Magaziner Bill to Require Civil Liberties Training for DHS Intelligence Employees Passes Homeland Security Committee

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House Homeland Security Committee approved U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner’s Department of Homeland Security Intelligence and Analysis Training Act, legislation that will require standardized entry-level training for new intelligence employees at the Department of Homeland Security on civil rights, civil liberties, privacy protections, intelligence regulations, and information-sharing best practices.

The legislation establishes a formal training curriculum for employees of the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A), which is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and sharing intelligence with state, local, Tribal, territorial, and private-sector partners to help protect the American people from threats to public safety.

Magaziner’s legislation will keep Americans safe, protect their constitutional rights, and hold DHS employees to high standards of conduct and accountability.

“Intelligence professionals have a responsibility to keep our country safe while upholding and respecting the constitutional rights of the American people,” said Magaziner. “This legislation will ensure DHS intelligence employees receive consistent, high-quality training from day one, to strengthen accountability and protect American’s civil rights and liberties.”

Passage by the House Homeland Security Committee advances the legislation to the next stage of the legislative process and makes it eligible for consideration by the full House of Representatives.

Text of the legislation can be viewed or downloaded here.

Rep. Magaziner’s remarks during the House Homeland Security Committee markup can be viewed here.