Friend,

Two images hang in our memories as testaments to the power of bipartisanship and the fight for school safety. We give special thanks to White House photographers for capturing and preserving these meaningful moments that inspire our continued fight for change.

Figure 1: Former President Donald Trump (left) in conversation with Stand With Parkland President Tony Montalto (right), seated with Stand With Parkland families. Figure 2: Vice President Kamala Harris (right) shakes hands with Jennifer Montalto (left) and Stand With Parkland families.

On the left, a photo of Stand With Parkland families meeting with former President Donald Trump in 2020 to discuss the launch of the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse and SchoolSafety.gov, a key moment in pushing for reforms.

The next, a snapshot from earlier this year of Vice President Kamala Harris visiting Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, standing with Parkland families as she championed the Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Both moments reflect major wins for school safety, made possible by Stand With Parkland's bipartisan efforts.

At Stand With Parkland, we know firsthand that bipartisan cooperation is crucial to keeping our nation’s students safe. We’ve worked with both sides and across party lines to help pass the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act in Florida, signed into law just weeks after the tragedy that took my amazing daughter, Gina and 16 other wonderful souls from our families.

Our push for school safety reforms led to their inclusion in the March 2018 Omnibus Spending Bill, signed by former President Trump, and in 2019, Stand With Parkland families met with President Trump to discuss the Federal Commission on School Safety Report.

And earlier this year, VP Kamala Harris visited Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, meeting with Parkland families, championing the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, and emphasizing bipartisan action taken for safer schools — an effort we led through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022.

The BSCA was a breakthrough in collaboration across party lines, reflecting our School Safety Triad: enhancing school security, expanding mental health support, and promoting responsible firearm ownership.

Thanks to this bipartisan effort, we now have the 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline, more states with red flag laws, and more STOP School Violence Grant dollars. Bipartisan cooperation is essential to keeping our kids safe.

No matter what side of the aisle you stand on, there's something we can all agree on: We want our nation’s kids to thrive – and live. With just months before legislators are back in session and making policy, will you chip in and help us fight for more bipartisan action across the aisle?

HELP MAKE CHANGE POSSIBLE →

— Tony Montalto
President, Stand with Parkland