0
0

DHS MORALE Act

5/11/2023, 3:45 PM

Summary of Bill HR 490

The DHS MORALE Act, also known as Bill 117 hr 490, is a piece of legislation introduced in the United States Congress. The purpose of this bill is to improve the morale of employees within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by addressing issues related to employee engagement, leadership, and communication within the department.

The DHS MORALE Act aims to establish a framework for measuring and improving employee morale within the DHS. This includes conducting regular surveys to assess employee satisfaction, implementing training programs for supervisors to improve leadership skills, and promoting better communication between management and employees.

Additionally, the bill seeks to address specific issues that may be contributing to low morale within the DHS, such as high turnover rates, lack of career advancement opportunities, and inadequate support for employees dealing with stress and trauma. Overall, the DHS MORALE Act is designed to create a more positive and supportive work environment within the Department of Homeland Security, ultimately leading to higher levels of employee satisfaction and productivity.

Congressional Summary of HR 490

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.

Read the Full Bill

Formatted TextPDFFormatted XML

Current Status of Bill HR 490

Bill HR 490 is currently in the status of Introduced to Senate since April 22, 2021. Bill HR 490 was introduced during Congress 117 and was introduced to the House on January 25, 2021.  Bill HR 490's most recent activity was Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. as of April 22, 2021

Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 490

Total Number of Sponsors
1
Democrat Sponsors
1
Republican Sponsors
0
Unaffiliated Sponsors
0
Total Number of Cosponsors
0
Democrat Cosponsors
0
Republican Cosponsors
0
Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 490

Primary Policy Focus

Government Operations and Politics

Potential Impact Areas

- Administrative remedies
- Congressional oversight
- Department of Homeland Security
- Due process and equal protection
- Employee performance
- Employment discrimination and employee rights
- Federal officials
- Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
- Government studies and investigations

Alternate Title(s) of Bill HR 490

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

Comments

Sponsors and Cosponsors of HR 490

Bennie G. Thompson
Bennie G. Thompson
MississippiDemocrat

Latest Bills

Encouraging Public Service in Our National Parks and Public Land Act
Bill HR 9282June 22, 2026
To grant authority to use counter-unmanned aircraft system technologies to private owners of critical infrastructure facilities, and for other purposes.
Bill HR 9232June 22, 2026
To establish the Federal Cryptocurrency Theft Task Force, and for other purposes.
Bill HR 9276June 22, 2026
To provide for a right of action against Federal employees for violations of First Amendment rights relating to the use or development of artificial intelligence.
Bill HR 9279June 22, 2026
To protect seaports from unmanned aircraft systems, and for other purposes.
Bill HR 9229June 22, 2026
To direct the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to conduct a study and submit to Congress a report on the technologies used to provide broadband internet access service, and for other purposes.
Bill HR 9286June 22, 2026
To require a review of acquisitions by investment companies involving acquisition of controlling interest of major defense suppliers, and for other purposes.
Bill HR 9283June 22, 2026
To establish the Foreign Investment Review Authority to determine whether foreign countries that have made investment commitments to the United States have complied with those commitments, and for other purposes.
Bill HR 9284June 22, 2026
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop an action plan to help veterans obtain employment in advanced manufacturing, and for other purposes.
Bill HR 9280June 22, 2026
To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to deem certain substances to be unsafe for use as food contact substances, and for other purposes.
Bill HR 9231June 22, 2026
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022
Bill S 1605May 11, 2023
Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 51) to provide for the admission of the State of Washington, D.C. into the Union; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1573) to clarify the rights of all persons who are held or detained at a port of entry or at any detention facility overseen by U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1333) to transfer and limit Executive Branch authority to suspend or restrict the entry of a class of aliens; and for other purposes.
Bill HRES 330May 11, 2023