Strengthening State and Local Efforts to Combat Transnational Repression Act
A BILL
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to prioritize strengthening of State and local law enforcement capabilities to combat transnational repression and related terrorism threats, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Combating transnational repression
“437. Strengthening State and local law enforcement efforts to combat transnational repression and related terrorism threats
“(a) In general—The Secretary, in consultation with public and private sector stakeholders, shall in a manner consistent with the protection of privacy rights, civil rights, and civil liberties, develop, through the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, a training program to enhance the capabilities of State, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement personnel, including personnel of the National Network of Fusion Centers, to combat transnational repression and related terrorism threats.
“(b) Requirements—The training provided pursuant to subsection (a) shall relate to the following:
“(1) Identifying instances of transnational repression and related terrorism threats.
“(2) Types of information that should be collected and recorded in information technology systems to help identify suspected perpetrators of transnational repression and related terrorism threats.
“(3) Identifying suspected targets or victims of transnational repression and related terrorism threats.
“(4) Personal safety best practices for individuals and communities that may be targets or are victims of transnational repression and related terrorism threats to prevent and mitigate transnational repression and related terrorism threats and ensure that such targets and victims are afforded prompt information about and access to victim support resources, including such resources offered by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, to address their immediate and long-term needs.
“(c) Community awareness briefings—The Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties shall engage with State, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement personnel, including personnel of the National Network of Fusion Centers, and individuals and communities that may be targets or are victims of transnational repression and related terrorism threats, including by informing such individuals and communities about how to identify transnational repression and related terrorism threats and protect against transnational repression and related terrorism threats.
“(d) Definitions—In this section:
“(1) Personal safety best practices—The term “personal safety best practices” means measures for enhancing individuals’ and communities’ physical security, situational awareness, and online security.
“(2) Transnational repression—The term “transnational repression” means actions of a foreign government, or an individual or entity working on behalf or at the direction of a foreign government, involving the transgression of national borders through physical, digital, or analog means to intimidate, silence, coerce, harass, or harm individuals or communities in order to prevent their exercise of freedom of speech, expression, religion, or assembly.”