# 116-hr-8791: DHS Reform Act of 2020

116-hr-8791, DHS Reform Act of 2020, is a 116th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2] (D-MS); status Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8791
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 116-hr-8791
- Congress: 116
- Title: DHS Reform Act of 2020
- Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- Introduced: 2020-11-19
- Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2] (D-MS)
- Cosponsors: 19
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## 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.

## Cosponsors (19)

- Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1] (D-NV), 2020-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Demings, Val Butler [D-FL-10] (D-FL), 2020-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] (D-TX), 2020-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Langevin, James R. [D-RI-2] (D-RI), 2020-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ), 2020-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Rice, Kathleen M. [D-NY-4] (D-NY), 2020-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46] (D-CA), 2020-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14] (D-IL), 2020-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] (D-MO), 2020-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9] (D-TX), 2020-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] (D-NY), 2020-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (D-NJ), 2020-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19] (D-CA), 2020-12-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2020-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN), 2020-12-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2020-12-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vela, Filemon [D-TX-34] (D-TX), 2020-12-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fudge, Marcia L. [D-OH-11] (D-OH), 2020-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17] (D-CA), 2020-12-16T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 116-hr-7120: George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020
- 116-hr-2420: National Museum of the American Latino Act
- 116-hr-2382: USPS Fairness Act
- 116-hr-2214: NO BAN Act
- 116-hr-1980: Smithsonian Women’s History Museum Act
- 116-hr-1773: Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2019

## Sources
- [116-hr-8791 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/8791)

## Related
- [116-hr-7120: George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-7120)
- [116-hr-2420: National Museum of the American Latino Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-2420)
- [116-hr-2382: USPS Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-2382)
- [116-hr-2214: NO BAN Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-2214)
- [116-hr-1980: Smithsonian Women’s History Museum Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-1980)
- [116-hr-1773: Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2019](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-1773)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8791 (as of 2025-11-18).