SHIELD Against CCP Act

The "Strategic Homeland Intelligence and Enforcement Legislation to Defend Against the CCP Act," or "SHIELD Against CCP Act," mandates the establishment of a working group within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) within 180 days of enactment. This group, led by a Director appointed by the Secretary of Homeland Security, is tasked with countering various threats posed to the United States by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). It must be sufficiently staffed, including at least one employee dedicated to privacy compliance, and may accept detailees with relevant expertise from other federal agencies. The Working Group's primary duties include examining, assessing, and reporting on DHS efforts to counter terrorist, cybersecurity, border and port security, and transportation security threats from the CCP. This encompasses threats like the exploitation of the U.S. immigration system, predatory economic practices such as intellectual property theft and forced labor, and support for transnational criminal organizations involved in fentanyl trafficking and illicit financial activities. The group will also account for DHS resources dedicated to these programs, identify policy gaps, and facilitate cooperation among DHS components for a holistic response. Additionally, the Working Group is responsible for reviewing and disseminating intelligence related to these threats, coordinating with federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial partners, and the National Network of Fusion Centers. The Secretary of Homeland Security must submit annual assessments to Congress for five years, with unclassified portions made publicly available. All activities must adhere to constitutional, privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties protections, and the Working Group is set to terminate seven years after its establishment.