[House Report 114-344]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


114th Congress    }                                     {       Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session      }                                     {      114-344

======================================================================



 
                COUNTERING VIOLENT EXTREMISM ACT OF 2015

                                _______
                                

 November 19, 2015.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on 
            the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

  Mr. McCaul, from the Committee on Homeland Security, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                             together with

                            ADDITIONAL VIEWS

                        [To accompany H.R. 2899]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Homeland Security, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 2899) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
to authorize the Office for Countering Violent Extremism, 
having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an 
amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
Purpose and Summary..............................................     4
Background and Need for Legislation..............................     5
Hearings.........................................................     9
Committee Consideration..........................................    11
Committee Votes..................................................    12
Committee Oversight Findings.....................................    12
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures    12
Congressional Budget Office Estimate.............................    12
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............    13
Duplicative Federal Programs.....................................    14
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff 
  Benefits.......................................................    14
Federal Mandates Statement.......................................    14
Preemption Clarification.........................................    14
Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings..............................    14
Advisory Committee Statement.....................................    14
Applicability to Legislative Branch..............................    14
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation...................    14
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............    17
Additional Views.................................................    21

    The amendment is as follows:
    Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Countering Violent Extremism Act of 
2015'' or the ``CVE Act''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF THE OFFICE FOR COUNTERING VIOLENT EXTREMISM OF 
                    THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

  (a) In General.--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 new 
section:

``SEC. 104. OFFICE FOR COUNTERING VIOLENT EXTREMISM.

  ``(a) Establishment.--There is in the Department an Office for 
Countering Violent Extremism. The head of the Office shall be the 
Assistant Secretary for Countering Violent Extremism, who shall be 
appointed by the Secretary. The Secretary shall also appoint a career 
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Countering Violent Extremism.
  ``(b) Assignment of Personnel.--The Secretary shall assign or hire, 
as appropriate, permanent staff to the Office for Countering Violent 
Extremism. In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall, to the 
maximum extent practicable, seek to assign to or hire for the Office an 
individual who has a demonstrated background in technical matters, on 
and offline media, communications, or marketing.
  ``(c) Support.--The Secretary shall appoint within each appropriate 
component and office of the Department, including at a minimum, U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the 
Office of Privacy, the National Protection and Programs Directorate, 
the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, the Secret Service, and 
the Science and Technology Directorate, an individual to serve as 
liaison to the Office for Countering Violent Extremism.
  ``(d) Responsibilities.--The Assistant Secretary for Countering 
Violent Extremism shall be responsible for the following:
          ``(1) Coordinating the Department's activities to counter 
        violent extremism across all the components and offices of the 
        Department that conduct strategic and supportive activities to 
        counter violent extremism. Such activities shall include the 
        following:
                  ``(A) Identifying risk factors that contribute to 
                violent extremism in communities in the United States 
                and potential remedies for use by Government and non-
                government institutions.
                  ``(B) Identifying populations targeted by violent 
                extremist propaganda, messaging, or recruitment.
                  ``(C) Managing the outreach and engagement activities 
                of the Department directed toward communities at risk 
                for radicalization and recruitment for violent 
                extremist activities.
                  ``(D) Ensuring relevant information, empirically-
                valid research, and products inform activities to 
                counter violent extremism.
                  ``(E) Developing and maintaining a Department-wide 
                strategy guiding policies and programs to counter 
                violent extremism. Such strategy shall, at a minimum, 
                address each of the following:
                          ``(i) The Department's counter-messaging 
                        program pursuant to paragraph (2), including a 
                        plan to leverage new and existing Internet, 
                        digital, and other technologies and social 
                        media platforms to counter violent extremism, 
                        as well as the best practices and lessons 
                        learned of other Federal, State, local, tribal, 
                        territorial, nongovernmental, and foreign 
                        partners engaged in similar counter-messaging 
                        activities.
                          ``(ii) The Department's countering violent 
                        extremism-related engagement and outreach 
                        activities.
                          ``(iii) The use of cooperative agreements 
                        with State, local, tribal, territorial, and 
                        other Federal departments and agencies 
                        responsible for activities relating to 
                        countering violent extremism.
                          ``(iv) Ensuring all activities related to 
                        countering violent extremism fully respect the 
                        privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties of 
                        all Americans.
                          ``(v) The development of qualitative and 
                        quantitative outcome-based metrics to evaluate 
                        the Department's programs and policies to 
                        counter violent extremism.
                  ``(F) Identifying and recommending new research and 
                analysis requirements in consultation with the Under 
                Secretary for Science and Technology and the Under 
                Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis and ensure the 
                dissemination of information and methods to Federal, 
                State, local, tribal, and territorial countering 
                violent extremism practitioners, officials, law 
                enforcement, and non-governmental partners to utilize 
                such research and analysis.
                  ``(G) Assessing the methods used by violent 
                extremists to disseminate propaganda and messaging to 
                communities at risk for radicalization and recruitment.
          ``(2) Establishing a counter-messaging program to craft 
        strategic counter-messages to the propaganda and messaging 
        referred to in subparagraph (G) of paragraph (1) which shall--
                  ``(A) explore ways to utilize relevant Internet and 
                other technologies and social media platforms; and
                  ``(B) maximize other resources available to the 
                Department, including utilizing hiring authorities 
                available under law.
          ``(3) Serving as the primary representative of the Department 
        in coordinating countering violent extremism activities with 
        other Federal departments and agencies and non-governmental 
        organizations.
          ``(4) Serving as the primary Department-level representative 
        in coordinating with the Department of State on international 
        countering violent extremism issues.
          ``(5) In coordination with the Administrator of the Federal 
        Emergency Management Agency and the Officer for Civil Rights 
        and Civil Liberties of the Department, providing guidance 
        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.
          ``(6) Coordinating with the Administrator of the Federal 
        Emergency Management Agency to administer the grant program 
        under subsection (f).
  ``(e) Memorandum of Understanding.--The Assistant Secretary for 
Countering Violent Extremism shall enter into a memorandum of 
understanding with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency outlining the roles of the Assistant Secretary and 
the Administrator with respect to the administration of grants under 
sections 2003 and 2004 related to countering violent extremism.
  ``(f) Grant Program.--
          ``(1) Establishment.--The Assistant Secretary for Countering 
        Violent Extremism, in coordination with the Administrator of 
        the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Officer for 
        Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department, shall 
        establish a grant program for eligible community groups and 
        organizations to assist such groups and organizations in 
        establishing counter-messaging campaigns targeting violent 
        extremism.
          ``(2) Implementation plan.--Not later than 90 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this section, the Assistant Secretary 
        for Countering Violent Extremism, in coordination with the 
        Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and 
        the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the 
        Department, shall provide to the Committee on Homeland Security 
        of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland 
        Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate an 
        implementation plan for the grant program under this 
        subsection, including eligibility criteria, application 
        criteria, methodology for awarding grants, and a plan for 
        monitoring and evaluating grant applications and awards.
          ``(3) Prohibition.--A community group or organization is not 
        eligible for a grant under this subsection if such group or 
        organization has knowingly funded violent extremist activities 
        or organizations known to engage in such activities, as 
        determined by the Assistant Secretary for Countering Violent 
        Extremism, in coordination with the heads of other relevant 
        Federal departments and agencies.
  ``(g) Annual Report.--The Assistant Secretary for Countering Violent 
Extremism shall submit to Congress an annual report for each of the 
next five fiscal years (beginning in the fiscal year that begins after 
the date of the enactment of this section) on the Office for Countering 
Violent Extremism. Each such report shall include the following:
          ``(1) 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 and the number of full-time 
        employees dedicated to countering violent extremism programs, 
        as well as the number of part-time employees supporting 
        countering violent extremism programs. Each such budget shall 
        include an accounting of all funding amounts for all 
        departmental programs, initiatives, and personnel related to 
        countering violent extremism.
          ``(2) A description of the activities of the Office to 
        cooperate with and provide assistance to other departments and 
        agencies.
          ``(3) The qualitative and quantitative outcome-based metrics 
        under clause (v) of subsection (d)(1)(E) used for evaluating 
        the success of such programs and policies and the steps taken 
        to evaluate the success of such programs and policies.
          ``(4) A detailed summary of the organizations with which the 
        Department conducted outreach to discuss countering violent 
        extremism, an accounting of grants awarded by the Department to 
        counter violent extremism, and an accounting of all training 
        specifically aimed at countering violent extremism sponsored by 
        the Department.
          ``(5) Details of the optimal level of personnel and funding 
        for the Office.
          ``(6) An analysis of how the Department's activities to 
        counter violent extremism correspond and adapt to the threat 
        environment.
          ``(7) A summary of how civil rights and civil liberties are 
        protected in the Department's activities to counter violent 
        extremism.
          ``(8) An evaluation of the grant program under subsection 
        (f), including information on the effectiveness of such grants 
        in countering violent extremism.
          ``(9) A description of how the Office incorporated lessons 
        learned from the countering violent extremism programs and 
        policies of other Foreign departments and agencies, as well as 
        foreign, State, local, tribal, and territorial governments and 
        stakeholder communities.
  ``(h) Violent Extremism Defined.--In this section, the term `violent 
extremism' means ideologically motivated terrorist activities.
  ``(i) Authorization of Funding.--Out of funds made available to the 
Office of the Secretary, $10,000,000 is authorized to be used for the 
Office for Countering Violent Extremism for each of fiscal years 2016 
through 2020, of which $6,000,000 shall be used to carry out the grant 
program under subsection (f).
  ``(j) Sunset.--This section shall terminate on the date that is five 
years after the date of the enactment of this section.''.
  (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of 
such Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 103 
the following new item:

``Sec. 104. Office for Countering Violent Extremism.''.

                          Purpose and Summary

    The purpose of H.R. 2899, the ``Countering Violent 
Extremism Act of 2015'' or ``CVE Act'' is to amend the Homeland 
Security Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-296) to authorize the Office 
for Countering Violent Extremism, and for other purposes.
    H.R. 2899 establishes the highest-ranking federal official 
dedicated to countering violent extremism (CVE) and the 
radicalization and recruitment of Americans and streamlines 
government CVE efforts by authorizing an Assistant Secretary to 
run the Office for Coordinating Violent Extremism (OCVE). This 
will provide much-needed leadership and accountability to 
overall domestic CVE efforts. Additionally, H.R. 2899 requires 
that DHS establish a program to counter the narrative of 
extremist groups recruiting and radicalizing in the US. In his 
remarks on Monday July 6, 2015 the President admitted that we 
have to do more to counter the ideology of extremist groups--
this bill helps that effort. This bill will help combat the 
spread of violent extremist propaganda online and through 
social media, a tactic increasingly used by al Qaeda, the 
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)\1\ and other violent 
Islamist extremists to radicalize and recruit Americans to 
their cause. The Office will serve as the primary 
representative in coordinating with the State Department on 
international countering violent extremism issues, a step that 
would help align international efforts with domestic CVE 
efforts. It will also help the Department's community 
engagement efforts and serve as the Department's liaison with 
state and local authorities engaging in CVE efforts.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\The organization referred to as the Islamic State of Iraq and 
Syria (ISIS) is alternatively known as the Islamic State of Iraq and 
the Levant (ISIL), the Islamic State (IS), and occasionally, ``Daesh.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

                  Background and Need for Legislation

    On May 30, 2014, Committee on Homeland Security Chairman 
Michael McCaul wrote to the President's Homeland Security and 
Counterterrorism Advisor, Lisa Monaco, to announce that the 
Committee would conduct a thorough review of Executive Branch 
CVE programs and policies. On December 17, 2014, Chairman 
McCaul detailed the preliminary findings of this review in a 
letter to President Obama, stating that, ``CVE efforts are 
especially vulnerable to suffer from a lack of clear leadership 
particularly because a successful CVE program necessarily 
requires the involvement of a diverse set of actors in its 
execution.'' The need for greater organization and clarity for 
domestic CVE efforts has subsequently been highlighted for 
Committee Members in briefings with senior officials as well as 
public testimony. Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson 
recently noted that more than eight components and offices 
within DHS have a role in the Department's CVE activities.\2\ 
President Obama recently acknowledged the need for improvements 
to Federal CVE programs, saying:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\The Honorable Jeh Johnson, Secretary of Homeland Security, 
Correspondence with Chairman McCaul, July 15, 2015.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
         . . . we also have to acknowledge that ISIL has been 
        particularly effective at reaching out to and 
        recruiting vulnerable people around the world, 
        including here in the United States. And they are 
        targeting Muslim communities around the world. Numerous 
        individuals have been arrested across the country for 
        plotting attacks or attempting to join ISIL in Syria 
        and Iraq. Two men apparently inspired by ISIL opened 
        fire in Garland, Texas . . . And that means that we're 
        going to have to pick up our game to prevent these 
        attacks. It's also true why, ultimately, in order for 
        us to defeat terrorist groups like ISIL and al Qaeda 
        it's going to also require us to discredit their 
        ideology--the twisted thinking that draws vulnerable 
        people into their ranks . . . So the United States will 
        continue to do our part, by working with partners to 
        counter ISIL's hateful propaganda, especially 
        online.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\President Barack Obama, ``Remarks by the President on Progress 
in the Fight Against ISIL,'' July 6, 2015. https://www.whitehouse.gov/
the-press-office/2015/07/06/remarks-president-progress-fight-against-
isil.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Furthermore, since the release of the Obama 
Administration's CVE strategy in 2011, there have been several 
homegrown violent extremist plots, such as the 2013 Boston 
Marathon bombing, and the July 2015 shooting in Chattanooga, 
Tennessee, as well as an increase in the flow of American 
citizens who embrace the violent Islamist extremist ideology of 
al Qaeda and ISIS to join these groups or their affiliates 
around the globe (particularly in Syria and Iraq).
    Violent Islamist extremism is regarded by most experts and 
senior U.S. officials as the principle extremist threat to the 
United States. The two most prominent Islamist extremist groups 
that pose a threat to the Untied States are al Qaeda (and its 
various offshoots and affiliates) and ISIS. Although the 
particular strategies of each group are different, both 
advocate for ``the establishment of a global caliphate--a 
jurisdiction governed by a Muslim civil and religious leader 
known as a caliph--via violent means,'' according to the 
Congressional Research Service.\4\ Both groups present a direct 
threat to US security. What's more, both groups actively 
propagandize to and recruit Americans and other Westerners to 
carry out attacks in the United States and her allies. The 
Committee's goal with H.R. 2899 is to establish an office 
within DHS to confront and prevent the radicalization and 
recruitment of Americans to violent Islamist extremist 
organizations such as al Qaeda and ISIS. The Committee fully 
expects DHS, and all departments and agencies responsible for 
national security, to prioritize major threats and allocate 
resources accordingly. Any earnest and rational threat 
assessment will consider a wide array of organizations and 
ideologies that pose a threat to the U.S. Homeland, but as 
Secretary Johnson recently confirmed, it is the violent 
Islamist extremist ideology of al Qaeda and ISIS which presents 
the greatest threat to the United States. During recent 
Congressional testimony, Secretary Johnson noted:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\Jerome P. Bjelopera, ``American Jihadist Terrorism: Combating a 
Complex Threat,'' Congressional Research Service, February 19, 2014.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        At the moment, my priority has been focusing on 
        communities that I believe are most vulnerable, at 
        least some members of the community, to appeals from 
        ISIL, Al-Qaeda, and other terrorist groups overseas who 
        are actively targeting individuals in these 
        communities. And so I think we need to focus on 
        communities that themselves have the ability to 
        influence who may be turning in the direction of 
        violence.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \5\The Honorable Jeh Johnson, in testimony before the House of 
Representatives Committee on the Judiciary, July 14, 2015. http://
www.cq.com/doc/congressionaltranscripts-4723930?4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    While Congress and the Executive Branch should be prepared 
to address evolving and emerging threats, it is self-evident 
that any CVE program must continue to address the principle 
terrorist threat to the United States homeland.

The Threat

    The jihadist threat in the U.S. homeland is high and has 
escalated dramatically in recent years. A recently released 
Committee estimate indicates there have been more U.S.-based 
jihadist terror cases in 2015 than in any full year since 9/11. 
The number of U.S. terrorist cases involving homegrown violent 
jihadists went from 38 in July 2010 to 129 by October 2015--
more than a three-fold increase in just five years. According 
to the Committee's analysis, ISIS has inspired or directed 65 
terror attack plots against Western targets, including 18 in 
the United States to date. Additionally, there have now been 
nearly twice as many ISIS-linked attack plots against the West 
this year (37) as there were in all of 2014 (20).
    Much of this growth has been attributed to the rise of 
ISIS, and their significant investment in online propaganda 
efforts and their effective use of social media to reach a 
global audience of individuals at risk for radicalization and 
recruitment. This is a tactic originally embraced by Anwar al-
Awlaki, a senior cleric in the Yemen-based Al Qaeda in the 
Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). However, the proliferation of 
terrorist safe havens throughout the Middle East and North 
Africa, combined with the increased use of social media 
platforms has led to a rapid rise in propaganda efforts among 
multiple extremist groups around the globe. Now, violent 
Islamist extremist propaganda is segmented to reach diverse 
audiences, often written in the vernacular of their target 
audiences. Jihadists in the U.S. have the luxury of hearing 
North American accents on ISIS videos and reading ISIS 
magazines written by native English speakers. This trend has 
maximized exposure to extremist recruitment and propaganda 
efforts around the world, and in the United States, which only 
adds to the likelihood that American's will embrace the 
jihadist ideology.\6\ There is no domestic Federal effort 
currently directed at challenging this propaganda which is 
designed to recruit American audiences, even though the 
Department of State has established a foreign-focused counter 
messaging effort to confront extremist propaganda 
internationally.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \6\HR 2899 is intended to address this threat not only by 
establishing a counter messaging effort to challenge extremist 
propaganda targeting Americans, but also by requiring DHS to develop a 
grant program dedicated to strengthening the ability of credible, 
nongovernment voices countering the violent Islamist extremist 
narrative. Numerous CVE experts and senior officials have emphasized 
the importance of maximizing the impact of nongovernmental 
organizations, religious institutions and the private sector in CVE 
efforts.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Federal CVE Efforts

    In August 2011, the Obama Administration issued its 
national countering violent extremism (CVE) strategy, titled 
``Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism in the 
United States.'' The strategy emphasizes the importance of a 
``community-based approach,'' to recognizing that communities 
are often the best-equipped to identify violent extremist 
messages and to prevent individuals from falling victim to 
their influence. In December 2011, it was followed by a 
Strategic Implementation Plan, which attempted to clarify roles 
and responsibilities among various departments and agencies 
responsible for federal CVE efforts.
    Community engagement programs run by DHS and the National 
Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) are currently the most prominent 
examples of federal CVE efforts. Community Awareness Briefings 
(CABs), which have occurred in 42 cities as of November 15, 
2015 educate communities at risk for radicalization and 
recruitment on the threat from violent extremism. Similarly, 
over the last three fiscal years, Community Resilience 
Exercises (CREXs) have been held in ten times, providing 
reality-based scenarios of radicalization and opportunities to 
identify solutions. Both programs are continually updated, and 
have recently been expanded to engage directly with women and 
youth.
    Other Federal CVE efforts include CVE-specific education 
and training for Federal, State, and local law enforcement. The 
sharing of research and information among CVE components has 
increased in the last four years, providing data and 
performance metrics for developing new and preexisting CVE 
programs. The DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis, for 
example, has begun studying homegrown violent extremists and 
violent extremist messaging to assess how best to counter the 
radicalization threat.\7\ There have also been many CVE 
trainings and workshops, including multiple CVE education 
programs for local law enforcement agencies at the DHS Federal 
Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC).\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \7\DHS Response to 12/2014 Letter, p. 6.
    \8\Ibid., p. 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Committee's Review of Federal CVE Efforts

    The Committee, after a lengthy review that included 
multiple briefings and site visits, has found a number of key 
shortcomings in the Administration's CVE strategy, which are 
detailed in Chairman McCaul's December 17, 2014 letter to 
President Obama. They include:
     The lack of a clearly defined, overall lead agency.
     The lack of an overall definition of ``CVE.''
     The lack of budgeting for and accounting of CVE efforts 
        and reliable personnel figures.
     The lack of established metrics for success.
     Unclear coordination between domestic and foreign CVE 
        efforts.

The DHS CVE Mission

    First, as the Administration's 2011 CVE strategy notes, an 
effective CVE effort ``must use a wide range of good governance 
programs--including those that promote immigrant integration 
and civic engagement, protect civil rights, and provide social 
services--that may help prevent radicalization that leads to 
violence.''\9\ As some current and former federal officials 
have noted, DHS touches on a wider array of these types of 
programs than perhaps any other entity among the four 
departments and agencies that engage in domestic CVE efforts, 
considering their numerous component agencies which handle 
immigration, transportation security, and training for federal, 
state and local law enforcement, among other issues of 
importance to communities at risk for radicalization and 
recruitment for violent Islamist extremism.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \9\``Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism in the 
United States,'' Executive Office of the President, p. 2. https://
www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/empowering_local_partners.pdf
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Additionally, other agencies responsible for domestic CVE 
programs and policies have a unique role to play, but need a 
reliable, robust, and well-organized partner in DHS. As an 
intelligence agency, the NCTC is primed to support CVE 
activities with expertise and understanding of the changing 
threat landscape, but is unlikely to be able to work closely 
with a wide array of communities at risk for radicalization and 
recruitment, in large part because of resource limitations. At 
the same time, the Final Report of the 9/11 Review Commission 
released by the FBI earlier this year, details several reasons 
why the Bureau cannot take on the ``social and prevention role 
in the CVE mission.''\10\ Of note, this report specifically 
identifies DHS as having the potential to take on FBI's work in 
this field. The Department of Justice has a major support role 
with regard to CVE as U.S. Attorneys were identified in the 
Administration's 2011 CVE Strategy as the primary focus of 
community engagement efforts. But U.S. Attorneys have competing 
demands and diverse challenges. It is unrealistic to expect 
each U.S. Attorney's office across the country to invest the 
necessary time and energy into CVE, but rather they should be 
able to provide guidance and support to DHS outreach and 
engagement efforts.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \10\Bruce Hoffman, Edwin Meese III, Timothy J. Roemer, ``The FBI: 
Protecting the Homeland in the 21st Century,'' Federal Bureau of 
Investigation, March 25, 2015.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    As a practical matter, DHS CVE efforts have received 
significant support from senior Department leadership, which 
has arguably resulted in these programs being further along. 
Secretary Johnson has participated in a series of community 
engagement events across the United States and created the 
Department's first stand-alone CVE Coordinator in 2014, and 
established the Office for Community Partnerships in September 
2015 dedicated ``to the mission of countering violent extremism 
. . . to continue to build relationships and promote trust, 
and, in addition, find innovative ways to support communities 
that seek to discourage violent extremism and undercut 
terrorist narratives. In one major example, ''\11\ Federal 
officials have explained that the Los Angeles Pilot Program 
Framework developed with assistance from a DHS official 
dedicated to CVE for that area reflects work that was already 
being carried out before the pilot program was initiated, while 
related frameworks for Minneapolis and Boston, developed by the 
U.S. Attorneys offices in those cities, reflect future programs 
still being implemented. HR 2899 therefore provides Congress 
the ability to better organize and clearly resource ongoing DHS 
CVE activities, and ensure they meet the expectations of the 
American people.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \11\``Statement by Secretary Jeh C. Johnson on DHS's New Office for 
Community Partnerships,'' Department of Homeland Security, September 
28, 2015. https://www.dhs.gov/news/2015/09/28/statement-secretary-jeh-
c-johnson-dhs%E2%80%99s-new-office-community-partnerships.
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                                Hearings

    No hearings were held on H.R. 2899, however the Committee 
held the following oversight hearings:

112th Congress

    On March 10, 2011, the Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim 
Community and That Community's Response.'' The Committee 
received testimony from Hon. John D. Dingell, a Representative 
in Congress from 15th District of Michigan; Hon. Keith Ellison, 
a Representative in Congress from the 5th District of 
Minnesota; Hon. Frank Wolf, a Representative in Congress from 
the 10th District of Virginia; Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser, President 
and Founder, American Islamic Forum for Democracy; Mr. 
Abdirizak Bihi, Director, Somali Education and Social Advocacy 
Center; Mr. Melvin Bledsoe, Private Citizen; and Sheriff Leroy 
Baca, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
    On June 15, 2011, the Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``The Threat of Muslim-American Radicalization in U.S. 
Prisons.'' The Committee received testimony from Mr. Patrick T. 
Dunleavy, Retired Deputy Inspector General, Criminal 
Intelligence Unit, New York State Department of Correctional 
Services; Mr. Kevin Smith, Former Assistant United States 
Attorney, Central District of California; Mr. Michael P. 
Downing, Commanding Officer, Counter-Terrorism and Special 
Operations Bureau, Los Angeles Police Department; and Dr. Bert 
Useem, Department Head and Professor, Sociology Department, 
Purdue University.
    On December 7, 2011, the Full Committee with the Senate 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 
Committee held the first ever joint hearing entitled 
``Homegrown Terrorism: The threat to Military Communities 
Inside the United States.'' The Committees received testimony 
from Hon. Paul N. Stockton, Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
Homeland Defense and America's Security Affairs, Office of 
Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Department of Defense, 
accompanied by Mr. Jim Stuteville, United States Army Senior 
Advisor, Counterintelligence Operations and Liaison to the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation; LTC Reid L. Sawyer, Director, 
Combating Terrorism Center at West Point; and Mr. Daris Long, 
Private Citizen.
    On July 30, 2012, the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and 
Intelligence held a field hearing in Buffalo, New York entitled 
``Beyond Borders: Are the Department of Homeland Security's 
International Agreements Ensuring Actionable Intelligence to 
Combat Threats to the U.S. Homeland?'' The Subcommittee 
received testimony from Ms. Deborah Meyers, Director, Canadian 
Affairs, Office of International Affairs, Department of 
Homeland Security; Mr. Daniel J. Neaverth, Jr., Commissioner, 
Department of Emergency Services, Erie County; and Mr. James 
Voutour, Sheriff, Niagara County, New York.

113th Congress

    On May 22, 2013, the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and 
Intelligence held a hearing entitled ``Assessing the Threat to 
the Homeland from al Qaeda Operations in Iraq and Syria.'' The 
Subcommittee received testimony from Seth G. Jones, Ph.D., 
Associate Director, International Security and Defense Policy 
Center, The RAND Corporation, Mr. Robin Simcox, Research 
Fellow, The Henry Jackson Institute; Mr. Thomas Joscelyn, 
Senior Fellow, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies; and 
Mr. Barak Barfi, Research Fellow, New America Foundation.
    On July 24, 2014, the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and 
Intelligence held a hearing entitled ``Jihadist Safe Havens: 
Efforts to Detect and Deter Terrorist Travel.'' The 
Subcommittee received testimony from Dr. Fred Kagan, Director, 
Critical Threats Project, American Enterprise Institute; Mr. 
Robin Simcox, Research Fellow, The Henry Jackson Society; Dr. 
Peter Brookes, Senior Fellow, National Security Affairs, Davis 
Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy, The 
Heritage Foundation; and Seth G. Jones, Ph.D., Director, 
International Security and Defense Policy Center, The RAND 
Corporation.

114th Congress

    On February 11, 2015, the Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``Countering Violent Islamist Extremism: The Urgent 
Threat of Foreign Fighters and Homegrown Terror.'' The 
Committee received testimony from Hon. Francis X. Taylor, Under 
Secretary, Intelligence and Analysis, U.S. Department of 
Homeland Security; Hon. Nicholas J. Rasmussen, Director, 
National Counterterrorism Center, Office of the Director of 
National Intelligence; and Mr. Michael B. Steinbach, Assistant 
Director, Counterterrorism Division, Federal Bureau of 
Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice.
    On March 24, 2015, the Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``A Global Battleground: The Fight Against Islamist 
Extremism at Home and Abroad.'' The Committee received 
testimony from Hon. Newt Gingrich, Former Speaker of the U.S. 
House of Representatives; General Michael Hayden (USAF-Ret.), 
Former Director, Central Intelligence Agency and Former 
Director, National Security Agency; Mr. Philip Mudd, Senior 
Fellow, New America Foundation; and Mr. Brian Michael Jenkins, 
Senior Adviser to the RAND President, The RAND Corporation.
    On June 3, 2015, the Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Terrorism Gone Viral: The Attack in Garland, Texas and 
Beyond.'' The Committee received testimony from Mr. John J. 
Mulligan, Deputy Director, National Counterterrorism Center; 
Hon. Francis X. Taylor, Under Secretary, Intelligence and 
Analysis, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; and Mr. Michael 
B. Steinbach, Assistant Director, Counterterrorism Division, 
Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice.
    On July 15, 2015, the Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``The Rise of Radicalization: Is the U.S. Government 
Failing to Counter International and Domestic Terrorism?'' The 
Committee received testimony from Mr. Seamus Hughes, Deputy 
Director, Program on Extremism, Center for Cyber and Homeland 
Security, George Washington University; Ms. Farah Pandith, 
Adjunct Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations; Mr. 
Richard Cohen, President, Southern Poverty Law Center.

                        Committee Consideration

    The Committee met on July 15, 2015, to consider H.R. 2899, 
and ordered the measure to be reported to the House with a 
favorable recommendation, amended, by voice vote. The Committee 
took the following actions:
    The following amendments were offered:
 A Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute offered by Mr. 
McCaul (#1); was AGREED TO, as amended, by voice vote.

 An Substitute Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute offered 
by Mr. Thompson of Mississippi (#1); was NOT AGREED TO, by 
voice vote.

 An amendment to the Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to 
H.R. 2899 offered by Mr. Katko (#1A); was AGREED TO by voice 
vote.
     In subsection (d) of the proposed section 104 of the Homeland 
Security Act of 2002 (as added by section 1 of the bill), add the 
following: ``(6) Coordinating with the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency to administer the grant program under 
subsection (f).''.
     Redesignate subsections (f) through (h) of the proposed section 
104 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (as added by section 1 of the 
bill) as subsections (i) through (k), respectively.
     Insert a new subsection entitled ``(f) Grant Program.''
     In subsection (i) (relating to the annual report), as so 
redesignated, of the proposed section 104 of the Homeland Security Act 
of 2002 (as added by section 1 of the bill), insert the following: 
``(8) An evaluation of the grant program under subsection (f), 
including information on the effectiveness of such grants in countering 
violent extremism.''.
     In subsection (h) (relating to authorization of funding), insert 
before the period at the end the following: ``of which $6,000,000 shall 
be used to carry out the grant program under subsection (f)''.

 An amendment to the Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to 
H.R. 2899 offered by Mr. Loudermilk (#1B); was AGREED TO by 
voice vote.
     Page 8, beginning line 13, insert the following:
     ``(8) A description of how the Office incorporated lessons learned 
from the countering violent extremism programs and policies of other 
Foreign departments and agencies, as well as foreign, State, local, 
tribal, and territorial governments and stakeholder communities.''.
 An amendment to the Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to 
H.R. 2899 offered by Mr. Duncan of South Carolina (#1C); was 
AGREED TO by voice vote.
     Page 8, line 20, strike the closing quotation mark and the second 
period.
     Page 8, beginning line 21, insert a new subsection entitled ``(i) 
Sunset.''

                            Committee Votes

    Clause 3(b) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires the Committee to list the recorded 
votes on the motion to report legislation and amendments 
thereto.
    No recorded vote was requested during consideration of H.R. 
299.

                      Committee Oversight Findings

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee has held oversight 
hearings and made findings that are reflected in this report.

   New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of Rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the Committee finds that H.R. 
2899, the Countering Violent Extremism Act of 2015, would 
result in no new or increased budget authority, entitlement 
authority, or tax expenditures or revenues.

                  Congressional Budget Office Estimate

    The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared 
by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to 
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                    Washington, DC, August 6, 2015.
Hon. Michael McCaul,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 2899, the 
Countering Violent Extremism Act of 2015.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Mark 
Grabowicz.
            Sincerely,
                                                        Keith Hall.
    Enclosure.

H.R. 2899--Countering Violent Extremism Act of 2015

    Summary: H.R. 2899 would establish the Office for 
Countering Violent Extremism in the Department of Homeland 
Security. The bill would authorize the appropriation of $10 
million annually over the 2016-2020 period for the office, 
including $6 million each year for the office to make grants to 
community groups and other organizations for counter-messaging 
campaigns targeting violent extremism.
    Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO 
estimates that implementing H.R. 2899 would cost $41 million 
over the 2016-2020 period. Pay-as-you-go procedures do not 
apply to this legislation because it would not affect direct 
spending or revenues.
    H.R. 2899 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) 
and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal 
governments.
    Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated 
budgetary impact of H.R. 2899 is shown in the following table. 
The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 750 
(administration of justice).

 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
                                                         -------------------------------------------------------
                                                            2016     2017     2018     2019     2020   2016-2020
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
 
Authorization Level.....................................       10       10       10       10       10        50
Estimated Outlays.......................................        4        8        9       10       10        41
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For this estimate, CBO assumes that the amounts authorized 
in the bill will be appropriated by the start of each fiscal 
year and that outlays will follow the historical rate of 
spending for similar activities.
    Pay-As-You-Go considerations: None.
    Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 2899 
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as 
defined in UMRA and would not affect the budgets of state, 
local, or tribal governments.
    Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Mark Grabowicz; Impact 
on state, local, and tribal governments: Melissa Merrell; 
Impact on the private sector: Paige Piper/Bach.
    Estimate approved by: Theresa A. Gullo, Assistant Director 
for Budget Analysis.

         Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, H.R. 2899 contains the following 
general performance goals and objectives, including outcome 
related goals and objectives authorized.
    H.R. 2899 requires that for each of the next five years, 
the Department of Homeland Security must submit to Congress a 
report which includes ``qualitative and quantitative outcome-
based metrics'' for measuring the success of CVE programs.

                      Duplicative Federal Programs

    Pursuant to clause 3(c) of Rule XIII, the Committee finds 
that H.R. 2899 does not contain any provision that establishes 
or reauthorizes a program known to be duplicative of another 
Federal program.
    While H.R. 2899 does not establish a duplicative existing 
program, it is intended to establish within the Department of 
Homeland Security an Office for Countering Violent extremism, 
to replace and enhance the authority of the existing Office of 
Community Partnerships, established on September 28, 2015.

   Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff 
                                Benefits

    In compliance with Rule XXI of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives, this bill, as reported, contains no 
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 
benefits as defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of the Rule 
XXI.

                       Federal Mandates Statement

    The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal 
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform 
Act.

                        Preemption Clarification

    In compliance with section 423 of the Congressional Budget 
Act of 1974, requiring the report of any Committee on a bill or 
joint resolution to include a statement on the extent to which 
the bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt State, 
local, or Tribal law, the Committee finds that H.R. 2899 does 
not preempt any State, local, or Tribal law.

                  Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings

    The Committee estimates that H.R. 2899 would require no 
directed rule makings.

                      Advisory Committee Statement

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this 
legislation.

                  Applicability to Legislative Branch

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.

             Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation


Section 1.   Short Title.

    This section provides that this bill may be cited as the 
``Countering Violent Extremism Act of 2015'' or the ``CVE 
Act''.

Sec. 2.   Authorization of the Office for Countering Violent Extremism 
        of the Department of Homeland Security.

    This section established with in the Homeland Security Act 
of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq) a new section as follows:

``sec. 104. office for countering violent extremism.''

    Subsection (a) amends Title I of the Homeland Security Act 
of 2002 by adding ``Sec. 104. Office for Countering Violent 
Extremism.'' This section is broken down as follows:
    Paragraph (a)--Establishment creates an Office for 
Countering Violent Extremism in the Department of Homeland 
Security, led by ``The Assistant Secretary for Countering 
Violent Extremism'' (the Assistant Secretary) and will be 
appointed by the Secretary of Homeland Security. The Secretary 
will also appoint a career Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Countering Violent Extremism.
    Paragraph (b)--Assignment of Personnel requires the 
Secretary to assign or hire permanent staff for the OCVE, and 
seek to assign or hire an individual with a background in 
technical matters, the media, communications, or marketing.
    Paragraph (c)--Support requires the Secretary to appoint 
liaisons from each appropriate component and office within the 
Department to support the OCVE, including at a minimum U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the 
Office of Privacy, the National Protection and Programs 
Directorate, the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, 
the U.S. Secret Service, and the Science and Technology 
Directorate.
    Paragraph (d)--Responsibilities outlines duties of the 
Assistant Secretary and the OCVE. Some of these functions 
reflect ongoing efforts DHS is currently engaged in that would 
be managed or coordinated through the OCVE across DHS.
    This includes coordination on A) identifying risk factors 
and potential remedies for violent extremism; B) identifying 
populations targeted by violent extremist propaganda, 
messaging, or recruitment; C) managing DHS outreach to these 
at-risk populations; D) ensuring relevant and empirically valid 
research and products inform CVE efforts; E) developing a 
Department-wide CVE strategy (which is required to address a 
counter- messaging program that uses the Internet, digital, and 
other technologies and is based on the best practices of 
domestic and international partners, engagement and outreach 
efforts, cooperative agreements, privacy and civil liberties, 
and qualitative and quantitative and outcome-based evaluative 
metrics); F) identifying areas for CVE-related research; and G) 
assessing methods used by violent extremists to disseminate 
propaganda.
    In addition, the Assistant Secretary is required to 
establish a counter-messaging program using the internet, 
relevant social media platforms, and other resources; act as 
the department-level representative to coordinate CVE efforts 
with other departments and non-governmental organizations 
(NGOs); serve as the primary Department-level representative in 
coordinating with the Department of State on international CVE 
efforts; and assist the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
(FEMA) Administrator and the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil 
Liberties in awarding CVE-related grants.
    Paragraph (e)--Memorandum of Understanding requires the 
Assistant Secretary for to enter into a memorandum of 
understanding with the FEMA Administrator regarding CVE-related 
grants. CVE is already an allowable use for these grants under 
current DHS policy. This section provides clarity on the roles 
of the Assistant Secretary and the Administrator in the 
evaluation of grant applications and the awarding of grants.
    Paragraph (f)--Grant Program establishes a program for 
eligible communities and organizations to receive grants to 
create counter-messaging campaigns. This program will be 
coordinated by the Assistant CVE Secretary, FEMA Administrator, 
and CRCL Officer, who all must provide the both the House and 
Senate Homeland Security Committees with an implementation plan 
for the grant program 90 days after the section's enactment. An 
organization or community group is ineligible for a grant if 
they have funded or engaged in violent extremist activities.
    Paragraph (g)--Annual Report requires the Assistant 
Secretary to submit an annual report to Congress and outlines 
topics for the report to address. These include:
  1.   a description of the status of DHS CVE-related programs 
        and policies and the Department's budget and personnel 
        dedicated to CVE (including those dedicated to CVE 
        full- and part-time);
  2.   a description of how the OCVE is working with other 
        departments and agencies;
  3.   quantitative and qualitative outcome-based metrics for 
        evaluating the success of CVE programs within the 
        Office and details on how these programs are evaluated;
  4.   a detailed summary of NGOs with which DHS conducted 
        outreach or to which DHS awarded CVE-related grants; an 
        account of how those grants were spent; a list of all 
        CVE-related trainings sponsored by DHS;
  5.   details of the optimal level of personnel and funding 
        for the Office;
  6.   an analysis of how the Department's CVE activities 
        correspond and adapt to the threat environment;
  7.   a detailed summary of how civil rights and civil 
        liberties are protected in the Department's CVE 
        efforts;
  8.   an evaluation of the grant program, including its 
        effectiveness; and
  9.   a description of how the Office incorporated lessons 
        learned from CVE programs and policies belonging to 
        other departments and agencies.
    Paragraph (h)--Violent Extremism Defined defines the term 
``violent extremism,'' which for the purpose of this bill means 
``ideologically motivated terrorist activities.''
    Paragraph (i)--Authorization of Funding authorizes $10 
million of the funds made available to the Office of the 
Secretary to the OCVE for each of fiscal years 2016 through 
2020, with $6,000,000 for use by the grant program established 
under subsection (f).
    Paragraph (j)--Sunset will commence five years after the 
date of enactment.

    Subsection (b)--Clerical Amendment amends the table of 
contents in the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to reflect the 
insertion of Sec. 104 after Sec. 103.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (new matter is 
printed in italic and existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman):

                     HOMELAND SECURITY ACT OF 2002


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

  (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Homeland 
Security Act of 2002''.
  (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is 
as follows:

     * * * * * * *

                TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

     * * * * * * *
Sec. 104. Office for Countering Violent Extremism.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 104. OFFICE FOR COUNTERING VIOLENT EXTREMISM.

  (a) Establishment.--There is in the Department an Office for 
Countering Violent Extremism. The head of the Office shall be 
the Assistant Secretary for Countering Violent Extremism, who 
shall be appointed by the Secretary. The Secretary shall also 
appoint a career Deputy Assistant Secretary for Countering 
Violent Extremism.
  (b) Assignment of Personnel.--The Secretary shall assign or 
hire, as appropriate, permanent staff to the Office for 
Countering Violent Extremism. In carrying out this subsection, 
the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, seek to 
assign to or hire for the Office an individual who has a 
demonstrated background in technical matters, on and offline 
media, communications, or marketing.
  (c) Support.--The Secretary shall appoint within each 
appropriate component and office of the Department, including 
at a minimum, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, United States Citizenship 
and Immigration Services, the Office of Privacy, the National 
Protection and Programs Directorate, the Office of Civil Rights 
and Civil Liberties, the Secret Service, and the Science and 
Technology Directorate, an individual to serve as liaison to 
the Office for Countering Violent Extremism.
  (d) Responsibilities.--The Assistant Secretary for Countering 
Violent Extremism shall be responsible for the following:
          (1) Coordinating the Department's activities to 
        counter violent extremism across all the components and 
        offices of the Department that conduct strategic and 
        supportive activities to counter violent extremism. 
        Such activities shall include the following:
                  (A) Identifying risk factors that contribute 
                to violent extremism in communities in the 
                United States and potential remedies for use by 
                Government and non-government institutions.
                  (B) Identifying populations targeted by 
                violent extremist propaganda, messaging, or 
                recruitment.
                  (C) Managing the outreach and engagement 
                activities of the Department directed toward 
                communities at risk for radicalization and 
                recruitment for violent extremist activities.
                  (D) Ensuring relevant information, 
                empirically-valid research, and products inform 
                activities to counter violent extremism.
                  (E) Developing and maintaining a Department-
                wide strategy guiding policies and programs to 
                counter violent extremism. Such strategy shall, 
                at a minimum, address each of the following:
                          (i) The Department's counter-
                        messaging program pursuant to paragraph 
                        (2), including a plan to leverage new 
                        and existing Internet, digital, and 
                        other technologies and social media 
                        platforms to counter violent extremism, 
                        as well as the best practices and 
                        lessons learned of other Federal, 
                        State, local, tribal, territorial, 
                        nongovernmental, and foreign partners 
                        engaged in similar counter-messaging 
                        activities.
                          (ii) The Department's countering 
                        violent extremism-related engagement 
                        and outreach activities.
                          (iii) The use of cooperative 
                        agreements with State, local, tribal, 
                        territorial, and other Federal 
                        departments and agencies responsible 
                        for activities relating to countering 
                        violent extremism.
                          (iv) Ensuring all activities related 
                        to countering violent extremism fully 
                        respect the privacy, civil rights, and 
                        civil liberties of all Americans.
                          (v) The development of qualitative 
                        and quantitative outcome-based metrics 
                        to evaluate the Department's programs 
                        and policies to counter violent 
                        extremism.
                  (F) Identifying and recommending new research 
                and analysis requirements in consultation with 
                the Under Secretary for Science and Technology 
                and the Under Secretary for Intelligence and 
                Analysis and ensure the dissemination of 
                information and methods to Federal, State, 
                local, tribal, and territorial countering 
                violent extremism practitioners, officials, law 
                enforcement, and non-governmental partners to 
                utilize such research and analysis.
                  (G) Assessing the methods used by violent 
                extremists to disseminate propaganda and 
                messaging to communities at risk for 
                radicalization and recruitment.
          (2) Establishing a counter-messaging program to craft 
        strategic counter-messages to the propaganda and 
        messaging referred to in subparagraph (G) of paragraph 
        (1) which shall--
                  (A) explore ways to utilize relevant Internet 
                and other technologies and social media 
                platforms; and
                  (B) maximize other resources available to the 
                Department, including utilizing hiring 
                authorities available under law.
          (3) Serving as the primary representative of the 
        Department in coordinating countering violent extremism 
        activities with other Federal departments and agencies 
        and non-governmental organizations.
          (4) Serving as the primary Department-level 
        representative in coordinating with the Department of 
        State on international countering violent extremism 
        issues.
          (5) In coordination with the Administrator of the 
        Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Officer for 
        Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department, 
        providing guidance 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.
          (6) Coordinating with the Administrator of the 
        Federal Emergency Management Agency to administer the 
        grant program under subsection (f).
  (e) Memorandum of Understanding.--The Assistant Secretary for 
Countering Violent Extremism shall enter into a memorandum of 
understanding with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency outlining the roles of the Assistant 
Secretary and the Administrator with respect to the 
administration of grants under sections 2003 and 2004 related 
to countering violent extremism.
  (f) Grant Program.--
          (1) Establishment.--The Assistant Secretary for 
        Countering Violent Extremism, in coordination with the 
        Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 
        Agency and the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil 
        Liberties of the Department, shall establish a grant 
        program for eligible community groups and organizations 
        to assist such groups and organizations in establishing 
        counter-messaging campaigns targeting violent 
        extremism.
          (2) Implementation plan.--Not later than 90 days 
        after the date of the enactment of this section, the 
        Assistant Secretary for Countering Violent Extremism, 
        in coordination with the Administrator of the Federal 
        Emergency Management Agency and the Officer for Civil 
        Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department, shall 
        provide to the Committee on Homeland Security of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland 
        Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate an 
        implementation plan for the grant program under this 
        subsection, including eligibility criteria, application 
        criteria, methodology for awarding grants, and a plan 
        for monitoring and evaluating grant applications and 
        awards.
          (3) Prohibition.--A community group or organization 
        is not eligible for a grant under this subsection if 
        such group or organization has knowingly funded violent 
        extremist activities or organizations known to engage 
        in such activities, as determined by the Assistant 
        Secretary for Countering Violent Extremism, in 
        coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal 
        departments and agencies.
  (g) Annual Report.--The Assistant Secretary for Countering 
Violent Extremism shall submit to Congress an annual report for 
each of the next five fiscal years (beginning in the fiscal 
year that begins after the date of the enactment of this 
section) on the Office for Countering Violent Extremism. Each 
such report shall include the following:
          (1) 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 and the 
        number of full-time employees dedicated to countering 
        violent extremism programs, as well as the number of 
        part-time employees supporting countering violent 
        extremism programs. Each such budget shall include an 
        accounting of all funding amounts for all departmental 
        programs, initiatives, and personnel related to 
        countering violent extremism.
          (2) A description of the activities of the Office to 
        cooperate with and provide assistance to other 
        departments and agencies.
          (3) The qualitative and quantitative outcome-based 
        metrics under clause (v) of subsection (d)(1)(E) used 
        for evaluating the success of such programs and 
        policies and the steps taken to evaluate the success of 
        such programs and policies.
          (4) A detailed summary of the organizations with 
        which the Department conducted outreach to discuss 
        countering violent extremism, an accounting of grants 
        awarded by the Department to counter violent extremism, 
        and an accounting of all training specifically aimed at 
        countering violent extremism sponsored by the 
        Department.
          (5) Details of the optimal level of personnel and 
        funding for the Office.
          (6) An analysis of how the Department's activities to 
        counter violent extremism correspond and adapt to the 
        threat environment.
          (7) A summary of how civil rights and civil liberties 
        are protected in the Department's activities to counter 
        violent extremism.
          (8) An evaluation of the grant program under 
        subsection (f), including information on the 
        effectiveness of such grants in countering violent 
        extremism.
          (9) A description of how the Office incorporated 
        lessons learned from the countering violent extremism 
        programs and policies of other Foreign departments and 
        agencies, as well as foreign, State, local, tribal, and 
        territorial governments and stakeholder communities.
  (h) Violent Extremism Defined.--In this section, the term 
``violent extremism'' means ideologically motivated terrorist 
activities.
  (i) Authorization of Funding.--Out of funds made available to 
the Office of the Secretary, $10,000,000 is authorized to be 
used for the Office for Countering Violent Extremism for each 
of fiscal years 2016 through 2020, of which $6,000,000 shall be 
used to carry out the grant program under subsection (f).
  (j) Sunset.--This section shall terminate on the date that is 
five years after the date of the enactment of this section.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                            ADDITIONAL VIEWS

    On Wednesday, July 15, 2015, the Committee on Homeland 
Security approved by voice vote, H.R. 2899, ``The Countering 
Violent Extremism Act of 2015,'' or ``CVE Act'' as amended. At 
the mark-up, I was prepared to offer an amendment in the nature 
of a substitute that would have addressed significant concerns 
I had about H.R. 2899's potential impact on Americans' civil 
rights and civil liberties. After a vigorous debate, however, I 
received a commitment from Chairman McCaul that he would work 
with me to resolve these issues, which were raised by Committee 
Democrats and shared by outside organizations, most notably the 
American Civil Liberties Union. While I am pleased that the 
Chairman agreed to make some refinements to the bill, I remain 
skeptical about H.R. 2899.
    H.R. 2899 would establish a high-level office for 
Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) within the Department of 
Homeland Security (DHS). The legislation requires DHS to 
establish a program to counter the narrative promulgated by 
extremist groups that seek to recruit and radicalize 
individuals in the United States. I appreciate the threat posed 
by terrorist organizations that utilize social media and the 
Internet to spread propaganda and radicalize American youth, I 
continue to have concerns about the efficacy of the approach 
advanced by H.R. 2899.
    Under its existing CVE program, DHS coordinates with other 
Federal agencies to provide training to local law enforcement, 
as well as community engagement activities, to build resiliency 
in at-risk communities. These CVE activities are not without 
controversy. Civil rights and civil liberty concerns are 
implicated when the practice of a CVE program is to focus 
almost exclusively on Muslim communities while ignoring other 
types of violent extremism despite recent incidents. Sovereign 
citizen and other anti-government groups have successfully 
recruited new members through the use of mainstream sites such 
as Facebook as well as through dedicated extremist sites. The 
assailant who carried out the deadly attack in Charleston, 
South Carolina frequented such sites. Moreover, the 
Department's current approach risks conveying a message of 
discrimination, and inequality that may play into terrorists' 
recruitment propaganda.
    I am encouraged that H.R. 2899, with the refinements 
negotiated with the Chairman, now expands the DHS' CVE 
activities from ``ideologically motivated terrorist 
activities''--which is not defined in statute--to 
``ideologically motivated international terrorism,'' which is 
defined in code (18 U.S.C. 2331). This definition would broaden 
the scope of the Department's CVE activities to target not only 
ideologies linked to foreign terrorist organizations, but also 
ideologically-motivated ``domestic terrorism.'' This is an 
important clarification of Congress' expectation of DHS in the 
CVE mission space. Despite numerous requests for the Department 
to expand its CVE activities beyond Muslim communities, DHS has 
yet to comply. Thus, it is unclear whether the Department will 
fully embrace its responsibility to address ideologically-
motivated ``domestic terrorism.''
    Additionally, after much negotiation, the legislation now 
requires the Department to issue a CVE strategy that links its 
activities with ``homeland security risk posed by violent 
extremism based on the threat environment and empirical data 
assessing terrorist activities and incidents, and violent 
extremist propaganda, messaging, or recruitment.'' Ostensibly, 
this would bring DHS's singular focus on recruitment from 
foreign terrorists into alignment with the current threat 
environment that most state and locals agree is posed by 
domestic terrorism.
    Although DHS continues to be actively engaged in CVE, it 
has rebuffed opportunities to come before the Committee on 
Homeland Security to testify about its current CVE efforts. DHS 
still has yet to present a CVE strategy or formal statement of 
the Department's position on this bill. Moreover, there are no 
studies or identifiable metrics to show the effectiveness of 
the CVE programs.
    Until there is more transparency from the Department 
regarding its current CVE activities, and a strategy for 
implementation tied directly to validated approaches, it is 
premature to establish a high-level CVE office. Put simply, 
there is no justification for creating a new office with new 
authorities and a $40 million dollar budget to engage in 
activities that have not yet been scientifically validated.
    While I share my colleague's commitment to countering the 
threat of violent extremism in all of its forms, the concerns I 
raised at the Committee mark-up in July remain. H.R. 2899 can 
only achieve its goal if the Department puts forth identifiable 
metrics and an agency strategy that ensures that the office 
respects civil liberties and civil rights while addressing 
domestic and international threats of violent extremism.
    Despite my concerns, I am hopeful that H.R. 2899 can be 
successful in our efforts to counter violent extremism, without 
making unnecessary and ill-advised concessions to the civil 
rights and civil liberties of ordinary Americans. Whether H.R. 
2899, or similar legislation, is enacted into law or not, I 
look forward to continued, rigorous oversight of DHS' CVE 
programs in the weeks and months ahead, and I urge the Chairman 
to make this oversight a priority.

                                                Bennie G. Thompson.

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