DHS INTELLIGENCE AND ANALYSIS OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY ACT

On 2024-12-18, Representative Laurel M. Lee (R-FL-15) delivered a floor speech titled "DHS INTELLIGENCE AND ANALYSIS OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY ACT" in the House. The speech addressed immigration and also covered taxes, the environment. It referenced legislation: HR8664.

DHS INTELLIGENCE AND ANALYSIS OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 170 Issue 188 (Wednesday, December 18, 2024) [Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 188 (Wednesday, December 18, 2024)] [House] [Pages H7343-H7344] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] DHS INTELLIGENCE AND ANALYSIS OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY ACT Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8664) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security to conduct an annual audit of the information systems and bulk data of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 8664 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 ``DHS Intelligence and Analysis Oversight and Transparency Act''. SEC. 2. ANNUAL AUDIT OF DHS OFFICE OF INTELLIGENCE AND ANALYSIS INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND BULK DATA. (a) In General.--Subtitle A of title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 121 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 210H. ANNUAL AUDIT OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND BULK DATA. ``(a) Definitions.--In this section: ``(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term `appropriate congressional committees' means the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives. ``(2) Bulk data.--The term `bulk data' means large quantities of data acquired without the use of discriminants, a significant portion of which are not reasonably likely to have intelligence or operational value. ``(3) Discriminants.--The term `discriminants' means identifiers and selection terms. ``(b) Annual Audits.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section and annually thereafter, the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis of the Department shall conduct an audit of the information systems and bulk data of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis, which shall be consistent with the intelligence oversight guidelines of the Office. ``(c) Notifications.--The Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis of the Department shall provide the appropriate congressional committees with-- ``(1) a notification not later than 30 days after the first analysis or other intelligence use by the Office of Intelligence and Analysis after the date of the enactment of this section of any new bulk data set and the associated terms and conditions; and ``(2) an update not later than 30 days after any changes to such associated terms and conditions related to the use of such a bulk data set. ``(d) Reports and Review.-- ``(1) Reports to congress.--Not later than 30 days after the conclusion of each audit [[Page H7344]] under subsection (b), the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis of the Department shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees the findings and results of such audit. ``(2) GAO review.--Not later than 4 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall provide the appropriate congressional committees a review of the implementation of the annual audit requirement under subsection (b), challenges to the implementation of such requirement, and recommendations for improving such audits.''. (b) Clerical 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 210G the following: ``Sec. 210H.Annual audit of information systems and bulk data.''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Green) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Kennedy) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee. General Leave Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 8664. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Tennessee? There was no objection. Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8664, the DHS Intelligence and Analysis Oversight and Transparency Act introduced by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Lee). DHS' Office of Intelligence and Analysis, or I&A, is required to audit bulk data transferred to or from I&A to appropriately limit intrusion into information related to the civil rights and liberties and other privacy concerns of Americans. A recent GAO study found I&A has not implemented guidelines to address this issue. Ms. Lee's bill would amend the Homeland Security Act to require I&A to conduct an annual audit and report to Congress on its progress. I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for her commonsense legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8664, the DHS Intelligence and Analysis Oversight and Transparency Act. H.R. 8664 would require the Undersecretary for Intelligence and Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security to annually audit and report to Congress on the information systems and bulk data of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis, or I&A. The bill would ensure such systems and data are consistent with oversight guidelines. Last year, at the request of Ranking Member Thompson, the Government Accountability Office issued a report that found that I&A is not auditing its information systems and bulk data. Such audits are necessary to ensure, for example, that information pertaining to U.S. persons that is collected, stored, shared, and managed in information systems is protected. The GAO report recommended that the Undersecretary identify who is responsible for conducting the audits of information systems and that the responsible official actually conduct them. This bill would simply codify the recommendations made in the GAO report. Mr. Speaker, I support this commonsense legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Lee). Ms. LEE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8664, the DHS Intelligence and Analysis Oversight and Transparency Act. Our public servants must carefully protect the personal information and data of Americans. Unfortunately, time and again, we have seen examples of agencies and bureaucrats who have failed to secure and protect our most sensitive information. A recent report from the Government Accountability Office found that the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Intelligence and Analysis, I&A, has not fully implemented oversight guidelines pertaining to bulk data collection activities and has not conducted an audit as outlined in the intelligence oversight guidelines. To ensure transparency and to protect Americans' civil liberties, privacy, and civil rights, my bill, the DHS Intelligence and Analysis Oversight and Transparency Act, will require DHS' I&A to conduct an annual audit to assess whether access to and searches of Americans' data are appropriately limited and in line with the I&A's intelligence guidelines. To further conduct oversight, this bill will require the Undersecretary for Intelligence and Analysis to submit a report to Congress that outlines the findings of every annual audit to ensure transparency for the American people. Americans deserve to know what data and information is being accessed by government agencies. This bill will make sure that entities responsible for conducting audits of information systems and bulk data are carrying out their duties in accordance with I&A's oversight guidelines. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 8664. Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, this bill would ensure that DHS' Office of Intelligence and Analysis audits their systems and data, and that personnel follow policies to protect the privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties of United States persons. I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Lee) for introducing the bill in response to oversight done by Democrats on the committee. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 8664, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I, again, urge my colleagues to support H.R. 8664, and I thank Ms. Lee for her hard work on this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Green) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 8664, as amended. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________

Referenced legislation: HR8664, HR8664