I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1494 
To strengthen partnerships between historically Black colleges and universities 
and minority-serving institutions and the Department of Homeland Secu-
rity, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 5, 2019 
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi (for himself, Mr. LUETKEMEYER, Ms. NORTON, 
Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Ms. KELLY of Illinois, Mr. RICH-
MOND, Mr. CLEAVER, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. COHEN, Mr. 
GREEN of Texas, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. LEE of California, 
Mrs. BEATTY, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Ms. ADAMS, Ms. BASS, Mr. CLY-
BURN, and Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to 
the Committee on Small Business, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To strengthen partnerships between historically Black col-
leges and universities and minority-serving institutions 
and the Department of 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, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Historically Black Col-
leges and Universities (HBCUs) Homeland Security Part-
nerships Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT-WIDE STRATEGY FOR ENHANCED 
PARTNERSHIPS WITH HISTORICALLY BLACK 
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND MINOR-
ITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Under 
Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans of the Depart-
ment, shall— 
(1) issue a Department-wide strategy to en-
hance partnerships with historically Black colleges 
and universities and minority-serving institutions 
that includes yearly goals through fiscal year 2024; 
and 
(2) require the head of each component of the 
Department to— 
(A) not later than 150 days after the date 
of the issuance under paragraph (1) of the De-
partment-wide strategy, develop a component- 
specific action plan to implement such strategy; 
(B) monitor progress on such implementa-
tion; and 
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(C) not later than one year after the date 
of such issuance, report to the Secretary re-
garding progress on such implementation. 
SEC. 3. ENHANCEMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
PARTNERSHIPS. 
The Under Secretary for Science and Technology of 
the Department shall seek to enhance partnerships with 
historically Black colleges and universities and minority- 
serving institutions with respect to administering the pri-
mary research and development activities of the Depart-
ment by, among other things— 
(1) encouraging the participation of such col-
leges, universities, and institutions in the research, 
development, testing, and evaluation programs and 
activities of the Department; 
(2) facilitating partnerships between such col-
leges, universities, and institutions and private sec-
tor stakeholders, national laboratories, and other 
academic institutions in areas important to home-
land security; and 
(3) distributing funds through Science and 
Technology Directorate grants, cooperative agree-
ments, and contracts to such colleges, universities, 
and institutions for enhancements in areas impor-
tant to homeland security. 
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SEC. 4. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES PARTNERSHIPS. 
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Chief 
Human Capitol Officer of the Department, shall make 
available to historically Black colleges and universities and 
minority-serving institutions a current list of internship, 
fellowship, scholarship, and recruitment opportunities 
within the Department for students and recent graduates 
of such colleges, universities, and institutions. 
SEC. 5. OPPORTUNITIES FOR 8(a) PROGRAM PARTNER-
SHIPS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of 
the Small Business Administration shall publish eligibility 
criteria on how historically Black colleges and universities 
and minority-serving institutions may qualify to partici-
pate in Federal acquisitions authorized pursuant to sec-
tion 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a); 
Public Law 85–536). 
(b) DEPARTMENT ACTIONS.—Upon publication of 
eligibility criteria in accordance with subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall disseminate information to historically 
Black colleges and universities and minority-serving insti-
tutions regarding— 
(1) how to establish such eligibility; and 
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(2) current and future opportunities to partici-
pate in Federal acquisitions authorized pursuant to 
section 8(a) of the Small Business Act. 
SEC. 6. ANNUAL REPORT. 
(a) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than December 31, 
2020, and annually thereafter through 2026, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Secu-
rity of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
Senate a report on the efforts of the Department to part-
ner with historically Black colleges and universities and 
minority-serving institutions to carry out this Act. 
(b) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—The annual re-
ports required under subsection (a) shall include the fol-
lowing: 
(1) A list of awards, including the cor-
responding monetary value for each such award, to 
historically Black colleges and universities and mi-
nority-serving institutions, disaggregated by grant, 
contract, cooperative agreement, and other research 
development test and evaluation activity, initiative, 
and program. 
(2) A description of how the Department is 
partnering with historically Black colleges and uni-
versities and minority-serving institutions under the 
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programs referred to in sections 3 and 5, and how 
such programs have helped such colleges, univer-
sities, and institutions participate in acquisitions 
with the Department. 
(3) A summary of outreach efforts to histori-
cally Black colleges and universities and minority- 
serving institutions, and an identification of any De-
partment programs and initiatives in which such col-
leges, universities, and institutions are under-rep-
resented among institutions of higher education. 
(4) A description of the status of efforts made 
by the Department pursuant to sections 2 and 4, in-
cluding— 
(A) for section 2, Department-wide goals 
pursuant to the Department-wide strategy to 
enhance partnerships with historically Black 
colleges and universities and minority-serving 
institutions under such section, and the status 
of efforts to implement action plans throughout 
the Department to carry out such strategy; and 
(B) for section 4, participation rates in 
each internship, fellowship, scholarship, and re-
cruitment opportunity referred to in such sec-
tion, listed by historically Black college and uni-
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