HR-2390 : Still Just a Bill

Homeland Security University-based Centers Review Act

Directs the Comptroller General of the United States to initiate a study to assess the university-based centers for homeland security program authorized by the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and provide recommendations to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate for appropriate improvements.

Requires the study to:

  • review the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS's) efforts to identify key areas of study needed to support the homeland security mission and criteria that DHS utilized to determine those key areas for which it should maintain, establish, or eliminate university-based centers;
  • review the method by which university-based centers, federally funded research and development centers, and Department of Energy national laboratories receive tasking from DHS;
  • review and weight selection criteria for designating university-based centers;
  • examine best practices from other agencies' efforts to organize and use university-based research to support their missions;
  • review DHS's criteria and metrics to measure demonstrable progress achieved by university-based centers in fulfilling DHS taskings and mechanisms for delivering and disseminating the research results of designated university-based centers within DHS and to other agencies;
  • examine means by which academic institutions that are not designated or associated with the designated university-based centers can optimally contribute to the research mission of the Directorate of Science and Technology of DHS; and
  • assess the interrelationship between the different university-based centers and the degree to which outreach and collaboration among a diverse array of academic institutions is encouraged by DHS.

Requires the annual report from DHS on such centers to describe:

  • research that has been tasked and completed by each center designated during the preceding year,
  • funding provided by DHS for each such center for that year, and
  • plans for utilization of such centers in the forthcoming year.

Action Timeline

Action DateTypeTextSource
2015-08-18CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Research and Technology.House committee actions
2015-06-24IntroReferralReceived in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.Senate
2015-06-23FloorMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.House floor actions
2015-06-23FloorOn motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4574)House floor actions
2015-06-23FloorDEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2390.House floor actions
2015-06-23FloorConsidered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4574-4576)House floor actions
2015-06-23FloorMr. Ratcliffe moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.House floor actions
2015-06-18CalendarsPlaced on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 123.House floor actions
2015-06-18DischargeCommittee on Science, Space, and Technology discharged.House floor actions
2015-06-18CommitteeReported by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 114-168, Part I.House floor actions
2015-05-20CommitteeOrdered to be Reported by Voice Vote.House committee actions
2015-05-20CommitteeCommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.House committee actions
2015-05-20CommitteeSubcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies Discharged.House committee actions
2015-05-18CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies.House committee actions
2015-05-18IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.House floor actions
2015-05-18IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.House floor actions
2015-05-18IntroReferralIntroduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Sponsor :

Bennie G. Thompson [D] (MS-2)
See Cosponsors

Policy Area :

Emergency Management
See Subjects
  • Congressional oversight
  • Government studies and investigations
  • Higher education
  • Homeland security
  • Performance measurement
  • Research administration and funding
  • Research and development
  • Department of Homeland Security

Related Bills

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