to separate from U.S. Customs and Border Protec-
tion. 
(4) An assessment of existing Federal pro-
grams, including financial incentives and other com-
pensation-based flexibilities, regarding how to most 
effectively aid spouses and families of individuals 
who are U.S. Customs and Border Protection can-
didates or new hires in a rural or remote area. 
(5) An assessment of Department of Homeland 
Security internship programs and the usefulness of 
such programs in improving hiring by the Secretary 
of Homeland Security in rural or remote areas. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CONSIDERATIONS.—The 
implementation plan required under subsection (a) shall— 
(1) include a pilot or other program, as appro-
priate, to address hiring and retention challenges 
faced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in 
rural or remote areas; and 
(2) enhance strategic recruiting efforts of U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection through relation-
ships with institutions of higher education, veterans 
transition and employment centers, and job place-
ment programs in regions that could assist in filling 
positions in rural or remote areas. 
(d) REPORTS.— 
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(1) REPORT TO CONGRESS AND GAO.—Begin-
ning on the date that is one year after the date of 
the issuance of the strategy and implementation 
plan required under subsection (a) and every three 
years thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security 
shall report to the Committee on Homeland Security 
of the House of Representatives, the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
Senate, and the Comptroller General of the United 
States on the extent to which such strategy and im-
plementation plan have affected the hiring and re-
tention by U.S. Customs and Border Protection of 
employees in rural or remote areas. 
(2) BRIEFING TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act 
and every 90 days thereafter until the strategy and 
implementation plan under subsection (a) are issued, 
the Secretary of Homeland Security shall brief the 
Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee on Homeland Secu-
rity and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and 
the Comptroller General of the United States on the 
progress of so issuing such strategy and implementa-
tion plan. 
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(3) GAO ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 120 
days after receiving each briefing required under 
paragraph (2), the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall submit to the committees speci-
fied in such subsection an assessment of the effec-
tiveness of U.S. Customs and Border Protection ac-
tions described in each such briefing, including rec-
ommendations for improvements as the Comptroller 
General determines appropriate. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 102 of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002). 
(2) NEW HIRE.—The term ‘‘new hire’’ means 
an individual appointed to a position within U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection and who, during the 
one year period preceding such date of appointment, 
occupied a position in U.C. Customs and Border 
Protection for fewer than 365 days. 
(3) RURAL
OR
REMOTE
AREAS.—The term 
‘‘rural or remote areas’’ means areas within the 
United States that are not within an area defined 
and designated as urbanized areas by the Bureau of 
the Census in the most recently completed decennial 
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census, and includes areas along the northern and 
southern borders. 
Æ 
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