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119-hr-4971119th Congress

Terrorist Watchlist Data Accuracy and Transparency Act

Sponsored By: Representative Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]

In Committee

Summary

This bill would require quality assurance reviews of departmental nominations to the terrorist watchlist and related terrorism databases to make sure initial nominations are free from error before DHS sends them to the FBI Terrorist Screening Center or the National Counterterrorism Center.

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  • People named on watchlists, including U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, would get extra error checks and a formal path for correction or retraction when DHS finds a nomination ineligible.
  • DHS would have to perform a QA review and include that determination with every initial nomination to the FBI Terrorist Screening Center and the National Counterterrorism Center. The rule covers the terrorist watchlist and subsets such as the No Fly List, the Selectee List, watchlist exceptions, and other NCTC databases including the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment.
  • The bill would require annual audits of all DHS nominations and a monthly random audit program starting within 90 days after enactment. When DHS deems a nomination ineligible it must notify the FBI and NCTC within 24 hours and request correction or retraction, and if no correction is made within 30 days the Secretary must consult the FBI or NCTC director. DHS must report annually to Congress with counts split between U.S. persons and non‑U.S. persons and how many nominations were recalled or reissued.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Quality checks for watchlist nominations

If enacted, the bill would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to run a quality-assurance review on every initial DHS nomination before sending it to the FBI Terrorist Screening Center or the National Counterterrorism Center. The Secretary would have to include the QA results with each initial nomination. Within 90 days, DHS would review all nominations of United States persons and then do an annual review to check for errors and whether listings still meet Watchlisting Advisory Council guidance. DHS would also start a random audit program within 90 days and run monthly audits of nominations to check ongoing accuracy and eligibility. If a nomination fails an audit, DHS would notify the FBI and NCTC within 24 hours and request a correction or retraction. If no correction happens within 30 days, the Secretary would promptly consult with the FBI or NCTC director. The bill would require an annual report to Congress showing corrections or retractions (separated between U.S. persons and non-U.S. persons) and the number of nominations recalled or reissued. It would also define the watchlist, other terrorism databases, and who counts as a "United States person" for these rules.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]

MS • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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