I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3488 

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Secretary 

of Homeland Security to establish a commission to enhance cultural 

competence and improve recruitment and outreach efforts at the Coast 

Guard Academy, to amend title 14, United States Code, to modify 

the process for congressional nomination of individuals for appointment 

as cadets at the Coast Guard Academy, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 25, 2019 

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi (for himself, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. CORREA, and 

Mr. RICHMOND) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

A BILL 

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require 

the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a commission to enhance cultural competence and improve recruitment and outreach efforts at the Coast Guard Academy, to amend title 14, United States Code, to modify 

the process for congressional nomination of individuals 

for appointment as cadets at the Coast Guard Academy, 

and for other purposes. 

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


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Coast Guard Academy 

3 Improvement Act’’. 

4 TITLE I—ENHANCING CULTURAL 

5 COMPETENCE WITHIN THE 

6 COAST GUARD ACADEMY 

7 SEC. 101. ACTIVITIES TO FOSTER GREATER CULTURAL 

8 COMPETENCE WITHIN THE UNITED STATES 

9 COAST GUARD ACADEMY. 

10 (a) COMMISSION; PLAN.—Subtitle H of title VIII of 

11 the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 451 et seq.) 

12 is amended by adding at the end the following: 

13 ‘‘SEC. 890B. COAST GUARD ACADEMY CULTURAL REFORM 

14 COMMISSION. 

15 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estab16 lish within 30 days after the date of the enactment of the 

17 Coast Guard Academy Improvement Act a commission to 

18 assess the level of cultural competence within the Academy 

19 and, as appropriate, issue recommendations to foster 

20 greater cultural competence within the Academy. 

21 ‘‘(b) CULTURAL COMPETENCE DEFINED.—In this 

22 section, the term ‘cultural competence’ means the capacity 

23 of an individual or organization to work effectively in 

24 cross-cultural situations with individuals who are of a dif25 ferent race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, 

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1 stands diversity and to take action to prevent and respond 

2 to social injustice and inequity. 

3 ‘‘(c) COMPOSITION OF THE COMMISSION.—The com4 mission shall be comprised of 11 members appointed by 

5 the Secretary by not later than 60 days after the date 

6 of the enactment of the Coast Guard Academy Improve7 ment Act, and shall include— 

8 ‘‘(1) the Chief Human Capital Officer under 

9 section 1303; 

10 ‘‘(2) the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Lib11 erties under section 705; 

12 ‘‘(3) three Coast Guard officials designated by 

13 the Commandant of the Coast Guard who include at 

14 least one civilian official; and 

15 ‘‘(4) six individuals from private industry, insti16 tutions of higher education, or nonprofit institutions 

17 with demonstrated cultural competence as selected 

18 by the Secretary based on recommendations from 

19 the Congress, who— 

20 ‘‘(A) possess relevant expertise or experi21 ence in admissions at institutions of higher edu22 cation, organizational change management, and 

23 diversity and inclusion initiatives; and 

24 ‘‘(B) include— 


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1 ‘‘(i) at least three individuals who are 

2 higher education professionals; and 

3 ‘‘(ii) one individual with a background 

4 in evidence-based diversity and inclusion 

5 initiatives. 

6 ‘‘(d) CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.—The commission shall 

7 elect a Chair and Vice Chair from among its members. 

8 ‘‘(e) QUORUM AND MEETINGS.—The commission 

9 shall meet and begin the operations of the commission not 

10 later than 30 days after the date on which all members 

11 have been appointed or not later than 90 days after the 

12 date of the enactment of the Coast Guard Academy Im13 provement Act, whichever is earlier. Each subsequent 

14 meeting shall occur upon the call of the Chair or a major15 ity of its members and no less than three such meetings 

16 shall be open to the public. At least one public meeting 

17 should be held at the Coast Guard Academy. A majority 

18 of the members of the commission shall constitute a 

19 quorum, but a lesser number may hold meetings. 

20 ‘‘(f) EXEMPTION.—The commission shall not be sub21 ject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 

22 App.). 

23 ‘‘(g) REPORT.—The commission shall, not later than 

24 180 days after the first meeting of the commission, submit 

25 to the Secretary its findings and any recommendations for 


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1 fostering greater cultural competence within the Academy 

2 by, among other things, changing qualifications required 

3 of officers, faculty, and staff assigned to the Coast Guard 

4 Academy as well as modifications to institutional prac5 tices, policies, and structures. 

6 ‘‘(h) FEEDBACK AND IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later 

7 than 90 days after receiving the report required under 

8 subsection (g), the Secretary, through the Commandant, 

9 shall submit to the Committees on Homeland Security and 

10 Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep11 resentatives and the Committees on Homeland Security 

12 and Governmental Affairs and Commerce, Science, and 

13 Transportation of the Senate a copy of the report and the 

14 Secretary’s feedback regarding the report’s findings and 

15 recommendations together with any specific plans, includ16 ing projected milestones, to implement any or all of the 

17 recommendations and, in the event that the Secretary de18 cides not to act on one or more of the recommendations, 

19 the rationale for such decision. 

20 ‘‘(i) DURATION.—The commission shall remain active 

21 in an advisory role for an additional year after the Sec22 retary provides feedback in accordance with subsection (h) 

23 to monitor implementation and issue additional rec24 ommendations as needed. 


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1 ‘‘SEC. 890C. RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION WITHIN THE 

2 COAST GUARD ACADEMY. 

3 ‘‘(a) PLAN REQUIRED.—Within one year after the 

4 date of the enactment of the Coast Guard Academy Im5 provement Act, the Secretary, acting through the Chief 

6 Human Capital Officer, shall, in consultation with the 

7 Commandant of the Coast Guard, issue a plan, with pro8 jected milestones, to— 

9 ‘‘(1) improve outreach and recruitment of a 

10 more diverse Coast Guard Academy cadet candidate 

11 pool based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual 

12 orientation, and geographic origin; 

13 ‘‘(2) modify institutional structures, practices, 

14 and policies to foster a more diverse cadet corps 

15 body, faculty, and staff workforce based on race, 

16 ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and 

17 geographic origin; 

18 ‘‘(3) modify and establish new safeguards to 

19 foster the retention of cadets, faculty, and staff of 

20 different races, ethnicities, genders, religion, sexual 

21 orientation, and geographic origin at the Coast 

22 Guard Academy; and 

23 ‘‘(4) restructure the admissions office of the 

24 Coast Guard Academy to be headed by a civilian 

25 with significant relevant higher education recruit26 ment experience. 


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1 ‘‘(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—At the direction of the 

2 Commandant of the Coast Guard, the Superintendent of 

3 the Academy, under section 1922 of title 14, United 

4 States Code, in coordination with the Chief Human Cap5 ital Officer, and in consultation with the Chairman of the 

6 commission authorized by section 890B, shall implement 

7 the plan issued under subsection (a). 

8 ‘‘(c) ANNUAL REPORT.—Beginning in 2021 and an9 nually thereafter through 2031, the Commandant of the 

10 Coast Guard, in consultation with the Chief Human Cap11 ital Officer, shall provide a report to the Committees on 

12 Homeland Security and Transportation and Infrastruc13 ture of the House of Representatives and the Committees 

14 on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and 

15 Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate that 

16 includes— 

17 ‘‘(1) general information on implementation of 

18 the plan required by this section; 

19 ‘‘(2) specific information on outreach and re20 cruitment activities for the preceding year, including 

21 the use of the volunteer-based program under sec22 tion 890D; 

23 ‘‘(3) enrollment information about the incoming 

24 class, including gender, race, ethnicity, religion, and 

25 State of residence of Coast Guard Academy cadets; 


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1 ‘‘(4) information on class retention, outcomes, 

2 and graduation rates, including gender, race, eth3 nicity, religion, and State of residence of Coast 

4 Guard Academy cadets; and 

5 ‘‘(5) information on professional development 

6 and professional advancement opportunities for staff 

7 and faculty as it pertains to retention and advancing 

8 cultural competence. 

9 ‘‘SEC. 890D. COAST GUARD ACADEMY MINORITY OUTREACH 

10 TEAM PROGRAM. 

11 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established within the 

12 Coast Guard Academy a minority outreach team program 

13 (in this section referred to as ‘AMOT’) under which mi14 nority officers who are Academy graduates may volunteer 

15 their time to recruit minority students and strengthen 

16 cadet retention through mentorship of cadets. 

17 ‘‘(b) ADMINISTRATION.—Within 90 days after the 

18 date of the enactment of the Coast Guard Academy Im19 provement Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, in 

20 consultation with the Superintendent of the Coast Guard 

21 Academy and the majority of AMOT volunteers and Acad22 emy alumni that participated in the AMOT, shall appoint 

23 a permanent civilian position at the Coast Guard to ad24 minister the AMOT by, among other things— 

25 ‘‘(1) overseeing administration of the program; 


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1 ‘‘(2) serving as a resource to volunteers and 

2 outside stakeholders; 

3 ‘‘(3) advising Academy leadership on recruit4 ment and retention efforts based on recommenda5 tions from volunteers and outside stakeholders; 

6 ‘‘(4) establishing strategic goals and perform7 ance metrics for the AMOT with input from active 

8 volunteers and Academy leadership; and 

9 ‘‘(5) reporting annually to the Commandant on 

10 goals for the AMOT before the beginning of each 

11 academic year and performance outcomes of the 

12 AMOT at the end of each academic year. 

13 ‘‘(c) INCLUSION IN REPORT.—The Commandant 

14 shall include a section on AMOT goals and outcomes in 

15 the annual report required under subsection (c) of section 

16 890C.’’. 

17 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 

18 in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by adding at the 

19 end of the items relating to such subtitle the following: 

‘‘Sec. 890B. Coast Guard Academy cultural reform commission. 

‘‘Sec. 890C. Recruitment and retention within the Coast Guard Academy. 

‘‘Sec. 890D. Coast Guard Academy minority outreach team program.’’. 

20 (c) COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEW.—Not later 

21 than one year after the date of the issuance of the plan 

22 required by subsection (a) of section 890C of the Home23 land Security Act of 2002, as amended by this Act, the 

24 Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a 


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1 review to the Committees on Homeland Security and 

2 Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep3 resentatives and the Committees on Homeland Security 

4 and Governmental Affairs and Commerce, Science, and 

5 Transportation of the Senate— 

6 (1) of the degree to which the plan is informed 

7 by the Commission authorized by section 890B of 

8 the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended by 

9 this Act; 

10 (2) of the degree to which the plan, as de11 signed, is likely to be effective; 

12 (3) of the degree to which the plan, as imple13 mented, is likely to be effective; 

14 (4) of the degree to which the minority out15 reach team program authorized by section 890D of 

16 the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended by 

17 this Act, is administered effectively; and 

18 (5) that includes any recommendations to en19 hance recruitment, retention, and outcomes. 

20 TITLE II—ENHANCING OPPOR21 TUNITIES AT THE COAST 

22 GUARD ACADEMY 

23 SEC. 201. ACADEMY NOMINATIONS. 

24 (a) APPOINTMENT.—Section 1922 of title 14, United 

25 States Code, is amended— 


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1 (1) by inserting before the text the following: 

2 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’; and 

3 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

4 ‘‘(b) NOMINATIONS.— 

5 ‘‘(1) CONGRESSIONAL NOMINATIONS.— 

6 ‘‘(A) APPOINTMENT REQUIREMENT.—Half 

7 of each incoming class of the Academy shall be 

8 composed of cadets nominated by the following: 

9 ‘‘(i) The Vice President or, if there is 

10 no Vice President, by the President pro 

11 tempore of the Senate. 

12 ‘‘(ii) A Senator. 

13 ‘‘(iii) A Member of the House of Rep14 resentatives. 

15 ‘‘(iv) The Delegate to the Congress 

16 from the District of Columbia, the Dele17 gate to the Congress from the United 

18 States Virgin Islands, the Resident Com19 missioner from Puerto Rico, the Delegate 

20 to the Congress from Guam, the Delegate 

21 to the Congress from American Samoa, or 

22 the Delegate to the Congress from the 

23 Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 

24 Islands. 


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1 ‘‘(B) CONGRESSIONAL NOMINEES.—Each 

2 Senator, Member of the House of Representa3 tives, and Delegate to the Congress, including 

4 such Resident Commissioner, is entitled to 

5 nominate 3 persons each year. Cadets who do 

6 not graduate on time shall not count against 

7 the allocations pursuant to clauses (i) through 

8 (iv) of subparagraph (A). 

9 ‘‘(2) QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.—An in10 dividual shall be qualified for nomination, selection, 

11 and appointment as a cadet at the Academy only if 

12 the individual— 

13 ‘‘(A) is a citizen or national of the United 

14 States; and 

15 ‘‘(B) meets such minimum requirements 

16 that the Secretary may establish. 

17 ‘‘(3) NOMINATION INFORMATION.—The Com18 mandant, through the Superintendent of the Coast 

19 Guard Academy, shall furnish to any Member of 

20 Congress, upon the written request of such Member, 

21 the name of the Member of Congress or other nomi22 nating authority responsible for the nomination of 

23 any named or identified person for appointment to 

24 the Academy.’’. 


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1 (b) APPLICATION.—The amendment made by sub2 section (a)— 

3 (1) shall apply beginning with academic pro4 gram year 2022, subject to subsection (d), and with 

5 respect to each academic program year thereafter; 

6 and 

7 (2) shall not affect the application of section 

8 1922 of title 14, United States Code, as in effect be9 fore the enactment of this section, with respect to 

10 appointment of cadets who will matriculate to the 

11 Coast Guard Academy before such academic pro12 gram year. 

13 (c) REPORTING.—Not later than 90 days before the 

14 beginning of each new academic year, the Commandant 

15 of the Coast Guard, through the Superintendent of the 

16 Coast Guard Academy, shall report to the Congress on 

17 the achievement of the nominee class composition require18 ment established by the amendment made by subsection 

19 (a). If the requirement is not achieved, the report shall 

20 include plans on how to achieve the nominee class com21 position requirement. 

22 (d) TRANSITION.— 

23 (1) NOMINATIONS.—Notwithstanding the 

24 amendment made by subsection (a), with respect to 

25 the nomination of individuals pursuant to section 


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1 1922 of title 14, United States Code, as amended by 

2 such subsection, who will matriculate at the Coast 

3 Guard Academy in academic program year 2022, 

4 not less than 25 percent of the class shall be from 

5 nominations made pursuant to clauses (i) through 

6 (iv) of subsection (b)(1)(A) of such section 1922 (as 

7 amended by subsection (a) of this section). 

8 (2) NOTIFICATION TO THE CONGRESS.—Not 

9 later than 60 days after the date of the enactment 

10 of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, act11 ing through the Commandant of the Coast Guard, 

12 shall notify the Congress of the criteria, process, and 

13 timeline congressional offices are to follow for sub14 mitting such nominations. 

15 (3) ADDITIONAL ACTION.—The Secretary, act16 ing through the Commandant of the Coast Guard 

17 may take any additional action the Secretary con18 siders necessary and proper to provide for the tran19 sition to the nomination, selection, and appointment 

20 process under this section. 

21 SEC. 202. COAST GUARD COLLEGE STUDENT PRE-COMMIS22 SIONING INITIATIVE. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 21 of title 

24 14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 

25 the following: 


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1 ‘‘§ 2130. College Student Pre-Commissioning Initia2 tive 

3 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized within the 

4 Coast Guard the College Student Pre-Commissioning Ini5 tiative program (in this section referred to as the ‘pro6 gram’) for eligible undergraduate students to enlist and 

7 receive a guaranteed commission as an officer in the Coast 

8 Guard. 

9 ‘‘(b) CRITERIA FOR SELECTION.—To be eligible for 

10 the program a student must meet all eligibility require11 ments of such program as in effect on the date of the en12 actment of the Coast Guard Academy Improvement Act, 

13 and must be— 

14 ‘‘(1) an undergraduate sophomore or junior at 

15 a historically Black college or university described in 

16 section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 

17 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)) or an institution of higher edu18 cation described in section 371(a) of the Higher 

19 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)); or 

20 ‘‘(2) an undergraduate sophomore or junior stu21 dent who is active in minority-serving organizations 

22 and pursuing a degree in science, technology, engi23 neering, or mathematics at an institution of higher 

24 education described in section 101 of the Higher 

25 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001) that is not 

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1 tion of higher education referred to in paragraph (1) 

2 of this subsection. 

3 ‘‘(c) PARTICIPATION IN OFFICER CANDIDATE

4 SCHOOL.—The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall en5 sure that graduates of the program are included in the 

6 first enrollment for Officer Candidate School that com7 mences after the date of the enactment of the Coast Guard 

8 Academy Improvement Act and in each enrollment period 

9 thereafter. 

10 ‘‘(d) REPORTS.—Not later than 90 days after the 

11 conclusion of each academic year with respect to which 

12 the program is carried out beginning with the first full 

13 academic year after the date of the enactment of Coast 

14 Guard Academy Improvement Act, the Commandant of 

15 the Coast Guard shall submit to the Committees on Home16 land Security and Transportation and Infrastructure of 

17 the House of Representatives and the Committees on 

18 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Com19 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 

20 on the College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative, in21 cluding outreach and recruitment efforts and participation 

22 data, including demographic information of enrollees in23 cluding race, ethnicity, gender, and geographic origin.’’. 


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1 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 

2 subchapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘2130. College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative.’’. 

Æ 


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