Homeland Security for Children Act
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure that the needs of children are considered in homeland security planning.
Specifically, each DHS office and component must take into account the needs of children, including children within underserved communities, in mission planning and execution. DHS must require each office and component to seek advice and feedback from organizations representing the needs of children.
The bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to identify and integrate the needs of children into activities to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against the risk of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other disasters, including by appointing a technical expert to coordinate such integration.
[117th Congress Public Law 130]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 136 STAT. 1229]]
Public Law 117-130
117th Congress
An Act
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to ensure that the needs of
children are considered in homeland security planning, and for other
purposes. <<NOTE: June 6, 2022 - [H.R. 4426]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Homeland
Security for Children Act.>>
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 6 USC 101 note.>> SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Homeland Security for Children Act''.
SEC. 2. RESPONSIBILITIES OF SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY.
Section 102 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 112) is
amended by adding at the end of the following new subsection:
``(h) Planning Requirements.--The Secretary shall ensure the head of
each office and component of the Department takes into account the needs
of children, including children within under-served communities, in
mission planning and mission execution. In furtherance of this
subsection, the Secretary shall require each such head to seek, to the
extent practicable, advice and feedback from organizations representing
the needs of children. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C.
App.) shall not apply whenever such advice or feedback is sought in
accordance with this subsection.''.
SEC. 3. TECHNICAL EXPERT AUTHORIZED.
Paragraph (2) of section 503(b) of the Homeland Security Act (6
U.S.C. 313(b)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (G), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (H), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(I) identify, integrate, and implement the needs
of children, including children within under-served
communities, into activities to prepare for, protect
against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against
the risk of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and
other disasters, including catastrophic incidents,
including by appointing a technical expert, who may
consult with relevant outside organizations and experts,
as necessary, to coordinate such integration, as
necessary.''.
SEC. 4. REPORT.
Not <<NOTE: Time period. Reviews.>> later than one year after the
date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter for five
years, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee
on Homeland
[[Page 136 STAT. 1230]]
Security and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report describing the efforts the
Department has undertaken to review and incorporate feedback from
organizations representing the needs of children, including children
within under-served communities, into Department policy in accordance
with subsection (h) of section 102 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002
(as amended by section 2 of this Act), including information on the
following:
(1) The designation of any individual responsible for
carrying out such subsection (h).
(2) Any review, formal or informal, of Department policies,
programs, or activities to assess the suitability of such
policies, programs, or activities for children and where
feedback from organizations representing the needs of children
should be reviewed and incorporated.
(3) Any review, change, modification, or promulgation of
Department policies, programs, or activities to ensure that such
policies, programs, or activities are appropriate for children.
(4) <<NOTE: Coordination.>> Coordination with organizations
or experts outside the Department pursuant to such subsection
(h) conducted to inform any such review, change, modification,
or promulgation of such policies, programs, or activities.
Approved June 6, 2022.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 4426:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
SENATE REPORTS: No. 117-100 (Comm. on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 167 (2021):
Sept. 29, considered and passed
House.
Vol. 168 (2022):
May 16, considered and passed
Senate.
Mr. Thompson (MS) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5539-5541)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4426.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5539-5540)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5539-5540)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters without amendment. With written report No. 117-100.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters without amendment. With written report No. 117-100.
Enacted as Public Law 117-130
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 351.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2516)
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Became Public Law No: 117-130.
Became Public Law No: 117-130.