[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 75 (Friday, April 30, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E467]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      INTRODUCTION OF THE HOMELAND PROCUREMENT REFORM ACT OF 2021

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                          HON. J. LUIS CORREA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 30, 2021

  Mr. CORREA. Madam Speaker, I am proud to reintroduce this bipartisan 
legislation to reform the way the Department of Homeland Security 
procures uniforms and protective equipment for its personnel. The aim 
is to improve the quality of uniforms and equipment issued to 
Department frontline personnel by encouraging the procurement of 
domestically sourced uniform items.
  Today, OHS has tens of thousands of uniformed officers, but not all 
of those uniforms are made here in the United States. Under this 
legislation, at least a third of OHS funds spent on uniforms are to be 
used to purchase goods manufactured by American small businesses.
  Madam Speaker, my bill is good for homeland security, and it is good 
for small American businesses.
  Additionally, in response to concerns expressed by frontline 
personnel about how quickly they exhaust their annual uniform 
allowances, my bill directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to take 
a hard look at the adequacy of the allowances. In studying the issue, 
the Secretary is required to determine what improvements can be made to 
the current allowances and what impacts the current allowances have had 
on employee morale and retention

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