[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 60 (Tuesday, April 5, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4161-H4162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   SCHOOL AND DAYCARE PROTECTION ACT

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 6387) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish a 
school security coordinating council, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6387

       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 ``School and Daycare 
     Protection Act''.

     SEC. 2. SCHOOL SECURITY COORDINATING COUNCIL.

       (a) In General.--Title VII of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 (6 U.S.C. 341 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new section:

     ``SEC. 714. SCHOOL SECURITY COORDINATING COUNCIL.

       ``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the 
     Department a coordinating council to ensure that, to the 
     maximum extent practicable, activities, plans, and policies 
     to enhance the security of early childhood education 
     programs, elementary schools, high schools, and secondary 
     schools against acts of terrorism and other homeland security 
     threats are coordinated.
       ``(b) Composition.--The members of the council established 
     pursuant to subsection (a) shall include the following:
       ``(1) The Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans.
       ``(2) The Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure 
     Security.
       ``(3) The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 
     Agency.
       ``(4) The Director of the Secret Service.
       ``(5) The Executive Director of the Office of Academic 
     Engagement.
       ``(6) The Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs.
       ``(7) Any other official of the Department the Secretary 
     determines appropriate.
       ``(c) Leadership.--The Secretary shall designate a member 
     of the council to serve as chair of the council.
       ``(d) Resources.--The Secretary shall participate in 
     Federal efforts to maintain and publicize a clearinghouse of 
     resources available to early childhood education programs, 
     elementary schools, high schools, and secondary schools to 
     enhance security against acts of terrorism and other homeland 
     security threats.
       ``(e) Reports.--Not later than January 30, 2023, and 
     annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report regarding the 
     following:
       ``(1) The Department's activities, plans, and policies 
     aimed at enhancing the security of early childhood education 
     programs, elementary schools, high schools, and secondary 
     schools against acts of terrorism and other homeland security 
     threats.
       ``(2) With respect to the immediately preceding year, 
     information on the following:
       ``(A) The council's activities during such year.
       ``(B) The Department's contributions to Federal efforts to 
     maintain and publicize the clearinghouse of resources 
     referred to in subsection (d) during such year.
       ``(3) Any metrics regarding the efficacy of such activities 
     and contributions, and any engagement with stakeholders 
     outside of the Federal Government.
       ``(f) Definitions.--In this section, the terms `early 
     childhood education program', `elementary school', `high 
     school', and `secondary school' have the meanings given such 
     terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by 
     inserting after the item relating to section 710 the 
     following new item:

``Sec. 714. School security coordinating council.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Payne) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger) each will 
control 20 minutes.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 6387, the 
School and Daycare Protection Act.
  Over the years, we have seen horrific school shootings from Columbine 
to Sandy Hook to Parkland.
  As a father of triplets, I cannot imagine the pain of those who have 
lost loved ones to school violence.
  As I look back at my time leading the Committee on Homeland 
Security's Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and 
Recovery, I take pride in the work that we did in the school security 
space.
  Under my leadership, school security was, for the first time in 
Congress, viewed as a homeland security issue.
  The Department of Homeland Security certainly takes that view, too. 
My bill, the School and Daycare Protection Act, recognizes that there 
are a diverse range of DHS entities with school and campus security 
responsibilities and seeks to ensure that activities are coordinated.
  H.R. 6387 establishes a standing council within DHS to coordinate 
school security activities, plans, and policies, and requires DHS to 
report to Congress about the council's activities.
  Additionally, it authorizes DHS to participate in the government-wide 
SchoolSafety.gov clearinghouse.
  Within DHS, there are some incredibly useful school security 
strategies, tools, and research being produced.
  CISA published a K-12 School Security Guide. Secret Service put out 
an operational guide for preventing targeted school violence. And FEMA 
maintains a multi-hazard toolkit to help school officials manage 
everything from tornadoes to active shooters.
  H.R. 6387 would help ensure that such DHS school security efforts are 
coordinated to get education officials actionable tools and support.
  A version of this bill passed the House last Congress, and in this 
Congress, the committee approved it with strong bipartisan support.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my House colleagues to support this legislation, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.

[[Page H4162]]

  

  Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6387, the School and 
Daycare Protection Act.
  This bill establishes a school security coordinating council within 
the Department of Homeland Security to ensure the coordination of 
security plans and policies regarding terrorist threats.
  Importantly, the bill requires consistent reporting to Congress on 
metrics regarding the efficacy of such activities and any engagement 
with the stakeholder community outside of the Federal Government.
  Additionally, it ensures that DHS is involved in Federal efforts to 
maintain and publicize a clearinghouse of resources for schools to 
assist them in security preparation and planning.
  The Federal Government must do all it can to be a resource and to 
offer support to schools in the face of terrorism.
  I commend the gentleman from New Jersey for his leadership on this 
important issue and ensuring security for all schools.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to join me in supporting H.R. 6387, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  I thank the gentleman for supporting this bill. We know that this is 
an issue that is of a bipartisan nature. We all want to make sure that 
our children are safe in school and between home and school.
  We all have an interest in getting the best information and resources 
to school administrators, teachers, and parents to protect our 
children.
  H.R. 6387 focuses on ensuring that DHS is effectively coordinating 
internally to help combat violence and other terrorist threats facing 
schools.
  Consideration of H.R. 6387 is particularly timely, given how often 
schools continue to be targeted.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6387, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 6387, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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