I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8248 

To establish a grant program in the Department of Defense to increase 

the number of women, LGBT individuals, and underrepresented minorities in military and civilian leadership positions of the Department of 

Defense. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 

Mr. VEASEY (for himself, Mr. CASTRO of Texas, Mr. VELA, and Ms. 

ESCOBAR) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 

A BILL 

To establish a grant program in the Department of Defense 

to increase the number of women, LGBT individuals, 

and underrepresented minorities in military and civilian 

leadership positions of the Department of Defense. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Diversity in Military 

5 Leadership Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF 

2 WOMEN AND UNDERREPRESENTED MINORI3 TIES IN MILITARY AND CIVILIAN LEADER4 SHIP POSITIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 

5 DEFENSE. 

6 (a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of De7 fense may award grants on a competitive basis to any enti8 ty that the Secretary determines has the capacity and ex9 pertise to carry out the activities described in subsection 

10 (b) for the purpose of increasing the participation of 

11 women and underrepresented minorities in military and 

12 civilian leadership positions of the Department of Defense. 

13 (b) APPLICATION.—An entity that seeks a grant 

14 under this section shall submit an application to the Sec15 retary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 

16 information as the Secretary may require. 

17 (c) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—An entity that re18 ceives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds 

19 to carry out one or more of the following activities: 

20 (1) Online interactive workshops for women and 

21 underrepresented minorities. 

22 (2) Mentoring programs that partner members 

23 of the Armed Forces and officers and employees of 

24 the Department with students who are women or 

25 underrepresented minorities, or both. 


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1 (3) Internships for undergraduate and graduate 

2 students who are women or underrepresented mi3 norities, or both, with the Department. 

4 (4) Outreach programs that provide elementary 

5 school and secondary school students who are 

6 women or underrepresented minorities, or both, with 

7 opportunities to increase their exposure to military 

8 and civilian defense careers. 

9 (5) Such additional activities as the Secretary 

10 may authorize. 

11 (d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

12 (1) The term ‘‘minority’’ means American In13 dian, Alaskan Native, Black (not of Hispanic ori14 gin), Hispanic (including persons of Mexican, Puerto 

15 Rican, Cuban, and Central or South American ori16 gin), Asian (including underrepresented subgroups), 

17 Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander origin subgroup, 

18 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer, or 

19 other demographic group underrepresented in mili20 tary and civilian leadership positions of the Depart21 ment of Defense. 

22 (2) The term ‘‘underrepresented minority’’ 

23 means a minority group that is not represented in 

24 military and civilian leadership positions of the De25 partment of Defense at a rate comparable to the 


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1 percentage of the population of the United States 

2 that is comprised of members of that underrep3 resented minority. 

Æ 


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