May 6, 2015

UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP FOUNDATION.

SEC. 601. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP
FOUNDATION.
The Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized to establish the United States
Citizenship Foundation (hereinafter in this title referred to as the Foundation) as a
nonprofit corporation.
SEC. 602. PURPOSES.
The purposes of the Foundation are to-(a) expand instruction and training on citizenship rights and responsibilities;
(b) support a multi-sector approach to immigrant civic integration in the United
States;
(c) promote the importance of United States citizenship; and
(d) support the functions of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services relevant to
the above purposes.
SEC. 603. AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.
The Foundation shall carry out its purpose by-(a) supporting innovative programs, including those that incorporate the use of
technology, to promote citizenship, immigrant civic integration, and instruction in
the English language;
(b) fostering public education and awareness;
(c) engaging stakeholders in the citizenship and civic integration process, including
the Federal Government, state and local governments and receiving communities;
(d) coordinating outreach and educational initiatives, as appropriate, with
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and other Federal agencies; and
(e) administering the Outstanding American by Choice Award Program-(1) In general.-- Members of the Board of Directors (hereinafter referred to
as the Board) appointed as provided in section 604 shall make
recommendations to the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services (hereinafter referred to as the Director); and
(2) the Director or his or her designee is authorized to present the awards to
naturalized United States citizens, who have made outstanding
contributions to the United States and have demonstrated responsible
citizenship and a commitment to the United States.
SEC. 604. BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
(a) Members.--The Foundation shall have a Board, which shall comprise

(1) the Director or the Directors designee;

(2) the Chief of the Office of Citizenship within U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services; and
(3) 7 individuals who are United States citizens, who are not employees of
the Federal Government, and who are appointed pursuant to subsection (b).
(b) Appointments to the Board.-- To fill the positions described in paragraph (a)(3)
of this section, the Director shall appoint individuals who represent a variety of
interests including business and the private sector, educational institutions, service
clubs, community and faith-based organizations, and philanthropy.
(c) Terms.-- Members of the Board appointed under subsection (b) shall each serve
for a term of 4 years, except that-(1) of the members first appointed, 3 shall serve for a term of 2 years, and
(2) for members appointed to Board positions created by the departure or
death of a previous member, the term shall be the for remainder of the unexpired
term of the previous Board member.
(d) Chairman.-- The Chairman shall be elected by the Board from its members for
a two-year term.
(e) Meetings.--The Board shall meet at the call of the Chairman at least twice a
year.
(f) Compensation.-- The Members of the Board described in paragraph (a)(3) shall
serve without pay, but may be reimbursed by the Foundation for the actual and
necessary traveling and subsistence expenses incurred by them in the performance
of the duties of the Foundation.
(g) Volunteer Status.--Notwithstanding any other law, the Secretary of Homeland
Security may accept the services of the Foundation, the Board, and the officers and
employees of the Foundation, without compensation from the Department of
Homeland Security, relating to the performance of the functions described in this
title.
SEC. 605. OPERATIONS.
(a) Appointment of Executive Director.--The Board shall appoint and set the
compensation of an Executive Director, who shall serve at the pleasure of the
Board and oversee the day-to-day operations of the Foundation.
(b) Authorities.--The Executive Director is authorized to carry out the purposes set
forth in section 602 on behalf of the Foundation by-(1) accepting, holding, administering, investing, and spending any gift,
devise, or bequest of real or personal property made to the Foundation;
(2) entering into contracts and other financial assistance agreements with
individuals, public or private organizations, professional societies, and
government agencies to carry out the functions of the Foundation;
(3) entering into such other contracts, leases, cooperative agreements, and
other transactions as the Executive Director considers appropriate to carry
out the activities of the Foundation;

(4) charging such fees for professional services furnished by the

Foundation as the Executive Director determines reasonable and
appropriate;
(5) employing such other officers and employees of the Foundation as may
be necessary; and
(6) undertaking such other acts as are necessary and proper to carry out the
purposes of the Foundation.
SEC. 606. FUNDING.
(a) Gifts to the Foundation.--In order to carry out the purposes set forth in section
602, the Foundation may-(1) solicit, accept, and make gifts of money and other property;
(2) engage in coordinated work with the Department of Homeland Security,
including U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; and
(3) request, accept, hold, administer, invest, and spend any gift, grant,
devise, or bequest of real or personal property made to the Foundation.
(b) Gifts to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.-- The Director may accept
gifts from the Foundation to support the functions of U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services relevant to the purposes of the Foundation as described in
section 602.
(c) Start-Up Funding.-- Notwithstanding section 286(u) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1386(u)), the Director is authorized to transfer to the
Foundation not more than $3,000,000 of the premium processing fees described in
such section 286(u), to be used by the Foundation for its authorized activities.
SEC. 607. OTHER RESOURCES.
(a) At the request of the Foundation, the Director may, during the fiscal year for
which this Act is enacted and the subsequent two fiscal years, provide on either a
reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis in the Directors discretion, but not to
exceed $500,000 in value per fiscal year on a nonreimbursable basis, necessary
non-monetary resources, detailed personnel and equipment to the Foundation for
preparation of program operations, hiring of initial staff, and other activities
deemed by the Foundation as essential to the establishment of the Foundation.
(b) The Director is authorized to continue to provide services, including detailed
personnel, facilities, and necessary support services for such facilities, to the
Foundation after the fiscal years described in subsection (a), on a space available,
reimbursable cost basis.
(c) The Director is further authorized to acquire services, facilities, and necessary
support services for such facilities, from the Foundation on a reimbursable cost
basis.

SEC. 608. STATUS.

(a) Not a Federal Agency.--The Foundation shall not be considered to be an
agency of the United States government, or the officers and employees of the
Foundation to be officers or employees of the United States, for any purpose.
(b) Liability.--Neither the United States, nor any Department, agency, employee or
officer thereof, shall be liable for any debts, defaults, acts, or omissions of the
Foundation, nor shall the full faith and credit of the United States extend to any
obligation of the Foundation.
(c) Privileges and Immunities.--Any officer or employee of the United States shall,
with respect to performance of any function relating to the Foundation described in
this title, be entitled to such privileges and immunities as apply to officers and
employees of the United States performing official duties.
SEC. 609. ANNUAL REPORT.
(a) In General.--The Foundation shall, as soon as practicable after the end of each
fiscal year, transmit to the relevant Committees of Congress a report of its
proceedings and activities during such year, including a full and complete
statement of its receipts, expenditures, and investments.
(b) Relevant Committees of Congress.-- For the purpose of this section the relevant
Committees of Congress shall include: The Committees on the Judiciary of the
House of Representatives and the Senate; the Committees on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives and the Senate; the Committee on Homeland Security of
the House of Representatives; and the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate.
United States Citizenship Foundation
Section-by-Section Summary
SEC. 601. Establishment of the United States Citizenship Foundation.
Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish the United States Citizenship
Foundation (the Foundation) as a charitable and nonprofit corporation.
SEC. 602. Purposes.
Establishes the purposes of the Foundation which include: expanding instruction and training on
citizenship rights and responsibilities; supporting a multi-sector approach to immigrant civic
integration; promoting the importance of citizenship; and coordinating efforts with U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) where relevant and appropriate.
SEC. 603. Authorized Activities.
The Foundation is authorized to carry out its purpose by supporting innovative programs (through
development grants), including those that incorporate the use of technology, to promote

citizenship, immigrant civic integration, and instruction in the English language; fostering public
education and awareness; engaging stakeholders in the citizenship and civic integration process
(by working with all sectors of society to identify needs and initiatives); coordinating outreach
and educational initiatives, as appropriate, with USCIS and other Federal agencies; and
administering the Outstanding American by Choice award program.
Naturalized citizens who have made outstanding contributions to the United States and have
demonstrated responsible citizenship and a commitment to the United States are eligible to
receive Outstanding American by Choice awards. Members of the Foundations Board of
Directors will make recommendations to the USCIS Director and the Director or his or her
designee will present the awards.
SEC. 604. Board of Directors.
The Foundation will have a Board of Directors that includes the USCIS Director (or his or her
designee); the Chief of the USCIS Office of Citizenship; and seven U.S. citizens, who are not
employees of the Federal Government, and who represent business and the private sector,
educational institutions, service clubs, community and faith-based organizations, and
philanthropy.
Board members will serve for a term of four years, except that of the members first appointed,
three will serve for a term of two years (so the Board will have some continuity of membership
when terms expire). Members appointed to Board positions created by the departure or death of a
previous member will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term of the previous Board
member.
The Board will elect a Chairman from its members for a two-year term and Board meetings will
be held at least twice a year.
Non-federal Board members will not be paid, but may receive actual travel and subsistence
expenses from the Board for performing their duties.
Board members who are not Federal employees and other employees of the Foundation will not
receive compensation from the Department of Homeland Security.
Notwithstanding any other law, the Secretary of Homeland Security may accept the services of
the Foundation, the Board, and the officers and employees of the Foundation, without
compensation from the Department of Homeland Security.
SEC. 605. Operations.
The Board will appoint and set the compensation of an Executive Director, who will manage the
day-to-day operations of the Foundation. The Executive Director is authorized to accept, hold,
administer, invest, and spend any donation of property to the Foundation; enter into contracts and
other financial assistance agreements with individuals, public or private organizations,
professional societies, and government agencies to carry out the functions of the Foundation;

enter into contracts, leases, cooperative agreements, and other transactions to carry out the
activities of the Foundation; acquire professional services; and employ staff members.
SEC.606. Funding.
The Foundation is authorized to solicit, accept, and make gifts of money and other property;
coordinate activities with USCIS; and request, accept, and use donations of property made to the
Foundation.
The USCIS Director is authorized to accept gifts from the Foundation to support the agencys
citizenship and civic integration initiatives.
To assist in the Foundations establishment, the USCIS Director is authorized to make a one-time
transfer of $3,000,000 of the premium processing fees USCIS collects to the Foundation.
SEC. 607. Other Resources.
At the request of the Foundation, the USCIS Director is authorized to provideon a reimbursable
or nonreimbursable basisnecessary non-monetary resources, detailed personnel, and equipment
to the Foundation. Reimbursable support may not exceed $500,000 in value per fiscal year.
Following a three-year transition, the USCIS Director is authorized to continue providing
services, including detailed personnel, facilities, and necessary support on a reimbursable cost
basis.
SEC. 608. Status.
The Foundation will not be considered an agency of the United States government for any
purpose. The United States government will not be held liable for any debts, defaults, acts, or
omissions of the Foundation and the full faith and credit of the United States will not be extended
to any obligation of the Foundation.
USCIS officers and employees serving on a detail to the Foundation or otherwise working on
Foundation matters (such as serving on its Board, or working on its initial founding) are entitled
to all privileges and immunities that apply to officers and employees of the United States
government.
SEC. 609. Annual Report.
The Foundation will transmit to the relevant Committees of Congress (House and Senate
Judiciary, Appropriations, and Homeland Security committees) an annual report of its activities,
including a full financial statement.