[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7296 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7296
To establish a Federal Clearinghouse on Safety and Best Practices for
Nonprofit Organizations, Faith-based Organizations, and Houses of
Worship within the Department of Homeland Security, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 7, 2024
Ms. Porter (for herself, Ms. Salazar, and Mr. Carter of Louisiana)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on
Homeland Security, 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 establish a Federal Clearinghouse on Safety and Best Practices for
Nonprofit Organizations, Faith-based Organizations, and Houses of
Worship within the Department of Homeland Security, 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 the ``Pray Safe Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. FEDERAL CLEARINGHOUSE ON SAFETY AND SECURITY BEST PRACTICES FOR
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, AND
HOUSES OF WORSHIP (PRAY SAFE).
(a) Federal Clearinghouse.--
(1) Establishment.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in
consultation with the Attorney General, the Executive
Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and
Neighborhood Partnerships, and the head of any other
agency the Secretary determines appropriate, shall
establish within the Department a Federal Clearinghouse
on Safety and Security Best Practices for Nonprofit
Organizations, Faith-based Organizations, and Houses of
Worship.
(B) Purpose.--The Clearinghouse shall be the
primary resource of the Federal Government to--
(i) educate and publish online best
practices and recommendations for safety and
security for nonprofit organizations, including
faith-based organizations, and houses of
worship; and
(ii) provide information relating to
Federal grant programs available to nonprofit
organizations, including faith-based
organizations, and houses of worship.
(C) Personnel.--
(i) Assignments.--The Clearinghouse shall
be assigned such personnel and resources as the
Secretary considers appropriate to carry out
this subsection.
(ii) Detailees.--The Secretary may
coordinate detailees on a reimbursable or a
nonreimbursable basis as required for the
Clearinghouse.
(iii) Designated point of contact.--
(I) In general.--There shall be not
fewer than one employee assigned or
detailed to the Clearinghouse who shall
be the designated point of contact to
provide information and assistance to
nonprofit organizations, including
faith-based organizations, and houses
of worship, including assistance
relating to the grant program
established under subsection (c).
(II) Contact information.--The
contact information of the designated
point of contact under subclause (I)
shall be made available on the website
of the Clearinghouse.
(iv) Qualification.--To the maximum extent
possible, any personnel assigned or detailed to
the Clearinghouse under this subparagraph
should be familiar with--
(I) nonprofit organizations,
including faith-based organizations,
and houses of worship; and
(II) physical and online security
measures to identify and prevent safety
and security risks.
(2) Clearinghouse contents.--
(A) Evidence-based tiers.--
(i) In general.--The Secretary, in
consultation with the Attorney General, the
Executive Director of the White House Office of
Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and
the head of any other agency the Secretary
determines appropriate, shall develop tiers for
determining evidence-based best practices and
recommendations that demonstrate a significant
effect on improving safety and security of
nonprofit organizations, including faith-based
organizations, and houses of worship.
(ii) Requirements.--The tiers required to
be developed under clause (i) shall--
(I) prioritize--
(aa) strong evidence from
not fewer than one well-
designed and well-implemented
experimental study; and
(bb) moderate evidence from
not fewer than one well-
designed and well-implemented
quasi-experimental study; and
(II) consider promising evidence
that demonstrates a rationale based on
high-quality research findings or
positive evaluations that an activity,
strategy, or intervention implemented
by the Department or a state or local
agency is likely to improve and promote
safety and security of nonprofit
organizations, including faith-based
organizations, and houses of worship.
(B) Criteria for best practices and
recommendations.--The best practices and
recommendations referred to in paragraph (1)(B)(i) of
the Clearinghouse shall, at a minimum--
(i) identify areas of concern for nonprofit
organizations, including faith-based
organizations, and houses of worship, including
event planning recommendations, checklists,
facility hardening, tabletop exercise
resources, and other resilience measures;
(ii) involve comprehensive safety and
security measures, including threat prevention,
preparedness, protection, mitigation, incident
response, and recovery to improve the safety
and security posture of nonprofit
organizations, including faith-based
organizations, and houses of worship upon
implementation;
(iii) involve comprehensive safety and
security measures, including preparedness,
protection, mitigation, incident response, and
recovery to improve the resiliency of nonprofit
organizations, including faith-based
organizations, and houses of worship from
threats and incidents, including natural
disasters, manmade disasters, or terrorist
attacks or other threats;
(iv) include any evidence or research
rationale supporting the determination of the
Clearinghouse that the comprehensive safety and
security measures under clauses (ii) and (iii)
have been shown to have a significant effect on
improving the safety and security of
individuals who, at the time of any such threat
or incident, are physically located in the
place or building of a nonprofit organization,
including a faith-based organization, or house
of worship, including--
(I) findings and data from previous
Federal, State, local, Tribal,
territorial, private sector, and
nongovernmental organization research
centers relating to the safety and
security of nonprofit organizations,
including faith-based organizations,
and houses of worship, including from
targeted violence; and
(II) other supportive evidence or
findings relied upon by the
Clearinghouse in determining best
practices and recommendations to
improve the safety and security posture
of nonprofit organizations, including
faith-based organizations, and houses
of worship upon implementation; and
(v) include an overview of the available
resources the Clearinghouse can provide to
nonprofit organizations, including faith-based
organizations, and houses of worship.
(C) Additional information.--The Clearinghouse
shall maintain and make available a comprehensive index
of all Federal grant programs for which nonprofit
organizations, including faith-based organizations, and
houses of worship are eligible, which shall include the
performance metrics for each grant the recipient will
be required to provide.
(D) Past recommendations.--To the greatest extent
practicable, the Clearinghouse shall identify and
present, as appropriate, best practices and
recommendations issued by Federal, State, local,
Tribal, territorial, private sector, and
nongovernmental organizations relevant to the safety
and security of nonprofit organizations, including
faith-based organizations, and houses of worship.
(E) Existing platform.--The Secretary may establish
and maintain the Clearinghouse on an online platform or
a website that is in existence as of the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(3) Assistance and training.--The Secretary may produce and
publish materials on the Clearinghouse to assist and train
nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations,
and houses of worship regarding the implementation of the best
practices and recommendations under this subsection.
(4) Continuous improvement.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall--
(i) collect for the purpose of continuous
improvement of the Clearinghouse--
(I) Clearinghouse data analytics;
(II) user feedback on the
implementation of resources, best
practices, and recommendations
identified by the Clearinghouse; and
(III) any evaluations conducted
regarding implementation of such best
practices and recommendations;
(ii) in coordination with the Faith-Based
Security Advisory Council of the Department,
the Department of Justice, the Executive
Director of the White House Office of Faith-
Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and any
other agency the Secretary determines
appropriate--
(I) assess and identify
Clearinghouse best practices and
recommendations for which there are no
resources available through Federal
Government programs for implementation;
(II) provide feedback on the
implementation of such best practices
and recommendations; and
(III) propose additional
recommendations for best practices for
inclusion in the Clearinghouse; and
(iii) not less frequently than annually,
examine and update the Clearinghouse in
accordance with--
(I) the data analytics, feedback,
and evaluations collected under clause
(i); and
(II) the recommendations proposed
under clause (ii)(III).
(B) Annual report to congress.--The Secretary shall
submit to Congress, on an annual basis, a report on the
updates under subparagraph (A)(iii) made to the
Clearinghouse during the preceding 1-year period, which
shall include a description of any changes made
pursuant thereto to the Clearinghouse.
(b) Notification of the Clearinghouse.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide to the
individuals, Federal agencies, and committees specified in
paragraph (2) written notification of the establishment of the
Clearinghouse, including updates pertaining to grant programs
identified under subsection (a)(2)(C).
(2) Individuals, federal agencies, and committees
specified.--The individuals and entities specified in this
paragraph are the following:
(A) Every State homeland security advisor.
(B) Every State department of homeland security.
(C) Other Federal agencies with grant programs or
initiatives that aid in the safety and security of
nonprofit organizations, including faith-based
organizations, and houses of worship, as determined
appropriate by the Secretary.
(D) Every Cyber Security Advisor.
(E) Every Protective Security Advisor.
(F) Every Federal Bureau of Investigation Joint
Terrorism Task Force.
(G) Every Homeland Security Fusion Center.
(H) Every State or territorial Governor or other
Chief Executive.
(I) The Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary
of the Senate.
(J) The Committee on Homeland Security and the
Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives.
(c) Federal Grants and Resources Overview.--
(1) In general.--To the extent practicable, the Secretary,
when carrying out subsection (a)(2)(C), shall include a grants
program overview on the website of the Clearinghouse that
shall--
(A) be the location for all information regarding
Federal grant programs that are open to nonprofit
organizations, including faith-based organizations, and
houses of worship for the purposes of safety and
security;
(B) directly link to each grant application and any
applicable user guides;
(C) identify all safety and security homeland
security assistance programs managed by the Department
that may be used to implement best practices and
recommendations of the Clearinghouse;
(D) concurrent with the application period for any
grant identified under subsection (a)(2)(C), provide
information related to the required elements of grant
applications to aid nonprofit organizations, including
faith-based organizations, and houses of worship in
meeting the eligibility criteria for Federal grants;
and
(E) provide answers to frequently asked questions
regarding the implementation of best practices and
recommendations of the Clearinghouse and best practices
for applying for a grant identified under subsection
(a)(2)(C).
(2) Provision of information relating to federal grants and
resources.--Each Federal agency notified under subsection (b)
shall provide to the Secretary or other appropriate point of
contact for the Clearinghouse for inclusion in the
Clearinghouse necessary information regarding any Federal grant
programs or resources of the Federal agency that are available
for nonprofit organizations, including faith-based
organizations, and houses of worship for the purposes of safety
and security.
(3) State grants and resources.--
(A) In general.--Any State notified under
subsection (b) may provide to the Secretary or other
appropriate point of contact for the Clearinghouse for
inclusion in the Clearinghouse necessary information
regarding any grant programs or resources of the State
available for nonprofit organizations, including faith-
based organizations, and houses of worship for the
purposes of safety and security.
(B) Identification of resources.--The Clearinghouse
shall, to the extent practicable, identify for each
State the following:
(i) Each State agency responsible for
safety and security of nonprofit organizations,
including faith-based organizations, and houses
of worship in the State, or any State that does
not have such an agency designated.
(ii) Any grant program that may be used for
the purposes of implementing best practices and
recommendations of the Clearinghouse.
(iii) Any resources or programs, including
community prevention or intervention efforts,
that may be used to assist in targeted violence
and terrorism prevention.
(d) Other Resources.--The Secretary shall, on the website of the
Clearinghouse, include a separate section for other resources that
shall provide a centralized list of all available points of contact
from which a nonprofit organization, including a faith-based
organization, or a house of worship may seek assistance in grant
applications and in carrying out the best practices and recommendations
of the Clearinghouse, including the following:
(1) A list of contact information to reach Department
personnel to assist with grant-related questions.
(2) The applicable agency contact information to connect
nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations,
and houses of worship with Protective Security Advisors.
(3) Contact information for all Department Fusion Centers,
listed by State.
(4) Information on the ``If you See Something Say Something
Campaign'' of the Department.
(5) Any other appropriate contacts.
(e) GAO Report.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall
submit to Congress a report on the state of Federal grants devoted to
safety and security for nonprofit organizations, including faith-based
organizations, and houses of worship, and an evaluation of the relevant
programs and resources devoted to the safety and security of nonprofit
organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of
worship as of the date of the report.
(f) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed
to create, satisfy, or waive any requirement under Federal civil rights
laws, including--
(1) title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990
(42 U.S.C. 12131 et seq.); or
(2) title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C.
2000d et seq.).
(g) Sunset.--This Act shall cease to be effective on the date that
is four years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(h) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Clearinghouse.--The term ``Clearinghouse'' means the
Federal Clearinghouse on Safety and Security Best Practices for
Nonprofit Organizations, Faith-based Organizations, and Houses
of Worship established under subsection (a).
(2) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
Department of Homeland Security.
(3) Faith-based organization.--The term ``faith-based
organization'' means a group, center, or nongovernmental
organization with a religious, ideological, or spiritual
motivation, character, affiliation, or purpose that meets the
definition of nonprofit organization.
(4) House of worship.--The term ``house of worship'' means
a place or building, including a synagogue, mosque, temple, and
church, in which congregants practice their religious or
spiritual beliefs.
(5) Nonprofit organization.--The term ``nonprofit
organization'' means an organization--
(A) of the type described in subsection (c)(3) of
section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and
exempt from taxation under subsection (a) of such
section; and
(B) determined to be at risk of a terrorist attack
or other threat by the Secretary.
(6) Safety and security.--The term ``safety and security''
means prevention of, protection against, or recovery from
threats and incidents, including natural disasters, manmade
disasters, or terrorist attacks.
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Homeland Security.
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