[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 154 (Wednesday, October 21, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          DHS HEADQUARTERS REFORM AND IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 20, 2015

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the House 
Committee on Homeland Security and the Ranking Member of the Judiciary 
Committee's Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and 
Investigations, I rise in support of H.R. 3572, the ``Department of 
Homeland Security Headquarters Reform and Improvement Act of 2015.''
  This bill will establish DHS-wide strategic priorities for 
international engagement, mechanisms for monitoring resource deployment 
abroad, and strategic priorities and cost data for DHS programs and 
activities abroad.
  H.R. 3572 provides support for DHS's ``Unity of Effort'' campaign and 
addresses redundancy among departmental programs.
  The bill clarifies and streamlines the offices that constitute DHS 
Headquarters and better outlines their respective responsibilities.
  Specifically, H.R. 3572 achieves these goals by:
  1. Establishing an undersecretary for management and makes him or her 
the chief acquisition officer in the Homeland Security Department; and
  2. Establishing two new offices within the department and updates the 
department's acquisition procedures.
  Finally, the bill empowers the Inspector General to review the 
Department's suspension and debarment program and assess whether 
disparities exist in the criteria applied.
  The bill addresses the need for DHS to develop strategic priorities 
for international engagement, establish mechanisms for monitoring 
resource deployment abroad, and developing strategic priorities, and 
collecting cost data for its programs and activities abroad.
  I am pleased that H.R. 3572 incorporates several amendments that I 
offered during the full committee markup which improve the bill.
  Jackson Lee Amendment Number 1 requires the Assistant Security for 
International Affairs to advise the Secretary of Homeland Security on 
strategic priorities for overseas deployment, establish a mechanism for 
monitoring alignment between assets, including personnel, with said 
priorities, and develop a standardized framework to collect and 
maintain cost data for overseas personnel.
  Jackson Lee Amendment Number 2 made technical changes to H.R. 3572 
regarding the conversion of contractor positions to Federal employee 
positions and requiring congressional authorization for adding any new 
office within the Office of Policy.
  Since its creation in 2002, in the aftermath of the terrorist attack 
of 9/11, the Department of Homeland Security has been, and must 
continue to be, ever vigilant in its activities to protect the homeland 
and the lives and property of Americans.
  DHS faces a number of challenges, including the need for more 
resources, better training, better use of technology, and a constantly 
changing environment of homeland security threats.
  H.R. 3572 is a positive step forward in this effort and I urge my 
colleagues to join me in supporting the ``Department of Homeland 
Security Headquarters Reform and Improvement Act of 2015.''

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