Rep. Davis Reintroduces Anti-Bullying Bill in Advance of the White House Conference on Bullying Prevention

Statement

Earlier today, I received a call from a constituent principal asking for Congress to get more involved in anti-bullying efforts and create a national dialogue to produce solutions. So today, I am proud to join the fight against bullying and harassment of our youth. As President Obama places a greater focus on the role of education in preparation for our next generation of leaders, I stand with him in acknowledging a call to action for our communities and to produce solutions to address bullying; and am honored to be invited to join the discussion.

Today I will introduce Anti-bullying and Harassment Act of 2011, which amends the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (SDFSCA) to include bullying and harassment prevention programs. Under this legislation, states would be required to submit data on the incidence and prevalence of reported incidents of bullying and harassment; and on the perception of students regarding their school environment and school responsiveness to incidents of bullying and harassment. States would also need to provide an assurance that they would provide assistance to districts and schools in their efforts to prevent and respond to incidents of bullying and harassment.

This legislation would expand authorized activities under the SDFSCA to include teaching students about the consequences of bullying and harassment; and programs to provide training for teachers, administrators, and counselors on strategies to prevent bullying and harassment, and to intervene effectively when such activities occur.

Congressman Davis is a Member of the Oversight and Homeland Security Committees in the House of Representatives.

Source