H.R. 8791
116th Congress
House
DHS Reform Act of 2020
Official title: To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make certain reforms to the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.
Government Operations and Politics
Accounting and auditingAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresAdministrative remediesAdvisory bodies
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Aviation and airportsBuy American requirementsCardiovascular and respiratory healthChild healthChild safety and welfareCoast guardComputer security and identity theftComputers and information technologyCongressional oversightContracts and agencyCrime preventionCrimes against propertyCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationCriminal justice information and recordsDepartment of Homeland SecurityDisaster relief and insuranceDue process and equal protectionEducation programs fundingElementary and secondary educationEmergency medical services and trauma careEmployee hiringEmployee leaveEmployee performanceEmployment and training programsEmployment discrimination and employee rightsExecutive agency funding and structureFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)Federal officialsFederal-Indian relationsFirearms and explosivesForeign language and bilingual programsGovernment buildings, facilities, and propertyGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment ethics and transparency, public corruptionGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHealth promotion and preventive careHigher educationHomeland securityInfectious and parasitic diseasesIntelligence activities, surveillance, classified informationIntergovernmental relationsInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaLabor-management relationsLaw enforcement administration and fundingLaw enforcement officersMental healthMilitary personnel and dependentsMinority and disadvantaged businessesMinority educationMinority employmentNatural disastersPerformance measurementPreschool educationPublic contracts and procurementPublic-private cooperationResearch administration and fundingResearch and developmentRight of privacySchool administrationSmall businessState and local government operationsStudent aid and college costsTelephone and wireless communicationTerrorismTransportation employeesTransportation safety and securityVeterans' education, employment, rehabilitationWomen in businessWorker safety and health
Everywhere this bill has been
4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 20, 2020
Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Nov 20, 2020
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
Nov 19, 2020
Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Reform, the Judiciary, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.
Nov 19, 2020
Introduced in House
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Latest action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
Plain-English summary
Department of Homeland Security Reform Act of 2020 or the DHS Reform Act of 2020
This bill makes extensive changes to the structure of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and to the responsbilities of DHS components.
Specifically, the bill, among other things
- creates a new Associate Secretary responsible for overseeing DHS's law enforcement functions;
- modifies the responsibilities of the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, including to engage with individuals and communities whose civil rights and liberties may be affected by DHS programs and activities;
- directs DHS to establish an employee engagement steering committee to identify factors that have a negative impact on employee engagement, morale, and communications within DHS;
- establishes within DHS a school security coordinating council;
- requires that DHS's use-of-force policy be updated to emphasize de-escalation;
- requires DHS to carry out an intelligence and cybersecurity diversity fellowship program;
- grants rights to Transportation Security Administration officers under the federal personnel system; and
- requires DHS to issue a DHS-wide strategy to enhance partnerships with historically black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutes that includes yearly goals.
Related & companion bills
28
Bill text
1 version
- Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Cosponsors
19
D
Khanna, Ro
Fudge, Marcia
D
Johnson, Henry C. "Hank"
D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
Vela, Filemon
D
Carson, André
D
Panetta, Jimmy
D
Clarke, Yvette D.
D
Cleaver, Emanuel
D
Correa, J. Luis
Demings, Val
D
Green, Al
Jackson Lee, Sheila
LANGEVIN, JAMES
Payne, Donald
Rice, Kathleen
D
Titus, Dina
D
Underwood, Lauren
D
Watson Coleman, Bonnie
Cite this page
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 8791: DHS Reform Act of 2020. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-8791/
"H.R. 8791: DHS Reform Act of 2020." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-8791/.
H.R. 8791, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-8791/.
[H.R. 8791: DHS Reform Act of 2020](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-8791/)