Toomey Measure to Protects Kids Passes Senate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 9, 2015
Contact: E.R. Anderson (202) 224-8609
Toomey’s Measure to Ban "Passing the Trash" Clears Senate
Bipartisan Amendment Helps Protect Kids from Pedophiles in Schools

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate unanimously agreed today with U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) that schools receiving federal funds cannot help a child molester obtain a job at another school and move onto other victims.

The horrible practice of schools quietly letting pedophile teachers leave and helping them find school jobs elsewhere is so common it has its own moniker — "passing the trash." The Every Child Achieves Act was amended with Toomey’s language prohibiting federal funds to schools that help an employee get a new job when there is credible information that the school employee engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor.

"For the first time ever, the Senate has approved legislation that prohibits the outrageous practice of ‘passing the trash’ and bans schools from helping a child-predator employee land a job in another school. It’s a huge victory for children in Pennsylvania and across the country," said Sen. Toomey. "Tragically, ‘passing the trash’ is a serious problem that Pennsylvanians are all too familiar with, and I am pleased that we were able to bridge our differences across the aisle to agree on a real solution. And while we were not able to also pass legislation requiring background checks for all school employees, I will continue fighting for this commonsense policy to ensure that our schools are safer. Our children deserve it."

Under the Toomey amendment, a school district that receives federal funds shall not assist a school employee in obtaining a new job if it knows, or recklessly disregards credible information indicating, that such school employee engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor.
The cosponsors of the amendment are Sens. Manchin, McConnell, Alexander, Capito, Cotton, Gardner, Heller, McCain, Vitter, Roberts, and Wicker.

The text of the amendment is attached.

Elizabeth "E.R." Anderson
Communications Director
U.S Senator Pat Toomey
248 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
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