[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4426 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4426

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to ensure that the needs of 
 children are considered in homeland security planning, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 13, 2021

   Mr. Payne (for himself, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mrs. Watson 
 Coleman, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Swalwell, Mr. Langevin, and Mrs. 
    Luria) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
  Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on 
  Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to ensure that the needs of 
 children are considered in homeland security planning, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Homeland Security for Children 
Act''.

SEC. 2. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR STRATEGY, POLICY, 
              AND PLANS.

    Paragraph (6) of section 709(c) of the Homeland Security Act of 
2002 (6 U.S.C. 349(c)) is amended by inserting ``, including feedback 
from organizations representing the needs of children,'' after 
``stakeholder feedback''.

SEC. 3. TECHNICAL EXPERT AUTHORIZED.

    Paragraph (2) of section 503(b) of the Homeland Security Act (6 
U.S.C. 313(b)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (G), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (H), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(I) identify and integrate the needs of children 
                into activities to prepare for, protect against, 
                respond to, recover from, and mitigate against the risk 
                of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other 
                manmade disasters, including catastrophic incidents, 
                including by appointing a technical expert, who may 
                consult with relevant outside organizations and 
                experts, as necessary, to coordinate such integration, 
                as necessary.''.

SEC. 4. REPORT.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act 
and annually thereafter for 5 years, the Under Secretary for Strategy, 
Policy, and Plans of the Department of Homeland Security shall submit 
to the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
Senate a report describing the efforts the Department has undertaken to 
review and incorporate feedback from organizations representing the 
needs of children into Department policy in accordance with paragraph 
(6) of section 709(c) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (as amended 
by section 2 of this Act), including information on the following:
            (1) The designation of any individual responsible for 
        carrying out such paragraph (6).
            (2) Any review, formal or informal, of Department policies, 
        programs, or activities to assess the suitability of such 
        policies, programs, or activities for children and where 
        feedback from organizations representing the needs of children 
        should be reviewed and incorporated.
            (3) Any review, change, modification, or promulgation of 
        Department policies, programs, or activities to ensure that 
        such policies, programs, or activities are appropriate for 
        children.
            (4) Coordination with organizations or experts outside the 
        Department pursuant to such paragraph (6) conducted to inform 
        any such review, change, modification, or promulgation of such 
        policies, programs, or activities.
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