I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8791 
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make certain reforms 
to the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 19, 2020 
Mr. THOMPSON
of Mississippi (for himself, Ms. JACKSON
LEE, Mr. 
LANGEVIN, Mr. PAYNE, Miss RICE of New York, Mr. CORREA, Ms. 
UNDERWOOD, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. GREEN of Texas, Ms. CLARKE of New 
York, Ms. TITUS, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, and Mrs. DEMINGS) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Home-
land Security, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Re-
form, the Judiciary, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period 
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make 
certain reforms to the Department of Homeland Secu-
rity, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Department of Homeland Security Reform Act of 2020’’ 
or the ‘‘DHS Reform Act of 2020’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:14 Nov 29, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8791.IH
H8791
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—HEADQUARTERS REFORMS 
Subtitle A—Leadership Reforms 
Sec. 101. Departmental leadership. 
Sec. 102. Succession reforms. 
Sec. 103. Resolution of intra-departmental disputes. 
Sec. 104. Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans. 
Sec. 105. Office of Inspector General. 
Sec. 106. Office of Public Affairs. 
Sec. 107. Office of Legislative Affairs. 
Sec. 108. Office of Partnership and Engagement. 
Sec. 109. Chief Privacy Officer. 
Sec. 110. Chief Financial Officer. 
Sec. 111. Chief Information Officer. 
Sec. 112. Chief Procurement Officer. 
Sec. 113. Chief Security Officer. 
Sec. 114. Chief Data Officer. 
Sec. 115. Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. 
Sec. 116. The Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office. 
Sec. 117. Coordinator for unmanned aircraft systems countermeasures. 
Sec. 118. Department of Homeland Security counterterrorism advisory board. 
Sec. 119. Department of Homeland Security leadership council. 
Sec. 120. School security coordinating council. 
Subtitle B—Workforce Reforms 
Sec. 131. Chief human capital officer. 
Sec. 132. Employee engagement steering committee and action plan. 
Sec. 133. Annual employee award program. 
Sec. 134. Department of Homeland Security rotation program. 
Sec. 135. Homeland security rotational cybersecurity research program at the 
Coast Guard Academy. 
Sec. 136. Department of Homeland Security intelligence and cybersecurity di-
versity fellowship program. 
Sec. 137. Cyber talent management system reporting. 
Sec. 138. Acquisition workforce. 
Sec. 139. Acquisition professional career program. 
Sec. 140. Security clearance management and administration. 
Sec. 141. Fitness information transparency. 
Sec. 142. Independent investigation of disciplinary outcomes. 
Sec. 143. Rights for transportation security officers. 
TITLE II—LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY REFORMS 
Subtitle A—De-Escalation 
Sec. 201. De-escalation, use of force, and body-worn camera policy. 
Sec. 202. De-escalation training. 
Sec. 203. Less lethal tactics assessment. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:14 Nov 29, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H8791.IH
H8791
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
Sec. 204. Requests relating to department of homeland security personnel or 
equipment. 
Sec. 205. Best practices to reduce incidents of excessive or unauthorized force. 
Sec. 206. Department of Homeland Security component insignia required. 
Sec. 207. FLETC advisory board. 
Sec. 208. Department of Homeland Security support for the national network 
of fusion centers. 
Subtitle B—Securing of Firearms and Other Sensitive Assets 
Sec. 221. Definitions. 
Sec. 222. Inclusion of securing firearms and other sensitive assets in respon-
sibilities of Under Secretary for Management. 
Sec. 223. Management directive. 
Sec. 224. Component responsibilities. 
Sec. 225. Personal property asset management Inspector General review. 
Subtitle C—Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers 
Sec. 231. FLETC research and development. 
Sec. 232. Reporting on basic training programs of the Department of Home-
land Security. 
TITLE III—ACQUISITION REFORMS 
Subtitle A—Authorities 
Sec. 301. Definitions. 
Sec. 302. Acquisition authorities for Office of Program Accountability and Risk 
Management. 
Sec. 303. Acquisition authorities for technical support offices. 
Sec. 304. Acquisition authorities for Under Secretary for Management. 
Sec. 305. Acquisition authorities for Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and 
Plans. 
Sec. 306. Acquisition authorities for Chief Information Officer. 
Subtitle B—Requirements and Oversight 
Sec. 321. Acquisition documentation. 
Sec. 322. Acquisition review board. 
Sec. 323. Suspension and debarment program. 
Sec. 324. Requirements to buy certain items related to national security inter-
ests according to certain criteria. 
Sec. 325. Prohibition on operation or procurement of foreign-made unmanned 
aircraft systems. 
Subtitle C—Acquisition Program Management Accountability and 
Transparency 
Sec. 331. Congressional notification for major acquisition programs. 
Sec. 332. Acquisition reports. 
TITLE IV—OTHER REFORMS 
Sec. 401. Quadrennial homeland security review. 
Sec. 402. Limitations regarding secretarial authorities associated with the pro-
tection of public property. 
Sec. 403. Biometric enterprise management. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:14 Nov 29, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H8791.IH
H8791
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
Sec. 404. Enhanced departmental oversight of certain intelligence matters. 
Sec. 405. Privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties coordination required. 
Sec. 406. Department-wide social media policy. 
Sec. 407. Propaganda prohibited. 
Sec. 408. Limits on expenses for a swearing-in ceremony. 
Sec. 409. Conflict of interest awareness and reporting. 
Sec. 410. Mentor-prote´ge´ program. 
Sec. 411. Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUS) homeland secu-
rity partnerships. 
Sec. 412. Children’s technical expert. 
Sec. 413. Modification of Secretary’s reorganization authority. 
Sec. 414. Definitions. 
TITLE I—HEADQUARTERS 
REFORMS 
Subtitle A—Leadership Reforms 
SEC. 101. DEPARTMENTAL LEADERSHIP. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 102 of the Homeland Se-
curity Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 112) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c), in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘through the Office of 
State and Local Coordination (established under sec-
tion 801)’’ and inserting ‘‘through the Office of 
Partnership and Engagement’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(h) HEADQUARTERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There is in the Department 
a Headquarters. 
‘‘(2) COMPONENTS.—The Headquarters shall 
include each of the following: 
‘‘(A) The Office of the Secretary, which 
shall include— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:14 Nov 29, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8791.IH
H8791
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
‘‘(i) the Deputy Secretary; 
‘‘(ii) the Associate Secretary; 
‘‘(iii) the Chief of Staff; and 
‘‘(iv) the Executive Secretary. 
‘‘(B) The Management Directorate, includ-
ing the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, 
Federal Protective Service, and Office of Bio-
metric Identity Management. 
‘‘(C) The Science and Technology Direc-
torate. 
‘‘(D) The Office of Strategy, Policy, and 
Plans. 
‘‘(E) The Office of the General Counsel. 
‘‘(F) The Office of the Chief Privacy and 
FOIA Officer. 
‘‘(G) The Office for Civil Rights and Civil 
Liberties. 
‘‘(H) The Office of Operations Coordina-
tion. 
‘‘(I) The Office of Intelligence and Anal-
ysis. 
‘‘(J) The Office of Legislative Affairs. 
‘‘(K) The Office of Public Affairs. 
‘‘(L) The Office of the Inspector General. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:14 Nov 29, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8791.IH
H8791
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
‘‘(M) The Office of the Citizenship and 
Immigration Services Ombudsman. 
‘‘(N) The Countering Weapons of Mass 
Destruction Office. 
‘‘(O) The Office of Partnership and En-
gagement. 
‘‘(P) The Ombudsman for Border and Im-
migration Enforcement Related Concerns.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 103(a) of 
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 113(a)) is 
amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading, by inserting ‘‘; 
ASSISTANT SECRETARIES AND OTHER OFFICERS’’ 
after ‘‘UNDER SECRETARIES’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by inserting after subparagraph (A) 
the following subparagraph (B) and making 
conforming changes: 
‘‘(B) An Associate Secretary of Homeland 
Security, who shall be the Secretary’s second 
assistant for purposes of subchapter III of 
chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code and 
shall, on behalf of the Secretary, direct, author-
ize, and control U. S. Customs and Border Pro-
tection, U.S. Immigration and Customs En-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:14 Nov 29, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8791.IH
H8791
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
forcement, United States Secret Service, and 
Federal Protective Service, and, in consultation 
with the Deputy Secretary, the law enforcement 
activities in other Department components.’’; 
and 
(B) by amending subparagraph (I) to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(I) An Administrator of the Transpor-
tation Security Administration.’’; 
(3) by amending paragraph (2) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(2) APPOINTMENTS.—The following Assistant 
Secretaries shall be appointed by the President or 
the Secretary, as the case may be, without the ad-
vice and consent of the Senate: 
‘‘(A) PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS.—The 
Department shall have the following positions 
appointed by the President: 
‘‘(i) The Assistant Secretary for Pub-
lic Affairs. 
‘‘(ii) The Assistant Secretary for Leg-
islative Affairs. 
‘‘(iii) The Assistant Secretary for the 
Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction 
Office. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:14 Nov 29, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8791.IH
H8791
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
‘‘(iv) The Chief Medical Officer. 
‘‘(B) SECRETARIAL APPOINTMENTS.—The 
Secretary shall appoint an Assistant Secretary 
for Partnership and Engagement and, within 
the Office of Strategy, Policy and Plans, an As-
sistant Secretary for International Affairs in 
addition to five assistant secretaries with di-
vided responsibility for the following areas: 
‘‘(i) Strategy. 
‘‘(ii) Threat prevention, including tar-
geted violence. 
‘‘(iii) Integration. 
‘‘(iv) Border. 
‘‘(v) Immigration, including immigra-
tion statistics. 
‘‘(vi) Cybersecurity and infrastructure 
security. 
‘‘(vii) Screening and vetting, including 
biometrics. 
‘‘(viii) Law enforcement. 
‘‘(ix) Foreign investment and trade.’’; 
and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:14 Nov 29, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8791.IH
H8791
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
‘‘(3) LIMITATION ON ESTABLISHMENT OF AS-
SISTANT SECRETARY POSITIONS.—No Assistant Sec-
retary position may be established in addition to the 
positions provided for by this section unless such po-
sition is authorized by a statute enacted after the 
date of the enactment of this paragraph. 
‘‘(4) UNDER SECRETARY FOR MANAGEMENT.— 
The Under Secretary for Management shall serve a 
five-year term.’’. 
SEC. 102. SUCCESSION REFORMS. 
Amend section 103(g) of the Homeland Security Act 
as follows: 
(1) In paragraph (1), strike ‘‘neither the Sec-
retary nor Deputy Secretary is’’ and insert ‘‘the Sec-
retary, Deputy Secretary, and Associate Secretary 
are not’’. 
(2) In paragraph (2), insert ‘‘(A)’’ before ‘‘such 
other officers’’ and strike and replace remaining text 
with the following: 
‘‘(A) such other official of the Department 
in further order of succession to serve as Acting 
Secretary in a manner that requires such offi-
cial to have served in the Department for at 
least 90 days prior to such designation in either 
the position of the head of a component or in 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:14 Nov 29, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8791.IH
H8791
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
another position by and with the advice and 
consent of the Senate, or in the event that an 
official meeting this criteria is not available, in 
a manner that requires such official to have 
served for at least 90 days prior to such des-
ignation in the Senior Executive Service within 
the Department; and 
‘‘(B) such other official of the Department 
to serve as the acting head of a component, in 
the event that the head of a component vacates 
the position, in a manner that requires such of-
ficial to have served for at least 90 days prior 
to such designation in the Senior Executive 
Service.’’. 
SEC. 103. RESOLUTION OF INTRA-DEPARTMENTAL DIS-
PUTES. 
Insert at the end of section 103 of the Homeland Se-
curity Act the following: 
‘‘(h) INTRA-DEPARTMENTAL DISPUTES.—On behalf 
of the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary shall have author-
ity to resolve any intra-Departmental disputes that may 
arise between two or more components where one compo-
nent is under the purview of the Associate Secretary. The 
Associate Secretary may appeal a resolution issued by the 
Deputy Secretary to the Secretary.’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:14 Nov 29, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8791.IH
H8791
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
SEC. 104. OFFICE OF STRATEGY, POLICY, AND PLANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 709 of the Homeland Se-
curity Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 349) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the 
following: ‘‘The Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans 
shall include an Assistant Secretary for Inter-
national Affairs and at least five assistant secre-
taries within the Office of Strategy, Policy, and 
Plans with divided responsibility for the following 
areas: 
‘‘(i) Strategy. 
‘‘(ii) Threat prevention, including tar-
geted violence. 
‘‘(iii) Integration. 
‘‘(iv) Border. 
‘‘(v) Immigration, including immigra-
tion statistics. 
‘‘(vi) Cybersecurity and infrastructure 
security. 
‘‘(vii) Screening and vetting, including 
biometrics. 
‘‘(viii) Law enforcement. 
‘‘(ix) Foreign investment and trade.’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)(1), by inserting ‘‘, includ-
ing for activities that cross multiple Department 
components’’ before the semicolon at the end; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:19 Dec 08, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8791.IH
H8791
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
‘‘(4) Conduct periodic reviews of policies, proce-
dures, and activities of the Department relating to 
civil rights and civil liberties. 
‘‘(5) Provide policy advice, recommendations, 
and other technical assistance relating to civil rights 
and civil liberties to the Secretary and to heads of 
components, directorates, and offices and other per-
sonnel within the Department. 
‘‘(6) Review, assess, and investigate complaints, 
including complaints filed by members of the public, 
and information indicating possible abuses of civil 
rights or civil liberties at the Department, unless the 
Inspector General of the Department determines 
that any such complaint should be investigated by 
the Inspector General. 
‘‘(7) Initiate reviews, investigations, and assess-
ments of the administration of the programs and ac-
tivities by the Department relating to civil rights 
and civil liberties, as the Officer determines nec-
essary. 
‘‘(8) Coordinate with the Privacy Officer to en-
sure that— 
‘‘(A) programs, policies, and procedures in-
volving civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:14 Nov 29, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00057
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8791.IH
H8791
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS