H.R. 4357: DHS Reform Act of 2021

117th Congress · introduced 2021-07-06 · Government Operations and Politics · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2021-07-06 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability. 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

DHS Reform Act of 2021

Plain summary

Department of Homeland Security Reform Act of 2021 or the DHS Reform Act of 2021 This bill makes extensive changes to the structure of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and to the responsibilities of DHS components. Specifically, the bill, among other things creates a new Associate Secretary responsible for overseeing DHS's law enforcement functions; modifies the responsibilities of the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, including to require engagement with individuals and communities whose civil rights and liberties may be affected by DHS programs and activities; establishes within DHS's Office of Intelligence and Analysis an analytic unit to serve as a focal point for intelligence and analysis of domestic terrorism threats; directs DHS to establish an employee engagement steering committee to identify factors that have a negative impact on employee engagement, morale, and communications within DHS; establishes within DHS a school security coordinating council; directs DHS to develop and disseminate a strategy with respect to biometric technology and identity management enterprise pilot programs and programs; requires DHS to develop, disseminate, and implement a DHS-wide directive to update or replace the strategic framework relating to countering terrorism and targeted violence; requires that DHS's use-of-force policy be updated to emphasize de-escalation; and requires DHS to issue a DHS-wide strategy to enhance partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutes that includes yearly goals.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), 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

DHS Reform Act of 2021

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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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. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2] · 15 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

J. Luis Correa (D-CA), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Al Green (D-TX), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Dina Titus (D-NV), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Ritchie Torres (D-NY)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2] reported raising $928,245 (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 (2)

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 (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117hr4357.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/hr>

Record fed-us-cong117-hr4357 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117