I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 572 
To establish the National Office of New Americans within the Executive 
Office of the President, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 28, 2021 
Ms. MENG (for herself, Ms. JAYAPAL, Mr. GARCI´A of Illinois, Mr. ESPAILLAT, 
Mr. TORRES of New York, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. KHANNA, Ms. NORTON, 
Mr. SMITH of Washington, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Mrs. 
NAPOLITANO, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Mr. EVANS, Mr. DESAULNIER, 
Mr. NEGUSE, Ms. TLAIB, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. COOPER, Ms. 
TITUS, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York, 
Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. BOWMAN, Mr. CARSON, Ms. LEE 
of California, Ms. SPEIER, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mrs. DEMINGS, Ms. 
OCASIO-CORTEZ, Mr. GALLEGO, Mr. JONES, Ms. CHU, Ms. BUSH, Mrs. 
TORRES of California, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. OMAR, Mr. SIRES, Mr. HAS-
TINGS, Mr. TAKANO, Mr. SWALWELL, Mr. GOMEZ, Ms. PRESSLEY, Ms. 
PINGREE, Ms. GARCIA of Texas, Mr. LIEU, Mrs. TRAHAN, Ms. NEWMAN, 
Ms. PORTER, Mr. NADLER, Mr. KAHELE, Mr. AUCHINCLOSS, Mr. 
HORSFORD, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. CASE, Mr. CROW, Ms. MAT-
SUI, and Mr. CICILLINE) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on 
Education and Labor, 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 committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish the National Office of New Americans within 
the Executive Office of the President, 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 ‘‘National Office of New 
Americans Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the National Office of New Ameri-
cans. 
(2) FEDERAL
AGENCY.—The term ‘‘Federal 
agency’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘agency’’ 
in section 551 of title 5, United States Code. 
(3) OFFICE.—The term ‘‘Office’’ means the 
National Office of New Americans established by 
section 3(a). 
SEC. 3. NATIONAL OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within 
the Executive Office of the President an office to be known 
as the ‘‘National Office of New Americans’’. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Office are the 
following: 
(1) To welcome and support immigrants and 
refugees in the United States. 
(2) To promote and support immigrant and ref-
ugee integration into, and inclusion in, the social, 
cultural, economic, and civic life of the United 
States. 
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(3) To ensure that the Federal Government and 
Federal agencies promote the pursuit of United 
States citizenship among immigrants and refugees. 
(4) To ensure access to quality English lan-
guage learning programs that support the successful 
integration of immigrant adults, including by en-
hancing— 
(A) employment and career prospects and 
economic integration; and 
(B) social integration in local communities 
and participation in civic life, including engage-
ment with State and local governments, schools, 
and private and nonprofit community institu-
tions. 
(5) To improve access to workforce development 
programs, including by ensuring that such programs 
meet the demand and the unique language, training, 
and educational needs of immigrants and refugees. 
(6) To coordinate the efforts of Federal, State, 
and local entities to support the effective social, eco-
nomic, linguistic, and civic integration of immi-
grants, refugees, and the children of immigrants and 
refugees. 
(7) To provide advice and leadership to the 
President, Members of Congress, and other Federal 
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Government officials on the challenges and opportu-
nities facing such entities with respect to immigrant 
and refugee integration. 
(8) To evaluate the scale, quality, and effective-
ness of Federal Government efforts with respect to 
immigrant and refugee social and economic integra-
tion, including access to United States citizenship, 
English language learning, education, and workforce 
development programs. 
(9) To identify the anticipated effects of new 
Federal policies on existing integration efforts and 
advise the President on how to address potential in-
tegration needs and the effects of such policies. 
(10) With respect to immigrant and refugee in-
tegration efforts, to consult on a biannual basis with 
State and local government officials on challenges 
and opportunities presented by such efforts. 
(11) With respect to the activities described in 
paragraphs (8) through (10), to ensure the inclusion 
of the perspectives of immigrants and refugees. 
(12) To submit to the President and the appro-
priate committees of Congress a biannual report 
that describes the activities of the Office and the re-
sults of the consultation processes described in para-
graphs (8) through (11). 
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(c) DIRECTOR.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Office shall be headed 
by a Director, who shall be appointed by the Presi-
dent, by and with the advice and consent of the Sen-
ate. 
(2) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Director shall— 
(A) establish policies, objectives, and prior-
ities for the Office with respect to immigrant 
and refugee integration; 
(B) with the assistance of the Deputy Di-
rector for Citizenship and Inclusion, the Deputy 
Director for Workforce and the Economy, the 
Deputy Director for Children’s Integration Suc-
cess, and the Associate Director of State and 
Local Affairs, carry out the purposes of the Of-
fice, as described in subsection (b); 
(C) serve as the Chair of the Federal Ini-
tiative for New Americans established under 
section 4; 
(D) make recommendations to the Presi-
dent on changes in the organization, manage-
ment, programs, and budget of the Federal 
agencies to promote the integration of immi-
grants and refugees; 
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(E) with respect to efforts to promote 
United States citizenship and the integration of 
immigrants and refugees, consult, support, and 
coordinate with State and local governments; 
and 
(F) serve as a member of the Domestic 
Policy Council and the National Economic 
Council. 
(3) POWERS OF THE DIRECTOR.—In carrying 
out the responsibilities under paragraph (2) and the 
purposes under subsection (b), the Director may— 
(A) select, appoint, employ, and fix com-
pensation of such officers and employees as 
may be necessary to carry out such responsibil-
ities and purposes; 
(B) with the concurrence of the head of 
the applicable Federal agency, direct the tem-
porary reassignment within the Federal Govern-
ment of personnel employed by such Federal 
agency; 
(C) use for administrative purposes, on a 
reimbursable basis, the available services, equip-
ment, personnel, and facilities of Federal, State, 
and local agencies; 
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(D) procure the services of experts and 
consultants, in accordance with section 3109 of 
title 5, United States Code (relating to appoint-
ments in the Federal service) at rates of com-
pensation for individuals not to exceed the daily 
equivalent of the rate of pay payable for level 
GS–18 of the General Schedule under section 
5332 of title 5, United States Code; 
(E) accept and use donations of property 
from Federal, State, and local government 
agencies; 
(F) use the mail in the same manner as 
other Federal agencies; and 
(G) monitor the implementation of immi-
grant and refugee integration-related activities 
of the Federal Government, including by— 
(i) conducting program and perform-
ance audits and evaluations of each Fed-
eral agency; and 
(ii) requesting assistance from the In-
spector General of the applicable Federal 
agency in such audits and evaluations. 
(d) DEPUTY DIRECTORS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There shall be in the Office 
a Deputy Director for Citizenship and Inclusion, a 
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(ii) increasing the contributions of im-
migrants and refugees to the United States 
economy. 
(C) DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR CHILDREN’S 
INTEGRATION SUCCESS.—The Deputy Director 
for Children’s Integration Success shall, among 
other duties as assigned by the Director, assist 
the Director in ensuring that Federal policies 
and programs intended to support the healthy 
development and educational success of children 
are effective in reaching and serving the chil-
dren of immigrant families. 
(e) BUREAU OF STATE AND LOCAL AFFAIRS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established within 
the Office a Bureau of State and Local Affairs. 
(2) ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Bureau of State 
and Local Affairs shall be headed by an Asso-
ciate Director of State and Local Affairs, who 
shall be appointed by the President, in con-
sultation with the Director. 
(B) DUTIES.—The Associate Director of 
State and Local Affairs shall, among other du-
ties as assigned by the Director, assist the Di-
rector in coordinating the efforts of State and 
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local entities to support the economic, linguistic, 
and civic integration of immigrants, refugees, 
and the children of immigrants and refugees. 
(f) LIMITATION.—An individual may not serve as Di-
rector, Deputy Director for Citizenship and Inclusion, 
Deputy Director for Workforce and the Economy, Deputy 
Director for Children’s Integration Success, or Associate 
Director of State and Local Affairs while serving in any 
other position in the Federal Government. 
(g) ACCESS BY CONGRESS.—The establishment of 
the Office within the Executive Office of the President 
shall not affect access to the Office by a Member of Con-
gress or any member of a committee of the Senate or the 
House of Representatives, including access to— 
(1) any information, document, or study in the 
possession of, or conducted by or at the direction of, 
the Director; or 
(2) personnel of the Office. 
SEC. 4. FEDERAL INITIATIVE ON NEW AMERICANS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the confirmation of the Director of the Office, the Director 
shall establish within the Office a Federal Initiative on 
New Americans (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Initia-
tive’’). 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purposes of the Initiative are— 
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(1) to welcome and support immigrants and 
refugees in the United States; 
(2) to establish a coordinated Federal program 
to respond effectively to immigrant and refugee inte-
gration issues; and 
(3) to advise and assist the Director in identi-
fying and implementing the necessary policies to 
carry out such program. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.—The Initiative shall be composed 
of— 
(1) the Director, who shall serve as Chair; 
(2) the Secretary of the Treasury; 
(3) the Attorney General; 
(4) the Secretary of Commerce; 
(5) the Secretary of Labor; 
(6) the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices; 
(7) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Devel-
opment; 
(8) the Secretary of Education; 
(9) the Secretary of Homeland Security; 
(10) the Secretary of State; 
(11) the Director of the Office of Refugee Re-
settlement; 
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(12) the Director of the Small Business Admin-
istration; 
(13) the Director of the Office of Management 
and Budget; 
(14) the Director of the Bureau of Consumer 
Financial Protection; and 
(15) any other individual— 
(A) invited by the Director to participate; 
and 
(B) who occupies a position listed under 
level I or II of the Executive Schedule, as pro-
vided in sections 5312 and 5313 of title 5, 
United States Code. 
(d) DUTIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Initiative shall meet at 
the call of the Chair and perform such duties as the 
Chair reasonably requires. 
(2) COORDINATED
RESPONSE
TO
IMMIGRANT 
AND
REFUGEE
ISSUES.—The Initiative shall join 
with Federal agencies in providing a coordinated 
Federal response to adequately address matters that 
affect the lives of immigrant and refugee families 
and local communities with growing immigrant and 
refugee populations, including access to— 
(A) English language learning; 
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(B) adult education and workforce train-
ing; 
(C) occupational licensure; 
(D) early childhood care and education; 
(E) elementary, secondary, and postsec-
ondary education; 
(F) health care; 
(G) naturalization; 
(H) civic engagement; 
(I) immigration assistance and legal serv-
ices; 
(J) economic development; 
(K) language access services; and 
(L) other services the Director identifies as 
aiding the integration of immigrants and refu-
gees into the social, cultural, economic, and 
civic life of the United States. 
(3) LIAISON WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Each member of the 
Initiative shall serve as a liaison to the Federal 
agency of the member to ensure that the Fed-
eral agency coordinates with and responds to 
the recommendations of the Initiative in a time-
ly and meaningful manner. 
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(B) DUTIES OF A LIAISON.—The duties of 
each member as a Federal agency liaison in-
clude— 
(i) developing, for the applicable Fed-
eral agency, immigrant and refugee inte-
gration goals and indicators; 
(ii) implementing the biannual con-
sultation process described in section 
3(b)(10) by consulting with the State and 
local counterparts of the Federal agency; 
(iii) reporting to the Initiative on the 
progress made by the Federal agency in 
achieving the goals and indicators de-
scribed in clause (i); and 
(iv) upon request by the Director and 
subject to laws governing disclosure of in-
formation, providing such information as 
may be required to carry out the respon-
sibilities of the Director and the functions 
of the Office. 
(4) RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INITIATIVE.— 
Not later than 1 year after the date on which the 
Initiative becomes fully operational, and every 2 
years thereafter, the Director shall submit to Con-
gress a report that includes the following: 
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