IB 
Union Calendar No. 12 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1433 
[Report No. 116–26] 
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to improve morale within 
the Department of Homeland Security workforce by conferring new re-
sponsibilities to the Chief Human Capital Officer, establishing an em-
ployee engagement steering committee, requiring action plans, and au-
thorizing an annual employee award program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 28, 2019 
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Homeland Security 
MARCH 28, 2019 
Additional sponsors: Miss RICE of New York, Ms. NORTON, Ms. CLARKE of 
New York, Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico, and Ms. JACKSON LEE 
MARCH 28, 2019 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 28, 2019] 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:55 Mar 28, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6652
E:\BILLS\H1433.RH
H1433
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
A BILL 
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to improve 
morale within the Department of Homeland Security 
workforce by conferring new responsibilities to the Chief 
Human Capital Officer, establishing an employee engage-
ment steering committee, requiring action plans, and au-
thorizing an annual employee award program, and for 
other purposes. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:55 Mar 28, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6652
E:\BILLS\H1433.RH
H1433
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Department of Home-
land Security Morale, Recognition, Learning and Engage-
ment Act of 2019’’ or the ‘‘DHS MORALE Act’’. 
SEC. 2. CHIEF HUMAN CAPITAL OFFICER RESPONSIBIL-
ITIES. 
Section 704 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 344) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘, including with re-
spect to leader development and employee 
engagement,’’ after ‘‘policies’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘and in line’’ and in-
serting ‘‘, in line’’; and 
(iii) by inserting ‘‘and informed by 
best practices within the Federal govern-
ment and the private sector,’’ after ‘‘prior-
ities,’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘develop 
performance measures to provide a basis for 
monitoring and evaluating’’ and inserting ‘‘use 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:55 Mar 28, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1433.RH
H1433
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
performance measures to evaluate, on an ongoing 
basis,’’; 
(C) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘that, to 
the extent practicable, are informed by employee 
feedback’’ after ‘‘policies’’; 
(D) in paragraph (4), by inserting ‘‘includ-
ing leader development and employee engagement 
programs,’’ before ‘‘in coordination’’; 
(E) in paragraph (5), by inserting before 
the semicolon at the end the following: ‘‘that is 
informed by an assessment, carried out by the 
Chief Human Capital Officer, of the learning 
and developmental needs of employees in super-
visory and non-supervisory roles across the De-
partment and appropriate workforce planning 
initiatives’’; 
(F) by redesignating paragraphs (9) and 
(10) as paragraphs (12) and (13), respectively; 
and 
(G) by inserting after paragraph (8) the fol-
lowing new paragraphs: 
‘‘(9) maintain a catalogue of available employee 
development opportunities, including the Homeland 
Security Rotation Program pursuant to section 844, 
departmental leadership development programs, inter-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:55 Mar 28, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1433.RH
H1433
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
agency development programs, and other rotational 
programs; 
‘‘(10) ensure that employee discipline and ad-
verse action programs comply with the requirements 
of all pertinent laws, rules, regulations, and Federal 
guidance, and ensure due process for employees; 
‘‘(11) analyze each Department or Government- 
wide Federal workforce satisfaction or morale survey 
not later than 90 days after the date of the publica-
tion of each such survey and submit to the Secretary 
such 
analysis, 
including, 
as 
appropriate, 
rec-
ommendations to improve workforce satisfaction or 
morale within the Department;’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as 
subsections (e) and (f), respectively; 
(3) by inserting after subsection (c) the following 
new subsection: 
‘‘(d) CHIEF LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT OFFICER.— 
The Chief Human Capital Officer may designate an em-
ployee of the Department to serve as a Chief Learning and 
Engagement Officer to assist the Chief Human Capital Of-
ficer in carrying out this section.’’; and 
(4) in subsection (e), as so redesignated— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:55 Mar 28, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1433.RH
H1433
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), 
and (4) as paragraphs (5), (6), and (7), respec-
tively; and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing new paragraphs: 
‘‘(2) information on employee development op-
portunities catalogued pursuant to paragraph (9) of 
subsection (b) and any available data on participa-
tion rates, attrition rates, and impacts on retention 
and employee satisfaction; 
‘‘(3) information on the progress of Department- 
wide strategic workforce planning efforts as deter-
mined under paragraph (2) of subsection (b); 
‘‘(4) information on the activities of the steering 
committee established pursuant to section 711(a), in-
cluding the number of meetings, types of materials de-
veloped and distributed, and recommendations made 
to the Secretary;’’. 
SEC. 3. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT STEERING COMMITTEE 
AND ACTION PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title VII of the Homeland Security 
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 341 et seq.) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new section: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:55 Mar 28, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1433.RH
H1433
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘SEC. 711. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT. 
‘‘(a) STEERING COMMITTEE.—Not later than 120 days 
after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary 
shall establish an employee engagement steering committee, 
including representatives from operational components, 
headquarters, and field personnel, including supervisory 
and non-supervisory personnel, and employee labor organi-
zations that represent Department employees, and chaired 
by the Under Secretary for Management, to carry out the 
following activities: 
‘‘(1) Identify factors that have a negative impact 
on employee engagement, morale, and communica-
tions within the Department, such as perceptions 
about limitations on career progression, mobility, or 
development opportunities, collected through employee 
feedback platforms, including through annual em-
ployee surveys, questionnaires, and other communica-
tions, as appropriate. 
‘‘(2) Identify, develop, and distribute initiatives 
and best practices to improve employee engagement, 
morale, and communications within the Department, 
including through annual employee surveys, question-
naires, and other communications, as appropriate. 
‘‘(3) Monitor efforts of each component to address 
employee engagement, morale, and communications 
based on employee feedback provided through annual 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:55 Mar 28, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1433.RH
H1433
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
employee surveys, questionnaires, and other commu-
nications, as appropriate. 
‘‘(4) Advise the Secretary on efforts to improve 
employee engagement, morale, and communications 
within specific components and across the Depart-
ment. 
‘‘(5) Conduct regular meetings and report, not 
less than once per quarter, to the Under Secretary for 
Management, the head of each component, and the 
Secretary on Department-wide efforts to improve em-
ployee engagement, morale, and communications. 
‘‘(b) ACTION PLAN; REPORTING.—The Secretary, act-
ing through the Chief Human Capital Officer, shall— 
‘‘(1) not later than 120 days after the date of the 
establishment of the employee engagement steering 
committee under subsection (a), issue a Department- 
wide employee engagement action plan, reflecting 
input from the steering committee and employee feed-
back provided through annual employee surveys, ques-
tionnaires, and other communications in accordance 
with paragraph (1) of such subsection, to execute 
strategies to improve employee engagement, morale, 
and communications within the Department; and 
‘‘(2) require the head of each component to— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:55 Mar 28, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1433.RH
H1433
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(A) develop and implement a component- 
specific employee engagement plan to advance 
the action plan required under paragraph (1) 
that includes performance measures and objec-
tives, is informed by employee feedback provided 
through annual employee surveys, question-
naires, and other communications, as appro-
priate, and sets forth how employees and, where 
applicable, their labor representatives are to be 
integrated in developing programs and initia-
tives; 
‘‘(B) monitor progress on implementation of 
such action plan; and 
‘‘(C) provide to the Chief Human Capital 
Officer and the steering committee quarterly re-
ports on actions planned and progress made 
under this paragraph. 
‘‘(c) TERMINATION.—This section shall terminate on 
the date that is five years after the date of the enactment 
of this section.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents in 
section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 710 
the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 711. Employee engagement.’’. 
(c) SUBMISSIONS TO CONGRESS.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:55 Mar 28, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1433.RH
H1433
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
SEC. 4. ANNUAL EMPLOYEE AWARD PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title VII of the Homeland Security 
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 341 et seq.), as amended by section 
3 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 712. ANNUAL EMPLOYEE AWARD PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may establish an 
annual employee award program to recognize Department 
employees or groups of employees for significant contribu-
tions to the achievement of the Department’s goals and mis-
sions. If such a program is established, the Secretary 
shall— 
‘‘(1) establish within such program categories of 
awards, each with specific criteria, that emphasizes 
honoring employees who are at the non-supervisory 
level; 
‘‘(2) publicize within the Department how any 
employee or group of employees may be nominated for 
an award; 
‘‘(3) establish an internal review board com-
prised of representatives from Department compo-
nents, headquarters, and field personnel to submit to 
the Secretary award recommendations regarding spe-
cific employees or groups of employees; 
‘‘(4) select recipients from the pool of nominees 
submitted by the internal review board under para-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:55 Mar 28, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1433.RH
H1433
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
graph (3) and convene a ceremony at which employ-
ees or groups of employees receive such awards from 
the Secretary; and 
‘‘(5) publicize such program within the Depart-
ment. 
‘‘(b) INTERNAL REVIEW BOARD.—The internal review 
board described in subsection (a)(3) shall, when carrying 
out its function under such subsection, consult with rep-
resentatives from operational components and headquarters, 
including supervisory and non-supervisory personnel, and 
employee labor organizations that represent Department 
employees. 
‘‘(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion may be construed to authorize additional funds to 
carry out the requirements of this section or to require the 
Secretary to provide monetary bonuses to recipients of an 
award under this section.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents in 
section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as 
amended by section 3 of this Act, is further amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 711 the following 
new item: 
‘‘Sec. 712. Annual employee award program.’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:55 Mar 28, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6213
E:\BILLS\H1433.RH
H1433
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
SEC. 5. INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AND IMPLEMENTA-
TION PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall investigate whether the applica-
tion in the Department of Homeland Security of discipline 
and adverse actions are administered in an equitable and 
consistent manner that results in the same or substantially 
similar disciplinary outcomes across the Department for 
misconduct by a non-supervisory or supervisor employee 
who engaged in the same or substantially similar mis-
conduct. 
(b) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the investigation 
described in subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall consult with the Under Secretary for 
Management of the Department of Homeland Security and 
the employee engagement steering committee established 
pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of section 711 of the Home-
land Security Act of 2002 (as added by section 3(a) of this 
Act). 
(c) ACTION
BY UNDER SECRETARY
FOR MANAGE-
MENT.—Upon completion of the investigation described in 
subsection (a), the Under Secretary for Management of the 
Department of Homeland Security shall review the findings 
and recommendations of such investigation and implement 
a plan, in consultation with the employee engagement steer-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:55 Mar 28, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1433.RH
H1433
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
ing committee established pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of 
section 711 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, to correct 
any relevant deficiencies identified by the Comptroller Gen-
eral of the United States in such investigation. The Under 
Secretary for Management shall direct the employee engage-
ment steering committee to review such plan to inform com-
mittee activities and action plans authorized under such 
section 711. 
SEC. 6. IMPACTS OF SHUTDOWN. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall report 
to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate regarding the direct 
and indirect impacts of the lapse in appropriations between 
December 22, 2018, and January 25, 2019, on— 
(1) Department of Homeland Security human 
resources operations; 
(2) the Department’s ability to meet hiring 
benchmarks; and 
(3) retention, attrition, and morale of Depart-
ment personnel. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:55 Mar 28, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1433.RH
H1433
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:55 Mar 28, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1433.RH
H1433
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
Union Calendar No. 12 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 1433 
[Report No. 116–26] 
A BILL 
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to 
improve morale within the Department of Home-
land Security workforce by conferring new re-
sponsibilities to the Chief Human Capital Offi-
cer, establishing an employee engagement steer-
ing committee, requiring action plans, and au-
thorizing an annual employee award program, 
and for other purposes. 
MARCH 28, 2019 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:55 Mar 28, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6651
Sfmt 6651
E:\BILLS\H1433.RH
H1433
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS