HR901-119

What This Bill Does

The Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act adds a new duty to the DHS Science and Technology Directorate: developing, in coordination with appropriate agency officials, a department-wide policy and process to safeguard research and development from unauthorized access to or disclosure of sensitive information in R&D acquisitions. It also directs the Comptroller General to submit a report within one year on how DHS has complied with National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 and adopted the National Science and Technology Council's 2022 implementation guidance. The GAO report must cover DHS compliance with disclosure requirements, reporting of violations to relevant executive agencies including the intelligence community, coordination with National Science Foundation, NSTC, Office of Science and Technology Policy, and other federal research-security guidelines, and the role of the Science and Technology Directorate in establishing a department-wide framework. DHS must brief House and Senate homeland-security committees within 90 days on developing those policies and processes.

Who Benefits and How

DHS research programs benefit from a department-wide process to protect sensitive R&D information during acquisitions. DHS acquisition officials benefit from clearer safeguards for research contracts, prototypes, and technology-development work. National security agencies benefit because violations tied to NSPM-33 disclosure requirements must be addressed in the GAO review. Congressional homeland-security committees benefit from a 90-day DHS briefing and a one-year GAO report. Legitimate researchers receiving DHS funding benefit from clearer expectations around sensitive-information protection and disclosure requirements.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The DHS Science and Technology Directorate must design the department-wide research-security policy and coordinate it across DHS. The Secretary of Homeland Security must brief Congress within 90 days. GAO must evaluate DHS compliance with NSPM-33 and NSTC implementation guidance within one year. DHS R&D acquisition offices and researchers working under DHS-funded projects must adapt to new safeguards and disclosure practices. Foreign adversaries or unauthorized actors face greater barriers to accessing sensitive DHS R&D information.

Key Provisions

• Adds a DHS Science and Technology Directorate duty to safeguard R&D from unauthorized access or disclosure in acquisitions.
• Requires GAO to report within one year on DHS compliance with NSPM-33 and NSTC 2022 implementation guidance.
• Requires the GAO report to review disclosure compliance and reporting of violations to executive agencies and the intelligence community.
• Requires GAO to review DHS coordination with NSF, NSTC, OSTP, and other federal research-security guidelines.
• Requires DHS to brief House and Senate homeland-security committees within 90 days on policy development.
• Centers the Science and Technology Directorate's role in a department-wide research-security framework.