Silvestre Reyes

“ Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart as I take time to remember Brandon Elizares, a young man who left us two and a half weeks ago. He will always be remembered for his smile, his personality, and his desire to serve as an inspiration to others. ”

“ High school is an exciting time with an array of new experiences and challenges, but one thing it should not be is an environment where young people must worry about being bullied. Children in high school should be focused on their education. The sad reality is that for many students their primary concerns don't lie in textbooks or exams, but in fear that they will not be accepted by their peers, that they will be physically abused, and, in the case of Brandon and countless others like him, that they may consider taking their own life to escape the pain. ”

“ Every day thousands of children wake up fearing for their well being as they go to school; if the Student Non-Discrimination Act and the Safe Schools Improvement Act were enacted today, we could provide students a sense of relief and some reassurance that their government is working to improve their lives by increasing awareness about their daily struggles. ”