[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 153 (Tuesday, October 20, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H6991-H7005]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          DHS HEADQUARTERS REFORM AND IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2015

  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3572) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to reform, 
streamline, and make improvements to the Department of Homeland 
Security and support the Department's efforts to implement better 
policy, planning, management, and performance, and for other purposes, 
as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3572

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``DHS 
     Headquarters Reform and Improvement Act of 2015''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is the following:

Sec. 1. Short title; Table of contents.
Sec. 2. Prohibition on additional authorization of appropriations.

 TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY HEADQUARTERS REAUTHORIZATION

Sec. 101. Definitions.
Sec. 102. Headquarters components.
Sec. 103. Chief Privacy Officer.
Sec. 104. Office of Policy.
Sec. 105. Quadrennial homeland security review.
Sec. 106. Future years homeland security program.
Sec. 107. Management and execution.
Sec. 108. Chief Financial Officer.
Sec. 109. Chief Procurement Officer.
Sec. 110. Chief Information Officer.
Sec. 111. Chief Human Capital Officer.
Sec. 112. Chief Security Officer.
Sec. 113. Cost savings and efficiency reviews.
Sec. 114. Field efficiencies plan.
Sec. 115. Resources to respond to operational surges.
Sec. 116. Department of Homeland Security rotation program.

        TITLE II--DHS ACQUISITION ACCOUNTABILITY AND EFFICIENCY

Sec. 201. Definitions.

                  Subtitle A--Acquisition Authorities

Sec. 211. Acquisition authorities for Under Secretary for Management.
Sec. 212. Acquisition authorities for Chief Financial Officer.
Sec. 213. Acquisition authorities for Chief Information Officer.
Sec. 214. Requirements to ensure greater accountability for acquisition 
              programs.

         Subtitle B--Acquisition Program Management Discipline

Sec. 221. Acquisition Review Board.
Sec. 222. Requirements to reduce duplication in acquisition programs.
Sec. 223. Government Accountability Office review of Board and of 
              requirements to reduce duplication in acquisition 
              programs.
Sec. 224. Excluded Party List System waivers.
Sec. 225. Inspector General oversight of suspension and debarment.

     Subtitle C--Acquisition Program Management Accountability and 
                              Transparency

Sec. 231. Congressional notification and other requirements for major 
              acquisition program breach.
Sec. 232. Multiyear acquisition strategy.
Sec. 233. Acquisition reports.
Sec. 234. Government Accountability Office review of multiyear 
              acquisition strategy.
Sec. 235. Office of Inspector General report.

     SEC. 2. 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.

 TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY HEADQUARTERS REAUTHORIZATION

     SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS.

       Section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (13) through (18) as 
     paragraphs (15) through (20);
       (2) by redesignating paragraphs (9) through (12) as 
     paragraphs (10) through (13);
       (3) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following:
       ``(9) The term `homeland security enterprise' means 
     relevant governmental and nongovernmental entities involved 
     in homeland security, including Federal, State, local, and 
     tribal government officials, private sector representatives, 
     academics, and other policy experts.''; and
       (4) by inserting after paragraph (13), as so redesignated, 
     the following:
       ``(14) The term `management integration and 
     transformation'--
       ``(A) means the development of consistent and consolidated 
     functions for information technology, financial management, 
     acquisition management, and human capital management; and
       ``(B) includes governing processes and procedures, 
     management systems, personnel activities, budget and resource 
     planning, training, real estate management, and provision of 
     security, as they relate to functions cited in subparagraph 
     (A).''.

     SEC. 102. HEADQUARTERS COMPONENTS.

       (a) In General.--Section 102 of the Homeland Security Act 
     of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 112) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (c)--
       (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
     ``through the Office of State and Local Coordination 
     (established under section 801)'' and inserting ``through the 
     Office of Partnership and Engagement'';
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon at the end;
       (C) in paragraph (3), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (D) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(4) entering into agreements with governments of other 
     countries, in consultation with the Secretary of State, and 
     international nongovernmental organizations in order to 
     achieve the missions of the Department.''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(h) Headquarters.--
       ``(1) Components.--The Department Headquarters shall 
     include the following:
       ``(A) The Office of the Secretary.
       ``(B) The Office of the Deputy Secretary.
       ``(C) The Executive Secretariat.
       ``(D) The Management Directorate, including the Office of 
     the Chief Financial Officer.
       ``(E) The Office of Policy.
       ``(F) The Office of General Counsel.
       ``(G) The Office of the Chief Privacy Officer.
       ``(H) The Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
       ``(I) The Office of Operations and Coordination and 
     Planning.
       ``(J) The Office of Intelligence and Analysis.
       ``(K) The Office of Legislative Affairs.
       ``(L) The Office of Public Affairs.
       ``(2) Functions.--The Secretary, through the Headquarters, 
     shall--
       ``(A) establish the Department's overall strategy for 
     successfully completing its mission;
       ``(B) establish initiatives that improve performance 
     Department-wide;
       ``(C) establish mechanisms to ensure that components of the 
     Department comply with Headquarters policies and fully 
     implement the Secretary's strategies and initiatives and 
     require the head of each component of the Department and 
     component chief officers to comply with such policies and 
     implement such strategies and initiatives;
       ``(D) establish annual operational and management 
     objectives to determine the Department's performance;
       ``(E) ensure that the Department successfully meets 
     operational and management performance objectives through 
     conducting oversight of component agencies;
       ``(F) ensure that the strategies, priorities, investments, 
     and workforce of Department agencies align with Department 
     objectives;
       ``(G) establish and implement policies related to 
     Department ethics and compliance standards;
       ``(H) manage and encourage shared services across 
     Department components;
       ``(I) lead and coordinate interaction with Congress and 
     other external organizations; and
       ``(J) carry out other such functions as the Secretary 
     determines are appropriate.''.
       (b) Abolishment of Director of Shared Services.--
       (1) Abolishment.--The position of Director of Shared 
     Services is abolished.
       (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 475 of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 295), and the item relating to 
     such section in the table of contents in section 1(b) of such 
     Act, are repealed.
       (c) Abolishment of the Office of Counternarcotics 
     Enforcement.--

[[Page H6992]]

       (1) Abolishment.--The Office of Counternarcotics 
     Enforcement is abolished.
       (2) Conforming amendments.--The Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 is amended--
       (A) by repealing section 878 (6 U.S.C. 112), and the item 
     relating to that section in the table of contents in section 
     1(b) of such Act; and
       (B) in subparagraph (B) of section 843(b)(1) (6 U.S.C. 
     413(b)(1)), by striking ``by--'' and all that follows through 
     the end of that subparagraph and inserting ``by the 
     Secretary; and''.

     SEC. 103. CHIEF PRIVACY OFFICER.

       (a) In General.--Section 222 of the Homeland Security Act 
     of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 142) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
       (i) by inserting ``to be the Chief Privacy Officer of the 
     Department,'' after ``in the Department,''; and
       (ii) by striking ``, to assume'' and inserting ``and who 
     shall have'';
       (B) by amending paragraph (6) to read as follows:
       ``(6) preparing a report to Congress on an annual basis 
     on--
       ``(A) activities of the Department that affect privacy, 
     including complaints of privacy violations, implementation of 
     section 554 of title 5, United States Code (popularly known 
     as the Privacy Act of 1974), internal controls, and other 
     matters; and
       ``(B) the number of new technology programs implemented in 
     the Department each fiscal year, the number of those programs 
     that the Chief Privacy Officer has evaluated to ensure that 
     privacy protections are considered and implemented, the 
     number of those programs that effectively implemented privacy 
     protections into new technology programs, and an explanation 
     of why any new programs did not effectively implement privacy 
     protections.'';
       (3) by redesignating subsections (b) through (e) as 
     subsections (c) through (f); and
       (4) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
       ``(b) Additional Responsibilities.--In addition to the 
     responsibilities under subsection (a), the Chief Privacy 
     Officer shall--
       ``(1) develop guidance to assist components of the 
     Department in developing privacy policies and practices;
       ``(2) establish a mechanism to ensure such components are 
     in compliance with Federal, regulatory, statutory, and the 
     Department's privacy requirements, mandates, directives, and 
     policy;
       ``(3) work with the Chief Information Officer of the 
     Department to identify methods for managing and overseeing 
     the Department's records, management policies, and 
     procedures;
       ``(4) work with components and offices of the Department to 
     ensure that information sharing activities incorporate 
     privacy protections;
       ``(5) serve as the Department's central office for managing 
     and processing requests related to section 552 of title 5, 
     United States Code, popularly known as the Freedom of 
     Information Act;
       ``(6) develop public guidance on procedures to be followed 
     when making requests for information under section 552 of 
     title 5, United States Code;
       ``(7) oversee the management and processing of requests for 
     information under section 552 of title 5, United States Code, 
     within Department Headquarters and relevant Department 
     component offices;
       ``(8) identify and eliminate unnecessary and duplicative 
     actions taken by the Department in the course of processing 
     requests for information under section 552 of title 5, United 
     States Code; and
       ``(9) carry out such other responsibilities as the 
     Secretary determines are appropriate, consistent with this 
     section.''; and
       (5) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(g) Reassignment of Functions.--The Secretary may 
     reassign the functions related to managing and processing 
     requests for information under section 552 of title 5, United 
     States Code, to another officer within the Department, 
     consistent with requirements of that section.''.

     SEC. 104. OFFICE OF POLICY.

       (a) In General.--The Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
     U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended by--
       (1) redesignating section 601 as section 890B, and 
     transferring that section to appear immediately after section 
     890A; and
       (2) striking the heading for title VI and inserting the 
     following:

                    ``TITLE VI--POLICY AND PLANNING

     ``SEC. 601. OFFICE OF POLICY.

       ``(a) Establishment of Office.--There shall be in the 
     Department an Office of Policy. The Office of Policy shall be 
     headed by an Under Secretary for Policy, who shall be 
     appointed by the President, by and with the advice and 
     consent of the Senate.
       ``(b) Mission.--The mission of the Office of Policy is to 
     lead, conduct, and coordinate Department-wide policy, 
     strategic planning, and relationships with organizations or 
     persons that are not part of the Department.
       ``(c) Components of Office.--The Office of Policy shall 
     include the following components:
       ``(1) The Office of Partnership and Engagement under 
     section 602.
       ``(2) The Office of International Affairs under section 
     603.
       ``(3) The Office of Policy Implementation under section 
     604.
       ``(4) The Office of Strategy and Planning under section 
     605.
       ``(d) Responsibilities of the Under Secretary.--Subject to 
     the direction and control of the Secretary, the Under 
     Secretary for Policy shall--
       ``(1) serve as the principal policy advisor to the 
     Secretary;
       ``(2) coordinate with the Under Secretary for Management 
     and the General Counsel of the Department to ensure that 
     development of the Department's budget is compatible with the 
     priorities, strategic plans, and policies established by the 
     Secretary, including those priorities identified through the 
     Quadrennial Homeland Security Review required under section 
     707;
       ``(3) incorporate relevant feedback from, and oversee and 
     coordinate relationships with, organizations and other 
     persons that are not part of the Department to ensure 
     effective communication of outside stakeholders' perspectives 
     to components of the Department;
       ``(4) establish a process to ensure that organizations and 
     other persons that are not part of the Department can 
     communicate with Department components without compromising 
     adherence by the officials of such components to the 
     Department's ethics and policies;
       ``(5) manage and coordinate the Department's international 
     engagement activities;
       ``(6) advise, inform, and assist the Secretary on the 
     impact of the Department's policy, processes, and actions on 
     State, local, tribal, and territorial governments;
       ``(7) oversee the Department's engagement and development 
     of partnerships with nonprofit organizations and academic 
     institutions;
       ``(8) administer the Homeland Security Advisory Council and 
     make studies available to the Committee on Homeland Security 
     of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate on an annual 
     basis; and
       ``(9) carry out such other responsibilities as the 
     Secretary determines are appropriate, consistent with this 
     section.
       ``(e) Coordination by Department Components.--
       ``(1) In general.--To ensure consistency with the 
     Secretary's policy priorities, the head of each component of 
     the Department shall coordinate with the Office of Policy, as 
     appropriate, in establishing new policies or strategic 
     planning guidance.
       ``(2) International activities.--
       ``(A) Foreign negotiations.--Each component of the 
     Department shall coordinate with the Under Secretary for 
     Policy plans and efforts of the component before pursuing 
     negotiations with foreign governments, to ensure consistency 
     with the Department's policy priorities.
       ``(B) Notice of international travel by senior officers.--
     Each component of the Department shall notify the Under 
     Secretary for Policy of the international travel of senior 
     officers of the Department.
       ``(f) Assignment of Personnel.--The Secretary shall assign 
     to the Office of Policy permanent staff and, as appropriate 
     and consistent with sections 506(c)(2), 821, and 888(d), 
     other appropriate personnel detailed from other components of 
     the Department to carry out the responsibilities under this 
     section.
       ``(g) Deputy Under Secretary for Policy.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may--
       ``(A) establish within the Department of Homeland Security 
     a position, to be called the Deputy Under Secretary for 
     Policy, to support the Under Secretary for Policy in carrying 
     out the Under Secretary's responsibilities; and
       ``(B) appoint a career employee to such position.
       ``(2) Limitation on establishment of deputy under secretary 
     positions.--A Deputy Under Secretary position (or any 
     substantially similar position) within the Department of 
     Homeland Security may not be established except for the 
     position provided for by paragraph (1) unless the Secretary 
     of Homeland Security receives prior authorization from 
     Congress.
       ``(3) Definitions.--For purposes of paragraph (1)--
       ``(A) the term `career employee' means any employee (as 
     that term is defined in section 2105 of title 5, United 
     States Code), but does not include a political appointee; and
       ``(B) the term `political appointee' means any employee who 
     occupies a position which has been excepted from the 
     competitive service by reason of its confidential, policy-
     determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character.

     ``SEC. 602. OFFICE OF PARTNERSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT.

       ``(a) In General.--There shall be in the Office of Policy 
     an Office of Partnership and Engagement.
       ``(b) Head of Office.--The Secretary shall appoint an 
     Assistant Secretary for Partnership and Engagement to serve 
     as the head of the Office.
       ``(c) Responsibilities.--The Assistant Secretary for 
     Partnership and Engagement shall--
       ``(1) lead the coordination of Department-wide policies 
     relating to the role of State and local law enforcement in 
     preventing, preparing for, protecting against, and responding 
     to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made 
     disasters within the United States;
       ``(2) serve as a liaison between State, local, and tribal 
     law enforcement agencies and the Department, including 
     through consultation

[[Page H6993]]

     with such agencies regarding Department programs that may 
     impact such agencies;
       ``(3) coordinate with the Office of Intelligence and 
     Analysis to certify the intelligence and information sharing 
     requirements of State, local, and tribal law enforcement 
     agencies are being addressed;
       ``(4) work with the Administrator to ensure that law 
     enforcement and terrorism-focused grants to State, local, and 
     tribal government agencies, including grants under sections 
     2003 and 2004, the Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance 
     Program, and other grants administered by the Department to 
     support fusion centers and law enforcement-oriented programs, 
     are appropriately focused on terrorism prevention activities;
       ``(5) coordinate with the Science and Technology 
     Directorate, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the 
     Department of Justice, the National Institute of Justice, law 
     enforcement organizations, and other appropriate entities to 
     support the development, promulgation, and updating, as 
     necessary, of national voluntary consensus standards for 
     training and personal protective equipment to be used in a 
     tactical environment by law enforcement officers;
       ``(6) create and foster strategic communications with the 
     private sector to enhance the primary mission of the 
     Department to protect the American homeland;
       ``(7) advise the Secretary on the impact of the 
     Department's policies, regulations, processes, and actions on 
     the private sector;
       ``(8) interface with other relevant Federal agencies with 
     homeland security missions to assess the impact of these 
     agencies' actions on the private sector;
       ``(9) create and manage private sector advisory councils 
     composed of representatives of industries and associations 
     designated by the Secretary to--
       ``(A) advise the Secretary on private sector products, 
     applications, and solutions as they relate to homeland 
     security challenges;
       ``(B) advise the Secretary on homeland security policies, 
     regulations, processes, and actions that affect the 
     participating industries and associations; and
       ``(C) advise the Secretary on private sector preparedness 
     issues, including effective methods for--
       ``(i) promoting voluntary preparedness standards to the 
     private sector; and
       ``(ii) assisting the private sector in adopting voluntary 
     preparedness standards;
       ``(10) promote existing public-private partnerships and 
     developing new public-private partnerships to provide for 
     collaboration and mutual support to address homeland security 
     challenges;
       ``(11) assist in the development and promotion of private 
     sector best practices to secure critical infrastructure;
       ``(12) provide information to the private sector regarding 
     voluntary preparedness standards and the business 
     justification for preparedness and promoting to the private 
     sector the adoption of voluntary preparedness standards;
       ``(13) coordinate industry efforts, with respect to 
     functions of the Department of Homeland Security, to identify 
     private sector resources and capabilities that could be 
     effective in supplementing Federal, State, and local 
     government agency efforts to prevent or respond to a 
     terrorist attack;
       ``(14) coordinate with the Commissioner of Customs and 
     Border Protection and the appropriate senior official of the 
     Department of Commerce on issues related to the travel and 
     tourism industries;
       ``(15) coordinate the activities of the Department relating 
     to State and local government;
       ``(16) assess, and advocate for, the resources needed by 
     State and local governments to implement the national 
     strategy for combating terrorism;
       ``(17) provide State and local governments with regular 
     information, research, and technical support to assist local 
     efforts at securing the homeland;
       ``(18) develop a process for receiving meaningful input 
     from State and local governments to assist the development of 
     the national strategy for combating terrorism and other 
     homeland security activities; and
       ``(19) perform such other functions as are established by 
     law or delegated to such Assistant Secretary by the Under 
     Secretary for Policy.

     ``SEC. 603. OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.

       ``(a) In General.--There shall be in the Office of Policy 
     an Office of International Affairs.
       ``(b) Head of Office.--The Secretary shall appoint an 
     Assistant Secretary for International Affairs to serve as the 
     head of the Office and as the chief diplomatic officer of the 
     Department.
       ``(c) Functions.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary for 
     International Affairs shall--
       ``(A) coordinate international activities within the 
     Department, including activities carried out by the 
     components of the Department, in consultation with other 
     Federal officials with responsibility for counterterrorism 
     and homeland security matters;
       ``(B) advise, inform, and assist the Secretary with respect 
     to the development and implementation of Departmental policy 
     priorities, including strategic priorities for the deployment 
     of assets, including personnel, outside the United States;
       ``(C) develop, in consultation with the Under Secretary for 
     Management, guidance for selecting, assigning, training, and 
     monitoring overseas deployments of Department personnel, 
     including minimum standards for predeployment training;
       ``(D) develop and update, in coordination with all 
     components of the Department engaged in international 
     activities, a strategic plan for the international activities 
     of the Department, establish a process for managing its 
     implementation, and establish mechanisms to monitor the 
     alignment between assets, including personnel, deployed by 
     the Department outside the United States and the plan 
     required by this subparagraph;
       ``(E) develop and distribute guidance on Department policy 
     priorities for overseas activities to personnel deployed 
     overseas, that, at a minimum, sets forth the regional and 
     national priorities being advanced by their deployment, and 
     establish mechanisms to foster better coordination of 
     Department personnel, programs, and activities deployed 
     outside the United States;
       ``(F) maintain awareness regarding the international travel 
     of senior officers of the Department and their intent to 
     pursue negotiations with foreign government officials, and 
     review resulting draft agreements;
       ``(G) develop, in consultation with the components of the 
     Department, including, as appropriate, with the Under 
     Secretary for the Science and Technology Directorate, 
     programs to support the overseas programs conducted by the 
     Department, including training, technical assistance, and 
     equipment to ensure that Department personnel deployed abroad 
     have proper resources and receive adequate and timely 
     support;
       ``(H) conduct the exchange of homeland security 
     information, in consultation with the Under Secretary of the 
     Office of Intelligence and Analysis, and best practices 
     relating to homeland security with foreign nations that, in 
     the determination of the Secretary, reciprocate the sharing 
     of such information in a substantially similar manner;
       ``(I) submit information to the Under Secretary for Policy 
     for oversight purposes, including preparation of the 
     quadrennial homeland security review and on the status of 
     overseas activities, including training and technical 
     assistance and information exchange activities and the 
     Department's resources dedicated to these activities;
       ``(J) promote, when appropriate, and oversee the exchange 
     of education, training, and information with nations friendly 
     to the United States in order to share best practices 
     relating to homeland security; and
       ``(K) perform such other functions as are established by 
     law or delegated by the Under Secretary for Policy.
       ``(2) Inventory of assets deployed abroad.--For each fiscal 
     year, the Assistant Secretary for International Affairs, in 
     coordination with the Under Secretary for Management, shall 
     provide to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate with the annual budget 
     request for the Department, an annual accounting of all 
     assets of the Department, including personnel, deployed 
     outside the United States on behalf of the Department.
       ``(3) Standardized framework for cost data.--The Assistant 
     Secretary for International Affairs shall utilize a 
     standardized framework to collect and maintain comparable 
     cost data for all assets of the Department, including 
     personnel, deployed outside the United States to prepare the 
     annual accounting required by paragraph (2).
       ``(4) Exclusions.--This subsection does not apply to 
     international activities related to the protective mission of 
     the United States Secret Service, or to the Coast Guard when 
     operating under the direct authority of the Secretary of 
     Defense or the Secretary of the Navy.

     ``SEC. 604. OFFICE OF POLICY IMPLEMENTATION.

       ``(a) In General.--There shall be in the Office of Policy 
     an Office of Policy Implementation.
       ``(b) Head of Office.--The Secretary shall appoint a 
     Director of the Office of Policy Implementation to serve as 
     the head of the Office.
       ``(c) Responsibilities.--The Director of the Office of 
     Policy Implementation shall lead, conduct, coordinate, and 
     provide overall direction and supervision of Department-wide 
     policy development for the programs, offices, and activities 
     of the Department, in consultation with relevant officials of 
     the Department, to ensure quality, consistency, and 
     integration across the Department, as appropriate.

     ``SEC. 605. OFFICE OF STRATEGY AND PLANNING.

       ``(a) In General.--There shall be in the Office of Policy 
     of the Department an Office of Strategy and Planning.
       ``(b) Head of Office.--The Secretary shall appoint a 
     Director of the Office of Strategy and Planning who shall 
     serve as the head of the Office.
       ``(c) Responsibilities.--The Director of the Office of 
     Strategy and Planning shall--
       ``(1) lead and conduct long-term Department-wide strategic 
     planning, including the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review 
     and planning guidance for the Department, and translate the 
     Department's statutory responsibilities, strategic plans, and 
     long-term goals into risk-based policies and procedures that 
     improve operational effectiveness; and
       ``(2) develop strategies to address unconventional threats 
     to the homeland.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) of such Act is amended--
       (1) by striking the items relating to title VI and 
     inserting the following:

[[Page H6994]]

                    ``TITLE VI--POLICY AND PLANNING

``Sec. 601. Office of Policy.
``Sec. 602. Office of Partnership and Engagement.
``Sec. 603. Office of International Affairs.
``Sec. 604. Office of Policy Implementation.
``Sec. 605. Office of Strategy and Planning.''.
       (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 890A 
     the following:

``Sec. 890B. Treatment of charitable trusts for members of the Armed 
              Forces of the United States and other governmental 
              organizations.''.
       (c) Appointment of Under Secretary for Policy; Continuation 
     of Service of Assistant Secretary.--
       (1) Time of appointment.--The President may appoint an 
     Under Secretary for Policy under section 601 of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002, as amended by this Act, only on or 
     after January 20, 2017.
       (2) Head of office pending appointment.--The individual 
     serving as the Assistant Secretary for Policy of the 
     Department of Homeland Security on the date of the enactment 
     of this Act, or their successor, may continue to serve as an 
     Assistant Secretary and as the head of the Office of Policy 
     established by such section, until the date on which the 
     Under Secretary for Policy is appointed under such section in 
     accordance with paragraph (1).
       (d) Appointment of Assistant Secretary for International 
     Affairs; Abolishment of Existing Office.--
       (1) Time of appointment.--The Secretary of Homeland 
     Security may appoint an Assistant Secretary for International 
     Affairs under section 602 of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002, as amended by this Act, only on or after January 20, 
     2017.
       (2) Head of office pending appointment.--The individual 
     serving as the Assistant Secretary for International Affairs 
     of the Department of Homeland Security on the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, or their successor, may continue to 
     serve as a Deputy Assistant Secretary and as the head of the 
     Office of International Affairs established by such section, 
     until the date the Under Secretary for Policy is appointed 
     under such section in accordance with paragraph (1).
       (3) Abolishment of existing office.--
       (A) In general.--The Office of International Affairs within 
     the Office of the Secretary is abolished.
       (B) Transfer of assets and personnel.--The assets and 
     personnel associated with such Office are transferred to the 
     head of the Office of International Affairs provided for by 
     section 603 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended 
     by this Act.
       (C) Conforming amendment.--Subsection 879 of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 459), and the item relating to 
     such section in section 1(b) of such Act, are repealed.
       (e) Abolishment of Office for State and Local Law 
     Enforcement.--
       (1) In general.--The Office for State and Local Law 
     Enforcement of the Department of Homeland Security is 
     abolished.
       (2) Transfer of functions, assets, and personnel.--The 
     functions authorized to be performed by such office 
     immediately before the enactment of this Act, and the assets 
     and personnel associated with such functions, are transferred 
     to the head of the Office of Partnership and Engagement 
     provided for by section 602 of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002, as amended by this Act.
       (3) Conforming amendment.--Subsection (b) of section 2006 
     of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 607) is 
     repealed.
       (f) Abolishment of Office for State and Local Government 
     Coordination.--
       (1) In general.--The Office for State and Local Government 
     Coordination of the Department of Homeland Security is 
     abolished.
       (2) Transfer of functions and assets.--The functions 
     authorized to be performed by such office immediately before 
     the enactment of this Act, and the assets and personnel 
     associated with such functions, are transferred to the head 
     of Office of Partnership and Engagement provided for by 
     section 602 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended 
     by this Act.
       (3) Conforming amendments.--Section 801 of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 631), and the item relating to 
     that section in the table of contents in section 1(b) of such 
     Act, are repealed.
       (g) Abolishment of Special Assistant to the Secretary.--
       (1) In general.--The Special Assistant to the Secretary 
     authorized by section 102(f) of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 (6 U.S.C. 112(f)), as in effect immediately before the 
     enactment of this Act, is abolished.
       (2) Transfer of functions and assets.--The functions 
     authorized to be performed by such Special Assistant to the 
     Secretary immediately before the enactment of this Act, and 
     the assets and personnel associated with such functions, are 
     transferred to the head of the Office of Partnership and 
     Engagement provided for by section 602 of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002, as amended by this Act.
       (3) Conforming amendment.--Section 102(f) of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 112(f)) is repealed.
       (h) Conforming Amendments Relating to Assistant 
     Secretaries.--Section 103(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 (6 U.S.C. 113(a)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraph (I) and 
     redesignating subparagraph (J) as subparagraph (I); and
       (2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
       ``(2) Assistant secretaries.--
       ``(A) Advice and consent appointments.--The Department 
     shall have the following Assistant Secretaries appointed by 
     the President, by and with the advice and consent of the 
     Senate:
       ``(i) The Assistant Secretary, U.S. Immigration and Customs 
     Enforcement.
       ``(ii) The Assistant Secretary, Transportation Security 
     Administration.
       ``(B) Other presidential appointments.--The Department 
     shall have the following Assistant Secretaries appointed by 
     the President:
       ``(i) The Assistant Secretary, Infrastructure Protection.
       ``(ii) The Assistant Secretary, Office of Public Affairs.
       ``(iii) The Assistant Secretary, Office of Legislative 
     Affairs.
       ``(C) Secretarial appointments.--The Department shall have 
     the following Assistant Secretaries appointed by the 
     Secretary:
       ``(i) The Assistant Secretary, Office of Cybersecurity and 
     Communications.
       ``(ii) The Assistant Secretary for International Affairs 
     under section 602.
       ``(iii) The Assistant Secretary for Partnership and 
     Engagement under section 603.
       ``(D) Limitation on creation of positions.--No Assistant 
     Secretary position may be created in addition to the 
     positions provided for by this section unless such position 
     is authorized by a statute enacted after the date of the 
     enactment of the DHS Headquarters Reform and Improvement Act 
     of 2015.''.
       (i) Homeland Security Advisory Council.--Section 102(b) of 
     the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 112(b)) is 
     amended by striking ``and'' after the semicolon at the end of 
     paragraph (2), striking the period at the end of paragraph 
     (3) and inserting ``; and'', and adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(4) shall establish a Homeland Security Advisory Council 
     to provide advice and recommendations on homeland-security-
     related matters.''.
       (j) Prohibition on New Offices.--No new office may be 
     created to perform functions transferred by this section, 
     other than as provided in section 601 of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002, as amended by this Act, unless the 
     Secretary of Homeland Security receives prior authorization 
     from Congress permitting such change.
       (k) Definitions.--In this section each of the terms 
     ``functions'', ``assets'', and ``personnel'' has the meaning 
     that term has under section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 (6 U.S.C. 101).
       (l) Duplication Review.--The Secretary of Homeland Security 
     shall--
       (1) within 1 year after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, complete a review of the international affairs offices, 
     functions, and responsibilities of the components of the 
     Department of Homeland Security, to identify and eliminate 
     areas of unnecessary duplication; and
       (2) within 30 days after the completion of such review, 
     provide the results of the review to the Committee on 
     Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of 
     the Senate.

     SEC. 105. QUADRENNIAL HOMELAND SECURITY REVIEW.

       Section 707 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
     347) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
       ``(1) Review required.--In fiscal year 2017, and every 4 
     years thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct a review of the 
     homeland security of the Nation (in this section referred to 
     as a `quadrennial homeland security review'). Such review 
     shall be conducted so that it is completed, and the report 
     under subsection (c) is issued, by no later than December 31, 
     2017, and by December 31 of every fourth year thereafter.''; 
     and
       (B) in paragraph (3) by striking ``The Secretary shall 
     conduct each quadrennial homeland security review under this 
     subsection in consultation with'' and inserting ``In order to 
     ensure that each quadrennial homeland security review 
     conducted under this section is coordinated with the 
     quadrennial defense review conducted by the Secretary of 
     Defense under section 118 of title 10, United States Code, 
     and any other major strategic review relating to diplomacy, 
     intelligence, or other national security issues, the 
     Secretary shall conduct and obtain information and feedback 
     from entities of the homeland security enterprise through'';
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon at the end;
       (B) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding after paragraph (6) the following:
       ``(7) leverage analytical tools and resources developed as 
     part of the quadrennial homeland security review to support 
     the Department's ongoing programs and missions.'';
       (3) in subsection (c)(2)--
       (A) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon at the end of 
     subparagraph (H);
       (B) by redesignating subparagraph (I) as subparagraph (L); 
     and
       (C) by inserting after subparagraph (H) the following:

[[Page H6995]]

       ``(I) a description of how the conclusions under the 
     quadrennial homeland security review will inform efforts to 
     develop capabilities and build capacity of States, local 
     governments, Indian tribes, and private entities, and of 
     individuals, families, and communities;
       ``(J) as appropriate, proposed changes to the authorities, 
     organization, governance structure, or business processes 
     (including acquisition processes) of the Department in order 
     to better fulfill responsibilities of the Department;
       ``(K) where appropriate, a classified annex, including 
     materials prepared pursuant to section 306 of title 5, United 
     States Code, relating to the preparation of an agency 
     strategic plan, to satisfy, in whole or in part, the 
     reporting requirements of this paragraph; and''.

     SEC. 106. FUTURE YEARS HOMELAND SECURITY PROGRAM.

       Section 874 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
     454) is amended--
       (1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
       ``(a) In General.--Not later than the 30 days following the 
     date of each fiscal year on which the budget of the President 
     is submitted to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, 
     United States Code, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate a Future Years Homeland 
     Security Program that provides detailed estimates of the 
     projected expenditures and corresponding requests for 
     appropriations included in that budget. The Future Years 
     Homeland Security Program shall cover the fiscal year for 
     which the budget is submitted and the 4 succeeding fiscal 
     years.''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(d) Consistency of Budget Request With Estimates.--For 
     each fiscal year, the Secretary shall ensure that the 
     projected amounts specified in program and budget information 
     for the Department submitted to Congress in support of the 
     President's budget request are consistent with the estimated 
     expenditures and proposed appropriations necessary to support 
     the programs, projects, and activities of the Department 
     included in the budget pursuant to section 1105(a)(5) of 
     title 31, United States Code.
       ``(e) Explanation of Alignment With Strategies and Plans.--
     Together with the detailed estimates of the projected 
     expenditures and corresponding requests for appropriations 
     submitted for the Future Years Homeland Security Program, the 
     Secretary shall provide an explanation of how those estimates 
     and requests align with the homeland security strategies and 
     plans developed and updated as appropriate by the Secretary. 
     Such explanation shall include an evaluation of the 
     organization, organizational structure, governance structure, 
     and business processes (including acquisition processes) of 
     the Department, to ensure that the Department is able to meet 
     its responsibilities.
       ``(f) Projection of Acquisition Estimates.--Each Future 
     Years Homeland Security Program shall project--
       ``(1) acquisition estimates for a period of 5 fiscal years, 
     with specified estimates for each fiscal year, for major 
     acquisition programs by the Department and each component 
     therein, including modernization and sustainment expenses; 
     and
       ``(2) estimated annual deployment schedules for major 
     acquisition programs over the 5-fiscal-year period.
       ``(g) Contingency Amounts.--Nothing in this section shall 
     be construed as prohibiting the inclusion in the Future Years 
     Homeland Security Program of amounts for management 
     contingencies, subject to the requirements of subsection (b).
       ``(h) Classified or Sensitive Annex.--The Secretary may 
     include with each submission under this section a classified 
     or sensitive annex containing any information required to be 
     submitted under this section that is restricted from public 
     disclosure in accordance with Federal law, including 
     information that is determined to be Sensitive Security 
     Information under section 537 of the Department of Homeland 
     Security Appropriations Act, 2006 (6 U.S.C. 114) to Congress 
     in a classified or sensitive annex.
       ``(i) Availability of Information to the Public.--The 
     Secretary shall make available to the public in electronic 
     form the information required to be submitted to Congress 
     under this section, other than information described in 
     subsection (h).''.

     SEC. 107. MANAGEMENT AND EXECUTION.

       Section 701 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
     341) is amended by striking subsections (a) and (b) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(a) In General.--Subject to the direction and control of 
     the Secretary, the Under Secretary for Management shall serve 
     as the following:
       ``(1) The Chief Management Officer for all matters related 
     to the management and administration of the Department in 
     support of homeland security operations and programs. With 
     regard to the management functions for which the Under 
     Secretary has responsibility by law or by direction of the 
     Secretary, the Under Secretary for Management takes 
     precedence in the Department after the Secretary and the 
     Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.
       ``(2) The senior official with the authority to administer, 
     implement, and direct management integration and 
     transformation across functional disciplines of the 
     Department, including--
       ``(A) information technology, financial management, 
     acquisition management, and human capital management of the 
     Department to improve program efficiency and effectiveness;
       ``(B) ensure compliance with laws, rules, regulations, and 
     the Department's policies;
       ``(C) conduct regular oversight; and
       ``(D) prevent unnecessary duplication of programs in the 
     Department.
       ``(b) Responsibilities.--In addition to responsibilities 
     designated by the Secretary or otherwise established by law, 
     the Under Secretary for Management shall be responsible for 
     performing, or delegating responsibility for performing, the 
     following activities of the Department:
       ``(1) Development of the budget, management of 
     appropriations, expenditures of funds, accounting, and 
     finance.
       ``(2) Acquisition and procurement activities under section 
     701(d).
       ``(3) Human resources and personnel.
       ``(4) Information technology and communication systems, in 
     consultation with the Under Secretary for Intelligence and 
     Analysis, as appropriate.
       ``(5) Facilities, property, equipment, and other material 
     resources.
       ``(6) Real property and personal property.
       ``(7) Security for personnel, information technology and 
     communications systems, facilities, property, equipment, and 
     other material resources.
       ``(8) Strategic management planning, annual performance 
     planning, and identification and tracking of performance 
     measures relating to the responsibilities of the Department, 
     including such responsibilities under section 306 of title 5, 
     United States Code.
       ``(9) Oversight of grants and other assistance management 
     programs to ensure proper administration.
       ``(10) Management integration and transformation within 
     each functional management discipline of the Department, 
     including information technology, financial management, 
     acquisition management, and human capital management, and the 
     transition process, to ensure an efficient and orderly 
     consolidation of functions and personnel in the Department 
     and transition, including the--
       ``(A) development of coordinated data sources and 
     connectivity of information systems to the greatest extent 
     practical to enhance program visibility and transparency;
       ``(B) development of standardized, automated, and real-time 
     management information to uniformly manage and oversee 
     programs, and make informed decisions to improve the 
     efficiency of the Department;
       ``(C) development of effective program management and 
     regular oversight mechanisms, including clear roles and 
     processes for program governance, sharing of best practices, 
     and access to timely, reliable, and analyzed data on all 
     acquisitions and investments;
       ``(D) implementation of mechanisms to promote 
     accountability for management integration among Department 
     and component chief officers;
       ``(E) integration of financial management systems within 
     and across the Department to ensure financial transparency, 
     support daily operational and financial decisionmaking, and 
     maintain consecutive unqualified opinions for all financial 
     statements, including the responsibility to review, approve, 
     and oversee the planning, design, acquisition, deployment, 
     operation, maintenance, and modernization of business 
     systems;
       ``(F) integration of human resource management systems 
     within and across the Department to track and record 
     information (including attrition rates, knowledge, skills, 
     and abilities critical for workforce planning, identifying 
     current and future human capital needs, including recruitment 
     efforts and improving employee morale), including the 
     responsibility to review, approve, and oversee the planning, 
     design, acquisition, deployment, operation, maintenance, and 
     modernization of business systems;
       ``(G) development of a management integration strategy for 
     the Department and its components to be submitted annually 
     with the President's budget to ensure that management of the 
     Department is strengthened in the areas of human capital, 
     acquisition, information technology, and financial 
     management, which shall include--
       ``(i) short- and long-term objectives to effectively guide 
     implementation of interoperable business systems solutions;
       ``(ii) issuance of guidance and action plans with dates, 
     specific actions, and costs for implementing management 
     integration and transformation of common functional 
     disciplines across the Department and its components;
       ``(iii) specific operational and tactical goals, 
     activities, and timelines needed to accomplish the 
     integration effort;
       ``(iv) performance measures to monitor and validate 
     corrective measures;
       ``(v) efforts to identify resources needed to achieve key 
     actions and outcomes;
       ``(vi) other issues impeding management integration;
       ``(vii) reporting to the Government Accountability Office 
     twice annually to demonstrate measurable, sustainable 
     progress made in implementing the Department's corrective 
     action plans and achieving key outcomes, including 
     regarding--

       ``(I) leadership commitment;
       ``(II) capacity building; and

[[Page H6996]]

       ``(III) continuous monitoring to address Government 
     Accountability Office designations of programs at high risk 
     for waste, fraud, and abuse, including with respect to 
     strengthening management functions;

       ``(viii) review and approve any major update to the 
     Department's strategy related to management integration and 
     transformation across functional disciplines and lines of 
     business, including any business systems modernization plans 
     to maximize benefits and minimize costs for the Department; 
     and
       ``(ix) before December 1 of each year in which a 
     Presidential election is held, the development of a 
     transition and succession plan to guide the transition of 
     Department functions to a new Presidential administration, 
     and making such plan available to the next Secretary and 
     Under Secretary for Management and to the homeland security 
     congressional committees.
       ``(H) Oversight, including the conduct of internal audits 
     and management analyses, of the programs and activities of 
     the Department. Such supervision includes establishing 
     oversight procedures to ensure a full and effective review of 
     the efforts by Department components to implement policies 
     and procedures of the Department for management integration 
     and transformation.
       ``(I) Any other management duties that the Secretary may 
     designate.''.

     SEC. 108. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.

       Section 702 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
     341) is amended by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as 
     subsections (c) and (d), respectively, and by inserting after 
     subsection (a) the following:
       ``(b) Responsibilities.--Notwithstanding sections 901 and 
     1122 of title 31, United States Code, the Chief Financial 
     Officer, in consultation with the Under Secretary for 
     Management and the Under Secretary for Intelligence and 
     Analysis, as appropriate, shall--
       ``(1) lead cost-estimating practices for the Department, 
     including the development of the Department's policy on cost 
     estimating and approval of life cycle cost estimates;
       ``(2) oversee coordination with the Office of Policy on the 
     Department's long-term strategic planning to ensure that the 
     development of the Department's budget is compatible with the 
     priorities, strategic plans, and policies established by the 
     Secretary;
       ``(3) develop and oversee the Department's financial 
     management policy;
       ``(4) provide guidance for and over financial system 
     modernization efforts throughout the Department;
       ``(5) establish effective internal controls over financial 
     reporting systems and processes throughout the Department;
       ``(6) lead assessments of internal controls related to the 
     Department's financial management systems and review 
     financial processes to ensure that internal controls are 
     designed properly and operate effectively;
       ``(7) lead the Department's efforts related to financial 
     oversight, including identifying ways to streamline and 
     standardize business processes;
       ``(8) lead and provide guidance on performance-based 
     budgeting practices for the Department to ensure that the 
     Department and its components are meeting missions and goals;
       ``(9) ensure that Department components' senior financial 
     officers certify that their major acquisition programs have 
     adequate resources to execute their programs through the 5-
     year future years homeland security program period, so that 
     the Department's funding requirements for major acquisition 
     programs match expected resources;
       ``(10) ensure that components identify and report all 
     expected costs of acquisition programs to the Chief Financial 
     Officer of the Department;
       ``(11) oversee Department budget formulation and execution;
       ``(12) fully implement a common accounting structure to be 
     used across the entire Department by fiscal year 2019; and
       ``(13) track, approve, oversee, and make public information 
     on expenditures by components of the Department for 
     conferences, as appropriate, including by requiring each 
     component of the Department to--
       ``(A) report to the Inspector General of the Department the 
     expenditures by the component for each conference hosted or 
     attended by Department employees for which the total 
     expenditures of the Department exceed $20,000, within 15 days 
     after the date of the conference; and
       ``(B) with respect to such expenditures, provide to the 
     Inspector General--
       ``(i) the information described in subsections (a), (b), 
     and (c) of section 739 of Public Law 113-235; and
       ``(ii) documentation of such expenditures.''.

     SEC. 109. CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER.

       (a) In General.--Title VII of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 (6 U.S.C. 341 et seq.) is further amended by adding at 
     the end the following:

     ``SEC. 708. CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER.

       ``(a) In General.--There is a Chief Procurement Officer of 
     the Department, who shall report directly to the Under 
     Secretary for Management. The Chief Procurement Officer is 
     the senior procurement executive for purposes of section 
     1702(c) of title 41 United States Code, and shall perform 
     procurement functions as specified in such section. The Chief 
     Procurement Officer also shall perform other functions and 
     responsibilities set forth in this section and as may be 
     assigned by the Under Secretary for Management.
       ``(b) Responsibilities.--The Chief Procurement Officer 
     shall--
       ``(1) exercise leadership and authority to the extent 
     delegated by the Under Secretary for Management over the 
     Department's procurement function;
       ``(2) issue procurement policies, and shall serve as a 
     senior business advisor to agency officials on acquisition-
     related matters, including policy and workforce matters, as 
     determined by the Under Secretary for Management;
       ``(3) account for the integrity, performance, and oversight 
     of Department procurement and contracting functions and be 
     responsible for ensuring that a procurement's contracting 
     strategy and plans are consistent with the intent and 
     direction of the Acquisition Review Board;
       ``(4) serve as the Department's main liaison to industry on 
     procurement-related issues;
       ``(5) oversee a centralized certification and training 
     program, in consultation with the Under Secretary for 
     Management, for the entire Department acquisition workforce 
     while using, to the greatest extent practicable, best 
     practices and acquisition training opportunities already in 
     existence within the Federal Government, the private sector, 
     or universities and colleges, as appropriate, and including 
     training on how best to identify actions that warrant 
     referrals for suspension or debarment;
       ``(6) delegate or retain contracting authority, as 
     appropriate;
       ``(7) provide input on the periodic performance reviews of 
     each head of contracting activity of the Department;
       ``(8) collect baseline data and use such data to establish 
     performance measures on the impact of strategic sourcing 
     initiatives on the private sector, including, in particular, 
     small businesses;
       ``(9) ensure that a fair proportion (as defined pursuant to 
     the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.)) of Federal 
     contract and subcontract dollars are awarded to small 
     businesses, maximize opportunities for small business 
     participation, and ensure, to the extent practicable, small 
     businesses that achieve qualified vendor status for security-
     related technologies are provided an opportunity to compete 
     for contracts for such technology; and
       ``(10) conduct oversight of implementation of 
     administrative agreements to resolve suspension or debarment 
     proceedings and, upon request, provide information to the 
     Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate about the effectiveness of 
     such agreements at improving contractor responsibility.
       ``(c) Head of Contracting Activity Defined.--In this 
     section the term `head of contracting activity' means each 
     official responsible for the creation, management, and 
     oversight of a team of procurement professionals properly 
     trained, certified, and warranted to accomplish the 
     acquisition of products and services on behalf of the 
     designated components, offices, and organizations of the 
     Department, and as authorized, other government entities.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) of such Act is further amended by adding at the end of 
     the items relating to such title the following:

``Sec. 708. Chief Procurement Officer.''.

     SEC. 110. CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER.

       (a) In General.--Section 703 of the Homeland Security Act 
     of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 343) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following: 
     ``In addition to the functions under section 3506(a)(2) of 
     title 44, United States Code, the Chief Information Officer 
     shall perform the functions set forth in this section and 
     such other functions as may be assigned by the Secretary.'';
       (2) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (e); and
       (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
       ``(b) Responsibilities.--In addition to the functions under 
     section 3506 of title 44, United States Code, the Chief 
     Information Officer, in consultation with the Under Secretary 
     for Management, shall--
       ``(1) advise and assist the Secretary, heads of the 
     components of the Department, and other senior officers in 
     carrying out the responsibilities of the Department for all 
     activities relating to the budgets, programs, and operations 
     of the information technology functions of the Department;
       ``(2) to the extent delegated by the Secretary--
       ``(A) exercise leadership and authority over Department 
     information technology management; and
       ``(B) establish the information technology priorities, 
     policies, processes, standards, guidelines, and procedures of 
     the Department to ensure interoperability and standardization 
     of information technology;
       ``(3) serve as the lead technical authority for information 
     technology programs;
       ``(4) maintain a consolidated inventory of the Department's 
     mission critical and mission essential information systems, 
     and develop and maintain contingency plans for responding to 
     a disruption in the operation of any of those information 
     systems;
       ``(5) maintain the security, visibility, reliability, 
     integrity, and availability of data and information 
     technology of the Department including the security of the 
     Homeland Security Data Network;

[[Page H6997]]

       ``(6) in coordination with relevant officials of the 
     Department, ensure that the Department is in compliance with 
     subchapter II of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code;
       ``(7) establish policies and procedures to effectively 
     monitor and manage vulnerabilities in the supply chain for 
     purchases of information technology;
       ``(8) in coordination with relevant officials of the 
     Department, ensure Department compliance with Homeland 
     Security Presidential Directive 12;
       ``(9) in coordination with relevant officials of the 
     Department, ensure that information technology systems of the 
     Department meet the standards established under the 
     information sharing environment, as defined in section 1016 
     of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 
     2004 (6 U.S.C. 485);
       ``(10) develop measures to monitor the performance of 
     Department components' use and implementation of information 
     technology systems and consistently monitor such performance 
     to ensure that such systems are used effectively;
       ``(11) ensure that Department components report to the 
     Chief Information Officer of the Department a complete 
     inventory of information systems and fully adhere to 
     Department guidance related to information technology;
       ``(12) carry out any other responsibilities delegated by 
     the Secretary consistent with an effective information system 
     management function; and
       ``(13) carry out authorities over Department information 
     technology consistent with section 113419 of title 40, United 
     States Code.
       ``(c) Strategic Plans.--In coordination with the Chief 
     Financial Officer, the Chief Information Officer shall 
     develop an information technology strategic plan every 5 
     years and report to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of 
     the Senate on--
       ``(1) how the information technology strategic plans 
     developed under this subsection are used to help inform the 
     Department's budget process;
       ``(2) how the Department's budget aligns with priorities 
     specified in the information technology strategic plans;
       ``(3) in cases in which it is not possible to fund all 
     information technology strategic plan activities for a given 
     fiscal year, the rationale as to why certain activities are 
     not being funded in lieu of higher priorities;
       ``(4) what decisionmaking process was used to arrive at 
     these priorities and the role of Department components in 
     that process; and
       ``(5) examine the extent to which unnecessary duplicate 
     information technology within and across the components of 
     the Department has been eliminated.
       ``(d) Software Licensing.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     of the enactment of the DHS Headquarters Reform and 
     Improvement Act of 2015, and every 2 years thereafter until 
     2020, the Chief Information Officer, in consultation with 
     Department component chief information officers, shall--
       ``(A) conduct a Department-wide inventory of all existing 
     software licenses held by the Department, including utilized 
     and unutilized licenses;
       ``(B) assess the needs of the Department and the components 
     of the Department for software licenses for the subsequent 2 
     fiscal years;
       ``(C) examine how the Department can achieve the greatest 
     possible economies of scale and cost savings in the 
     procurement of software licenses;
       ``(D) determine how the use of shared cloud-computing 
     services will impact the needs for software licenses for the 
     subsequent 2 fiscal years; and
       ``(E) establish plans and estimated costs for eliminating 
     unutilized software licenses for the subsequent 2 fiscal 
     years.
       ``(2) Excess software licensing.--
       ``(A) Plan to reduce software licenses.--If the Chief 
     Information Officer determines through the inventory 
     conducted under paragraph (1) that the number of software 
     licenses held by the Department and the components of the 
     Department exceed the needs of the Department as assessed 
     under paragraph (1), the Secretary, not later than 90 days 
     after the date on which the inventory is completed, shall 
     establish a plan for bringing the number of such software 
     licenses into balance with such needs of the Department.
       ``(B) Prohibition on procurement of new software 
     licenses.--
       ``(i) In general.--Except as provided in clause (ii), upon 
     completion of a plan established under paragraph (1), no 
     additional resources may be obligated for the procurement of 
     new software licenses for the Department until such time as 
     the need of the Department exceeds the number of used and 
     unused licenses held by the Department.
       ``(ii) Exception.--The Chief Information Officer may 
     authorize the purchase of additional licenses and amend the 
     number of needed licenses as necessary.
       ``(3) GAO review.--The Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall review the inventory conducted under paragraph 
     (1)(A) and the plan established under paragraph (2)(A).
       ``(4) Submission to congress.--The Chief Information 
     Officer shall submit a copy of each inventory conducted under 
     paragraph (1)(A) and each plan established under paragraph 
     (2)(A) to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate.''.
       (b) Completion of First Definition of Capabilities.--The 
     Chief Information Officer shall complete the first 
     implementation of section 701(c) of the Homeland Security Act 
     of 2002, as amended by this section, by not later than 1 year 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 111. CHIEF HUMAN CAPITAL OFFICER.

       Section 704 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
     343) is amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 704. CHIEF HUMAN CAPITAL OFFICER.

       ``(a) In General.--There is a Chief Human Capital Officer 
     of the Department who shall report directly to the Under 
     Secretary of Management.
       ``(b) Responsibilities.--The Chief Human Capital Officer 
     shall--
       ``(1) develop and implement strategic workforce planning 
     efforts that are consistent with Government-wide leading 
     principles, and that are in line with Department strategic 
     human capital goals and priorities;
       ``(2) develop performance measures to provide a basis for 
     monitoring and evaluating Department-wide strategic workforce 
     planning efforts;
       ``(3) develop strategies to recruit, hire, and train the 
     Department workforce;
       ``(4) work with the component heads to identify methods for 
     managing and overseeing human capital programs and 
     initiatives;
       ``(5) develop a career path framework, and create 
     opportunities for leader development;
       ``(6) serve as the Department's central office for managing 
     employee resources, including training and development 
     opportunities;
       ``(7) coordinate the Department's human resource management 
     system;
       ``(8) conduct efficiency reviews to determine if components 
     are implementing human capital programs and initiatives; and
       ``(9) identify and eliminate unnecessary and duplicative 
     human capital policies and guidance.
       ``(c) Component Strategies.--
       ``(1) In general.--Each component of the Department shall 
     coordinate with the Chief Human Capital Officer of the 
     Department to develop or maintain its own 5-year workforce 
     strategy that will support the Department's goals, 
     objectives, performance measures, and determination of the 
     proper balance of Federal employees and private labor 
     resources.
       ``(2) Strategy requirements.--The Chief Human Capital 
     Officer shall ensure that, in the development of the strategy 
     required by subsection (c), the head of the component reports 
     to the Chief Human Capital Officer on the human resources 
     considerations associated with creating additional Federal 
     full-time equivalent positions, converting private contractor 
     positions to Federal employee positions, or relying on the 
     private sector for goods and services, including--
       ``(A) hiring projections, including occupation and grade 
     level, as well as corresponding salaries, benefits, and 
     hiring or retention bonuses;
       ``(B) the identification of critical skills requirements 
     over the 5-year period, any current or anticipated need for 
     critical skills required at the Department, and the training 
     or other measures required to address such need;
       ``(C) recruitment of qualified candidates and retention of 
     qualified employees;
       ``(D) supervisory and management requirements;
       ``(E) travel and related personnel support costs;
       ``(F) the anticipated cost and impact on mission 
     performance associated with replacing Federal personnel due 
     to their retirement or other attrition; and
       ``(G) other appropriate factors.
       ``(d) Annual Submission.--The Secretary shall provide to 
     the appropriate congressional committees, together with 
     submission of the annual budget justification, information on 
     the progress within the Department of fulfilling the 
     workforce strategies required under subsection (c).''.

     SEC. 112. CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER.

       (a) In General.--Title VII of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 (6 U.S.C. 341 et seq.), as amended by section 109(a) of 
     this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 709. CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER.

       ``(a) In General.--There is a Chief Security Officer of the 
     Department, who shall report directly to the Under Secretary 
     for Management.
       ``(b) Responsibilities.--The Chief Security Officer shall--
       ``(1) develop and implement the Department's security 
     policies, programs, and standards;
       ``(2) identify training and provide education to Department 
     personnel on security-related matters; and
       ``(3) provide support to Department components on security-
     related matters.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) of such Act is further amended by adding at the end of 
     the items relating to such title the following:

``Sec. 709. Chief Security Officer.''.

     SEC. 113. COST SAVINGS AND EFFICIENCY REVIEWS.

       Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through 
     the Under Secretary for Management of the Department of 
     Homeland Security, shall submit to the Committee on Homeland 
     Security

[[Page H6998]]

     of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report 
     that--
       (1) provides a detailed inventory of the management and 
     administrative expenditures and activities of the components 
     of the Department and identifies potential cost savings and 
     efficiencies for those expenditures and activities of each 
     such component;
       (2) examines the size, experience level, and geographic 
     distribution of the operational personnel of the Department, 
     including Customs and Border Protection officers, Border 
     Patrol agents, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine 
     agents, Customs and Border Protection agriculture 
     specialists, Federal Protective Service law enforcement 
     security officers, Immigration and Customs Enforcement 
     agents, Transportation Security Administration officers, 
     Federal air marshals, and members of the Coast Guard; and
       (3) makes recommendations for adjustments in the management 
     and administration of the Department that would reduce 
     deficiencies in the Department's capabilities, reduce costs, 
     and enhance efficiencies.

     SEC. 114. FIELD EFFICIENCIES PLAN.

       (1) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security 
     shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the 
     House of Representatives and Committee on Homeland Security 
     and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a field efficiencies 
     plan that--
       (A) examines the facilities and administrative and 
     logistics functions of components of the Department of 
     Homeland Security located within designated geographic areas; 
     and
       (B) provides specific recommendations and an associated 
     cost-benefit analysis for the consolidation of the facilities 
     and administrative and logistics functions of components of 
     the Department within each designated geographic area.
       (2) Contents.--The field efficiencies plan submitted under 
     paragraph (1) shall include the following:
       (A) An accounting of leases held by the Department or its 
     components that have expired in the current fiscal year or 
     will be expiring in the next fiscal year, that have begun or 
     been renewed in the current fiscal year, or that the 
     Department or its components plan to sign or renew in the 
     next fiscal year.
       (B)(i) An evaluation for each designated geographic area of 
     specific facilities at which components, or operational 
     entities of components, of the Department may be closed or 
     consolidated, including consideration of when leases expire 
     or facilities owned by the Government become available.
       (ii) The evaluation shall include consideration of 
     potential consolidation with facilities of other Federal, 
     State, or local entities, including--
       (I) offices;
       (II) warehouses;
       (III) training centers;
       (IV) housing;
       (V) ports, shore facilities, and airfields;
       (VI) laboratories; and
       (VII) other assets as determined by the Secretary.
       (iii) The evaluation shall include the potential for the 
     consolidation of administrative and logistics functions, 
     including--
       (I) facility maintenance;
       (II) fleet vehicle services;
       (III) mail handling and shipping and receiving;
       (IV) facility security;
       (V) procurement of goods and services;
       (VI) information technology and telecommunications services 
     and support; and
       (VII) additional ways to improve unity of effort and cost 
     savings for field operations and related support activities 
     as determined by the Secretary.
       (C) An implementation plan, including--
       (i) near-term actions that can co-locate, consolidate, or 
     dispose of property within 24 months;
       (ii) identifying long-term occupancy agreements or leases 
     that cannot be changed without a significant cost to the 
     Government; and
       (iii) how the Department can ensure it has the capacity, in 
     both personnel and funds, needed to cover up-front costs to 
     achieve consolidation and efficiencies.
       (D) An accounting of any consolidation in the Department or 
     its component's real estate footprint, including the co-
     location of personnel from different components, offices, and 
     agencies within the Department.

     SEC. 115. RESOURCES TO RESPOND TO OPERATIONAL SURGES.

       On an annual basis, the Secretary of Homeland Security 
     shall provide to the Committee on Homeland Security of the 
     House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate information 
     on the circumstances in which the Secretary exercised the 
     authority during the preceding year to reprogram or transfer 
     funds to address unforeseen costs, including the costs 
     associated with operational surges, and information on any 
     circumstances in which limitations on the transfer or 
     reprogramming of funds impacted the Secretary's ability to 
     address such unforeseen costs.

     SEC. 116. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ROTATION PROGRAM.

       (a) Enhancements to the Rotation Program.--Section 844(a) 
     of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6) U.S.C. 414(a)) is 
     amended as follows:
       (1) In paragraph (1)--
       (A) by striking ``Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this section, the'' and inserting ``The''; and
       (B) by striking ``for employees of the Department'' and 
     inserting ``for certain personnel within the Department''.
       (2) In paragraph (2)--
       (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (G) as 
     subparagraphs (C) through (I), and inserting before 
     subparagraph (C), as so redesignated, the following:
       ``(A) seek to foster greater Departmental integration and 
     unity of effort;
       ``(B) seek to help enhance the knowledge, skills, and 
     abilities of participating personnel with respect to the 
     Department's programs, policies, and activities;'';
       (B) in subparagraph (D), as so redesignated, by striking 
     ``middle and senior level''; and
       (C) in subparagraph (G), as so redesignated, by inserting 
     before ``invigorate'' the following: ``seek to improve morale 
     and retention throughout the Department and''.
       (3) In paragraph (3)(B), by striking clause (iii) and 
     redesignating clauses (iv) through (viii) as clauses (iii) 
     through (vii).
       (4) By redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs 
     (5) and (6), and inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
       ``(4) Administrative matters.--In carrying out any program 
     established pursuant to this section, the Secretary shall--
       ``(A) before selecting employees for participation in such 
     program, disseminate information broadly within the 
     Department about the availability of the program, 
     qualifications for participation in the program, including 
     full-time employment within the employing component or office 
     not less than one year, and the general provisions of the 
     program;
       ``(B) require each candidate for participation in the 
     program to be nominated by the head of the candidate's 
     employing component or office and that the Secretary, or the 
     Secretary's designee, select each employee for the program 
     solely on the basis of relative ability, knowledge, and 
     skills, after fair and open competition that assures that all 
     candidates receive equal opportunity;
       ``(C) ensure that each employee participating in the 
     program shall be entitled to return, within a reasonable 
     period of time after the end of the period of participation, 
     to the position held by the employee, or a corresponding or 
     higher position, in the employee's employing component or 
     office;
       ``(D) require that the rights that would be available to 
     the employee if the employee were detailed from the employing 
     component or office to another Federal agency or office 
     remain available to the employee during the employee 
     participation in the program; and
       ``(E) require that, during the period of participation by 
     an employee in the program, performance evaluations for the 
     employee--
       ``(i) shall be conducted by officials in the employee's 
     office or component with input from the supervisors of the 
     employee at the component or office in which the employee is 
     placed during that period; and
       ``(ii) shall be provided the same weight with respect to 
     promotions and other rewards as performance evaluations for 
     service in the employee's office or component.''.
       (b) Congressional Notification and Oversight.--Not later 
     than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
     the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide information 
     to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate about the status of the 
     homeland security rotation program authorized by section 844 
     of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended by this 
     section.

        TITLE II--DHS ACQUISITION ACCOUNTABILITY AND EFFICIENCY

     SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS.

       (a) In General.--In this title:
       (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Homeland Security.
       (2) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
     Department of Homeland Security.
       (3) Congressional homeland security committees.--The term 
     ``congressional homeland security committees'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and of the Senate.
       (b) Additional Definitions.--In this title:
       (1) Acquisition.--The term ``acquisition'' has the meaning 
     provided in section 131 of title 41, United States Code.
       (2) Best practices.--The term ``best practices'', with 
     respect to acquisition, means a knowledge-based approach to 
     capability development that includes identifying and 
     validating needs; assessing alternatives to select the most 
     appropriate solution; clearly establishing well-defined 
     requirements; developing realistic cost assessments and 
     schedules; securing stable funding that matches resources to 
     requirements; demonstrating technology, design, and 
     manufacturing maturity; using milestones and exit criteria or 
     specific accomplishments that demonstrate progress; adopting 
     and executing standardized processes with known

[[Page H6999]]

     success across programs; establishing an adequate workforce 
     that is qualified and sufficient to perform necessary 
     functions; and integrating these capabilities into the 
     Department's mission and business operations.
       (c) Amendments to Definitions in Homeland Security Act of 
     2002.--Section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``In this Act,'' and inserting ``(a) In 
     General.--In this Act,'';
       (2) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``(2)''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(B) The term `congressional homeland security committees' 
     means--
       ``(i) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and
       ``(ii) the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and of the Senate, where appropriate.''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(b) Acquisition-Related Definitions.--In this Act, the 
     following definitions apply:
       ``(1) Acquisition.--The term `acquisition' has the meaning 
     provided in section 131 of title 41, United States Code.
       ``(2) Acquisition decision authority.--The term 
     `acquisition decision authority' means the authority, held by 
     the Secretary acting through the Deputy Secretary or Under 
     Secretary for Management--
       ``(A) to ensure compliance with Federal law, the Federal 
     Acquisition Regulation, and Department acquisition management 
     directives;
       ``(B) to review (including approving, halting, modifying, 
     or cancelling) an acquisition program through the life cycle 
     of the program;
       ``(C) to ensure that program managers have the resources 
     necessary to successfully execute an approved acquisition 
     program;
       ``(D) to ensure good program management of cost, schedule, 
     risk, and system performance of the acquisition, including 
     assessing acquisition program baseline breaches and directing 
     any corrective action for such breaches; and
       ``(E) to ensure that program managers, on an ongoing basis, 
     monitor cost, schedule, and performance against established 
     baselines and use tools to assess risks to a program at all 
     phases of the life cycle of the program to avoid and mitigate 
     acquisition program baseline breaches.
       ``(3) Acquisition decision event.--The term `acquisition 
     decision event', with respect to an investment or acquisition 
     program, means a predetermined point within the acquisition 
     phases of the investment or acquisition program at which the 
     investment or acquisition program will undergo a review prior 
     to commencement of the next phase.
       ``(4) Acquisition decision memorandum.--The term 
     `acquisition decision memorandum', with respect to an 
     acquisition, means the official acquisition decision event 
     record that includes a documented record of decisions, exit 
     criteria, and assigned actions for the acquisition as 
     determined by the person exercising acquisition decision 
     authority for the acquisition.
       ``(5) Acquisition program baseline.--The term `acquisition 
     program baseline', with respect to an acquisition program, 
     means a summary of the cost, schedule, and performance 
     parameters, expressed in standard, measurable, quantitative 
     terms, which must be met in order to accomplish the goals of 
     the program.
       ``(6) Capability development plan.--The term `capability 
     development plan', with respect to a proposed acquisition, 
     means the document that the Acquisition Review Board approves 
     for the first acquisition decision event related to 
     validating the need of a proposed acquisition.
       ``(7) Component acquisition executive.--The term `Component 
     Acquisition Executive' means the senior acquisition official 
     within a component who is designated in writing by the Under 
     Secretary for Management, in consultation with the component 
     head, with authority and responsibility for leading a process 
     and staff to provide acquisition and program management 
     oversight, policy, and guidance to ensure that statutory, 
     regulatory, and higher level policy requirements are 
     fulfilled, including compliance with Federal law, the Federal 
     Acquisition Regulation, and Department acquisition management 
     directives established by the Under Secretary for Management.
       ``(8) Life cycle cost.--The term `life cycle cost', with 
     respect to an acquisition program, means all costs associated 
     with research, development, procurement, operation, 
     integrated logistics support, and disposal under the program, 
     including supporting infrastructure that plans, manages, and 
     executes the program over its full life, and costs of common 
     support items incurred as a result of the program.
       ``(9) Major acquisition program.--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.''.

                  Subtitle A--Acquisition Authorities

     SEC. 211. ACQUISITION AUTHORITIES FOR UNDER SECRETARY FOR 
                   MANAGEMENT.

       Section 701 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
     341), as amended by section 107 of this Act, is further 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(e) Acquisition and Related Responsibilities.--
       ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 1702(b) of title 
     41, United States Code, the Under Secretary for Management is 
     the Chief Acquisition Officer of the Department. As Chief 
     Acquisition Officer, the Under Secretary shall have the 
     authority and perform the functions as specified in section 
     1702(b) of such title, and perform all other functions and 
     responsibilities delegated by the Secretary or described in 
     this subsection.
       ``(2) Duties and responsibilities.--In addition to the 
     authority and functions specified in section 1702(b) of title 
     41, United States Code, the duties and responsibilities of 
     the Under Secretary for Management related to acquisition 
     include the following:
       ``(A) Advising the Secretary regarding acquisition 
     management activities, taking into account risks of failure 
     to achieve cost, schedule, or performance parameters, to 
     ensure that the Department achieves its mission through the 
     adoption of widely accepted program management best practices 
     and standards.
       ``(B) Exercising the acquisition decision authority to 
     approve, halt, modify (including the rescission of approvals 
     of program milestones), or cancel major acquisition programs, 
     unless the Under Secretary delegates the authority to a 
     Component Acquisition Executive pursuant to paragraph (3).
       ``(C) Establishing policies for acquisition that implement 
     an approach that takes into account risks of failure to 
     achieve cost, schedule, or performance parameters that all 
     components of the Department shall comply with, including 
     outlining relevant authorities for program managers to 
     effectively manage acquisition programs.
       ``(D) Ensuring that each major acquisition program has a 
     Department-approved acquisition program baseline, pursuant to 
     the Department's acquisition management policy.
       ``(E) Ensuring that the heads of components and Component 
     Acquisition Executives comply with Federal law, the Federal 
     Acquisition Regulation, and Department acquisition management 
     directives.
       ``(F) Ensuring that grants and financial assistance are 
     provided only to individuals and organizations that are not 
     suspended or debarred.
       ``(G) Distributing guidance throughout the Department to 
     ensure that contractors involved in acquisitions, 
     particularly companies that access the Department's 
     information systems and technologies, adhere to internal 
     cybersecurity policies established by the Department of 
     Homeland Security.
       ``(3) Delegation of acquisition decision authority.--
       ``(A) Level 3 acquisitions.--The Under Secretary for 
     Management may delegate acquisition decision authority in 
     writing to the relevant Component Acquisition Executive for 
     an acquisition program that has a life cycle cost estimate of 
     less than $300,000,000.
       ``(B) Level 2 acquisitions.--The Under Secretary for 
     Management may delegate acquisition decision authority in 
     writing to the relevant Component Acquisition Executive for a 
     major acquisition program that has a life cycle cost estimate 
     of at least $300,000,000 but not more than $1,000,000,000 if 
     all of the following requirements are met:
       ``(i) The component concerned possesses working policies, 
     processes, and procedures that are consistent with 
     Department-level acquisition policy.
       ``(ii) The Component Acquisition Executive has adequate, 
     experienced, dedicated program management professional staff 
     commensurate with the size of the delegated portfolio.
       ``(iii) Each major acquisition program concerned has 
     written documentation showing that it has a Department-
     approved acquisition program baseline and it is meeting 
     agreed-upon cost, schedule, and performance thresholds.
       ``(4) Excluded parties list system consultation.--The Under 
     Secretary for Management shall require that all Department 
     contracting and procurement officials consult the Excluded 
     Parties List System (or successor system) as maintained by 
     the General Services Administration prior to awarding a 
     contract or grant or entering into other transactions to 
     ascertain whether the selected contractor is excluded from 
     receiving Federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and 
     certain types of Federal financial and nonfinancial 
     assistance and benefits.
       ``(5) Relationship to under secretary for science and 
     technology.--
       ``(A) In general.--Nothing in this subsection shall 
     diminish the authority granted to the Under Secretary for 
     Science and Technology under this Act. The Under Secretary 
     for Management and the Under Secretary for Science and 
     Technology shall cooperate in matters related to the 
     coordination of acquisitions across the Department so that 
     investments of the Directorate of Science and Technology can 
     support current and future requirements of the components.
       ``(B) Operational testing and evaluation.--The Under 
     Secretary for Science and Technology shall--
       ``(i) ensure, in coordination with relevant component 
     heads, that major acquisition programs--

       ``(I) complete operational testing and evaluation of 
     technologies and systems;
       ``(II) use independent verification and validation of 
     operational test and evaluation implementation and results; 
     and

[[Page H7000]]

       ``(III) document whether such programs meet all performance 
     requirements included in their acquisition program baselines;

       ``(ii) ensure that such operational testing and evaluation 
     includes all system components and incorporates operators 
     into the testing to ensure that systems perform as intended 
     in the appropriate operational setting; and
       ``(iii) determine if testing conducted by other Federal 
     agencies and private entities is relevant and sufficient in 
     determining whether systems perform as intended in the 
     operational setting.''.

     SEC. 212. ACQUISITION AUTHORITIES FOR CHIEF FINANCIAL 
                   OFFICER.

       Section 702 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
     342), as amended by section 108 of this Act, is further 
     amended by adding at the end of subsection (c)(2) the 
     following new subparagraph:
       ``(J) Notwithstanding section 902 of title 31, United 
     States Code, provide leadership over financial management 
     policy and programs for the Department as they relate to the 
     Department's acquisitions programs, in consultation with the 
     Under Secretary for Management.''.

     SEC. 213. ACQUISITION AUTHORITIES FOR CHIEF INFORMATION 
                   OFFICER.

       Section 703 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
     343), as amended by section 110(a) of this Act, is further 
     amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(f) Acquisition Responsibilities.--Notwithstanding 
     section 11315 of title 40, United States Code, the 
     acquisition responsibilities of the Chief Information 
     Officer, in consultation with the Under Secretary for 
     Management, shall include the following:
       ``(1) Oversee the management of the Homeland Security 
     Enterprise Architecture and ensure that, before each 
     acquisition decision event, approved information technology 
     acquisitions comply with departmental information technology 
     management processes, technical requirements, and the 
     Homeland Security Enterprise Architecture, and in any case in 
     which information technology acquisitions do not comply with 
     the Department's management directives, make recommendations 
     to the Acquisition Review Board regarding such noncompliance.
       ``(2) Be responsible for providing recommendations to the 
     Acquisition Review Board established in section 836 of this 
     Act on information technology programs, and be responsible 
     for developing information technology acquisition strategic 
     guidance.''.

     SEC. 214. REQUIREMENTS TO ENSURE GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY FOR 
                   ACQUISITION PROGRAMS.

       (a) In General.--Title VII of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 (6 U.S.C. 341 et seq.), as amended by sections 109(a) 
     and 112(a) of this Act, is further amended by adding at the 
     end the following:

     ``SEC. 710. REQUIREMENTS TO ENSURE GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY FOR 
                   ACQUISITION PROGRAMS.

       ``(a) Requirement To Establish Mechanism.--Within the 
     Management Directorate, the Under Secretary for Management 
     shall establish a mechanism to prioritize improving the 
     accountability, standardization, and transparency of major 
     acquisition programs of the Department in order to increase 
     opportunities for effectiveness and efficiencies and to serve 
     as the central oversight function of all Department 
     acquisition programs.
       ``(b) Responsibilities of Executive Director.--The Under 
     Secretary for Management shall designate an Executive 
     Director to oversee the requirement under subsection (a). The 
     Executive Director shall report directly to the Under 
     Secretary and shall carry out the following responsibilities:
       ``(1) Monitor the performance of Department acquisition 
     programs regularly between acquisition decision events to 
     identify problems with cost, performance, or schedule that 
     components may need to address to prevent cost overruns, 
     performance issues, or schedule delays.
       ``(2) Assist the Under Secretary for Management in managing 
     the Department's acquisition portfolio.
       ``(3) Conduct oversight of individual acquisition programs 
     to implement Department acquisition program policy, 
     procedures, and guidance with a priority on ensuring the data 
     it collects and maintains from its components is accurate and 
     reliable.
       ``(4) Serve as the focal point and coordinator for the 
     acquisition life cycle review process and as the executive 
     secretariat for the Acquisition Review Board established 
     under section 836 of this Act.
       ``(5) Advise the persons having acquisition decision 
     authority in making acquisition decisions consistent with all 
     applicable laws and in establishing clear lines of authority, 
     accountability, and responsibility for acquisition 
     decisionmaking within the Department.
       ``(6) Engage in the strategic planning and performance 
     evaluation process required under section 306 of title 5, 
     United States Code, and sections 1105(a)(28), 1115, 1116, and 
     9703 of title 31, United States Code, by supporting the Chief 
     Procurement Officer in developing strategies and specific 
     plans for hiring, training, and professional development in 
     order to rectify any deficiency within the Department's 
     acquisition workforce.
       ``(7) Oversee the Component Acquisition Executive structure 
     to ensure it has sufficient capabilities and complies with 
     Department policies.
       ``(8) Develop standardized certification standards in 
     consultation with the Component Acquisition Executives for 
     all acquisition program managers.
       ``(9) In the event that a program manager's certification 
     or actions need review for purposes of promotion or removal, 
     provide input, in consultation with the relevant Component 
     Acquisition Executive, into the relevant program manager's 
     performance evaluation, and report positive or negative 
     experiences to the relevant certifying authority.
       ``(10) Provide technical support and assistance to 
     Department acquisitions and acquisition personnel in 
     conjunction with the Chief Procurement Officer.
       ``(11) Prepare the Department's Comprehensive Acquisition 
     Status Report, as required by the Department of Homeland 
     Security Appropriations Act, 2013 (division D of Public Law 
     113-6; 127 Stat. 343) and section 840 of this Act, and make 
     such report available to congressional homeland security 
     committees.
       ``(12) Prepare the Department's Quarterly Program 
     Accountability Report as required by section 840 of this Act, 
     and make such report available to the congressional homeland 
     security committees.
       ``(c) Responsibilities of Components.--Each head of a 
     component shall comply with Federal law, the Federal 
     Acquisition Regulation, and Department acquisition management 
     directives established by the Under Secretary for Management. 
     For each major acquisition program, each head of a component 
     shall--
       ``(1) define baseline requirements and document changes to 
     those requirements, as appropriate;
       ``(2) establish a complete life cycle cost estimate with 
     supporting documentation, including an acquisition program 
     baseline;
       ``(3) verify each life cycle cost estimate against 
     independent cost estimates, and reconcile any differences;
       ``(4) complete a cost-benefit analysis with supporting 
     documentation;
       ``(5) develop and maintain a schedule that is consistent 
     with scheduling best practices as identified by the 
     Comptroller General of the United States, including, in 
     appropriate cases, an integrated master schedule; and
       ``(6) ensure that all acquisition program information 
     provided by the component is complete, accurate, timely, and 
     valid.

     ``SEC. 711. ACQUISITION DOCUMENTATION.

       ``(a) In General.--For each major acquisition program, the 
     Executive Director responsible for the preparation of the 
     Comprehensive Acquisition Status Report, pursuant to 
     paragraph (11) of section 710(b), shall require certain 
     acquisition documentation to be submitted by Department 
     components or offices.
       ``(b) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the requirement for 
     submission under subsection (a) for a program for a fiscal 
     year if either--
       ``(1) the program has not--
       ``(A) entered the full rate production phase in the 
     acquisition life cycle;
       ``(B) had a reasonable cost estimate established; and
       ``(C) had a system configuration defined fully; or
       ``(2) the program does not meet the definition of `capital 
     asset', as defined by the Director of the Office of 
     Management and Budget.
       ``(c) Congressional Oversight.--At the same time the 
     President's budget is submitted for a fiscal year under 
     section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security 
     of the House of Representatives and Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate information 
     on the exercise of authority under subsection (b) in the 
     prior fiscal year that includes the following specific 
     information regarding each program for which a waiver is 
     issued under subsection (b):
       ``(1) The grounds for granting a waiver for that program.
       ``(2) The projected cost of that program.
       ``(3) The proportion of a component's annual acquisition 
     budget attributed to that program, as available.
       ``(4) Information on the significance of the program with 
     respect to the component's operations and execution of its 
     mission.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et 
     seq.) is further amended by adding after the item relating to 
     section 709 the following new item:

``Sec. 710. Requirements to ensure greater accountability for 
              acquisition programs.
``Sec. 711. Acquisition documentation.''.

         Subtitle B--Acquisition Program Management Discipline

     SEC. 221. ACQUISITION REVIEW BOARD.

       (a) In General.--Subtitle D of title VIII of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 391 et seq.) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new section:

     ``SEC. 836. ACQUISITION REVIEW BOARD.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish an 
     Acquisition Review Board (in this section referred to as the 
     `Board') to strengthen accountability and uniformity within 
     the Department acquisition review process, review major 
     acquisition programs, and review the use of best practices.
       ``(b) Composition.--The Deputy Secretary or Under Secretary 
     for Management shall serve as chair of the Board. The 
     Secretary

[[Page H7001]]

     shall also ensure participation by other relevant Department 
     officials, including at least 2 component heads or their 
     designees, as permanent members of the Board.
       ``(c) Meetings.--The Board shall meet every time a major 
     acquisition program needs authorization to proceed from 
     acquisition decision events through the acquisition life 
     cycle and to consider any major acquisition program in breach 
     as necessary. The Board may also be convened for non-major 
     acquisitions that are deemed high-risk by the Executive 
     Director referred to in section 710(b) of this Act. The Board 
     shall also meet regularly for purposes of ensuring all 
     acquisitions processes proceed in a timely fashion to achieve 
     mission readiness.
       ``(d) Responsibilities.--The responsibilities of the Board 
     are as follows:
       ``(1) Determine whether a proposed acquisition has met the 
     requirements of key phases of the acquisition life cycle 
     framework and is able to proceed to the next phase and 
     eventual full production and deployment.
       ``(2) Oversee executable business strategy, resources, 
     management, accountability, and alignment to strategic 
     initiatives.
       ``(3) Support the person with acquisition decision 
     authority for an acquisition in determining the appropriate 
     direction for the acquisition at key acquisition decision 
     events.
       ``(4) Conduct systematic reviews of acquisitions to ensure 
     that they are progressing in compliance with the approved 
     documents for their current acquisition phase.
       ``(5) Review the acquisition documents of each major 
     acquisition program, including the acquisition program 
     baseline and documentation reflecting consideration of 
     tradeoffs among cost, schedule, and performance objectives, 
     to ensure the reliability of underlying data.
       ``(6) Ensure that practices are adopted and implemented to 
     require consideration of trade-offs among cost, schedule, and 
     performance objectives as part of the process for developing 
     requirements for major acquisition programs prior to the 
     initiation of the second acquisition decision event, 
     including, at a minimum, the following practices:
       ``(A) Department officials responsible for acquisition, 
     budget, and cost estimating functions are provided with the 
     appropriate opportunity to develop estimates and raise cost 
     and schedule matters before performance objectives are 
     established for capabilities when feasible.
       ``(B) Full consideration of possible trade-offs among cost, 
     schedule, and performance objectives for each alternative is 
     considered.
       ``(e) Acquisition Program Baseline Report Requirement.--If 
     the person exercising acquisition decision authority over a 
     major acquisition program approves the program to proceed 
     into the planning phase before it has a Department-approved 
     acquisition program baseline, then the Under Secretary for 
     Management shall create and approve an acquisition program 
     baseline report on the decision, and the Secretary shall--
       ``(1) within 7 days after an acquisition decision 
     memorandum is signed, notify in writing the congressional 
     homeland security committees of such decision; and
       ``(2) within 60 days after the acquisition decision 
     memorandum is signed, submit a report to such committees 
     stating the rationale for the decision and a plan of action 
     to require an acquisition program baseline for the program.
       ``(f) Best Practices Defined.--In this section, the term 
     `best practices' has the meaning provided in section 4(b) of 
     the DHS Headquarters Reform and Improvement Act of 2015.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et 
     seq.) is further amended by adding after the item relating to 
     section 835 the following new item:

``Sec. 836. Acquisition Review Board.''.

     SEC. 222. REQUIREMENTS TO REDUCE DUPLICATION IN ACQUISITION 
                   PROGRAMS.

       (a) In General.--Subtitle D of title VIII of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 391 et seq.) is further 
     amended by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``SEC. 837. REQUIREMENTS TO REDUCE DUPLICATION IN ACQUISITION 
                   PROGRAMS.

       ``(a) Requirement to Establish Policies.--In an effort to 
     reduce unnecessary duplication and inefficiency for all 
     Department investments, including major acquisition programs, 
     the Deputy Secretary, in consultation with the Under 
     Secretary for Management, shall establish Department-wide 
     policies to integrate all phases of the investment life cycle 
     and help the Department identify, validate, and prioritize 
     common component requirements for major acquisition programs 
     in order to increase opportunities for effectiveness and 
     efficiencies. The policies shall also include strategic 
     alternatives for developing and facilitating a Department 
     component-driven requirements process that includes oversight 
     of a development test and evaluation capability; 
     identification of priority gaps and overlaps in Department 
     capability needs; and provision of feasible technical 
     alternatives, including innovative commercially available 
     alternatives, to meet capability needs.
       ``(b) Mechanisms to Carry Out Requirement.--The Under 
     Secretary for Management shall coordinate the actions 
     necessary to carry out subsection (a), using such mechanisms 
     as considered necessary by the Secretary to help the 
     Department reduce unnecessary duplication and inefficiency 
     for all Department investments, including major acquisition 
     programs.
       ``(c) Coordination.--In coordinating the actions necessary 
     to carry out subsection (a), the Deputy Secretary shall 
     consult with the Under Secretary for Management, Component 
     Acquisition Executives, and any other Department officials, 
     including the Under Secretary for Science and Technology or 
     his designee, with specific knowledge of Department or 
     component acquisition capabilities to prevent unnecessary 
     duplication of requirements.
       ``(d) Advisors.--The Deputy Secretary, in consultation with 
     the Under Secretary for Management, shall seek and consider 
     input within legal and ethical boundaries from members of 
     Federal, State, local, and tribal governments, nonprofit 
     organizations, and the private sector, as appropriate, on 
     matters within their authority and expertise in carrying out 
     the Department's mission.
       ``(e) Meetings.--The Deputy Secretary, in consultation with 
     the Under Secretary for Management, shall meet at least 
     quarterly and communicate with components often to ensure 
     that components do not overlap or duplicate spending or 
     activities on major investments and acquisition programs 
     within their areas of responsibility.
       ``(f) Responsibilities.--In carrying out this section, the 
     responsibilities of the Deputy Secretary, in consultation 
     with the Under Secretary for Management, are as follows:
       ``(1) To review and validate the requirements documents of 
     major investments and acquisition programs prior to 
     acquisition decision events of the investments or programs.
       ``(2) To ensure the requirements and scope of a major 
     investment or acquisition program are stable, measurable, 
     achievable, at an acceptable risk level, and match the 
     resources planned to be available.
       ``(3) Before any entity of the Department issues a 
     solicitation for a new contract, coordinate with other 
     Department entities as appropriate to prevent unnecessary 
     duplication and inefficiency and--
       ``(A) to implement portfolio reviews to identify common 
     mission requirements and crosscutting opportunities among 
     components to harmonize investments and requirements and 
     prevent unnecessary overlap and duplication among components; 
     and
       ``(B) to the extent practicable, to standardize equipment 
     purchases, streamline the acquisition process, improve 
     efficiencies, and conduct best practices for strategic 
     sourcing.
       ``(4) To ensure program managers of major investments and 
     acquisition programs conduct analyses, giving particular 
     attention to factors such as cost, schedule, risk, 
     performance, and operational efficiency in order to determine 
     that programs work as intended within cost and budget 
     expectations.
       ``(5) To propose schedules for delivery of the operational 
     capability needed to meet each Department investment and 
     major acquisition program.
       ``(g) Best Practices Defined.--In this section, the term 
     `best practices' has the meaning provided in section 4(b) of 
     the DHS Headquarters Reform and Improvement Act of 2015.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et 
     seq.) is further amended by adding after the item relating to 
     section 836 the following new item:

``Sec. 837. Requirements to reduce duplication in acquisition 
              programs.''.

     SEC. 223. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REVIEW OF BOARD 
                   AND OF REQUIREMENTS TO REDUCE DUPLICATION IN 
                   ACQUISITION PROGRAMS.

       (a) Review Required.--The Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall conduct a review of the effectiveness of the 
     Acquisition Review Board established under section 836 of the 
     Homeland Security Act of 2002 (as added by section 221) and 
     the requirements to reduce unnecessary duplication in 
     acquisition programs established under section 837 of such 
     Act (as added by section 222) in improving the Department's 
     acquisition management process.
       (b) Scope of Report.--The review shall include the 
     following:
       (1) An assessment of the effectiveness of the Board in 
     increasing program management oversight, best practices and 
     standards, and discipline among the components of the 
     Department, including in working together and in preventing 
     overlap and unnecessary duplication.
       (2) An assessment of the effectiveness of the Board in 
     instilling program management discipline.
       (3) A statement of how regularly each major acquisition 
     program is reviewed by the Board, how often the Board stops 
     major acquisition programs from moving forward in the phases 
     of the acquisition life cycle process, and the number of 
     major acquisition programs that have been halted because of 
     problems with operational effectiveness, schedule delays, or 
     cost overruns.
       (4) An assessment of the effectiveness of the Board in 
     impacting acquisition decisionmaking within the Department, 
     including the degree to which the Board impacts 
     decisionmaking within other headquarters mechanisms and 
     bodies involved in the administration of acquisition 
     activities.
       (c) Report Required.--The Comptroller General shall submit 
     to the congressional homeland security committees a report on 
     the review required by this section not later than 1 year 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act. The report shall 
     be submitted in unclassified form but may include a 
     classified annex.

[[Page H7002]]

  


     SEC. 224. EXCLUDED PARTY LIST SYSTEM WAIVERS.

       The Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide 
     notification to the congressional homeland security 
     committees within 5 days after the issuance of a waiver by 
     the Secretary of Federal requirements that an agency not 
     engage in business with a contractor in the Excluded Party 
     List System (or successor system) as maintained by the 
     General Services Administration and an explanation for a 
     finding by the Secretary that a compelling reason exists for 
     this action.

     SEC. 225. INSPECTOR GENERAL OVERSIGHT OF SUSPENSION AND 
                   DEBARMENT.

       The Inspector General of the Department of Homeland 
     Security--
       (1) may audit decisions about grant and procurement awards 
     to identify instances where a contract or grant was 
     improperly awarded to a suspended or debarred entity and 
     whether corrective actions were taken to prevent recurrence; 
     and
       (2) shall review the suspension and debarment program 
     throughout the Department of Homeland Security to assess 
     whether suspension and debarment criteria are consistently 
     applied throughout the Department and whether disparities 
     exist in the application of such criteria, particularly with 
     respect to business size and categories.

     Subtitle C--Acquisition Program Management Accountability and 
                              Transparency

     SEC. 231. CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS 
                   FOR MAJOR ACQUISITION PROGRAM BREACH.

       (a) In General.--Subtitle D of title VIII of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 391 et seq.) is further 
     amended by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``SEC. 838. CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS 
                   FOR MAJOR ACQUISITION PROGRAM BREACH.

       ``(a) Breach Defined.--The term `breach', with respect to a 
     major acquisition program, means a failure to meet any cost, 
     schedule, or performance parameter specified in the 
     acquisition program baseline.
       ``(b) Requirements Within Department if Breach Occurs.--
       ``(1) Notifications.--
       ``(A) Notification of breach.--If a breach occurs in a 
     major acquisition program, the program manager for that 
     program shall notify the Component Acquisition Executive for 
     the program, the head of the component concerned, the 
     Executive Director referred to in section 710(b) of this Act, 
     the Under Secretary for Management, and the Deputy Secretary.
       ``(B) Notification to secretary.--If a major acquisition 
     program has a breach with a cost overrun greater than 15 
     percent or a schedule delay greater than 180 days from the 
     costs or schedule set forth in the acquisition program 
     baseline for the program, the Secretary and the Inspector 
     General of the Department shall be notified not later than 5 
     business days after the breach is identified.
       ``(2) Remediation plan and root cause analysis.--
       ``(A) In general.--In the case of a breach with a cost 
     overrun greater than 15 percent or a schedule delay greater 
     than 180 days from the costs or schedule set forth in the 
     acquisition program baseline, a remediation plan and root 
     cause analysis is required, and the Under Secretary for 
     Management or his designee shall establish a date for 
     submission within the Department of a breach remediation plan 
     and root cause analysis in accordance with this subsection.
       ``(B) Remediation plan.--The remediation plan required 
     under this subsection shall be submitted in writing to the 
     head of the component concerned, the Executive Director 
     referred to in section 710(b) of this Act, and the Under 
     Secretary for Management. The plan shall--
       ``(i) explain the circumstances of the breach;
       ``(ii) provide prior cost estimating information;
       ``(iii) propose corrective action to control cost growth, 
     schedule delays, or performance issues;
       ``(iv) in coordination with Component Acquisition 
     Executive, discuss all options considered, including the 
     estimated impact on cost, schedule, or performance of the 
     program if no changes are made to current requirements, the 
     estimated cost of the program if requirements are modified, 
     and the extent to which funding from other programs will need 
     to be reduced to cover the cost growth of the program; and
       ``(v) explain the rationale for why the proposed corrective 
     action is recommended.
       ``(C) Root cause analysis.--The root cause analysis 
     required under this subsection shall determine the underlying 
     cause or causes of shortcomings in cost, schedule, or 
     performance of the program, including the role, if any, of 
     the following:
       ``(i) Unrealistic performance expectations.
       ``(ii) Unrealistic baseline estimates for cost or schedule 
     or changes in program requirements.
       ``(iii) Immature technologies or excessive manufacturing or 
     integration risk.
       ``(iv) Unanticipated design, engineering, manufacturing, or 
     technology integration issues arising during program 
     performance.
       ``(v) Changes in procurement quantities.
       ``(vi) Inadequate program funding or changes in planned 
     out-year funding from 1 5-year funding plan to the next 5-
     year funding plan as outlined in the Future Years Homeland 
     Security Program required under section 874 of this Act.
       ``(vii) Legislative, legal, or regulatory changes.
       ``(viii) Inadequate program management personnel, including 
     lack of training, credentials, certifications, or use of best 
     practices.
       ``(3) Correction of breach.--The Under Secretary for 
     Management or his designee shall establish a date for 
     submission within the Department of a program of corrective 
     action that ensures that 1 of the following actions has 
     occurred:
       ``(A) The breach has been corrected and the program is 
     again in compliance with the original acquisition program 
     baseline parameters.
       ``(B) A revised acquisition program baseline has been 
     approved.
       ``(C) The program has been halted or cancelled.
       ``(c) Requirements Relating to Congressional Notification 
     if Breach Occurs.--
       ``(1) Notification to congress.--If a notification is made 
     under subsection (b)(1)(B) for a breach in a major 
     acquisition program with a cost overrun greater than 15 
     percent or a schedule delay greater than 180 days from the 
     costs or schedule set forth in the acquisition program 
     baseline, or with an anticipated failure for any key 
     performance threshold or parameter specified in the 
     acquisition program baseline, the Under Secretary for 
     Management shall notify the congressional homeland security 
     committees of the breach in the next quarterly Comprehensive 
     Acquisition Status Report after the Under Secretary for 
     Management receives the notification from the program manager 
     under subsection (b)(1)(B).
       ``(2) Substantial variances in costs or schedule.--If a 
     likely cost overrun is greater than 20 percent or a likely 
     delay is greater than 12 months from the costs and schedule 
     set forth in the acquisition program baseline for a major 
     acquisition program, the Under Secretary for Management shall 
     include in the notification required in (c)(1) a written 
     certification, with supporting explanation, that--
       ``(A) the acquisition is essential to the accomplishment of 
     the Department's mission;
       ``(B) there are no alternatives to such capability or asset 
     that will provide equal or greater capability in both a more 
     cost-effective and timely manner;
       ``(C) the new acquisition schedule and estimates for total 
     acquisition cost are reasonable; and
       ``(D) the management structure for the acquisition program 
     is adequate to manage and control performance, cost, and 
     schedule.
       ``(3) Submissions to congress.--Not later than 30 calendar 
     days after submission to such committees of a breach 
     notification under paragraph (1) of this section for a major 
     acquisition program, the Under Secretary for Management shall 
     submit to such committees the following:
       ``(A) A copy of the remediation plan and the root cause 
     analysis prepared under subsection (b)(2) for the program.
       ``(B) A statement describing the corrective action or 
     actions that have occurred pursuant to subsection (b)(3) for 
     the program, with a justification for the action or actions.
       ``(d) Additional Actions if Breach Occurs.--
       ``(1) Prohibition on obligation of funds.--During the 90-
     day period following submission under subsection (c)(3) of a 
     remediation plan, root cause analysis, and statement of 
     corrective actions with respect to a major acquisition 
     program, the Under Secretary for Management shall submit a 
     certification described in paragraph (2) of this subsection 
     to the congressional homeland security committees. If the 
     Under Secretary for Management does not submit such 
     certification by the end of such 90-day period, then funds 
     appropriated to the major acquisition program shall not be 
     obligated until the Under Secretary for Management submits 
     such certification.
       ``(2) Certification.--For purposes of paragraph (1), the 
     certification described in this paragraph is a certification 
     that--
       ``(A) the Department has adjusted or restructured the 
     program in a manner that addresses the root cause or causes 
     of the cost growth in the program; and
       ``(B) the Department has conducted a thorough review of the 
     breached program's acquisition decision event approvals and 
     the current acquisition decision event approval for the 
     breached program has been adjusted as necessary to account 
     for the restructured program.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et 
     seq.) is further amended by adding after the item relating to 
     section 837 the following new item:

``Sec. 838. Congressional notification and other requirements for major 
              acquisition program breach.''.

     SEC. 232. MULTIYEAR ACQUISITION STRATEGY.

       (a) In General.--
       (1) Amendment.--Subtitle D of title VIII of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 391 et seq.) is further 
     amended by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``SEC. 839. MULTIYEAR ACQUISITION STRATEGY.

       ``(a) Multiyear Acquisition Strategy Required.--Not later 
     than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, 
     the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate homeland 
     security committees a multiyear acquisition strategy to guide 
     the overall direction of the acquisitions of the Department 
     while allowing flexibility to deal with ever-changing threats 
     and risks and to help industry better understand, plan, and 
     align resources to meet the future acquisition needs of the

[[Page H7003]]

     Department. The strategy shall be updated and included in 
     each Future Years Homeland Security Program required under 
     section 874 of this Act.
       ``(b) Consultation.--In developing the strategy, the 
     Secretary shall consult with others as the Secretary deems 
     appropriate, including headquarters, components, employees in 
     the field, and when appropriate, individuals from industry 
     and the academic community.
       ``(c) Form of Strategy.--The report shall be submitted in 
     unclassified form but may include a classified annex for any 
     sensitive or classified information if necessary. The 
     Department also shall publish the plan in an unclassified 
     format that is publicly available.
       ``(d) Contents of Strategy.--The strategy shall include the 
     following:
       ``(1) Prioritized list.--A systematic and integrated 
     prioritized list developed by the Under Secretary for 
     Management or his designee in coordination with all of the 
     Component Acquisition Executives of Department major 
     acquisition programs that Department and component 
     acquisition investments seek to address, that includes the 
     expected security and economic benefit of the program or 
     system and an analysis of how the security and economic 
     benefit derived from the program or system will be measured.
       ``(2) Inventory.--A plan to develop a reliable Department-
     wide inventory of investments and real property assets to 
     help the Department plan, budget, schedule, and acquire 
     upgrades of its systems and equipment and plan for the 
     acquisition and management of future systems and equipment.
       ``(3) Funding gaps.--A plan to address funding gaps between 
     funding requirements for major acquisition programs and known 
     available resources including, to the maximum extent 
     practicable, ways of leveraging best practices to identify 
     and eliminate overpayment for items to prevent wasteful 
     purchasing, achieve the greatest level of efficiency and cost 
     savings by rationalizing purchases, aligning pricing for 
     similar items, and utilizing purchase timing and economies of 
     scale.
       ``(4) Identification of capabilities.--An identification of 
     test, evaluation, modeling, and simulation capabilities that 
     will be required to support the acquisition of the 
     technologies to meet the needs of the plan and ways to 
     leverage to the greatest extent possible the emerging 
     technology trends and research and development trends within 
     the public and private sectors and an identification of ways 
     to ensure that the appropriate technology is acquired and 
     integrated into the Department's operating doctrine and 
     procured in ways that improve mission performance.
       ``(5) Focus on flexible solutions.--An assessment of ways 
     the Department can improve its ability to test and acquire 
     innovative solutions to allow needed incentives and 
     protections for appropriate risk-taking in order to meet its 
     acquisition needs with resiliency, agility, and 
     responsiveness to assure the Nation's homeland security and 
     facilitate trade.
       ``(6) Focus on incentives to save taxpayer dollars.--An 
     assessment of ways the Department can develop incentives for 
     program managers and senior Department acquisition officials 
     to prevent cost overruns, avoid schedule delays, and achieve 
     cost savings in major acquisition programs.
       ``(7) Focus on addressing delays and bid protests.--An 
     assessment of ways the Department can improve the acquisition 
     process to minimize cost overruns in requirements 
     development, procurement announcements, requests for 
     proposals, evaluation of proposals, protests of decisions and 
     awards and through the use of best practices as defined in 
     section 4(b) of the DHS Headquarters Reform and Improvement 
     Act of 2015 and lessons learned by the Department and other 
     Federal agencies.
       ``(8) Focus on improving outreach.--An identification and 
     assessment of ways to increase opportunities for 
     communication and collaboration with industry, small and 
     disadvantaged businesses, intra-government entities, 
     university centers of excellence, accredited certification 
     and standards development organizations, and national 
     laboratories to ensure that the Department understands the 
     market for technologies, products, and innovation that is 
     available to meet its mission needs to inform the 
     requirements-setting process and before engaging in an 
     acquisition, including--
       ``(A) methods designed especially to engage small and 
     disadvantaged businesses and a cost-benefit analysis of the 
     tradeoffs that small and disadvantaged businesses provide, 
     barriers to entry for small and disadvantaged businesses, and 
     unique requirements for small and disadvantaged businesses; 
     and
       ``(B) within the Department Vendor Communication Plan and 
     Market Research Guide, instructions for interaction by 
     program managers with such entities to prevent 
     misinterpretation of acquisition regulations and to permit 
     freedom within legal and ethical boundaries for program 
     managers to interact with such businesses with transparency.
       ``(9) Competition.--A plan regarding competition as 
     described in subsection (e).
       ``(10) Acquisition workforce.--A plan regarding the 
     Department acquisition workforce as described in subsection 
     (f).
       ``(11) Feasibility of workforce development fund pilot 
     program.--An assessment of the feasibility of conducting a 
     pilot program to establish an acquisition workforce 
     development fund as described in subsection (g).
       ``(e) Competition Plan.--The strategy shall also include a 
     plan (referred to in subsection (d)(9)) that shall address 
     actions to ensure competition, or the option of competition, 
     for major acquisition programs. The plan may include 
     assessments of the following measures in appropriate cases if 
     such measures are cost effective:
       ``(1) Competitive prototyping.
       ``(2) Dual-sourcing.
       ``(3) Unbundling of contracts.
       ``(4) Funding of next-generation prototype systems or 
     subsystems.
       ``(5) Use of modular, open architectures to enable 
     competition for upgrades.
       ``(6) Acquisition of complete technical data packages.
       ``(7) Periodic competitions for subsystem upgrades.
       ``(8) Licensing of additional suppliers, including small 
     businesses.
       ``(9) Periodic system or program reviews to address long-
     term competitive effects of program decisions.
       ``(f) Acquisition Workforce Plan.--
       ``(1) Acquisition workforce.--The strategy shall also 
     include a plan (referred to in subsection (d)(10)) to address 
     Department acquisition workforce accountability and talent 
     management that identifies the acquisition workforce needs of 
     each component performing acquisition functions and develops 
     options for filling those needs with qualified individuals, 
     including a cost-benefit analysis of contracting for 
     acquisition assistance.
       ``(2) Additional matters covered.--The acquisition 
     workforce plan shall address ways to--
       ``(A) improve the recruitment, hiring, training, and 
     retention of Department acquisition workforce personnel, 
     including contracting officer's representatives, in order to 
     retain highly qualified individuals that have experience in 
     the acquisition life cycle, complex procurements, and 
     management of large programs;
       ``(B) empower program managers to have the authority to 
     manage their programs in an accountable and transparent 
     manner as they work with the acquisition workforce;
       ``(C) prevent duplication within Department acquisition 
     workforce training and certification requirements through 
     leveraging already-existing training within the Federal 
     Government, academic community, or private industry;
       ``(D) achieve integration and consistency with Government-
     wide training and accreditation standards, acquisition 
     training tools, and training facilities;
       ``(E) designate the acquisition positions that will be 
     necessary to support the Department acquisition requirements, 
     including in the fields of--
       ``(i) program management;
       ``(ii) systems engineering;
       ``(iii) procurement, including contracting;
       ``(iv) test and evaluation;
       ``(v) life cycle logistics;
       ``(vi) cost estimating and program financial management; 
     and
       ``(vii) additional disciplines appropriate to Department 
     mission needs;
       ``(F) strengthen the performance of contracting officer's 
     representatives (as defined in subpart 1.602-2 and subpart 
     2.101 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation), including by--
       ``(i) assessing the extent to which contracting officer's 
     representatives are certified and receive training that is 
     appropriate;
       ``(ii) determining what training is most effective with 
     respect to the type and complexity of assignment; and
       ``(iii) implementing actions to improve training based on 
     such assessment; and
       ``(G) identify ways to increase training for relevant 
     investigators and auditors to examine fraud in major 
     acquisition programs, including identifying opportunities to 
     leverage existing Government and private sector resources in 
     coordination with the Inspector General of the Department.
       ``(g) Feasibility of Workforce Development Fund Pilot 
     Program.--The strategy shall also include an assessment 
     (referred to in subsection (d)(11)) of the feasibility of 
     conducting a pilot program to establish a Homeland Security 
     Acquisition Workforce Development Fund (in this subsection 
     referred to as the `Fund') to ensure the Department 
     acquisition workforce has the capacity, in both personnel and 
     skills, needed to properly perform its mission and ensure 
     that the Department receives the best value for the 
     expenditure of public resources. The assessment shall address 
     the following:
       ``(1) Ways to fund the Fund, including the use of direct 
     appropriations, or the credit, transfer, or deposit of 
     unobligated or unused funds from Department components into 
     the Fund to remain available for obligation in the fiscal 
     year for which credited, transferred, or deposited and to 
     remain available for successive fiscal years.
       ``(2) Ways to reward the Department acquisition workforce 
     and program managers for good program management in 
     controlling cost growth, limiting schedule delays, and 
     ensuring operational effectiveness through providing a 
     percentage of the savings or general acquisition bonuses.
       ``(3) Guidance for the administration of the Fund that 
     includes provisions to do the following:
       ``(A) Describe the costs and benefits associated with the 
     use of direct appropriations or credit, transfer, or deposit 
     of unobligated or unused funds to finance the Fund.

[[Page H7004]]

       ``(B) Describe the manner and timing for applications for 
     amounts in the Fund to be submitted.
       ``(C) Explain the evaluation criteria to be used for 
     approving or prioritizing applications for amounts in the 
     Fund in any fiscal year.
       ``(D) Explain the mechanism to report to Congress on the 
     implementation of the Fund on an ongoing basis.
       ``(E) Detail measurable performance metrics to determine if 
     the Fund is meeting the objective to improve the acquisition 
     workforce and to achieve cost savings in acquisition 
     management.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et 
     seq.) is further amended by adding after the item relating to 
     section 838 the following new item:

``Sec. 839. Multiyear acquisition strategy.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment to Future Years Homeland Security 
     Program.--Section 874(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
     (6 U.S.C. 454(b)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (2);
       (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (3) and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(4) include the multiyear acquisition strategy required 
     under section 839 of this Act.''.

     SEC. 233. ACQUISITION REPORTS.

       (a) In General.--Subtitle D of title VIII of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 391 et seq.) is further 
     amended by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``SEC. 840. ACQUISITION REPORTS.

       ``(a) Comprehensive Acquisition Status Report.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary for Management each 
     year shall submit to the congressional homeland security 
     committees, at the same time as the President's budget is 
     submitted for a fiscal year under section 1105(a) of title 
     31, United States Code, a comprehensive acquisition status 
     report. The report shall include the following:
       ``(A) The information required under the heading `Office of 
     the Under Secretary for Management' under title I of division 
     D of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 (Public Law 
     112-74) (as required under the Department of Homeland 
     Security Appropriations Act, 2013 (Public Law 113-6)).
       ``(B) A listing of programs that have been cancelled, 
     modified, paused, or referred to the Under Secretary for 
     Management or Deputy Secretary for additional oversight or 
     action by the Board, Department Office of Inspector General, 
     or the Comptroller General.
       ``(C) A listing of established Executive Steering 
     Committees, which provide governance of a program or related 
     set of programs and lower-tiered oversight, and support 
     between acquisition decision events and component reviews, 
     including the mission and membership for each.
       ``(2) Information for major acquisition programs.--For each 
     major acquisition program, the report shall include the 
     following:
       ``(A) A narrative description, including current gaps and 
     shortfalls, the capabilities to be fielded, and the number of 
     planned increments or units.
       ``(B) Acquisition Review Board (or other board designated 
     to review the acquisition) status of each acquisition, 
     including the current acquisition phase, the date of the last 
     review, and a listing of the required documents that have 
     been reviewed with the dates reviewed or approved.
       ``(C) The most current, approved acquisition program 
     baseline (including project schedules and events).
       ``(D) A comparison of the original acquisition program 
     baseline, the current acquisition program baseline, and the 
     current estimate.
       ``(E) Whether or not an independent verification and 
     validation has been implemented, with an explanation for the 
     decision and a summary of any findings.
       ``(F) A rating of cost risk, schedule risk, and technical 
     risk associated with the program (including narrative 
     descriptions and mitigation actions).
       ``(G) Contract status (including earned value management 
     data as applicable).
       ``(H) A lifecycle cost of the acquisition, and time basis 
     for the estimate.
       ``(3) Updates.--The Under Secretary shall submit quarterly 
     updates to such report not later than 45 days after the 
     completion of each quarter.
       ``(b) Quarterly Program Accountability Report.--The Under 
     Secretary for Management shall prepare a quarterly program 
     accountability report to meet the Department's mandate to 
     perform program health assessments and improve program 
     execution and governance. The report shall be submitted to 
     the congressional homeland security committees.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et 
     seq.) is further amended by adding after the item relating to 
     section 839 the following new item:

``Sec. 840. Acquisition reports.''.

     SEC. 234. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REVIEW OF 
                   MULTIYEAR ACQUISITION STRATEGY.

       (a) Review Required.--After submission to Congress of the 
     first multiyear acquisition strategy (pursuant to section 839 
     of the Homeland Security Act of 2002) after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall conduct a review of the plan within 180 days to 
     analyze the viability of the plan's effectiveness in the 
     following:
       (1) Complying with the requirements in section 839 of the 
     Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by section 232 of 
     this Act.
       (2) Establishing clear connections between Department 
     objectives and acquisition priorities.
       (3) Demonstrating that Department acquisition policy 
     reflects program management best practices and standards.
       (4) Ensuring competition or the option of competition for 
     major acquisition programs.
       (5) Considering potential cost savings through using 
     already-existing technologies when developing acquisition 
     program requirements.
       (6) Preventing duplication within Department acquisition 
     workforce training requirements through leveraging already-
     existing training within the Federal Government, academic 
     community, or private industry.
       (7) Providing incentives for program managers to reduce 
     acquisition and procurement costs through the use of best 
     practices and disciplined program management.
       (8) Maximizing small business utilization in acquisitions 
     by, to the maximum extent practicable, ensuring strategic 
     sourcing vehicles seek to increase participation by small 
     businesses, including small and disadvantaged business.
       (9) Assessing the feasibility of conducting a pilot program 
     to establish a Homeland Security Acquisition Workforce 
     Development Fund.
       (b) Report Required.--The Comptroller General shall submit 
     to the congressional homeland security committees a report on 
     the review required by this section. The report shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified 
     annex.

     SEC. 235. OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT.

       (a) Review Required.--No later than 2 years following the 
     submission of the report submitted by the Comptroller General 
     of the United States as required by section 234, the 
     Department's Inspector General shall conduct a review of 
     whether the Department has complied with the multiyear 
     acquisition strategy (pursuant to section 839 of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002) and adhered to the strategies set forth 
     in the plan. The review shall also consider whether the 
     Department has complied with the requirements to provide the 
     Acquisition Review Board with a capability development plan 
     for each major acquisition program.
       (b) Report Required.--The Inspector General shall submit to 
     the congressional homeland security committees a report of 
     the review required by this section. The report shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified 
     annex.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. McCaul) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Higgins) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. McCAUL. 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 Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, I 
rise today in strong support of H.R. 3572, the Department of Homeland 
Security Headquarters Reform and Improvement Act of 2015, which I 
introduced with my colleague from Mississippi, Ranking Member Bennie 
Thompson.
  This important, bipartisan legislation reforms and streamlines DHS 
headquarters so it can more effectively focus on its core mission of 
better protecting national security. At the same time, this bill saves 
millions in taxpayer dollars and reins in unnecessary bureaucracy.
  DHS headquarters plays an important role in providing direction and 
oversight to the Department's 22 components; yet, over the years, 
Department management has become bloated and unwieldy.
  DHS has established, reorganized, and expanded offices and programs 
without the approval of Congress, created new assistant secretary 
positions, and spent billions of dollars on acquisitions that don't 
meet the needs of our men and women on the frontlines securing the 
homeland.
  This bill helps to get DHS management on track by mandating multiple 
efficiency reviews to ensure taxpayer dollars are not wasted but, 
instead, directly linked to protecting the homeland. It also requires 
DHS to increase

[[Page H7005]]

transparency with Congress, to hold acquisition programs accountable, 
and to better communicate with industry when making major acquisition 
decisions.
  I would like to take this opportunity to thank Oversight and 
Management Efficiency Subcommittee Chairman Scott Perry and Ranking 
Member Bonnie Watson Coleman for their leadership in conducting much of 
the oversight and research that informed the bill, especially their 
work to reform DHS' troubled acquisitions process. I am grateful for 
their tremendous efforts.
  In addition, this bill eliminates unnecessary assistant secretary and 
director positions, abolishes unproductive, idle offices, consolidates 
offices to streamline functionality, and prohibits the Department of 
Homeland Security Secretary from creating any new assistant secretary 
positions without prior congressional approval.
  In short, Mr. Speaker, this bill ensures that the Department of 
Homeland Security is a leaner, less bureaucratic, and more efficient 
organization focused on the mission and getting the job done.
  While H.R. 3572 addresses waste, fraud, abuse, and a lack of 
transparency at DHS headquarters, it is just one part of a larger suite 
of legislation that this committee has passed this year dedicated to 
reforming and improving the Department overall.
  To date, we have passed by voice vote more than 40 bills addressing 
similar shortcomings at CBP, TSA, FEMA, Secret Service, NPPD, and S&T, 
just to name a few.
  I am very proud of our success in passing specific targeted bills 
dedicated to reining in bureaucracy, saving taxpayer dollars, providing 
much-needed congressional guidance, and protecting national security.
  I am grateful to all the members of this committee and to the staff 
on both sides of the aisle whose hard work and bipartisan commitment to 
the priority of keeping America safe helped to make all of this 
legislation possible.
  My committee approved this bill unanimously last month, something you 
don't hear of every day in this Congress.
  In conclusion, I urge all Members of the House to join me in 
supporting this bipartisan bill that will help DHS to operate more 
efficiently and effectively in protecting the American people.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 3572, the Department of Homeland Security 
Headquarters Reform and Improvement Act of 2015.
  Mr. Speaker, the Department of Homeland Security was established in 
2003, when 22 agencies were folded together in what was the most 
substantial reorganization of Federal agencies since the National 
Security Act of 1947.
  Since that time, the Department of Homeland Security has faced an 
ever-evolving range of threats and has taken on more missions and 
responsibilities, most notably with respect to cybersecurity.
  Even as the Department of Homeland Security has risen to the 
operational demands of the post-9/11 world, departmental integration 
and coordination of key activities--such as policy development, 
acquisitions, and human capital management--have been a challenge.
  As a result, the comptroller general and the Department of Homeland 
Security inspector general have repeatedly found instances where 
decisionmaking at the component level has resulted in performance 
failures that have wasted limited Department of Homeland Security 
resources.
  H.R. 3572 is designed to drive improvements at all levels of the 
Department and to codify key departmental management directives that 
were issued in recent years.
  Specifically, H.R. 3572 would strengthen the under secretary for 
management; authorize and realign central offices within the Management 
Directorate; bolster the Office of Policy, including its management of 
DHS overseas personnel; and address the Department's employee morale 
issues.
  Importantly, H.R. 3572 codifies the Department's acquisition 
policies, promoting management practices designed to deliver needed 
capabilities while actively managing risk.
  This bipartisan measure was introduced by Chairman McCaul on 
September 18, and Ranking Member Thompson was his original cosponsor.
  The degree to which this bill is a bipartisan product was further 
underscored by the acceptance of 13 amendments offered by Democratic 
members at the full committee markup held on September 30.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3572 is in line with Department of Homeland 
Security Secretary Jeh Johnson's Unity of Effort initiative. For 
example, it streamlines how the Department conducts outreach with 
Homeland Security stakeholders, including businesses and local 
government agencies, and integrates that process with the Department's 
policymaking.
  Additionally, in an effort to address chronic morale issues and build 
bridges between Department of Homeland Security components, H.R. 3572 
directs the Department to establish a rotational program for its 
workforce.
  Finally, the bill elevates the Assistant Secretary for Policy to an 
under secretary level, a move that successive DHS leaders have sought.

                              {time}  1645

  By doing so, the bill seeks to not only improve departmentwide 
policymaking, but to also advance the goals of the initiative.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 3572.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I will be brief.
  I think it is an excellent bipartisan bill. I want to thank Mr. 
Higgins from New York for his presentation here today and support, and 
I want to thank the other side of the aisle for working with me and 
continuing to work with me in a bipartisan way to get things done for 
the country. I think that is how most committees should work; and 
certainly for one that involves protecting the American people, I think 
it is paramount that we work together, both Republicans and Democrats.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3572.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 3572, 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.

                          ____________________