Bill > S2369

This bill, the Community Partnership Act of 2015, amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish a new Office for Community Partnerships within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This office will be led by an Assistant Secretary for Community Partnerships, who will be responsible for various initiatives aimed at countering violent extremism, which is defined as ideologically motivated violence used to advance a cause. Key duties include leading DHS efforts to counter violent extremism, developing a digital strategy to combat extremist messaging online, coordinating with other federal agencies and non-governmental organizations on these efforts, and advising on the use of federal grants for countering violent extremism. The bill also authorizes DHS to award grants and cooperative agreements directly to states, local governments, tribal governments, non-profit organizations, and institutions of higher education to support local community efforts in preventing and countering violent extremism. These grants can be used for training, developing community programs, educating the public, and supporting social service programs that address the root causes of violent extremism. The Assistant Secretary will also be tasked with developing a plan to increase philanthropic support for domestic counter-extremism efforts and will administer these grants. Finally, the bill mandates an annual report to Congress detailing the office's programs, cooperation with other agencies, and the success metrics of counter-extremism initiatives, including a breakdown of awarded grants and sponsored training.