Homeland Security Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Protection Act of 2004

Bill: 108-hr-5182
Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]
Introduced: 2004-09-29 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil rights enforcement
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
Employee training
Executive reorganization
Federal employees
Federal officials
Government contractors
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Inspectors general
Labor and Employment
Law
Minorities
Misconduct in office
Racial discrimination
Religion
Religious liberty
Right of privacy
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2004-09-29
text: 
Homeland Security Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Protection Act of 2004 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to include within the primary mission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure that civil rights are not diminished by efforts aimed at securing the homeland.
 
 Requires DHS's Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to report directly to the Secretary of DHS. Includes among the Officer's responsibilities to: (1) assist the Secretary, directorates, and offices of DHS to develop, implement, and periodically review DHS policies and procedures to ensure that the protection of civil rights is appropriately incorporated into DHS programs and activities; (2) oversee compliance with requirements relating to civil rights; (3) coordinate with the DHS Privacy Officer; and (4) investigate complaints and information indicating possible abuses of civil rights unless the DHS Inspector General (IG) determines that such complaints or information should be investigated by the IG.
 
Directs the IG to designate a senior official within the IG's Office to perform specified functions, including initiating investigations of alleged abuses by DHS employees, officials, contractors, or grantees.
 
Requires the Privacy Officer to report directly to the Secretary. Makes the Privacy Officer responsible for coordinating with the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to ensure that programs, policies, and procedures involving civil rights and privacy are addressed in a comprehensive manner and that Congress receives appropriate reports.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-11-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2004-10-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism.
action_date: 2004-09-29
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security (Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2004-09-29
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security (Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2004-09-29
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security (Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2004-09-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-09-29
text: Introduced in House