[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3456 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
114th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3456
To establish the Office for Partnerships Against Violent Extremism of
the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 28, 2016
Mr. Booker (for himself, Mr. Murphy, and Mr. Schatz) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Office for Partnerships Against Violent Extremism of
the Department of Homeland Security, 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 ``Empowering Partners to Counter
Violent Extremism Act of 2016''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
Except as otherwise provided in section 8, in this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House
of Representatives.
(2) Center for homeland security.--The term ``center for
homeland security'' means a university-based center the
Secretary of Homeland Security designates under section
308(b)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C.
188(b)(2)).
(3) Countering violent extremism.--The terms ``countering
violent extremism'' and ``CVE'' mean proactive and relevant
actions to--
(A) counter recruitment, radicalization, and
mobilization to violence; and
(B) address the immediate factors that lead to
violent extremism and radicalization.
(4) Countering violent extremism lab.--The terms
``Countering Violent Extremism Lab'' and ``CVE Lab'' mean a
physical space and academic program at a center for homeland
security designated for participating students to develop and
test technology-based or data-driven CVE solutions.
(5) Domestic terrorism; international terrorism.--The terms
``domestic terrorism'' and ``international terrorism'' have the
meanings given those terms in section 2331 of title 18, United
States Code.
(6) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
(7) Office for partnerships against violent extremism.--The
term ``Office for Partnerships Against Violent Extremism''
means the Office established under section 104 of the Homeland
Security Act of 2002, as added by section 4(a).
(8) Participating student.--The term ``participating
student'' means a student participating in a CVE Lab.
(9) Radicalization.--The term ``radicalization'' means the
process by which an individual chooses to facilitate or commit
domestic terrorism or international terrorism.
(10) Technology-based or data-driven cve solution.--The
term ``technology-based or data-driven CVE solution'' means an
instrument developed by a participating student under section
5(b)(1) that--
(A) appeals to young consumers of online and social
media;
(B) counters online recruitment of violent
extremists or builds resilience against online
extremist recruitment amongst participating students'
peers; and
(C) operates on a technological platform or is
technological in nature, including social media
campaigns and mobile software applications.
(11) Violent extremism.--The term ``violent extremism''
means domestic terrorism or international terrorism.
SEC. 3. FINDINGS.
Congress finds and declares the following:
(1) Countering violent extremism is not the work of
government alone, and countering radicalization to violence is
frequently best achieved by engaging and empowering individuals
and groups at the local level to build resilience against
violent extremism.
(2) The Federal Government must strengthen partnerships and
networks among local stakeholders in order to develop tailored
programs to counter violent extremists that incorporate local
conditions, challenges, and opportunities.
(3) The multipronged effort to degrade and destroy violent
extremist groups must include efforts to counter messaging that
can recruit or inspire followers around the world to join such
groups.
(4) The ability to rapidly disseminate images and ideas to
shape the public narrative makes social media a strategic
messaging and recruitment mechanism for a variety of different
groups, including--
(A) human rights and political organizations;
(B) governments; and
(C) terrorists and insurgent groups.
(5) Due to the strategic role the Internet plays in
recruitment to terrorist violence, online counter-narratives
promoted by nongovernmental peers are most likely to directly
reach and resonate with individuals who aspire to become
foreign fighters or carry out terrorist attacks.
(6) Acts of violent extremism committed in the United
States include--
(A) the homegrown violent extremist attack on June
12, 2016, in Orlando, which killed 49 people;
(B) the April 19, 1995, anti-government violent
extremist bombing of the Federal building in Oklahoma
City, which killed 168 people, including 19 children;
(C) the November 5, 2009, attack at Fort Hood,
inspired by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which
killed 13 soldiers;
(D) the August 5, 2012, White supremacist attack on
a Sikh place of worship in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, which
killed 6 people;
(E) the anti-Semitic shootings by a member of the
Ku Klux Klan on April 13, 2014, at a Jewish community
center and retirement community in Overland Park,
Kansas, which killed 3 people;
(F) the November 15, 2015, shooting at an abortion
clinic in Colorado Springs, which killed 3 people; and
(G) the February 10, 2015, execution of 3 American
Muslims in Chapel Hill.
(7) Former violent extremists can be powerful messengers in
debunking terrorist ideologies because they have credibility,
and the Department of State has successfully used defectors in
counter-messaging against the Islamic State of Iraq and the
Levant (commonly known as ``ISIL'').
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF THE OFFICE FOR PARTNERSHIPS AGAINST VIOLENT
EXTREMISM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.
(a) In General.--Title I of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6
U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 104. OFFICE FOR PARTNERSHIPS AGAINST VIOLENT EXTREMISM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
``(1) the term `Assistant Secretary' means the Assistant
Secretary for Partnerships Against Violent Extremism designated
under subsection (c);
``(2) the term `communities at risk' does not include a
community that is determined to be at risk solely on the basis
of race, religious affiliation, or ethnicity;
``(3) the term `countering violent extremism'--
``(A) means proactive and relevant actions to--
``(i) counter efforts by violent extremists
to radicalize, recruit, and mobilize followers
to violence; and
``(ii) address the conditions that allow
for violent extremist recruitment and
radicalization; and
``(B) does not include disruptive actions that
focus on stopping acts of terrorism by individuals who
have already subscribed to violence;
``(4) the term `covered congressional committee' means--
``(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
``(B) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;
``(C) the Committee on Homeland Security of the
House of Representatives; and
``(D) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House
of Representatives; and
``(5) the term `violent extremism' means politically,
racially, or ideologically motivated international terrorism or
domestic terrorism, as those terms are defined in section 2331
of title 18, United States Code.
``(b) Establishment.--There is in the Department an Office for
Partnerships Against Violent Extremism.
``(c) Head of Office.--The Office shall be headed by an Assistant
Secretary for Partnerships Against Violent Extremism, who shall be
designated by the Secretary and report directly to the Secretary.
``(d) Deputy Assistant Secretary; Assignment of Personnel.--The
Secretary shall--
``(1) designate a career Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Partnerships Against Violent Extremism; and
``(2) assign permanent staff to, or hire permanent staff
for, as appropriate, the Office for Partnerships Against
Violent Extremism.
``(e) Responsibilities.--The Assistant Secretary shall be
responsible for the following:
``(1) Leading the efforts of the Department to counter
violent extremism across all the components and offices of the
Department that conduct strategic and supportive efforts to
counter violent extremism. Such efforts shall include the
following:
``(A) Partnering with communities to prevent
violent extremists from targeting members of those
communities in the United States for radicalization and
recruitment and explore potential remedies for
Government and nongovernmental institutions.
``(B) Working with civil society groups and
communities to counter violent extremist
communications, messaging, or recruitment.
``(C) In coordination with the Office for Civil
Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department, managing
the outreach and engagement efforts of the Department
directed toward working with communities to mitigate
the risk of radicalization and recruitment for violent
extremist activities.
``(D) Ensuring that relevant information, research,
and products inform efforts to counter violent
extremism.
``(E) Developing and maintaining Department-wide
strategy, plans, policies, and programs to counter
violent extremism. Such plans shall, at a minimum,
address each of the following:
``(i) The Department's plan to leverage--
``(I) new and existing Internet and
other technologies and social media
platforms to improve nongovernmental
efforts to counter violent extremism;
and
``(II) the best practices and
lessons learned from other Federal,
State, local, tribal, territorial, and
foreign partners engaged in similar
counter-messaging efforts.
``(ii) The Department's countering violent
extremism-related engagement efforts.
``(iii) The use of cooperative agreements
with State, local, tribal, territorial, and
other Federal departments and agencies
responsible for efforts relating to countering
violent extremism.
``(F) Coordinating with the Office for Civil Rights
and Civil Liberties of the Department to ensure the
activities of the Department related to countering
violent extremism fully respect the privacy, civil
rights, and civil liberties of all persons.
``(G) In coordination with the Under Secretary for
Science and Technology and in consultation with the
Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis,
identifying and recommending new empirical research and
analysis requirements to ensure the dissemination of
information and methods for Federal, State, local,
tribal, and territorial countering violent extremism
practitioners, officials, law enforcement officers, and
nongovernmental partners to utilize such research and
analysis.
``(H) Assessing the methods used by violent
extremists to disseminate communications and messaging
to communities at risk for recruitment by violent
extremists.
``(2) Developing a digital engagement strategy that expands
the outreach efforts of the Department to counter violent
extremist messaging by--
``(A) exploring ways to utilize relevant Internet
and other technologies and social media platforms; and
``(B) maximizing other resources available to the
Department.
``(3) Serving as the primary representative of the
Department in coordinating countering violent extremism efforts
with the CVE Task Force hosted by the Department and with other
Federal departments and agencies and nongovernmental
organizations.
``(4) Serving as the primary Department-level
representative in coordinating with the Department of State on
international countering violent extremism issues.
``(5) Providing guidance to the Administrator of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency regarding the use of grants
made to State, local, and tribal governments under sections
2003 and 2004 under the allowable uses guidelines related to
countering violent extremism.
``(6) Developing a plan to expand philanthropic support for
domestic efforts related to countering violent extremism,
including by identifying viable community projects and needs
for possible philanthropic support.
``(7) Administering the assistance under subsection (f).
``(f) Grants To Counter Violent Extremism.--
``(1) In general.--In accordance with this subsection, the
Assistant Secretary may award grants directly to, or enter into
cooperative agreements directly with, eligible recipients
identified under paragraph (2) to support the efforts of local
communities in the United States to counter violent extremism.
``(2) Eligible recipients.--The Assistant Secretary may,
based on need, directly award competitive grants to or enter
into cooperative agreements with--
``(A) States;
``(B) local governments;
``(C) tribal governments;
``(D) nonprofit organizations; or
``(E) institutions of higher education (as defined
in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001)).
``(3) Use of funds.--Each entity receiving a grant or
entering into a cooperative agreement under this subsection
shall use the amounts made available under the grant or
cooperative agreement for one or more of the following
purposes:
``(A) To train or exercise for countering violent
extremism, including building training or exercise
programs designed to improve cultural competency and to
ensure that communities, government, and law
enforcement receive accurate, intelligence-based
information about the dynamics of radicalization to
violence.
``(B) To develop, implement, or expand programs or
projects with communities to discuss violent extremism
or to engage communities that may be targeted by
violent extremist radicalization.
``(C) To develop and implement projects that
partner with local communities to prevent
radicalization to violence.
``(D) To develop and implement a comprehensive
model for preventing violent extremism in local
communities, including existing initiatives of State or
local law enforcement agencies and existing mechanisms
for engaging the resources and expertise available from
a range of social service providers, such as education
administrators, mental health professionals, and
religious leaders.
``(E) To educate the community about countering
violent extremism, including the promotion of
community-based activities to increase the measures
taken by the community to counter violent extremism.
``(F) To develop or assist social service programs
that address root causes of violent extremism and
develop, build, or enhance alternatives for members of
local communities that may be targeted by violent
extremism.
``(G) To develop or enhance State or local
government initiatives that facilitate and build
overall capacity to address the threats posed by
violent extremism.
``(H) To leverage emerging and existing social
media and Internet platforms to directly and indirectly
counter violent extremist communications.
``(I) To support such other activities, consistent
with the purposes of this subsection, as the Assistant
Secretary determines appropriate.
``(4) Grant guidelines.--
``(A) In general.--For each fiscal year, before
awarding a grant or cooperative agreement under this
subsection, the Assistant Secretary shall develop
guidelines published in a notice of funding opportunity
that describe--
``(i) the process for applying for grants
and cooperative agreements under this
subsection;
``(ii) the criteria that the Secretary will
use for selecting recipients based on the need
demonstrated by the applicant; and
``(iii) the requirements that recipients
must follow when utilizing funds under this
subsection to conduct training and exercises
and otherwise engage local communities
regarding countering violent extremism.
``(B) Considerations.--In developing the
requirements under subparagraph (A)(iii), the Assistant
Secretary shall consider the following:
``(i) Training objectives should be clearly
defined to meet specific countering violent
extremism goals, such as community engagement,
cultural awareness, or community-based
policing.
``(ii) Engaging diverse communities in the
United States to counter violent extremism may
require working with local grassroots community
organizations to develop engagement and
outreach initiatives.
``(iii) Training programs should--
``(I) be sensitive to
constitutional values, such as
protecting fundamental civil rights and
civil liberties, and eschew notions of
racial and ethnic profiling; and
``(II) adhere to the standards and
ethics of the Department, ensuring that
the clearly defined objectives are in
line with the strategies of the
Department to counter violent
extremism.
``(iv) Establishing vetting procedures for
self-selected countering violent extremism
training experts who offer programs that may
claim to counter violent extremism, but serve
to demonize certain individuals or whole cross
sections of a community.
``(v) Providing a review process to
determine whether countering violent extremism
training focuses on community engagement and
outreach.
``(vi) Providing support to law enforcement
agencies to enhance knowledge, skills, and
abilities to increase engagement techniques
with diverse communities in the United States.
``(5) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Assistant Secretary $90,000,000 for
each fiscal year to carry out this subsection.
``(g) Annual Report.--During the first fiscal year beginning after
the date of enactment of this section, and during each of the next 5
fiscal years, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to Congress an
annual report on the Office for Partnerships Against Violent Extremism
that includes the following:
``(1) A description of the status of the programs and
policies of the Department for countering violent extremism in
the United States, including--
``(A) the budget of the Department for countering
violent extremism, which shall include an accounting of
all funding amounts for all programs, initiatives, and
personnel of the Department related to countering
violent extremism;
``(B) the number of full-time employees dedicated
to countering violent extremism programs; and
``(C) the number of part-time employees supporting
countering violent extremism programs.
``(2) A description of the efforts of the Office for
Partnerships Against Violent Extremism to cooperate with and
provide assistance to other Federal departments and agencies.
``(3) Qualitative and quantitative metrics for evaluating
the success of the programs and policies described in paragraph
(1) and the steps taken to evaluate the success of those
programs and policies.
``(4) An accounting of--
``(A) grants awarded by the Department to counter
violent extremism; and
``(B) all training specifically aimed at countering
violent extremism sponsored by the Department.
``(5) Details of the optimal level of personnel and funding
for the Office for Partnerships Against Violent Extremism.
``(6) An analysis of how the Department's activities to
counter violent extremism correspond and adapt to the threat
environment.
``(7) A summary of how civil rights and civil liberties are
protected in the Department's activities to counter violent
extremism.
``(8) An evaluation of the grant program established under
subsection (f), including information on the effectiveness of
such grants in countering violent extremism.
``(9) A description of how the Office for Partnerships
Against Violent Extremism has incorporated lessons learned from
the countering violent extremism programs and policies of
foreign, State, local, tribal, and territorial governments and
stakeholder communities.
``(h) Annual Review.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this section, and each year thereafter, the Office for
Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department shall--
``(1) conduct a review of the activities of the Office for
Partnerships Against Violent Extremism to ensure that the
activities that relate to countering violent extremism respect
the privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties of all persons;
and
``(2) make publicly available on the website of the
Department a report containing the results of the review
conducted under paragraph (1).''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents in
section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296;
116 Stat. 2135) is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 103 the following:
``Sec. 104. Office for Partnerships Against Violent Extremism.''.
(c) Sunset.--Effective on the date that is 7 years after the date
of enactment of this Act--
(1) section 104 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as
added by subsection (a), is repealed; and
(2) the table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland
Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296; 116 Stat. 2135) is
amended by striking the item relating to section 104.
SEC. 5. STRATEGY TO COUNTER VIOLENT EXTREMISM IN THE UNITED STATES.
(a) Definitions.--In this section--
(1) the term ``covered congressional committee'' means--
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House
of Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives; and
(2) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Homeland
Security.
(b) Strategy.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to each covered congressional
committee a comprehensive Department of Homeland Security strategy to
counter violent extremism in the United States.
(c) Contents of Strategy.--The strategy required under subsection
(b) shall, at a minimum, address each of the following:
(1) The digital engagement effort of the Department of
Homeland Security, including a plan to leverage new and
existing Internet, digital, and other technologies and social
media platforms to counter violent extremism, as well as the
best practices and lessons learned from other Federal, State,
local, tribal, territorial, nongovernmental, and foreign
partners engaged in similar counter-messaging activities.
(2) The countering violent extremism-related engagement and
outreach activities of the Department of Homeland Security.
(3) The use of cooperative agreements with State, local,
tribal, territorial, and other Federal departments and agencies
responsible for activities relating to countering violent
extremism.
(4) Ensuring all activities related to countering violent
extremism adhere to applicable guidance of the Department of
Homeland Security and the Department of Justice regarding
privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties, including
safeguards against discrimination.
(5) The development of qualitative and quantitative
outcome-based metrics to evaluate the programs and policies of
the Department of Homeland Security to counter violent
extremism.
(6) An analysis of the homeland security risk posed by
violent extremism based on the threat environment and empirical
data assessing--
(A) terrorist activities and incidents; and
(B) violent extremist communications, messaging, or
recruitment.
(7) Information on the near-term, mid-term, and long-term
risk-based goals of the Department of Homeland Security for
countering violent extremism, reflecting the risk analysis
conducted under paragraph (6).
(d) Strategic Considerations.--In drafting the strategy required
under subsection (b), the Secretary shall consider including the
following:
(1) Efforts of the Department of Homeland Security to
undertake research to improve the understanding of the
Department of Homeland Security of the risk of violent
extremism and to identify ways to improve countering violent
extremism activities and programs, including outreach,
training, and information sharing programs.
(2) The opportunities and challenges associated with the
establishment of the grant program under section 104(f) of the
Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by section 4.
(3) The nondiscrimination policies of the Department of
Homeland Security that relate to countering violent extremism.
(4) Efforts of the Department of Homeland Security to help
promote community engagement and partnerships to counter
violent extremism in furtherance of the strategy.
(5) Efforts of the Department of Homeland Security to help
increase support for programs and initiatives to counter
violent extremism of other Federal, State, local, tribal,
territorial, nongovernmental, and foreign partners that are in
furtherance of the strategy, and that adhere to all relevant
constitutional, legal, and privacy protections.
(6) Efforts of the Department of Homeland Security to use
cooperative agreements with State, local, tribal, territorial,
and other Federal departments and agencies responsible for
efforts relating to countering violent extremism, and
information regarding the effectiveness of those efforts.
(7) Information on oversight mechanisms and protections to
ensure that activities and programs carried out under the
strategy adhere to all relevant constitutional, legal, and
privacy protections.
(8) Efforts of the Department of Homeland Security to
conduct oversight of all countering violent extremism training
and training materials and other resources developed or funded
by the Department.
(9) Efforts of the Department of Homeland Security to
foster transparency by making, to the extent practicable, all
regulations, guidance, documents, policies, and training
materials publicly available.
(e) Strategic Implementation Plan.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date on
which the Secretary submits the strategy required under
subsection (b), the Secretary shall submit to each covered
congressional committee an implementation plan for each of the
components and offices of the Department of Homeland Security
with responsibilities under the strategy.
(2) Contents.--The implementation plan required under
paragraph (1) shall include an integrated master schedule and
cost estimate for activities and programs contained in the
implementation plan, with specificity on how each activity and
program aligns with near-term, mid-term, and long-term goals
specified in the strategy required under subsection (b).
SEC. 6. COUNTERING ONLINE RECRUITMENT OF VIOLENT EXTREMISTS.
(a) Establishment of Countering Violent Extremism Labs.--In
carrying out clause (xv) of section 308(b)(2)(B) of the Homeland
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 188(b)(2)(B)), as added by subsection
(d), the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Under
Secretary for Science and Technology and in coordination with the
Office for Partnerships Against Violent Extremism, may--
(1) establish one or more CVE Labs; and
(2) reprioritize grants to centers for homeland security to
fund each CVE Lab.
(b) Functions and Requirements of Countering Violent Extremism
Labs.--
(1) Requirements.--The head of an institution of higher
education at which a CVE Lab is established shall ensure that
the faculty of the CVE Lab--
(A) create a curriculum for participating students
to develop and test technology-based or data-driven CVE
solutions that--
(i) may be drawn from pre-existing
curricula or courses at an institution of
higher education;
(ii) incorporates a CVE orientation program
for students participating in the CVE Lab that
is informed by cross-cultural communication
issues experienced by CVE practitioners; and
(iii) incorporates technology-based or
data-driven business development curricula;
(B) invite Federal Government officials to
participate in the orientation required under
subparagraph (A)(ii);
(C) provide each participating student a CVE safety
briefing by Federal Government officials during the
orientation required under subparagraph (A)(ii) that
outlines precautions participating students can take to
protect themselves from becoming a target of
terrorists; and
(D) supervise any deployment of a technology-based
or data-driven CVE solution by a participating student.
(2) Additional functions of countering violent extremism
labs.--The head of an institution of higher education at which
a CVE Lab is established shall ensure that the faculty of the
CVE Lab, in coordination with the Department of Homeland
Security and other appropriate entities including each CVE
Lab--
(A) develop a framework for participation and
support of other programs that encourage students to
develop peer-to-peer solutions for CVE;
(B) develop a common inventory of research, in
conjunction with other university-based centers for
homeland security that establish CVE Labs, on core CVE
issues to inform CVE Lab curricula in subsequent years;
and
(C) identify experts in CVE who can apply the
technology-based or data-driven CVE solutions to target
individuals who are susceptible to recruitment to
violent extremism.
(3) Administration of cve lab.--The head of an institution
of higher education at which a CVE Lab is established--
(A) may--
(i) determine the department and faculty of
the institution of higher education that will
be responsible for administering the CVE Lab;
and
(ii) have final approval of which students
will participate in the CVE Lab; and
(B) shall ensure that the faculty administering the
CVE Lab, additional CVE Lab instructors and advisors,
and participating students represent an
interdisciplinary cross-section of the institution of
higher education, including disciplines not
traditionally associated with counterterrorism.
(c) Assessment and Report.--
(1) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which
a CVE Lab is first established, the head of the institution of
higher education at which the CVE Lab is established shall
submit to the Secretary of Homeland Security and the
appropriate congressional committees a report regarding the
impact of the CVE Lab.
(2) Assessment.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting
through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology and in
coordination with the Office for Partnerships Against Violent
Extremism, shall--
(A) commission an independent third-party
assessment of the impact of each CVE Lab; and
(B) not later than 180 days after the date on which
the assessment required under subparagraph (A) is
completed, provide the assessment to the appropriate
congressional committees.
(d) Functions of Centers for Homeland Security.--Section
308(b)(2)(B) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C.
188(b)(2)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(xv) Countering violent extremism.''.
(e) Sunset.--Effective on the date that is 7 years after the date
of enactment of this Act, subsections (a) through (d) are repealed.
SEC. 7. PUBLIC TESTIMONIALS FROM FORMER VIOLENT EXTREMISTS.
(a) Incorporation of Testimonials.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security and the
Secretary of State shall incorporate, to the extent
practicable, into efforts of the Department of Homeland
Security and the Department of State to combat terrorist
recruitment and communications the public testimonials of
former or estranged violent extremists or their associates,
including friends and family.
(2) Types of efforts.--The efforts made under paragraph (1)
may include the following:
(A) Strategic communications efforts to counter-
message the communications and narratives of violent
extremists.
(B) Related community engagement and public
education efforts that have the goal of decreasing
recruitment into violent extremist organizations.
(b) Coordination.--The Secretary of Homeland Security and the
Secretary of State shall--
(1) where appropriate, coordinate the actions described in
subsection (a) with the heads of other Federal departments and
agencies; and
(2) as appropriate and to the extent practicable, engage
nongovernmental and international partners in the
identification and use of testimonials described in subsection
(a).
(c) Reports.--
(1) Initial report.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security,
in concert with the Secretary of State, shall submit to
Congress a report detailing any ways in which existing laws may
constrain or complicate the ability of the Department of
Homeland Security or the Department of State to collect
testimonials of former or estranged violent extremists or
incorporate those testimonials into efforts of the applicable
Department to combat terrorist recruitment and communications,
as required under subsection (a).
(2) Annual homeland security report.--The Secretary of
Homeland Security shall submit to Congress an annual report
that includes--
(A) qualitative and quantitative metrics for
evaluating the success of the efforts of the Secretary
under subsection (a);
(B) a description of the steps taken by the
Secretary to evaluate the success of the efforts of the
Secretary under subsection (a); and
(C) a summary of how the Secretary ensures the
protection of civil rights and civil liberties in
incorporating testimonials under subsection (a).
(d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed
to require the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Secretary of State
to collect testimonials directly from former violent extremists or
their associates, including friends and family.
SEC. 8. STUDENTS AGAINST VIOLENT EXTREMISM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) ISIS.--The term ``ISIS'' means the Islamic State of
Iraq and Syria, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the
Levant.
(2) Participating student.--The term ``participating
student'' means a student participating in--
(A) a course under the program implemented under
subsection (b); or
(B) another similar course at an institution of
higher education.
(3) Target audience.--The term ``target audience'' means an
individual or group selected for influence, whose selection is
not made solely due to race, religion, or ethnic background.
(b) Authorization of Students Against Violent Extremism Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting
through the Office for Partnerships Against Violent Extremism,
may implement a program that facilitates groups of students at
institutions of higher education throughout the world in
designing, piloting, implementing, and measuring the success of
a social or digital initiative, product, or tool that counters
the messaging of international or domestic terrorist
organizations communications and narratives as part of, or in
addition to, existing countering violent extremism efforts.
(2) Requirements.--The program implemented under paragraph
(1) shall--
(A) be administered by a professor, part time, full
time, or adjunct, or other instructor at a
participating institution of higher education who is
selected by the institution of higher education;
(B) include the production of peer-appropriate
social and digital media campaigns;
(C) be renewed on an annual basis at each
participating institution of higher education; and
(D) require that each participating institution of
higher education adhere to all policies of the program,
as determined by the Office for Partnerships Against
Violent Extremism, including--
(i) the provision of a faculty mentor for
the program; and
(ii) the reporting of program metrics to
the Office for Partnerships Against Violent
Extremism, as requested.
(3) Training.--The Office for Partnerships Against Violent
Extremism shall coordinate with the Officer for Civil Rights
and Civil Liberties of the Department of Homeland Security to
ensure that participants in the program implemented under
paragraph (1) receive training in order to respect the privacy,
civil rights, and civil liberties of all individuals in the
program's target audiences and eschew notions of racial and
ethnic profiling.
(c) Assessment and Report.--
(1) Report on implementation.--Beginning in the first
fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act
and each fiscal year thereafter until the program described in
subsection (b) is implemented, the Office for Partnerships
Against Violent Extremism shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report on the status of the
implementation of the program.
(2) Assessments.--Beginning in the first fiscal year
beginning after the date on which the program described in
subsection (b) is implemented and in each of the 4 fiscal years
thereafter, the Office for Partnerships Against Violent
Extremism shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a report evaluating the program, which shall
include--
(A) the number of students participating in the
program;
(B) the number and names of institutions of higher
education that are hosting the program in the United
States and internationally;
(C) an evaluation, using empirical evidence, of the
effectiveness of the program in empowering university
students to develop digital content that counters
violent extremist messaging;
(D) the metrics used to evaluate the effectiveness
of the program in reducing violent extremism;
(E) recommendations for improving or expanding
existing training opportunities and training
participation;
(F) the criteria used by participating students to
select target audiences; and
(G) the raw data reported by the institutions of
higher education to the Office for Partnerships Against
Violent Extremism under subsection (b)(2)(D)(ii).
(d) Sunset.--This section shall expire on the date that is 5 years
after the date of enactment of this Act.
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