Rep. Payne, Jr. Introduces the Homeland Security for Children Act

Media Contact: Patrick Wright -- Patrick.Wright@mail.house.gov

Washington, D.C. — Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. introduced a bill today to make sure the needs of children are part of the nation's planning and response to natural disasters. The bill, the Homeland Security for Children Act, would require the Department of Homeland Security to include feedback from organizations that represent the needs of children in future department strategies, policies and plans. Rep. Payne, Jr. introduced the bill because hundreds of children can lose their parents and become homeless after hurricanes and other extreme weather events.

"We must make the safety and well-being of children a top priority when we plan for natural and man-made disasters," said Rep. Payne, Jr. "When these tragedies occur, it is the children of communities who suffer the most. We must have a strategic and comprehensive plan to handle the needs of children before, during and after any emergency. I believe we have a moral obligation to protect the next generation from harm during these catastrophic events."

In addition to the feedback, the bill would direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to identify and integrate the needs of children into all emergency preparation, protection, response and recovery activities dealing with natural and man-made disasters as well as terrorist actions. It would create a new position of Children's Technical Expert within FEMA to guarantee that the needs of children are addressed and considered during these agency activities.

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