HR 6395
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6395
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary
of Homeland Security to carry out a program for fellowships and research to
enhance domestic preparedness and the collective response to acts of terrorism,
natural disasters, and other emergencies, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 26, 2008
Mr. AL GREEN of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Homeland Security
A BILL
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary
of Homeland Security to carry out a program for fellowships and research to
enhance domestic preparedness and the collective response to acts of terrorism,
natural disasters, and other emergencies, 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 `Department of Homeland Security Preparedness,
Research, and Education Program Act of 2008' or the `DHS PREP Act of 2008'.
SEC. 2. RESILIENCY IN RESPONSE AND RECOVERY FELLOWSHIP AND RESEARCH PROGRAM.
(a) In General- Title III of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 181
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
`SEC. 318. RESILIENCY IN RESPONSE AND RECOVERY FELLOWSHIP AND RESEARCH PROGRAM.
`(a) Establishment of Program- The Secretary shall establish a program for
fellowships and research (in this section referred to as the `program') to
enhance domestic preparedness and the collective response to acts of terrorism,
natural disasters, and other emergencies.
`(1) IN GENERAL- In conducting the program, the Secretary shall award fellowships
to individuals--
`(A) to promote research on and the collective response to acts of terrorism,
natural disasters, and other emergencies; and
`(B) to provide for the development of best practices for the collective
response to and effective recovery from acts of terrorism, natural disasters,
and other emergencies.
`(2) SELECTION CRITERIA- Recipients of fellowships under the program shall
be individuals who--
`(A) are enrolled in an institution of higher education, giving priority
to the selection of individuals enrolled in minority serving institutions;
`(B) have demonstrated an interest through academic work for credit or
other means in homeland security or emergency management and response;
and
`(C) are geographically diverse.
`(3) PURPOSE- The purpose of research to be conducted by recipients of fellowships
under the program shall be--
`(A) to enhance resiliency and collective response to acts of terrorism,
natural disasters, and other emergencies;
`(B) to mitigate damages related to such events; and
`(C) to promote expedited recovery from such events.
`(4) GULF COAST REBUILDING AND RECOVERY- Recipients of fellowships in fiscal
year 2009 and as appropriate in subsequent fiscal years shall focus their
research on and participate in the rebuilding and recovery of the Gulf Coast
region in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
`(1) IN GENERAL- For each fiscal year in which fellowships are awarded under
the program, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the results of research conducted
by recipients of fellowships under the program.
`(2) DEADLINE- The Secretary shall submit a report under paragraph (1) for
a fiscal year on or before the date in the succeeding fiscal year on which
the President submits to Congress the budget under section 1105(a) of title
31, United States Code.
`(d) Administration- The Secretary shall carry out this section acting through
the Under Secretary for Science and Technology.
`(e) Definitions- In this section, the following definitions apply:
`(1) MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTION- The term `minority serving institution'
means a historically Black college or university (as defined in section
322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965), a Hispanic-serving institution
(as defined in section 502 of such Act), a Tribal College or University
(as defined in section 316 of such Act), a Predominantly Black institution
(as defined in section 499A(c) of such Act), or a Native American-serving
nontribal institution (as defined in section 499A(c) of such Act).
`(2) PROGRAM- The term `program' means the program to be established under
subsection (a).
`(f) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2009
and 2010.'.
(b) Conforming Amendment- The table of contents contained in section (1)(b)
of such Act (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end of the
items relating to title III the following:
`Sec. 318. Resiliency in response and recovery fellowship and research program.'.
END
