Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign Authorization Act of 2017

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue Department-wide guidance and to develop training programs as part of the Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign Authorization Act of 2017 2. Enhanced Department of Homeland Security coordination through the Blue Campaign (a) In general Subtitle C of title IV of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 231 434. Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign (a) Definition In this section, the term human trafficking 22 U.S.C. 7102 (b) Establishment There is established within the Department a program, which shall be known as the Blue Campaign (c) Purpose The purpose of the Blue Campaign shall be to unify and coordinate Department efforts to address human trafficking. (d) Responsibilities The Secretary, working through the Director, shall, in accordance with subsection (e)— (1) issue Department-wide guidance to appropriate Department personnel; (2) develop training programs for such personnel; and (3) coordinate departmental efforts, including training for such personnel. (e) Guidance and training The Blue Campaign shall provide guidance and training to appropriate Department personnel and other Federal, State, tribal, and law enforcement personnel, as appropriate regarding— (1) programs to help identify instances of human trafficking; (2) the types of information that should be collected and recorded in information technology systems utilized by the Department to help identify individuals suspected or convicted of human trafficking; (3) systematic and routine information sharing within the Department and among Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies regarding— (A) individuals suspected or convicted of human trafficking; and (B) patterns and practices of human trafficking; (4) techniques to identify suspected victims of trafficking along the United States border and at airport security checkpoints; (5) methods to be used by the Transportation Security Administration and personnel from other appropriate agencies— (A) to train employees of the Transportation Security Administration to identify suspected victims of trafficking; and (B) to serve as a liaison and resource regarding human trafficking prevention to appropriate State, local, and private sector aviation workers and the traveling public; (6) utilizing resources, such as indicator cards, fact sheets, pamphlets, posters, brochures, and radio and television campaigns— (A) to educate partners and stakeholders; and (B) to increase public awareness of human trafficking; (7) leveraging partnerships with State and local governmental, nongovernmental, and private sector organizations to raise public awareness of human trafficking; and (8) any other activities the Secretary determines necessary to carry out the Blue Campaign. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( Public Law 107–296 Sec. 434. Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign. . 3. Information technology systems Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure, in accordance with the Department of Homeland Security-wide guidance required under section 434(d) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by section 2, the integration of information technology systems utilized within the Department to record and track information regarding individuals suspected or convicted of human trafficking. 4. Report Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit a report to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives (1) describes the status and effectiveness of the Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign; and (2) provides a recommendation regarding the appropriate office within the Department of Homeland Security for the Blue Campaign. 5. Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated $819,000 to carry out section 434 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by section 2. September 14, 2017 Reported without amendment

Summary: Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign Authorization Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) the Blue Campaign to unify and coordinate DHS efforts to address human trafficking. The campaign shall provide guidance and training to appropriate DHS personnel and other law enforcement personnel regarding: programs to help identify instances of human trafficking; the types of information that should be collected and recorded in information technology systems utilized by DHS to help identify individuals suspected or convicted of human trafficking; systematic and routine information sharing within DHS and among law enforcement agencies regarding such individuals and patterns and practices of human trafficking; techniques to identify suspected trafficking victims along the U.S. border and at airport security checkpoints; methods to be used to train Transportation Security Administration employees to identify trafficking victims and to serve as a liaison and resource regarding trafficking prevention to appropriate state, local, and private sector aviation workers and the traveling public; utilizing resources to educate partners and stakeholders and to increase public awareness of human trafficking; and leveraging partnerships with governmental, nongovernmental, and private organizations to raise such awareness. (Sec. 3) DHS shall: (1) ensure the integration of information technology systems utilized within DHS to record and track information regarding individuals suspected or convicted of human trafficking; and (2) report to Congress describing the status and effectiveness of, and providing recommendation regarding the appropriate DHS office for, such campaign.