LITE Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 6239 To establish the Leadership Institute for Transatlantic Engagement to develop a diverse community of transatlantic leaders at all levels of government, including emerging leaders, committed to democratic institutions. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 12, 2020 Mr. HASTINGS introduced the following bill; which was referred 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 at all levels of government, including emerging leaders, committed to democratic institutions. 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 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 6 Congress makes the following findings: 7 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:42 Apr 01, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6239.IH H6239 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 6239 IH (1) The United States diversity of backgrounds, 1 cultures, perspectives, skills, and experiences is a na- 2 tional asset that has assisted in realizing United 3 States foreign policy, security, and economic goals, 4 yet according to recent government statistics, diverse 5 communities continue to be underrepresented in 6 international public service careers and leadership 7 roles. 8 (2) According to census data, the United 9 States, European, and other societies are becoming 10 more diverse, indicating an increasing need for glob- 11 al leaders with expertise in policymaking and govern- 12 ance that can competently represent the needs of di- 13 verse constituencies and ensure that democratic val- 14 ues and practices are equally applied to and offer 15 the same protections and opportunities for all. 16 (3) There is therefore a compelling need to en- 17 courage outstanding young people from diverse and 18 underserved populations to pursue international pub- 19 lic service careers. 20 (4) There is also a need for international lead- 21 ership training opportunities for individuals serving 22 in national, regional, and local governments and par- 23 liaments around the world, and for individuals serv- 24 ing as employees of Members of Congress and as 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:42 Apr 01, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6239.IH H6239 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 6239 IH employees of members of other legislatures, that in- 1 cludes a focus on civil and human rights and the in- 2 clusion of diverse and underserved populations in 3 policymaking and governance. 4 (5) The establishment and operation of an in- 5 stitute for the training and development of a diverse 6 and inclusive group of global leaders to serve in 7 international public service careers would address 8 these critical needs. 9 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 10 In this Act: 11 (1) The term ‘‘Institute’’ means the ‘‘Leader- 12 ship Institute for Transatlantic Engagement’’ estab- 13 lished under section 4. 14 (2) The term ‘‘Board’’ means the Board of 15 Trustees of the Institute. 16 (3) The term ‘‘Fund’’ means the Leadership In- 17 stitute for Transatlantic Engagement Trust Fund 18 under section 6. 19 (4) The term ‘‘underrepresented population’’ 20 means a population of individuals who have histori- 21 cally been outside the purview of leadership in inter- 22 national or domestic public or private sector careers, 23 based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender, 24 sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sex- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:42 Apr 01, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6239.IH H6239 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 6239 IH ual orientation), national origin, youth (under 25), 1 disability, or other demographic factors. 2 (5) The term ‘‘minority serving institutions’’ as 3 defined in section 365(3) of the Higher Education 4 Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067k(3)). 5 SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE FOR 6 TRANSATLANTIC ENGAGEMENT. 7 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 8 legislative branch the Leadership Institute for Trans- 9 atlantic Engagement. 10 (b) BOARD OF TRUSTEES.—The Institute shall be 11 subject to the supervision and direction of a Board of 12 Trustees which shall be composed of five members as fol- 13 lows: 14 (1) Two members appointed by the Speaker of 15 the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be 16 designated by the majority leader of the House of 17 Representatives and one of whom shall be designated 18 by the minority leader of the House of Representa- 19 tives. 20 (2) Two members appointed by the President 21 pro tempore of the Senate, one of whom shall be 22 designated by the majority leader of the Senate and 23 one of whom shall be designated by the minority 24 leader of the Senate. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:42 Apr 01, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6239.IH H6239 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 6239 IH (3) The Executive Director of the Institute, 1 who shall serve as an ex officio member of the 2 Board. 3 (c) TERM.—Each member of the Board appointed 4 under this section shall serve for a term of three years. 5 Any vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the 6 original appointment and the individual so appointed shall 7 serve for the remainder of the term. A Member of Con- 8 gress appointed to the Board may not serve as a member 9 of the Board for more than a total of six years. 10 (d) CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR.—At the first meeting 11 and at its first regular meeting in each calendar year 12 thereafter the Board shall elect a Chair and Vice-Chair 13 from among the members of the Board. The Chair and 14 Vice-Chair may not be members of the same political 15 party. 16 (e) PAY NOT AUTHORIZED; EXPENSES.—Members of 17 the Board (other than the Executive Director) shall serve 18 without pay, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for 19 travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred 20 in the performance of their duties. 21 (f) LOCATION OF INSTITUTE AND REGIONAL OF- 22 FICES.—The Institute shall be located in Washington, DC, 23 and the Board may also establish other offices for the In- 24 stitute in regions of the United States and Europe. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:42 Apr 01, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6239.IH H6239 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS 6 •HR 6239 IH SEC. 5. PURPOSES AND AUTHORITY OF LEADERSHIP INSTI- 1 TUTE FOR TRANSATLANTIC ENGAGEMENT. 2 (a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Institute shall 3 be to develop a diverse community of transatlantic leaders, 4 including emerging leaders, at all levels of government 5 committed to democratic institutions by— 6 (1) increasing awareness of the importance of 7 public service careers that focus on international af- 8 fairs, civil and human rights, social inclusion, and 9 global security among underrepresented populations; 10 (2) providing training and development oppor- 11 tunities for Members of Congress, parliaments, and 12 national, State, and locally elected or appointed gov- 13 ernment officials and their employees in the United 14 States and abroad to become more effective and 15 more efficient in performing their public duties and 16 to develop their potential for accepting increased 17 international public service opportunities; and 18 (3) enabling transatlantic political leaders, at 19 all levels of government to gain significant, firsthand 20 exposure to United States democratic institutions 21 through visits to the United States, and for United 22 States political leaders at all levels of government to 23 support democratic institutions globally through 24 travel abroad and knowledge sharing. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:42 Apr 01, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6239.IH H6239 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS 7 •HR 6239 IH (b) AUTHORITY.—The Institute is authorized, con- 1 sistent with this Act, to develop such programs, activities, 2 and services as it considers appropriate to carry out the 3 purposes described in subsection (a). Such authority shall 4 include the following: 5 (1) The development and implementation of 6 training and educational programs and tools for 7 transatlantic leaders and their staff, including Mem- 8 bers of Congress, parliaments, and national, State, 9 and locally elected or appointed government officials 10 and their employees in the United States and abroad 11 to enhance and foster excellence in their skills and 12 abilities as public servants and to increase support 13 for democratic institutions. 14 (2) The development and implementation of 15 training, educational programs, and tools for sec- 16 ondary and post-secondary schools and colleges in 17 the United States and abroad, including a focus on 18 minority serving institutions, to encourage United 19 States and international students to increase their 20 civic engagement and consider international public 21 service careers in civil and human rights, inter- 22 national affairs, global security, and in other areas. 23 (3) The development and implementation of 24 media and telecommunications productions, as well 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:42 Apr 01, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6239.IH H6239 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS 8 •HR 6239 IH as online and social media methods, to assist the In- 1 stitute in expanding the reach of its programs 2 throughout the United States and abroad. 3 (4) The establishment of library and research 4 facilities for the collection, publication, compilation, 5 and distribution of research materials for use in car- 6 rying out the programs of the Institute. 7 (c) PROGRAM PRIORITIES.—The Board shall deter- 8 mine the priority of the programs to be carried out under 9 this Act and the amount of funds to be allocated for such 10 programs. 11 (d) GRANT PROGRAM.— 12 (1) GRANT PROGRAM.—The Institute shall es- 13 tablish a program to awards grants in the United 14 States and abroad on an annual basis to colleges 15 and universities, other research institutions and or- 16 ganizations, public departments and Federal agen- 17 cies (including State, territorial, and overseas de- 18 partments), private organizations or corporations, 19 and individuals for the purposes of assisting the In- 20 stitute’s work in conducting research, international 21 exchanges, education or training activities, and out- 22 reach to facilitate strengthening— 23 (A) democratic institutions, including civil 24 and human rights; 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:42 Apr 01, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6239.IH H6239 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS 9 •HR 6239 IH (B) emerging and current political leaders 1 and their employees at any level of government; 2 and 3 (C) interest and excellence in international 4 public service careers. 5 (2) APPLICATION.—Each organization that 6 seeks a grant under this subsection shall submit an 7 application to the Institute at such time, in such 8 manner, and accompanied by such information as 9 the Institute may reasonably require. 10 (3) SET-ASIDE FOR CENTERS OF EXCEL- 11 LENCE.—The Institute shall ensure that not less 12 than 50 percent of amounts made available to carry 13 out this subsection are used to provide grants to mi- 14 nority-serving institutions and entities that have 15 made significant efforts to work with under-rep- 16 resented populations in the United States or abroad. 17 (4) CONSORTIUM.—One or more research insti- 18 tutions may constitute themselves as a consortium 19 for purposes of seeking a grant under this sub- 20 section. 21 SEC. 6. LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE FOR TRANSATLANTIC EN- 22 GAGEMENT TRUST FUND. 23 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 24 Treasury of the United States a trust fund to be known 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:42 Apr 01, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6239.IH H6239 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS 10 •HR 6239 IH as the ‘‘Leadership Institute for Transatlantic Engage- 1 ment Trust Fund’’. The Fund shall consist of amounts 2 which may be appropriated, credited, or transferred to it 3 under this section. 4 (b) DONATIONS.—Any money or other property do- 5 nated, bequeathed, or devised to the Institute under the 6 authority of this section shall be credited to the Fund. 7 (c) FUND MANAGEMENT AND INVESTMENT.— 8 (1) INVESTMENT.—At the request of the Insti- 9 tute, it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the 10 Treasury to invest in full the amounts appropriated 11 to the Fund. Such investments may be made only in 12 interest-bearing obligations of the United States 13 issued directly to the Fund. 14 (2) ISSUANCE OF OBLIGATIONS.—The purposes 15 for which obligations of the United States may be 16 issued under chapter 31 of title 31, United States 17 Code, are hereby extended to authorize the issuance 18 at par of special obligations directly to the Fund. 19 Such special obligations shall bear interest at a rate 20 equal to the average rate of interest, computed as to 21 the end of the calendar month next preceding the 22 date of such issue, borne by all marketable interest- 23 bearing obligations of the United States then form- 24 ing a part of the public debt, except that if such av- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:42 Apr 01, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6239.IH H6239 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS 11 •HR 6239 IH erage rate is not a multiple of one-eighth of 1 per 1 centum, the rate of interest of such special obliga- 2 tions shall be the multiple of one-eighth of 1 per 3 centum next lower than such average rate. All re- 4 quests of the Institute to the Secretary of the Treas- 5 ury provided for in this section shall be binding upon 6 the Secretary. 7 (d) AUTHORITY TO SELL OBLIGATIONS.—At the re- 8 quest of the Institute, the Secretary of the Treasury shall 9 redeem any obligation issued directly to the Fund. Obliga- 10 tions issued to the Fund under subsection (c)(2) shall be 11 redeemed at par plus accrued interest. Any other obliga- 12 tions issued directly to the Fund shall be redeemed at the 13 market price. 14 (e) PROCEEDS FROM CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS 15 CREDITED TO FUND.—In addition to the appropriations 16 received pursuant to this Act, the interest on, and the pro- 17 ceeds from the sale or redemption of, any obligations held 18 in the Fund pursuant to this Act, shall be credited to and 19 form a part of the Fund. 20 (f) FUND RESERVES.—Five to ten percent of the 21 original amount appropriated to the Fund must remain 22 in the Fund at a [Text truncated for display. 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