Title: Recognizing the harm associated with restraints in schools.
Policy area: Education

Summary:
This resolution recognizes the harm associated with restraints in schools. It also encourages local and state governments to prohibit the use of physical restraints on young children in schools.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1487 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1487

      Recognizing the harm associated with restraints in schools.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 17, 2022

Ms. Garcia of Texas (for herself, Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick, Ms. Jacobs 
   of California, Mr. Trone, Mr. Espaillat, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. 
Cardenas, Ms. Barragan, Mr. Veasey, Mr. David Scott of Georgia, and Ms. 
Escobar) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on 
   the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
      Recognizing the harm associated with restraints in schools.

Whereas there were 70,833 American public school students subjected to physical 
        restraint throughout the 2017 to 2018 school year;
Whereas the Government Accountability Office's report on seclusions and 
        restraints revealed at least 20 student fatalities linked to incorrect 
        restraint techniques since 2009;
Whereas trauma resulting from physical restraint can interrupt and impede a 
        child's brain development throughout early childhood;
Whereas elementary school-age children are sometimes too small to be restrained 
        using standard handcuffs and are forced into unnatural, uncomfortable, 
        and potentially dangerous positions, such as being restrained by their 
        biceps;
Whereas physical restraints may trigger short-term problems in sleep, learning, 
        relationship building, and trust;
Whereas physical force can create a lasting distrust of adults and authority 
        figures and has the potential to breed aggressive tendencies into 
        adulthood;
Whereas some children who experienced physical restraints at an early age in a 
        school setting were hospitalized after experiencing suicidal thoughts, 
        while others were hospitalized for their bruises and physical injuries;
Whereas the Department of Education noted that restraints have not been shown to 
        alter behavior;
Whereas secondary traumatic stress is defined as trauma developed by individuals 
        who are exposed to the trauma of others through their professional 
        roles;
Whereas law enforcement officers witness trauma daily, which increases the 
        likelihood of developing post-traumatic stress disorder and other 
        traumatic symptomatology; and
Whereas educators, administrators, educator support professionals, school 
        resource officers, and law enforcement officers may experience secondary 
        trauma as a result of witnessing or administering restraints on a child: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the harm associated with restraints in 
        schools, including--
                    (A) the short-term consequences of restraint 
                experienced by children, such as--
                            (i) difficulties sleeping, learning, and 
                        socializing;
                            (ii) mood instability;
                            (iii) academic difficulties; and
                            (iv) bruises, discomfort, suicidal 
                        ideation, and even death;
                    (B) the long-term consequences of restraint 
                experienced by children, such as--
                            (i) development of trauma;
                            (ii) distrust toward authority figures, 
                        such as teachers, officers, and administrators;
                            (iii) interrupted brain development; and
                            (iv) aggressive tendencies in adolescence 
                        and adulthood; and
                    (C) the development of secondary traumatic stress 
                disorder in law enforcement officers, which may result 
                in--
                            (i) burnout;
                            (ii) compassion fatigue;
                            (iii) vicarious trauma; and
                            (iv) other trauma symptomatology;
            (2) encourages local and State governments to implement 
        rules, legislation, and trainings to prohibit the use of 
        physical restraints on young children in schools in order to 
        create a safer learning environment and increase transparency 
        between schools and families; and
            (3) acknowledges the secondary stress injuries of 
        educators, education support professionals, administrators, 
        school resource officers, and law enforcement officers across 
        the United States and moves toward substantial change through 
        open and frequent policy discussion.
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