[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 146 (Tuesday, September 4, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H7801-H7803]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CHIEF DATA OFFICER AUTHORIZATION ACT

  Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 6447) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the 
position of Chief Data Officer of the Department of Homeland Security, 
and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6447

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Homeland 
     Security Chief Data Officer Authorization Act''.

     SEC. 2. CHIEF DATA OFFICER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 
                   SECURITY.

       Section 703 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
     343) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(c) Chief Data Officer.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
     Chief Information Officer, shall designate a career appointee 
     (as such term is defined in section 3132 of title 5, United 
     States Code) of the Department as the Chief Data Officer of 
     the Department.
       ``(2) Qualifications.--The Chief Data Officer shall possess 
     demonstrated training and experience in the management, 
     governance, generation, collection, protection, analysis, 
     use, and sharing of data, including the protection and de-
     identification of personally identifiable information.
       ``(3) Functions.--The Chief Data Officer shall be 
     responsible for the following:
       ``(A) Ensuring that the Department conforms with data 
     management best practices recognized across industry and the 
     Federal Government.
       ``(B) Coordinating the organization and integration of data 
     across the Department for improved interoperability, 
     analysis, and decision-making.

[[Page H7802]]

       ``(C) Reviewing the impact of the infrastructure of the 
     Department regarding data integrity and interoperability.
       ``(D) Coordinating the release of data for public use 
     following appropriate privacy reviews within the Department, 
     as coordinated with the Chief Privacy Officer.
       ``(E) Promoting the use of modern data systems to improve 
     Department operations.
       ``(F) Coordinating the storage of Department records in 
     accordance with the National Archives and Records 
     Administration's General Records Schedules.
       ``(G) Overseeing, in coordination with the Chief Privacy 
     Officer of the Department, as appropriate, the Department's 
     compliance with the following responsibilities:
       ``(i) Issuing guidelines ensuring and maximizing the 
     quality, objectivity, utility and integrity of information 
     (including statistical information).
       ``(ii) Establishing administrative mechanisms that allow 
     affected persons to seek and obtain correction of information 
     maintained and disseminated by relevant components of the 
     Department that does not comply with the Department's 
     guidelines.
       ``(iii) Reporting to the Director of the Office of 
     Management and Budget about the number and nature of 
     complaints received by relevant components of the Department 
     regarding the accuracy of information disseminated and how 
     such complaints were handled by such components.
       ``(H) Coordinating with appropriate officials of the 
     Department, including the Chief Privacy Officer, component 
     privacy officers, component Chief Data Officers, and program 
     managers, regarding the use of data within their respective 
     components and under their authorities.
       ``(I) Serving as the liaison to other Federal agencies and 
     the Office of Management and Budget on data and the best way 
     to use existing Department data for statistical purposes.
       ``(4) Component chief data officers.--The heads of each 
     operational component of the Department, in consultation with 
     the Chief Data Officer of the Department and the Chief 
     Information Officer of such component, shall designate a 
     career appointee (as such term is defined in section 3132 of 
     title 5, United States Code) from each such component of the 
     Department as the Chief Data Officer of their respective 
     component. Each such component Chief Data Officer shall--
       ``(A) have the qualifications described under subsection 
     (c)(2); and
       ``(B) coordinate with and assist the Chief Data Officer of 
     the Department in the implementation of the functions 
     specified in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of paragraph (3) 
     for their respective component.
       ``(5) Reports.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this subsection and periodically thereafter 
     as necessary, 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 report on the implementation of this subsection, 
     including any concerns regarding such implementation.''.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include any extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6447, the Department of 
Homeland Security Chief Data Officer Authorization Act, sponsored by my 
colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter).
  In today's data-driven world, organizations like the Department of 
Homeland Security generate, collect, and maintain enormous quantities 
of data in carrying out their day-to-day operations. Unfortunately, 
data continues to be underutilized as an asset by organizations, 
especially in the Federal Government, largely as a result of poor 
internal data management and governance practices.
  To address these shortcomings, the private sector and Federal, State, 
and local entities have increasingly begun appointing the position of 
chief data officer to their management teams. Such a position would 
work to improve data management and governance at an organization in 
order to format data for better analysis and use.
  The work conducted by chief data officers can help organizations 
achieve operational efficiencies, improve policy insight and 
decisionmaking, achieve data interoperability across legacy IT systems, 
and increase transparency.
  To date, several entities within Homeland Security, including 
Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, have designated chief data 
officers. Recognizing this growing trend, H.R. 6447 authorizes the 
Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with Homeland 
Security's chief information officer, to designate a Homeland Security-
wide chief data officer.
  The chief data officer is tasked with overseeing policies to manage, 
organize, and format Homeland Security data in order to better carry 
out data analysis for use in departmental operations.
  Additionally, H.R. 6447 requires the heads of all Homeland Security 
operational components, in consultation with the chief data officer and 
component chief information officers, to appoint component-level chief 
data officers.
  Homeland Security is charged with the responsibility of keeping our 
homeland and its citizens safe. As such, it is imperative that Homeland 
Security possess the capability and capacity and tools to make informed 
decisions in today's rapidly evolving threat environment. The 
appointment of chief data officers at the department and its components 
is integral to providing Homeland Security with the tools to make data-
driven decisions in the 21st century.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6447, the Department of 
Homeland Security Chief Data Officer Authorization Act. H.R. 6447 would 
require the Department of Homeland Security to designate a chief data 
officer for the department. This official would be responsible for 
coordinating the organization and integration of data across the 
department for improved analysis and decisionmaking.
  DHS generates, collects, and maintains vast quantities of data, but 
has difficulty uniformly analyzing it because of its inconsistencies in 
how data is collected and maintained throughout the department.

                              {time}  1800

  The chief data officer would serve as the lead official for 
coordinating internal data processes to achieve data and 
interoperability across DHS systems.
  Importantly, H.R. 6447 includes language authored by the 
Representative from Florida (Mrs. Demings) to delegate responsibility 
for overseeing the Data Quality Act to the chief data officer.
  Under the Data Quality Act, Federal agencies are required to issue 
guidelines to maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity 
of information, including statistical information they disseminate. 
Additionally, the law requires agencies to establish mechanisms for 
persons to correct data that does not comply with guidelines.
  At this time, when truth is under assault, it is critical that there 
be vigilant watchdogs to help ensure that information provided by the 
Department of Homeland Security is accurate. With that, I encourage my 
colleagues to support this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Carter).
  Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding.
  I rise today on behalf of H.R. 6447, the Chief Data Officer 
Authorization Act. This bill designates the chief data officer to 
increase transparency and to ensure best practices are implemented 
throughout the DHS. My bill is the culmination of listening to my 
constituents and DHS employees along the border regarding transparency, 
communication, and oversight issues at the Department of Homeland 
Security.
  Every day 240,000 employees at DHS go to work to ensure the security 
of our Nation. Many of these men and women are under intense pressure 
to identify efficiencies and do more with less. This bill answers their 
request for help in managing and sharing information to protect the 
homeland.
  I have also heard from my constituents who are concerned about 
government transparency. I truly understand the need to keep the public 
informed on how their government is working for them. This bill is in 
answer to those concerns.
  This bill also ensures Members of Congress receive the answers and 
the

[[Page H7803]]

data they need to effectively perform our constitutional oversight 
responsibilities.
  I echo the sentiments of many of my colleagues to support this 
bipartisan legislation. Today is a big step forward for the American 
people.
  This bill ensures DHS does not fall behind other government agencies 
as we increase transparency for those we serve. I urge my colleagues to 
support the passage of this bill.
  Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no speakers on this bill, 
and I am prepared to close.
  Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers. If the gentlewoman 
from New Jersey has no other speakers, I am prepared to close once she 
does.
  Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to be here with my 
friend, Mr. Katko, and I am prepared to close.
  Mr. Speaker, enactment of H.R. 6447 would help improve DHS' ability 
to integrate and analyze data and ensure the reliability of the data it 
disseminates.
  Further, it would help ensure that Congress is provided timely and 
accurate data to facilitate effective oversight. As such, I encourage 
my colleagues to support H.R. 6447.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague and friend from New 
Jersey. It is always a pleasure to work on bills with her because there 
is always very good bipartisan spirit. I think that is something that 
is lost often in this Chamber.
  I am happy to support this bill. It is commonsense legislation, and I 
urge my colleagues to support it.
  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 New York (Mr. Katko) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 6447, 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.

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