I 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5567 
To invest in urban universities and create innovation and economic prosperity 
for the United States, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 22, 2010 
Mr. WU introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on Financial 
Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, Energy and Commerce, 
Science and Technology, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a 
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To invest in urban universities and create innovation and 
economic prosperity for the United States, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Urban University Renaissance Act of the 21st Century’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
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Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Findings. 
TITLE I—STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES 
PART A—DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT 
Sec. 101. Community outreach partnership centers. 
Sec. 102. Urban capacity building community engagement grants. 
Sec. 103. Early career grants for researchers. 
Sec. 104. National urban grant university program. 
Sec. 105. University partnerships advisory council. 
Sec. 106. Housing assistance. 
Sec. 107. Definitions. 
PART B—NATIONAL INNOVATION 
Sec. 111. Definitions. 
Sec. 112. National innovation council. 
Sec. 113. National innovation council board. 
Sec. 114. Transfer of programs and functions. 
Sec. 115. Cluster information center. 
Sec. 116. CLUSTER grant program. 
PART C—AMENDMENTS TO PUBLIC WORKS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 
ACT OF 1965 
Sec. 121. Grants for training, research, and technical assistance. 
Sec. 122. Grants for university centers. 
Sec. 123. Annual report to Congress. 
Sec. 124. Funding for grants for establishing university centers. 
PART D—ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 
Sec. 131. Amendment of the National Environmental Education Act. 
TITLE II—THE EDUCATION PIPELINE 
PART A—ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT 
Sec. 201. Teacher effectiveness. 
PART B—HIGHER EDUCATION 
Sec. 211. Urban universities. 
TITLE III—DIVERSIFYING THE HEALTH CARE WORKPLACE 
Sec. 301. Amendment to Public Health Service Act. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
(1) United States cities play an important role 
in the prosperity of the United States, driving inno-
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vation and economic growth by employing many 
highly skilled workers. 
(2) The dropout rate is higher at secondary 
schools in urban areas and the elementary and sec-
ondary school students of urban areas typically score 
below State and national averages on performance 
exams. 
(3) Schools in urban areas often have teacher 
shortages in high-need subject areas such as mathe-
matics and science. 
(4) Certain neighborhoods in urban areas are 
stricken with poverty and struggle to attract busi-
nesses and services. 
(5) Health disparities are pervasive in urban 
settings, and result, in part, from an insufficient and 
ethnically imbalanced health workforce. 
(6) Investing in research and initiatives to solve 
the challenges of urban areas will bolster the eco-
nomic competitiveness of the United States and 
make the cities a better place to live. 
(7) Urban universities are an essential part of 
education for many and enroll a large number of 
students from local school districts, often training 
these students to be educators in urban areas. 
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(8) Urban universities are prominent employers, 
real estate developers, and business incubators. 
(9) Urban universities are able to produce an 
urban health workforce, conduct interdisciplinary re-
search, provide clinical resources, and organize com-
munity and academic partnerships on chronic dis-
eases and health disparities. 
(10) The Federal Government should make in-
vestments to encourage urban universities to coordi-
nate, evaluate, and disseminate solutions to urban 
problems related to education, community revitaliza-
tion, health, and quality of life. 
TITLE I—STRENGTHENING 
COMMUNITIES 
PART A—DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN 
DEVELOPMENT 
SEC. 101. COMMUNITY OUTREACH PARTNERSHIP CENTERS. 
(a) GRANT PROGRAM.—The Secretary of Housing 
and Urban Development may make grants under this sec-
tion in accordance with subsection (b) to institutions of 
higher education or consortia of such institutions— 
(1) to support new or expand existing activities 
in community engagement by institutions of higher 
education; 
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(2) to encourage institutions of higher edu-
cation to establish partnerships with their local com-
munities; 
(3) to align teaching, research, and service by 
institutions of higher education with the needs of 
their local communities; 
(4) to solve urban problems through research, 
outreach, and exchange of information; and 
(5) to improve the quality of life and economic 
opportunity in urban areas. 
(b) ACTIVITIES.—Each institution of higher edu-
cation or consortium of institutions of higher education 
that receives a grant shall use such amounts— 
(1) to establish and maintain community out-
reach partnership centers (in this section referred to 
as ‘‘Centers’’) that address the problems of urban 
areas through— 
(A) conducting research about theoretical 
or practical problems in large and small cities; 
and 
(B) facilitating partnerships and encour-
aging outreach activities between institutions of 
higher education, local communities, and local 
governments; and 
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(2) to expand existing activities in community 
engagement that address the problems of urban 
areas. 
(c) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, an institution of higher education or 
a consortia of institutions of higher education shall pre-
pare and submit an application to the Secretary at such 
time, in such form, and containing such information and 
assurances as the Secretary may require. 
(d) SELECTION CRITERIA.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall select 
recipients of grants under this section on the basis 
of the following criteria: 
(A) The extent of research and outreach 
resources that the applicant demonstrates are 
available for carrying out the project and activi-
ties the applicant proposes to carry out under 
the grant. 
(B) The capability of the applicant to pro-
vide leadership in solving community problems 
and in making national contributions to solving 
long-term and immediate problems of urban 
areas. 
(C) The extent of the commitment that the 
applicant demonstrates is available for sup-
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porting urban research and outreach programs 
by providing matching contributions for any 
Federal assistance received. 
(D) The extent of the ability of the appli-
cant to disseminate results of research and suc-
cessful strategies developed through outreach 
activities to other Centers and communities 
served by grants provided under this section. 
(E) The need for the projects and activities 
that the applicant proposes to carry out under 
the grant. 
(F) The extent to which the projects and 
activities of the applicant will contribute to the 
goals of the community partners of the appli-
cant in the urban area of the applicant. 
(G) The extent to which the community 
partners of the applicant will contribute to the 
educational and research goals of the applicant. 
(H) The effectiveness of the strategy of the 
applicant to provide outreach activities to com-
munities. 
(I) The value to the community of the 
project and activities the applicant proposes to 
carry out under the grant. 
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(J) The demonstrated ability of the appli-
cant to communicate, coordinate, and involve 
community partners throughout the decision 
making process of planning and implementing 
projects and activities the applicant proposes to 
carry out under the grant. 
(K) The proposed schedule for the projects 
and activities of the applicant. 
(L) The extent of the capability of the ap-
plicant to evaluate the projects and activities 
the applicant proposes to carry out under the 
grant. 
(M) The extent of the ability of the appli-
cant to continue funding the projects and ac-
tivities after the expiration of a grant received 
under this section. 
(N) Other criteria the Secretary deter-
mines are appropriate. 
(2) PRIORITY.—In making grants under this 
section, the Secretary shall give priority to any ap-
plicant that— 
(A) will undertake research and outreach 
activities by bringing together knowledge and 
expertise in various social science and technical 
disciplines that relate to urban problems; 
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(B) demonstrates a record of engagement 
with communities located in the urban area in 
which the applicant is located; 
(C) demonstrates a record of supporting 
the economic development of the local commu-
nity of the applicant through their human re-
source, purchasing, and investment policies; and 
(D) demonstrates a record of cooperating 
and coordinating efforts with community part-
ners and other institutions of higher education. 
(e) FEDERAL SHARE.—The amount of a grant under 
this section may not exceed, for the duration of the 
grant— 
(1) 50 percent of the cost of establishing and 
operating the research activities of a Center; and 
(2) 75 percent of the cost of establishing and 
operating the outreach activities of a Center. 
(f) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—The non-Federal share 
of the cost of projects and activities funded under this sec-
tion may include cash, or the value of noncash contribu-
tions, equipment, or other in-kind contributions the Sec-
retary determines are appropriate. 
(g) DURATION.—Each grant shall provide funds for 
each year of a 5-year period. 
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(h) CENTER REQUIREMENTS.—A Center established 
with amounts from a grant under this section shall— 
(1) employ the research and outreach resources 
of the institution of higher education that sponsors 
the Center to solve specific urban problems identi-
fied by the communities to be served by the Center; 
(2) establish outreach activities in areas identi-
fied in the grant application as the communities to 
be served; 
(3) establish a community advisory committee 
comprised of representatives of local institutions and 
residents of the communities to be served to assist 
in identifying needs of the local community and ad-
vise on the development and implementation of 
strategies to address those needs; 
(4) coordinate outreach activities in commu-
nities to be served by the Center; 
(5) facilitate public service projects in the com-
munities to be served by the Center; 
(6) develop instructional programs, convene 
conferences, and provide training for local commu-
nity leaders, where appropriate; and 
(7) exchange information with other Centers. 
(i) REPORTS.— 
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(1) PERIODIC REPORTS.—Grant recipients shall 
submit progress reports annually during the 5-year 
grant term to the Secretary on the progress of ac-
tivities and projects funded under this section. 
(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 6 months 
after the end of the 5-year grant period, each grant 
recipient under this section shall submit a final re-
port to the Secretary that describes— 
(A) what the grant funds were used for; 
(B) the relationship between the institution 
of higher education or consortium and the com-
munity partner upon the expiration of a grant 
under this section; 
(C) the overall impact of the grant on the 
local community; 
(D) the overall impact of the grant on the 
institution of higher education; 
(E) the overall impact of the grant on the 
urban area served by the center established 
with grant funds; 
(F) the extent to which the impact of the 
grant meets the purposes for which the grant 
funds were provided, including— 
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(i) how the institution of higher edu-
cation contributed to the goals of its com-
munity partners; and 
(ii) how the community partners con-
tributed to the educational and research 
goals of the institution of higher education; 
and 
(G) how and to what extent the institution 
of higher education institutionalized the com-
munity engagement activities as a result of the 
grant. 
SEC. 102. URBAN CAPACITY BUILDING COMMUNITY EN-
GAGEMENT GRANTS. 
(a) GRANT PROGRAM.—The Secretary may make 
grants under this section in accordance with subsection 
(b) to institutions of higher education— 
(1) to expand community engagement in aca-
demic and administrative practices and policies of 
such institutions; 
(2) to establish faculty and administrator sup-
port throughout such institutions for community 
outreach; or 
(3) to create and sustain a campus-wide culture 
for community engagement. 
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institution of higher education may use grant funds under 
this section— 
(1) to establish an interdisciplinary research 
center on community engagement; 
(2) to create, with other outside groups, a sepa-
rate organization to plan, execute, and sustain com-
munity engagement and outreach efforts with the 
local communities of such institution; 
(3) to create strategies and policies for such in-
stitution to collaborate with and involve local com-
munities in such institution; 
(4) to recruit faculty and administration of 
such institution to support scholarship, technical ex-
pertise, organization, and management of commu-
nity engagement and outreach efforts with the local 
communities of such institution; 
(5) to develop academic programs, courses, cur-
riculum, service learning, internships, clinical experi-
ences, and pre-professional workshops for both un-
dergraduate and graduate students on community 
engagement; 
(6) to establish a technical assistance program, 
resource center, or community facility dedicated to 
delivering services to the local community; 
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(7) to provide incentives and assistance to fac-
ulty to pursue research that seeks to address prob-
lems of the local communities of such institution; 
(8) to augment or revise the promotion and ten-
ure system of such institution to reflect a commit-
ment to pursue research that seeks to address prob-
lems of the local communities of such institution; 
(9) to provide faculty and student training and 
mentoring programs in community engagement; and 
(10) to establish scholarships and grants for 
student service and internships. 
(d) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, an institution of higher education shall 
prepare and submit an application to the Secretary at 
such time, in such form, and containing such information 
and assurances as the Secretary may require. 
(e) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall give priority to 
any public institution of higher education that— 
(1) is located in an urban area; 
(2) has the capacity to conduct applicable re-
search, as demonstrated by enrolling, either individ-
ually or jointly with another institution of higher 
education, at least 10 doctoral students per aca-
demic year; 
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(3) demonstrates a record of effective engage-
ment with the communities in the urban areas of 
such institutions that build knowledge, teach stu-
dents, and generate programs that will positively ad-
vance and address the conditions of urban change; 
(4) demonstrates a record of supporting the 
economic development of the local community of 
such institutions through human resource, pur-
chasing, and investment policies of such institutions; 
and 
(5) demonstrates a record of cooperating and 
coordinating efforts with community partners and 
other institutions of higher education. 
(f) FEDERAL SHARE.—The amount of a grant under 
this section may not exceed the non-Federal share pro-
vided by the institution of higher education for the pro-
gram or activity. 
(g) NON-FEDERAL SHARES.—The non-Federal share 
of the cost of projects and activities under this section may 
include cash, or the value of noncash contributions, equip-
ment, or other in-kind contributions the Secretary deter-
mines are appropriate. 
(h) DURATION.—Each grant shall provide funds for 
each year of a 5-year period. 
(i) REPORTS.— 
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(1) PERIODIC REPORTS.—Grant recipients shall 
submit progress reports annually during the 5-year 
grant term to the Secretary on the progress of ac-
tivities and projects funded under this section. 
(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 6 months 
after the grant expires a grant recipient shall submit 
to the Secretary a final report on activities and 
projects funded under this section as determined by 
the Secretary. 
SEC. 103. EARLY CAREER GRANTS FOR RESEARCHERS. 
(a) GRANT PROGRAM.—The Secretary may make 
grants to eligible researchers to conduct research in fields 
that focus on problems of urban areas. 
(b) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, an eligible researcher shall prepare and 
submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
such form, and containing such information and assur-
ances as the Secretary may require. 
(c) SELECTION CRITERIA.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall select 
recipients of grants under this section through a 
competition based on the following criteria: 
(A) The extent of the intellectual merit of 
the research proposed to be conducted with 
grant amounts. 
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(B) The extent of the innovative nature of 
the proposed research. 
(C) The extent of the relevancy of the pro-
posed research to issues impacting the local 
community of the institution of higher edu-
cation of the researcher. 
(D) The extent of the relevancy of the pro-
posed research to nationwide problems identi-
fied by the Secretary. 
(E) The extent to which the application in-
tegrates research, teaching, and service, includ-
ing undergraduate education. 
(2) PRIORITY.—In making grants under this 
section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible 
researchers that address regional economic develop-
ment issues. 
(d) ELIGIBLE RESEARCHER DEFINED.—For pur-
poses of this section, the term ‘‘eligible researcher’’ means 
an individual that— 
(1) has completed a doctorate or other terminal 
degree not more than 10 years before the date on 
which the application for a grant is submitted pur-
suant to subsection (b); 
(2) has demonstrated expertise in a field rel-
evant to the problems of urban areas; and 
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