Heinrich Amended Military Purchasing Reform Bill Heads to President's Desk

Press Release

The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill aimed at revamping the Defense Department's system for acquiring weapons. The Weapons Acquisition System Reform Through Enhancing Technical Knowledge and Oversight Act of 2009, which included an amendment offered by U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich, will revolutionize the way we select and oversee major purchases, and it will give the American people confidence that their tax dollars are being well spent. This major military procurement reform will save taxpayers billions of dollars each year, while keeping Americans safe with the most advanced weapons systems available.

"American families are tightening their belts and saving money where they can. We must do the same here in Washington," said Rep. Heinrich.

The Heinrich Amendment requires that standard tools and systems engineering processes are in place during the earliest stages of development to minimize cost increases and avoid unnecessary time delays. The amendment will also help reduce development risk and cost growth, reduce the time and system development to development, establish a clear process to measure acquisition progress, and ensure that the largest number of programs start with a solid planning foundation.

"My amendment will reduce development risk and cost growth, reduce the time from system development to deployment, establish a clear process to measure acquisition progress, and ensure that the largest number of programs start with a solid planning foundation," said. Rep. Heinrich.

A report by the Government Accountability Office found that as of 2009 the Pentagon's 96 largest acquisition programs were $296 billion over budget. That is more than the amount the government spends on salaries and health care for the entire American military for two full years. These same programs are also an average of 22-months behind schedule.

This legislation will substantially beef up the oversight of the Pentagon's system for acquiring weapons and will promote the greater use of competition in awarding contracts. It will require the Secretary of Defense to designate an official as the Department's principal expert on performance assessment in acquisition and mandate that weapons systems that fail to meet the standards and schedules set out for them face annual reviews from oversight officials and increased scrutiny by Congress. It will also require the Pentagon set up a new system to track the cost overruns and schedule changes that happen early on in the procurement process - when most of the waste and the least of the oversight currently occur.

The legislation will now go to President Obama.

Source