[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1494 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 1494
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 11, 2020
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To strengthen partnerships between historically Black colleges and
universities and minority-serving institutions and the Department of
Homeland Security, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCUs) Homeland Security Partnerships Act''.
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT-WIDE STRATEGY FOR ENHANCED PARTNERSHIPS WITH
HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND
MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy,
and Plans of the Department, shall--
(1) issue a Department-wide strategy to enhance
partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities
and minority-serving institutions that includes yearly goals,
including goals related to improving recruitment and hiring,
research and development, and acquisition opportunities at such
institutions, through fiscal year 2025; and
(2) require the head of each component of the Department
to--
(A) not later than 150 days after the date of the
issuance under paragraph (1) of the Department-wide
strategy, develop a component-specific action plan to
implement such strategy;
(B) monitor progress on such implementation; and
(C) not later than 1 year after the date of such
issuance, report to the Secretary regarding progress on
such implementation.
SEC. 3. ENHANCEMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIPS.
The Secretary shall seek to enhance partnerships with historically
Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions with
respect to administering the research and development activities of the
Department by, among other things--
(1) encouraging the participation of such colleges,
universities, and institutions in the research, development,
testing, and evaluation programs and activities of the
Department;
(2) facilitating partnerships between such colleges,
universities, and institutions and private sector stakeholders,
national laboratories, and other academic institutions in areas
important to homeland security, including cybersecurity,
emergency management, and counterterrorism; and
(3) distributing funds through Science and Technology
Directorate grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts to
such colleges, universities, and institutions for enhancements
in areas important to homeland security, including
cybersecurity, emergency management, and counterterrorism.
SEC. 4. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES PARTNERSHIPS.
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary, acting through the Chief Human Capitol Officer of
the Department, shall make available to historically Black colleges and
universities and minority-serving institutions a current list of
internship, fellowship, scholarship, and recruitment opportunities
within the Department for students and recent graduates of such
colleges, universities, and institutions.
SEC. 5. ACQUISITION PARTNERSHIPS.
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary, acting through the Chief Procurement Officer of the
Department, shall--
(1) identify how to increase the participation of
historically Black colleges and universities and minority-
serving institutions in Department acquisitions, including
identifying existing opportunities for historically Black
colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions to
participate in the contracting program of the Small Business
Administration for minorities; and
(2) disseminate to such colleges, universities, and
institutions--
(A) information identified in accordance with
paragraph (1); and
(B) current and future opportunities to participate
in Department acquisitions.
SEC. 6. ANNUAL REPORT.
(a) Annual Report.--Not later than December 31, 2020, and annually
thereafter through 2026, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on
the efforts of the Department to partner with historically Black
colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions to carry
out this Act.
(b) Reporting Requirements.--The annual reports required under
subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1) A list of awards, including the corresponding monetary
value for each such award, to historically Black colleges and
universities and minority-serving institutions, disaggregated
by grant, contract, cooperative agreement, and other research
development test and evaluation activity, initiative, and
program.
(2) A description of how the Department is partnering with
historically Black colleges and universities and minority-
serving institutions under the programs referred to in sections
3 and 5, and how such programs have helped such colleges,
universities, and institutions participate in acquisitions with
the Department.
(3) A summary of outreach efforts to historically Black
colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions,
and an identification of any Department programs and
initiatives in which such colleges, universities, and
institutions are under-represented among institutions of higher
education.
(4) A description of the status of efforts made by the
Department pursuant to sections 2 and 4, including--
(A) for section 2, Department-wide goals pursuant
to the Department-wide strategy to enhance partnerships
with historically Black colleges and universities and
minority-serving institutions under such section, and
the status of efforts to implement action plans
throughout the Department to carry out such strategy;
and
(B) for section 4, participation rates in each
internship, fellowship, scholarship, and recruitment
opportunity referred to in such section, listed by
historically Black college and university and minority-
serving institution so participating.
(5) A list of memoranda of understanding entered into by
the Department with historically Black colleges and
universities and minority-serving institutions and information
on the parties and scope of each such memorandum of
understanding.
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
Department of Homeland Security.
(2) Historically black colleges and universities.--The term
``historically Black colleges and universities'' means a part B
institution described in section 322(2) of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)).
(3) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
(4) Minority-serving institutions.--The term ``minority-
serving institutions'' means an institution of higher education
described in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means Secretary of
Homeland Security.
Passed the House of Representatives February 10, 2020.
Attest:
CHERYL L. JOHNSON,
Clerk.
By Robert F. Reeves,
Deputy Clerk.