H.R. 7427: Securing Access from Foreign Entities Visiting Internal Sites in the States Act

This bill, known as the "Securing Access from Foreign Entities Visiting Internal Sites in the States Act" or the "SAFE VISITS Act," aims to enhance security measures regarding foreign nationals visiting state, local, Tribal, or territorial government entities in the United States.

Key Provisions of the Bill

• Threat Analysis and Guidance: The bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide a threat analysis regarding potential terrorism threats associated with visits by foreign nationals to government officials. This analysis must be conducted not later than 180 days after the enactment of the bill and annually thereafter.
• Contents of the Threat Analysis: The threat analysis must include:
  • Descriptions of high-risk government targets.
  • Analysis of trends related to foreign visits based on information gathered through state and local fusion centers.
  • Actions that can be taken to mitigate potential threats to government officials and their facilities.
• Outreach and Vetting Assistance: If a particular official or government facility is determined to be a high-risk target, the Secretary must:
  • Conduct outreach to inform the local government of risks.
  • Assist in vetting foreign nationals seeking access.
  • Provide additional guidance on security measures that can be implemented before a visit.
• Debriefing Protocol: After hosting a foreign national, the local government must report back to the Secretary with insights about the visit and any security concerns that arose.
• Annual Reporting: The Secretary must submit annual reports on the outreach and assistance provided under this legislation.

Coordination with Research and Technology Development:

The Department of Homeland Security is instructed to work on developing technologies that enhance information sharing to support these security measures.

Clerical Changes:

The bill includes a technical amendment to the table of contents of the Homeland Security Act to reflect the new section that it adds regarding threat analyses and guidance on foreign visits.

Relevant Companies

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