WASHINGTON, DC – Today, on the solemn seventh anniversary of the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), along with Congressman Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) and Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), introduced the Measures for Safer School Districts (MSD) Act—a landmark bipartisan initiative designed to modernize school safety infrastructure, strengthen emergency response systems, and ensure clear, immediate communication between schools, law enforcement, and families.

As communities across the country continue to grapple with the urgent need for proactive, preventive school safety measures, the MSD Act delivers a bold, comprehensive, and commonsense approach to keeping students, teachers, and staff safe in the face of growing threats. This legislation directly addresses critical vulnerabilities in school security and ensures that no parent is left in the dark when their child’s safety is at stake.

A Targeted, Action-Oriented Plan to Protect Students

The MSD Act establishes a nationwide framework for school security, focusing on three core pillars:

• Standardized Emergency Response & Notification Protocols: Requires every school district to establish and implement comprehensive emergency procedures, ensuring all students, faculty, and staff have clear guidance on how to respond in the event of a crisis, whether it be an active shooter, a bomb threat, an act of violence, or a natural disaster.
• Immediate Parental Notification: Schools will be required to work with public safety officials to ensure swift, coordinated action in times of danger, ensuring parents and guardians receive real-time alerts, eliminating gaps in communication that have left families in fear and uncertainty during past school crises
• Reinforced School Infrastructure for Maximum Protection: Directs the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to establish new national security standards for reinforced interior and exterior classroom doors, helping prevent unauthorized access and providing a crucial line of defense against armed intruders.
• $100 Million in Dedicated Annual Funding for School Safety Upgrades: Authorizes $100 million per year through the Homeland Security Grant Program, ensuring that school districts have the resources needed to implement security measures without financial barriers.

Congressman Fitzpatrick underscored the importance of the legislation, stating: “Our children should walk into school each day feeling safe, not scared. The bipartisan Measures for Safer School Districts (MSD) Act is a commitment to protecting our children with real, tangible action—strengthening security, enhancing emergency response, and ensuring parents are informed when it matters most. Safeguarding our children is not just a responsibility—it is our highest duty. We owe it to them, our educators, and communities to stand united in making their safety an unshakable priority. This is more than legislation; it is a call to action, a commitment to our kids, and a step towards a brighter, safer future.” 

The MSD Act has earned the endorsement of leading school safety advocates, law enforcement officials, and organizations representing the families of school shooting victims, including Stand with Parkland, Safe Schools for Alex, and Make Our Schools Safe.

Tony Montalto, President of Stand with Parkland, commended the legislation’s focus on preventive action and national standards: “Our heartfelt thanks to Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick and Jared Moskowitz for co-sponsoring the Measures for Safer School Districts Act (MSD Act). They both walked the bloodied halls of the Parkland school massacre with the victims’ families, and this bill is a direct result of that experience. Stand with Parkland – The National Association of Families for Safe Schools approached them with the idea for this bill and their partnership with us demonstrates a shared dedication to preventing tragedies like the one our families endured. We unfortunately know all too well, that your child’s safety at school, is no longer a given. No parent should ever be the last to know when a threat arises, or an incident occurs. Timely and clear communication is crucial. Additionally, this bill will help protect students and staff from the threats they face in 21st century schools just like the now unquestioned school fire safety efforts from 1950s did then. Too often (Parkland, Uvalde, Nashville) we have seen school doors ripped apart by gunfire and children lose their lives. We must use updated materials to protect the future of our nation while they are at school.”

Read the full bill text here.

Background:

Since arriving in Congress, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick has been a driving force behind bipartisan school safety reforms, leading efforts to strengthen security, improve emergency response, and prevent gun violence. His leadership has been critical in introducing the Secure & Fortify Entrances and Rooms in (SAFER) Schools Act, the ALYSSA Act, and the Strengthening Our Schools (SOS) Act, as well as leading a bipartisan roundtable discussion at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School alongside colleagues, victims’ families, and local leaders.

With the Measures for Safer School Districts Act, Fitzpatrick is once again delivering real, bipartisan action to protect students and educators, ensuring that schools are secure, responses are immediate, and parents are informed when it matters most.

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