I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8497 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 22, 2024 Mr. Gallego introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security , and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability , 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 provide the Secretary of Homeland Security certain direct hiring authorities.

1. Direct hire authority (a) USCIS direct hire authority (1) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security may appoint, without regard to the provisions of sections 3309 through 3319 of title 5, United States Code, candidates needed for positions within the Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate, the Field Operations Directorate, and the Service Center Operations Directorate of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for which— (A) public notice has been given; (B) the Secretary has determined that a critical hiring need exists; and (C) the Secretary has consulted with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management regarding— (i) the positions for which the Secretary plans to recruit; (ii) the quantity of candidates Secretary is seeking; and (iii) the assessment and selection policies the Secretary plans to utilize. (2) Definition of critical hiring need In this subsection, the term critical hiring need means personnel necessary for the implementation of this Act and associated work. (3) Reporting Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the following 4 years, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, shall submit to Congress a report that includes— (A) demographic data, including veteran status, regarding individuals hired pursuant to the authority under paragraph (1); (B) salary information of individuals hired pursuant to such authority; and (C) how the Department of Homeland Security exercised such authority consistently with merit system principles. (4) Sunset The authority to make an appointment under this subsection shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) Ice direct hire authority (1) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security may appoint, without regard to the provisions of sections 3309 through 3319 of title 5, United States Code, candidates needed for positions within Enforcement and Removal Operations of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as a deportation officer or with duties exclusively relating to the Enforcement and Removal, Custody Operations, Alternatives to Detention, or Transportation and Removal program for which— (A) public notice has been given; (B) the Secretary has determined that a critical hiring need exists; and (C) the Secretary has consulted with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management regarding— (i) the positions for which the Secretary plans to recruit; (ii) the quantity of candidates the Secretary is seeking; and (iii) the assessment and selection policies the Secretary plans to utilize. (2) Definition of critical hiring need In this subsection, the term critical hiring need means personnel necessary for the implementation of this Act and associated work. (3) Reporting Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the following 4 years, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, shall submit to Congress a report that includes— (A) demographic data, including veteran status, regarding individuals hired pursuant to the authority under paragraph (1); (B) salary information of individuals hired pursuant to such authority; and (C) how the Department of Homeland Security exercised such authority consistently with merit system principles. (4) Sunset The authority to make an appointment under this subsection shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.