I 108th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4259 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 4, 2004 Mr. Platts (for himself, Mr. Tom Davis of Virginia, Mr. Waxman, Mr. Towns, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Cox, and Mr. Turner of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform, and in addition to the Select Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To amend title 31, United States Code, to improve the financial accountability requirements applicable to the Department of Homeland Security, to establish requirements for the Future Years Homeland Security Program of the Department, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as Department of Homeland Security Financial Accountability Act.

2.

Findings

The Congress finds the following: (1)Influential financial management leadership is of vital importance to the mission success of the Department of Homeland Security. For this reason, the Chief Financial Officer of the Department must be a key figure in the Department’s management. (2)To provide a sound financial leadership structure, the provisions of law enacted by the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 (Public Law 101–576) provide that the Chief Financial Officer of each of the Federal executive departments is to be a Presidential appointee who reports directly to the Secretary of that department on financial management matters. Because the Department of Homeland Security was only recently created, the provisions enacted by that Act must be amended to include the Department within these provisions. (3)The Department of Homeland Security was created by consolidation of 22 separate Federal agencies, each with its own accounting and financial management system. None of these systems was developed with a view to executing the mission of the Department of Homeland Security to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce the Nation’s vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage and assist in the recovery from terrorist attacks. For these reasons, a strong Chief Financial Officer is needed within the Department both to consolidate financial management operations, and to insure that management control systems are comprehensively designed to achieve the mission and execute the strategy of the Department. (4)The provisions of law enacted by the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 require agency Chief Financial Officers to improve the financial information available to agency managers and the Congress. Those provisions also specify that agency financial management systems must provide for the systematic measurement of performance. In the case of the Department of Homeland Security, therefore, it is vitally important that management control systems be designed with a clear view of a homeland security strategy, including the priorities of the Department in addressing those risks of terrorism deemed most significant based upon a comprehensive assessment of potential threats, vulnerabilities, criticality, and consequences. For this reason, Federal law should be amended to clearly state the responsibilities of the Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Homeland Security to provide management control information, for the benefit of managers within the Department and to help inform the Congress, that permits an assessment of the Department’s performance in executing a homeland security strategy.

3.

Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Homeland Security

(a)

In General

Section 901(b)(1) of title 31, United States Code, is amended— (1)by redesignating subparagraphs (G) through (P) as subparagraphs (H) through (Q), respectively; and (2)by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following: (G)The Department of Homeland Security.. (b)

Appointment or designation of CFO

The President shall appoint or designate a Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Homeland Security under the amendment made by subsection (a) by not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c)

Continued service of current official

An individual serving as Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Homeland Security immediately before the enactment of this Act, or another person who is appointed to replace such an individual in an acting capacity after the enactment of this Act, may continue to serve in that position until the date of the confirmation or designation, as applicable (under section 901(a)(1)(B) of title 31, United States Code), of a successor under the amendment made by subsection (a). (d)

Conforming amendments

(1)

Homeland Security Act of 2002

The Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–296) is amended— (A)in section 103 (6 U.S.C. 113)— (i)in subsection (d) by striking paragraph (4), and redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (4); (ii)by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and (iii)by inserting after subsection (d) the following: (e)

Chief Financial Officer

There shall be in the Department a Chief Financial Officer, as provided in chapter 9 of title 31, United States Code.; and (B)in section 702 (6 U.S.C. 342) by striking shall report and all that follows through the period and inserting shall perform functions as specified in chapter 9 of title 31, United States Code, and, with respect to all such functions and other responsibilities that may be assigned to the Chief Financial Officer from time to time, shall also report to the Under Secretary for Management.. (2)

FEMA

Section 901(b)(2) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking subparagraph (B), and by redesignating subparagraphs (C) through (H) in order as subparagraphs (B) through (G).

4.

Functions of Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Homeland Security

(a)

Performance and accountability reports

Section 3516 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (f)The Secretary of Homeland Security— (1)shall for each fiscal year submit a performance and accountability report under subsection (a) that incorporates the program performance report under section 1116 of this title for the Department of Homeland Security; (2)shall include in each performance and accountability report an audit opinion of the Department’s internal controls over its financial reporting; and (3)shall design and implement Department-wide management controls that— (A)reflect the most recent homeland security strategy developed pursuant to section 874(b)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002; and (B)permit assessment, by the Congress and by managers within the Department, of the Department’s performance in executing such strategy.. (b)

Implementation of audit opinion requirement

The Secretary of Homeland Security shall include audit opinions in performance and accountability reports under section 3516(f) of title 31, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a), only for fiscal years after fiscal year 2005. (c)

Assertion of internal controls

The Secretary of Homeland Security shall include in the performance and accountability report for fiscal year 2005 submitted by the Secretary under section 3516(f) of title 31, United States Code, an assertion of the internal controls that apply to financial reporting by the Department of Homeland Security. (d)

Audit opinions of internal controls over financial reporting by Chief Financial Officer agencies

(1)

In General

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief Financial Officers Council and the President’s Council on Integrity and Efficiency established by Executive Order 12805 of May 11, 1992, shall jointly conduct a study of the potential costs and benefits of requiring the agencies listed in section 901(b) of title 31, United States Code, to obtain audit opinions of their internal controls over their financial reporting. (2)

Report

Upon completion of the study under paragraph (1), the Chief Financial Officers Council and the President’s Council on Integrity and Efficiency shall promptly submit a report on the results of the study to the Committee on Government Reform of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Comptroller General of the United States. (3)

General accounting Office analysis

Not later than 90 days after receiving the report under paragraph (2), the Comptroller General shall perform an analysis of the information provided in the report and report the findings of the analysis to the committees referred to in paragraph (2).

5.

Future years homeland security program and homeland security strategy

Section 874 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 112) is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following: (b)

Contents

The Future Years Homeland Security Program under subsection (a) shall— (1)include the same type of information, organizational structure, and level of detail as the future years defense program submitted to Congress by the Secretary of Defense under section 221 of title 10, United States Code; (2)set forth the homeland security strategy of the Department, which shall be developed and updated as appropriate annually by the Secretary, that was used to develop program planning guidance for the Future Years Homeland Security Program; and (3)include an explanation of how the resource allocations included in the Future Years Homeland Security Program correlate to the homeland security strategy set forth under paragraph (2)..

6.

Establishment of Office of Program Analysis and Evaluation

Section 702 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 342) is amended by— (1)inserting (a) In General.— before the first sentence; and (2)adding at the end the following: (b)

Program analysis and evaluation function

(1)

Establishment of Office of Program Analysis and Evaluation

Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall establish an Office of Program Analysis and Evaluation within the Department (in this section referred to as the Office). (2)

Responsibilities

The Office shall perform the following functions: (A)Analyze and evaluate plans, programs, and budgets of the Department in relation to United States homeland security objectives, projected threats, vulnerability assessments, estimated costs, resource constraints, and the most recent homeland security strategy developed pursuant to section 874(b)(2). (B)Develop and perform analyses and evaluations of alternative plans, programs, personnel levels, and budget submissions for the Department in relation to United States homeland security objectives, projected threats, vulnerability assessments, estimated costs, resource constraints, and the most recent homeland security strategy developed pursuant to section 874(b)(2). (C)Establish policies for, and oversee the integration of, the planning, programming, and budgeting system of the Department. (D)Review and ensure that the Department meets performance-based budget requirements established by the Office of Management and Budget. (E)Provide guidance for, and oversee the development of, the Future Years Homeland Security Program of the Department, as specified under section 874. (F)Ensure that the costs of Department programs, including classified programs, are presented accurately and completely. (G)Oversee the preparation of the annual performance plan for the Department and the program and performance section of the annual report on program performance for the Department, consistent with sections 1115 and 1116, respectively, of title 31, United States Code. (H)Provide leadership in developing and promoting improved analytical tools and methods for analyzing homeland security planning and the allocation of resources. (I)Any other responsibilities delegated by the Secretary consistent with an effective program analysis and evaluation function. (3)

Director of Program Analysis and Evaluation

There shall be a Director of Program Analysis and Evaluation, who— (A)shall be a principal staff assistant to the Chief Financial Officer of the Department for program analysis and evaluation; and (B)shall report to an official no lower than the Chief Financial Officer. (4)

Reorganization

(A)

In General

The Secretary may allocate or reallocate the functions of the Office, or discontinue the Office, in accordance with section 872(a). (B)

Exemption from limitations

Section 872(b) shall not apply to any action by the Secretary under this paragraph..

7.

Notification regarding transfer or reprogramming of funds for Department of Homeland Security

Section 702 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 342) is further amended by adding at end the following: (c)

Notification regarding transfer or reprogramming of funds

In any case in which appropriations available to the Department or any officer of the Department are transferred or reprogrammed and notice of such transfer or reprogramming is submitted to the Congress (including any officer, office, or Committee of the Congress), the Chief Financial Officer of the Department shall simultaneously submit such notice to the Select Committee on Homeland Security (or any successor to the jurisdiction of that committee) and the Committee on Government Reform of the House of Representatives, and to the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate..