The school shooting in Uvalde, Texas absolutely broke my heart. As a mom, I cannot imagine the pain of parents who dropped their kids off at school not knowing it would be the last time they’d ever see their smiling faces again. This is a parent’s worst nightmare that has become a reality for too many.  

Right here in Eastern Washington, violence in schools is on the rise. Parents, teachers, and law enforcement tell me kids don’t feel safe in the classroom. They are nervous walking in the hallways. They are afraid to go into the bathroom. No child should feel this way – ever.

That’s why I introduced the Safe to Tell Act to address this growing crisis of violence. This bipartisan legislation will help school districts across the country implement Safe2Tell – a confidential reporting system for students and teachers to report threats of violence before they happen. The good news? It works.

In Colorado, where this program was created after the 1999 Columbine tragedy, Safe2Tell has helped identify and act on more than 11,000 threats of violence and other safety concerns this year alone. This program is making sure schools are safe places for our kids to learn, thrive, and reach their full potential. 

The bottom line is that the senseless acts of violence we are seeing across the country are often preventable with the right tools, and it’s time we provide them. I believe the Safe to Tell Act will provide one such tool to save lives and give parents confidence that their children are safe at all times.