{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-reintroduces-bill-to-protect-students-from-physical-abuse-end-dangerous-corporal-punishment-practices-in-schools", "Murphy Reintroduces Bill to Protect Students from Physical Abuse, End Dangerous Corporal Punishment Practices in Schools", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) re-introduced the Protecting Our Students in Schools Act, alongside Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.). The bill would ban corporal punishment for any school that receives federal funding, as well as establish a federal grant program to support states and school districts across the country improve school safety.\n\n\u201cFamilies should be able to trust that when they send their kids to school, they will be in a safe learning environment free from physical abuse,\u201d said Murphy. \u201cThe evidence is overwhelming: hitting kids does nothing to help kids. It\u2019s past time to get this archaic, counterproductive practice out of our schools for good.\u201d\n\n\u201cSchools have a responsibility to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for every student,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cWe know that corporal punishment is counterproductive to learning and can harm a student\u2019s physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. It should be left out of the classroom entirely. By standing with Senator Chris Murphy and co-sponsoring this bill, we can ensure that no student falls victim to this outdated and cruel punishment.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery student deserves a safe, supportive learning environment that fosters positive relationships and protects their physical and emotional well-being,\u201d said Padilla. \u201cThe evidence is clear \u2013 corporal punishment is a cruel and outdated method that harms students, hinders scholastic achievement, and worsens behavior. This bill will make more of our schools safer spaces for students of all backgrounds.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo child should ever face physical abuse, including at school,\u201d said Kaine. \u201cIt's time to end the outdated and harmful practice of corporal punishment in every school across the country. Instead of relying on fear, our schools should provide safe, supportive learning environments that students need to thrive and be healthy.\u201d\n\nInflicting physical pain on a student\u2019s body as a form of discipline is used in schools throughout the country. However, research has decisively demonstrated corporal punishment is ineffective and does not improve student behavior. Instead, it leads to physical and emotional harm, poor academic performance, diminished self-esteem, and loss of trust.\n\nThe Protecting Our Students in Schools Act is endorsed by the following organizations: Access Ready Inc.; All4Ed; American Psychological Association; Arkansans Against School Paddling; Autism Society of America; Boys Town; Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD); Committee for Children; Council for Exceptional Children; Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA); Disability Belongs\u00ae; Disability Rights Oregon; EdTrust; Family Voices NJ; Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA); Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Lives in the Balance; National Alliance on Mental Illness; National Association of Social Workers; National Down Syndrome Society; National Education Association (NEA); Public Advocacy for Kids (PAK); Secular Student Alliance; SPAN Parent Advocacy Network; Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT); TDIforAccess; Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children (TED); Texas Parent to Parent; The Arc of the United States; The Center for Learner Equity; The Coalition of Texans with Disabilities (CTD); The Federal School Discipline and Climate Coalition (FedSDC); The Learning Disabilities Association of America; The National Center for Learning Disabilities; U.S. Alliance to End the Hitting of Children; United Women in Faith\n\nThe Protecting Our Students in Schools Act is part of a package of education-focused bill introductions from Senator Murphy this week, alongside the Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act and the Magnet Schools Accessibility, Growth, and Nonexclusionary Enrollment Transformation (MAGNET) Act.", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-reintroduces-bill-to-protect-students-from-physical-abuse-end-dangerous-corporal-punishment-practices-in-schools"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.1088398061692715, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}