Cabell. [background sounds] the subcommittee his meeting today to receive testimony on engaging the communities respective of School Security. Good morning and thank you everyone. The subcommittee is meeting to discuss Community Perspectives on School Safety and how the federal government can better support local stakeholders in making our children safer. On the think the witnesses work to participating in todays hearing. First we have, ms. Lauren hogg, and mr. Max schaffner, testimonies are once the American Public needs to hear and once that members of congress should take to heart as we go about our work. A special thank you to both for sharing your experience with us. Jen would also to acknowledge congressman deutsche, who does not set on this committee but he represents florida has been a champion for measures to improve School Safety. I asked the consent to allow to question the witnesses at todays hearing. That went out objection, it is so ordered. Im both of this hearing can build upon the School Safety field hearing the subcommittee held last year in new jersey. The 2019, and 22 any school year as well underway and our kids are at risk in violence every day. As a parent of triplets, all is it too often i watch the news and i am terrified by what i see here. Tragically School Violence is taking lives of is it too Many American children and educators. Now 20 years since Columbine High School massacre, which left 13 victims dead, our children are still incredibly vulnerable. While attending school. Since columbine, and even before our nation has been rocked by tragic cycle of School Shootings. The 2012 sandy hook shooting left a staggering 20 children and six adults dead date congress fell short of passing legislation to combat gun violence in schools. In 2018, there are 24 shootings in k12 schools around the country. Including the shooting at Marjory Stoneman douglas high schools in parkland florida and left 14 children and three teachers dead. The shooting at Santa Fe High School in santa fe texas, that claimed ten victims. The threat to our students continues. During the first half of 2019, or 22 School Shootings. Just last week a teenager was arrested in washington state, were planning to attack school on the 21st anniversary of columbine. Still the response from the Trump Administration and republican control senate has been wholly inadequate. After parkland, Congress Asked the stop School Violence act and provide funds for schools looking to improve their safety and structure. However, it is important to remember the School Infrastructure is only one part of the solution to keep our children safe. More must be done. In 2018, hundred and 13 people were killed or injured in School Shootings. In the united states. In the same year, at least 1200 children were killed by gun violence around the country. Then violence must be addressed both inside and outside of schools to really improve the safety of children in america. We cannot truly improve safety for children until we address these threats. Regardless of where they happen. That is why the democraticcontrolled house, as past or move multiple pieces of legislation aimed at making our children and our country safer including universal background checks and grants for states to use red flag clause. Additionally i am proud that on april 1st, 2019, the house passed my bill, the class act which would establish an council within vhs, ensure the department or dates School Safety activities. I hope the senate will finally act on these measures. As the American Public awaits a meaningful congressional response. Like the senate, tom administration has failed to consider seriously Solutions AddressingSchool Safety. Lester the administration his federal commission on School Safety published a report that included no new proposals for federal policy or funding to make schools safer. Instead it promoted Arming School personnel, a policy that both students and educators groups oppose. Perhaps the only positive outcome for the commission his work, was the decision to establish a federal safety clearinghouse. The department of Homeland Security is leading so long with the dews department of education justice and health and human services. This committee will be following the role out of the clearinghouse later this year. I am to hear from the witnesses how such a tool might be useful to them in their work to improve School Safety. Additionally, yesterday the administration published a new planning guide to help School Districts develop and maintain and customize Emergency Operation plans. While such guidance may be useful for districts, it does not address the root problems leading to violence in schools. Nor does it provide School Districts that are stretched thin. New resources to fill the School Safety needs. Our children are experiencing a new normal and one that troubles me. After shooter girls are the new normal in schools. While i recognize the importance of them, i am saddened that our country has come to a place where they are necessary. We must do more to ensure that School Violence and shootings are a thing of the past. And our kids feel safe when learning. We must do more to protect the next generation area this country and communities like the ones i serve, and our kids are counting on us. Citizens from across the country are speaking loudly about the need for progress on the subject matter we must do our best to respond. With that i recognize the Ranking Member of the subcommittee general and from new york. Mr. King for an Opening Statement. We also command congressman for his efforts on this dedication. Mr. Chairman, i would like to introduce this into the record. Here the witnesses on testimony. [inaudible conversation] with that now i recognize the chairman of the community mr. Thompson its not here yet. On the Committee Rulebook and statements may be submitted for the record. I we will our panel of witnesses. Our first witness may be the youngest witness to appear before this subcommittee is lauren, cofounder of marks per lives. Survivor of the School Shooting in Stoneman Douglas high school. In parkland, florida. Off of she may be on, miss is undoubtedly and unfortunately, an expert on this topic. I am thankful she is here testifying for her first congressional hearing. She will share her experiences. Next we have missus mays the director of the office of the Homeland Security to prepare. Missus maples has appeared numerous times. I thank him for coming back. Next we have ms. Cassie, who is the director of texas School Safety center. Its a part of the Texas State University and has been focused on improving School Safety in texas for the past 20 years. Lastly, we have mr. Shatner, the founder and ceo of safe schools for alex. An organization he found after losing his son to the School Shooting in parkland, florida. Again, thank you for being here today. That went out objection the witnesses. Will be inserted into the record. I now thanks each witness to summarize his or her statements for five minutes. Thank you all for allowing me the opportunity to give a students perspective on school scoot security. I am a cofounder of march our lives as you just work. I am a junior in high school. Im simply a concerned student who just wants to survive high school both metaphorically and literally. I have this testimony isnt efforts to protect students from all zip codes in all races and going through what myself and my classmates have in the wake of School Shooting. My testimony i am staying that i am honored to be here, i would not be here if not for the horrendous events that took place on february 14th, 2018, at my high school marjorie Stoneman Douglas. Thirtyfour of my classmates and my friends and my teachers and coaches were injured and 17 of them fatally shot with an ar 15 in our hallway. Additionally off of i am here today using my own experience of evidence against the military of schools. I am here not to thanks for your sympathy. I am here to thanks for your consideration and direction. I was more effort combine and i was nine years old sn hook. But for most of my live i have been enforced the importance of School Security. A summary member the perspective week back at school after the sandy hook shooting took place. I was in fourth grade and i remember sitting in the first hour of school watching my teachers shoes on the remote carpet she tried, no avail to explain with the code bill was to a room of county audi students. Security measures, i never thought twice about them, until four years later when my friend elena posed the question, why we were having the drills in the first place. In eighth grade, elena sat in front of me in our American History class. If i be honest, we never really talked about School Security in the context of preventing a mass shooting. Until one day when my friend austin return to school after surviving the Fort Lauderdale his shooting the previous week. Then on our front row, contemplated the effectiveness of our School Safety procedures while standing and adjacent order or classroom every three months. Nearly a year later, the three of us are at school, nervous specimens on valentines day, and once again we went through the code. The only difference was this time, only two of us made it home. Elena was 14 years old when she was murdered. The week after valentines day was full of things. Full of tears, full of funerals and full of much talk around School Security. Ill never forget the first morning back at school. When we first arrived at the campus, we were welcomed back by what seemed like every Armed Security officer and the whole county. It was truly a sea of black and blue uniforms. They thought there making us feel safe and for that i am eternally grateful. But the sight of yet another man holding a gun was enough to make many of us feel sick. Our school which once was considered a safe haven of learning by many of us, was turned into a place of imprisonment. Additionally much like our National Incarceration system, our school was flooded with resource officers that ironically were considered safety precautions. Please wear my black and brown classmates were disproportionately penalized. Three times the rate of the white students. Seven but the schools were over militarized me to see my prison. The idea the violence is something to be expected at schools what we thought. That is no mindset for any child to learn. Following the tragedy in my High School Individuals including the secretary of education, look to increase the presence of firearms schools. Diet is an individual and representative of march our lives, strongly oppose the notion that Arming Teachers will make our schools safer. Theres a fine line between proper security and militarization and i urge you to consult those most students. Having here in the students but the students must continue to be consulted. I urge you to consider is the non a base of proactive measures. Not simply a punitive reactive measures. We need to invest in agile health resources. A trained Mental Health professional. Rather than relying solely on counselors. To those who suggest a solution is to simply hire more School Resource officers, let me remind you that the armed people in my high school did nothing to my 17 teachers and classmates that were murdered. They have been charged in fact for child neglect for his actions. It was our football coach who protected our classmates in front lost his live. School safety cannot be addressed fully that went out addressing our nations gun violence happening. Given this, and preach all of you to look more into a company is the plan and keep land for a safer america. Consider promoting Safety Measures that i would describe as putting a bandaid on our students bulletins, i thanks of you to think of what is actually beneficial to us students. I help with all of my being, the gun violence legislation is passed and perhaps wont have to be having 16 yearold speaking at hearings on School Safety. Altogether, i hope that when it comes to School Security, i would have to seven day your students half my age claimed that they were born after the margrave douglas and grew up an environment where they were forced importance of School Security until they went through a mass shooting of their own. Students are tired of being tired. Our future and the future of this country is at stake. The future of this country safety is now in your hands. The queue. Thank you for your testimony. I now recognize mr. Maples. German bank, Ranking Member and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today. It is an honor to speak with you and share the work my office is doing to keep residents and visitors new jersey safe. Specially with regard to educational institutions. In new Jersey Office of Homeland Security and preparedness as tough with counterterrorism and resilient the sechey security es across the all levels of the government. Nonprofit organizations and the private sector. We are charged with bolstering new jerseys resources for Critical Infrastructure protection and preparedness and training and federal grants management. The tech against children and staff, and what should be the safe haven of education, is perhaps the most jarring threat we face. The incidents across the country, stark reminders of schools are often targeted by those acting to look for violence. With the assistance in delaware, preventative School Shooting this past june. When we arrested a man possessing a loaded firearm and additional ammunition in Elementary School in westfield, new jersey. The safety of our children and those charged with their care, are paramount. We must do all of that is necessary to provide students and staff with a sense of comfort and security in their learning environments. Parents and guardians deserve the peace of mind that their children will return to them at the end of the school day. For that reason, Governor Murphy Administration is a sink and combining of resources to ensure the protection of her children. My office is work to protect our students would not be possible that went out the strong partnerships we have with local state and federal agencies. We are proud of the collaborative progress we continue to make in the state and strengthen the security throughout all of our institutions. Including an education. However, we recognize that artworks never complete. We continue to reap proof is the only way to succeed in protecting the schools in the country. Please be mindful that we will always seek to improve our approach for is preventing the censuses from occurring in the first place. A focus on prevention is key in this topping an incident before it starts and avoiding the need to employ response tactics. It is our goal to be first preventers as well as First Responders and make certain our commuters and versicles are preparedness invest equally above practices. We need awareness and citizens and Law Enforcement combined with the new jersey attender journal that calls for the local w received tips about the acto immediately ny my office as counterterrorism unit. And president increase in School Related reports to the nj his dark system. Additionally, our office, so long with the fbi Newark Field Office created highlevel thresholds and notification protocols. To ensure that all threats are likely leads. Articulate ones above schools. They are immediately actions. State and federal Law Enforcement entities which allows for a more standardized investor and analysis, and expeditious action to mitigate threats. We will continue to prioritize the edification of suspicious activity. As well as ensure there is a clear path for reporting and addressing issues before anything can occur. We will