National Office of New Americans Act
This bill establishes the National Office of New Americans (NONA) within the Executive Office of the President to promote and support the integration of immigrants and refugees into the social, cultural, economic, and civic life of the United States.
The NONA shall also establish the Federal Initiative on New Americans. The initiative shall establish a coordinated federal program to respond effectively to immigrant and refugee integration issues such as language learning, adult education and workforce training, health care, and naturalization.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5025 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5025
To establish the National Office of New Americans within the Executive
Office of the President, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 27, 2023
Ms. Meng (for herself, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Ms. Jayapal, Ms. Bush,
Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Doggett, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Evans, Ms.
Garcia of Texas, Mr. Gomez, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Norton, Mr. Johnson of
Georgia, Mrs. Napolitano, Ms. Omar, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Panetta, Mr.
Pocan, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Smith of Washington, Ms. Strickland, Mr.
Takano, Mr. Torres of New York, Mrs. Torres of California, Mrs. Trahan,
Mr. Vargas, Ms. Velazquez, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Ms. Wilson of
Florida, and Mr. Nadler) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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 establish the National Office of New Americans within the Executive
Office of the President, 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 ``National Office of New Americans
Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the National Office of New Americans.
(2) Federal agency.--The term ``Federal agency'' has the
meaning given the term ``agency'' in section 551 of title 5,
United States Code.
(3) Office.--The term ``Office'' means the National Office
of New Americans established by section 3(a).
SEC. 3. NATIONAL OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS.
(a) Establishment.--There is established within the Executive
Office of the President an office to be known as the ``National Office
of New Americans''.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of the Office are the following:
(1) To welcome and support immigrants and refugees in the
United States.
(2) To promote and support immigrant and refugee
integration into, and inclusion in, the social, cultural,
economic, and civic life of the United States.
(3) To ensure that the Federal Government and Federal
agencies promote the pursuit of United States citizenship among
immigrants and refugees.
(4) To ensure access to quality English language learning
programs that support the successful integration of immigrant
adults, including by enhancing--
(A) employment and career prospects and economic
integration; and
(B) social integration in local communities and
participation in civic life, including engagement with
State and local governments, schools, and private and
nonprofit community institutions.
(5) To improve access to workforce development programs,
including by ensuring that such programs meet the demand and
the unique language, training, and educational needs of
immigrants and refugees.
(6) To coordinate the efforts of Federal, State, and local
entities to support the effective social, economic, linguistic,
and civic integration of immigrants, refugees, and the children
of immigrants and refugees.
(7) To provide advice and leadership to the President,
Members of Congress, and other Federal Government officials on
the challenges and opportunities facing such entities with
respect to immigrant and refugee integration.
(8) To evaluate the scale, quality, and effectiveness of
Federal Government efforts with respect to immigrant and
refugee social and economic integration, including access to
United States citizenship, English language learning,
education, and workforce development programs.
(9) To identify the anticipated effects of new Federal
policies on existing integration efforts and advise the
President on how to address potential integration needs and the
effects of such policies.
(10) With respect to immigrant and refugee integration
efforts, to consult on a biannual basis with State and local
government officials on challenges and opportunities presented
by such efforts.
(11) With respect to the activities described in paragraphs
(8) through (10), to ensure the inclusion of the perspectives
of immigrants and refugees.
(12) To submit to the President and the appropriate
committees of Congress a biannual report that describes the
activities of the Office and the results of the consultation
processes described in paragraphs (8) through (11).
(c) Director.--
(1) In general.--The Office shall be headed by a Director,
who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate.
(2) Responsibilities.--The Director shall--
(A) establish policies, objectives, and priorities
for the Office with respect to immigrant and refugee
integration;
(B) with the assistance of the Deputy Director for
Citizenship and Inclusion, the Deputy Director for
Workforce and the Economy, the Deputy Director for
Children's Integration Success, and the Associate
Director of State and Local Affairs, carry out the
purposes of the Office, as described in subsection (b);
(C) serve as the chairperson of the Federal
Initiative for New Americans established under section
4;
(D) make recommendations to the President on
changes in the organization, management, programs, and
budget of the Federal agencies to promote the
integration of immigrants and refugees;
(E) with respect to efforts to promote United
States citizenship and the integration of immigrants
and refugees, consult, support, and coordinate with
State and local governments; and
(F) serve as a member of the Domestic Policy
Council and the National Economic Council.
(3) Powers of the director.--In carrying out the
responsibilities under paragraph (2) and the purposes under
subsection (b), the Director may--
(A) select, appoint, employ, and fix compensation
of such officers and employees as may be necessary to
carry out such responsibilities and purposes;
(B) with the concurrence of the head of the
applicable Federal agency, direct the temporary
reassignment within the Federal Government of personnel
employed by such Federal agency;
(C) use for administrative purposes, on a
reimbursable basis, the available services, equipment,
personnel, and facilities of Federal, State, and local
agencies;
(D) procure the services of experts and
consultants, in accordance with section 3109 of title
5, United States Code (relating to appointments in the
Federal service) at rates of compensation for
individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the
rate of pay payable for level GS-18 of the General
Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United States
Code;
(E) accept and use donations of property from
Federal, State, and local government agencies;
(F) use the mail in the same manner as other
Federal agencies; and
(G) monitor the implementation of immigrant and
refugee integration-related activities of the Federal
Government, including by--
(i) conducting program and performance
audits and evaluations of each Federal agency;
and
(ii) requesting assistance from the
Inspector General of the applicable Federal
agency in such audits and evaluations.
(d) Deputy Directors.--
(1) In general.--There shall be in the Office a Deputy
Director for Citizenship and Inclusion, a Deputy Director for
Workforce and the Economy, and a Deputy Director for Children's
Integration and Success, each of whom shall be appointed by the
President, in consultation with the Director.
(2) Responsibilities.--
(A) Deputy director for citizenship and
inclusion.--The Deputy Director for Citizenship and
Inclusion shall, among other duties as assigned by the
Director, assist the Director in promoting--
(i) inclusion of immigrants and refugees in
the social, economic, and civic life of their
communities and the United States; and
(ii) access to United States citizenship.
(B) Deputy director for workforce and the
economy.--The Deputy Director for Workforce and the
Economy shall, among other duties as assigned by the
Director, assist the Director in--
(i) promoting participation of immigrants
and refugees in the United States workforce;
and
(ii) increasing the contributions of
immigrants and refugees to the United States
economy.
(C) Deputy director for children's integration
success.--The Deputy Director for Children's
Integration Success shall, among other duties as
assigned by the Director, assist the Director in
ensuring that Federal policies and programs intended to
support the healthy development and educational success
of children are effective in reaching and serving the
children of immigrant families.
(e) Bureau of State and Local Affairs.--
(1) In general.--There is established within the Office a
Bureau of State and Local Affairs.
(2) Associate director.--
(A) In general.--The Bureau of State and Local
Affairs shall be headed by an Associate Director of
State and Local Affairs, who shall be appointed by the
President, in consultation with the Director.
(B) Duties.--The Associate Director of State and
Local Affairs shall, among other duties as assigned by
the Director, assist the Director in coordinating the
efforts of State and local entities to support the
economic, linguistic, and civic integration of
immigrants, refugees, and the children of immigrants
and refugees.
(f) Limitation.--An individual may not serve as Director, Deputy
Director for Citizenship and Inclusion, Deputy Director for Workforce
and the Economy, Deputy Director for Children's Integration Success, or
Associate Director of State and Local Affairs while serving in any
other position in the Federal Government.
(g) Access by Congress.--The establishment of the Office within the
Executive Office of the President shall not affect access to the Office
by a Member of Congress or any member of a committee of the Senate or
the House of Representatives, including access to--
(1) any information, document, or study in the possession
of, or conducted by or at the direction of, the Director; or
(2) personnel of the Office.
SEC. 4. FEDERAL INITIATIVE ON NEW AMERICANS.
(a) Establishment.--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'').
(b) Purpose.--The purposes of the Initiative are--
(1) to welcome and support immigrants and refugees in the
United States;
(2) to establish a coordinated Federal program to respond
effectively to immigrant and refugee integration issues; and
(3) to advise and assist the Director in identifying and
implementing the necessary policies to carry out such program.
(c) Membership.--The Initiative shall be composed of--
(1) the Director, who shall serve as chairperson;
(2) the Secretary of the Treasury;
(3) the Attorney General;
(4) the Secretary of Commerce;
(5) the Secretary of Labor;
(6) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
(7) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;
(8) the Secretary of Education;
(9) the Secretary of Homeland Security;
(10) the Secretary of State;
(11) the Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement;
(12) the Director of the Small Business Administration;
(13) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget;
(14) the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial
Protection; and
(15) any other individual--
(A) invited by the Director to participate; and
(B) 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.
(d) Duties.--
(1) In general.--The Initiative shall meet at the call of
the chairperson and perform such duties as the chairperson
reasonably requires.
(2) Coordinated response to immigrant and refugee issues.--
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--
(A) English language learning;
(B) adult education and workforce training;
(C) occupational licensure;
(D) early childhood care and education;
(E) elementary, secondary, and postsecondary
education;
(F) health care;
(G) naturalization;
(H) civic engagement;
(I) immigration assistance and legal services;
(J) economic development;
(K) language access services; and
(L) 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.
(3) Liaison with federal agencies.--
(A) In general.--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.
(B) Duties of a liaison.--The duties of each member
as a Federal agency liaison include--
(i) developing, for the applicable Federal
agency, immigrant and refugee integration goals
and indicators;
(ii) implementing the biannual consultation
process described in section 3(b)(10) by
consulting with the State and local
counterparts of the Federal agency;
(iii) reporting to the Initiative on the
progress made by the Federal agency in
achieving the goals and indicators described in
clause (i); and
(iv) 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.
(4) Recommendations of the initiative.--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:
(A) Findings from the consultation process
described in section 3(b)(10), including a description
of the immigrant and refugee integration opportunities
offered by, and integration challenges facing, State
and local governments.
(B) An assessment of the effects of, and
recommendations with respect to, pending legislation
and executive branch policy proposals.
(C) A description of the possible effects of
pending legislation and executive branch policy
proposals on immigrant and refugee integration.
(D) 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.
(E) Recommendations on legislative solutions to
better support the successful integration of immigrants
and refugees and the children of immigrants and
refugees.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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.
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