[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 119 (Monday, July 27, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H5494-H5495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         BORDER SECURITY TECHNOLOGY ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2015

  Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1634) to strengthen accountability for deployment of border 
security technology at the Department of Homeland Security, and for 
other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1634

       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 ``Border Security Technology 
     Accountability Act of 2015''.

     SEC. 2. BORDER SECURITY TECHNOLOGY ACCOUNTABILITY.

       (a) In General.--Subtitle C of title IV of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 231 et seq.) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new section:

     ``SEC. 434. BORDER SECURITY TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM MANAGEMENT.

       ``(a) Planning Documentation.--For each border security 
     technology acquisition program of the Department that is 
     determined to be a major acquisition program, the Secretary 
     shall--
       ``(1) ensure that each such program has a written 
     acquisition program baseline approved by the relevant 
     acquisition decision authority;
       ``(2) document that each such program is meeting cost, 
     schedule, and performance thresholds as specified in such 
     baseline, in compliance with relevant departmental 
     acquisition policies and the Federal Acquisition Regulation; 
     and
       ``(3) have a plan for meeting program implementation 
     objectives by managing contractor performance.
       ``(b) Adherence to Standards.--The Secretary, acting 
     through the Under Secretary for Management and the 
     Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shall 
     ensure border security technology acquisition program 
     managers who are responsible for carrying out this section 
     adhere to relevant internal control standards identified by 
     the Comptroller General of the United States. The 
     Commissioner shall provide information, as needed, to assist 
     the Under Secretary in monitoring proper program management 
     of border security technology acquisition programs under this 
     section.
       ``(c) Plan.--The Secretary, acting through the Under 
     Secretary for Management, in coordination with the Under 
     Secretary for Science and Technology and the Commissioner of 
     U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a plan for testing and 
     evaluation, as well as the use of independent verification 
     and validation resources, for border security technology so 
     that new border security technologies are evaluated through a 
     series of assessments, processes, and audits to ensure 
     compliance with relevant departmental acquisition policies 
     and the Federal Acquisition Regulation, as well as the 
     effectiveness of taxpayer dollars.
       ``(d) Major Acquisition Program Defined.--In this section, 
     the term `major acquisition program' means a Department 
     acquisition program that is estimated by the Secretary to 
     require an eventual total expenditure of at least 
     $300,000,000 (based on fiscal year 2015 constant dollars) 
     over its life cycle cost.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of the 
     Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after 
     the item relating to section 433 the following new item:

``Sec. 434. Border security technology program management.''.

     SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATION OF 
                   APPROPRIATIONS.

       No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act. This 
     Act and such amendments shall be carried out using amounts 
     otherwise available for such purposes.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Arizona (Ms. McSally) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Vela) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Ms. McSALLY. 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 
gentlewoman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 1634, the Border Security Technology 
Accountability Act, which I introduced earlier this year.
  This bill seeks to provide the improved management of border security 
technology projects, safeguarding taxpayer dollars and increasing 
accountability for some of the Department of Homeland Security's 
largest acquisition programs.
  The constituents I represent in southern Arizona are demanding better 
border security, and they expect us to do it through cost-effective and 
efficient means. They know that wasting taxpayer dollars on poorly 
managed border technology projects does little to actually secure the 
border or to improve our strategy. That is why this bill is so 
important.
  The GAO has repeatedly included DHS acquisition management activities 
on its high-risk list, demonstrating that these programs are highly 
susceptible to waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement. The Secure Border 
Initiative, also known as SBInet, is a prime example of acquisition 
mismanagement at DHS. Initial plans developed in 2005 and 2006 called 
for the SBInet to extend across the entire U.S.-Mexico land border. 
However, SBInet deployment in my home State of Arizona was fraught with 
management problems, including a failure to adequately set requirements 
so the system would meet the needs of its users--our border patrol 
agents. After spending nearly $1 billion of the taxpayers' money with 
minimal results, DHS canceled SBInet in 2011.
  SBInet is not the only example, as DHS does not seem to be learning 
its lesson. The Government Accountability Office recently reported to 
the Committee on Homeland Security that Customs and Border Protection's 
Strategic Air and Marine Plan--or StAMP--initiated in 2006, with a cost 
of $1.8 billion to date, still does not have an approved acquisition 
program baseline. This means that, despite CBP's plans to acquire boats 
and aircraft through 2035, they have not yet estimated how much it 
would cost to operate and maintain these systems.
  How can we ensure programs like StAMP are on time, on budget, and are 
fiscally sound if DHS fails to follow sound management procedures?
  We cannot afford to waste another minute or another dollar. We must 
put

[[Page H5495]]

in place strong, effective technology programs to secure our borders. 
This bill requires that border security technology programs at the 
Department have an acquisition program baseline--a critical document 
that lays out what a program will do, what it will cost, and when it 
will be completed.

                              {time}  1615

  The bill also requires programs to adhere to internal control 
standards and have a plan for testing and evaluation as well as the use 
of independent verification and validation resources.
  My district includes over 80 miles of our U.S. border with Mexico, 
and I have spent countless hours at the border meeting with border 
residents and our Border Patrol.
  I know firsthand that, when our border technology project lacks the 
proper oversight and accountability, it is bad for the taxpayers, those 
who defend our border and those who live along our border.
  The Committee on Homeland Security approved my legislation by a 
unanimous voice vote last month. I urge all Members to join me in 
supporting robust, responsible secure technology along our border.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. VELA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1634, the Border Security 
Technology Accountability Act of 2015.
  Over the past several years, the Government Accountability Office has 
examined the various Department of Homeland Security programs and 
concluded that DHS has not followed standard best practices for 
acquisitions management.
  Though DHS has taken steps to improve its performance, specific 
deficiencies in how the Department carries out major acquisitions 
remain.
  When a DHS acquisition program falls short in terms of effectiveness 
or efficiency, it not only risks undermining that program, but also 
risks wasting limited Homeland Security dollars.
  For example, DHS spent hundreds of millions of dollars on the SBInet 
border security program before it was ultimately canceled. No doubt, 
this funding could have been put to far better use along our Nation's 
border.
  The Border Security Technology Accountability Act would require each 
of the Department's major acquisitions for border security technology 
to have written documentation reflecting a baseline approved by the 
relevant acquisition decision authority and demonstrate that the 
program is meeting agreed-upon cost, schedule, and performance 
thresholds before moving into the next phase of the acquisition cycle.
  The bill also requires the Under Secretary for Management, in 
coordination with the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, to 
submit to Congress a plan for testing and evaluation as well as the use 
of independent verification and validation resources for border 
security technology.
  There is need for improving acquisitions management at the Department 
of Homeland Security as a whole, and addressing border security 
technology acquisitions is an important step. We owe it to the American 
taxpayers to make sure we are managing these investments wisely and 
preventing wasteful spending.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1634 aims to focus and improve the way we invest in 
and manage border security technology by providing a specific framework 
for accountability and oversight on behalf of the American taxpayer.
  I thank Congresswoman McSally for her leadership in bringing this 
bill forward, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Vela, for his support and all of my 
colleagues on our committee for support for this bill.
  I once again urge my colleagues to support transparency, 
accountability, and efficiency of vital border security technology 
projects.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Arizona (Ms. McSally) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1634, 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.

                          ____________________