Sec. 1287. GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT CENTER
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## SEC. 1287 GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT CENTER **[**[22 U.S.C. 2656 note](/us/usc/t22/s2656)**]** ###
(a)Establishment ####
(1)In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall establish within the Department of State a Global Engagement Center (in this section referred to as the “Center”). ####
(2)Purpose The purpose of the Center shall be to direct, lead, synchronize, integrate, and coordinate efforts of the Federal Government to recognize, understand, expose, and counter foreign state and foreign non-state propaganda and disinformation efforts aimed at undermining or influencing the policies, security, or stability of the United States and United States allies and partner nations. ###
(b)Functions The Center shall carry out the following functions: ####
(1)Direct, lead, synchronize, integrate, and coordinate interagency and international efforts to track and evaluate counterfactual narratives abroad that threaten the policies, security, or stability of the United States and United States allies and partner nations. ####
(2)Analyze relevant information, data, analysis, and analytics from United States Government agencies, United States allies and partner nations, think tanks, academic institutions, civil society groups, and other nongovernmental organizations. ####
(3)As needed, support the development and dissemination of fact-based narratives and analysis to counter propaganda and disinformation directed at the United States and United States allies and partner nations. ####
(4)Identify current and emerging trends in foreign propaganda and disinformation in order to coordinate and shape the development of tactics, techniques, and procedures to expose and refute foreign propaganda and disinformation, and pro-actively support the promotion of credible, fact-based narratives and policies to audiences outside the United States. ####
(5)Facilitate the use of a wide range of technologies and techniques by sharing expertise among Federal departments and agencies, seeking expertise from external sources, and implementing best practices. ####
(6)Measure and evaluate the activities of the Center, including the outcomes of such activities, and implement mechanisms to ensure that the activities of the Center are updated to reflect the results of such measurement and evaluation. ####
(7)Identify gaps in United States capabilities in areas relevant to the purpose of the Center and recommend necessary enhancements or changes. ####
(8)Use information from appropriate interagency entities to identify the countries, geographic areas, and populations most susceptible to propaganda and disinformation, as well as the countries, geographic areas, and populations in which such propaganda and disinformation is likely to cause the most harm. ####
(9)Administer the information access fund established pursuant to subsection (f). ####
(10)Coordinate with United States allies and partner nations in order to amplify the Center’s efforts and avoid duplication. ####
(11)Maintain, collect, use, and disseminate records (as such term is defined in section 552a(a)(4) of title 5, United States Code) for research and data analysis of foreign state and non-state propaganda and disinformation efforts and communications related to public diplomacy efforts intended for foreign audiences. Such research and data analysis shall be reasonably tailored to meet the purposes of this paragraph and shall be carried out with due regard for privacy and civil liberties guidance and oversight. ###
(c)Head of Center ####
(1)Appointment The head of the Center shall be an individual who is an official of the Federal Government, who shall be appointed by the President. ####
(2)Compliance with privacy and civil liberties laws The President shall designate a senior official to develop guidance for the Center relating to relevant privacy and civil liberties laws and to ensure compliance with such guidance. ###
(d)Employees of the Center ####
(1)Detailees and assignees Any Federal Government employee may be detailed or assigned to the Center with or without reimbursement, consistent with applicable laws and regulations regarding such employee, and such detail or assignment shall be without interruption or loss of status or privilege. ####
(2)Temporary personnel The Secretary of State should, when hiring temporary United States citizen personnel, preference the use of Foreign Service limited appointments both in the United States and abroad in accordance with section 309 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3949). The Secretary may hire United States citizens or aliens, as appropriate, including as personal services contractors, for purposes of personnel resources of the Center, if— #####
(A)the Secretary determines that existing personnel resources or expertise are insufficient; #####
(B)the period in which services are provided by a personal services contractor, including options, does not exceed 3 years, unless the Secretary determines that exceptional circumstances justify an extension of up to one additional year; #####
(C)not more than 50 United States citizens or aliens are employed as personal services contractors under the authority of this paragraph at any time; and #####
(D)the authority of this paragraph is only used to obtain specialized skills or experience or to respond to urgent needs. ###
(e)Transfer of Amounts Authorized ####
(1)In general For each of fiscal years 2019 and 2020, the Secretary of Defense is authorized to transfer, from amounts appropriated to the Secretary pursuant to the authorization under this Act, to the Secretary of State not more than $60,000,000, to carry out the functions of the Center. ####
(2)Notice requirement The Secretary of Defense shall notify the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives of a proposed transfer under paragraph
(1)not less than 15 days prior to making such transfer. ####
(3)Inapplicability of reprogramming requirements The authority to transfer amounts under paragraph
(1)shall not be subject to any reprogramming requirement under any other provision of law. ###
(f)Information Access Fund ####
(1)Authority for grants The Center is authorized to provide grants or contracts of financial support to civil society groups, media content providers, nongovernmental organizations, federally funded research and development centers, private companies, or academic institutions for the following purposes: #####
(A)To support local entities and linkages among such entities, including independent media entities, that are best positioned to refute foreign propaganda and disinformation in affected communities. #####
(B)To collect and store examples of print, online, and social media disinformation and propaganda directed at the United States or United States allies and partner nations. #####
(C)To analyze and report on tactics, techniques, and procedures of foreign information warfare and other efforts with respect to disinformation and propaganda. #####
(D)To support efforts by the Center to counter efforts by foreign entities to use disinformation and propaganda to undermine or influence the policies, security, and social and political stability of the United States and United States allies and partner nations. ####
(2)Funding availability and limitations The Secretary of State shall provide that each entity that receives funds under this subsection is selected in accordance with the relevant existing regulations through a process that ensures such entity has the credibility and capability to carry out effectively and in accordance with United States interests and objectives the purposes specified in paragraph
(1)for which such entity received such funding. ###
(g)Reports ####
(1)In general Not later than one year after the date on which the Center is established, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report evaluating the success of the Center in carrying out its functions under subsection
(b)and outlining steps to improve any areas of deficiency. ####
(2)Definition In this subsection, the term “appropriate congressional committees” means— #####
(A)the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and #####
(B)the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Homeland Security, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. ###
(h)Congressional Briefings The Secretary of State, together with the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall provide a briefing to the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives not less often than annually regarding the activities of the Global Engagement Center. The briefings required under this subsection shall terminate on the date specified in subsection (j). ###
(i)Limitation None of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available to carry out this section shall be used for purposes other than countering foreign propaganda and misinformation that threatens United States national security. ###
(j)Termination The Center shall terminate on the date that is 8 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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