Pray Safe Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 2947
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Emergency Management
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-30: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-24T11:03:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Pray Safe Act of 2025 aims to enhance the safety and security of nonprofit organizations (including faith-based ones) and houses of worship by establishing a centralized federal resource within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This resource will provide evidence-based best practices to prevent, prepare for, and recover from threats like terrorist attacks, natural disasters, or other incidents, while also informing these groups about available federal grants.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of the Federal Clearinghouse:
- DHS must create the Clearinghouse within 270 days of the Act's enactment, in consultation with the Attorney General, the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and other relevant agencies.
- It serves as the main federal hub for online best practices, recommendations, and grant information tailored to nonprofits, faith-based organizations (groups with religious or spiritual motivations that qualify as nonprofits), and houses of worship (e.g., churches, synagogues, mosques).
- Staffing includes dedicated personnel, detailees from other agencies, and at least one designated point of contact for assistance, with expertise in security for these groups.
- Content and Development:
- Best practices are organized into evidence-based tiers: strong (from experimental studies), moderate (from quasi-experimental studies), and promising (based on high-quality research showing likely benefits).
- Covers key areas like event planning, facility improvements (e.g., "hardening" buildings against attacks), checklists, exercises for testing responses, and measures for threat prevention, preparedness, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery.
- Includes supporting evidence from federal, state, local, and private research, plus an index of all eligible federal grants (with application links, performance metrics, and FAQs).
- Incorporates existing recommendations from various sources and may use an pre-existing online platform.
- Provides training materials and a section for additional resources, such as contacts for DHS advisors, fusion centers (information-sharing hubs), and the "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign.
- Notifications and Collaboration:
- DHS notifies state homeland security advisors, governors, federal grant agencies, fusion centers, terrorism task forces, and congressional committees about the Clearinghouse and grant updates.
- Federal agencies must share grant details; states may voluntarily provide state-level grant and resource information.
- Continuous Improvement and Reporting:
- DHS collects user feedback, data analytics, and evaluations to update the Clearinghouse annually.
- Every three years, DHS reports to Congress on updates.
- The Government Accountability Office (GAO) must submit a one-time report evaluating federal grants and resources for these organizations' security.
- Duration and Limitations:
- The Act sunsets (expires) four years after enactment.
- It explicitly does not create, meet, or waive requirements under federal civil rights laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (which protects people with disabilities from discrimination in public services) or Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded programs).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This Act introduces a new entity (the Clearinghouse) within DHS, which did not previously exist as a dedicated federal resource for these specific groups. It builds on existing DHS programs (e.g., grants for security enhancements) by centralizing information and best practices but does not alter grant eligibility, funding levels, or core DHS authorities. It mandates coordination with the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, potentially streamlining inter-agency efforts without changing broader homeland security laws.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: DHS will need to allocate personnel and resources for setup and maintenance, fostering better coordination with other federal entities (e.g., DOJ, FBI) and states. This could reduce fragmented advice but add administrative workload during the four-year period.
- On Citizens: Improves safety for people attending nonprofits, faith-based events, or worship services by promoting accessible security tools, potentially reducing risks from threats or disasters. It empowers these groups to apply for grants more easily, enhancing community resilience without direct federal mandates.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could indirectly support U.S. counter-terrorism efforts by strengthening domestic soft targets (e.g., places of worship) that might be vulnerable to international threats.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Primary Beneficiaries: Nonprofit organizations (tax-exempt under IRS Section 501(c)(3) and deemed at risk by DHS), faith-based organizations, and houses of worship, which gain free access to tailored security guidance and grant navigation.
- Government Entities: DHS (leads implementation), other federal agencies with grants (e.g., providing data), state and local homeland security offices, fusion centers, and congressional committees (receiving notifications and reports).
- Others: The GAO (conducts evaluation), the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (advises on content), and community members relying on these organizations for services or gatherings.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces existing federal support for nonprofit security (e.g., via prior grant programs) without imposing new liabilities; the civil rights rule of construction safeguards against unintended discrimination claims. Evidence-based tiers ensure recommendations are grounded in research, potentially reducing legal challenges to their effectiveness.
- Constitutional: Supports First Amendment protections for religious freedom by aiding houses of worship without favoring any faith, maintaining neutrality in a pluralistic society. The temporary sunset provision allows Congress to assess and extend if needed, avoiding permanent expansion of federal oversight.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (from senators across parties) highlights consensus on protecting vulnerable community spaces amid rising concerns over targeted violence. It promotes voluntary, non-regulatory assistance, appealing to stakeholders wary of government overreach, but the short lifespan may limit long-term policy shifts.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Cosponsors (17)
Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI], Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI], Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK], Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ], Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL], Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV], Sen. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI], Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX], Sen. Moreno, Bernie [R-OH], Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY], Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA], Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME], Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS], Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA], Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO], Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD], Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-30: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 2025-09-30: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Pray Safe Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-30 — PDF (18 pages)