S. 4456Senate117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

A bill to prohibit certain former employees of the intelligence community from providing certain services to governments of countries that are state sponsors of terrorism, the People's Republic of China, and the Russian Federation, and for other purposes.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 4:16 PM UTC

The bill adds a new section to the National Security Act that bars former intelligence‑community employees from giving intelligence, military, or internal‑security services to governments of countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism, the People’s Republic of China, or the Russian Federation. It applies to former officers, contractors, detailees, and military members who had access to sensitive intelligence, and imposes training, penalties, and reporting requirements.

Key Provisions

Defines “covered employee” and “former covered employee” as intelligence‑community staff or contractors with access to sensitive sources or methods.
Prohibits any former covered employee from providing intelligence‑related, military, or internal‑security services to the governments of state sponsors of terrorism, China, or Russia, or to entities controlled by those governments.
Requires each intelligence element to train current covered employees on the ban and to give written notice before they leave employment.
Bars anyone who knowingly violates the ban from future access to classified information.
Sets criminal penalties of up to five years imprisonment and/or fines for willful violations.
Provides limited exemptions for services that began before the law took effect or that result from later corporate changes.
Mandates annual reports to congressional intelligence committees on violations through 2032.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Select Committee on Intelligence. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3078; text: CR S3078-3079)

Intelligence (Select) Committee

June 22, 2022

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

June 22, 2022

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Select Committee on Intelligence. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3078; text: CR S3078-3079)

Intelligence (Select) Committee

June 22, 2022

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about S. 4456 on the floor

1 Republican1 Democrat

Sen. Jack ReedD-RI · Jun 22, 2022

Mr. President, as we all know too well, rates of suicide have risen to epidemic levels in the United States, with suicide now the 10th leading cause of death in the country. On average, there are 130 suicides every day, roughly 1 every 11 minutes. These are staggering statistics behind which there are tragic stories of loss. That is why I am joining Senator Moran to introduce the Suicide Prevention Act.

Our bipartisan, bicameral bill would provide new resources to help turn the tide on this disturbing trend. It would authorize new funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, partner with State and local health departments to improve surveillance of suicide attempts and other incidences of self-harm. Data collection efforts regarding suicide often occur years after the fact, which limits the ability of State and local health departments, as well as community organizations, to recognize trends early and intervene. CDC has already begun some of this work as a pilot program, but the Suicide Prevention Act would expand these efforts and enhance data collection so we can respond to new trends quickly and save lives.

We know that emergency healthcare providers are often at the frontlines of responding to suicide attempts. Approximately 37 percent of individuals without a previous history of mental health or substance abuse who die by suicide make an emergency department visit within the year before their death. According to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, the risk of suicide is greatest within a month of discharge from the hospital. To help ensure our emergency healthcare professionals have the tools to respond, the bill would also authorize funding for a grant program within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA, to help better train emergency department staff to implement suicide prevention strategies, screen at- risk patients, and refer patients to appropriate followup care. The legislation would also require SAMHSA to develop best practices for such programs, so that healthcare providers are able to provide their patients with the best possible care and advice.

Nationwide, suicide rates have skyrocketed over the last decade. In 2020, nearly 46,000 Americans lost their lives to suicide. That same year, there were 1.2 million suicide attempts. We must renew our efforts on suicide prevention and take a holistic approach. In addition to the Suicide Prevention Act, we must reauthorize the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, which I am working with Senator Murkowski to do. Despite the troubling national trend, programs under this law have contributed to declines in the youth suicide rates in my home State of Rhode Island over the last decade.

We must also invest in the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the new nationwide three-digit 9-8-8 number, which is scheduled to go live this summer. Senator Moran and I have teamed up on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Improvement Act that will increase funding for the Lifeline and make key improvements, such as enhance texting capability.

Today, I am pleased to have the opportunity to partner with Senator Moran once again by introducing the Suicide Prevention Act. This bill is one more step Congress can take to combat the mental health and suicide crisis in our country. I look forward to working with Senator Moran and advocates in Rhode Island and across the country to make a difference in addressing this epidemic.

Sen. John CornynR-TX · Jun 22, 2022

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to print my bill for introduction in the Congressional Record. The bill prohibits certain former employees of the intelligence community from providing certain…

Sen. John CornynR-TX · Jun 22, 2022

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued June 22, 2022

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4456

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 22, 2022

Mr. Cornyn (for himself, Mr. King, Mr. Sasse, and Mrs. Gillibrand) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Select Committee on Intelligence

A BILL

To prohibit certain former employees of the intelligence community from providing certain services to governments of countries that are state sponsors of terrorism, the People's Republic of China, and the Russian Federation, and for other purposes.

Prohibition on employment with governments of certain countries

(a)

In general

Title III of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 304 the following:

305.

Prohibition on employment with governments of certain countries

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Covered employee

The term covered employee, with respect to an employee occupying a position within an element of the intelligence community, means an officer or official of an element of the intelligence community, a contractor of such an element, a detailee to such an element, or a member of the Armed Forces assigned to such an element that, based on the level of access of a person occupying such position to information regarding sensitive intelligence sources or methods or other exceptionally sensitive matters, the head of such element determines should be subject to the requirements of this section.

(2)

Former covered employee

The term former covered employee means an individual who was a covered employee on or after the date of enactment of this section and is no longer a covered employee.

(3)

State sponsor of terrorism

The term state sponsor of terrorism means a country the government of which the Secretary of State determines has repeatedly provided support for international terrorism pursuant to—

(A)

section 1754(c)(1)(A) of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C. 4813(c)(1)(A));

(B)

section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2371);

(C)

section 40 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2780); or

(D)

any other provision of law.

(b)

Prohibition on employment and services

No former covered employee may provide services relating to intelligence, the military, or internal security to—

(1)

the government of a country that is a state sponsor of terrorism, the People’s Republic of China, or the Russian Federation;

(2)

a person or entity that is directed and controlled by a government described in paragraph (1).

(c)

Training and written notice

The head of each element of the intelligence community shall—

(1)

regularly provide to the covered employees of the element training on the prohibition in subsection (b); and

(2)

provide to each covered employee of the element before the covered employee becomes a former covered employee written notice of the prohibition in subsection (b).

(d)

Limitation on eligibility for access to classified information

A former covered employee who knowingly and willfully violates subsection (b) shall not be considered eligible for access to classified information (as defined in the procedures established pursuant to section 801(a) of this Act (50 U.S.C. 3161(a))) by any element of the intelligence community.

(e)

Criminal penalties

A former employee who knowingly and willfully violates subsection (b) shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.

(f)

Application

Nothing in this section shall apply to—

(1)

a former covered employee who continues to provide services described in subsection (b) that the former covered employee first began to provide before the date of the enactment of this section;

(2)

a former covered employee who, on or after the date of the enactment of this section, provides services described in subsection (b) to a person or entity that is directed and controlled by a country that is a state sponsor of terrorism, the People’s Republic of China, or the Russian Federation as a result of a merger, acquisition, or similar change of ownership that occurred after the date on which such former covered employee first began to provide such services;

(3)

a former covered employee who, on or after the date of the enactment of this section, provides services described in subsection (b) to—

(A)

a government that was designated as a state sponsor of terrorism after the date on which such former covered employee first began to provide such services; or

(B)

a person or entity directed and controlled by a government described in subparagraph (A).

(b)

Annual reports

Not later than March 31 of each year through 2032, the Director of National Intelligence shall submit to the congressional intelligence committees a report on any violations of subsection (b) of section 305 of the National Security Act of 1947, as added by subsection (a) of this section, by former covered employees (as defined in subsection (a) of such section 305).

(c)

Clerical amendment

The table of contents immediately preceding section 2 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S. C. 3002) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 304 the following new item:

Sec. 305. Prohibition on employment with governments of certain countries.