"Our children, the most vulnerable among us, sit in schools without a national plan in place to protect them from acts of terror. My bill closes that gap and is a much-needed step toward safer classrooms across America.”
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Congressman Tony Gonzales’ (TX-23) legislation, the National Strategy for School Security Act, passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. 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.
Today, Congressman Gonzales hosted a meeting with 20 superintendents and educators, many of whom provided insight and feedback on the National Strategy for School Security Act while Congressman Gonzales was drafting the legislation, to discuss the bill’s passage and next steps to improve school security measures.
“As a father of six, I too share every parent and grandparent’s worry when it comes to school safety. It is a sad reality that our nation’s schools have become soft targets for violence. Across the nation, too many communities have witnessed tragedies in their backyards—including here in Texas. In May 2022, 19 children and two teachers were senselessly killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde,” said Congressman Tony Gonzales, Founder and Co-Chair of the Bipartisan School Safety and Security Caucus. "Our children, the most vulnerable among us, sit in schools without a national plan in place to protect them from acts of terror. My bill closes that gap and is a much-needed step toward safer classrooms across America.”
“Today, the House sent a clear message that securing our schools and protecting America’s students is an urgent homeland security priority. With threats mounting, Congressman Gonzales’ ‘National Strategy for School Security Act of 2025’ will ensure DHS maintains a comprehensive strategy to safeguard elementary and secondary schools from evolving acts of terrorism. It’s essential that the federal government step in now to address vulnerabilities before it’s too late. I urge my Senate colleagues to help pass this legislation swiftly,” said Congressman Andrew Garbarino, Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.
"TASRO applauds Congressman Gonzales for his proactive approach in making school safety a top priority, and we applaud the passage of H.R. 2259, the National Strategy for School Security Act. We also thank the bipartisan support this bill received, as well as all who worked together to keep our children safe in the classroom,” said Shane Wallace, Texas Association of School Resource Officers.
“As the 4th Vice President and Legislative Liaison for the Texas School District Police Chiefs Association, I am proud to voice our strong support for H.R. 2259, the National Strategy for School Security Act. This legislation takes a vital step toward establishing a unified national framework that will help school districts across Texas—and across the country—strengthen threat assessment capabilities, improve coordination with local law enforcement, and enhance emergency preparedness. Congressman Gonzales’s leadership reflects a clear commitment to protecting our students and staff, and our association stands firmly behind this effort to advance school safety in every community,” Chief Heath Wester, Texas School District Police Chiefs Association.
Background:
Congressman Gonzales is the Founder and Co-Chair of the Bipartisan School Safety and Security Caucus. In addition to the National Strategy for School Security Act, Congressman Gonzales introduced another school safety bill during the 119th Congress, the Funding Officers and Resources to Increase Facility Youth Protection Act (FORTIFY) Act. The FORTIFY Act would allow STOP School Violence Act funding to be used to hire School Resource Officers (SROs) and purchase protective equipment, transportation support, and other resources for SROs.
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.
