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DHS Acquisition Authorities Act of 2017

USA115th CongressHR-1252| House 
| Updated: 3/21/2017
Clay Higgins

Clay Higgins

Republican Representative

Louisiana

Cosponsors (1)
Michael T. McCaul (Republican)

Homeland Security Committee, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
DHS Acquisition Authorities Act of 2017 This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to revise acquisition and procurement programs and activities of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). (Sec. 2) The bill designates the DHS Under Secretary for Management as the DHS Chief Acquisition Officer. It sets forth the duties and responsibilities of the Under Secretary related to acquisition, including: advising DHS on acquisition management activities; leading DHS's acquisition oversight body, the Acquisition Review Board, and exercising the authority to approve, pause, modify, or cancel a major acquisition program (i.e., a program estimated to require a total expenditure of at least $300 million over its life cycle cost); establishing policies for acquisition; ensuring that each major acquisition program has a DHS-approved acquisition program baseline; distributing guidance to ensure that contractors adhere to relevant DHS policies related to physical and information security; and overseeing the Component Acquisition Executive organizational structure to ensure that such executives have sufficient capabilities and comply with DHS acquisition policies. The Under Secretary may delegate acquisition decision authority in writing to the relevant Component Acquisition Executive (i.e., senior acquisition official within a DHS Component with authority and responsibility for leading a process and staff to provide acquisition and program management oversight, policy, and guidance) for an acquisition program that has a life cycle cost estimate of: (1) less than $300 million, and (2) between $300 million and $1 billion if specified additional requirements are met. The Under Secretary for Science and Technology shall: ensure, in coordination with relevant component heads, that major acquisition programs complete operational testing and evaluation of technologies and systems, use independent verification and validation of operational test and evaluation implementation and results, and document whether such programs meet all performance requirements included in their acquisition program baselines; ensure that such testing and evaluation includes all system components and incorporates operators into the testing to make sure that systems perform as intended in the appropriate operational setting; and determine if testing conducted by other federal agencies and private entities is relevant and sufficient in determining whether systems perform as intended in the operational setting. (Sec. 3) The DHS Office of Program Analysis and Evaluation shall oversee the costs of acquisition programs and related activities to ensure that actual and planned costs are in accordance with budget estimates and are affordable, or can be adequately funded, over the life cycle of such programs and activities. (Sec. 4) The DHS Chief Information Officer shall: (1) oversee the management of the Homeland Security Enterprise Architecture, (2) make recommendations to the Acquisition Review Board regarding information technology programs, and (3) be responsible for developing information technology acquisition strategic guidance. (Sec. 5) The bill establishes within the DHS Management Directorate a Program Accountability and Risk Management Office to: (1) provide consistent accountability, standardization, and transparency of major acquisition programs of DHS, and (2) serve as the central oversight function for all DHS acquisition programs.

Bill Text Versions

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Timeline
Feb 28, 2017
Introduced in House
Feb 28, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
Mar 8, 2017
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Mar 8, 2017
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Mar 20, 2017
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 27.
Mar 20, 2017
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-47.
Mar 20, 2017
Mr. Higgins (LA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Mar 20, 2017
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2219-2221)
Mar 20, 2017
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1252.
Mar 20, 2017
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Mar 20, 2017
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2224)
Mar 20, 2017
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 407 - 1 (Roll no. 175). (text of measure as passed: CR H2219-2220)
View Vote
Mar 20, 2017
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Mar 21, 2017
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  • February 28, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • February 28, 2017
    Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.


  • March 8, 2017
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • March 8, 2017
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.


  • March 20, 2017
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 27.


  • March 20, 2017
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-47.


  • March 20, 2017
    Mr. Higgins (LA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • March 20, 2017
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2219-2221)


  • March 20, 2017
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1252.


  • March 20, 2017
    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.


  • March 20, 2017
    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2224)


  • March 20, 2017
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 407 - 1 (Roll no. 175). (text of measure as passed: CR H2219-2220)
    View Vote


  • March 20, 2017
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • March 21, 2017
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • S 115-902: A bill to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide for certain acquisition authorities for the Under Secretary of Management of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.
  • HR 115-2825: DHS Authorization Act
Accounting and auditingComputers and information technologyCongressional oversightDepartment of Homeland SecurityExecutive agency funding and structureFederal officialsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsPerformance measurementPublic contracts and procurement

DHS Acquisition Authorities Act of 2017

USA115th CongressHR-1252| House 
| Updated: 3/21/2017
DHS Acquisition Authorities Act of 2017 This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to revise acquisition and procurement programs and activities of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). (Sec. 2) The bill designates the DHS Under Secretary for Management as the DHS Chief Acquisition Officer. It sets forth the duties and responsibilities of the Under Secretary related to acquisition, including: advising DHS on acquisition management activities; leading DHS's acquisition oversight body, the Acquisition Review Board, and exercising the authority to approve, pause, modify, or cancel a major acquisition program (i.e., a program estimated to require a total expenditure of at least $300 million over its life cycle cost); establishing policies for acquisition; ensuring that each major acquisition program has a DHS-approved acquisition program baseline; distributing guidance to ensure that contractors adhere to relevant DHS policies related to physical and information security; and overseeing the Component Acquisition Executive organizational structure to ensure that such executives have sufficient capabilities and comply with DHS acquisition policies. The Under Secretary may delegate acquisition decision authority in writing to the relevant Component Acquisition Executive (i.e., senior acquisition official within a DHS Component with authority and responsibility for leading a process and staff to provide acquisition and program management oversight, policy, and guidance) for an acquisition program that has a life cycle cost estimate of: (1) less than $300 million, and (2) between $300 million and $1 billion if specified additional requirements are met. The Under Secretary for Science and Technology shall: ensure, in coordination with relevant component heads, that major acquisition programs complete operational testing and evaluation of technologies and systems, use independent verification and validation of operational test and evaluation implementation and results, and document whether such programs meet all performance requirements included in their acquisition program baselines; ensure that such testing and evaluation includes all system components and incorporates operators into the testing to make sure that systems perform as intended in the appropriate operational setting; and determine if testing conducted by other federal agencies and private entities is relevant and sufficient in determining whether systems perform as intended in the operational setting. (Sec. 3) The DHS Office of Program Analysis and Evaluation shall oversee the costs of acquisition programs and related activities to ensure that actual and planned costs are in accordance with budget estimates and are affordable, or can be adequately funded, over the life cycle of such programs and activities. (Sec. 4) The DHS Chief Information Officer shall: (1) oversee the management of the Homeland Security Enterprise Architecture, (2) make recommendations to the Acquisition Review Board regarding information technology programs, and (3) be responsible for developing information technology acquisition strategic guidance. (Sec. 5) The bill establishes within the DHS Management Directorate a Program Accountability and Risk Management Office to: (1) provide consistent accountability, standardization, and transparency of major acquisition programs of DHS, and (2) serve as the central oversight function for all DHS acquisition programs.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
4 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Feb 28, 2017
Introduced in House
Feb 28, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
Mar 8, 2017
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Mar 8, 2017
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Mar 20, 2017
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 27.
Mar 20, 2017
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-47.
Mar 20, 2017
Mr. Higgins (LA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Mar 20, 2017
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2219-2221)
Mar 20, 2017
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1252.
Mar 20, 2017
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Mar 20, 2017
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2224)
Mar 20, 2017
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 407 - 1 (Roll no. 175). (text of measure as passed: CR H2219-2220)
View Vote
Mar 20, 2017
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Mar 21, 2017
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  • February 28, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • February 28, 2017
    Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.


  • March 8, 2017
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • March 8, 2017
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.


  • March 20, 2017
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 27.


  • March 20, 2017
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-47.


  • March 20, 2017
    Mr. Higgins (LA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • March 20, 2017
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2219-2221)


  • March 20, 2017
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1252.


  • March 20, 2017
    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.


  • March 20, 2017
    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2224)


  • March 20, 2017
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 407 - 1 (Roll no. 175). (text of measure as passed: CR H2219-2220)
    View Vote


  • March 20, 2017
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • March 21, 2017
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Clay Higgins

Clay Higgins

Republican Representative

Louisiana

Cosponsors (1)
Michael T. McCaul (Republican)

Homeland Security Committee, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • S 115-902: A bill to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide for certain acquisition authorities for the Under Secretary of Management of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.
  • HR 115-2825: DHS Authorization Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Accounting and auditingComputers and information technologyCongressional oversightDepartment of Homeland SecurityExecutive agency funding and structureFederal officialsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsPerformance measurementPublic contracts and procurement