Senator Hassan Priorities to Strengthen National Security and Keep Americans Safe included in Bipartisan DHS Reauthorization Bill

DHS Reauthorization Bill Passes Committee with Senator Hassan’s Hack DHS Act

Also Includes Bills Introduced by Senator Hassan to Bolster Counterterrorism Efforts

WASHINGTON – The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee today voted to approve bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which includes key provisions championed by Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH).

“In the face of a growing number of national security threats – from abroad, at home, and within cyberspace – it is critical that the Department of Homeland Security has the support and resources necessary to defend our country and ensure that all Granite Staters and Americans are safe,” Senator Hassan said. “I am pleased that the Committee passed a bipartisan homeland security bill that includes important priorities I’ve fought for to bolster our national security and enhance public safety, including a version of the bipartisan Hack DHS Act I introduced to strengthen cyber defenses at the Department through an innovative bug bounty program, and the DHS Data Framework Act that I introduced to help the Department better identify potential terrorist threats.

“I thank Chairman Johnson and Ranking Member McCaskill for their work to move these critical measures forward, and I call on the full Senate to pass this bill without delay,” Senator Hassan added.  

Senator Hassan’s key priorities in the bipartisan Department of Homeland Security reauthorization bill include:

• The DHS Authorization Act includes a version of the bipartisan Hack DHS Act, which Senator Hassan introduced with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) to strengthen cyber defenses at the Department of Homeland Security by establishing a bug bounty pilot program – modeled off of similar programs at the Department of Defense and major tech companies – that utilizes “white-hat” or ethical hackers to help identify unique and undiscovered vulnerabilities in the DHS networks and information technology.

• To strengthen national security and boost counterterrorism efforts, the DHS Authorization Act also includes the DHS Data Framework Act, which Senator Hassan introduced to help the Department of Homeland Security better identify potential terrorist threats. The Authorization bill also includes the Counterterrorism Advisory Board Act, which Senator Hassan introduced with Ranking Member Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) to authorize the DHS Counterterrorism Advisory Board, which is responsible for bringing together the intelligence, operation, and policy-making elements from across DHS to devise joint strategies to better deter and disrupt potential terrorist attacks.

• The DHS Authorization Act also includes the Homeland Security for Children Act, which Senator Hassan introduced with Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) to ensure that children are adequately protected in the event of an emergency.

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