Sec. 103. Federal initiative on new Americans
610 words·~3 min read·
/bill/116/hr/4928/ih/section-103·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Director shall establish within the National Office of New Americans a Federal Initiative on New Americans (in this title referred to as the Initiative ). The Initiative shall be fully operational not later than 6 months after the confirmation of the Director of the Office. The purposes of the Initiative are— to establish a coordinated Federal program to respond effectively to immigrant and refugee integration issues; and to advise and assist the Director in identifying and implementing the necessary policies to carry out such program.
The Initiative shall be composed of— the Director, who shall serve as Chair of the Initiative; the Secretary of the Treasury; the Attorney General; the Secretary of Commerce; the Secretary of Labor; the Secretary of Health and Human Services; the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; the Secretary of Education; the Secretary of Homeland Security; the Secretary of State; the Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement; the Director of the Small Business Administration; the Director of the Office of Management and Budget; the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection; and any other individual the Director of the National Office of New Americans invites to participate 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.
The Initiative shall meet at the call of the Chair and perform such duties as the Chair reasonably requires. The Initiative shall work with executive agencies and departments to provide a coordinated Federal response to adequately address issues that affect the lives of new immigrants and refugees and local communities with growing immigrant and refugee populations, including— English language learning; adult education and workforce training; occupational licensure; early childhood care and education; elementary, secondary and postsecondary education; health care; naturalization; civic engagement; access to immigration assistance and legal services; economic development; and other services the Director identifies as aiding the integration of immigrants and refugees to the United States.
Each member of the Initiative shall serve as a liaison to the respective agency of the member to ensure that the agency coordinates with and responds to the recommendations of the Initiative in a timely and meaningful manner. The duties of each member as an agency liaison include— creating immigrant and refugee integration goals within the agency; creating immigration integration indicators within the agency; implementing the biannual consultation process described in section 102(e)(10) by consulting with the State and local counterparts of the agency; reporting to the Initiative on the progress made by the agency in achieving the goals and indicators described in clauses
(i)and (ii); and providing the Director, upon request of the Director and subject to laws governing disclosure of information, such information as may be required to carry out the responsibilities of the Director and the functions of the Office. The Director of the Initiative shall submit to Congress a report that includes the following: Findings from the consultation process described in section 102(e)(10), including a description of the immigrant and refugee integration challenges and opportunities facing States and units of local government. Assessment of the effects of and recommendations with regard to pending legislation and executive branch policy proposals and their possible impacts on immigrant and refugee integration. Suggestions for changes to Federal programs or policies that have a negative impact on immigrants, refugees and local communities with growing immigrant and refugee populations, in comparison to the general population. Recommendations on legislative solutions to promote immigrant and refugee integration. The Initiative shall submit a report required by subparagraph
(A)not later than 12 months after the Initiative is fully operational and every two years thereafter.