Diversity in Military Leadership Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 8248 To establish a grant program in the Department of Defense to increase the number of women, LGBT individuals, and underrepresented minori- ties in military and civilian leadership positions of the Department of Defense. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 Mr. VEASEY (for himself, Mr. CASTRO of Texas, Mr. VELA, and Ms. ESCOBAR) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com- mittee on Armed Services A BILL To establish a grant program in the Department of Defense to increase the number of women, LGBT individuals, and underrepresented minorities in military and civilian leadership positions of the Department of Defense. 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 ‘‘Diversity in Military 4 Leadership Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 07:34 Sep 15, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8248.IH H8248 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 8248 IH SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF 1 WOMEN AND UNDERREPRESENTED MINORI- 2 TIES IN MILITARY AND CIVILIAN LEADER- 3 SHIP POSITIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 4 DEFENSE. 5 (a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of De- 6 fense may award grants on a competitive basis to any enti- 7 ty that the Secretary determines has the capacity and ex- 8 pertise to carry out the activities described in subsection 9 (b) for the purpose of increasing the participation of 10 women and underrepresented minorities in military and 11 civilian leadership positions of the Department of Defense. 12 (b) APPLICATION.—An entity that seeks a grant 13 under this section shall submit an application to the Sec- 14 retary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 15 information as the Secretary may require. 16 (c) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—An entity that re- 17 ceives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds 18 to carry out one or more of the following activities: 19 (1) Online interactive workshops for women and 20 underrepresented minorities. 21 (2) Mentoring programs that partner members 22 of the Armed Forces and officers and employees of 23 the Department with students who are women or 24 underrepresented minorities, or both. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 07:34 Sep 15, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8248.IH H8248 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 8248 IH (3) Internships for undergraduate and graduate 1 students who are women or underrepresented mi- 2 norities, or both, with the Department. 3 (4) Outreach programs that provide elementary 4 school and secondary school students who are 5 women or underrepresented minorities, or both, with 6 opportunities to increase their exposure to military 7 and civilian defense careers. 8 (5) Such additional activities as the Secretary 9 may authorize. 10 (d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 11 (1) The term ‘‘minority’’ means American In- 12 dian, Alaskan Native, Black (not of Hispanic ori- 13 gin), Hispanic (including persons of Mexican, Puerto 14 Rican, Cuban, and Central or South American ori- 15 gin), Asian (including underrepresented subgroups), 16 Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander origin subgroup, 17 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer, or 18 other demographic group underrepresented in mili- 19 tary and civilian leadership positions of the Depart- 20 ment of Defense. 21 (2) The term ‘‘underrepresented minority’’ 22 means a minority group that is not represented in 23 military and civilian leadership positions of the De- 24 partment of Defense at a rate comparable to the 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 07:34 Sep 15, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8248.IH H8248 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 8248 IH percentage of the population of the United States 1 that is comprised of members of that underrep- 2 resented minority. 3 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 07:34 Sep 15, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H8248.IH H8248 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS