Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Transparency Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5633, the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Transparency Act.

An important element of all Federal departments and agencies, especially DHS, is the Office of the Inspector General. Although we all wish there was no waste, fraud, or abuse within government, the reality is it does exist, and it is the inspector general's mission to help the Department identify and address those issues as much as possible.

I am fully supportive of the critical role that IGs play throughout the Federal Government, including my own time serving in the military. They are vital to ensuring accountability and transparency into each department and agency's activities.

This is especially important in a department like DHS with a mission so vital to the security of our country. DHS is tasked with safeguarding the American people, our homeland, and our values against all enemies foreign and domestic.

To do this on a daily basis, we must ensure that the men and women of the Department are able to focus on their mission, and the IG's office ensures this is done with integrity and honor.

This bill, introduced by Chairman Thompson, requires the DHS inspector general to submit to Congress various reports that until now have not necessarily been provided or available to the public. The American public deserves to know.

The requirements in this bill would help to make the IG's office and its important work more transparent not only to Congress but also to the American people.

I urge Members to join me in supporting H.R. 5633, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I am prepared to close. I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, just as a side note here, we have been talking about transparency in this bill, and I think it is important that we do keep in mind that this is something that helps us in a nonpartisan way, regardless of the administration, and regardless of ``who is in power at that time.'' It is my sincere hope that this particular bill will actually advocate for the mission of DHS and not for political gain, not for political outcome.

It has been my experience in Federal Government that a well-operating and well-oiled machine within the inspector general's office can help to be that check and that balance. And I think at this point in our history in the Department of Homeland Security, we face threats that we have probably never faced in six or seven decades. And we haven't seen the level and the intensity and the magnitude of those threats since before World War II, in my humble opinion.

I believe, with this piece of legislation, that we can get to a point where the Department of Homeland Security does have that check and that balance, and provides the American public the information that is needed and the transparency that is needed.

Whether it is on issues that are cyber; whether it is on issues that are directly targeting our homeland, or even on border issues, we do deserve transparency, and I think that is what the American public is asking for. I believe that is what this bill would do, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers on this, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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