Title: Homeland Security Counterintelligence Threat Reduction Act
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Homeland Security Counterintelligence Threat Reduction Act
This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to take various actions related to counterintelligence activities.
DHS shall establish a counterintelligence vetting task force to report to Congress recommendations to improve counterintelligence vetting for DHS programs.
DHS shall also develop counterintelligence awareness training as part of an established program for collecting information about nonimmigrant foreign students and other exchange program participants. DHS shall require appropriate faculty from approved educational institutions and exchange visitor programs to participate in the training.
DHS shall take various actions related to the program for collecting information about exchange program participants, such as identifying degrees and fields of study that are sensitive for homeland security and counterintelligence purposes.
DHS shall notify Congress if it decides to not extend the existence of the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2728 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2728

  To establish a Department of Homeland Security counterintelligence 
              vetting task force, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 29, 2019

  Mr. Hawley introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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 Representatives 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 COUNTERINTELLIGENCE 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 Department of Homeland Security to participate in a 
counterintelligence vetting task force to make recommendations to 
improve counterintelligence vetting for appropriate departmental 
programs.
    (b) Personnel.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of 
Homeland Security may assign personnel from any component of the 
Department of Homeland Security 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 participation in the task force 
established pursuant to such subsection 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 Security 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 program administered 
pursuant to section 442(a)(4) of the Homeland Security Act (6 U.S.C. 
252(a)(4)), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall develop a 
counterintelligence awareness training program and require 
participation in such program from appropriate faculty, as determined 
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 education, other approved educational institutions, and 
designated 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 enhancements 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 determined 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 applicable, and fields of 
        study.
            (3) Make any other enhancements determined appropriate by 
        the Secretary to improve counterintelligence vetting 
        capabilities.
    (c) Consultation.--In carrying out the identification 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 
counterintelligence 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 education.--The term 
        ``approved institution of higher education'' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 641(h) of the Illegal Immigration 
        Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 
        1372).
            (2) Designated exchange visitor program.--The term 
        ``designated exchange visitor program'' has the meaning given 
        such term in section 641(h) of the Illegal Immigration Reform 
        and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1372).
            (3) Other approved educational institution.--The term 
        ``other approved educational institution'' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 641(h) of the Illegal Immigration 
        Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 
        1372).

SEC. 4. HOMELAND SECURITY ACADEMIC ADVISORY COUNCIL.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall convene 
a meeting of the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council to seek 
advice and recommendations from the Council on the counterintelligence 
awareness training and appropriate faculty designated 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 Representatives 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.
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