Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Authorization Act

Bill: 116-hr-4713
Sponsor: Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]
Introduced: 2019-10-17 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Department of Homeland Security
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: 

Department of Homeland Security Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Authorization Act

 
This bill makes changes to the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
 
The bill expands the duties of the CRCL to include
 
 
integrating civil rights and civil liberties into all DHS programs and activities;
 
conducting civil rights and civil liberties impact assessments; 
 
initiating reviews, assessments, and investigations of the administration of DHS programs and activities;
 
leading the equal employment opportunity programs of DHS; and
 
engaging with individuals and communities whose civil rights and civil liberties may be affected by DHS programs and activities.
 
 
The bill requires each operational component of DHS to designate an Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to report to the CRCL.
 
The bill grants the CRCL the authority to issue subpoenas with the approval of the Secretary of DHS.
 
The CRCL must report annually to the President.

action_date: 2019-11-19
text: 

Department of Homeland Security Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Authorization Act

 
This bill makes changes to the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
 
The bill expands the duties of the CRCL to include
 
 
integrating civil rights and civil liberties protections into all DHS programs and activities;
 
conducting civil rights and civil liberties impact assessments; 
 
initiating reviews, assessments, inspections, and investigations of the administration of DHS programs and activities;
 
leading the equal employment opportunity programs of DHS; and
 
engaging with individuals and communities whose civil rights and civil liberties may be affected by DHS programs and activities.
 
 
The bill establishes a process for the CRCL to coordinate with the DHS Inspector General before initiating investigations.
 
The bill requires each operational component of DHS to designate an Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to report to the CRCL.
 
The bill grants the CRCL the authority to issue subpoenas with the approval of the Secretary of DHS.
 
The CRCL must report annually to the President.
 
The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress within 180 days of this bill's enactment on CRCL engagement with individuals and communities whose civil rights and civil liberties may be affected by DHS programs and activities.

action_date: 2019-12-09
text: 

Department of Homeland Security Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Authorization Act

 
This bill makes changes to the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
 
The bill expands the duties of the CRCL to include
 
 
integrating civil rights and civil liberties protections into all DHS programs and activities;
 
conducting civil rights and civil liberties impact assessments, including prior to the implementation of new DHS regulations, initiatives, programs, or policies; 
 
initiating reviews, assessments, and investigations of the administration of DHS programs and activities;
 
leading the equal employment opportunity programs of DHS; and
 
engaging with individuals and communities whose civil rights and civil liberties may be affected by DHS programs and activities.
 
 
The bill establishes a process for the CRCL to coordinate with the DHS Inspector General before initiating investigations.
 
The bill requires each operational component of DHS to designate an Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to report to the CRCL.
 
The bill grants the CRCL the authority to issue subpoenas with the approval of the Secretary of DHS.
 
The CRCL must report annually to the President.
 
The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on CRCL engagement with individuals and communities whose civil rights and civil liberties may be affected by DHS programs and activities.

action_date: 2020-10-19
text: 

Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Authorization Act

 
This bill makes changes to the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
 
The bill expands the duties of the CRCL to include
 
 
integrating civil rights and civil liberties protections into all DHS programs and activities;
 
conducting civil rights and civil liberties impact assessments, including prior to the implementation of new DHS regulations, initiatives, programs, or policies; 
 
initiating reviews, assessments, and investigations of the administration of DHS programs and activities;
 
leading the equal employment opportunity programs of DHS; 
 
engaging with individuals and communities whose civil rights and civil liberties may be affected by DHS programs and activities; and 
 
leading the Language Access Program to ensure that DHS can effectively communicate with individuals impacted by its programs and activities.
 
 
The bill requires each operational component of DHS to designate an Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to report to the CRCL.
 
The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on implementation of provisions regarding CRCL engagement with individuals and communities whose civil rights and civil liberties may be affected by DHS programs and activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-10-19
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 574.
action_date: 2020-10-19
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. 116-280.
action_date: 2020-10-19
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. 116-280.
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2019-12-10
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2019-12-09
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2019-12-09
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H9373-9374)
action_date: 2019-12-09
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H9373-9374)
action_date: 2019-12-09
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4713.
action_date: 2019-12-09
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9373-9376)
action_date: 2019-12-09
text: Ms. Slotkin moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2019-11-19
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 242.
action_date: 2019-11-19
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 116-300.
action_date: 2019-11-19
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 116-300.
action_date: 2019-10-23
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2019-10-23
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Introduced in House