DHS Acquisition Accountability and Efficiency Act
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4228, the ``DHS Acquisition Accountability and Efficiency Act,'' which was developed and introduced by the gentleman from South Carolina, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight & Management Efficiency, JEFF DUNCAN.
Since its inception, DHS has faced significant management challenges and the Government Accountability Office continues to include DHS management on its ``High Risk List'' of areas vulnerable to waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement.
Over the course of several years, the Committee on Homeland Security has conducted extensive oversight of DHS management and acquisition practices. At the start of the Congress, the Committee pledged to manage
DHS with a business-model approach and we are.
Last year, the House passed H.R. 2719, the ``Transportation Security Acquisition Reform Act'' to improve TSA technology acquisition programs and today's bill builds upon that effort with cost savings through better management policies and strategies across the Department. While I'm encouraged by a recent memo from Secretary Johnson to his DHS leadership team calling for greater component agency collaboration and accountability, more work is still needed.
H.R. 4228 safeguards taxpayer dollars, increases accountability for DHS's big-ticket acquisition purchases, and takes important steps to improve communication with industry to ensure DHS is fully leveraging the private sector to protect the homeland.
I appreciate the hard work of my colleagues on the Committee and I'd like to especially thank the gentleman from South Carolina, Mr. DUNCAN, and the gentleman from Arizona, Mr. BARBER for the bipartisan approach that they took in crafting this important piece of legislation, and the collaborative, deliberative process they followed to bring it to the floor.
There are many more opportunities for cost savings at DHS and through continued oversight, investigations and legislation, my Committee will continue to find them and present solutions. Taxpayers deserve no less.
I urge all my colleagues to join us in passing this vital piece of legislation that will further protect our Nation and the American taxpayer..
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source