Following the horrific Robb Elementary School shooting, Sinema was instrumental in negotiating, writing, and passing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act into law – ending nearly 30 years of Congressional inaction on school and community violence
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema today announced that she will serve as Co-Chair of the Congressional Advisory Committee to the newly-launched Greenlights Grant Initiative – a national program by Matthew McConaughey’s just keep livin Foundation that connects schools across America to the resources available to them thanks to Sinema’s landmark Bipartisan Safer Communities law.
In the wake of the May 24, 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Sinema formed a bipartisan group of solutions-focused Senators and led negotiations on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act – historic legislation breaking nearly 30 years of Congressional inaction by investing in community and school violence prevention and mental health services.
“We’re saving lives thanks to our Bipartisan Safer Communities law – giving peace of mind to American families, boosting resources for those in need of help, and helping ensure our schools and neighborhoods are safer places to live and learn. I’m proud to co-chair the Greenlights Grant Initiative’s Congressional Advisory Board to ensure schools have the tools provided in our law to keep communities safe,” said Sinema.
The Greenlights Grant Initiative is a first-of-its-kind, non-partisan, nationwide program focused on helping school districts apply for and receive federal school safety grants – which include resources for mental health services, school security systems, and other commonsense measures to ensure kids can learn in safe, healthy, and supportive environments. The Greenlights Grant Initiative is designed to help school districts navigate the complex, expensive, and intimidating grant process to ensure full access to school safety funding opportunities.
In February, Sinema announced the first round of funding from her law coming to Arizona – $6 million to support Arizona crisis intervention programs designed to make communities safer by preventing gun violence and suicide. As funding becomes available, the Senator is meeting with Arizona local leaders, stakeholders, and advocates to ensure the investments are implemented efficiently and effectively.
Sinema, an experienced school social worker who has taught at ASU’s School of Social Work for over 20 years, used her social work background when writing and negotiating the historic Bipartisan Safer Communities law.