I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2390 

To require a review of university-based centers for homeland security, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 18, 2015 

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi (for himself and Mr. RICHMOND) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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 require a review of university-based centers for homeland 

security, 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, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Homeland Security 

5 University-based Centers Review Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. REVIEW OF UNIVERSITY-BASED CENTERS. 

7 (a) GAO STUDY OF UNIVERSITY-BASED CENTERS.— 

8 Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of 


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1 this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 

2 shall initiate a study to assess the university-based centers 

3 for homeland security program authorized by section 

4 308(b)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 

5 U.S.C. 188(b)(2)), and provide recommendations to the 

6 Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Rep7 resentatives and the Committee on Homeland Security 

8 and Governmental Affairs of the Senate for appropriate 

9 improvements. 

10 (b) SUBJECT MATTERS.—The study under sub11 section (a) shall include the following: 

12 (1) A review of the Department of Homeland 

13 Security’s efforts to identify key areas of study need14 ed to support the homeland security mission, and 

15 criteria that the Department utilized to determine 

16 those key areas for which the Department should 

17 maintain, establish, or eliminate university-based 

18 centers. 

19 (2) A review of the method by which university20 based centers, federally funded research and develop21 ment centers, and Department of Energy national 

22 laboratories receive tasking from the Department of 

23 Homeland Security, including a review of how uni24 versity-based research is identified, prioritized, and 

25 funded. 


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1 (3) A review of selection criteria for designating 

2 university-based centers and a weighting of such cri3 teria. 

4 (4) An examination of best practices from other 

5 agencies’ efforts to organize and use university6 based research to support their missions. 

7 (5) A review of the Department of Homeland 

8 Security’s criteria and metrics to measure demon9 strable progress achieved by university-based centers 

10 in fulfilling Department taskings, and mechanisms 

11 for delivering and disseminating the research results 

12 of designated university-based centers within the De13 partment and to other Federal, State, and local 

14 agencies. 

15 (6) An examination of the means by which aca16 demic institutions that are not designated or associ17 ated with the designated university-based centers 

18 can optimally contribute to the research mission of 

19 the Directorate of Science and Technology of the 

20 Department of Homeland Security. 

21 (7) An assessment of the interrelationship be22 tween the different university-based centers and the 

23 degree to which outreach and collaboration among a 

24 diverse array of academic institutions is encouraged 

25 by the Department of Homeland Security, particuVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:16 May 22, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2390.IH H2390

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1 larly with historically Black colleges and universities 

2 and minority serving institutions. 

3 (8) A review of any other essential elements of 

4 the programs determined in the conduct of the 

5 study. 

6 (c) INFORMATION RELATING TO UNIVERSITY-BASED

7 CENTERS.—Subparagraph (D) of section 308(b)(2) of the 

8 Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 188(b)(2)) is 

9 amended to read as follows: 

10 ‘‘(D) ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 

11 Not later than one year after the date of the 

12 enactment of this subparagraph and annually 

13 thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the 

14 Committee on Homeland Security of the House 

15 of Representatives and the Committee on 

16 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

17 of the Senate a report on the implementation of 

18 this section. Each such report shall— 

19 ‘‘(i) indicate which center or centers 

20 have been designated pursuant to this sec21 tion; 

22 ‘‘(ii) describe how such designation or 

23 designations enhance homeland security; 


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1 ‘‘(iii) provide information on any deci2 sions to revoke or modify such designation 

3 or designations; 

4 ‘‘(iv) describe research that has been 

5 tasked and completed by each center that 

6 has been designated during the preceding 

7 year; 

8 ‘‘(v) describe funding provided by the 

9 Secretary for each center under clause (iv) 

10 for that year; and 

11 ‘‘(vi) describe plans for utilization of 

12 each center or centers in the forthcoming 

13 year.’’. 

Æ 


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