[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5681 Introduced in House (IH)]
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115th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5681
To amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 to
clarify certain responsibilities of the Global Engagement Center of the
Department of State, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 7, 2018
Mr. Schneider (for himself and Mr. Ted Lieu of California) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 to
clarify certain responsibilities of the Global Engagement Center of the
Department of State, 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 ``Global Engagement Center Authorities
Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT CENTER.
Section 1287 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2017 (22 U.S.C. 2656 note) is amended--
(1) by amending paragraph (2) of subsection (a) to read as
follows:
``(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 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.'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(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.'';
(B) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:
``(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.'';
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (10) as
paragraphs (7) through (11), respectively;
(D) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following
new paragraph:
``(6) Measure and evaluate the activities of the Center,
including the outcomes of such activities, and implement
mechanisms to ensure activities of the Center are updated to
reflect the results of such measurement and evaluation.''; and
(E) by amending paragraph (8), as so redesignated,
to read as follows:
``(8) Utilize 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.'';
(3) in subsection (d), by amending paragraphs (1) and (2)
to read as follows:
``(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) Other personnel.--The Secretary of State should, when
hiring additional United States citizen personnel, preference
use of Foreign Service limited appointments 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.'';
(4) in subsection (e), by amending paragraph (2) to read as
follows:
``(2) Notice requirement.--The Secretary of Defense shall
notify the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on
Appropriations, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the
House of Representatives, and the Committee on Armed Services,
the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate of a proposed transfer under paragraph
(1) not less than 15 days prior to making such transfer.'';
(5) in subsection (f), by amending paragraphs (1) and (2)
to read as follows:
``(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 in print, online, and
social media examples of disinformation and propaganda
directed at the United States and 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.'';
(6) by redesignating subsections (h) and (i) as subsections
(i) and (j), respectively; and
(7) by inserting after subsection (g) the following new
subsection:
``(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 Foreign Affairs and the
Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Armed Services of
the Senate 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).''.
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