To amend the National Security Act of 1947 to include school security as an element of the National Security Strategy, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6964
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-07: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-09T16:26:30Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This bill amends the National Security Act of 1947 to add school security as a required element of the National Security Strategy. It also directs the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Homeland Security to assess threats to schools and report findings to Congress.
Key Provisions
- Section 1: Amends Section 108(b) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3043(b)) by inserting a new paragraph requiring the National Security Strategy to address "the strategies and capabilities needed to ensure the safety and security of schools in the United States, including elementary schools, secondary schools, and institutions of higher education."
- Section 2: Requires the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a joint comprehensive assessment of threats to elementary schools, secondary schools, and institutions of higher education. The assessment must include consultation with the chief executive of each state. A report on the results must be submitted to the appropriate congressional committees and congressional leadership within 180 days of enactment. The bill defines key terms such as "elementary school," "secondary school," "State," and "institution of higher education" by reference to existing education laws.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill adds school security as an explicit new element in the list of topics that must be covered in the National Security Strategy, expanding the scope of what the strategy is required to address beyond its current provisions.
Potential Impacts
- Requires coordination between the Departments of Education and Homeland Security, along with state-level consultation, potentially increasing federal involvement in school safety planning.
- Provides Congress with a formal report on school threats, which could inform future policy or resource allocation decisions.
- Affects educational institutions by linking their security to national security planning, though the bill does not create new mandates for schools themselves.
- No direct effects on international relations are specified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal agencies: U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
- State governments: Governors of each state, who must be consulted.
- Congress: Specific committees (Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; House Education and Workforce; House Homeland Security) and congressional leadership.
- Educational institutions: Elementary schools, secondary schools, and institutions of higher education.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The legislation integrates domestic school safety into the framework of national security strategy, which is typically focused on broader defense and foreign policy matters. This could influence how federal resources and priorities are allocated but does not alter constitutional authorities or create new legal obligations for states or schools beyond the required assessment and reporting.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-07: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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.
- 2026-01-07: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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.
- 2026-01-07: Introduced in House
- 2026-01-07: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To amend the National Security Act of 1947 to include school security as an element of the National Security Strategy, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-01-07 — PDF (4 pages)