I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6239 
To establish the Leadership Institute for Transatlantic Engagement to develop 
a diverse community of transatlantic leaders at all levels of government, 
including emerging leaders, committed to democratic institutions. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 12, 2020 
Mr. HASTINGS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs 
A BILL 
To establish the Leadership Institute for Transatlantic En-
gagement to develop a diverse community of transatlantic 
leaders at all levels of government, including emerging 
leaders, committed to democratic institutions. 
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 ‘‘Leadership Institute 
for Transatlantic Engagement Act’’ or ‘‘LITE Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
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(1) The United States diversity of backgrounds, 
cultures, perspectives, skills, and experiences is a na-
tional asset that has assisted in realizing United 
States foreign policy, security, and economic goals, 
yet according to recent government statistics, diverse 
communities continue to be underrepresented in 
international public service careers and leadership 
roles. 
(2) According to census data, the United 
States, European, and other societies are becoming 
more diverse, indicating an increasing need for glob-
al leaders with expertise in policymaking and govern-
ance that can competently represent the needs of di-
verse constituencies and ensure that democratic val-
ues and practices are equally applied to and offer 
the same protections and opportunities for all. 
(3) There is therefore a compelling need to en-
courage outstanding young people from diverse and 
underserved populations to pursue international pub-
lic service careers. 
(4) There is also a need for international lead-
ership training opportunities for individuals serving 
in national, regional, and local governments and par-
liaments around the world, and for individuals serv-
ing as employees of Members of Congress and as 
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employees of members of other legislatures, that in-
cludes a focus on civil and human rights and the in-
clusion of diverse and underserved populations in 
policymaking and governance. 
(5) The establishment and operation of an in-
stitute for the training and development of a diverse 
and inclusive group of global leaders to serve in 
international public service careers would address 
these critical needs. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) The term ‘‘Institute’’ means the ‘‘Leader-
ship Institute for Transatlantic Engagement’’ estab-
lished under section 4. 
(2) The term ‘‘Board’’ means the Board of 
Trustees of the Institute. 
(3) The term ‘‘Fund’’ means the Leadership In-
stitute for Transatlantic Engagement Trust Fund 
under section 6. 
(4) The term ‘‘underrepresented population’’ 
means a population of individuals who have histori-
cally been outside the purview of leadership in inter-
national or domestic public or private sector careers, 
based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender, 
sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sex-
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ual orientation), national origin, youth (under 25), 
disability, or other demographic factors. 
(5) The term ‘‘minority serving institutions’’ as 
defined in section 365(3) of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067k(3)). 
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE FOR 
TRANSATLANTIC ENGAGEMENT. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
legislative branch the Leadership Institute for Trans-
atlantic Engagement. 
(b) BOARD OF TRUSTEES.—The Institute shall be 
subject to the supervision and direction of a Board of 
Trustees which shall be composed of five members as fol-
lows: 
(1) Two members appointed by the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be 
designated by the majority leader of the House of 
Representatives and one of whom shall be designated 
by the minority leader of the House of Representa-
tives. 
(2) Two members appointed by the President 
pro tempore of the Senate, one of whom shall be 
designated by the majority leader of the Senate and 
one of whom shall be designated by the minority 
leader of the Senate. 
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(3) The Executive Director of the Institute, 
who shall serve as an ex officio member of the 
Board. 
(c) TERM.—Each member of the Board appointed 
under this section shall serve for a term of three years. 
Any vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the 
original appointment and the individual so appointed shall 
serve for the remainder of the term. A Member of Con-
gress appointed to the Board may not serve as a member 
of the Board for more than a total of six years. 
(d) CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR.—At the first meeting 
and at its first regular meeting in each calendar year 
thereafter the Board shall elect a Chair and Vice-Chair 
from among the members of the Board. The Chair and 
Vice-Chair may not be members of the same political 
party. 
(e) PAY NOT AUTHORIZED; EXPENSES.—Members of 
the Board (other than the Executive Director) shall serve 
without pay, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for 
travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred 
in the performance of their duties. 
(f) LOCATION OF INSTITUTE AND REGIONAL OF-
FICES.—The Institute shall be located in Washington, DC, 
and the Board may also establish other offices for the In-
stitute in regions of the United States and Europe. 
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SEC. 5. PURPOSES AND AUTHORITY OF LEADERSHIP INSTI-
TUTE FOR TRANSATLANTIC ENGAGEMENT. 
(a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Institute shall 
be to develop a diverse community of transatlantic leaders, 
including emerging leaders, at all levels of government 
committed to democratic institutions by— 
(1) increasing awareness of the importance of 
public service careers that focus on international af-
fairs, civil and human rights, social inclusion, and 
global security among underrepresented populations; 
(2) providing training and development oppor-
tunities for Members of Congress, parliaments, and 
national, State, and locally elected or appointed gov-
ernment officials and their employees in the United 
States and abroad to become more effective and 
more efficient in performing their public duties and 
to develop their potential for accepting increased 
international public service opportunities; and 
(3) enabling transatlantic political leaders, at 
all levels of government to gain significant, firsthand 
exposure to United States democratic institutions 
through visits to the United States, and for United 
States political leaders at all levels of government to 
support democratic institutions globally through 
travel abroad and knowledge sharing. 
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(b) AUTHORITY.—The Institute is authorized, con-
sistent with this Act, to develop such programs, activities, 
and services as it considers appropriate to carry out the 
purposes described in subsection (a). Such authority shall 
include the following: 
(1) The development and implementation of 
training and educational programs and tools for 
transatlantic leaders and their staff, including Mem-
bers of Congress, parliaments, and national, State, 
and locally elected or appointed government officials 
and their employees in the United States and abroad 
to enhance and foster excellence in their skills and 
abilities as public servants and to increase support 
for democratic institutions. 
(2) The development and implementation of 
training, educational programs, and tools for sec-
ondary and post-secondary schools and colleges in 
the United States and abroad, including a focus on 
minority serving institutions, to encourage United 
States and international students to increase their 
civic engagement and consider international public 
service careers in civil and human rights, inter-
national affairs, global security, and in other areas. 
(3) The development and implementation of 
media and telecommunications productions, as well 
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as online and social media methods, to assist the In-
stitute in expanding the reach of its programs 
throughout the United States and abroad. 
(4) The establishment of library and research 
facilities for the collection, publication, compilation, 
and distribution of research materials for use in car-
rying out the programs of the Institute. 
(c) PROGRAM PRIORITIES.—The Board shall deter-
mine the priority of the programs to be carried out under 
this Act and the amount of funds to be allocated for such 
programs. 
(d) GRANT PROGRAM.— 
(1) GRANT PROGRAM.—The Institute shall es-
tablish a program to awards grants in the United 
States and abroad on an annual basis to colleges 
and universities, other research institutions and or-
ganizations, public departments and Federal agen-
cies (including State, territorial, and overseas de-
partments), private organizations or corporations, 
and individuals for the purposes of assisting the In-
stitute’s work in conducting research, international 
exchanges, education or training activities, and out-
reach to facilitate strengthening— 
(A) democratic institutions, including civil 
and human rights; 
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(B) emerging and current political leaders 
and their employees at any level of government; 
and 
(C) interest and excellence in international 
public service careers. 
(2) APPLICATION.—Each organization that 
seeks a grant under this subsection shall submit an 
application to the Institute at such time, in such 
manner, and accompanied by such information as 
the Institute may reasonably require. 
(3) SET-ASIDE
FOR
CENTERS
OF
EXCEL-
LENCE.—The Institute shall ensure that not less 
than 50 percent of amounts made available to carry 
out this subsection are used to provide grants to mi-
nority-serving institutions and entities that have 
made significant efforts to work with under-rep-
resented populations in the United States or abroad. 
(4) CONSORTIUM.—One or more research insti-
tutions may constitute themselves as a consortium 
for purposes of seeking a grant under this sub-
section. 
SEC. 6. LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE FOR TRANSATLANTIC EN-
GAGEMENT TRUST FUND. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
Treasury of the United States a trust fund to be known 
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as the ‘‘Leadership Institute for Transatlantic Engage-
ment Trust Fund’’. The Fund shall consist of amounts 
which may be appropriated, credited, or transferred to it 
under this section. 
(b) DONATIONS.—Any money or other property do-
nated, bequeathed, or devised to the Institute under the 
authority of this section shall be credited to the Fund. 
(c) FUND MANAGEMENT AND INVESTMENT.— 
(1) INVESTMENT.—At the request of the Insti-
tute, it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the 
Treasury to invest in full the amounts appropriated 
to the Fund. Such investments may be made only in 
interest-bearing obligations of the United States 
issued directly to the Fund. 
(2) ISSUANCE OF OBLIGATIONS.—The purposes 
for which obligations of the United States may be 
issued under chapter 31 of title 31, United States 
Code, are hereby extended to authorize the issuance 
at par of special obligations directly to the Fund. 
Such special obligations shall bear interest at a rate 
equal to the average rate of interest, computed as to 
the end of the calendar month next preceding the 
date of such issue, borne by all marketable interest- 
bearing obligations of the United States then form-
ing a part of the public debt, except that if such av-
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erage rate is not a multiple of one-eighth of 1 per 
centum, the rate of interest of such special obliga-
tions shall be the multiple of one-eighth of 1 per 
centum next lower than such average rate. All re-
quests of the Institute to the Secretary of the Treas-
ury provided for in this section shall be binding upon 
the Secretary. 
(d) AUTHORITY TO SELL OBLIGATIONS.—At the re-
quest of the Institute, the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
redeem any obligation issued directly to the Fund. Obliga-
tions issued to the Fund under subsection (c)(2) shall be 
redeemed at par plus accrued interest. Any other obliga-
tions issued directly to the Fund shall be redeemed at the 
market price. 
(e) PROCEEDS
FROM
CERTAIN
TRANSACTIONS 
CREDITED TO FUND.—In addition to the appropriations 
received pursuant to this Act, the interest on, and the pro-
ceeds from the sale or redemption of, any obligations held 
in the Fund pursuant to this Act, shall be credited to and 
form a part of the Fund. 
(f) FUND RESERVES.—Five to ten percent of the 
original amount appropriated to the Fund must remain 
in the Fund at all times. 
(g) EXPENDITURES.—The Secretary of the Treasury 
is authorized to pay to the Institute from the interests 
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