Hack the Department of Homeland Security Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-1281
Sponsor: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Introduced: 2017-05-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Computer security and identity theft
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of Homeland Security
Government information and archives
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: 

Hack the Department of Homeland Security Act of 2017 or the Hack DHS Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a bug bounty pilot program to minimize vulnerabilities to DHS information systems.
 
 &quot;Bug bounty program&quot; is a program under which an approved computer security specialist or security researcher is temporarily authorized to identify and report vulnerabilities within DHS information systems in exchange for cash payment.
 
Under such program, DHS shall:
 
 
provide monetary compensation for reports of previously unidentified security vulnerabilities within the websites, applications, and other DHS information systems that are accessible to the public; 
 
 develop an expeditious process by which computer security researchers can register with DHS, submit to a background check, and receive a determination as to approval for program participation; 
 
 designate mission-critical operations within DHS that should be excluded; 
 
consult with the Department of Justice on how to ensure that program participants are protected from prosecution for activities authorized under the program;
 
 award competitive contracts to manage the program and for executing the remediation of identified vulnerabilities; and 
 
 engage interested persons, including commercial sector representatives, about the structure of the program.
 

action_date: 2018-02-26
text: 

Hack the Department of Homeland Security Act of 2017 or the Hack DHS Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish, within the Office of the Chief Information Officer, a bug bounty pilot program to minimize vulnerabilities of DHS Internet-facing information technology.
 
 A &quot;bug bounty program&quot; is a program under which an approved individual, organization, or company is temporarily authorized to identify and report vulnerabilities of DHS Internet-facing information technology in exchange for compensation.
 
Under such program, DHS shall:
 
 
provide compensation for reports of previously unidentified security vulnerabilities within the websites, applications, and other DHS Internet-facing information technology that are accessible to the public; 
 
award a competitive contract to manage the pilot program and for executing the remediation of vulnerabilities identified by the program; 
 
 designate mission-critical operations within DHS that should be excluded from the pilot program; 
 
consult with the Department of Justice on how to protect from prosecution approved individuals or entities who comply with the requirements of the program;
 
 develop an expeditious process for registration, background checks, and eligibility determinations for participation in the pilot program; and 
 
 engage interested persons about the structure of the program.
 
 
DHS must report to Congress on the pilot program within 90 days of its completion.

action_date: 2018-04-17
text: 

Hack the Department of Homeland Security Act of 2017 or the Hack DHS Act

 
(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish, within the Office of the Chief Information Officer, a bug bounty pilot program to minimize vulnerabilities to DHS Internet-facing information technology.
 
 A &quot;bug bounty program&quot; is a program under which an approved individual, organization, or company is temporarily authorized to identify and report vulnerabilities of Internet-facing information technology of DHS in exchange for compensation.
 
Under such program, DHS shall:
 
 
provide compensation for reports of previously unidentified security vulnerabilities within the websites, applications, and other DHS Internet-facing information technology that are accessible to the public; 
 
award a competitive contract tomanage the pilot program and for executing the remediation of vulnerabilities identified bythe program; 
 
 designate mission-critical operations within DHS that should be excluded from the pilot program; 
 
consult with the Department of Justice on how to protect from prosecution approved individuals or entities who comply with the requirements of the program;
 
 develop an expeditious process for registration, background checks, and eligibility determinations for participation in the pilot program; and 
 
 engage interested persons about the structure of the program.
 
 
DHS must report to Congress on the program within 180 days of its completion.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-09-25
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 752.
action_date: 2018-09-25
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-964.
action_date: 2018-09-25
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-964.
action_date: 2018-09-13
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2018-09-13
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2018-04-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
action_date: 2018-04-18
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2018-04-18
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2018-04-17
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (text as passed Senate: CR S2224)
action_date: 2018-04-17
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(text as passed Senate: CR S2224)
action_date: 2018-04-17
text: The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S2224)
action_date: 2018-04-17
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2223-2225)
action_date: 2018-02-26
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 335.
action_date: 2018-02-26
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-209.
action_date: 2018-02-26
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-209.
action_date: 2017-10-04
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Introduced in Senate