and civil liberties under paragraph (6) of subsection 
(b), the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties 
shall— 
‘‘(A) provide to the individual who made 
the complaint notice of the receipt of such com-
plaint within 30 days of receiving the com-
plaint; and 
‘‘(B) inform the complainant of the deter-
mination of the Officer regarding the initiation 
of a review, assessment, or investigation within 
the Office, a referral to the Inspector General 
of the Department, or any other action taken. 
‘‘(2) INVESTIGATIONS.—In the case of an inves-
tigation initiated by the Officer pursuant to para-
graph (6) or (7) of subsection (b), upon the conclu-
sion of the investigation, the Officer shall produce a 
report on the investigation which— 
‘‘(A) shall include the findings and rec-
ommendations of the Officer; 
‘‘(B) a summary of which shall be made 
publicly available; 
‘‘(C) shall not include any personally iden-
tifiable information related to any individual in-
volved in such investigation; and 
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‘‘(D) may include a classified appendix, as 
the Officer determines appropriate. 
‘‘(3) SUBMITTAL TO HEADS OF OPERATIONAL 
COMPONENTS.—The Officer shall transmit a copy of 
each report produced under paragraph (2) to the 
Secretary and to the relevant head of each relevant 
operational component of the Department. 
‘‘(4) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Upon the con-
clusion of any investigation conducted by the Officer 
for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties under paragraph 
(6) or (7) of subsection (b), the Officer shall submit 
to Congress a report on the investigation, which 
shall be prepared and submitted without any prior 
comment or amendment by the Secretary, Deputy 
Secretary, or any other officer or employee of the 
Department, unless the Officer seeks such comment. 
‘‘(e) COMPONENT CIVIL RIGHTS
AND CIVIL LIB-
ERTIES OFFICER.—The head of each of the operational 
components of the Department shall designate a career 
appointee (as such term is defined in section 3132 of title 
5, United States Code) from such component as the Offi-
cer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of that component. 
The Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of each 
such component shall coordinate with and provide infor-
mation to the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties 
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of the Department on matters related to civil rights and 
civil liberties within the components. 
‘‘(f) ACCESS TO INFORMATION.—The Officer for Civil 
Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department— 
‘‘(1) shall have access to all records, reports, 
audits, reviews, documents, papers, recommenda-
tions, and other materials available to the Depart-
ment that relate to programs and operations with 
respect to the responsibilities of the Officer under 
subsection (b); and 
‘‘(2) may, to the extent the Officer determines 
necessary, and subject to the approval of the Sec-
retary— 
‘‘(A) issue a subpoena to require the pro-
duction, by any person other than a Federal 
agency, of all information, documents, reports, 
answers, records, accounts, papers, and other 
documentary evidence necessary in the perform-
ance of the responsibilities of the Officer under 
this section; and 
‘‘(B) administer to or take from any per-
son an oath, affirmation, or affidavit, whenever 
necessary in the performance of the responsibil-
ities of the Officer under this section. 
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‘‘(g) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than March 31 of 
each year, the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties 
of the Department shall submit directly to the President, 
the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, and the appropriate committees and sub-
committees of Congress, a report on the implementation 
of this section during the year preceding the year during 
which the report is submitted. Each such report shall in-
clude, for the year covered by the report— 
‘‘(1) any allegations of abuse described under 
subsection (b)(6) and any actions by the Depart-
ment or a component, directorate, or office of the 
Department that the Officer identifies as responsive 
to such allegations; 
‘‘(2) a list of Department programs and activi-
ties for which civil rights and civil liberties impact 
assessments were conducted, or policy advice, rec-
ommendations, or other technical assistance was 
provided; 
‘‘(3) any recommendations issued by the Officer 
to the Secretary or the head of a component, direc-
torate, or office, together with information on the 
status of the implementation of such recommenda-
tions; 
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‘‘(4) information on the diversity and equal em-
ployment opportunity activities of the Department, 
including information on complaint management and 
adjudication of equal employment opportunity com-
plaints and efforts to ensure compliance throughout 
the Department with equal employment opportunity 
requirements; 
‘‘(5) a description of any efforts to engage with 
individuals and communities whose civil rights and 
civil liberties may be affected by activities carried 
out by the Department, including public meetings; 
and 
‘‘(6) information on total staffing for the Office 
of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, including— 
‘‘(A) the number of full-time, part-time 
and contract support personnel; and 
‘‘(B) information on the number of em-
ployees whose primary responsibilities include 
supporting the Officer in carrying out para-
graph (9) of subsection (b).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The item relating to 
section 705 in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act 
of 2002 is amended to read as follows: 
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‘‘SEC. 705. OFFICER FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIB-
ERTIES.’’. 
SEC. 3. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEW. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
States shall submit to Congress a report on subsection 
(b)(11) of section 705 of the Homeland Security Act of 
2002 (6 U.S.C. 345), as amended by section 2. 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Department of Home-
land Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties 
Authorization Act’’. 
SEC. 2. OFFICER FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 705 of the Homeland Secu-
rity Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 345) is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘ESTAB-
LISHMENT OF’’; and 
(2) by striking subsections (a) and (b) and in-
serting the following new subsections: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established within the De-
partment an Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. The 
head of such Office is the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil 
Liberties (referred to in this section as the ‘Officer’), who 
shall report directly to the Secretary. 
‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Officer shall carry out 
the following responsibilities: 
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‘‘(1) Oversee compliance with constitutional, 
statutory, regulatory, policy, and other requirements 
relating to the civil rights and civil liberties of indi-
viduals affected by the programs and activities of the 
Department. 
‘‘(2) Integrate civil rights and civil liberties pro-
tections into all programs and activities of the De-
partment. 
‘‘(3) Conduct civil rights and civil liberties im-
pact assessments, including, as appropriate, prior to 
the implementation of new Department regulations, 
initiatives, programs, or policies. 
‘‘(4) Conduct periodic reviews and assessments of 
policies, procedures, and activities of the Department 
relating to civil rights and civil liberties, including 
reviews initiated by the Officer. 
‘‘(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 
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Inspector General of the Department determines that 
any such complaint should be investigated by the In-
spector General. 
‘‘(7) As the Officer determines necessary, initiate 
reviews, investigations, and assessments of the admin-
istration of the programs and activities of the Depart-
ment relating to civil rights and civil liberties. 
‘‘(8) Coordinate with the Privacy Officer to en-
sure that— 
‘‘(A) programs, policies, and procedures in-
volving civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy 
considerations are addressed in an integrated 
and comprehensive manner; and 
‘‘(B) Congress receives appropriate reports 
regarding such programs, policies, and proce-
dures. 
‘‘(9) Lead the equal employment opportunity 
programs of the Department, including complaint 
management and adjudication, workforce diversity, 
and promotion of the merit system principles. 
‘‘(10) On a semi-annual basis, make publicly 
available through accessible communications channels, 
including the website of the Department— 
‘‘(A) information on the responsibilities and 
functions of, and how to contact, the Office; 
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‘‘(B) summaries of the investigations car-
ried out pursuant to paragraph (6) that result 
in final recommendations that are issued by the 
Officer ; and 
‘‘(C) summaries of impact assessments car-
ried out pursuant to paragraph (3) or (7) that 
are issued by the Officer. 
‘‘(11) Engage with individuals and communities 
whose civil rights and civil liberties may be affected 
by programs and activities of the Department, includ-
ing by informing such individuals and communities 
about report and redress processes and advising the 
Secretary and heads of components, directorates, and 
offices and other personnel within the Department of 
concerns raised by such individuals and communities. 
‘‘(12) Lead the Language Access Program for the 
Department to ensure the Department can effectively 
communicate with all individuals impacted by pro-
grams and activities of the Department, including 
those with limited English proficiency. 
‘‘(c) TRANSPARENCY.— 
‘‘(1) COMPLAINTS.—In the case of a complaint 
made concerning allegations of abuses of civil rights 
and civil liberties under paragraph (6) of subsection 
(b), the Officer shall— 
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‘‘(A) provide to the individual who made 
the complaint notice of the receipt of such com-
plaint within 30 days of receiving the complaint; 
and 
‘‘(B) inform the complainant of the deter-
mination of the Officer regarding the initiation 
of a review, assessment, or investigation within 
the Office, a referral to the Inspector General of 
the Department, or any other action taken. 
‘‘(2) INVESTIGATIONS.—In the case of an inves-
tigation initiated by the Officer pursuant to para-
graph (6) or (7) of subsection (b) in which findings 
or recommendations are issued, the Officer— 
‘‘(A) shall, on a semi-annual basis, make 
publicly available through accessible communica-
tions channels, including the website of the De-
partment— 
‘‘(i) the findings and recommendations 
of the Officer, if any; and 
‘‘(ii) a summary of the investigations 
that result in final recommendations that 
are issued by the Officer; and 
‘‘(B) shall not include in such findings, rec-
ommendations, or summary any personally 
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identifiable information related to any indi-
vidual involved in such investigation. 
‘‘(3) SUBMITTAL
TO
HEADS
OF
OPERATIONAL 
COMPONENTS.—The Officer shall transmit a copy of 
each summary produced under paragraph (2) to the 
Secretary and to the head of each relevant operational 
component of the Department. 
‘‘(4) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Upon the conclu-
sion of any investigation conducted by the Officer 
under paragraph (6) or (7) of subsection (b) in which 
findings or recommendations are issued, the Officer 
shall submit to Congress a report on the investigation, 
which shall be prepared and submitted without any 
prior comment or amendment by the Secretary, Dep-
uty Secretary, or any other officer or employee of the 
Department or the Office of Management and Budget, 
unless the Officer seeks such comment. 
‘‘(d) COMPONENT CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES 
OFFICER.—The head of each of the operational components 
of the Department, in consultation with the Officer, shall 
designate a career appointee (as such term is defined in 
section 3132 of title 5, United States Code) from such com-
ponent as the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties 
of that component. The Officer for Civil Rights and Civil 
Liberties of each such component shall coordinate with and 
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provide information to the Officer for Civil Rights and 
Civil Liberties of the Department on matters related to civil 
rights and civil liberties within the component. 
‘‘(e) ACCESS TO INFORMATION.—The Officer— 
‘‘(1) shall have access in a timely manner to all 
records, reports, audits, reviews, documents, papers, 
recommendations, and other materials available to the 
Department that relate to programs and operations 
with respect to the responsibilities of the Officer under 
subsection (b); and 
‘‘(2) may, to the extent the Officer determines 
necessary, and subject to the approval of the Sec-
retary, administer to or take from any person an 
oath, affirmation, or affidavit, whenever necessary in 
the performance of the responsibilities of the Officer 
under this section. 
‘‘(f) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than March 31 of 
each year, the Officer shall submit to the appropriate com-
mittees and subcommittees of Congress a report on the im-
plementation of this section during the year preceding the 
year during which the report is submitted. Each such report 
shall include, for the year covered by the report— 
‘‘(1) a list of Department programs and activi-
ties for which civil rights and civil liberties impact 
assessments were conducted, or policy advice, rec-
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ommendations, or other technical assistance was pro-
vided; 
‘‘(2) a list of Department programs and activi-
ties relating to civil rights and civil liberties that 
have not had impact assessments conducted during 
the 5-year period ending on the date of enactment of 
the Department of Homeland Security Office of Civil 
Rights and Civil Liberties Authorization Act; 
‘‘(3) an assessment of the efforts of the Depart-
ment through the Language Access Program to effec-
tively communicate with all individuals impacted by 
programs and activities of the Department, including 
those with limited English proficiency; 
‘‘(4) a summary of investigations resulting in 
recommendations issued under paragraph (6) or (7) 
of subsection (b) by the Officer to the Secretary or the 
head of a component, directorate, or office, together 
with information on the status of the component, di-
rectorate, or office’s implementation of such rec-
ommendations; 
‘‘(5) information on the diversity and equal em-
ployment opportunity activities of the Department, 
including information on complaint management and 
adjudication of equal employment opportunity com-
plaints and efforts to ensure compliance throughout 
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