H.R. 8253 — BITMAP Authorization Act

This section establishes in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) the Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program (BITMAP) to identify and interdict national security, border security, and terrorist threats from foreign nationals before they reach the U.S. border, in addition to DHS's existing information-sharing authorities. BITMAP requires the DHS Secretary, acting through the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and in coordination with the Secretary of State, Director of National Intelligence, foreign governments, and other federal agencies, to (1) facilitate voluntary sharing of biometric and biographic data on foreign nationals; (2) provide partner countries with training and equipment to collect such data on high-risk individuals; (3) enable partner countries to compare their data against U.S. databases including DHS's Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT), FBI's Terrorist Screening Database and Next Generation Identification database, and Department of Defense's Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS); (4) offer training and best practices for enrollment; and (5) incorporate collected data into U.S. databases in compliance with the Privacy Act of 1974. The section further (1) directs DHS collaboration with other components and federal agencies via reimbursable or non-reimbursable agreements; (2) requires agreements with new partner countries outlining program goals and operations; (3) mandates congressional notification within 60 days of each agreement, including the partner country's identity and goals; (4) requires expungement of U.S. citizens' captured data unless retained for law enforcement or intelligence purposes; and (5) sets a sunset six years after enactment. Not later than 180 days after BITMAP's establishment and annually thereafter for five years, the Secretary must report to the House Committee on Homeland Security and Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on strategic goals, partner country progress, agreements, and budget information.