[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.
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