I 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5731 

To require the Department of Homeland Security to develop a strategy 

to secure elementary schools, secondary schools, and institutions of higher 

education from acts of terrorism, active shooters, and other homeland 

security threats, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 9, 2018 

Mr. MCCAUL (for himself, Mr. KING of New York, Ms. MCSALLY, Mr. DONOVAN, Mr. GALLAGHER, Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. 

BACON, Mr. BARLETTA, Mr. KATKO, and Mr. PERRY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, 

and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Education and 

the Workforce, 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 require the Department of Homeland Security to develop 

a strategy to secure elementary schools, secondary 

schools, and institutions of higher education from acts 

of terrorism, active shooters, and other homeland security threats, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Securing Our Schools 

3 Act’’. 

4 SEC. 2. SCHOOL SECURITY STRATEGY. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 

6 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Home7 land Security, acting through the Under Secretary respon8 sible for overseeing critical infrastructure protection, cy9 bersecurity and any other related programs of the Depart10 ment of Homeland Security referred to in section 

11 103(a)(1)(H) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 

12 U.S.C. 113(a)(1)(H)), shall develop a Department-wide 

13 strategy on efforts and activities of the Department re14 lated to securing elementary schools, secondary schools, 

15 and institutions of higher education from acts of ter16 rorism, active shooters, and other homeland security 

17 threats. 

18 (b) SCOPE.—The strategy required under subsection 

19 (a) shall include the following: 

20 (1) A description of the coordination among the 

21 components, directorates, and offices of the Depart22 ment of Homeland Security regarding current and 

23 future efforts and activities related to securing ele24 mentary schools, secondary schools, and institutions 

25 of higher education from acts of terrorism, active 

26 shooters, and other homeland security threats. 


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1 (2) A description of ongoing efforts and activi2 ties across the components, directorates, and offices 

3 of the Department related to securing such schools 

4 and institutions from acts of terrorism, active shoot5 ers, and other homeland security threats. 

6 (3) A description of the manner in which the 

7 Department works with State, local, tribal, and ter8 ritorial government organizations on efforts and ac9 tivities related to securing such schools and institu10 tions from acts of terrorism, active shooters, and 

11 other homeland security threats. 

12 (4) Recommendations for future efforts and ac13 tivities related to securing such schools and institu14 tions from acts of terrorism, active shooters, and 

15 other homeland security threats, and the promotion 

16 of such efforts and activities. 

17 (c) REPORT.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after 

19 the development of the strategy required under sub20 section (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security 

21 shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Secu22 rity of the House of Representatives and the Com23 mittee on Homeland Security and Governmental Af24 fairs of the Senate such strategy and brief such 

25 Committees on the operations and activities of the 


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1 Department related to securing elementary schools, 

2 secondary schools, and institutions of higher edu3 cation from acts of terrorism, active shooters, and 

4 other homeland security threats, and the policies and 

5 procedures developed for coordinating such efforts 

6 and activities. 

7 (2) FORM.—The report required under this 

8 subsection shall be submitted in unclassified form 

9 but may contain a classified annex. 

10 (d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

11 (1) ELEMENTARY SCHOOL; SECONDARY

12 SCHOOL.—The terms ‘‘elementary school’’ and ‘‘sec13 ondary school’’ have the meanings given such terms 

14 in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 

15 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 

16 (2) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 

17 term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 

18 meaning given such term in section 102 in the High19 er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002). 

20 SEC. 3. HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS. 

21 Section 2008 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 

22 (6 U.S.C. 609) is amended— 

23 (1) in subsection (a)(8), by striking ‘‘prepared24 ness’’ and inserting ‘‘security, including planning, 


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1 training, exercises, information sharing, and target 

2 hardening activities’’; and 

3 (2) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the 

4 following new paragraph: 

5 ‘‘(6) FIREARMS.— 

6 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A grant awarded 

7 under section 2003 or 2004 may not be used 

8 for the provision to any person of a firearm or 

9 training in the use of a firearm. 

10 ‘‘(B) NO EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.—Noth11 ing in this paragraph may be construed to pre12 clude or contradict any other provision of law 

13 authorizing the provision of firearms or training 

14 in the use of firearms.’’. 

15 SEC. 4. OFFICE OF ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—Title VII of the Homeland Secu17 rity Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 341 et seq.) is amended by 

18 adding at the end the following new section: 

19 ‘‘SEC. 710. OFFICE OF ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT. 

20 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within 

21 the Office of Partnership and Engagement of the Depart22 ment an Office of Academic Engagement. 

23 ‘‘(b) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—The Office of Aca24 demic Engagement shall be headed by an Executive DirecVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:36 May 23, 2018 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5731.IH H5731

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1 tor, who shall report to the Assistant Secretary for Part2 nership and Engagement. 

3 ‘‘(c) FUNCTIONS.—In consultation with the heads of 

4 relevant components, directorates, and offices of the De5 partment, as appropriate, the Executive Director shall be 

6 responsible for the following: 

7 ‘‘(1) Conducting outreach and serving as a liai8 son between the Department and stakeholders in the 

9 academic community, including elementary schools, 

10 secondary schools, and institutions of higher edu11 cation. 

12 ‘‘(2) Providing information on and awareness of 

13 Department programs and assistance related to se14 curing such schools and institutions from acts of ter15 rorism, active shooters, and other homeland security 

16 threats. 

17 ‘‘(3) Coordinating, as appropriate, exercises and 

18 vulnerability assessments related to securing such 

19 schools and institutions from acts of terrorism, ac20 tive shooters, and other homeland security threats. 

21 ‘‘(4) Other activities as determined by the Sec22 retary. 

23 ‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

24 ‘‘(1) ELEMENTARY SCHOOL; SECONDARY

25 SCHOOL.—The terms ‘elementary school’ and ‘secVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:36 May 23, 2018 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5731.IH H5731

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1 ondary school’ have the meanings given such terms 

2 in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 

3 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 

4 ‘‘(2) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.— 

5 The term ‘institution of higher education’ has the 

6 meaning given such term in section 102 in the High7 er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002).’’. 

8 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 

9 in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is 

10 amended by inserting after the item relating to section 

11 709 the following new item: 

‘‘Sec. 710. Office of Academic Engagement.’’. 

Æ 


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