Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act

Bill: 119-hr-901
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Strong, Dale W. [R-AL-5]
Introduced: 2025-01-31
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Government information and archives

Research and development

U.S. and foreign investments
Latest action: action_date: 2025-03-11
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-01-31
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act</strong></p><p>This bill requires the Science and Technology Directorate in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop a department-wide policy for safeguarding research and development from unauthorized access or disclosures of sensitive information in related acquisitions.</p><p>Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must report on the compliance of DHS with a 2021 presidential memorandum and related guidance that required certain disclosures about government-funded research and development (e.g., conflicts of interest involving foreign governments).</p>

tv_txt: IIB 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 901 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 11 (legislative day, March 10), 2025 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs AN ACT To require the Under Secretary of the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security to develop a Department-wide policy and process to safeguard research and development from unauthorized access to or disclosure of sensitive information in research and development acquisitions, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act . 2. Safeguarding sensitive research in the Department of Homeland Security (a) In general Section 302 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 182 ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (13), by striking and after the semicolon; (2) in paragraph (14), by striking the period and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (15) developing, in coordination with appropriate agency officials, a Department-wide policy and process to safeguard research and development from unauthorized access to or disclosure of sensitive information in research and development acquisitions. . (b) GAO report (1) In general Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 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 how the Department of Homeland Security has complied with National Security Presidential Memorandum–33 (NSPM–33) and adopted the National Science and Technology Council’s 2022 implementation guidance. (2) Elements The report required under paragraph (1) shall address the following: (A) How the Department of Homeland Security has complied with disclosure requirements outlined in NSPM–33, and how violations are reported to the relevant executive agencies, including in the intelligence community (as such term is defined in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 ( 50 U.S.C. 3003(4) ). (B) Coordination and compliance with guidelines established by the National Science Foundation, the National Science Technology Council, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and other executive agencies regarding Federal research security. (C) The role of the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department regarding establishing a research security framework for research and development projects across the Department. (c) Congressional briefing Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a briefing addressing the development of policies and processes to safeguard Department of Homeland Security research and development in accordance with paragraph (15) of section 302 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 182 ), as added by subsection (a).

Passed the House of Representatives March 10, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 901 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To require the Under Secretary of the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security to develop a Department-wide policy and process to safeguard research and development from unauthorized access to or disclosure of sensitive information in research and development acquisitions, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act . 2. Safeguarding sensitive research in the Department of Homeland Security (a) In general Section 302 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 182 ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (13), by striking and after the semicolon; (2) in paragraph (14), by striking the period and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (15) developing, in coordination with appropriate agency officials, a Department-wide policy and process to safeguard research and development from unauthorized access to or disclosure of sensitive information in research and development acquisitions. . (b) GAO report (1) In general Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 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 how the Department of Homeland Security has complied with National Security Presidential Memorandum–33 (NSPM–33) and adopted the National Science and Technology Council’s 2022 implementation guidance. (2) Elements The report required under paragraph (1) shall address the following: (A) How the Department of Homeland Security has complied with disclosure requirements outlined in NSPM–33, and how violations are reported to the relevant executive agencies, including in the intelligence community (as such term is defined in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 ( 50 U.S.C. 3003(4) ). (B) Coordination and compliance with guidelines established by the National Science Foundation, the National Science Technology Council, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and other executive agencies regarding Federal research security. (C) The role of the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department regarding establishing a research security framework for research and development projects across the Department. (c) Congressional briefing Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a briefing addressing the development of policies and processes to safeguard Department of Homeland Security research and development in accordance with paragraph (15) of section 302 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 182 ), as added by subsection (a).

Passed the House of Representatives March 10, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 901 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 31, 2025 Mr. Strong (for himself, Mr. Green of Tennessee , and Mr. Evans of Colorado ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security A BILL To require the Under Secretary of the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security to develop a Department-wide policy and process to safeguard research and development from unauthorized access to or disclosure of sensitive information in research and development acquisitions, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act . 2. Safeguarding sensitive research in the Department of Homeland Security (a) In general Section 302 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 182 ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (13), by striking and after the semicolon; (2) in paragraph (14), by striking the period and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (15) developing, in coordination with appropriate agency officials, a Department-wide policy and process to safeguard research and development from unauthorized access to or disclosure of sensitive information in research and development acquisitions. . (b) GAO report (1) In general Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 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 how the Department of Homeland Security has complied with National Security Presidential Memorandum–33 (NSPM–33) and adopted the National Science and Technology Council’s 2022 implementation guidance. (2) Elements The report required under paragraph (1) shall address the following: (A) How the Department of Homeland Security has complied with disclosure requirements outlined in NSPM–33, and how violations are reported to the relevant executive agencies, including in the intelligence community (as such term is defined in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 ( 50 U.S.C. 3003(4) ). (B) Coordination and compliance with guidelines established by the National Science Foundation, the National Science Technology Council, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and other executive agencies regarding Federal research security. (C) The role of the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department regarding establishing a research security framework for research and development projects across the Department. (c) Congressional briefing Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a briefing addressing the development of policies and processes to safeguard Department of Homeland Security research and development in accordance with paragraph (15) of section 302 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 182 ), as added by subsection (a).