[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4006 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4006
To require the Director of the Department of Defense Education Activity
to establish policy prohibiting the use of cellular phones and other
distracting devices by students in DODEA schools, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 12, 2025
Mr. Vindman (for himself and Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services,
and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, 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 require the Director of the Department of Defense Education Activity
to establish policy prohibiting the use of cellular phones and other
distracting devices by students in DODEA schools, 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 ``Mission Utilize No Phones in
Learning to Unleash Growth in Grades and Educate Distraction-free Act''
or the ``Mission UNPLUGGED Act''.
SEC. 2. POLICY PROHIBITING THE USE OF CERTAIN ELECTRONIC DEVICES IN
DODEA SCHOOLS.
(a) In General.--The Director shall establish and maintain a policy
pursuant to which the use of covered electronic devices by students in
schools operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity is
prohibited during regular school hours.
(b) Additional Requirements and Exceptions.--
(1) Requirements.--The policy required under subsection
(a)--
(A) shall provide administrators of individual
schools with a degree of flexibility to determine the
methods of enforcing the policy at their school,
subject to such limits as the Director determines
appropriate; and
(B) shall include procedures that enable parents
and children to contact each other during the school
day in the event of an emergency.
(2) Exceptions.--The policy required under subsection (a)
shall include exceptions pursuant to which a student may use a
covered electronic device--
(A) in an emergency situation;
(B) on school grounds outside of regular school
hours, such as while awaiting transportation to or from
school or while participating in extracurricular
activities;
(C) if the student has a medical or health
condition requiring use of a covered electronic device
as part of a treatment or monitoring plan as certified
by a licensed healthcare provider;
(D) if the student has a disability or special
needs and the use of a covered electronic device is
documented as necessary--
(i) as part of an individualized education
program;
(ii) as an accommodation under section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C.
794) or the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.); or
(iii) under a similar policy or program of
the Department of Defense Education Activity;
(E) if the student is an English learner and
requires the use of a covered electronic device to
assist with learning or understanding the English
language; and
(F) in such other circumstances as the Director
determines appropriate.
(c) Consultation.--In developing the policy under subsection (a),
the Director shall consult with--
(1) the Chief Academic Officer and the District
Superintendents of the Department of Defense Education
Activity; and
(2) School Advisory Committees for schools operated by the
Activity.
(d) Implementation.--The policy required under subsection (a) shall
be established not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act and shall apply with respect to school years beginning
after the date on which the policy is established.
SEC. 3. SUPPORT FOR IMPLEMENTATION AT SCHOOLS.
(a) In General.--The Director is authorized to provide support to
schools operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity to
assist such schools in the implementation of the policy required under
section 2. Such support may include--
(1) the procurement of lockboxes or other means for storing
covered electronic devices during the school day; and
(2) such other forms of support as the Director determines
appropriate.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $1,207,500 for fiscal year 2026.
SEC. 4. ANNUAL REPORTS.
(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the policy required
under section 2 first takes effect, and on an annual basis thereafter
for the following four years, the Director shall submit to the
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of
Representatives a report on the status of the implementation of the
policy.
(b) Elements.--At a minimum, each report under subsection (a) shall
include a description of--
(1) how the policy has been implemented in the year covered
by the report;
(2) the cost of implementation; and
(3) any effects of the policy with respect to student
performance and mental health, teacher and student retention,
and other relevant outcomes.
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act--
(1) The term ``covered electronic devices'' means--
(A) cellular phones, including smartphones; and
(B) any other personal electronic devices the
Director determines--
(i) are likely to distract students during
the school day; and
(ii) are appropriate for inclusion in the
prohibition under section 2.
(2) The ``Director'' means the Director of the Department
of Defense Education Activity.
(3) The term ``English learner'' has the meaning given that
term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(4) The term ``individualized education program'' has the
meaning given that term in section 602 of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1401).
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