Bill Summary
The Strengthening Oversight of DHS Intelligence Act is a proposed bill to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 in order to improve the Department of Homeland Security's oversight of certain intelligence matters. It aims to ensure that any intelligence information is shared, retained, and disseminated in a manner that protects privacy rights, civil rights, and civil liberties. This will be determined by the Chief Privacy Officer and the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. The bill also requires the Department to coordinate with the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis to provide training to intelligence personnel on privacy rights, regulations, and information practices, as well as civil rights and civil liberties. This training will focus on personnel who have the authority to disseminate intelligence information or review information to be disseminated. Overall, the bill aims to improve the protection of privacy and civil rights in the handling of intelligence information within the Department of Homeland Security.
Possible Impacts
1. The bill could potentially enhance the protection of privacy rights, civil rights, and civil liberties for individuals by requiring the Chief Privacy Officer and Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to determine how intelligence information is shared, retained, and disseminated.
2. The bill could also potentially increase oversight of the Department of Homeland Security's handling of intelligence information, ensuring that it is shared, retained, and disseminated in a manner consistent with the protection of privacy rights and civil rights.
3. The bill could require training for intelligence personnel on privacy rights, regulations, and information practices, which could potentially lead to better protection of individuals' privacy and civil rights.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2261 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2261
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance the Department of
Homeland Securitys oversight of certain intelligence matters, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 21, 2025
Mr. Hernandez introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Homeland Security
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance the Department of
Homeland Securitys oversight of certain intelligence matters, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening Oversight of DHS
Intelligence Act''.
SEC. 2. ENHANCED DHS OVERSIGHT OF CERTAIN INTELLIGENCE MATTERS.
The Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended--
(1) in paragraph (9) of section 201(d) (6 U.S.C. 121(d))--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after
the semicolon;
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(C) any intelligence information under this Act
is shared, retained, and disseminated consistent with
the protection of privacy rights, civil rights, and
civil liberties, as determined, respectively, by the
Chief Privacy Officer and the Officer for Civil Rights
and Civil Liberties.'';
(2) in subsection (a) of section 222 (6 U.S.C. 142)--
(A) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking ``and'' after
the semicolon;
(B) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(7) coordinating with the Under Secretary for
Intelligence and Analysis to--
``(A) ensure that any intelligence information
under this Act is shared, retained, and disseminated in
a manner consistent with the protection of the privacy
rights; and
``(B) provide training to intelligence personnel on
privacy rights, regulations, and information practices
as specified in section 552a of title 5, United States
Code (commonly referred to as the `Privacy Act of
1974') and other relevant laws, with a focus on
personnel who have authority to disseminate information
analyzed by the Department pursuant to paragraph (6) of
section 201(d) or the responsibility to review
information to be disseminated pursuant to such
paragraph.''; and
(3) in subsection (a) of section 705 (6 U.S.C. 345)--
(A) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking ``and'' after
the semicolon;
(B) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and
inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(7) coordinate with the Under Secretary for Intelligence
and Analysis to--
``(A) ensure that any intelligence information
under this Act is shared, retained, and disseminated in
a manner consistent with the protection of civil rights
and civil liberties; and
``(B) provide training to intelligence personnel on
civil rights and civil liberties, with a focus on
personnel who have authority to disseminate information
analyzed by the Department pursuant to paragraph (6) of
section 201(d) or the responsibility to review
information to be disseminated pursuant to such
paragraph.''.
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