Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “DHS Grants Accountability Act”.
DHS Grants Accountability Act
A BILL
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and certain other laws relating to certain preparedness, transit, and port security grant programs to improve oversight, transparency, and stakeholder engagement in the administration of such grant programs, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Improvements to certain preparedness, transit, and port security grant programs
Preparedness grant programs—
Homeland Security Grant Programs— Subsection (a) of section 2002 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 603) is amended by striking “may” and inserting “shall not less frequently than annually”.
Transparency in prioritization— Subsection (a) of section 2007 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 608) is amended—
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “consider” and all that follows through “area” and inserting “allocate such funds to each such State or area on the basis of”; and
in paragraph (1)(K), by striking “writing by the Administrator” and inserting “an annual notification the Administrator submits to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate before the issuance of the notice of funding opportunity applicable to the allocation at issue”.
Administration and coordination— Section 2021 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 611) is amended—
by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (e);
by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsections:
“(c) Deadlines and application periods—For each notice of funding opportunity for a grant program under a specified section, the Administrator shall carry out the following:
“(1) Make such notice publicly available in accordance with the deadlines, if any, specified in the applicable appropriations Act, but if no such deadline is so specified, make such notice publicly available not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of such Act.
“(2) Allow each eligible recipient under such grant program not fewer than 30 days after such notice is made publicly available to submit an application with respect to such grant program.
“(d) Periods of performance—The Administrator shall make grant funds provided under a specified section available for use by the recipient of such grant funds for a period of not fewer than 54 months.”
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(f) Specified section defined—In this section, the term specified section means any of the following:
“(1) Section 2003.
“(2) Section 2004.
“(3) Section 2009.”
Risk assessment deadline— Subsection (c)(2)(C) of section 2022 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 612) is amended to read as follows:
“(C) Deadline—With respect to any fiscal year for which the Department intends to make a grant or administers a grant, the information required under subparagraph (A) shall be provided not fewer than 30 days before any notice of funding opportunity or other program guidance relating to any such grant.”
Conforming amendments— Section 2009 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 609a) is amended—
by striking subsection (d);
by redesignating subsections (e) through (i) as subsections (d) through (h), respectively; and
in subsection (c)(3)(C), by striking “(g)” and inserting “(f)”.
Transit and port security grant programs—
Deadlines and periods with respect to public transportation grants— Section 1406 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (6 U.S.C. 1135) is amended—
by redesignating subsection (n) as subsection (o); and
by striking subsection (m) and inserting the following new subsections:
“(m) Period of performance—Funds provided pursuant to a grant awarded under this section for a use specified in subsection (b) shall remain available for use by a grant recipient for a period of not fewer than 54 months.
“(n) Deadlines and application periods—For each notice of funding opportunity for the grant program under this section, the Secretary shall carry out the following:
“(1) Make such notice publicly available in accordance with the deadlines, if any, specified in the applicable appropriations Act, but if no such deadline is so specified, make such notice publicly available not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of such Act.
“(2) Allow each eligible recipient under such grant program not fewer than 30 days after such notice is made publicly available to submit an application with respect to such grant program.”
Railroad security assistance— Section 1513 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (6 U.S.C. 1163) is amended—
by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (j); and
by inserting after subsection (h) the following new subsection:
“(i) Deadlines and application periods—For each notice of funding opportunity for the grant program under this section, the Secretary shall carry out the following:
“(1) Make such notice publicly available in accordance with the deadlines, if any, specified in the applicable appropriations Act, but if no such deadline is so specified, make such notice publicly available not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of such Act.
“(2) Allow each eligible recipient under such grant program not fewer than 30 days after such notice is made publicly available to submit an application with respect to such grant program.”
Over-the-road bus security assistance— Section 1532 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (6 U.S.C. 1182) is amended—
by redesignating subsection (k) as subsection (l); and
by inserting after subsection (j) the following new subsection:
“(k) Deadlines and application periods—For each notice of funding opportunity for the grant program under this section, the Secretary shall carry out the following:
“(1) Make such notice publicly available in accordance with the deadlines, if any, specified in the applicable appropriations Act, but if no such deadline is so specified, make such notice publicly available not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of such Act.
“(2) Allow each eligible recipient under such grant program not fewer than 30 days after such notice is made publicly available to submit an application with respect to such grant program.”
Port security grants— Section 70107 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(n) Deadlines and application periods—For each notice of funding opportunity for a grant program under this section, the Secretary shall carry out the following:
“(1) Make such notice publicly available in accordance with the deadlines, if any, specified in the applicable appropriations Act, but if no such deadline is so specified, make such notice publicly available not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of such Act.
“(2) Allow each eligible recipient under such grant program not fewer than 30 days after such notice is made publicly available to submit an application with respect to such grant program.”