Bill Overview
Title: Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2022
Description: This bill establishes new requirements to expand the availability of information on domestic terrorism, as well as the relationship between domestic terrorism and hate crimes. It authorizes domestic terrorism components within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to monitor, analyze, investigate, and prosecute domestic terrorism. The domestic terrorism components of DHS, DOJ, and the FBI must jointly report on domestic terrorism, including white-supremacist-related incidents or attempted incidents. DHS, DOJ, and the FBI must review the anti-terrorism training and resource programs of their agencies that are provided to federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies. Additionally, DOJ must make training on prosecuting domestic terrorism available to its prosecutors and to assistant U.S. attorneys. It creates an interagency task force to analyze and combat white supremacist and neo-Nazi infiltration of the uniformed services and federal law enforcement agencies. Finally, it directs the FBI to assign a special agent or hate crimes liaison to each field office to investigate hate crimes incidents with a nexus to domestic terrorism.
Sponsors: Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals potentially engaged in or impacted by domestic terrorism activities
Estimated Size: 10000000
- Domestic terrorism offenders will be more closely monitored and potentially prosecuted.
- Individuals engaged in white supremacy and neo-Nazi activities will face increased scrutiny.
- Law enforcement agencies at federal, state, local, and tribal levels will receive increased training and resources to combat domestic terrorism.
- Potential recruits and current members of the uniformed services and federal law enforcement agencies will be screened for extremist affiliations.
Reasoning
- The population includes individuals potentially engaged or impacted by domestic terrorism activities, estimated at 10 million people.
- A major target group consists of individuals involved in extremist movements who may face increased monitoring and legal consequences.
- The policy will likely affect law enforcement personnel through added training and resource provision, estimated around 1 million relevant officers at various levels.
- The budget constraints suggest a significant yet not all-encompassing impact; the policy cannot thoroughly address all instances immediately but will likely focus on high-priority cases.
- While extremist individuals will see negative impacts on their wellbeing due to prosecution, the broader public may benefit as public safety is enhanced, potentially improving general wellbeing.
Simulated Interviews
Police Officer (Texas)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think more training will be beneficial; we've faced situations where clarity on new laws could prevent escalation.
- Increased resources are always welcome, but monitoring not becoming overbearing is essential.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Civil Rights Advocate (California)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- There is a risk of infringing on civil liberties while dealing with domestic terrorism.
- Careful oversight will be necessary to protect innocent citizens from becoming targets.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
College Student (Florida)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If the policy is well-executed, it could reduce the likelihood of hate crimes on campus.
- I'm concerned about the definition of what constitutes a 'domestic terrorist.'
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Small Business Owner (Ohio)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased action against hate crimes is a step forward for community safety.
- I am concerned but hopeful that this policy will bring more peace to the neighborhood.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
Federal Agent (New York)
Age: 45 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is overdue; threats are becoming more sophisticated.
- Training programs will need careful structuring to remain effective.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Cybersecurity Specialist (Georgia)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Digital platforms are a big part of modern terrorism; focus on online activities is crucial.
- New policies are needed to stay ahead, but privacy is also important.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Research Assistant (Oregon)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like this need stringent checks to avoid misuse.
- Balancing empowerment of law enforcement and civil liberties is key.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Retired Military Officer (Michigan)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased vetting in services for extremist ties is necessary but must respect privacy and care.
- The policy seems to be proactive, which could prevent issues early and save lives.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Public School Teacher (Nevada)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'd like more information on how schools can be safer under this policy.
- The fear of radical incidents in schools is unsettling; any improvement is welcome.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Reformed Extremist (Alabama)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like this can hamper initial recruitment into extremist groups, which is vital.
- The long-term impact should ideally be reduced hate group membership.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 2: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 3: $21000000 (Low: $16000000, High: $26000000)
Year 5: $22000000 (Low: $17000000, High: $27000000)
Year 10: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Ensuring coordination across federal, state, and local agencies is vital for the success of the domestic terrorism components.
- Balancing civil liberties with effective surveillance and investigation is a critical concern.
- Accurate and timely reporting on domestic terrorism incidents is essential for accountability and public assurance.
- Long-term success depends on comprehensive training and awareness to avoid profiling or discrimination.