H.R. 4713: Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Authorization Act

116th Congress · introduced 2019-10-17 · Government Operations and Politics · Latest: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 574.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2019-10-17 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9] · 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. 574. 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 Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Authorization Act

Plain summary

Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Authorization Act This bill makes changes to the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The bill expands the duties of the CRCL to include integrating civil rights and civil liberties protections into all DHS programs and activities; conducting civil rights and civil liberties impact assessments, including prior to the implementation of new DHS regulations, initiatives, programs, or policies; initiating reviews, assessments, and investigations of the administration of DHS programs and activities; leading the equal employment opportunity programs of DHS; engaging with individuals and communities whose civil rights and civil liberties may be affected by DHS programs and activities; and leading the Language Access Program to ensure that DHS can effectively communicate with individuals impacted by its programs and activities. The bill requires each operational component of DHS to designate an Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to report to the CRCL. The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on implementation of provisions regarding CRCL engagement with individuals and communities whose civil rights and civil liberties may be affected by DHS programs and activities.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate), 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 Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Authorization Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate)

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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. Green, Al [D-TX-9] · 2 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 4713, Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Authorization Act (2020-10-14)

Cosponsors on this site

Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9] reported raising $1.7 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 (5)

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.
Ballot initiative: A proposed law or constitutional amendment that citizens place on the ballot by gathering enough voter signatures, so voters decide it directly. About half the states allow some form of it.
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).
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.
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)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-116hr4713.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/116/hr>

Record fed-us-cong116-hr4713 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116