U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Supports Anti-Bullying Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an effort to combat bullying in schools, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin cosponsored the Safe Schools Improvement Act, legislation that works to ensure no child is afraid to go to school for fear of unchecked bullying and harassment.

A Department of Education study found that one in five children between the ages of 12 and 18 will be impacted by bullying. The Safe Schools Improvement Act requires schools and districts receiving federal funding to specifically prohibit bullying and harassment.

“This legislation can help prevent bullying and harassment in schools,” said Senator Baldwin. “Every student should feel safe and we are right to ensure that schools are putting in place locally driven policies that prevent bullying and harassment, both in school and online. ”

Specifically, the Safe Schools Improvement Act:

• Requires schools and districts receiving federal funding to specifically prohibit bullying and harassment, including conduct based on a student’s actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion.
• Ensures that schools and school districts focus on effective prevention programs in order to better prevent and respond to incidents of bullying and harassment both in school and online.
• Requires that states report data on incidents of bullying and harassment to the Department of Education.

Statistics on Bullying:

• A 2013 U.S. Department of Education study found that bullying and harassment affects more than one in every five American students between the ages of 12 and 18.
• Research shows that bullying and harassment have adverse long-term consequences, including decreased concentration at school, increased school absenteeism, damage to the victim’s self-esteem, and increased social anxiety.
• While we do have federal laws to provide support to promote school safety, there is nothing currently in place to comprehensively and expressly address issues of bullying or harassment.
• Awareness of this problem is growing.  According to a 2011 poll, 85 percent of Americans strongly support or somewhat support a federal law to require schools to enforce specific rules to prevent bullying.  As of 2018, 16 states and the District of Columbia have enacted enumerated anti-bulling laws.

The legislation was introduced by Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and cosponsored by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Tom Carper (D-DE), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mark Warner (D-VA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Ed Markey (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Cary Peters (D-MI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Tina Smith (D-MN).

The Safe Schools Improvement Act is supported by numerous education, health, law enforcement and youth development organizations, including the American Federation of Teachers, American School Health Association, Learning Disabilities Association of America, National Association of School Psychologists, National Down Syndrome Society, National Education Association, National Parent Teacher Association, American Association of University Women, Asian American Justice Center, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, Human Rights Campaign and the Trevor Project.