Homeland Security Counterintelligence Threat Reduction Act

To establish a Department of Homeland Security counterintelligence vetting task force, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Homeland Security Counterintelligence Threat Reduction Act 2. Department of Homeland Security counterintelligence vetting task force (a) Establishment Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall assign personnel of the Department of Homeland Security to participate in a counterintelligence vetting task force to make recommendations to improve counterintelligence vetting for appropriate departmental programs. (b) Personnel In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security may assign personnel from any component of the Department of Homeland Security the Secretary determines necessary to participate in the task force established pursuant to such subsection. (c) Coordination In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security may request participation in the task force established pursuant to such subsection from other appropriate Federal agencies. (d) Report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the recommendations made by the task force established pursuant to subsection (a). 3. Counterintelligence training and vetting (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, in carrying out the program administered pursuant to section 442(a)(4) of the Homeland Security Act ( 6 U.S.C. 252(a)(4) 6 U.S.C. 451 (b) Program enhancements Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall make the following enhancements to the program administered pursuant to section 442(a)(4) of the Homeland Security Act ( 6 U.S.C. 252(a)(4) (1) Identify degrees and fields of study determined to be sensitive for homeland security and counterintelligence purposes. (2) Update the information to be collected to include any changes to the degree programs, if applicable, and fields of study. (3) Make any other enhancements determined appropriate by the Secretary to improve counterintelligence vetting capabilities. (c) Consultation In carrying out the identification required pursuant to subsection (b)(1), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall consult with the Secretary of State to ensure the degrees and field of study determined to be sensitive for homeland security and counterintelligence purposes referred to in such subsection are aligned, to the greatest extent practicable, between the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State. (d) Definitions (1) Approved institution of higher education The term approved institution of higher education 8 U.S.C. 1372 (2) Designated exchange visitor program The term designated exchange visitor program 8 U.S.C. 1372 (3) Other approved educational institution The term other approved educational institution 8 U.S.C. 1372 4. Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council (a) In general Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall convene a meeting of the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council to seek advice and recommendations from the Council on the counterintelligence awareness training and appropriate faculty designated to receive such training required under section 3. (b) Notification Not later than February 1, 2020, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall notify the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate if the Secretary determines to not extend the existence of the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council.

Summary: Homeland Security Counterintelligence Threat Reduction Act This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to take various actions related to counterintelligence activities. DHS shall establish a counterintelligence vetting task force to report to Congress recommendations to improve counterintelligence vetting for DHS programs. DHS shall also develop counterintelligence awareness training as part of an established program for collecting information about nonimmigrant foreign students and other exchange program participants. DHS shall require appropriate faculty from approved educational institutions and exchange visitor programs to participate in the training. DHS shall take various actions related to the program for collecting information about exchange program participants, such as identifying degrees and fields of study that are sensitive for homeland security and counterintelligence purposes. DHS shall notify Congress if it decides to not extend the existence of the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council.