Resiliency in response and recovery fellowship and research program

(a)

In general

Title III of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

318.

Resiliency in response and recovery fellowship and research program

(a)

Establishment of program

The Secretary shall establish a program for fellowships and research (in this section referred to as the program) to enhance domestic preparedness and the collective response to acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and other emergencies. (b)

Fellowship awards

(1)

In general

In conducting the program, the Secretary shall award fellowships to individuals— (A)to promote research on and the collective response to acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and other emergencies; and (B)to provide for the development of best practices for the collective response to and effective recovery from acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and other emergencies. (2)

Selection criteria

Recipients of fellowships under the program shall be individuals who— (A)are enrolled in an institution of higher education, giving priority to the selection of individuals enrolled in minority serving institutions; (B)have demonstrated an interest through academic work for credit or other means in homeland security or emergency management and response; and (C)are geographically diverse. (3)

Purpose

The purpose of research to be conducted by recipients of fellowships under the program shall be— (A)to enhance resiliency and collective response to acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and other emergencies; (B)to mitigate damages related to such events; and (C)to promote expedited recovery from such events. (4)

Gulf Coast rebuilding and recovery

Recipients of fellowships in fiscal year 2009 and as appropriate in subsequent fiscal years shall focus their research on and participate in the rebuilding and recovery of the Gulf Coast region in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. (c)

Research results

(1)

In general

For each fiscal year in which fellowships are awarded under the program, 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 results of research conducted by recipients of fellowships under the program. (2)

Deadline

The Secretary shall submit a report under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year on or before the date in the succeeding fiscal year on which the President submits to Congress the budget under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code. (d)

Administration

The Secretary shall carry out this section acting through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology. (e)

Definitions

In this section, the following definitions apply: (1)

Minority serving institution

The term minority serving institution means a historically Black college or university (as defined in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965), a Hispanic-serving institution (as defined in section 502 of such Act), a Tribal College or University (as defined in section 316 of such Act), a Predominantly Black institution (as defined in section 499A(c) of such Act), or a Native American-serving nontribal institution (as defined in section 499A(c) of such Act). (2)

Program

The term program means the program to be established under subsection (a). (f)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2009 and 2010.

(b)

Conforming amendment

The table of contents contained in section (1)(b) of such Act (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to title III the following:

Sec. 318. Resiliency in response and recovery fellowship and research program.