DHS Headquarters Reform and Improvement Act of 2015
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY HEADQUARTERS REAUTHORIZATION
This title amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to: (1) establish the components of the Department Headquarters of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and set forth departmental functions; (2) designate the senior DHS privacy officer as the DHS Chief Privacy Officer and set forth additional responsibilities for such Officer; (3) establish an Office of Policy in DHS to lead, conduct, and coordinate DHS-wide policy, strategic planning, and relationships with organizations or persons that are not part of DHS; and (4) establish in the Office of Policy an Office of Partnership and Engagement, an Office of International Affairs, an Office of Policy Implementation, and an Office of Strategy and Planning.
The title revises and expands DHS reporting requirements for the quadrennial security review and the Future Years Homeland Security Program.
The title sets forth additional duties for the DHS Under Secretary for Management (designated as the Chief Management Officer), the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Information Officer, and the Chief Human Capital Officer. The bill creates the new positions of Chief Procurement Officer and Chief Security Officer.
DHS must submit: (1) a report on cost savings and efficiency reviews; and (2) a field efficiencies plan that examines the facilities and administrative and logistics functions of DHS components located within designed geographic areas.
TITLE II--DHS ACQUISITION ACCOUNTABILITY AND EFFICIENCY
This title amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to: (1) designate the DHS Under Secretary for Management as the DHS Chief Acquisition Officer; (2) include the DHS Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Information Officer in the DHS acquisition process; and (3) require the Under Secretary to take steps to improve the accountability, standardization, and transparency of major DHS acquisition programs.
The title directs the Under Secretary for Management to: (1) establish an Acquisition Review Board to strengthen accountability and uniformity within the DHS acquisition review process, review acquisition programs, and review the use of best practices; and (2) establish DHS-wide policies to increase opportunities for effectiveness and efficiencies in the DHS major acquisition process. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) must conduct a review of the effectiveness of the Board.
The title establishes a process for notifying the congressional homeland security committees of a breach in a major DHS acquisition program (e.g., a failure to meet any cost, schedule, or performance requirements). The Under Secretary for Management must prepare a plan for remediating a breach and an analysis of the root cause of the breach.
DHS must submit a multiyear acquisition strategy to guide the overall direction of DHS acquisition, including a plan to address DHS acquisition workforce accountability and talent management and an assessment of the feasibility of conducting a pilot program to establish a Homeland Security Acquisition Workforce Development Fund to ensure that the DHS workforce has the capacity to perform its mission and that DHS receives the best value for the expenditure of public resources. The GAO must review such multiyear acquisition strategy to determine its effectiveness, and the DHS Inspector General must review whether DHS has complied and adhered to the strategy.
DHS must submit an annual comprehensive acquisition status report to the congressional homeland security committees.
| Action Date | Type | Text | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-03-16 | Committee | Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-632. | Senate |
| 2015-10-21 | IntroReferral | Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. | Senate |
| 2015-10-20 | Floor | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. | House floor actions |
| 2015-10-20 | Floor | On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6991-7004) | House floor actions |
| 2015-10-20 | Floor | DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3572. | House floor actions |
| 2015-10-20 | Floor | Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6991-7005) | House floor actions |
| 2015-10-20 | Floor | Mr. McCaul moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. | House floor actions |
| 2015-10-20 | Calendars | Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 226. | House floor actions |
| 2015-10-20 | Committee | Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 114-297. | House floor actions |
| 2015-09-30 | Committee | Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. | House committee actions |
| 2015-09-30 | Committee | Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held. | House committee actions |
| 2015-09-18 | IntroReferral | Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security. | House floor actions |
| 2015-09-18 | IntroReferral | Introduced in House | Library of Congress |