Department of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 615, the
Department of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act that
was introduced by the Congressman Payne. I am proud to join Ranking
Member Thompson and Congresswoman Brooks in cosponsoring this
legislation that will begin to solve a problem that continues to plague
the Department of Homeland Security.

This measure was written to address a November 2012 DHS Office of
Inspector General report, which found that DHS lacks an effective
governance structure to ensure interoperable communications among its
components. This is unacceptable, and an issue that should be fixed,
especially after the Department has been in existence for well over a
decade.

Component agencies of the Department of Homeland Security must be
able to communicate on a daily basis, and particularly in times of
crisis. One of the benefits of have a Department of Homeland Security
should be that components, including FEMA, ICE, and CBP, are able to
act as one department and communicate at will.

This bill requires the Department's Under Secretary of Management to
submit a strategy to the Committee on Homeland Security on achieving
and maintaining interoperability within the Department.

This measure passed the 113th Congress on a bipartisan vote and I
urge all Members to join me in supporting this important legislation.

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