Education Secretary Betsy DeVos
Elizabeth (Betsy) Dee DeVosWarren: Trump should have fired Pruitt ‘28 scandals ago’ Sessions announces reversal of Obama-era guidelines promoting diversity in college admissions Ex-DOJ civil rights chief: Sessions and DeVos are pushing a 'hostile' vision for students of color MORE told lawmakers on Tuesday that the White House’s school safety commission will not focus on the role of firearms in gun violence at schools.
“That is not part of the commission’s charge, per se,” DeVos said during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing after being pressed by Sen. Patrick Leahy
Patrick Joseph LeahyCreates Act will bring lower priced prescription drugs to market for hardworking Americans Using military attorneys to prosecute border crossers is a bad look for the White House Grassley, Leahy urge Supreme Court to start releasing same-day audio of arguments MORE (D-Vt.), the panel's ranking member.
"I see,” Leahy responded. “So, you're studying gun violence but not considering the role of guns."
“We’re actually student school safety and how we can ensure our students are safe at school,” DeVos said.
Leahy also pressed DeVos on whether she thinks 18-year-olds should be able to purchase assault-style rifles such as the AR-15.
The Education secretary avoided answering the question directly, saying instead that Congress should continue to debate the issue.
.@SenatorLeahy: "Will your commission look at the role of fire arms as it relates to gun violence in our schools?"@BetsyDeVosED: “That is not part of the commission’s charge, per sey.”
— CSPAN (@cspan) June 5, 2018
Sen. Leahy: "I see…So, you're studying gun violence but not considering the role of guns." pic.twitter.com/vKMnMaduuf
President Trump
Donald John TrumpMichelle Wolf in July Fourth salute: 'God bless abortions and God bless America' Graham: Trump's Supreme Court picks 'all winners' Man arrested after allegedly threatening to kill Trump supporters, GOP lawmaker MORE established the Federal Commission on School Safety in the wake of the deadly February shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
Trump said in March when establishing the panel that it would “study and make recommendations” on a variety of topics, including age restrictions for certain gun purchases.
The president's directive also said that the Justice Department would help provide firearm training for school personnel.
DeVos said in March that “everything is on the table” for the commission’s investigations.
Trump has repeatedly called for teachers and school officials to be armed as a way to combat school shootings, a stance that DeVos has also backed.
The commission met for the first time last month, one day before the Santa Fe, Texas, school shooting that left 10 people dead.
The group is comprised of four of Trump's Cabinet members: Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen
Kirstjen Michele NielsenBookstore owner calls police after customer confronted Steve Bannon Protesters confront McConnell leaving Kentucky restaurant The Hill's Morning Report — Sponsored by Better Medicare Alliance — Anticipation builds for Trump’s SCOTUS pick MORE, Attorney General Jeff Sessions
Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsMeet the senator on Trump's Supreme Court shortlist Trump asked Pruitt to resign in message delivered by Kelly: report Tucker Carlson: Dems are 'plotting a coup' using immigration protests MORE and DeVos.
