[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 142 (Tuesday, September 20, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H5668-H5670]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY ACT
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (S. 1550), to amend title 31, United States Code, to
establish entities tasked with improving program and project management
in certain Federal agencies, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 1550
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Program Management
Improvement Accountability Act''.
SEC. 2. PROJECT MANAGEMENT.
(a) Deputy Director for Management.--
(1) Additional functions.--Section 503 of title 31, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Program and Project Management.--
``(1) Requirement.--Subject to the direction and approval
of the Director, the Deputy Director for Management or a
designee shall--
``(A) adopt governmentwide standards, policies, and
guidelines for program and project management for executive
agencies;
``(B) oversee implementation of program and project
management for the standards, policies, and guidelines
established under subparagraph (A);
``(C) chair the Program Management Policy Council
established under section 1126(b);
``(D) establish standards and policies for executive
agencies, consistent with widely accepted standards for
program and project management planning and delivery;
``(E) engage with the private sector to identify best
practices in program and project management that would
improve Federal program and project management;
``(F) conduct portfolio reviews to address programs
identified as high risk by the Government Accountability
Office;
``(G) not less than annually, conduct portfolio reviews of
agency programs in coordination with Project Management
Improvement Officers designated under section 1126(a)(1) to
assess the quality and effectiveness of program management;
and
``(H) establish a 5-year strategic plan for program and
project management.
``(2) Application to department of defense.--Paragraph (1)
shall not apply to the Department of Defense to the extent
that the provisions of that paragraph are substantially
similar to or duplicative of--
``(A) the provisions of chapter 87 of title 10; or
``(B) policy, guidance, or instruction of the Department
related to program management.''.
(2) Deadline for standards, policies, and guidelines.--Not
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Deputy Director for Management of the Office of
Management and Budget shall issue the standards, policies,
and guidelines required under section 503(c) of title 31,
United States Code, as added by paragraph (1).
(3) Regulations.--Not later than 90 days after the date on
which the standards, policies, and guidelines are issued
under paragraph (2), the Deputy Director for Management of
the Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with the
Program Management Policy Council established under section
1126(b) of title 31, United States Code, as added by
subsection (b)(1), and the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget, shall issue any regulations as are
necessary to implement the requirements of section 503(c) of
title 31, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1).
(b) Program Management Improvement Officers and Program
Management Policy Council.--
(1) Amendment.--Chapter 11 of title 31, United States Code,
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 1126. Program management improvement officers and
program management policy council
``(a) Program Management Improvement Officers.--
``(1) Designation.--The head of each agency described in
section 901(b) shall designate a senior executive of the
agency as the Program Management Improvement Officer of the
agency.
``(2) Functions.--The Program Management Improvement
Officer of an agency designated under paragraph (1) shall--
``(A) implement program management policies established by
the agency under section 503(c); and
``(B) develop a strategy for enhancing the role of program
managers within the agency that includes the following:
``(i) Enhanced training and educational opportunities for
program managers that shall include--
``(I) training in the relevant competencies encompassed
with program and project manager within the private sector
for program managers; and
``(II) training that emphasizes cost containment for large
projects and programs.
``(ii) Mentoring of current and future program managers by
experienced senior executives and program managers within the
agency.
``(iii) Improved career paths and career opportunities for
program managers.
``(iv) A plan to encourage the recruitment and retention of
highly qualified individuals to serve as program managers.
``(v) Improved means of collecting and disseminating best
practices and lessons learned to enhance program management
across the agency.
``(vi) Common templates and tools to support improved data
gathering and analysis for program management and oversight
purposes.
``(3) Application to department of defense.--This
subsection shall not apply to the Department of Defense to
the extent that the provisions of this subsection are
substantially similar to or duplicative of the provisions of
chapter 87 of title 10. For purposes of paragraph (1), the
Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and
Logistics (or a designee of the Under Secretary) shall be
considered the Program Management Improvement Officer.
``(b) Program Management Policy Council.--
``(1) Establishment.--There is established in the Office of
Management and Budget a council to be known as the `Program
Management Policy Council' (in this subsection referred to as
the `Council').
``(2) Purpose and functions.--The Council shall act as the
principal interagency forum for improving agency practices
related to program and project management. The Council
shall--
[[Page H5669]]
``(A) advise and assist the Deputy Director for Management
of the Office of Management and Budget;
``(B) review programs identified as high risk by the
General Accountability Office and make recommendations for
actions to be taken by the Deputy Director for Management of
the Office of Management and Budget or a designee;
``(C) discuss topics of importance to the workforce,
including--
``(i) career development and workforce development needs;
``(ii) policy to support continuous improvement in program
and project management; and
``(iii) major challenges across agencies in managing
programs;
``(D) advise on the development and applicability of
standards governmentwide for program management transparency;
and
``(E) review the information published on the website of
the Office of Management and Budget pursuant to section 1122.
``(3) Membership.--
``(A) Composition.--The Council shall be composed of the
following members:
``(i) Five members from the Office of Management and Budget
as follows:
``(I) The Deputy Director for Management.
``(II) The Administrator of the Office of Electronic
Government.
``(III) The Administrator of Federal Procurement Policy.
``(IV) The Controller of the Office of Federal Financial
Management.
``(V) The Director of the Office of Performance and
Personnel Management.
``(ii) The Program Management Improvement Officer from each
agency described in section 901(b).
``(iii) Any other full-time or permanent part-time officer
or employee of the Federal Government or member of the Armed
Forces designated by the Chairperson.
``(B) Chairperson and vice chairperson.--
``(i) In general.--The Deputy Director for Management of
the Office of Management and Budget shall be the Chairperson
of the Council. A Vice Chairperson shall be elected by the
members and shall serve a term of not more than 1 year.
``(ii) Duties.--The Chairperson shall preside at the
meetings of the Council, determine the agenda of the Council,
direct the work of the Council, and establish and direct
subgroups of the Council as appropriate.
``(4) Meetings.--The Council shall meet not less than twice
per fiscal year and may meet at the call of the Chairperson
or a majority of the members of the Council.
``(5) Support.--The head of each agency with a Project
Management Improvement Officer serving on the Council shall
provide administrative support to the Council, as
appropriate, at the request of the Chairperson.''.
(2) Report required.--Not later than 1 year after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget, in consultation with each Program
Management Improvement Officer designated under section
1126(a)(1) of title 31, United States Code, shall submit to
Congress a report containing the strategy developed under
section 1126(a)(2)(B) of such title, as added by paragraph
(1).
(c) Program and Project Management Personnel Standards.--
(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``agency''
means each agency described in section 901(b) of title 31,
United States Code, other than the Department of Defense.
(2) Regulations required.--Not later than 180 days after
the date on which the standards, policies, and guidelines are
issued under section 503(c) of title 31, United States Code,
as added by subsection (a)(1), the Director of the Office of
Personnel Management, in consultation with the Director of
the Office of Management and Budget, shall issue regulations
that--
(A) identify key skills and competencies needed for a
program and project manager in an agency;
(B) establish a new job series, or update and improve an
existing job series, for program and project management
within an agency; and
(C) establish a new career path for program and project
managers within an agency.
(d) Gao Report on Effectiveness of Policies on Program and
Project Management.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Government Accountability Office
shall issue, in conjunction with the High Risk list of the
Government Accountability Office, a report examining the
effectiveness of the following on improving Federal program
and project management:
(1) The standards, policies, and guidelines for program and
project management issued under section 503(c) of title 31,
United States Code, as added by subsection (a)(1).
(2) The 5-year strategic plan established under section
503(c)(1)(H) of title 31, United States Code, as added by
subsection (a)(1).
(3) Program Management Improvement Officers designated
under section 1126(a)(1) of title 31, United States Code, as
added by subsection (b)(1).
(4) The Program Management Policy Council established under
section 1126(b)(1) of title 31, United States Code, as added
by subsection (b)(1).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Carter) and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia
(Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
General Leave
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Georgia?
There was no objection.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1550, the Program
Management Improvement Accountability Act, introduced by Senator Joni
Ernst of Iowa. Program and project management are the guide rails that
are necessary to ensure the Federal Government actually works.
Effective program and project managers are both the first line of
defense against waste and fraud throughout the Federal Government and
the best positioned employees to increase government efficiency.
With Federal spending out of control, we need the best program and
project managers we can get to combat waste, fraud, and inefficiency.
According to CBO, the Federal Government will spend more than $4
trillion in fiscal year 2017, but better management alone could prove a
significant effect on our long-term spending.
A 2013 Accenture study found that a 1 percent increase in efficiency
could save the Federal Government nearly $1 trillion by 2025.
S. 1550 gives our Federal professionals the support and leadership
they need to build a strong foundation of efficiency for Federal
programs and projects. The bill addresses challenges these
professionals face to ensure that management professionals in our
Federal workforce have the guidance, support, and professional
standards necessary to improve efficiency.
According to a report by the National Academy of Public
Administration, there are five significant challenges to improving
program management capabilities in the Federal Government: laws do not
holistically address challenges of program management; program
management is not recognized as an important discipline for improving
performance and results; agency executives and stakeholders do not
understand their roles and responsibilities; training and development
of program managers lack consistency across the Federal Government; and
program managers lack a professional community to provide support and
voice concerns about program management development.
S. 1550 addresses these challenges by: requiring OMB's Deputy
Director of Management to adopt and oversee government-wide standards
that are consistent with private sector best practices; requiring
agencies to designate a senior executive to serve as a program
management improvement officer, an individual who will then be
responsible for implementing standards and policies set by OMB at their
agency; and establishing a Program Management Policy Council to discuss
topics of importance to program and project managers and make
recommendations to resolve inefficiencies in programs identified as
high risk by the Government Accountability Office.
Providing guidance and leadership to our Federal employees
responsible for trillions of dollars in spending will go a long way
toward meeting a simple goal like increasing efficiency by just 1
percent. I urge my colleagues to support this cost-saving, bipartisan
bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I support this bipartisan legislation to improve program
management practices in Federal agencies, and I want to thank the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly), my good friend, and of course
the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Young) for their bipartisan hard work
on this bill.
The bill would require the development of standard policies and
guidelines across the Federal Government for program management. It
would also establish an interagency Program Management Policy Council
to develop best practices and focus on improving the management of
Federal programs.
[[Page H5670]]
The bill would, in addition, require the Office of Personnel
Management to establish a new career path for program and project
management and to identify key skills and competencies for such jobs.
The Federal Government is often called upon to manage large, complex
new programs and initiatives and needs a cadre of managers capable of
guiding this work.
S. 1550, as amended, is a good, bipartisan measure that would improve
the management of the Federal Government, and I urge its adoption.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Connolly), my good friend and a sponsor of this bill.
Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from the District
of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter),
my good friends, for their leadership in managing today.
I rise today, Mr. Speaker, in strong support of this bill, which will
make fundamental changes to project and program management practices
and standards for the Federal Government.
The bill's cosponsor, Representative Todd Young, and I currently
serve as co-chairs of the Government Efficiency Caucus, which to some
may seem like an oxymoron. In our capacity as co-chairs, Representative
Young and I worked together on a bipartisan basis to develop the
Program Management Improvement and Accountability Act.
After taking input from many stakeholders, including from agency
management and private sector partners, regarding the root causes of
poor project performance, we identified serious deficiencies in program
and project management competencies across the entire Federal
Government.
As ranking member of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, it is
deeply troubling to me that so many Federal projects and programs find
themselves substantially over budget or significantly behind schedule.
These are all symptoms of a lack of institutional focus and attention
to the mechanics of project management.
This bill strengthens project management policy throughout the
Federal Government by requiring consistent project standards and
guidelines for program management, demanding accountability at OMB and
in Federal agencies to capture and implement lessons learned, and
requiring a clear identification of skills and competencies necessary
for effective program management professionals.
I have the honor of representing more than 13,000 project managers,
Federal project managers, and the lack of requirements for the position
is not acceptable. The job description for an important position where
billions of dollars are being spent should be clearly defined, and this
legislation instructs OPM, the Office of Personnel Management, to
develop a job classification and career path for these professionals.
I am proud to have worked with Congressman Young and the Government
Efficiency Caucus on a bipartisan basis. We have the support of
nonpartisan good government groups, including the Project Management
Institute and the National Academy of Public Administration behind this
bill.
As a result, the PMIAA passed through our committee, the Committee on
Oversight and Government Reform, without objection, and passed the
Senate unanimously. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this
important piece of legislation that I think will lead to significant
efficiencies in the Federal Government and ultimately benefit the
American taxpayer.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this bill. I thank my
colleague for his work on this bill, my good friend from Virginia.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, S. 1550, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. HUELSKAMP. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________