I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4892 
To establish a Department of Homeland Security counterintelligence vetting 
task force, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 28, 2019 
Mr. WALKER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Homeland Security 
A BILL 
To establish a Department of Homeland Security 
counterintelligence vetting task force, 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 ‘‘Homeland Security 
Counterintelligence Threat Reduction Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY COUNTER-
INTELLIGENCE 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 Depart-
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ment of Homeland Security to participate in a counter-
intelligence vetting task force to make recommendations 
to improve counterintelligence vetting for appropriate de-
partmental programs. 
(b) PERSONNEL.—In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Secretary of Homeland Security may assign personnel 
from any component of the Department of Homeland Se-
curity 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 partici-
pation in the task force established pursuant to such sub-
section 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 Se-
curity 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). 
SEC. 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 pro-
gram administered pursuant to section 442(a)(4) of the 
Homeland Security Act (6 U.S.C. 252(a)(4)), the Sec-
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retary of Homeland Security shall develop a counterintel-
ligence awareness training program and require participa-
tion in such program from appropriate faculty, as deter-
mined by the Secretary in consultation with the Homeland 
Security Academic Advisory Council (established pursuant 
to section 871 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 451)), from approved institutions of higher edu-
cation, other approved educational institutions, and des-
ignated exchange visitor programs in the United States. 
(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 enhance-
ments 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 deter-
mined 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 ap-
plicable, and fields of study. 
(3) Make any other enhancements determined 
appropriate by the Secretary to improve counter-
intelligence vetting capabilities. 
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(c) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the identifica-
tion 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 counterintel-
ligence 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 EDU-
CATION.—The term ‘‘approved institution of higher 
education’’ has the meaning given such term in sec-
tion 641(h) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and 
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 
1372). 
(2) DESIGNATED
EXCHANGE
VISITOR
PRO-
GRAM.—The term ‘‘designated exchange visitor pro-
gram’’ has the meaning given such term in section 
641(h) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immi-
grant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1372). 
(3) OTHER APPROVED EDUCATIONAL INSTITU-
TION.—The term ‘‘other approved educational insti-
tution’’ has the meaning given such term in section 
641(h) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immi-
grant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1372). 
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SEC. 4. HOMELAND SECURITY ACADEMIC ADVISORY COUN-
CIL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Home-
land Security shall convene a meeting of the Homeland 
Security Academic Advisory Council to seek advice and 
recommendations from the Council on the counterintel-
ligence awareness training and appropriate faculty des-
ignated 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 Rep-
resentatives 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. 
Æ 
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