Press Releases

Rep. Tony Gonzales’ School Security Bill Clears House Homeland Security Committee

September 3, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Tony Gonzales’ (TX-23) legislation, the National Strategy for SchoolSecurity Act, advanced through the House Homeland Security Committee. Committee passage is the final step required before a bill is brought to the full U.S. House of Representatives for a vote. The National Strategy for School Security Act requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop best practices for schools across the nation to scale and implement to protect students and school faculty from acts of violence. 

 

“The heartbreaking truth is that our schools have become soft targets for twisted individuals. It’s time to take action and protect the most vulnerable among us. Schools across America currently have no guidance for best practices for school security at the federal level. Federal guidance documents are implemented across several agencies for many different subjects—the documents are based on real-life accounts and research to ultimately keep Americans informed and safe. We cannot defeat evil if we do not have a strategy. My bill takes the first step needed to chart the course to build up school safety and security initiatives within our country,” said Congressman Tony Gonzales. 

 

To view Congressman Gonzales' video remarks during today’s House Homeland Security Committee markup, click here.

 

For bill text, click here. 

 

Background:

Congressman Tony Gonzales is the founder and Co-Chair of the Bipartisan School Safety and Security Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. He also serves as a Congressional Co-Chair of Camila and Matthew McConaughey’s Greenlights Grants Initiative Advisory Board. The Greenlights Grant Initiative helps connect school districts with grant-writing services to increase the likelihood of being awarded grant funding for school safety purposes. Through Congressman Gonzales’ seat on the House Appropriations Committee, he has secured over $20 million in funding to improve school security, mental health services, and emergency response capabilities in Uvalde and across South and West Texas. 

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Permalink: https://gonzales.house.gov/2025/9/rep-tony-gonzales-school-security-bill-clears-house-homeland-security-committee