WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) today announced she is cosponsoring the Fix NICS Act and the STOP School Violence Act.

“Like all Nebraskans, I want common-sense solutions that will keep kids safe and help ensure weapons don’t fall into the hands of dangerous individuals. The Fix NICS Act and the STOP School Violence Act will help accomplish these objectives by improving the existing reporting system, and empowering states and local authorities to improve safety in our schools and communities. These are bipartisan, reasonable measures to protect innocent lives,” Fischer said.

The Fix NICS Act would bridge gaps in the existing National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). This legislation would require federal agencies and incentivize states to enact procedures ensuring compliance with current laws for the reliable reporting of records to NICS. Accurate reporting of dangerous persons who are already prohibited from owning a firearm under federal law is fundamental to the integrity of our criminal background check system. The bill was introduced by a bipartisan group of senators, including Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).

Introduced by Senator Orin Hatch (R-Utah) with 24 bipartisan cosponsors, the STOP School Violence Act would authorize the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make grants to states for evidence-based programs and technologies to prevent school violence. These grants include funding for training students, faculty, and local law enforcement to coordinate and identify violent situations, making improvements to school infrastructure and reporting systems, and developing school threat assessment teams to preemptively triage threats. The bill reauthorizes state-based grants on a long-term basis under the expired DOJ’s COPS Secure Our Schools program, which was passed after the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School.

Click here for bill text to the Fix NICS Act 

Click here for bill text to the STOP School Violence Act