response, the Secretary said she has no intention of taking any action on this issue.

In refusing to act, the Secretary is setting a new and dangerous policy. That is, the Secretary is allowing funding provided under Title IV-A of the Every Student Succeeds Act to be used to arm teachers. This move by the Secretary is unprecedented, as Federal funding has never been allowed for this purpose.

Secretary DeVos has pointed the finger at Congress and expressly called on us to clarify our intent, but congressional intent is already clear. Under the law, the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grant Program authorized under Title IV-A affords local leaders the flexibility to tailor investments to meet local needs. It was designed to support a wide range of programs to help schools create a better learning environment by expanding students' access to important services like mental healthcare, art, and STEM classes, and new technology that better prepares students for the future.

However, when writing and enacting the law, Congress never contemplated such flexibility allowing the purchase of firearms. In fact, Congress denounced the presence of firearms in schools in a section in ESEA that promotes programs that foster ``the creation and maintenance of a school environment free of weapons.''

Mr. Speaker, Congress' opposition to taxpayer-funded guns in schools was reiterated in the STOP School Violence Act, which the House passed last March in the aftermath of the Parkland, Florida, shooting. This legislation, which passed 407-10, explicitly prohibits the program funds from being used for the purchase of firearms or firearms training. Even the Department of Homeland Security under Secretary Nielsen has acted through executive authority to prohibit grant funds specifically intended for school security from being used to purchase guns.

Secretary DeVos has both the authority and the responsibility to follow legal precedent, congressional intent, as well as common sense about gun violence by prohibiting taxpayer- funded guns in schools. But seeing as the Secretary is shirking that responsibility, Congress must take immediate action to protect students and teachers from a policy that will recklessly endanger students and teachers.

The final version of the Labor-HHS appropriations bill must make clear that no taxpayer money can be used to arm teachers. This has not been a partisan issue in the past and should not be a partisan issue today.

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