Should Homeland Security & FEMA Incorporate the Needs of Children Into Their Disaster Planning? (H.R. 2932)

What is H.R. 2932?

(Updated April 2, 2021)

This bill — the Homeland Security for Children Act — would require the Dept. of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans to review and incorporate policy feedback from organizations representing the needs of children into DHS policy. Additionally, it would direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to 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 disaster, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. FEMA would appoint a technical expert to coordinate such integration.

Argument in favor

Children are the most vulnerable during disasters, and this bipartisan bill would ensure that Homeland Security & FEMA receive feedback from experts related to their protection that could be incorporated into agency disaster planning.

Argument opposed

While this bill is well-intended and bipartisan, children will always be among the most vulnerable during disasters no matter how much their needs are accounted for in planning. Besides, DHS is already developing these plans.

Impact

Children; families & communities struck by disasters; FEMA & DHS.

Cost of H.R. 2932

The CBO estimates that enacting this bill would have no additional cost, as DHS is already carrying out activities that would be required by this bill.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ) reintroduced this legislation to incorporate children’s needs into disaster preparedness planning:

“The unique needs of children — physical, mental, and emotional — are too often an afterthought when it comes to disaster preparedness planning. When those needs aren’t considered, children are put at greater risk of both harm during an emergency and of long-term trauma. Children are the most vulnerable during disasters, and emergency planning must reflect that. By incorporating the needs of children into all disaster preparedness efforts at the Department of Homeland Security, this bill takes an important step to ensuring our children are safe from harm.”

This legislation was advanced by the House Homeland Security Committee by unanimous consent and has the support of three bipartisan cosponsors, including two Republicans and a Democrat.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ) Press Release

• House Homeland Security Committee Report

• CBO Cost Estimate