[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 119 (Monday, June 29, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S3969]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 2324. Mr. DURBIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 4049, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2021 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. ___. HOMELAND SECURITY HIGHER EDUCATION ADVISORY
COUNCIL.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a council to
be known as the ``Homeland Security Higher Education Advisory
Council''.
(b) Duties of Council.--The Council shall provide advice
and recommendations to the Secretary on matters concerning
homeland security and the academic community relating to the
following:
(1) The threat of malign foreign influence and interference
in the United States.
(2) Proposed regulatory changes impacting institutions of
higher education.
(3) Promoting the openness of academic research and the
exchange of ideas between institutions of higher education
and the Federal Government.
(4) Promoting campus resilience resources to address a
range of threats or hazards affecting institutions of higher
education.
(5) Homeland security academic and research programs.
(6) Student and recent graduate recruitment to Federal
Government employment.
(7) Issues relating to international students, including--
(A) obtaining and maintaining a visa;
(B) processing H-1B visas and Optional Practical Training;
and
(C) monitoring student visa recipients who stay past their
authorized time in the United States.
(8) Issues relating to undocumented students.
(9) Cybersecurity.
(10) Any other matters the Secretary considers appropriate.
(c) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Council shall be composed of not fewer
than 21 members appointed by the Secretary, of whom 9 shall
be from governmental positions specified in paragraph (2),
and not fewer than 12 members shall be from non-governmental
positions specified in paragraph (3).
(2) Governmental positions.--Governmental positions
specified in this paragraph are the following:
(A) The Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Department of
State.
(B) The Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs of the
Department of State.
(C) U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
(D) The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the
Department of Homeland Security.
(E) The Science and Technology Directorate of the
Department of Homeland Security.
(F) The Office of Science and Technology Cooperation of the
Department of State.
(G) The Student and Exchange Visitor Program of the
Department of Homeland Security.
(H) United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
(I) Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services
Ombudsman.
(J) Homeland Security Investigations of the U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
(K) The Department of Justice.
(L) The intelligence community, as defined in section 3(4)
of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4)).
(3) Non-governmental positions.--Non-governmental positions
specified in this paragraph are the following:
(A) Twelve presidents or chancellors of a university, with
a distribution of such universities being private, public,
and regionally diverse.
(B) Senior leaders of relevant higher education
associations.
(4) Timing of appointments.--Appointments to the Council
shall be made not later than 4 months after the date of
enactment of this Act.
(5) Terms.--
(A) In general.--Each member of the Council shall be
appointed for a term of 2 years.
(B) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a vacancy
occurring before the expiration of the term for which the
member's predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only
for the remainder of that term. A member may serve after the
expiration of that term until a successor has been appointed.
(6) Chairperson and vice chairperson.--The Chairperson and
Vice Chairperson of the Council shall be designated by the
Secretary at the time of the appointment of the members
pursuant to paragraph (4), and when a vacancy of the
Chairperson or Vice Chairperson occurs, as the case may be.
(d) Meeting.--
(1) Initial meeting.--The Council shall hold its initial
meeting not later than 30 days after the final appointment of
all members under subsection (c)(4).
(2) Meetings.--The Council shall meet not fewer than 3
times each year at the call of the Chairperson or Vice
Chairperson.
(3) Quorum.--Sixteen members of the Council, of whom 8
members shall be appointed from governmental positions and 8
members shall be appointed from non-governmental positions,
shall constitute a quorum.
(e) Compensation.--
(1) Prohibition of compensation.--Except as provided in
paragraph (2), members of the Council may not receive
additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their
service on the Council.
(2) Travel expenses.--Each member shall receive travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in
accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
(f) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of
the Council, the Secretary shall provide to the Council, on a
reimbursable basis, the administrative support services
necessary for the Council to carry out its responsibilities
under this Act.
(g) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date on
which the Council holds its initial meeting under subsection
(d) and annually thereafter, the Council shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a report containing a
detailed statement of the advice and recommendations of the
Council pursuant to subsection (b).
(h) Nonapplicability of FACA.--The Federal Advisory
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Council.
(i) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Homeland Security, the Committee on
the Judiciary, and the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives.
(2) Council.--The term ``Council'' means the Homeland
Security Higher Education Advisory Council established under
this section.
(3) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Homeland Security.
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