I
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6506
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 8, 2010
Mr. King of New York (for himself, Mr. Rogers of Alabama, and Mr. Latham) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To amend section 798 of title 18, United States Code, to provide penalties for disclosure of classified information related to certain intelligence activities of the United States, and for other purposes.
Short titles
This Act may be cited as the
Securing Human Intelligence and
Enforcing Lawful Dissemination Act
or the
SHIELD
Act
.
Penalties for disclosure of classified information related to intelligence activities
In general
Subsection (a) section 798 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
in the matter
preceding paragraph (1), by inserting or transnational threat
after foreign government
;
in paragraph (3),
by striking or
at the end;
by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (6); and
by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
concerning the human intelligence activities of the United States or any foreign government;
concerning the identity of a classified source or informant of an element of the intelligence community of the United States; or
.
Definitions
Subsection (b) section 798 of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
Definitions
In subsection (a):
Cipher, code, cryptographic system
The terms cipher, code, and cryptographic system include in their meanings, in addition to their usual meanings, any method of secret writing and any mechanical or electrical device or method used for the purpose of disguising or concealing the contents, significance, or meanings of communications.
Classified information
The term classified information means information which, at the time of a violation of this section, is, for reasons of national security, specifically designated by a United States Government Agency for limited or restricted dissemination or distribution.
Communication intelligence
The term communication intelligence means all procedures and methods used in the interception of communications and the obtaining of information from such communications by other than the intended recipients.
Foreign government
The term foreign government includes in its meaning any person or persons acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of any faction, party, department, agency, bureau, or military force of or within a foreign country, or for or on behalf of any government or any person or persons purporting to act as a government within a foreign country, whether or not such government is recognized by the United States.
Human intelligence
The term human intelligence means all procedures and methods employed in the collection of intelligence through human sources.
Informant
The term informant has the meaning given that term in section 606 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 426).
Transnational threat
The term transnational threat means—
any transnational activity (including international terrorism, narcotics trafficking, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the delivery systems for such weapons, and organized crime) that threatens the national security of the United States; or
any individual or group that engages in an activity referred to in subparagraph (A).
Unauthorized person
The term unauthorized person means any person who, or agency which, is not authorized to receive information of the categories set forth in subsection (a), by the President, or by the head of a department or agency of the United States Government which is expressly designated by the President to engage in communication intelligence or human intelligence activities for the United States.
.