S. 2418: Countering Online Recruitment of Violent Extremists Act of 2016

114th Congress · introduced 2015-12-17 · Education · Latest: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 655.

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Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2015-12-17 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 655. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
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

Countering Online Recruitment of Violent Extremists Act of 2016

Plain summary

Countering Online Recruitment of Violent Extremists Act of 2016 This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require that the criteria for the designation of colleges or universities as a center for homeland security include demonstrated expertise in countering violent extremism (CVE). "CVE" is defined as proactive and relevant actions to deter efforts by extremists to radicalize, recruit, and mobilize followers to violence by providing positive countervailing alternatives to violent extremist recruitment and radicalization. (Sec. 4) The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is authorized to: (1) establish one or more CVE labs where students will develop and test technology-based CVE solutions, and (2) reprioritize grants to centers for homeland security to fund each lab. A "technology-based CVE solution" is defined as an instrument developed by a participating student that: appeals to young consumers of online and social media; counters online recruitment of violent extremists or builds resilience against online violent extremist recruitment among participating students' peers; operates on a technological platform or is technological in nature, including social media campaigns and mobile software applications; and is supported by empirical evidence and incorporates metrics for future assessment. (Sec. 5) An institution of higher education at which a CVE lab is established shall ensure that the lab's faculty: creates a curriculum for participating students to develop and test CVE solutions, that shall include a CVE orientation program during which federal officials shall brief students on precautions to protect themselves from becoming a target of terrorists; supervises any deployment of a technology-based CVE solution by a student; develops a framework for participation and support of other programs that encourages peer-to-peer CVE solutions; develops a common inventory of research, in conjunction with other centers that establish CVE labs, on core CVE issues to inform CVE lab curricula; and identifies experts who can apply CVE solutions to target susceptible individuals. (Sec. 6) The bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report on, and DHS to commission an independent third-party assessment of, the impact of each lab. (Sec. 8) The bill sunsets seven years after enactment.

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

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Countering Online Recruitment of Violent Extremists Act of 2016

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

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] · 3 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: S. 2418, Countering Online Recruitment of Violent Extremists Act of 2016 (2016-10-13)

Cosponsors on this site

Ron Johnson (R-WI), Gary C. Peters (D-MI)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] reported raising $21.3 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

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 (3)

Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate with amendment(s))
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-114s2418.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/114/s>

Record fed-us-cong114-s2418 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114