H.R. 4971: Terrorist Watchlist Data Accuracy and Transparency Act

This bill, titled the Terrorist Watchlist Data Accuracy and Transparency Act, proposes several amendments to the Homeland Security Act of 2002 aimed at improving the accuracy of terrorism screening information maintained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Below are the key provisions of the bill:

Quality Assurance Reviews

The bill requires that before an individual is nominated for inclusion in the terrorist watchlist—such as the No Fly List or Selectee List—a quality assurance review must be conducted. This review aims to verify that all information related to the nomination is accurate and free from errors.

Submission of Reviews

Any quality assurance review conducted as part of the nomination process must be included with the submission of that nomination to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Terrorist Screening Center and the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC).

Annual Audits

Within 90 days of the bill's enactment and then annually, the Secretary of DHS must review all nominations for inclusion of United States persons (U.S. citizens and permanent residents) on the terrorist watchlist. This review will assess whether the nominations are still accurate and meet specified criteria.

Random Audits

In addition to annual audits, a program for random audits of nominations will be established. These audits will occur monthly and will serve the same purpose as the annual audits but will target nominations on a non-systematic basis.

Correcting or Retracting Records

If any errors or inaccuracies are found in a nomination during reviews or audits, the Secretary must notify the FBI and NCTC within 24 hours. This notification includes a request for any necessary corrections or removals from the watchlist.

Consultation with FBI and NCTC

If a correction or retraction is not implemented within 30 days after the request, the Secretary is required to consult with the directors of the FBI or NCTC regarding the situation.

Reporting Requirements

An annual report must be submitted to the relevant congressional committees detailing the number of individuals for whom corrections or retractions were requested, as well as the number of nominations that were either recalled or reissued.

Definitions

The bill also provides specific definitions for terms such as "terrorist watchlist" and "United States person" to clarify the scope of its provisions.

Clerical Amendments

A clerical amendment is made to the table of contents of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to include the newly established section regarding quality assurance reviews.

Relevant Companies

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