U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) on Feb. 14 introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to expand the U.S. Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) to include a greater focus on preventing targeted, mass violence, including at America’s schools.
“No child should feel unsafe in the classroom, and it is imperative that we take action to ensure that schools are a safe learning environment for students, teachers, and staff,” Sen. Collins said. “This legislation would improve research and training to prevent targeted violence, including threats to schools. This is one of many common-sense steps that we can take to help protect our communities.”
Sen. Collins signed on as one of six original cosponsors, including U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), of the EAGLES Act of 2023, S. 411, which is sponsored by U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA). The same-named H.R. 1005 also was introduced on Feb. 14 by U.S. Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) in their chamber.
The proposed bill is named after the Eagles mascot at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the site of a mass violence incident in 2018.
If enacted, the legislation would reauthorize and expand NTAC to conduct additional research and training to prevent targeted violence, and would permit consultation with outside entities on complex threat assessment cases or programs, according to a summary provided by the lawmakers.
Additionally, the measure would establish a national program on targeted school violence prevention; provide funding to hire additional personnel to expand NTAC research and training on targeted school violence nationwide; require NTAC to develop a plan for expanding research and training nationwide; and direct the center to coordinate with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Education, among other provisions, the summary says.
The Secret Service since 2002 has conducted hundreds of training operations for more than 198,000 school administrators, teachers, counselors, mental health professionals, school resource officers, and other public safety partners at NTAC.