H.R. 2932House116th Congress (2019-2021)Passed House

Homeland Security for Children Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 5:43 AM UTC

The Homeland Security for Children Act amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make sure the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) takes children’s needs into account when planning for disasters, terrorism, and other emergencies. It adds language requiring the Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans to seek feedback from groups that represent children, creates a new technical‑expert role to integrate those needs into DHS activities, and mandates annual reporting on the steps taken for the first five years.

Key Provisions

Requires the Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans to include feedback from organizations that represent children when gathering stakeholder input for homeland‑security planning.
Creates a new technical‑expert position tasked with identifying and incorporating children’s needs into preparation, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation efforts for natural and man‑made disasters, including terrorism.
Mandates that DHS submit a report each year for five years describing how it has reviewed and integrated children‑focused feedback, what changes have been made to policies or programs, who is responsible for the work, and any coordination with outside child‑advocacy groups.

Legislative Activity

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18 earlier actions

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

February 11, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 22, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.

Homeland Security Committee

May 22, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee

May 23, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery.

Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee

June 11, 2019

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported.

Homeland Security Committee

October 23, 2019

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Discharged.

Homeland Security Committee

October 23, 2019

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Homeland Security Committee

October 23, 2019

HouseCommittee

Reported by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 116-370, Part I.

Homeland Security Committee

January 8, 2020

HouseCommittee

Committee on Transportation discharged.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

January 8, 2020

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 294.

January 8, 2020

HouseFloor

Ms. Torres Small (NM) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

February 10, 2020 • 4:15 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H990-991)

February 10, 2020 • 4:15 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2932.

February 10, 2020 • 4:15 PM

HouseFloor

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

February 10, 2020 • 4:20 PM

HouseFloor

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H999-1000)

February 10, 2020 • 6:30 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 374 - 11 (Roll no. 55).

View vote Passed

February 10, 2020 • 7:01 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 374 - 11 (Roll no. 55). (text: CR H990)

View vote Passed

February 10, 2020 • 7:01 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

February 10, 2020 • 7:01 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

February 11, 2020

Voting History

1 vote recorded • Roll call available

HOUSE

Roll Call Available

February 10, 2020 at 6:59 PM

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

Majority required: 2/3 (66.7%)

Passed

374 - 11

Bill Text

4 versions available

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Referred in SenateIssued February 11, 2020

IIB

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 2932

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 11, 2020

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

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.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Homeland Security for Children Act.

Responsibilities of the Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans

Paragraph (6) of section 709(c) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 349(c)) is amended by inserting , including feedback from organizations representing the needs of children, after stakeholder feedback.

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 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 manmade 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.

Report

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter for 5 years, the Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans of the Department of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland 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 into Department policy in accordance with paragraph (6) of section 709(c) 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 paragraph (6).

(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)

Coordination with organizations or experts outside the Department pursuant to such paragraph (6) conducted to inform any such review, change, modification, or promulgation of such policies, programs, or activities.

Passed the House of Representatives February 10, 2020.

Cheryl L. Johnson,

Clerk

Robert F. Reeves,

Deputy Clerk