WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) announced that Commerce Independent School District was awarded a federal grant of $500,000 through the School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP), which helps implement technology and evidence-backed solutions to enhance school safety and protect students, teachers, and faculty:

“School should be a safe haven where kids can learn, grow, and reach their full potential without fearing for their safety,” said Sen. Cornyn.“These resources will implement evidence-backed solutions to improve school safety and security so Texas parents can rest easier, trusting their child is in a safe learning environment.”

A significant portion of SVPP funding was authorized by Sen. Cornyn’s school safety and mental health legislation, which was signed into law in 2022 and is the largest investment in community-based mental health care in U.S. history.