S. 5015 — Introduced in Senate

II 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 5015 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 10, 2024Mr. Cornyn (for himself and Mr. Blumenthal) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs A BILL To provide for the hiring and training of certain personnel at the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Renewed Hope Act of 2024. 2. Image audio forensics hiring and training programs at the Department of Homeland Security (a) Additional personnel The Secretary of Homeland Security shall hire, train, and assign not fewer than— (1) 40 forensics analysts to the Victim Identification Laboratory of the Child Exploitation Investigations Unit of Homeland Security Investigations; (2) 30 child exploitation investigators to the Victim Identification Laboratory of the Child Exploitation Investigations Unit of Homeland Security Investigations; and (3) 130 additional forensics analysts and child exploitation investigators to support identification and rescue of victims of child sexual exploitation and abuse at offices of the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations. (b) Employment of experts and consultants Section 890A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 473) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and (2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following: (g) Employment of Experts and Consultants (1) In general In accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, at daily rates not to exceed the equivalent rate prescribed for grade GS–15 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of such title, the Secretary may procure by contract the temporary (not in excess of 1 year) or intermittent services of experts or consultants to provide image and audio forensic analysis related to victim identification to support efforts to identify, locate, and rescue children seen in abusive images and videos. (2) Placement The Secretary shall promulgate guidelines for assigning or detailing participants to positions at the Center, offices of the Special Agent in Charge, offices of the Resident Agent in Charge, and Attaché offices. . 3. Deconfliction of child sexual exploitation and abuse investigations within the department of homeland security Section 890A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 473) is amended by inserting after subsection (a)(2) the following: (3) Coordination The Secretary shall, with the concurrence of the directors of affected agencies within the Department, establish joint procedures to deconflict, coordinate, and synchronize child sexual exploitation investigations with the Center. . 4. Victim identification training program (a) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish a Victim Identification Training Program (referred to in this section as the Program) in the Cyber Crimes Center. (b) Program The Program shall provide training on new and advanced technology used to identify victims to— (1) Homeland Security Investigations personnel; and (2) Federal, State, local, Tribal, military, and foreign law enforcement agency personnel engaged in the investigation of child sexual exploitation and abuse within their respective jurisdictions, upon request and subject to the availability of funds. (c) Functions The functions of the Program shall include— (1) annual training for a minimum of 24 Homeland Security Investigations special agents and analysts focused on— (A) training on the most current tools and techniques used in victim identification; and (B) training on the capabilities of the Victim Identification Laboratory; and (2) increasing personnel knowledge on how to conduct image, audio, and video enhancements.