PROTECT Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8513
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-27: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-18T18:55:10Z
AI-Generated Summary
H.R. 8513: PROTECT Act
Purpose
The legislation requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue guidance on best practices for protecting personally identifiable information (PII)—any data that can directly or indirectly identify an individual, such as names, addresses, or linked details, regardless of citizenship status. The goal is to safeguard the PII of government personnel and promote actions to enhance their personal safety.
Key Provisions
- Timeline and Frequency: The Secretary must disseminate guidance within one year of enactment and every four years thereafter.
- Recipients: Guidance goes to federal, state, and local government agencies, plus relevant private sector entities.
- Content:
- Best practices for handling PII of officers, officials, employees, and contractors at these agencies.
- Recommended actions these individuals can take to protect their own safety.
- Short Title: "Providing Resources and Oversight to Ensure Confidentiality of Those who serve Act" or "PROTECT Act."
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a new, ongoing mandate for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to produce and share this specific guidance periodically.
- No explicit amendments to prior laws; it adds a proactive requirement without overriding existing privacy or data-handling rules.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Required to receive guidance, potentially leading to improved PII security protocols and reduced risks like doxxing or harassment.
- Government Personnel: Officers, employees, and contractors gain tools for better personal safety and privacy protection.
- Private Sector: Select entities may adopt similar practices, indirectly strengthening overall data handling.
- No direct effects on citizens at large or international relations.
Main Stakeholders
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Responsible for creating and distributing guidance.
- Federal, State, and Local Agencies: Primary recipients; their personnel (officers, officials, employees, contractors) benefit most.
- Private Sector Entities: Those deemed "appropriate" by DHS receive guidance.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes non-binding best practices (guidance, not enforceable rules), complementing existing federal privacy laws like those under the Privacy Act without creating new penalties.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts with rights like privacy (Fourth Amendment) or free speech; focuses on voluntary safety measures.
- Political: Bipartisan introduction (Rep. Hill of Arkansas and Rep. Goldman of New York); referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, signaling emphasis on accountability and protection for public servants.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-27: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2026-04-27: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Providing Resources and Oversight to Ensure Confidentiality of Those who serve Act — issued 2026-04-27 — PDF (2 pages)