[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 101 (Tuesday, June 23, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H4564-H4566]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY HEADQUARTERS CONSOLIDATION 
                       ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2015

  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1640) to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit 
to Congress a report on the Department of Homeland Security 
headquarters consolidation project in the National Capital Region, and 
for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1640

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Homeland 
     Security Headquarters Consolidation Accountability Act of 
     2015''.

     SEC. 2. REPORT ON DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 
                   HEADQUARTERS CONSOLIDATION PROJECT.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security, in coordination with the Administrator of General 
     Services, shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
     Congress a report on the Department of Homeland Security 
     headquarters consolidation project within the National 
     Capital Region. Such report shall include each of the 
     following:
       (1) A proposed occupancy plan for the consolidation project 
     that includes specific information about which Department-
     wide operations, component operations, and support offices 
     will be located at the site, the aggregate number of full 
     time equivalent employees projected to occupy the site, and 
     schedule estimates for migrating operations to the site.
       (2) A comprehensive assessment of the current and future 
     real property needed by the

[[Page H4565]]

     Department in the National Capital Region in order to carry 
     out the mission of the Department to secure the homeland and 
     defend the Nation against future acts of terrorism.
       (3) An analysis of the difference between the current and 
     needed capital assets and facilities of the Department.
       (4) A current plan for construction of the headquarters 
     consolidation at the St. Elizabeths campus that includes--
       (A) the estimated costs and schedule for the current plan; 
     and
       (B) any estimated costs savings associated with reducing 
     the scope of the consolidation project and increasing the use 
     of existing capacity developed under the project.
       (5) A current plan for the leased portfolio of the 
     Department in the National Capital Region that includes--
       (A) the total rentable square feet, number of personnel, 
     and proposed utilization rates;
       (B) the replacement and consolidation plan, including--
       (i) an end-state vision that identifies which Department-
     wide operations, component operations, and support offices do 
     not migrate to the St. Elizabeths campus and continue to 
     operate at a property in the leased portfolio;
       (ii) the number of full time equivalent employees who are 
     expected to operate at each property, component, or office; 
     and
       (iii) timing and anticipated leased terms, for leased space 
     under the plan referred to in paragraph (4); and
       (C) the costs and benefits of leasing and construction 
     alternatives for the headquarters consolidation project.
       (6) A detailed list of alternatives considered by the 
     Department during the development of the plan referred to in 
     paragraph (4), including the costs and benefits of 
     alternatives to such plan.
       (b) Update of Cost and Schedule Estimates.--Not later than 
     180 days after date of the submittal of the report required 
     by subsection (a), the Secretary, in coordination with the 
     Administrator of General Services, shall complete the update 
     of the cost and schedule estimates for the portions of the 
     consolidation project that are not yet complete as of such 
     date based on the information contained in the report. 
     Consistent with the recommendation of the Government 
     Accountability Office in GAO-14-648, such estimates shall 
     conform to relevant Federal guidance for cost and schedule 
     estimates.
       (c) Comptroller General Review.--
       (1) Review required.--The Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall review the update of the cost and schedule 
     estimates under subsection (b) to evaluate the quality and 
     reliability of such estimates.
       (2) Assessment.--Not later than 60 days after the 
     completion of the update of the cost and schedule estimates 
     under subsection (b), the Comptroller General shall report to 
     the appropriate congressional committees on the results of 
     the review required by paragraph (1).
       (d) Definitions.--In this Act:
       (1) The term ``National Capital Region'' has the meaning 
     given such term under section 2674(f)(2) of title 10, United 
     States Code.
       (2) The term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means 
     the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works of the Senate.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Walker) and the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. 
Watson Coleman) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.

                              {time}  1615


                             General Leave

  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1640. Mr. Speaker, 
since 2006, the Department of Homeland Security and the General 
Services Administration have been working towards completing a 
consolidated headquarters on the historic St. Elizabeths campus in 
Washington, D.C.
  However, as with many other Federal projects, the consolidation has 
run up against cost overruns and construction delays, at times 
estimated to be more than $1 billion over budget and 12 years behind 
schedule.
  Earlier this year, I visited the site personally to see firsthand the 
progress being made and the immense challenges that lie ahead. I remain 
concerned that taxpayers' dollars will be put at risk without better 
management.
  This bill, H.R. 1640, the DHS Headquarters Consolidation 
Accountability Act of 2015, would require the Secretary of Homeland 
Security, in coordination with the Administrator of General Services, 
to investigate and submit a report on the estimated costs and property 
needs of the project.
  While we were encouraged by the updated DHS St. Elizabeths plans 
published earlier this year, we still believe that increased oversight 
of the consolidation project will help ensure accountability and the 
efficient use of our constituents' taxpayer dollars.
  Mr. Speaker, accountability is a fundamental aspect of citizen-ruled 
government and something that our constituents expect their 
representatives to uphold. H.R. 1640 does just this, and I look forward 
to the bipartisan support this legislation will receive.
  I reserve the balance of my time.

         Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of 
           Representatives,
                                    Washington, DC, June 15, 2015.
     Hon. Michael McCaul,
     Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Ford House Office 
         Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman McCaul: I write concerning H.R. 1640, the 
     Department of Homeland Security Headquarters Consolidation 
     Accountably Act of 2015. This legislation includes matters 
     that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure.
       In order to expedite floor consideration of H.R. 1640, the 
     Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will forgo 
     action on this bill. However, this is conditional on our 
     mutual understanding that forgoing consideration of the bill 
     does not prejudice the Committee with respect to the 
     appointment of conferees or to any future jurisdictional 
     claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or 
     similar legislation that fall within the Committee's Rule X 
     jurisdiction. I request you urge the Speaker to name members 
     of the Committee to any conference committee named to 
     consider such provisions.
       Please place a copy of this letter and your response 
     acknowledging our jurisdictional interest into the 
     Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on 
     the house floor.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Bill Shuster,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

         Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives,
                                     Washington, DC, June 17, 2015
     Hon. Bill Shuster,
     Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
         Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Shuster, Thank you for your letter regarding 
     H.R. 1640, the ``Department of Homeland Security Headquarters 
     Consolidation Accountability Act of 2015.'' I appreciate your 
     support in bringing this legislation before the House of 
     Representatives, and accordingly, understand that the 
     Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will not seek 
     a sequential referral on the bill.
       The Committee on Homeland Security concurs with the mutual 
     understanding that by foregoing a sequential referral of this 
     bill at this time, the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure does not waive any jurisdiction over the 
     subject matter contained in this bill or similar legislation 
     in the future. In addition, should a conference on this bill 
     be necessary, I would support a request by the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure for conferees on those 
     provisions within your jurisdiction.
       I will insert copies of this exchange in the Congressional 
     Record during consideration of this bill on the House floor. 
     I thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
           Sincerely,

                                            Michael T. McCaul,

                                                         Chairman,
                                   Committee on Homeland Security.

  Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume, and I rise in strong support of H.R. 1640, the Department of 
Homeland Security Headquarters Consolidation Accountability Act of 
2015.
  Mr. Speaker, in 2006, 3 years into the Department of Homeland 
Security's existence, President Bush proposed consolidating the 
headquarters functions of the Department and its components from the 
more than 50 locations to the St. Elizabeths campus in southeast 
Washington, D.C.
  Construction began in 2009, but between sequestration and tightening 
budgets, appropriations for the project have been $1.2 billion less 
than President Bush and President Obama requested.
  Naturally, Congress' failure to consistently and adequately fund the 
project has greatly slowed construction and led to increased costs. It 
has also forced DHS to revisit its master plan and reduce the scope of 
the project.
  At this juncture, it is important that the Department have a 
realistic and

[[Page H4566]]

achievable plan. The legislation under consideration seeks to do just 
that. If enacted, this legislation would require the Secretary of 
Homeland Security to submit to Congress an updated plan for St. 
Elizabeths to inform future funding decisions.
  Importantly, H.R. 1640 requires the submission of a proposed 
occupancy plan for St. Elizabeths that includes a list of components 
and offices to be housed there. A key consequence of the Department 
having to scale down the breadth of its consolidation plans is the 
reality that its portfolio of leased space will need to remain large.
  In fact, with up to 69 percent of DHS' commercial leases in the 
national capital region expiring between fiscal years 2016 to 2020, we 
should all be aware that DHS will be forced to embark on the expensive 
process of recompeting and possibly relocating its operations and 
personnel.
  Before I reserve the balance of my time, I would like to acknowledge 
that I am pleased that the bill includes an amendment I offered to give 
the Department adequate time to engage the General Services 
Administration, the construction manager for the project, in preparing 
the updated plans, assessments, and estimates.
  GSA's participation in the development of these key materials is 
essential to ensuring that what is transmitted to Congress is realistic 
and achievable.
  As a supporter of the St. Elizabeths project and DHS' Unity of Effort 
initiative, I urge passage of H.R. 1640. Colocation of DHS' personnel 
in one headquarters has the potential of not only achieving cost 
savings, but fostering an environment where integration and 
collaboration drives more effective and efficient operations.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my 
time.
  I appreciate the bipartisan approach taken on this legislation. The 
St. Elizabeths project is about more than real estate; it is about 
ensuring the Department of Homeland Security has a home where diverse 
components can come together.
  That is the thinking behind the Secretary's Unity of Effort 
initiative. Enactment of this legislation will help to ensure that DHS 
has a realistic plan for St. Elizabeths.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman McCaul and the gentleman 
from North Carolina (Mr. Walker) for their work on this legislation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  I, once again, urge my colleagues to support this strong bipartisan 
piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Homeland 
Security Committee, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1640, the 
``Department of Homeland Security Headquarters Consolidation 
Accountability Act of 2015.''
  I support this bipartisan legislation which directs the Secretary of 
Homeland Security to submit to Congress a report on the Department of 
Homeland Security headquarters consolidation project in the National 
Capital Region.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues on the Homeland Security Committee 
for unanimously supporting the inclusion of my amendments to H.R. 1640.
  Together, the Jackson Lee amendments offered a comprehensive look at 
the Department's real estate obligations related to its headquarters 
consolidation project at St. Elizabeths, as well as its leased 
portfolio in the National Capital Region.
  Further, the Jackson Lee amendments help clarify how DHS will 
relocate its personnel and operations at the headquarters level and 
across its components at St. Elizabeths as construction continues on 
the headquarters consolidation project.
  Mr. Speaker, since DHS initiated its headquarters consolidation in 
2006, it has progressed despite changes in senior leadership and waning 
funding support from Congress.
  As a result, in April 2015, DHS and GSA announced that the 
construction sequence and timetable for the headquarters consolidation 
would be adjusted to reflect reduced funding by Congress.
  DHS must now re-compete up to 69 percent of its commercial leases in 
the National Capital Region as they are scheduled to expire between 
2016 and 2020.
  My first amendment directs DHS to provide information related to the 
expected timing and terms of any lease renewals in the National Capital 
Region.
  My second amendment requires the Department to report on the numbers 
of its full-time equivalents who are expected to occupy each DHS-leased 
or owned property, which will guide the Department in adjusting its 
expenditures on the headquarters consolidation project.
  Together, they will ensure that DHS and GSA develop a comprehensive 
picture of which employees and operations will migrate to St. 
Elizabeths and which will not.
  I urge all of my colleagues to join me in strong support of the 
suspension bill, H.R. 1640, the ``Department of Homeland Security 
Headquarters Consolidation Accountability Act of 2015.''
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Walker) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1640, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________