Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the
Secretary shall, in consultation with the Director of the
Office of Personnel Management, review the pay and benefit
plans of each agency whose functions are transferred under this
Act to the Department and, within 90 days after the date of
enactment, submit a plan to the President of the Senate and the
Speaker of the House of Representatives and the appropriate
committees and subcommittees of Congress, for ensuring, to the
maximum extent practicable, the elimination of disparities in
pay and benefits throughout the Department, especially among
law enforcement personnel, that are inconsistent with merit
system principles set forth in section 2301 of title 5, United
States Code.
SEC. 882. [6 U.S.C. 462] OFFICE FOR NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION
COORDINATION.
(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--There is established within the
Office of the Secretary the Office of National Capital
Region Coordination, to oversee and coordinate Federal
programs for and relationships with State, local, and
regional authorities in the National Capital Region, as
defined under section 2674(f)(2) of title 10, United
States Code.
(2) Director.--The Office established under
paragraph (1) shall be headed by a Director, who shall
be appointed by the Secretary.
(3) Cooperation.--The Secretary shall cooperate
with the Mayor of the District of Columbia, the
Governors of Maryland and Virginia, and other State,
local, and regional officers in the National Capital
Region to integrate the District of Columbia, Maryland,
and Virginia into the planning, coordination, and
execution of the activities of the Federal Government
for the enhancement of domestic preparedness against
the consequences of terrorist attacks.
(b) Responsibilities.--The Office established under
subsection (a)(1) shall--
(1) coordinate the activities of the Department
relating to the National Capital Region, including
cooperation with the Office for State and Local
Government Coordination;
(2) assess, and advocate for, the resources needed
by State, local, and regional authorities in the
National Capital Region to implement efforts to secure
the homeland;
(3) provide State, local, and regional authorities
in the National Capital Region with regular
information, research, and technical support to assist
the efforts of State, local, and regional authorities
in the National Capital Region in securing the
homeland;
(4) develop a process for receiving meaningful
input from State, local, and regional authorities and
the private sector in the National Capital Region to
assist in the development of the homeland security
plans and activities of the Federal Government;
(5) coordinate with Federal agencies in the
National Capital Region on terrorism preparedness, to
ensure adequate planning, information sharing,
training, and execution of the Federal role in domestic
preparedness activities;
(6) coordinate with Federal, State, local, and
regional agencies, and the private sector in the
National Capital Region on terrorism preparedness to
ensure adequate planning, information sharing,
training, and execution of domestic preparedness
activities among these agencies and entities; and
(7) serve as a liaison between the Federal
Government and State, local, and regional authorities,
and private sector entities in the National Capital
Region to facilitate access to Federal grants and other
programs.
(c) Annual Report.--The Office established under subsection
(a) shall submit an annual report to Congress that includes--
(1) the identification of the resources required to
fully implement homeland security efforts in the
National Capital Region;
(2) an assessment of the progress made by the
National Capital Region in implementing homeland
security efforts; and
(3) recommendations to Congress regarding the
additional resources needed to fully implement homeland
security efforts in the National Capital Region.
(d) Limitation.--Nothing contained in this section shall be
construed as limiting the power of State and local governments.
SEC. 883. [6 U.S.C. 463] REQUIREMENT TO COMPLY WITH LAWS PROTECTING
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AND PROVIDING
WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed as exempting the
Department from requirements applicable with respect to
executive agencies--
(1) to provide equal employment protection for
employees of the Department (including pursuant to the
provisions in section 2302(b)(1) of title 5, United
States Code, and the Notification and Federal Employee
Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (Public
Law 107-174)); or
(2) to provide whistleblower protections for
employees of the Department (including pursuant to the
provisions in section 2302(b)(8) and (9) of such title
and the Notification and Federal Employee
Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002).