Enhanced Oversight and Accountability in Screening Act
Latest action (18 Sep 2024): Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
What this bill does
This bill would direct the Department of Homeland Security to overhaul how it handles complaints from people who believe they were wrongly flagged as security threats during travel screening. It would require DHS to create a Screening and Watchlisting Advisory Committee—made up of department officials, other federal agency representatives, and outside experts from civil society, academia, and civil rights backgrounds—to review screening, vetting, and watchlist practices used by agencies like the Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection, and to recommend improvements. DHS would also have to develop and publish a formal plan to make its redress process (for people denied boarding, delayed at borders, subjected to device searches, or denied credentials) more timely, transparent, and accessible. The bill also expands DHS's existing Office of Appeals and Redress and requires the Attorney General, working with other agencies, to submit annual reports to Congress on the criteria and operation of the consolidated terrorist watchlist.
The bill primarily affects U.S. persons who travel by air or cross borders and believe they were mistakenly placed on watchlists or subjected to repeated extra screening. It also affects DHS components (TSA, CBP, Privacy Office, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Office) and other federal agencies involved in watchlisting, such as the FBI and intelligence agencies, by imposing new advisory, reporting, and transparency obligations on them.
The bill was introduced by Senator Gary Peters on July 11, 2024, and referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. On September 18, 2024, the committee ordered it reported favorably with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; it was formally reported on December 19, 2024. It did not receive a floor vote before the end of the 118th Congress, meaning it would need to be reintroduced in a future Congress to advance further.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
This bill was introduced on September 18, 2024, in a previous session of Congress, but it did not receive a vote.
Timeline
18 Sep 2024
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Common questions
- What does S. 4681 do?
- This bill would direct the Department of Homeland Security to overhaul how it handles complaints from people who believe they were wrongly flagged as security threats during travel screening. It would require DHS to create a Screening and Watchlisting Advisory Committee—made up of department officials, other federal agency representatives, and outside experts from civil society, academia, and civil rights backgrounds—to review screening, vetting, and watchlist practices used by agencies like the Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection, and to recommend improvements. DHS would also have to develop and publish a formal plan to make its redress process (for people denied boarding, delayed at borders, subjected to device searches, or denied credentials) more timely, transparent, and accessible. The bill also expands DHS's existing Office of Appeals and Redress and requires the Attorney General, working with other agencies, to submit annual reports to Congress on the criteria and operation of the consolidated terrorist watchlist. The bill primarily affects U.S. persons who travel by air or cross borders and believe they were mistakenly placed on watchlists or subjected to repeated extra screening. It also affects DHS components (TSA, CBP, Privacy Office, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Office) and other federal agencies involved in watchlisting, such as the FBI and intelligence agencies, by imposing new advisory, reporting, and transparency obligations on them. The bill was introduced by Senator Gary Peters on July 11, 2024, and referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. On September 18, 2024, the committee ordered it reported favorably with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; it was formally reported on December 19, 2024. It did not receive a floor vote before the end of the 118th Congress, meaning it would need to be reintroduced in a future Congress to advance further.
- Has S. 4681 become law?
- Not yet. As of 18 Sep 2024, S. 4681 is ordered reported.
- Who sponsored S. 4681?
- S. 4681 was sponsored by Sen. Gary Peters [D-MI] (Democrat-MI), with 0 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 4681?
- Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably. (18 Sep 2024).
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