Countering Global White Supremacist Terrorism Act

Bill: 116-s-4080
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2020-06-25
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Crime prevention

Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad

Government information and archives

Government studies and investigations

Hate crimes

Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information

International organizations and cooperation

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Political movements and philosophies

Public contracts and procurement

Racial and ethnic relations

Research administration and funding

Sanctions

Terrorism

Violent crime
Latest action: action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-06-25
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Countering Global White Supremacist Terrorism Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of State to develop a strategy titled the <i>Department of State Strategy for Countering White Identity Terrorism Globally, </i>and it establishes related reporting requirements.</p> <p>Such strategy shall include (1) an assessment of the global threat from white identity terrorism abroad, (2) detailed plans for using public diplomacy to degrade and delegitimize white identity terrorist ideologues and ideology globally, and (3) an outline of how the State Department plans to use designation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist or foreign terrorist organization to support the strategy.</p> <p>Annual country reports on terrorism must include all credible information about white identity terrorism, and the President must determine whether the foreign persons, organizations, and networks identified in such reports satisfy the criteria to be designated as (1) foreign terrorist organizations, or (2) Specially Designated Global Terrorist Organizations.</p> <p>The State Department must also contract with a federally funded research and development center to facilitate a study that provides for a comprehensive social network analysis of the global white identity terrorism movement.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4080 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 25, 2020 Mr. Menendez introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations A BILL To counter White identity terrorism globally, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Countering Global White Supremacist Terrorism Act . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) White identity terrorism is the term used by the Department of State to encompass White nationalist and White supremacist terrorists. Individuals who adhere to White nationalist and White supremacist ideologies share a common belief that White people and White identity in western countries are under siege and pursue the destruction of pluralistic values intrinsic to the American way of life. (2) The Global Terrorism Database and corresponding Global Terrorism Index have recorded a rise in the number and lethality of White identity terrorist incidents during the past decade, both domestically and internationally. (3) Various individuals, networks, and organizations fall under the umbrella of the global White identity terrorist movement, whose adherents are becoming increasingly internationalized, with fighters and terrorist ideology moving across borders. (4) Irresponsible social media sites are enabling the internationalization of the White identity terrorist movement in terms of organization and recruitment. State and nonstate actors have helped to build a global, online White identity terrorist echo chamber, including by translating terrorist manifestos and promoting other violent extremist content. This activity includes countries using troll farms to exacerbate fears of immigrants, Muslims, Jews, and other minorities in western countries among potentially sympathetic audiences. (5) There is evidence that adherents of the White identity movement in the United States are increasingly traveling overseas for training, further contributing to the internationalization of White identity terrorism. Jihadist experiences in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria highlight the dangers that such individuals can pose because of the connections and capabilities they bring with them when they return home. (6) The global White identity terrorist movement has manifested a decentralized organizational approach that encourages individuals to operate independently from one another and execute terrorist attacks on their own. This approach poses challenges to law enforcement efforts to track, monitor, and disrupt planned violence. In the same way that Islamist terrorists have looked to figures in al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, White identity terrorists draw on one another for inspiration. (7) The growing global interconnectivity of the White identity terrorist movement means that the United States must confront this threat as part of an integrated, whole-of-government approach. 3. Countering White identity terrorism globally (a) Strategy and coordination Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall— (1) develop and submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a Department of State-wide strategy entitled the Department of State Strategy for Countering White Identity Terrorism Globally (in this section referred to as the strategy ). (2) designate the Coordinator for Counterterrorism of the Department of State to coordinate Department of State efforts to counter White identity terrorism globally, including with United States diplomatic and consular posts, the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the Attorney General, the Director of National Intelligence, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the heads of other relevant Federal departments or agencies. (b) Elements The strategy shall, at a minimum, contain the following: (1) An assessment of the global threat from White identity terrorism abroad, including geographic or country prioritization based on the assessed threat to the United States. (2) A description of the coordination mechanisms between relevant bureaus and offices within the Department of State, including United States diplomatic and consular posts, for developing and implementing efforts to counter White identity terrorism. (3) A description of how the Department of State plans to build on any existing strategy developed by the Bureau of Counterterrorism— (A) to adapt or expand existing Department programs, projects, activities, or policy instruments based on existing authorities for the specific purpose of degrading and delegitimizing the White identity terrorist movement globally; and (B) to identify the need for any new Department programs, projects, activities, or policy instruments for the specific purpose of degrading and delegitimizing the White identity terrorist movement globally, including a description of the steps and resources necessary to establish any such programs, projects, activities, or policy instruments, noting whether such steps would require new authorities. (4) Detailed plans for using public diplomacy, including the efforts of the Secretary of State and other senior executive branch officials, including the President, to degrade and delegitimize White identity terrorist ideologues and ideology globally, including by— (A) countering White identity terrorist messaging and supporting efforts to redirect potential supporters away from White identity terrorist content online; (B) exposing foreign government support for White identity terrorist ideologies, objectives, ideologues, networks, organizations, and internet platforms; (C) engaging with foreign governments and internet service providers and other relevant technology entities to prevent or limit White identity terrorists from exploiting internet platforms in furtherance of or in preparation for acts of terrorism or other targeted violence, as well as the recruitment, radicalization, and indoctrination of new adherents to White identity terrorism; and (D) identifying the roles and responsibilities for the Office of the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs and for the Global Engagement Center in developing and implementing such plans. (5) An outline of the steps the Department of State is taking or will take in coordination, as appropriate, with the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the Attorney General, the Director of National Intelligence, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the heads of any other relevant Federal departments or agencies to improve information and intelligence sharing with other countries on White identity terrorism based on existing authorities by— (A) describing plans for adapting or expanding existing mechanisms for sharing information, intelligence, or counterterrorism best practices, including facilitating the sharing of information, intelligence, or counterterrorism best practices gathered by Federal, State, and local law enforcement; and (B) proposing new mechanisms or forums that might enable expanded sharing of information, intelligence, or counterterrorism best practices. (6) An outline of how the Department of State plans to use designation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (under Executive Order 13224 ( 50 U.S.C. 1701 note)) or foreign terrorist organization (pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1189 ) to support the strategy, including— (A) an assessment and explanation of the utility of applying or not applying such designations when individuals or entities satisfy the criteria for such designations; and (B) a description of possible remedies if such criteria are insufficient to enable designation of any individuals or entities the Secretary of State considers a potential terrorist threat to the United States. (7) A description of the Department of State’s plans, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, to work with foreign governments, financial institutions and other related entities to counter the financing of White identity terrorists within the parameters of current law, or if no such plans exist, a description of why such plans were not developed. (8) A description of how the Department of State plans to implement the strategy in conjunction with ongoing efforts to counter the Islamic State, al-Qaeda, and other terrorist threats to the United States. (9) A description of how the Department of State will integrate into the strategy lessons learned in the ongoing efforts to counter the Islamic State, al-Qaeda, and other terrorist threats to the United States. (10) An identification of any additional resources or staff needed to implement the strategy. (c) Interagency coordination The Secretary of State shall develop the strategy in coordination with the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center and in consultation with the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the Attorney General, the Director of National Intelligence, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the heads of any other relevant Federal departments or agencies. (d) Stakeholder inclusion The strategy shall be developed in consultation with representatives of United States and international civil society and academic entities with experience researching or implementing programs to counter White identity terrorism. (e) Form The strategy shall be submitted in unclassified form that can be made available to the public, but may include a classified annex if the Secretary of State determines such is appropriate. (f) Implementation Not later than 3 months after the submission of the strategy, the Secretary of State shall begin implementing the strategy. (g) Consultation Not later than 3 months after the date of the enactment of this Act and not less frequently than annually thereafter, the Secretary of State shall consult with the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives regarding the development and implementation of the strategy. 4. Annual Country Reports on Terrorism Section 140(a) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989 ( 22 U.S.C. 2656f(a) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking and at the end; (2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (5) all credible information about White identity terrorism, including— (A) relevant attacks; (B) the identity of perpetrators and victims of such attacks; (C) the size and identity of organizations and networks; and (D) the identity of notable ideologues. . 5. Report on sanctions (a) In general Not later than 120 days after the submission of each of the Annual Country Reports on Terrorism pursuant to section 140 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989 ( 22 U.S.C. 2656f ), and 240 days thereafter, the President shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a report that determines whether the foreign persons, organizations, and networks identified in such reports satisfy the criteria to be designated as— (1) foreign terrorist organizations under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1189 ); or (2) Specially Designated Global Terrorist Organizations under Executive Order 13224 ( 50 U.S.C. 1701 note). (b) Form Each determination required under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex, if appropriate. 6. Requirement for independent study to map the global White identity terrorism movement (a) In general Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall enter into a contract with a federally funded research and development center with appropriate expertise and analytical capability to carry out the study described in subsection (b). (b) Study The study described in this subsection shall provide for a comprehensive social network analysis of the global White identity terrorism movement— (1) to identify key actors, organizations, and supporting infrastructure; and (2) to map the relationships and interactions between such actors, organizations, and supporting infrastructure. (c) Report (1) To the secretary Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Secretary of State enters into a contract pursuant to subsection (a), the federally funded research and development center referred to in such subsection shall submit to the Secretary a report containing the results of the study required under this section. (2) To congress Not later than 30 days after receipt of the report under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives such report, together with any additional views or recommendations of the Secretary.