I 
119TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6964 
To amend the National Security Act of 1947 to include school security 
as an element of the National Security Strategy, and for other purposes. 
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 addi-
tion to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions 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 Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. INCLUSION OF SCHOOL SECURITY IN THE NA-
TIONAL 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 para-
graph (6); and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:13 Jan 08, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6964.IH
H6964
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) The strategies and capabilities needed to 
ensure the safety and security of schools in the 
United States, including elementary schools, sec-
ondary schools, and institutions of higher edu-
cation.’’. 
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 com-
prehensive 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 sub-
mit to the appropriate congressional committees and con-
gressional leadership a report on the results of the assess-
ment conducted under subsection (a). 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:13 Jan 08, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6964.IH
H6964
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(1) The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ 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 Se-
curity 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 Rep-
resentatives; 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 Sec-
ondary 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 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:13 Jan 08, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6964.IH
H6964
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1002). 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:13 Jan 08, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H6964.IH
H6964
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS