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 Secu-
rity, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To require a review of university-based centers for homeland 
security, and for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Homeland Security 
University-based Centers Review Act’’. 
SEC. 2. REVIEW OF UNIVERSITY-BASED CENTERS. 
(a) GAO STUDY OF UNIVERSITY-BASED CENTERS.— 
Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of 
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this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall initiate a study to assess the university-based centers 
for homeland security program authorized by section 
308(b)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 188(b)(2)), and provide recommendations to the 
Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate for appropriate 
improvements. 
(b) SUBJECT MATTERS.—The study under sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) A review of the Department of Homeland 
Security’s efforts to identify key areas of study need-
ed to support the homeland security mission, and 
criteria that the Department utilized to determine 
those key areas for which the Department should 
maintain, establish, or eliminate university-based 
centers. 
(2) A review of the method by which university- 
based centers, federally funded research and develop-
ment centers, and Department of Energy national 
laboratories receive tasking from the Department of 
Homeland Security, including a review of how uni-
versity-based research is identified, prioritized, and 
funded. 
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(3) A review of selection criteria for designating 
university-based centers and a weighting of such cri-
teria. 
(4) An examination of best practices from other 
agencies’ efforts to organize and use university- 
based research to support their missions. 
(5) A review of the Department of Homeland 
Security’s criteria and metrics to measure demon-
strable progress achieved by university-based centers 
in fulfilling Department taskings, and mechanisms 
for delivering and disseminating the research results 
of designated university-based centers within the De-
partment and to other Federal, State, and local 
agencies. 
(6) An examination of the means by which aca-
demic institutions that are not designated or associ-
ated with the designated university-based centers 
can optimally contribute to the research mission of 
the Directorate of Science and Technology of the 
Department of Homeland Security. 
(7) An assessment of the interrelationship be-
tween the different university-based centers and the 
degree to which outreach and collaboration among a 
diverse array of academic institutions is encouraged 
by the Department of Homeland Security, particu-
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larly with historically Black colleges and universities 
and minority serving institutions. 
(8) A review of any other essential elements of 
the programs determined in the conduct of the 
study. 
(c) INFORMATION RELATING TO UNIVERSITY-BASED 
CENTERS.—Subparagraph (D) of section 308(b)(2) of the 
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 188(b)(2)) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(D) ANNUAL
REPORT
TO
CONGRESS.— 
Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this subparagraph and annually 
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Homeland Security of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 
of the Senate a report on the implementation of 
this section. Each such report shall— 
‘‘(i) indicate which center or centers 
have been designated pursuant to this sec-
tion; 
‘‘(ii) describe how such designation or 
designations enhance homeland security; 
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‘‘(iii) provide information on any deci-
sions to revoke or modify such designation 
or designations; 
‘‘(iv) describe research that has been 
tasked and completed by each center that 
has been designated during the preceding 
year; 
‘‘(v) describe funding provided by the 
Secretary for each center under clause (iv) 
for that year; and 
‘‘(vi) describe plans for utilization of 
each center or centers in the forthcoming 
year.’’. 
Æ 
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