[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 67 (Monday, April 19, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H1901-H1902]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HOMELAND SECURITY ACQUISITION PROFESSIONAL CAREER PROGRAM ACT

  Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 367) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
to establish an acquisition professional career program, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 367

       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 ``Homeland Security 
     Acquisition Professional Career Program Act''.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF THE ACQUISITION PROFESSIONAL CAREER 
                   PROGRAM.

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

     ``SEC. 711. ACQUISITION PROFESSIONAL CAREER PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the 
     Department an acquisition professional career program to 
     develop a cadre of acquisition professionals within the 
     Department.
       ``(b) Administration.--The Under Secretary for Management 
     shall administer the acquisition professional career program 
     established pursuant to subsection (a).
       ``(c) Program Requirements.--The Under Secretary for 
     Management shall carry out the following with respect to the 
     acquisition professional career program.
       ``(1) Designate the occupational series, grades, and number 
     of acquisition positions throughout the Department to be 
     included in the program and manage centrally such positions.
       ``(2) Establish and publish on the Department's website 
     eligibility criteria for candidates to participate in the 
     program.
       ``(3) Carry out recruitment efforts to attract candidates--
       ``(A) from institutions of higher education, including such 
     institutions with established acquisition specialties and 
     courses of study, historically Black colleges and 
     universities, and Hispanic-serving institutions;
       ``(B) with diverse work experience outside of the Federal 
     Government; or
       ``(C) with military service.
       ``(4) Hire eligible candidates for designated positions 
     under the program.
       ``(5) Develop a structured program comprised of acquisition 
     training, on-the-job experience, Department-wide rotations, 
     mentorship, shadowing, and other career development 
     opportunities for program participants.
       ``(6) Provide, beyond required training established for 
     program participants, additional specialized acquisition 
     training, including small business contracting and innovative 
     acquisition techniques training.
       ``(d) Reports.--Not later than December 31, 2021, and 
     annually thereafter through 2027, 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 
     acquisition professional career program. Each such report 
     shall include the following information:
       ``(1) The number of candidates approved for the program.
       ``(2) The number of candidates who commenced participation 
     in the program, including generalized information on such 
     candidates' backgrounds with respect to education and prior 
     work experience, but not including personally identifiable 
     information.
       ``(3) A breakdown of the number of participants hired under 
     the program by type of acquisition position.
       ``(4) A list of Department components and offices that 
     participated in the program and information regarding length 
     of time of each program participant in each rotation at such 
     components or offices.
       ``(5) Program attrition rates and post-program graduation 
     retention data, including information on how such data 
     compare to the prior year's data, as available.
       ``(6) The Department's recruiting efforts for the program.
       ``(7) The Department's efforts to promote retention of 
     program participants.
       ``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Hispanic-serving institution.--The term `Hispanic-
     serving institution' has the meaning given such term in 
     section 502 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     1101a).
       ``(2) Historically black colleges and universities.--The 
     term `historically Black colleges and universities' has the 
     meaning given the term `part B institution' in section 322(2) 
     of Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)).
       ``(3) Institution of higher education.--The term 
     `institution of higher education' has the meaning given such 
     term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
     U.S.C. 1001).''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by 
     inserting after the item relating to section 710 the 
     following new item:

``Sec. 711. Acquisition professional career program.''.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 367, the Homeland Security Acquisition 
Professional Career Program Act.
  H.R. 367 authorizes the Department of Homeland Security's Acquisition 
Professional Career Program which, since 2008, has been credited with 
helping DHS onboard over 300 new hires into its acquisition workforce.
  At DHS, acquisition professionals, such as contract specialists, are 
responsible for spending billions of dollars each year on the goods and 
services needed for the department to carry out its missions. They 
acquire everything from disaster relief supplies for FEMA to Coast 
Guard cutters and software designed to protect Federal Government 
networks from cyber threats.
  Unfortunately, when it comes to hiring and retaining acquisitions 
professionals, DHS has experienced chronic staffing shortages that, in 
the view of the Government Accountability Office, create a persistent 
challenge for DHS that can negatively affect the ability of DHS to 
acquire vital capabilities on time and on budget.
  H.R. 367 seeks to address this challenge by codifying DHS' rigorous 
development program in which participants are provided with acquisition 
training, mentorship, department-wide rotations, and other career 
development opportunities.
  Enactment of this measure will help DHS maintain a pipeline for its 
acquisition workforce to directly support the department's frontline 
officers and provide them with the tools that they need.
  A prior version of this bill passed the House by a voice vote last 
September on a bipartisan basis.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to once again support this 
legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GARBARINO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.

[[Page H1902]]

  I rise today in support of H.R. 367, the Homeland Security 
Acquisition Professional Career Program Act. This legislation will help 
create a pipeline for the Department of Homeland Security to better 
recruit talented acquisition professionals.
  This critical program is an important step to making DHS more agile 
and efficient in its role of protecting our Nation.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 367.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague 
from Nevada for her leadership on this bill.
  Americans look to DHS to respond after a disaster, prevent terrorism, 
and protect cyberspace. Within DHS, its leaders at every level of the 
organization look to the acquisition workforce to ensure that the 
department has the tools needed to get the job done.
  Since 2008, DHS' Acquisition Professional Career Program has created 
a vital pipeline for the department to hire acquisitions professionals 
who develop their knowledge and skills in house at DHS.
  Enactment of H.R. 367 would ensure that DHS is able to continue to 
run this successful program which the department has come to rely on to 
help address chronic staffing shortages within its acquisition 
workforce.
  Again, I want to thank and commend the gentlewoman, Congresswoman 
Titus from Nevada, who is presently presiding over the House, for her 
leadership on H.R. 367.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 367. I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 367, the 
``Homeland Security Acquisition Professional Career Program Act,'' 
which establishes in the Department of Homeland Security an acquisition 
professional career program to develop a cadre of acquisition 
professionals.
  Acquisition professionals work in one of six career fields, each of 
which plays a vital role in Department Acquisition.
  The six Acquisition career fields include:
  1. Contract Specialist,
  2. Program Manager,
  3. Logistician,
  4. Systems Engineer,
  5. Industrial Engineer/Cost Estimator, and
  6. IT Acquisition Specialist.
  Homeland Security Acquisition Professional Career Program 
participants are appointed to rotational assignments within department 
components to gain experience in a wide variety of work environments.
  The program is three years, and upon successful completion 
participants are placed into a permanent full-time position at the GS-
12 grade.
  Job applications to the Department of Homeland Security go through 
multiple levels of review.
  Human Resources Specialists screen applications to determine whether 
basic eligibility requirements are met for the position and rate 
applications according to the additional qualifications listed in the 
job announcement.
  If the application rates among the best qualified, it will be 
forwarded to the hiring manager who will make the final selection.
  Selection procedures are subject to Federal Civil Service laws, which 
ensures that all applicants receive fair and equal treatment in the 
hiring process.
  Acquisition Professionals are responsible for nearly $20 billion in 
annual purchases for the Department of Homeland Security.
  The Management Directorate shall administer this essential program, 
including carrying out recruitment efforts and providing specialized 
acquisition training.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in voting for passage of H.R. 367.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Torres) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 367.
  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. BIGGS. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________