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. DONO-
VAN, Mr. GALLAGHER, Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. 
BACON, Mr. BARLETTA, Mr. KATKO, and Mr. PERRY) introduced the fol-
lowing 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 Speak-
er, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the ju-
risdiction 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 secu-
rity threats, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Securing Our Schools 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. SCHOOL SECURITY STRATEGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Home-
land Security, acting through the Under Secretary respon-
sible for overseeing critical infrastructure protection, cy-
bersecurity and any other related programs of the Depart-
ment of Homeland Security referred to in section 
103(a)(1)(H) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 113(a)(1)(H)), shall develop a Department-wide 
strategy on efforts and activities of the Department re-
lated to securing elementary schools, secondary schools, 
and institutions of higher education from acts of ter-
rorism, active shooters, and other homeland security 
threats. 
(b) SCOPE.—The strategy required under subsection 
(a) shall include the following: 
(1) A description of the coordination among the 
components, directorates, and offices of the Depart-
ment of Homeland Security regarding current and 
future efforts and activities related to securing ele-
mentary schools, secondary schools, and institutions 
of higher education from acts of terrorism, active 
shooters, and other homeland security threats. 
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(2) A description of ongoing efforts and activi-
ties across the components, directorates, and offices 
of the Department related to securing such schools 
and institutions from acts of terrorism, active shoot-
ers, and other homeland security threats. 
(3) A description of the manner in which the 
Department works with State, local, tribal, and ter-
ritorial government organizations on efforts and ac-
tivities related to securing such schools and institu-
tions from acts of terrorism, active shooters, and 
other homeland security threats. 
(4) Recommendations for future efforts and ac-
tivities related to securing such schools and institu-
tions from acts of terrorism, active shooters, and 
other homeland security threats, and the promotion 
of such efforts and activities. 
(c) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after 
the development of the strategy required under sub-
section (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security 
shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Secu-
rity of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Homeland Security and Governmental Af-
fairs of the Senate such strategy and brief such 
Committees on the operations and activities of the 
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Department related to securing elementary schools, 
secondary schools, and institutions of higher edu-
cation from acts of terrorism, active shooters, and 
other homeland security threats, and the policies and 
procedures developed for coordinating such efforts 
and activities. 
(2) FORM.—The report required under this 
subsection shall be submitted in unclassified form 
but may contain a classified annex. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) 
ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL; 
SECONDARY 
SCHOOL.—The terms ‘‘elementary school’’ and ‘‘sec-
ondary school’’ have the meanings given such terms 
in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 
(2) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 102 in the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002). 
SEC. 3. HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS. 
Section 2008 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
(6 U.S.C. 609) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(8), by striking ‘‘prepared-
ness’’ and inserting ‘‘security, including planning, 
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training, exercises, information sharing, and target 
hardening activities’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(6) FIREARMS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—A grant awarded 
under section 2003 or 2004 may not be used 
for the provision to any person of a firearm or 
training in the use of a firearm. 
‘‘(B) NO EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.—Noth-
ing in this paragraph may be construed to pre-
clude or contradict any other provision of law 
authorizing the provision of firearms or training 
in the use of firearms.’’. 
SEC. 4. OFFICE OF ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title VII of the Homeland Secu-
rity Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 341 et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 710. OFFICE OF ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within 
the Office of Partnership and Engagement of the Depart-
ment an Office of Academic Engagement. 
‘‘(b) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—The Office of Aca-
demic Engagement shall be headed by an Executive Direc-
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tor, who shall report to the Assistant Secretary for Part-
nership and Engagement. 
‘‘(c) FUNCTIONS.—In consultation with the heads of 
relevant components, directorates, and offices of the De-
partment, as appropriate, the Executive Director shall be 
responsible for the following: 
‘‘(1) Conducting outreach and serving as a liai-
son between the Department and stakeholders in the 
academic community, including elementary schools, 
secondary schools, and institutions of higher edu-
cation. 
‘‘(2) Providing information on and awareness of 
Department programs and assistance related to se-
curing such schools and institutions from acts of ter-
rorism, active shooters, and other homeland security 
threats. 
‘‘(3) Coordinating, as appropriate, exercises and 
vulnerability assessments related to securing such 
schools and institutions from acts of terrorism, ac-
tive shooters, and other homeland security threats. 
‘‘(4) Other activities as determined by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) 
ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL; 
SECONDARY 
SCHOOL.—The terms ‘elementary school’ and ‘sec-
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ondary school’ have the meanings given such terms 
in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 
‘‘(2) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.— 
The term ‘institution of higher education’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 102 in the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
709 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 710. Office of Academic Engagement.’’. 
Æ 
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