WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representatives Zach Nunn (IA-03) and Eric Sorensen (IL-17) today introduced the Safe Schools and Communities Act, bipartisan legislation that allows public schools to apply for federal grants to train faculty and implement programs focused on human trafficking prevention, fentanyl awareness, and gang activity reduction.
“I’m proud of the work we’ve done to crack down on traffickers through smart legislation like the HALT Fentanyl Act—but that’s only half the battle,” said Rep. Nunn. “This commonsense, bipartisan bill puts resources to work in our schools to give educators the tools to intervene early, support students, and prevent drug use, exploitation, and gang involvement before it starts.”
The need for early prevention is urgent and growing. According to the CDC, more than 150 Americans die each day from fentanyl-related overdoses, and the drug is now the leading cause of death for adults between the ages of 18 and 45. In Iowa, an estimated 320 people are victims of trafficking at any given time. Gang-involved youth face significantly higher risks of substance abuse, academic failure, and long-term instability. The Safe Schools and Communities Act is designed to intervene early, before these risks turn into tragedies.
The bill authorizes the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to public schools to further bolster school and community safety. Schools may also apply for grants to develop and implement both training and educational curriculum designed to prevent human trafficking, promote fentanyl awareness, and reduce gang activity.
“When parents send their kids to school, they want to know they are going to return home safely,” said Rep. Sorensen. “We can make our schools and communities safer by equipping our teachers with the tools they need to raise awareness about keeping kids safe, preventing drug abuse, and eliminating violence among students. Too many of our neighbors across Central and Northwestern Illinois have lost a loved one to violence or addiction, and this bipartisan legislation will help put a stop to generational cycles of trauma and addiction.”
The Safe Schools and Communities Act leverages existing Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) grant funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, requiring no new federal appropriations. This legislation would provide student support by:
- Combatting Human Trafficking: Enabling schools to train faculty to recognize indicators of trafficking, implement clear reporting procedures, and stay up-to-date on evolving threats and prevention strategies.
- Fentanyl and Drug Abuse Awareness: Supporting schools in delivering age-appropriate education on the dangers of fentanyl and substance abuse, while also creating early intervention efforts for students showing signs of risk.
- Gang Activity Reduction: Helping schools educate staff on how to identify gang recruitment tactics, recognize early warning signs, and connect students with community-based resources.
Text of the bill can be found here.
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