IIB 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 1494 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
FEBRUARY 11, 2020 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs 
AN ACT 
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, including goals related to 
improving recruitment and hiring, research and de-
velopment, and acquisition opportunities at such in-
stitutions, through fiscal year 2025; 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; 
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(B) monitor progress on such implementa-
tion; and 
(C) not later than 1 year after the date of 
such issuance, report to the Secretary regarding 
progress on such implementation. 
SEC. 3. ENHANCEMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
PARTNERSHIPS. 
The Secretary shall seek to enhance partnerships 
with historically Black colleges and universities and minor-
ity-serving institutions with respect to administering the 
research and development activities of the Department 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, including cybersecurity, emergency 
management, and counterterrorism; and 
(3) distributing funds through Science and 
Technology Directorate grants, cooperative agree-
ments, and contracts to such colleges, universities, 
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and institutions for enhancements in areas impor-
tant to homeland security, including cybersecurity, 
emergency management, and counterterrorism. 
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. ACQUISITION PARTNERSHIPS. 
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Chief 
Procurement Officer of the Department, shall— 
(1) identify how to increase the participation of 
historically Black colleges and universities and mi-
nority-serving institutions in Department acquisi-
tions, including identifying existing opportunities for 
historically Black colleges and universities and mi-
nority-serving institutions to participate in the con-
tracting program of the Small Business Administra-
tion for minorities; and 
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(2) disseminate to such colleges, universities, 
and institutions— 
(A) information identified in accordance 
with paragraph (1); and 
(B) current and future opportunities to 
participate in Department acquisitions. 
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. 
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(2) A description of how the Department is 
partnering with historically Black colleges and uni-
versities and minority-serving institutions under the 
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-
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cruitment opportunity referred to in such sec-
tion, listed by historically Black college and uni-
versity and minority-serving institution so par-
ticipating. 
(5) A list of memoranda of understanding en-
tered into by the Department with historically Black 
colleges and universities and minority-serving insti-
tutions and information on the parties and scope of 
each such memorandum of understanding. 
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 
means the Department of Homeland Security. 
(2) HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNI-
VERSITIES.—The term ‘‘historically Black colleges 
and universities’’ means a part B institution de-
scribed in section 322(2) of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)). 
(3) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 101 of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
(4) MINORITY-SERVING
INSTITUTIONS.—The 
term ‘‘minority-serving institutions’’ means an insti-
tution of higher education described in section 
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371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1067q(a)). 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
Secretary of Homeland Security. 
Passed the House of Representatives February 10, 
2020. 
Attest: 
CHERYL L. JOHNSON, 
Clerk. 
By ROBERT F. REEVES, 
Deputy Clerk. 
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