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H.R. 3815: Homeland Security Open Source Information Enhancement Act of 2008

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H.R. 3815: Homeland Security Open Source Information Enhancement Act of 2008

110th Congress · introduced 2007-10-10 · Emergency Management · Latest: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1051.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2007-10-10 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Perlmutter, Ed [D-CO-7] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1051. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Homeland Security Open Source Information Enhancement Act of 2008

Plain summary

Homeland Security Open Source Information Enhancement Act of 2008 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Assistant Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Open Source and the Director of National Intelligence, to establish an open source collection, analysis, and dissemination program within the Office of Intelligence and Analysis. Defines "open source information" to mean publicly available information that can be lawfully obtained by a member of the public by request, purchase, or observation. Requires the program to make full and efficient use of open source information to develop and disseminate open source alerts, warnings, and other intelligence products relating to the mission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Requires the Secretary to: (1) ensure that DHS makes full and efficient use of such information in intelligence analysis to identify terrorist threats; and (2) make DHS open source information available to federal, state, local, tribal, and private-sector entities, using systems and networks for the dissemination of homeland security information. Directs: (1) the Secretary to ensure that the manner in which open source information is gathered and disseminated complies with all relevant federal laws; and (2) the Chief Privacy Officer of DHS to include in such Officer's annual report submitted to Congress an assessment of compliance by federal departments and agencies with laws relating to the use of open source information.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate with amendment(s)), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Homeland Security Open Source Information Enhancement Act of 2008

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate with amendment(s))

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Perlmutter, Ed [D-CO-7] · 13 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 3815, Homeland Security Open Source Information Enhancement Act of 2008 (2008-07-10); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 3815, Homeland Security Open Source Information Enhancement Act of 2008 (2008-07-10); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 3815, Homeland Security Open Source Information Enhancement Act of 2008 (2008-09-25); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 3815, Homeland Security Open Source Information Enhancement Act of 2008 (2008-09-25)

Cosponsors on this site

Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Adam Smith (D-WA), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Securities
Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong110-hr3815 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong110 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong110