Sec. 4. Authorization of the Office for Partnerships Against Violent Extremism of the Department of Homeland Security
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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: In this section— the term Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary for Partnerships Against Violent Extremism designated under subsection (c); 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; the term countering violent extremism — means proactive and relevant actions to— counter efforts by violent extremists to radicalize, recruit, and mobilize followers to violence; and address the conditions that allow for violent extremist recruitment and radicalization; and does not include disruptive actions that focus on stopping acts of terrorism by individuals who have already subscribed to violence; the term covered congressional committee means— the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate; the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives; and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives; and 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.
There is in the Department an Office for Partnerships Against Violent Extremism. 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. The Secretary shall— designate a career Deputy Assistant Secretary for Partnerships Against Violent Extremism; and assign permanent staff to, or hire permanent staff for, as appropriate, the Office for Partnerships Against Violent Extremism.
The Assistant Secretary shall be responsible for the following: 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: 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.
Working with civil society groups and communities to counter violent extremist communications, messaging, or recruitment. 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. Ensuring that relevant information, research, and products inform efforts to counter violent extremism.
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: The Department’s plan to leverage— new and existing Internet and other technologies and social media platforms to improve nongovernmental efforts to counter violent extremism; and the best practices and lessons learned from other Federal, State, local, tribal, territorial, and foreign partners engaged in similar counter-messaging efforts.
The Department’s countering violent extremism-related engagement efforts. The use of cooperative agreements with State, local, tribal, territorial, and other Federal departments and agencies responsible for efforts relating to countering violent extremism. 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.
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. Assessing the methods used by violent extremists to disseminate communications and messaging to communities at risk for recruitment by violent extremists.
Developing a digital engagement strategy that expands the outreach efforts of the Department to counter violent extremist messaging by— exploring ways to utilize relevant Internet and other technologies and social media platforms; and maximizing other resources available to the Department. 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.
Serving as the primary Department-level representative in coordinating with the Department of State on international countering violent extremism issues. 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. 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.
Administering the assistance under subsection (f). 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. The Assistant Secretary may, based on need, directly award competitive grants to or enter into cooperative agreements with— States; local governments; tribal governments; nonprofit organizations; or institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 )). 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: 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. 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. To develop and implement projects that partner with local communities to prevent radicalization to violence. 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. 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. 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. To develop or enhance State or local government initiatives that facilitate and build overall capacity to address the threats posed by violent extremism. To leverage emerging and existing social media and Internet platforms to directly and indirectly counter violent extremist communications. To support such other activities, consistent with the purposes of this subsection, as the Assistant Secretary determines appropriate. 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— the process for applying for grants and cooperative agreements under this subsection; the criteria that the Secretary will use for selecting recipients based on the need demonstrated by the applicant; and 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. In developing the requirements under subparagraph (A)(iii), the Assistant Secretary shall consider the following: Training objectives should be clearly defined to meet specific countering violent extremism goals, such as community engagement, cultural awareness, or community-based policing. 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. Training programs should— be sensitive to constitutional values, such as protecting fundamental civil rights and civil liberties, and eschew notions of racial and ethnic profiling; and 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. 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. Providing a review process to determine whether countering violent extremism training focuses on community engagement and outreach. Providing support to law enforcement agencies to enhance knowledge, skills, and abilities to increase engagement techniques with diverse communities in the United States. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Assistant Secretary $90,000,000 for each fiscal year to carry out this subsection. 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: A description of the status of the programs and policies of the Department for countering violent extremism in the United States, including— 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; the number of full-time employees dedicated to countering violent extremism programs; and the number of part-time employees supporting countering violent extremism programs. 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. 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. An accounting of— grants awarded by the Department to counter violent extremism; and all training specifically aimed at countering violent extremism sponsored by the Department. Details of the optimal level of personnel and funding for the Office for Partnerships Against Violent Extremism. An analysis of how the Department’s activities to counter violent extremism correspond and adapt to the threat environment. A summary of how civil rights and civil liberties are protected in the Department’s activities to counter violent extremism. An evaluation of the grant program established under subsection (f), including information on the effectiveness of such grants in countering violent extremism. 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. 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— 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 make publicly available on the website of the Department a report containing the results of the review conducted under paragraph (1). . 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. . Effective on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act— section 104 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by subsection (a), is repealed; and 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.
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- Pub. L. 107-296
- 116 Stat. 2135
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Sec. 4
Authorization of the Office for Partnerships Against Violent Extremism of the Department of Homeland Security
Pub. L.Pub. L. 107-296
Stat.116 Stat. 2135
Cites 4Cited by 0 across 0 sources