National Security Diversity and Inclusion Workforce Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-1225
Sponsor: Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11]
Introduced: 2021-02-23 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Agriculture
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Justice
Department of State
Department of the Treasury
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Employee hiring
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Homeland security
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Law enforcement administration and funding
Military personnel and dependents
Minority education
Minority employment
Personnel records
Women's education
Women's employment

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: 

National Security Diversity and Inclusion Workforce Act of 

2021

 
This bill requires each national security agency to report on its diversity and inclusion efforts. The bill defines 
diversity
 as diversity of persons based on gender, race, ethnicity, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and other demographic categories. 
 
It also requires each such agency to 
 
develop a system to collect and analyze applicant employment data to identify areas for improvement in attracting diverse talent, with emphasis on senior and management positions; 
 
conduct periodic interviews with a representative cross-section of the national security workforce to obtain workplace information;
 
sponsor workforce members to participate in a Senior Executive Service candidate development program or similar program;
 
implement performance and advancement requirements for the workforce;
 
create opportunities for senior personnel to participate in outreach events and to discuss issues relating to diversity and inclusion; and 
 
expand training on bias in the workplace and flexible work policies. 
 
 
The bill encourages agencies to expand professional development and career advancement opportunities that support their missions and to seek a diverse and talented pool of employment applicants by reaching out to educational organizations and professional associations.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
action_date: 2021-04-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture.
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, Intelligence (Permanent Select), the Judiciary, Homeland Security, Agriculture, and Financial Services, 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.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, Intelligence (Permanent Select), the Judiciary, Homeland Security, Agriculture, and Financial Services, 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.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, Intelligence (Permanent Select), the Judiciary, Homeland Security, Agriculture, and Financial Services, 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.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, Intelligence (Permanent Select), the Judiciary, Homeland Security, Agriculture, and Financial Services, 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.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, Intelligence (Permanent Select), the Judiciary, Homeland Security, Agriculture, and Financial Services, 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.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, Intelligence (Permanent Select), the Judiciary, Homeland Security, Agriculture, and Financial Services, 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.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, Intelligence (Permanent Select), the Judiciary, Homeland Security, Agriculture, and Financial Services, 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.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Introduced in House