I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2774 
To establish a bug bounty pilot program within the Department of Homeland 
Security, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 6, 2017 
Mr. TED LIEU of California (for himself and Mr. TAYLOR) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 
A BILL 
To establish a bug bounty pilot program within the 
Department of Homeland Security, 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 ‘‘Hack the Department 
of Homeland Security Act of 2017’’ or the ‘‘Hack DHS 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BUG BOUN-
TY PILOT PROGRAM. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
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(1) BUG BOUNTY PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘bug 
bounty program’’ means a program under which an 
approved computer security specialist or security re-
searcher is temporarily authorized to identify and re-
port vulnerabilities within the information system of 
the Department in exchange for cash payment. 
(2) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 
means the Department of Homeland Security. 
(3) INFORMATION SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘infor-
mation system’’ has the meaning given the term in 
section 3502 of title 44, United States Code. 
(4) PILOT
PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘pilot pro-
gram’’ means the bug bounty pilot program required 
to be established under subsection (b)(1). 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Homeland Security. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall establish a bug bounty pilot program to 
minimize vulnerabilities to the information systems 
of the Department. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In establishing the pilot 
program, the Secretary shall— 
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(A) provide monetary compensations for 
reports of previously unidentified security 
vulnerabilities within the websites, applications, 
and other information systems of the Depart-
ment that are accessible to the public; 
(B) develop an expeditious process by 
which computer security researchers can reg-
ister for the pilot program, submit to a back-
ground check as determined by the Depart-
ment, and receive a determination as to ap-
proval for participation in the pilot program; 
(C) designate mission-critical operations 
within the Department that should be excluded 
from the pilot program; 
(D) consult with the Attorney General on 
how to ensure that computer security specialists 
and security researchers who participate in the 
pilot program are protected from prosecution 
under section 1030 of title 18, United States 
Code, and similar statues for specific activities 
authorized under the pilot program; 
(E) consult with the relevant offices at the 
Department of Defense that were responsible 
for launching the 2016 ‘‘Hack the Pentagon’’ 
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pilot program and subsequent Department of 
Defense bug bounty programs; 
(F) award competitive contracts as nec-
essary to manage the pilot program and for 
executing the remediation of vulnerabilities 
identified as a consequence of the pilot pro-
gram; and 
(G) engage interested persons, to include 
commercial sector representatives, about the 
structure of the pilot program as constructive 
and to the extent practicable. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
on which the pilot program is completed, the Secretary 
shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 
on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives a 
report on the pilot program, which shall include— 
(1) the number of computer security research-
ers who registered, were approved, submitted secu-
rity vulnerabilities, and received monetary compensa-
tion; 
(2) the number and severity of previously un-
identified vulnerabilities reported as part of the pilot 
program; 
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