I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 240 
To encourage engagement between the Department of Homeland Security 
and technology innovators, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 4, 2017 
Mr. RATCLIFFE (for himself, Mr. MCCAUL, and Mr. THOMPSON of Mis-
sissippi) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Homeland Security 
A BILL 
To encourage engagement between the Department of Home-
land Security and technology innovators, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Leveraging Emerging 
Technologies Act of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. INNOVATION ENGAGEMENT. 
(a) INNOVATION ENGAGEMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland 
Security— 
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(A) shall engage with innovative and 
emerging technology developers and firms, in-
cluding technology-based small businesses and 
startup ventures, to address homeland security 
needs; and 
(B) may identify geographic areas in the 
United States with high concentrations of such 
innovative and emerging technology developers 
and firms, and may establish personnel and of-
fice space in such areas, as appropriate. 
(2) ENGAGEMENT.—Engagement under para-
graph (1) may include innovative and emerging tech-
nology developers or firms with proven technologies, 
supported with outside investment, with potential 
applications for the Department of Homeland Secu-
rity. 
(3) CO-LOCATION.—If the Secretary of Home-
land Security determines that it is appropriate to es-
tablish personnel and office space in a specific geo-
graphic area in the United States pursuant to para-
graph (1)(B), the Secretary shall co-locate such per-
sonnel and office space with other existing assets 
of— 
(A) the Department of Homeland Security, 
where possible; or 
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(B) Federal facilities, where appropriate. 
(4) OVERSIGHT.—Not later than 30 days after 
establishing personnel and office space in a specific 
geographic area in the United States pursuant to 
paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity shall inform Congress about the rationale for 
such establishment, the anticipated costs associated 
with such establishment, and the specific goals for 
such establishment. 
(b) STRATEGIC PLAN.—Not later than six months 
after the date of the enactment of this section, the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security shall develop, implement, and 
submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Home-
land Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a 
Department of Homeland Security-wide strategy to 
proactively engage with innovative and emerging tech-
nology developers and firms, including technology-based 
small businesses and startup ventures, in accordance with 
subsection (a). Such strategy shall— 
(1) focus on sustainable methods and guidance 
to build relationships, including with such innovative 
and emerging technology developers and firms in ge-
ographic areas in the United States with high con-
centrations of such innovative and emerging tech-
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nology developers and firms, and in geographic areas 
outside such areas, to establish, develop, and en-
hance departmental capabilities to address homeland 
security needs; 
(2) include efforts to— 
(A) ensure proven innovative and emerging 
technologies can be included in existing and fu-
ture acquisition contracts; 
(B) coordinate with organizations that pro-
vide venture capital to businesses, particularly 
small businesses and startup ventures, as ap-
propriate, to assist the commercialization of in-
novative and emerging technologies that are ex-
pected to be ready for commercialization in the 
near term and within 36 months; and 
(C) address barriers to the utilization of 
innovative and emerging technologies and the 
engagement of small businesses and startup 
ventures in the acquisition process; 
(3) include a description of how the Depart-
ment plans to leverage proven innovative and emerg-
ing technologies to address homeland security needs; 
and 
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(4) include the criteria the Secretary plans to 
use to determine an innovation or technology is 
proven. 
(c) PROHIBITION
ON ADDITIONAL FUNDING.—No 
additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to 
carry out this Act. 
Æ 
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