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H.R. 490 117th Congress House

DHS MORALE Act

Official title: To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to improve morale within the Department of Homeland Security workforce by conferring new responsibilities to the Chi… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to improve morale within the Department of Homeland Security workforce by conferring new responsibilities to the Chief Human Capital Officer, establishing an employee engagement steering committee, requiring action plans, and authorizing an annual employee award program, and for other purposes.

Introduced: January 25, 2021 Introduced by: Bennie G. Thompson Democratic · Mississippi See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Administrative remediesCongressional oversightDepartment of Homeland SecurityDue process and equal protection
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 11 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 22, 2021
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Apr 20, 2021
Pursuant to section 6 of H. Res. 330, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 367; H.R. 370; H.R. 396; H.R. 397, as amended; H.R. 408; H.R. 490; H.R. 965, as amended; H.R. 1251, as amended; H.R. 1395; H.R. 1491; H.R. 1528; H.R. 1532; H.R. 1565; H.R. 1602; and H.R. 2523, as amended; and the following resolution was agreed to under suspension of the rules: H. Res. 124, as amended. (consideration: CR H1979-1994; text: CR H1982-1984)
Apr 20, 2021
Passed/agreed to in House: Pursuant to section 6 of H. Res. 330, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 367; H.R. 370; H.R. 396; H.R. 397, as amended; H.R. 408; H.R. 490; H.R. 965, as amended; H.R. 1251, as amended; H.R. 1395; H.R. 1491; H.R. 1528; H.R. 1532; H.R. 1565; H.R. 1602; and H.R. 2523, as amended; and the following resolution was agreed to under suspension of the rules: H. Res. 124, as amended.(consideration: CR H1979-1994; text: CR H1982-1984)
Apr 20, 2021
Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 330, proceedings on H.R. 490 are considered vacated.
Apr 19, 2021
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Apr 19, 2021
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 490.
Apr 19, 2021
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1896-1898; text: CR H1896-1897)
Apr 19, 2021
Mr. Torres (NY) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Jan 26, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability.
Jan 25, 2021
Introduced in House
Jan 25, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
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 Latest action April 22, 2021

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Department of Homeland Security Morale, Recognition, Learning and Engagement Act of 2021 or the DHS MORALE Act

This bill addresses workforce morale at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The bill expands the duties of the Chief Human Capital Officer to address morale, including through

  • leader development and employee engagement,
  • maintaining a catalogue of available employee development opportunities, and
  • issuing a DHS-wide employee engagement action plan.

DHS (1) must establish an employee engagement steering committee, and (2) may establish an annual employee award program.

DHS shall report to the congressional homeland security committees regarding the impacts of the lapse in appropriations between December 22, 2018, and January 25, 2019, on (1) DHS human resources operations; (2) DHS's ability to meet hiring benchmarks; and (3) retention, attrition, and morale of DHS personnel.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HRES 330 Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 51) to provide for the admission of the State of Washington, D.C. into th…
  • S 1605 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022
 Bill text 3 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 490: DHS MORALE Act. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-490/
MLA
"H.R. 490: DHS MORALE Act." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-490/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 490, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-490/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 490: DHS MORALE Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-490/)
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