[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1494 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1494

  To strengthen partnerships between historically Black colleges and 
 universities and minority-serving institutions and the Department of 
               Homeland Security, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 5, 2019

Mr. Thompson of Mississippi (for himself, Mr. Luetkemeyer, Ms. Norton, 
    Mr. Hastings, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Mr. 
Richmond, Mr. Cleaver, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Green of 
Texas, Ms. Jackson Lee, Mr. Payne, Ms. Lee of California, Mrs. Beatty, 
Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. Adams, Ms. Bass, Mr. Clyburn, and Mr. Johnson 
 of Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
  Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on 
   Small Business, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  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 
        through fiscal year 2024; 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 one 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 Under Secretary for Science and Technology of the Department 
shall seek to enhance partnerships with historically Black colleges and 
universities and minority-serving institutions with respect to 
administering the primary 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; 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.

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. OPPORTUNITIES FOR 8(A) PROGRAM PARTNERSHIPS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Small Business 
Administration shall publish eligibility criteria on how historically 
Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions may 
qualify to participate in Federal acquisitions authorized pursuant to 
section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a); Public Law 
85-536).
    (b) Department Actions.--Upon publication of eligibility criteria 
in accordance with subsection (a), the Secretary shall disseminate 
information to historically Black colleges and universities and 
minority-serving institutions regarding--
            (1) how to establish such eligibility; and
            (2) current and future opportunities to participate in 
        Federal acquisitions authorized pursuant to section 8(a) of the 
        Small Business Act.

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.

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.
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