H.R. 6447: Department of Homeland Security Chief Data Officer Authorization Act

115th Congress · introduced 2018-07-19 · Emergency Management · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2018-07-19 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. 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

Department of Homeland Security Chief Data Officer Authorization Act

Plain summary

Department of Homeland Security Chief Data Officer Authorization Act (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to designate a career appointee of DHS as its Chief Data Officer. The bill sets forth the responsibilities of the Chief Data Officer, including: (1) ensuring that DHS conforms with recognized data management best practices, (2) coordinating the release of data for public use after privacy reviews, (3) promoting the use of modern data systems to improve DHS operations, and (4) serving as the liaison to other federal agencies and the Office of Management and Budget on data.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), 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

Department of Homeland Security Chief Data Officer Authorization Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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The strongest published arguments

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31] · 1 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 6447, Department of Homeland Security Chief Data Officer Authorization Act (2018-09-05)

Cosponsors on this site

Michael T. McCaul (R-TX)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31] reported raising $1.5 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Agencies named in this bill

Department of Homeland Security: its federal spending and other bills that name it

Found automatically: the agency's full official name appears in the bill title. A bill can affect agencies it does not name, so this list may be incomplete.

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 (Passed House amended)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115hr6447.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/hr>

Record fed-us-cong115-hr6447 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115