A Tennessee lawmaker wants to create federal grants to help pay for seat belts on school buses.
U.S. Rep. Steven Cohen introduced the Bring Enhanced Liability in Transportation for Students (BELTS) Act on Wednesday.
It would create grants to buy new school buses with belts or put seat belts on existing buses.
It would also withhold funding from states without laws requiring background checks on drivers and penalties for passing a stopped bus.
Cohen called the deadly school bus crash in Chattanooga last month was a "wakeup call."
“When it comes to protecting our school children, safety must come first. To date, only six states require seat belts on school buses," Cohen said.
Six students were killed and dozens were hurt in the Nov. 21 crash when their school bus slammed into a utility pole and then rolled onto its side before colliding into a tree.
