I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8184 
To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish the Center for Asymmetric 
Threat Research and Analytics to conduct research countering violent 
extremist organizations, weapons of mass destruction, and influence oper-
ations, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 
Mr. BROWN of Maryland introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish the Center 
for Asymmetric Threat Research and Analytics to con-
duct research countering violent extremist organizations, 
weapons of mass destruction, and influence operations, 
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 ‘‘Center for Asymmetric 
Threat Research and Analytics Act of 2020’’ or the 
‘‘CATRA Act of 2020’’. 
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SEC. 2. CENTER FOR ASYMMETRIC THREAT RESEARCH AND 
ANALYTICS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DE-
FENSE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall establish a research center on asymmetric threats 
known as the ‘‘Center for Asymmetric Threat Research 
and Analytics’’ (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Cen-
ter’’). 
(b) MISSIONS.—The Center shall— 
(1) establish and maintain public global data-
bases on— 
(A) asymmetric threats, including with re-
spect to— 
(i) terrorist incidents and the behavior 
of foreign violent extremist organizations; 
(ii) weapons of mass destruction; 
(iii) emerging or disruptive tech-
nologies; 
(iv) influence operations; and 
(v) other threats identified by the Sec-
retary; 
(B) efficacy of responses to the asymmetric 
threats specified in subparagraph (A); and 
(C) relevant social, legal, political, and eco-
nomic factors related to terrorism and re-
sponses to such asymmetric threats; 
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(2) conduct advanced research on current and 
emerging asymmetric threats; 
(3) conduct advanced research on the effective-
ness of responses to asymmetric threats, and dis-
seminate recommendations for prioritization of re-
sponses; 
(4) provide training and education to relevant 
departments and agencies of the Federal Govern-
ment and associated organizations on contemporary 
trends in global asymmetric threats, and lessons 
learned on the effectiveness of responses; and 
(5) coordinate with the Center of Excellence for 
Terrorism Prevention and Counterterrorism Re-
search of the Department of Homeland Security, as 
appropriate. 
(c) LEAD INSTITUTION.—The Secretary shall select 
an institution of higher education to serve as the lead in-
stitution established pursuant to subsection (a). 
(d) CONSORTIUM.—The institution of higher edu-
cation selected under subsection (c) shall enter into agree-
ments with other institutions of higher education that the 
Secretary determines meet the criteria for selection speci-
fied in subsection (e) to develop a consortium to assist 
in accomplishing the goals of the Center. 
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