Protect Democracy Supports Bills Strengthening DHS Oversight

Protect Democracy commends the House Committee on Homeland Security for taking up and endorsing the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Authorization Act (H.R. 4349) and the DHS Inspector General Transparency Act (H.R. 5633).   

The DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Authorization Act would provide more meaningful oversight of DHS to ensure the Department performs its mission effectively and in a manner conducive to the protection of constitutional rights.

Likewise, the DHS Inspector General Transparency Act would bolster both internal and external oversight of the Department by requiring the Office of Inspector General to timely make publicly available its reports and reviews of misconduct or abuse within DHS. 

Our democracy is predicated on the protection of civil rights and civil liberties. Unfortunately, the Department of Homeland Security has too often been deployed to suppress dissenting voices and target marginalized populations. These reforms are important steps in meeting the Department’s mission of securing our country while also preserving “individual liberty, fairness, and equality under the law.” 

Protect Democracy applauds these reforms to DHS and urges the full House to swiftly take up and pass the measures.