Bill Summary
The "National Strategy for School Security Act of 2025" amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to mandate the development of a comprehensive national strategy aimed at securing elementary and secondary schools against acts of terrorism. The legislation requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, in collaboration with the Secretary of Education and other relevant federal agencies, to create and submit a detailed strategy to key congressional committees within one year of its enactment. This strategy must outline federal programs and resources dedicated to school security, identify vulnerabilities, set goals for improvement, and propose actions to enhance preparedness and response to potential terrorist threats. The Secretary is also tasked with providing annual updates on the strategy until 2033, ensuring ongoing assessment and adjustment based on the evolving threat landscape. Overall, the act aims to strengthen domestic security measures in educational institutions to protect students and staff from terrorism.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "National Strategy for School Security Act of 2025" could affect people:
1. **Enhanced School Safety Protocols**: The legislation mandates the development of a national strategy to identify and address security vulnerabilities in elementary and secondary schools. This could lead to the implementation of improved safety protocols, such as increased surveillance, controlled access points, and emergency response plans. As a result, students, teachers, and parents may feel safer in school environments, potentially reducing anxiety around the threat of terrorism.
2. **Increased Federal Funding for Security Measures**: The Act requires an assessment of federal programs and spending levels related to school security. This could lead to a reallocation or increase in federal funding specifically targeted at enhancing school security measures. Schools may receive grants for new technology, training for staff, and resources for emergency preparedness, which could create a more secure and well-prepared educational environment.
3. **Collaboration Among Federal and Local Agencies**: The Act emphasizes the need for coordination between the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Education, and other federal agencies. This collaboration could enhance communication and information sharing between local school districts and federal authorities. As a result, local schools might benefit from tailored security strategies that align with national policies, thereby fostering a more comprehensive approach to preventing and responding to potential threats.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2259 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2259
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 20, 2025
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the development
of a national strategy to secure elementary and secondary schools
against acts of terrorism, and ensure domestic preparedness for and the
response to terrorism, 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 ``National Strategy for School
Security Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL STRATEGY TO SECURE SCHOOLS FROM THREATS OF TERRORISM.
(a) In General.--Subtitle A of title XXII of the Homeland Security
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 651 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
``SEC. 2220F. NATIONAL STRATEGY TO SECURE SCHOOLS FROM THREATS OF
TERRORISM.
``(a) In General.--To assist in the domestic preparedness for and
response to acts of terrorism and to coordinate Federal efforts to
secure elementary and secondary schools (as such terms are defined in
section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 7801)), not later than one year after the date of the enactment
of this section, the Secretary, in consultation and cooperation with
the Secretary of Education and the heads of other appropriate Federal
agencies and departments, shall submit to the Committee on Homeland
Security and the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of
the Senate a national school security strategy (in this section
referred to as the `strategy'). The Secretary, in consultation and
cooperation with the Secretary of Education and the heads of other
appropriate Federal agencies and departments, shall brief such
committees on the strategy.
``(b) Updates and Briefings.--The Secretary, in consultation and
cooperation with the Secretary of Education and the heads of other
appropriate Federal agencies and departments, shall, if appropriate,
annually through 2033 update the strategy, and brief the committees
specified in subsection (a) concerning any such update. If there is no
such update for any given year, the Secretary shall submit to such
committees a certification attesting thereto.
``(c) Contents.--The strategy, including any updates thereto,
shall--
``(1) account for and describe all Federal programs,
projects, activities, and authorities including associated
spending levels, to secure elementary and secondary schools
from acts of terrorism;
``(2) identify specific school security vulnerabilities
related to acts of terrorism within the United States, and
delineate goals for closing such security vulnerabilities;
``(3) describe actions to be taken to achieve such goals
and the means necessary to do so, including steps to reform,
improve, and streamline existing efforts to align the current
threat environment to elementary and secondary schools; and
``(4) build upon existing or ongoing evaluations and avoid
unnecessary duplication by reviewing the findings, conclusions,
and recommendations of other appropriate working groups,
committees, commissions, or entities established by the
Department related to efforts to secure elementary and
secondary schools against terrorism within the United States,
and ensure domestic preparedness for and the response to
terrorism.''.
(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 2220E the following new item:
``Sec. 2220F. National strategy to secure schools from threats of
terrorism.''.
Passed the House of Representatives November 19, 2025.
Attest:
KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,
Clerk.