IIB 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4426 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 
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. 
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 ‘‘Homeland Security 
for Children Act’’. 
SEC. 2. RESPONSIBILITIES OF SECRETARY OF HOMELAND 
SECURITY. 
Section 102 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
(6 U.S.C. 112) is amended by adding at the end of the 
following new subsection: 
‘‘(h) PLANNING
REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary 
shall ensure the head of each office and component of the 
Department takes into account the needs of children, in-
cluding children within under-served communities, in mis-
sion planning and mission execution. In furtherance of 
this subsection, the Secretary shall require each such head 
to seek, to the extent practicable, advice and feedback 
from organizations representing the needs of children. The 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not 
apply whenever such advice or feedback is sought in ac-
cordance with this subsection.’’. 
SEC. 3. TECHNICAL EXPERT AUTHORIZED. 
Paragraph (2) of section 503(b) of the Homeland Se-
curity 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 
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(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(I) identify, integrate, and implement the 
needs of children, including children within 
under-served communities, into activities to pre-
pare for, protect against, respond to, recover 
from, and mitigate against the risk of natural 
disasters, acts of terrorism, and other 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.’’. 
SEC. 4. REPORT. 
Not later than one year after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act and annually thereafter for five years, 
the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the 
Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report describ-
ing the efforts the Department has undertaken to review 
and incorporate feedback from organizations representing 
the needs of children, including children within under- 
served communities, into Department policy in accordance 
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