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HR 6964
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To amend the National Security Act of 1947 to include school security as an element of the National Security Strategy, and for other purposes.

To amend the National Security Act of 1947 to include school security as an element of the National Security Strategy, and for other purposes.

Introduced Jan 7, 2026

Latest action (Jan 7, 2026) 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.

Referred to
Armed Services Committee Education and Workforce Committee
Policy area
Education
Issues
DefenseEducation

Summary

This bill amends the National Security Act of 1947 to include school security as a component of the National Security Strategy. It requires the Secretaries of Education and Homeland Security to conduct a comprehensive assessment of threats to elementary schools, secondary schools, and institutions of higher education in the United States. The assessment must be conducted in consultation with state governors and the results must be reported to Congress and congressional leadership within 180 days of the bill's enactment.

AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.

Sponsor (1)
1 cosponsor

Actions (2)
  1. Jan 7, 2026 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. · house
  2. Jan 7, 2026 Introduced in House

Similar bills (6)

Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.

  • S 3472 — National Strategy for School Security Act of 2025 · Introduced Dec 15, 2025 · Cong. 119 80%
  • HR 2577 — PLAN for School Safety Act of 2025 · Introduced Apr 1, 2025 · Cong. 119 72%
  • HR 4579 — FEMA Cybersecurity Improvement Act · Introduced Jul 22, 2025 · Cong. 119 65%
  • HR 5068 — Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2004 · Introduced Sep 24, 2004 · Cong. 108 64%
  • S 2425 — Intelligence Community Property Security Act of 2025 · Introduced Jul 24, 2025 · Cong. 119 63%
  • S 2698 — Safeguarding Department of Veterans Affairs Dependent Education Benefits Act of 2025 · Introduced Sep 3, 2025 · Cong. 119 63%

Full text

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 7, 2026

Mr. James (for himself and Mr. Ryan) introduced the following bill; which was 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

A BILL

To amend the National Security Act of 1947 to include school security as an element of the National Security Strategy, 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. INCLUSION OF SCHOOL SECURITY IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY.

Section 108(b) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3043(b)) is amended—

(1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and

(2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph:

“(5) 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.”.

SEC. 2. ASSESSMENT OF THREATS TO SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES.

(a) Assessment.—The Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall conduct a comprehensive assessment of threats to elementary schools, secondary schools, and institutions of higher education in the United States.

(b) Consultation With States.—In conducting the assessment subsection (a), the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall consult with the chief executive of each State.

(c) Report.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees and congressional leadership a report on the results of the assessment conducted under subsection (a).

(d) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) The term “appropriate congressional committees” means—

(A) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and

(B) the Committee on Education and Workforce and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives.

(2) The term “congressional leadership” means—

(A) the majority leader of the Senate;

(B) the minority leader of the Senate;

(C) the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

(D) the minority leader of the House of Representatives.

(3) The terms “elementary school”, “secondary school”, and “State” have the meanings given those terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

(4) The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given that term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002). <all>

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