Bill Summary
The "National Strategy for School Security Act of 2025" aims to enhance the safety of elementary and secondary schools in the United States against potential acts of terrorism. It amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 by requiring the Secretary of Homeland Security, in collaboration with the Secretary of Education and other relevant federal agencies, to develop a comprehensive national strategy for school security.
This strategy must be submitted to specific congressional committees within one year of the bill's enactment and updated annually through 2033. The contents of the strategy will include an assessment of existing federal programs and funding related to school security, identification of vulnerabilities in current school security measures, and actionable steps to improve safety. The legislation emphasizes the importance of building on existing evaluations and avoiding redundancy in efforts to protect schools from terrorist threats.
Possible Impacts
The **National Strategy for School Security Act of 2025** could affect people in various ways. Here are three examples:
1. **Increased Safety Measures in Schools**: The legislation mandates the development of a national strategy to secure elementary and secondary schools against acts of terrorism. This could lead to the implementation of new safety protocols, such as enhanced surveillance systems, emergency response training for staff, and improved communication systems between schools and law enforcement. As a result, students, teachers, and parents may feel safer in their educational environments, knowing that measures are in place to address potential threats.
2. **Federal Funding and Resource Allocation**: The requirement for the Secretary of Homeland Security to identify federal programs and funding levels dedicated to securing schools could result in increased federal funding for school security initiatives. This might allow schools to access resources for mental health support, training for staff on recognizing and responding to threats, and upgrading physical infrastructure. Consequently, this could create a more robust support system and greater investment in the overall safety and well-being of students.
3. **Policy and Curriculum Changes**: As the national strategy is developed and updated annually, schools may need to integrate new security-related policies into their curricula and emergency preparedness drills. This could include educating students about safety protocols, promoting awareness of potential threats, and fostering a culture of vigilance and preparedness among students and staff. Such changes may also influence school policies regarding visitors, events, and emergency drills, affecting how schools operate and how students engage with their educational environment.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3472 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 3472
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 15, 2025
Mrs. Capito (for herself and Ms. Hassan) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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:
``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 schools 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 1 year after the date of
enactment of the National Strategy for School Security Act of 2025, 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
Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security and the
Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives a
national school security strategy (in this section referred to as the
`strategy').
``(b) Updates.--
``(1) In general.--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.
``(2) Certification.--If the Secretary determines no such
updates to be appropriate, 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 to secure elementary and
secondary schools from acts of terrorism, including the
associated spending levels of such Federal programs, projects,
activities, and authorities;
``(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 (Public Law 107-296; 116 Stat. 2135)
is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2220E the
following:
``Sec. 2220F. National strategy to secure schools from threats of
terrorism.''.
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