[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 213 (Wednesday, December 16, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7561-S7562]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REPORTING EFFICIENTLY TO PROPER OFFICIALS IN RESPONSE TO TERRORISM ACT
OF 2019
Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 329, S. 2513.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 2513) to provide for joint reports by relevant
Federal agencies to Congress regarding incidents of
terrorism, and for other purposes.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill,
which had been reported from the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs, with an amendment, as follows:
(The part of the bill intended to be inserted is shown in italics.
S. 2513
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLES.
This Act may be cited as the ``Reporting Efficiently to
Proper Officials in Response to Terrorism Act of 2019'' or
the ``REPORT Act''.
SEC. 2. DUTY TO REPORT.
(a) Duty Imposed.--Except as provided in subsection (c),
whenever an act of terrorism occurs in the United States, it
shall be the duty of the primary Government agency
investigating such act to submit, in collaboration with the
Secretary of Homeland Security, the Attorney General, the
Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and, as
appropriate, the Director of the National Counterterrorism
Center, an unclassified report (which may be accompanied by a
classified annex) to Congress concerning such act not later
than 1 year after the completion of the investigation.
Reports required under this subsection may be combined into a
quarterly report to Congress.
(b) Content of Reports.--Each report under this section
shall include--
(1) a statement of the facts of the act of terrorism
referred to in subsection (a), as known at the time of the
report;
(2) an explanation of any gaps in national security that
could be addressed to prevent future acts of terrorism;
(3) any recommendations for additional measures that could
be taken to improve homeland security, including potential
changes in law enforcement practices or changes in law, with
particular attention to changes that could help prevent
future acts of terrorism; and
(4) a summary of the report for public distribution.
(c) Exception.--
(1) In general.--The duty established under subsection (a)
shall not apply in instances in which the Secretary of
Homeland Security, the Attorney General, the Director of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, or the head of the National
Counterterrorism
[[Page S7562]]
Center determines that the information required to be
reported could jeopardize an ongoing investigation or
prosecution.
(2) Notification requirement.--In each instance described
in paragraph (1), the principal making a determination under
such paragraph shall notify Congress of such determination
not later than 1 year after the completion of the related
investigation described in subsection (a).
(d) Defined Term.--In this section, the term ``act of
terrorism'' means an act of domestic terrorism or
international terrorism (as such terms are defined in section
2331 of title 18, United States Code).
(e) Sunset.--This section shall cease to be effective
beginning on the date that is 5 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
Mr. MORAN. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported
amendment be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a
third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered
made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The committee-reported amendment was agreed to.
The bill (S. 2513), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading, was read the third time, and passed, as follows
S. 2513
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLES.
This Act may be cited as the ``Reporting Efficiently to
Proper Officials in Response to Terrorism Act of 2019'' or
the ``REPORT Act''.
SEC. 2. DUTY TO REPORT.
(a) Duty Imposed.--Except as provided in subsection (c),
whenever an act of terrorism occurs in the United States, it
shall be the duty of the primary Government agency
investigating such act to submit, in collaboration with the
Secretary of Homeland Security, the Attorney General, the
Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and, as
appropriate, the Director of the National Counterterrorism
Center, an unclassified report (which may be accompanied by a
classified annex) to Congress concerning such act not later
than 1 year after the completion of the investigation.
Reports required under this subsection may be combined into a
quarterly report to Congress.
(b) Content of Reports.--Each report under this section
shall include--
(1) a statement of the facts of the act of terrorism
referred to in subsection (a), as known at the time of the
report;
(2) an explanation of any gaps in national security that
could be addressed to prevent future acts of terrorism;
(3) any recommendations for additional measures that could
be taken to improve homeland security, including potential
changes in law enforcement practices or changes in law, with
particular attention to changes that could help prevent
future acts of terrorism; and
(4) a summary of the report for public distribution.
(c) Exception.--
(1) In general.--The duty established under subsection (a)
shall not apply in instances in which the Secretary of
Homeland Security, the Attorney General, the Director of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, or the head of the National
Counterterrorism Center determines that the information
required to be reported could jeopardize an ongoing
investigation or prosecution.
(2) Notification requirement.--In each instance described
in paragraph (1), the principal making a determination under
such paragraph shall notify Congress of such determination
not later than 1 year after the completion of the related
investigation described in subsection (a).
(d) Defined Term.--In this section, the term ``act of
terrorism'' means an act of domestic terrorism or
international terrorism (as such terms are defined in section
2331 of title 18, United States Code).
(e) Sunset.--This section shall cease to be effective
beginning on the date that is 5 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
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