I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4426 
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. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 13, 2021 
Mr. PAYNE (for himself, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mrs. WATSON COLE-
MAN, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. SWALWELL, Mr. LANGEVIN, and 
Mrs. LURIA) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
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, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Homeland Security 
for Children Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR 
STRATEGY, POLICY, AND PLANS. 
Paragraph (6) of section 709(c) of the Homeland Se-
curity Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 349(c)) is amended by insert-
ing ‘‘, including feedback from organizations representing 
the needs of children,’’ after ‘‘stakeholder feedback’’. 
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 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(I) identify and integrate the needs of 
children into activities to prepare for, protect 
against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate 
against the risk of natural disasters, acts of ter-
rorism, and other manmade disasters, including 
catastrophic incidents, including by appointing 
a technical expert, who may consult with rel-
evant outside organizations and experts, as nec-
essary, to coordinate such integration, as nec-
essary.’’. 
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SEC. 4. REPORT. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act and annually thereafter for 5 years, the Under 
Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans of the Depart-
ment of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee 
on Homeland Security and the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Homeland Security and Govern-
mental Affairs of the Senate a report describing the ef-
forts the Department has undertaken to review and incor-
porate feedback from organizations representing the needs 
of children into Department policy in accordance with 
paragraph (6) of section 709(c) of the Homeland Security 
Act of 2002 (as amended by section 2 of this Act), includ-
ing information on the following: 
(1) The designation of any individual respon-
sible for carrying out such paragraph (6). 
(2) Any review, formal or informal, of Depart-
ment policies, programs, or activities to assess the 
suitability of such policies, programs, or activities 
for children and where feedback from organizations 
representing the needs of children should be re-
viewed and incorporated. 
(3) Any review, change, modification, or pro-
mulgation of Department policies, programs, or ac-
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tivities to ensure that such policies, programs, or ac-
tivities are appropriate for children. 
(4) Coordination with organizations or experts 
outside the Department pursuant to such paragraph 
(6) conducted to inform any such review, change, 
modification, or promulgation of such policies, pro-
grams, or activities. 
Æ 
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