Text of Senate Amendment 6248

Quick facts

Record: Senate Floor
Section type: Amendments
Chamber: Senate
Date: June 24, 2026
Congress: 119th Congress
Why this source matters: This section came from the Senate floor portion of the record.

Linked context

People mentioned: Hassan, Margaret Wood
Committees: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Committee on the Judiciary, Committee on the Judiciary

Readable version of the official text

SA 6248. Ms. HASSAN (for herself and Mr. Johnson) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place, insert the following:

SEC. __. FEDERAL CLEARINGHOUSE ON SAFETY AND SECURITY BEST

PRACTICES FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, FAITH-

BASED ORGANIZATIONS, AND HOUSES OF WORSHIP.

(a) Federal Clearinghouse.—

(1) Establishment.—

(A) In general.—Not later than 270 days after the date of

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.

(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 1 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 nonprofit

organizations, including faith-based organizations, and

houses of worship and with 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 1 well-designed

and well-implemented experimental study; and

(bb) moderate evidence from not fewer than 1 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 the activity, strategy, or intervention 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 a 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 and

houses of worship.

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 the

recipient will be required to provide for each grant.

(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 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 best practices and recommendations

for inclusion in the Clearinghouse; and

(iii) not less frequently than annually, examine and update

the Clearinghouse in accordance with—

(I) the information collected under clause (i); and

(II) the best practices and recommendations proposed under

clause (ii)(III).

(B) Report to congress.—Not later than 3 years after the

date of enactment of this Act, and every 3 years thereafter

during the period in which the Clearinghouse is in existence,

the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the

updates under subparagraph (A)(iii) made to the Clearinghouse

during the preceding 3-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, Federal entities, and committees

specified in this paragraph are the following:

(A) Every State homeland security advisor.

(B) Every State department of homeland security.

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.

(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 a 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;

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.

(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

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) 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.).

(f) 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.

(g) Sunset.—This Act shall cease to be effective on the

date that is 4 years after the date of 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 section 3(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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