LITE Act

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1135 To establish the Leadership Institute for Transatlantic Engagement to develop a diverse community of transatlantic leaders committed to democratic institutions, processes, and values. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 18, 2021 Mr. HASTINGS (for himself, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. COHEN, and Mr. MEEKS) introduced the following bill; which was re- ferred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To establish the Leadership Institute for Transatlantic En- gagement to develop a diverse community of transatlantic leaders committed to democratic institutions, processes, and values. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Leadership Institute 4 for Transatlantic Engagement Act’’ or ‘‘LITE Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:23 Mar 16, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1135.IH H1135 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 1135 IH SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE FOR 1 TRANSATLANTIC ENGAGEMENT. 2 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 3 legislative branch the Leadership Institute for Trans- 4 atlantic Engagement. 5 (b) BOARD OF TRUSTEES.—The Institute shall be 6 subject to the supervision and direction of a Board of 7 Trustees which shall be composed of five members as fol- 8 lows: 9 (1) Two members appointed by the Speaker of 10 the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be 11 designated by the majority leader of the House of 12 Representatives and one of whom shall be designated 13 by the minority leader of the House of Representa- 14 tives. 15 (2) Two members appointed by the President 16 pro tempore of the Senate, one of whom shall be 17 designated by the majority leader of the Senate and 18 one of whom shall be designated by the minority 19 leader of the Senate. 20 (3) The Executive Director of the Institute, 21 who shall serve as an ex officio member of the 22 Board. 23 (c) TERM.—Each member of the Board appointed 24 under this section shall serve for a term of three years. 25 Any vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:23 Mar 16, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1135.IH H1135 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 1135 IH original appointment and the individual so appointed shall 1 serve for the remainder of the term. A Member of Con- 2 gress appointed to the Board may not consecutively serve 3 as a member of the Board for more than a total of six 4 years. 5 (d) CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR.—At the first meeting 6 and at its first regular meeting in each calendar year 7 thereafter the Board shall elect a Chair and Vice-Chair 8 from among the members of the Board. The Chair and 9 Vice-Chair may not be members of the same political 10 party. 11 (e) PAY NOT AUTHORIZED; EXPENSES.—Members of 12 the Board (other than the Executive Director) shall serve 13 without pay, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for 14 travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred 15 in the performance of their duties. 16 (f) LOCATION OF INSTITUTE AND REGIONAL OF- 17 FICES.—The Institute shall be located in Washington, DC, 18 and the Executive Director may also establish other offices 19 for the Institute in regions of the United States and Eu- 20 rope. 21 SEC. 3. PURPOSES AND AUTHORITY OF LEADERSHIP INSTI- 22 TUTE FOR TRANSATLANTIC ENGAGEMENT. 23 (a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Institute shall 24 be to develop a diverse community of transatlantic leaders, 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:23 Mar 16, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1135.IH H1135 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 1135 IH including emerging leaders, committed to democratic insti- 1 tutions, processes, and values by— 2 (1) providing training and professional develop- 3 ment opportunities for racially and ethnically diverse 4 leaders on democratic governance and international 5 affairs; 6 (2) enabling international exchanges between 7 leaders to increase understanding and knowledge of 8 democratic models of governance; and 9 (3) increasing awareness of the importance of 10 international public service careers in racially and 11 ethnically diverse communities. 12 (b) AUTHORITY.—The Institute is authorized, con- 13 sistent with this Act, to develop such programs, activities, 14 and services as it considers appropriate to carry out the 15 purposes described in subsection (a). Such authority shall 16 include the following: 17 (1) The development and implementation of 18 training and educational programs and tools for 19 leaders and for students in secondary and postsec- 20 ondary schools and colleges, including minority serv- 21 ing institutions. 22 (2) The development and implementation of 23 media and telecommunications productions, as well 24 as online and social media methods, to assist the In- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:23 Mar 16, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1135.IH H1135 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 1135 IH stitute in expanding the reach of its programs 1 throughout the United States and abroad. 2 (3) The establishment of library and research 3 facilities for the collection, publication, compilation, 4 and distribution of research materials for use in car- 5 rying out the programs of the Institute. 6 (c) PROGRAM PRIORITIES.—The Executive Director 7 shall determine the priority of the programs to be carried 8 out under this Act and the amount of funds to be allocated 9 for such programs. 10 (d) GRANT PROGRAM.— 11 (1) GRANT PROGRAM.—The Institute shall es- 12 tablish a program to awards grants in the United 13 States and abroad on an annual basis to colleges 14 and universities, other research institutions and or- 15 ganizations, public departments and Federal agen- 16 cies (including State, territorial, and overseas de- 17 partments), and individuals for the purposes of as- 18 sisting the Institute’s work in conducting research, 19 international exchanges, education or training activi- 20 ties, to develop such programs, activities, and serv- 21 ices as it considers appropriate to carry out the pur- 22 poses described in subsection (a). 23 (2) APPLICATION.—Each organization that 24 seeks a grant under this subsection shall submit an 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:23 Mar 16, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1135.IH H1135 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS 6 •HR 1135 IH application to the Institute at such time, in such 1 manner, and accompanied by such information as 2 the Institute may reasonably require. 3 (3) SET-ASIDE FOR CENTERS OF EXCEL- 4 LENCE.—The Institute shall ensure that not less 5 than 50 percent of amounts made available to carry 6 out this subsection are used to provide grants to mi- 7 nority-serving institutions and entities that have 8 made significant efforts to work with racially and 9 ethnically diverse populations in the United States 10 or abroad. 11 (4) CONSORTIUM.—One or more research insti- 12 tutions may constitute themselves as a consortium 13 for purposes of seeking a grant under this sub- 14 section. 15 SEC. 4. LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE FOR TRANSATLANTIC EN- 16 GAGEMENT TRUST FUND. 17 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 18 Treasury of the United States a trust fund to be known 19 as the ‘‘Leadership Institute for Transatlantic Engage- 20 ment Trust Fund’’. The Fund shall consist of amounts 21 which may be appropriated, credited, or transferred to it 22 under this section. 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:23 Mar 16, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1135.IH H1135 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS 7 •HR 1135 IH (b) DONATIONS.—Any money or other property do- 1 nated, bequeathed, or devised to the Institute under the 2 authority of this section shall be credited to the Fund. 3 (c) FUND MANAGEMENT AND INVESTMENT.— 4 (1) INVESTMENT.—At the request of the Insti- 5 tute, it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the 6 Treasury to invest in full the amounts appropriated 7 to the Fund. Such investments may be made only in 8 interest-bearing obligations of the United States 9 issued directly to the Fund. 10 (2) ISSUANCE OF OBLIGATIONS.—The purposes 11 for which obligations of the United States may be 12 issued under chapter 31 of title 31, United States 13 Code, are hereby extended to authorize the issuance 14 at par of special obligations directly to the Fund. 15 Such special obligations shall bear interest at a rate 16 equal to the average rate of interest, computed as to 17 the end of the calendar month next preceding the 18 date of such issue, borne by all marketable interest- 19 bearing obligations of the United States then form- 20 ing a part of the public debt, except that if such av- 21 erage rate is not a multiple of one-eighth of 1 per 22 centum, the rate of interest of such special obliga- 23 tions shall be the multiple of one-eighth of 1 per 24 centum next lower than such average rate. All re- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:23 Mar 16, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1135.IH H1135 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS 8 •HR 1135 IH quests of the Institute to the Secretary of the Treas- 1 ury provided for in this section shall be binding upon 2 the Secretary. 3 (d) AUTHORITY TO SELL OBLIGATIONS.—At the re- 4 quest of the Institute, the Secretary of the Treasury shall 5 redeem any obligation issued directly to the Fund. Obliga- 6 tions issued to the Fund under subsection (c)(2) shall be 7 redeemed at par plus accrued interest. Any other obliga- 8 tions issued directly to the Fund shall be redeemed at the 9 market price. 10 (e) PROCEEDS FROM CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS 11 CREDITED TO FUND.—In addition to the appropriations 12 received pursuant to this Act, the interest on, and the pro- 13 ceeds from the sale or redemption of, any obligations held 14 in the Fund pursuant to this Act, shall be credited to and 15 form a part of the Fund. 16 (f) FUND RESERVES.—No less than five percent of 17 the original amount appropriated to the Fund must re- 18 main in the Fund at all times. 19 (g) EXPENDITURES.—The Secretary of the Treasury 20 is authorized to pay to the Institute from the interests 21 and earnings of the Fund, and moneys credited to the 22 Fund pursuant to this section, such sums as the Board 23 determines are necessary and appropriate to enable the 24 Institute to carry out the provisions of this Act. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:23 Mar 16, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1135.IH H1135 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS 9 •HR 1135 IH SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS. 1 (a) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—The Board shall ap- 2 point an Executive Director who shall be the chief execu- 3 tive officer and principal executive of the Institute and 4 who shall supervise the affairs of, assist the directions of, 5 and carry out the functions of the Board to administer 6 the Institute. The Executive Director of the Institute shall 7 be compensated at an annual rate specified by the Board. 8 (b) OTHER DUTIES.—The Executive Director, in 9 consultation with the Board shall appoint and fix the com- 10 pensation of such personnel as may be necessary to carry 11 out this Act, including personnel to carry out duties at 12 any locations of the Institute which are established outside 13 of Washington, DC. 14 (c) INSTITUTE PERSONNEL.— 15 (1) STAFF APPOINTMENTS.—All staff appoint- 16 ments shall be made without regard to the provi- 17 sions of title 5, United States Code, governing ap- 18 pointments in the competitive service, and without 19 regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and sub- 20 chapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to 21 classification and general schedule pay rates. 22 (2) TREATMENT AS CONGRESSIONAL EMPLOY- 23 EES.—For purposes of pay and other employment 24 benefits, rights, and privileges and for all other pur- 25 poses, any employee of the Institute shall be consid- 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:23 Mar 16, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1135.IH H1135 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS 10 •HR 1135 IH ered to be a Congressional employee under section 1 2107 of title 5, United States Code. 2 (3) COVERAGE UNDER CONGRESSIONAL AC- 3 COUNTABILITY ACT OF 1995.— 4 (A) TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEES AS COV- 5 ERED EMPLOYEES.—Section 101(3) of the Con- 6 gressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 7 1301(3)) is amended— 8 (i) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of sub- 9 paragraph (J); 10 (ii) by striking the period at the end 11 of subparagraph (K) and inserting ‘‘; or’’; 12 and 13 (iii) by adding at the end the fol- 14 lowing new subparagraph: 15 ‘‘(L) the Leadership Institute for Trans- 16 atlantic Engagement.’’. 17 (B) TREATMENT OF INSTITUTE AS EM- 18 PLOYING OFFICE.—Section 101(9)(D) of such 19 Act (2 U.S.C. 1301(9)(D)) is amended by strik- 20 ing ‘‘and the John C. Stennis Center’’ and in- 21 serting ‘‘the Leadership Institute for Trans- 22 atlantic Engagement, and the John C. Stennis 23 Center’’. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:23 Mar 16, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1135.IH H1135 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS 11 •HR 1135 IH SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS. 1 In order to carry out this Act, the Institute may carry 2 out any of the following: 3 (1) Prescribe such regulations as it considers 4 necessary for governing the manner in which its 5 functions shall be carried out. 6 (2) Procure temporary and intermittent services 7 of experts and consultants as are necessary to the 8 extent authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United 9 States Code. 10 (3) Accept and utilize the services of voluntary 11 and uncompensated personnel and reimburse them 12 for travel expenses, including per diem, as author- 13 ized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code. 14 (4) Request and utilize the assignment of any 15 Federal officer or employee from a department, 16 agency, or Congressional office to the Institute, in- 17 cluding on a rotating basis, by entering into an 18 agreement for such assignment. 19 (5) Solicit and receive money and other prop- 20 erty donated, bequeathed, or devised, without condi- 21 tion or restriction other than it be used for the pur- 22 poses of the Institute, and to use, sell, or otherwise 23 dispose of such property for the purpose of carrying 24 out its functions. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:23 Mar 16, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1135.IH H1135 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS 12 •HR 1135 IH (6) Enter into contracts, grants, or other ar- 1 rangements, or modifications thereof, to carry out 2 the provi [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]