Moskowitz, Fry Bipartisan School Background Check Bill Clears Judiciary Committee, Heads to House Floor

Resources / Press Share on Moskowitz, Fry Bipartisan School Background Check Bill Clears Judiciary Committee, Heads to House Floor Jul 15, 2026 Gun Violence Prevention Press CHILD Act closes gap in nationwide background checks for contractors who work with students WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, bipartisan legislation led by Congressmen Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23) and Russell Fry (R-SC-07) cleared the House Judiciary Committee and took a key step toward consideration by the full House of Representatives. The Comprehensive Health & Integrity in Licensing and Documentation (CHILD) Act would amend the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to ensure that individuals working under contract with schools are covered by nationwide background-check requirements that already apply to other caregivers. The bill represents Moskowitz’s ongoing effort to strengthen safety at Florida schools and ensure that every adult entrusted with the care of students is properly vetted. “Parents should never have to question whether the people working around their children at school have been thoroughly vetted ,” said Congressman Moskowitz. “The CHILD Act closes a gap in the law by ensuring that contractors who work with students are subject to nationwide background checks. Clearing the Judiciary Committee is an important step forward and I look forward to bringing this commonsense, bipartisan school-safety measure to the House floor.” “Parents should be able to trust that when their children go to school, they are in safe, trustworthy environments,” said Rep. Fry. “The CHILD ACT gives parents that confidence by ensuring every contracted employee in a school setting can properly pass a background check. Today’s passage of our bipartisan legislation through the House Judiciary Committee is a major step in strengthening school safety, and I look forward to its consideration in the full U.S. House of Representatives.” Moskowitz, a member of the House Judiciary Committee and Florida’s former Director of Emergency Management, has made improving school safety a central focus of his work in Congress. Moskowitz has introduced multiple pieces of legislation to address school safety, including the bipartisan Measures for Safer School Districts (MSD) Act to improve emergency notification systems and strengthen school doors; the bipartisan Single Application for School Safety (SASS) Act to simplify the federal school-safety grant process; and the bipartisan EAGLES Act to establish a national program focused on preventing targeted violence in schools. Moskowitz is also leading the bipartisan ALYSSA Act , which would require silent panic alarms in schools, and the bipartisan Strengthening Our Schools (SOS) Act , which would invest in school resource officers. Together, these bills are designed to help Florida schools prevent threats, respond more effectively during emergencies, and keep students and educators safe. The CHILD Act is endorsed by Students Against Destructive Decisions; Student Transportation & Education Equity Roundtable; Parents Helping Parents, Inc.; National Diversity Coalition; RaisingHOPE, Inc.; National Center on Adoption & Permanency; HopSkipDrive; and Streets Are For Everyone. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) are leading companion legislation in the Senate. For more information on the CHILD Act, click HERE . Share on