[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6809 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6809
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to reduce losses of life
through better school safety standards and responses, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 17, 2025
Mr. Owens (for himself, Mr. Gottheimer, Mr. Diaz-Balart, and Mr.
Moskowitz) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees
on the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Oversight and Government
Reform, 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 amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to reduce losses of life
through better school safety standards and responses, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as ``Alyssa's Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF THE FEDERAL CLEARINGHOUSE ON SCHOOL SAFETY
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES.
(a) In General.--Section 2220D of the Homeland Security Act of 2002
(6 U.S.C. 665k) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsections:
``(f) Public Education Efforts.--
``(1) In general.--As part of the Clearinghouse, the
Secretary may take any step necessary to carry out public
education efforts regarding tools and processes necessary to
avoid and address school emergencies (including school
shootings), including with respect to prevention and response.
``(2) Programs.--The public education efforts referred to
in paragraph (1) shall include programs to provide specialized
information to States and school administrators to help
identify, address, and prevent school emergencies (including
school shootings) to protect life as quickly and efficiently as
possible.
``(3) Means.--The Secretary shall sponsor and encourage
research, testing, and experimentation to determine the most
effective means to implement the tools and processes referred
to in paragraph (1).
``(g) Training and Technical Assistance.--As part of the
Clearinghouse, the Secretary shall provide to the individuals and
entities referred to in subsection (a)(2) training and technical
assistance with respect to the following:
``(1) The evidence-based practices and recommendations of
the Clearinghouse.
``(2) Individualized consulting with schools, to determine
for each school the best way to implement such practices and
recommendations, as appropriate.
``(h) Subject Matter Experts.--As part of the Clearinghouse, the
Secretary shall hire personnel and contractors with expertise in school
safety and school administration to provide additional subject matter
expertise in implementing evidence-based programming in schools.
``(i) Panic Alarm Technology.--
``(1) Technology development program.--As part of the
Clearinghouse, the Secretary shall carry out a program of
development, testing, and evaluation of panic alarm technology
for utilization by first responders and local educational
agencies to improve response times, recovery, and loss
mitigation in the event of school emergencies (including school
shootings), including with respect to the following:
``(A) Safe and reliable auxiliary equipment for
utilization in school shooting response, detection, and
control, including visual strobes and audio
communications equipment and mobile equipment.
``(B) Related equipment with high sensitivity and
reliability that are relatively inexpensive to
purchase, install, and maintain to ensure wide
acceptance and utilization in schools.
``(C) Methods of testing such technology on a non-
interference basis.
``(D) Specifications, standards, and acceptance and
validation test procedures for all such equipment.
``(E) Operation tests, demonstration projects, and
alert investigations in support of the matters
described in subparagraphs (A) through (D).
``(2) Limitation.--The Secretary may not manufacture or
sell any equipment developed pursuant to paragraph (1), except
to the extent the Secretary determines necessary to develop,
test, or evaluate such equipment.
``(3) Management studies.--
``(A) Panic alarm technology.--
``(i) Studies permitted.--The Secretary may
conduct studies of the operations and
management aspects of panic alarm technology
through quantitative techniques, including
operations research, management economics, cost
effectiveness studies, and other techniques and
methods as may be applicable and useful.
``(ii) Content.--The studies under clause
(i) shall include consideration of the
following:
``(I) The allocation of resources.
``(II) The optimum panic alarm
technology.
``(III) The optimum geographical
area for panic alarm technology.
``(IV) The manner of responding to
such technology.
``(V) The operation of citywide and
regional public safety answering
points.
``(VI) The effectiveness,
frequency, and methods of inspecting
such technology.
``(B) Research.--The Secretary may conduct research
on the following:
``(i) The productivity and efficiency of
panic alarm technology.
``(ii) The reduction of injuries caused by
such technology.
``(iii) The most effective types of such
technology.
``(iv) Procedures and techniques for
accurately measuring and analyzing the matters
described in clauses (i) through (iii).
``(C) Assistance.--The Secretary may assist first
responders and local educational agencies in measuring
and evaluating, on a cost-benefit basis, the
effectiveness of programs and activities related to
panic alarm technology.
``(j) Projects.--As part of the Clearinghouse, the Secretary may
conduct development, testing, and demonstration projects to introduce
to and encourage utilization by local educational agencies new
technology, standards, operating methods, command techniques, and
management systems.
``(k) Rural Assistance.--As part of the Clearinghouse, the
Secretary may assist first responders and local educational agencies in
sponsoring and encouraging research into approaches, techniques,
systems, and equipment to improve school emergency prevention and
response in rural and remote areas.
``(l) Guidance.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall
ensure that, as relevant technological and practical developments
occur, the Clearinghouse's guidance regarding school emergencies
(including school shootings) is as aligned as practicable with the
related guidance of other Federal agencies (including the Department of
Education and the Department of Health and Human Services), State and
local governments, public sector entities, and private sector entities.
``(m) National School Safety Data Center.--
``(1) In general.--As part of the Clearinghouse, not later
than one year after the date of the enactment of this
subsection, the Secretary shall establish through
SchoolSafety.gov an integrated, comprehensive National School
Safety Data Center (in this section referred to as the `Data
Center') for the selection, analysis, publication, and
dissemination of information related to the following:
``(A) The prevention, occurrence, and control of
school emergencies (including school shootings).
``(B) Results with respect to any effort to address
school safety.
``(C) Other school safety resources, including with
respect to hardening measures.
``(2) Duties.--The duties of the Secretary with respect to
the Data Center are the following:
``(A) Provide an accurate nationwide analysis of
issues related to school safety.
``(B) Identify major problems regarding school
safety.
``(C) Assist States, local educational agencies,
and law enforcement agencies in setting priorities
regarding school safety.
``(D) Determine possible solutions to such
problems.
``(3) Data.--In carrying out the duties under paragraph
(2), the Secretary shall gather and analyze data with respect
to the following:
``(A) The frequency, causes, trends, and responses
with respect to school emergencies (including school
shootings).
``(B) The number of injuries and deaths resulting
from school violence, including information on the
specific causes and nature of such injuries and deaths.
``(C) The property losses resulting from school
violence.
``(D) The behavioral hazards faced by school staff,
including the causes of staff injuries and deaths
resulting from school violence.
``(E) The types of school safety plans utilized by
schools, including with respect to inspection and
updating reporting practices.
``(F) The school safety prevention and response
laws, systems, methods, techniques, and administrative
structures utilized in States.
``(G) The causes of, behaviors relating to, and
best methods to control other types of school safety
issues, including classroom outbursts, physical
altercations, truancy, and elopement.
``(H) Any other matter as the Data Center
determines useful and applicable.
``(4) Other duties.--In carrying out the duties under
paragraph (2), the Secretary shall carry out the following:
``(A) Develop standardized data reporting methods
with respect to the data described in paragraph (3).
``(B) Encourage and assist States, local
educational agencies, and law enforcement agencies in
developing and reporting such data.
``(C) Utilize data gathering and analysis
organizations, both public and private.
``(5) Dissemination.--The Secretary shall carry out the
following:
``(A) Ensure, to the maximum extent possible,
dissemination to States, local educational agencies,
and law enforcement agencies of the school safety data
collected and developed with respect to the Data
Center.
``(B) Publish through SchoolSafety.gov such data
for utilization by Federal agencies (including the
Department of Education and the Department of Health
and Human Services), State and local governments,
public sector entities, and private sector entities.
``(n) Annual Report.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than June 30 of the year
following the date of the enactment of this subsection and
annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report on any
activity relating to the Clearinghouse during the preceding
year to the following:
``(A) The Committee on Appropriations of the House
of Representatives.
``(B) The Committee on Education and Workforce of
the House of Representatives.
``(C) The Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of Representatives.
``(D) The Committee on Homeland Security of the
House of Representatives.
``(E) The Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate.
``(F) The Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
and Pensions of the Senate.
``(G) The Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate.
``(2) Contents.--A report submitted pursuant to paragraph
(1) shall include information relating to the following:
``(A) An appraisal, including statistical analyses,
estimates, and long-term projections, of the human and
economic losses due to school shootings.
``(B) A survey and summary of any activity relating
to the research and technology efforts carried out
under the Clearinghouse.
``(C) A comparative analysis of actions recommended
in school safety plans described in subsection
(m)(3)(E).
``(D) An assessment of the effectiveness of the
Clearinghouse in assisting schools to develop and
implement master plans as a means to avert violence,
and policy recommendations for improved effectiveness.
``(E) A summary of the activities taken to assist
first responders and local educational agencies.
``(F) A summary of the public education efforts
carried out under the Clearinghouse.
``(G) A summary of outstanding problems with
respect to the Clearinghouse, in order of priority.
``(H) A description of evidence-based
recommendations for additional legislation as the
Secretary determines appropriate with respect to school
safety.
``(o) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Local educational agency.--The term `local
educational agency' has the meaning given such term in section
8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 7801).
``(2) Panic alarm technology.--The term `panic alarm
technology' means a wearable device that allows for immediate
contact with emergency services or emergency services agencies,
law enforcement agencies, health departments, and fire
departments.
``(3) Public safety answering point.--The term `public
safety answering point' has the meaning given such term in
section 222 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C.
222).''.
(b) Directors.--
(1) Clearinghouse.--Section 2220D of the Homeland Security
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 665k) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(3)--
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and
(B) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively;
and
(ii) by inserting before subparagraph (B),
as so redesignated, the following new
subparagraph:
``(A) Director.--
``(i) In general.--Not later than 120 days
after the date of the enactment of this clause,
the Secretary shall designate from among the
personnel of the Department a Director of the
Clearinghouse (in this section referred to as
the `Director').
``(ii) Discharge.--In carrying out this
section, the Secretary shall act through the
Director.''; and
(B) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (2)(B)(iii), by striking
``subsection (a)(3)(B)'' and inserting
``subsection (a)(3)(C)''; and
(ii) in paragraph (3), by striking
``subsection (a)(3)(B)'' and inserting
``subsection (a)(3)(C)''.
(2) United states secret service.--Section 2220D of the
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 665k) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ``the
Director of the United States Secret Service,'' after
``with'';
(B) in subsection (b)(1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``for'' and inserting ``of'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(iii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) by striking ``evidence-based
practices published by the
Clearinghouse'' and inserting ``such
practices''; and
(II) by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(C) consult with the Director of the United
States Secret Service to ensure that such practices and
recommendations are aligned with the evidence-based
support of the National Threat Assessment Center.'';
and
(C) in subsection (d)(2), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by inserting ``the Director of the
United States Secret Service,'' after ``with''.
(c) External Advisory Board.--Subsection (d)(2