[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 171 (Thursday, October 1, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E910-E911]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HOMELAND SECURITY ACQUISITION PROFESSIONAL CAREER PROGRAM ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 30, 2020

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5822, the 
``Homeland Security Acquisition Professional Career Program Act,'' 
which would authorize an acquisition professional career program (APCP) 
within DHS.
  This program, which DHS established in 2008, is a pipeline for a 
cadre of acquisition professionals to support the Department's multi-
billion dollar investments in goods and services.
  Under APCP, DHS hires individuals, many of which are new to the 
Federal government or recent college graduates, at the GS-7 grade level 
to work in one of six acquisition positions.
  Upon successful completion of the three-year program, participants 
are placed into permanent full-time positions at the GS-12 grade level.
  The bill outlines the requirements for the program, which includes 
acquisition training, on-the-job experience, Department-wide rotations, 
mentorship, shadowing, and other career development opportunities for 
participants.
  The bill also requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to report 
annually to Congress through fiscal year 2026 on various aspects of the 
program, including the DHS components and offices that participated, 
attrition and retention rates, and the Department's recruiting efforts 
for the program.
  The Department of Homeland Security is the third largest Department 
of the U.S. government, with a workforce of 229,000 employees and 22 
components including TSA, Customs and Border Protection, Immigration 
and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 
FEMA, the Coast Guard, Secret Service, Federal Law Enforcement Training 
Centers, the National Protection and Programs Directorate, and the 
Science and Technology Directorate.
  This year, the House Appropriations Committee approved $50.72 billion 
in FY 2021 discretionary funding, including $48.1 billion in

[[Page E911]]

nondefense discretionary funding, for the Department of Homeland 
Security.
  These taxpayer dollars must be used in a manner consistent with the 
mission and purpose of the Department of Homeland Security, while using 
the best methods for assuring adherence to good government principles.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

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