Daines Bill to Bring Accountability, Transparency to DHS Approved by Full Committee Without Opposition

Press Release

Today,Representative Steve Daines' bipartisan legislation to reform and bring more transparency and accountability to the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) acquisition management was approved by the full House Homeland Security Committee without opposition.

Last month, Daines, who serves as Vice Chair of the OME Subcommittee, introduced H.R. 4228, the "DHS Acquisition Accountability and Efficiency Act," alongside OME Subcommittee Chairman Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), and OME Subcommittee Ranking Member Ron Barber (D-AZ).

"I've spent 28 years in business, and like all Montanans, I know that if you don't do your job and don't efficiently use resources and get results, you don't get paid. Period. It's unacceptable that this same accountability is completely lacking in Washington," Daines stated. "The DHS Acquisition Accountability and Efficiency Act will bring badly needed accountability and transparency to the Department of Homeland Security and ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used efficiently and responsibly."

H.R. 4228 requires greater oversight of the Department's purchasing process while ensuring needed flexibility and providing clarity for American businesses. Since 2005, DHS Acquisition Management activities have been on the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) "High-Risk List" for programs that are highly susceptible to fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement. Recently, the DHS Inspector General found the Department mismanaged a $3 billion DHS-wide contract to modernize its radio systems and GAO reported that 21 of 68 IT contracts totaling $1 billion were not meeting cost and schedule obligations.

Last month, during a Subcommittee markup of H.R. 4228, Daines also successfully included an amendment to the bill that requires DHS to develop a strategy to incentivize program managers to save money. The strategy will have to be approved by Congress and also pass through the Government Accountability Office. Additionally, the Inspector General will be tasked with making sure the strategy is being implemented and enforced.

To save taxpayer dollars, H.R. 4228 reforms DHS's acquisition process by:

· Authorizing the Department's Chief Acquisition Officer, the Undersecretary for Management, to approve, halt, modify or cancel major acquisition programs as needed;

· Requiring that every major acquisition program have an approved Acquisition Program Baseline (APB) document;

· Codifying the Acquisition Review Board and requiring the board to validate the documents -- including the APB -- and review the cost, schedule and performance objectives of major acquisitions;

· Requiring a Multiyear Acquisition Strategy be included in each Future Years Homeland Security Program;

· Authorizing the Chief Procurement Officer to serve as the main liaison to industry and to oversee a certification and training program for DHS's acquisition workforce;

· Compelling DHS to submit to Congress major acquisition programs that fail to meet cost, schedule or performance metrics through quarterly status and accountability reports;

· Directing the Department to find ways to streamline the acquisition process and strategically address issues regarding bid protest without creating any new offices or programs; and

· Instructing DHS to eliminate unnecessary duplication.

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