Advocacy in Action: Bill Zee's Trip to D.C.

Earlier this month, William J. Zee took part in the National PTA’s LegCon 2024 in Washington, D.C. This event focuses on bringing together passionate advocates and legislators to address issues impacting children, families, and schools in the United States. As a champion for trauma-informed practices, Mr. Zee spent his time on Capitol Hill discussing the Rise from Trauma Act and hearing from national leaders, including First Lady Jill Biden, on how trauma impacts education.

The Rise Act (S. 1426) reauthorizes, establishes, and extends programs to support youth and families who have experienced or may experience trauma. Specifically, the Act reauthorizes school-based grants to increase access to trauma-support and mental health services and public health data collection about adverse childhood experiences. It also authorizes federal agencies to use specified discretionary funds for pilot projects to address traumatic exposures among children, and two Department of Justice grants to prevent trauma in children by reducing their exposure to violence and trauma. In addition, the Act incorporates trauma-informed practices in programs for healthcare professional education, healthcare access, and educators.

Mr. Zee had the opportunity to advocate with the Attachment Trauma Network (ATN) and the Pennsylvania PTA President and her representatives, to our state’s legislators for the Rise Act, as well as other important legislation to support schools. Mr. Zee met with Senators Robert P. Casey, Jr. and John Fetterman to promote the Rise Act and share how mandatory trauma-informed training has impacted schools in Pennsylvania.

If you have any questions concerning the Rise from Trauma Act, or any other issues impacting education, please do not hesitate to contact William J. Zee or any of the attorneys in the Appel, Yost & Zee Education Group.