Congressman Rick Larsen was recently named “Legislator of the Year” by the Security Industries Association for his leadership in advancing legislation to encourage school safety.

“I appreciate the Security Industry Association’s support for school safety,” said Larsen, co-chair of the Congressional School Safety Caucus, in a recent press release. “The School Safety Caucus is a forum to look at the best ways for schools to approach their safety needs, and the School Safety Act of 2015 aims to boost security in our schools and communities. Congress must do more to make our schools safer, shrink the cycle of violence and empower schools to focus on what they do best: teaching our students and preparing them for their futures.”

Larsen launched the School Safety Caucus earlier this year to focus on best practices for school safety and investments to assist schools in meeting their unique safety needs, the press release said. He also introduced the School Safety Act, which aims to improve security measures in schools, such as training for staff and students while also addressing deterrents like lighting and locks. The School Safety Act would also reauthorize the Secure Our Schools program to provide matching grants to local, state and tribal governments to meet schools’ individual security needs.