Sec. 103. Federal Initiative on New Americans
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/bill/118/s/883/is/section-103·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Not later than 180 days after the confirmation of the Director of the Office, the Director shall establish within the Office a Federal Initiative on New Americans (referred to in this section as the Initiative ). The purposes of the Initiative are— to welcome and support immigrants and refugees in the United States; 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 chairperson; 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— invited by the Director to participate; and 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 chairperson and perform such duties as the chairperson reasonably requires. The Initiative shall join with Federal agencies in providing a coordinated Federal response to adequately address matters that affect the lives of immigrant and refugee families and local communities with growing immigrant and refugee populations, including access to— 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; immigration assistance and legal services; economic development; language access services; and other services the Director identifies as aiding the integration of immigrants and refugees into the social, cultural, economic, and civic life of the United States.
Each member of the Initiative shall serve as a liaison to the Federal agency of the member to ensure that the Federal agency coordinates with and responds to the recommendations of the Initiative in a timely and meaningful manner. The duties of each member as a Federal agency liaison include— developing, for the applicable Federal agency, immigrant and refugee integration goals and indicators; implementing the biannual consultation process described in section 102(b)(10) by consulting with the State and local counterparts of the Federal agency; reporting to the Initiative on the progress made by the Federal agency in achieving the goals and indicators described in clause (i); and upon request by the Director and subject to laws governing disclosure of information, providing such information as may be required to carry out the responsibilities of the Director and the functions of the Office.
Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Initiative becomes fully operational, and every 2 years thereafter, the Director shall submit to Congress a report that includes the following: Findings from the consultation process described in section 102(b)(10), including a description of the immigrant and refugee integration opportunities offered by, and integration challenges facing, State and local governments. An assessment of the effects of, and recommendations with respect to, pending legislation and executive branch policy proposals.
A description of the possible effects of pending legislation and executive branch policy proposals on immigrant and refugee integration. An identification of any Federal program or policy that has a negative impact on immigrants, refugees, and local communities with growing immigrant and refugee populations, as compared to the general population, and recommendations for changes to any such program or policy. Recommendations on legislative solutions to better support the successful integration of immigrants and refugees and the children of immigrants and refugees.