Coast Guard Acquisition Reform Act Of 2009

Floor Speech

Coast Guard Acquisition Reform Act Of 2009

* Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1665, the ``Coast Guard Acquisition Reform Act of 2009.''

* The Coast Guard is a valiant agency, one that is dedicated to saving lives and securing our nation's maritime borders.

* Last year, Coast Guard men and women:

* Responded to more than 24,000 search and rescue cases;

* Saved more than 4,000 lives;

* Interdicted nearly 5,000 individuals attempting to enter the United States illegally;

* Deployed 400 personnel to protect Iraq's maritime oil infrastructure, train Iraqi naval forces, and enforce U.N. sanctions in the Arabian Gulf;

* Boarded more than 1,500 high interest vessels bound for the United States for security inspections; and

* Provided waterside security and escorts for nearly 500 military vessels that deliver supplies to support Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

* The Coast Guard did all of this on ships that are thirty (30) to forty (40) years old.

* Currently, the Coast Guard is building new assets, including the ``National Security Cutters'' and the ``Fast Response Cutters'' under the $24 billion Deepwater fleet modernization program.

* Initially, when Deepwater first began in 2002, the Coast Guard delegated responsibility as lead system integrator to a private firm.

* By all accounts, this delegation of responsibility led to poor workmanship, skyrocketing costs, and ships that didn't float.

* In response, in 2007, Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen took the helm of this struggling program and assumed the lead integrator role.

* Over the past two years, Admiral Allen has made significant changes to the acquisition and procurement processes within the Coast Guard.

* This was a good development, but as recent Government Accountability Office reports note, it is not enough.

* GAO found that the current contracts are not in full compliance with the Department of Homeland Security's acquisition directives.

* Additionally, GAO found that critical logistical support plans have not been completed.

* Logistical support plans are necessary for the Coast Guard to understand the out-year costs associated with the new cutters.

* If enacted, H.R. 1665 can help steer the Deepwater program on the right course.

* Specifically, the bill revises the Coast Guard acquisition policy by mandating the development and regular updating of life-cycle cost estimates and a master plan for testing and evaluation.

* The bill also requires ``full and open competition'' for any acquisition contract, unless otherwise excepted under Federal acquisition laws and regulations.

* Lastly, the bill establishes a Chief Acquisition Officer and requires that program managers for certain acquisitions hold a specified acquisition certification.

* These important reforms to the acquisitions process at the Coast Guard will not only ensure that taxpayer dollars are used wisely but that the Coast Guard has the assets it needs to continue to fulfill all its critical missions.

* I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 1665.

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