The US House of Representatives has approved a bill to improve school safety, in the wake of last month's Florida school shooting that left 17 people dead.

The measure frees up half a billion US dollars over 10 years for grants to improve training and coordination between schools and local law enforcement. The vote marks the first gun-related action by Congress since the February 14th attack. Officials say the bill also provides a "multi-layered approach" to identify threats so authorities can intervene before violence occurs. The bill now goes to the Senate for another vote.