School and Daycare Protection Act

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we are closing out the Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support for 23 important measures to make our communities more secure and improve Department of Homeland Security operations in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023.

I am particularly pleased that we were able to reach agreement on the Nonprofit Security Grant Program Improvement Act to expand and strengthen this vital program so that more nonprofits and houses of worship can access security assistance at this time of heightened threats of violent extremism and terrorism. With antisemitic and other violent threats on the rise, it is clear this legislation is needed now more than ever.

I also want to thank Ranking Member John Katko, as he retires from Congress, for his contributions to the Homeland Security Committee and his critical support throughout this process for the Committee's bipartisan package found in Division G of the NDAA.

While the package reflects the contributions of so many of my colleagues, l would like to give special acknowledgment to Congresswoman Val Demings who championed the Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Act. This legislation directs DHS to explore ways to provide needed bridge funding to cities to preserve homeland security capability gains accomplished through the Urban Area Security Initiative grant program when they no longer receive such funding.

With respect to cybersecurity, I am pleased that we were able to reach agreement on bipartisan provisions that originated in the Committee on Homeland Security. They include Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin's legislation to reauthorize the Secret Service's National Computer Forensics Institute, Congresswoman Elaine Luria's bill to authorize DHS's President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition, and legislation authored by Congressman Eric Swalwell aimed at improving DHS's cybersecurity training to protect industrial control systems.

While I am enormously proud of the bipartisan homeland security provisions that were included, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge my disappointment that we were not able to reach agreement with the Senate on amending the law to treat TSA's workforce like most other Federal employees or authorize the vital work of DHS's Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. We will continue to seek an agreement on these critical measures.

Lastly, I am particularly proud that the NDAA honors my late friend, Congressman A. Donald McEachin, by including his bill, the DHS Mentor- Protege Program Act, to help small businesses better compete for DHS contracts. It is a fitting tribute to my friend that we came together to pass a bill to open doors of opportunity to small businesses-- something that he was passionate about doing.

Mr. Speaker, the full list of Homeland Security Committee measures that will be enacted by this year's NOAA is as follows:

H.R. 6825, the Nonprofit Security Grant Program Improvement Act of 2022, sponsored by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS).

H.R. 5615, the Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Act, sponsored by Rep. Val Butler Demings (D-FL).

H.R. 6387, the School and Daycare Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr. (D-NJ).

H.R. 8801, the DHS Joint Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2022, sponsored by Rep. J. Luis Correa (D-CA) and S. 4656, the DHS Joint Task Forces Reauthorization Act of 2022, sponsored by Sen. Gary C. Peters (D-MI).

H.R. 2915, the Homeland Procurement Reform Act, sponsored by Rep. J. Luis Correa (D-CA) and S. 1009, the Homeland Procurement Reform Act, sponsored by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).

H.R. 6824, the President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition Act, sponsored by Rep. Elaine G. Luria (D-VA).

H.R. 7777, the Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Training Act, sponsored by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA).

H.R. 7174, the National Computer Forensics Institute Reauthorization Act of 2022, sponsored by Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and S. 4673, the National Computer Forensics Institute Reauthorization Act of 2022, sponsored by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA).

H.R. 5574, the TSA Reaching Across Nationalities, Societies, and Languages to Advance Traveler Education Act (``TRANSLATE Act''), sponsored by Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) and S. 3296, the TSA Reaching Across Nationalities, Societies, and Languages to Advance Traveler Education Act (``TRANSLATE Act''), sponsored by Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6387) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish a school security coordinating council, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 6387, the School and Daycare Protection Act.

Over the years, we have seen horrific school shootings from Columbine to Sandy Hook to Parkland.

As a father of triplets, I cannot imagine the pain of those who have lost loved ones to school violence.

As I look back at my time leading the Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, I take pride in the work that we did in the school security space.

Under my leadership, school security was, for the first time in Congress, viewed as a homeland security issue.

The Department of Homeland Security certainly takes that view, too. My bill, the School and Daycare Protection Act, recognizes that there are a diverse range of DHS entities with school and campus security responsibilities and seeks to ensure that activities are coordinated.

H.R. 6387 establishes a standing council within DHS to coordinate school security activities, plans, and policies, and requires DHS to report to Congress about the council's activities.

Additionally, it authorizes DHS to participate in the government-wide SchoolSafety.gov clearinghouse.

Within DHS, there are some incredibly useful school security strategies, tools, and research being produced.

CISA published a K-12 School Security Guide. Secret Service put out an operational guide for preventing targeted school violence. And FEMA maintains a multi-hazard toolkit to help school officials manage everything from tornadoes to active shooters.

H.R. 6387 would help ensure that such DHS school security efforts are coordinated to get education officials actionable tools and support.

A version of this bill passed the House last Congress, and in this Congress, the committee approved it with strong bipartisan support.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my House colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

I thank the gentleman for supporting this bill. We know that this is an issue that is of a bipartisan nature. We all want to make sure that our children are safe in school and between home and school.

We all have an interest in getting the best information and resources to school administrators, teachers, and parents to protect our children.

H.R. 6387 focuses on ensuring that DHS is effectively coordinating internally to help combat violence and other terrorist threats facing schools.

Consideration of H.R. 6387 is particularly timely, given how often schools continue to be targeted.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6387, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6387, the School and Daycare Protection Act.

This bill establishes a school security coordinating council within the Department of Homeland Security to ensure the coordination of security plans and policies regarding terrorist threats.

Importantly, the bill requires consistent reporting to Congress on metrics regarding the efficacy of such activities and any engagement with the stakeholder community outside of the Federal Government.

Additionally, it ensures that DHS is involved in Federal efforts to maintain and publicize a clearinghouse of resources for schools to assist them in security preparation and planning.

The Federal Government must do all it can to be a resource and to offer support to schools in the face of terrorism.

I commend the gentleman from New Jersey for his leadership on this important issue and ensuring security for all schools.

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to join me in supporting H.R. 6387, and I yield back the balance of my time.