National Office of New Americans Act
Bill: S.291 | Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. (D-MA)
Policy area: Immigration

Summary:
National Office of New Americans Act
This bill establishes the National Office of New Americans (NONA) within the Executive Office of the President to promote and support the integration of immigrants and refugees into the social, cultural, economic, and civic life of the United States.
The NONA shall also establish the Federal Initiative on New Americans. The initiative shall establish a coordinated federal program to respond effectively to immigrant and refugee integration issues such as language learning, adult education and workforce training, health care, and naturalization.

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 Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

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 Americans.
            (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 refugee 
        integration into, and inclusion in, the social, cultural, 
        economic, and civic life of the United States.
            (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 language learning 
        programs that support the successful integration of immigrant 
        adults, including by enhancing--
                    (A) employment and career prospects and economic 
                integration; and
                    (B) social integration in local communities and 
                participation in civic life, including engagement with 
                State and local governments, schools, and private and 
                nonprofit community institutions.
            (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, economic, linguistic, 
        and civic integration of immigrants, refugees, and the children 
        of immigrants and refugees.
            (7) To provide advice and leadership to the President, 
        Members of Congress, and other Federal Government officials on 
        the challenges and opportunities facing such entities with 
        respect to immigrant and refugee integration.
            (8) To evaluate the scale, quality, and effectiveness of 
        Federal Government efforts with respect to immigrant and 
        refugee social and economic integration, 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 integration needs and the 
        effects of such policies.
            (10) With respect to immigrant and refugee integration 
        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 appropriate 
        committees of Congress a biannual report that describes the 
        activities of the Office and the results of the consultation 
        processes described in paragraphs (8) through (11).
    (c) Director.--
            (1) In general.--The Office shall be headed by a Director, 
        who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice 
        and consent of the Senate.
            (2) Responsibilities.--The Director shall--
                    (A) establish policies, objectives, and priorities 
                for the Office with respect to immigrant and refugee 
                integration;
                    (B) with the assistance of the Deputy Director for 
                Citizenship and Inclusion, the Deputy Director for 
                Workforce and the Economy, the Deputy Director for 
                Children's Integration Success, and the Associate 
                Director of State and Local Affairs, carry out the 
                purposes of the Office, as described in subsection (b);
                    (C) serve as the Chair of the Federal Initiative 
                for New Americans established under section 4;
                    (D) make recommendations to the President on 
                changes in the organization, management, programs, and 
                budget of the Federal agencies to promote the 
                integration of immigrants and refugees;
                    (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 compensation 
                of such officers and employees as may be necessary to 
                carry out such responsibilities and purposes;
                    (B) with the concurrence of the head of the 
                applicable Federal agency, direct the temporary 
                reassignment within the Federal Government of personnel 
                employed by such Federal agency;
                    (C) use for administrative purposes, on a 
                reimbursable basis, the available services, equipment, 
                personnel, and facilities of Federal, State, and local 
                agencies;
                    (D) procure the services of experts and 
                consultants, in accordance with section 3109 of title 
                5, United States Code (relating to appointments in the 
                Federal service) at rates of compensation 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 immigrant and 
                refugee integration-related activities of the Federal 
                Government, including by--
                            (i) conducting program and performance 
                        audits and evaluations of each Federal agency; 
                        and
                            (ii) requesting assistance from the 
                        Inspector 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 Deputy Director for 
        Workforce and the Economy, and a Deputy Director for Children's 
        Integration and Success, each of whom shall be appointed by the 
        President, in consultation with the Director.
            (2) Responsibilities.--
                    (A) Deputy director for citizenship and 
                inclusion.--The Deputy Director for Citizenship and 
                Inclusion shall, among other duties as assigned by the 
                Director, assist the Director in promoting--
                            (i) inclusion of immigrants and refugees in 
                        the social, economic, and civic life of their 
                        communities and the United States; and
                            (ii) access to United States citizenship.
                    (B) Deputy director for workforce and the 
                economy.--The Deputy Director for Workforce and the 
                Economy shall, among other duties as assigned by the 
                Director, assist the Director in--
                            (i) promoting participation of immigrants 
                        and refugees in the United States workforce; 
                        and
                            (ii) increasing the contributions of 
                        immigrants 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 
                children 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 Associate Director of 
                State and Local Affairs, who shall be appointed by the 
                President, in consultation with the Director.
                    (B) Duties.--The Associate Director of State and 
                Local Affairs shall, among other duties as assigned by 
                the Director, assist the Director in coordinating the 
                efforts of State and 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 Director, 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 Congress 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 ``Initiative'').
    (b) Purpose.--The purposes of the Initiative are--
            (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 integration issues; and
            (3) to advise and assist the Director in identifying 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 Services;
            (7) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;
            (8) the Secretary of Education;
            (9) the Secretary of Homeland Security;
            (10) the Secretary of State;
            (11) the Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement;
            (12) the Director of the Small Business Administration;
            (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 provided 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;
                    (B) adult education and workforce training;
                    (C) occupational licensure;
                    (D) early childhood care and education;
                    (E) elementary, secondary, and postsecondary 
                education;
                    (F) health care;
                    (G) naturalization;
                    (H) civic engagement;
                    (I) immigration assistance and legal services;
                    (J) economic development;
                    (K) language access services; and
                    (L) other services the Director identifies as 
                aiding the integration of immigrants and refugees 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 Federal agency coordinates 
                with and responds to the recommendations of the 
                Initiative in a timely and meaningful manner.
                    (B) Duties of a liaison.--The duties of each member 
                as a Federal agency liaison include--
                            (i) developing, for the applicable Federal 
                        agency, immigrant and refugee integration goals 
                        and indicators;
                            (ii) implementing the biannual consultation 
                        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 described in 
                        clause (i); and
                            (iv) upon request by the Director and 
                        subject to laws governing disclosure of 
                        information, providing such information as may 
                        be required to carry out the responsibilities 
                        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 Congress a report that includes the following:
                    (A) Findings from the consultation process 
                described in section 3(b)(10), including a description 
                of the immigrant and refugee integration opportunities 
                offered by, and integration challenges facing, State 
                and local governments.
                    (B) An assessment of the effects of, and 
                recommendations with respect to, pending legislation 
                and executive branch policy proposals.
                    (C) A description of the possible effects of 
                pending legislation and executive branch policy 
                proposals on immigrant and refugee integration.
                    (D) An identification of any Federal program or 
                policy that has a negative impact on immigrants, 
                refugees, and local communities with growing immigrant 
                and refugee populations, as compared to the general 
                population, and recommendations for changes to any such 
                program or policy.
                    (E) Recommendations on legislative solutions to 
                better support the successful integration of immigrants 
                and refugees and the children of immigrants and 
                refugees.
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