I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2944 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish a public-private exchange 
program for the acquisition workforce. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 23, 2019 
Mr. CISNEROS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish a public- 
private exchange program for the acquisition workforce. 
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 ‘‘Training Acquisition 
Leaders and Elevating New Talent Act of 2019’’ or the 
‘‘TALENT Act’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:59 Jun 07, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2944.IH
H2944
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. PUBLIC-PRIVATE EXCHANGE PROGRAM FOR THE 
ACQUISITION WORKFORCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter IV of chapter 87 of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1749. Public-private exchange program for the ac-
quisition workforce 
‘‘(a) ASSIGNMENT AUTHORITY.—(1) The Secretary 
may, by rule, establish a program to be known as the 
‘Public-Private Exchange Program for the Acquisition 
Workforce’ to temporarily assign a member of the acquisi-
tion workforce to a private-sector organization or an em-
ployee of a private-sector organization to the Department 
of Defense if— 
‘‘(A) pursuant to an agreement between the 
Secretary, the private-sector organization, and the 
individual to be temporarily assigned described in 
subsection (b); and 
‘‘(B) with the consent of the individual to be 
temporarily assigned. 
‘‘(2) Members of the acquisition workforce are eligible 
for a temporary assignment under this section as follows: 
‘‘(A) Civilians in any of grades GS–12 through 
GS–15 under the General Schedule or, for employees 
participating in the demonstration project under sec-
tion 1762 of this title, the equivalent. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:59 Jun 07, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2944.IH
H2944
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(B) Members of the armed forces serving in 
any of pay grades O–3 through O–6. 
‘‘(3) A private-sector organization shall not be consid-
ered to have a conflict of interest with the Department 
of Defense solely because of participation in the program 
established under this section. 
‘‘(b) AGREEMENTS.—(1) An agreement entered into 
under this section shall include the following: 
‘‘(A) The terms and conditions of a temporary 
assignment. 
‘‘(B) In the case of an agreement for the tem-
porary assignment of a member of the acquisition 
workforce, a requirement that the member of the ac-
quisition workforce, upon completion of the tem-
porary assignment, will— 
‘‘(i) if a member of the armed forces, serve 
in the armed forces for a period equal to twice 
the length of the temporary assignment (in ad-
dition to any other period of obligated service); 
or 
‘‘(ii) if a civilian, serve in the Department 
of Defense, or elsewhere in the civil service if 
approved by the Secretary, for a period equal to 
twice the length of the temporary assignment. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:59 Jun 07, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2944.IH
H2944
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(C) A provision that if the individual to be 
temporarily assigned fails to carry out the agree-
ment, such individual shall be liable to the United 
States for payment of all expenses of the assign-
ment, unless that failure was for good and sufficient 
reason, as determined by the Secretary of Defense. 
‘‘(D) In the case of an agreement for the tem-
porary assignment of a member of the acquisition 
workforce, language ensuring that such member of 
the acquisition workforce does not improperly use 
pre-decisional or draft deliberative information that 
such member may be privy to or aware of related to 
Department programing, budgeting, resourcing, ac-
quisition, or procurement for the benefit or advan-
tage of the private-sector organization. 
‘‘(2) An amount for which an individual is liable 
under paragraph (1)(C) shall be treated as a debt due the 
United States. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary may waive, in whole or in part, 
collection of a debt described in paragraph (2) based on 
a determination that the collection would be against equity 
and good conscience and not in the best interests of the 
United States, after taking into account any indication of 
fraud, misrepresentation, fault, or lack of good faith on 
the part of the individual who is liable for the debt. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:59 Jun 07, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2944.IH
H2944
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS