Department of Homeland Security Chief Data Officer Authorization Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6447) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the position of Chief Data Officer of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6447, the Department of Homeland Security Chief Data Officer Authorization Act, sponsored by my colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter).

In today's data-driven world, organizations like the Department of Homeland Security generate, collect, and maintain enormous quantities of data in carrying out their day-to-day operations. Unfortunately, data continues to be underutilized as an asset by organizations, especially in the Federal Government, largely as a result of poor internal data management and governance practices.

To address these shortcomings, the private sector and Federal, State, and local entities have increasingly begun appointing the position of chief data officer to their management teams. Such a position would work to improve data management and governance at an organization in order to format data for better analysis and use.

The work conducted by chief data officers can help organizations achieve operational efficiencies, improve policy insight and decisionmaking, achieve data interoperability across legacy IT systems, and increase transparency.

To date, several entities within Homeland Security, including Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, have designated chief data officers. Recognizing this growing trend, H.R. 6447 authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with Homeland Security's chief information officer, to designate a Homeland Security- wide chief data officer.

The chief data officer is tasked with overseeing policies to manage, organize, and format Homeland Security data in order to better carry out data analysis for use in departmental operations.

Additionally, H.R. 6447 requires the heads of all Homeland Security operational components, in consultation with the chief data officer and component chief information officers, to appoint component-level chief data officers.

Homeland Security is charged with the responsibility of keeping our homeland and its citizens safe. As such, it is imperative that Homeland Security possess the capability and capacity and tools to make informed decisions in today's rapidly evolving threat environment. The appointment of chief data officers at the department and its components is integral to providing Homeland Security with the tools to make data- driven decisions in the 21st century.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter).

Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers. If the gentlewoman from New Jersey has no other speakers, I am prepared to close once she does.

Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague and friend from New Jersey. It is always a pleasure to work on bills with her because there is always very good bipartisan spirit. I think that is something that is lost often in this Chamber.

I am happy to support this bill. It is commonsense legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the following cost estimate for H.R. 6447, Department of Homeland Security Chief Data Officer Authorization Act prepared by the Congressional Budget Office was not available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative report.

September 4, 2018.

Hon. Michael McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has

prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 6447, the

Department of Homeland Security Chief Data Officer

Authorization Act.

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be

pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Mark

Grabowicz.

Sincerely,

Keith Hall, Director.

Enslosure.

H.R. 6447--Department of Homeland Security Chief Data Officer

Authorization Act

As ordered reported by the House Committee on Homeland Security on July

24, 2018

H.R. 6447 would require the Department of Homeland Security

(DHS) to designate a current career appointee as the chief

data officer of the department. The bill also would require

each of the seven operational components within DHS (such as

Customs and Border Protection and the Transportation Security

Administration) to designate current appointees as chief data

officers. Those offices would coordinate the integration of

data among DHS agencies, oversee the storage of records, and

manage other tasks related to the use of DHS data systems.

Two DHS operational components currently have a chief data

officers while a third component has a vacant position. We

expect that the other four components and the department

would have to hire five additional people to assist in

carrying out the formal role of chief data officer

established by the bill at an annual cost of around $150,000

per person. Thus, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 6447

would cost about $1 million annually; such spending would be

subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

Enacting H.R. 6447 would not affect direct spending or

revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 6447 would not increase

net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four

consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.

H.R. 6447 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector

mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Mark Grabowicz.

The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy

Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6447, the Department of Homeland Security Chief Data Officer Authorization Act. H.R. 6447 would require the Department of Homeland Security to designate a chief data officer for the department. This official would be responsible for coordinating the organization and integration of data across the department for improved analysis and decisionmaking.

DHS generates, collects, and maintains vast quantities of data, but has difficulty uniformly analyzing it because of its inconsistencies in how data is collected and maintained throughout the department.

The chief data officer would serve as the lead official for coordinating internal data processes to achieve data and interoperability across DHS systems.

Importantly, H.R. 6447 includes language authored by the Representative from Florida (Mrs. Demings) to delegate responsibility for overseeing the Data Quality Act to the chief data officer.

Under the Data Quality Act, Federal agencies are required to issue guidelines to maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information, including statistical information they disseminate. Additionally, the law requires agencies to establish mechanisms for persons to correct data that does not comply with guidelines.

At this time, when truth is under assault, it is critical that there be vigilant watchdogs to help ensure that information provided by the Department of Homeland Security is accurate. With that, I encourage my colleagues to support this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no speakers on this bill, and I am prepared to close.

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to be here with my friend, Mr. Katko, and I am prepared to close.

Mr. Speaker, enactment of H.R. 6447 would help improve DHS' ability to integrate and analyze data and ensure the reliability of the data it disseminates.

Further, it would help ensure that Congress is provided timely and accurate data to facilitate effective oversight. As such, I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 6447.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding.

I rise today on behalf of H.R. 6447, the Chief Data Officer Authorization Act. This bill designates the chief data officer to increase transparency and to ensure best practices are implemented throughout the DHS. My bill is the culmination of listening to my constituents and DHS employees along the border regarding transparency, communication, and oversight issues at the Department of Homeland Security.

Every day 240,000 employees at DHS go to work to ensure the security of our Nation. Many of these men and women are under intense pressure to identify efficiencies and do more with less. This bill answers their request for help in managing and sharing information to protect the homeland.

I have also heard from my constituents who are concerned about government transparency. I truly understand the need to keep the public informed on how their government is working for them. This bill is in answer to those concerns.

This bill also ensures Members of Congress receive the answers and the

data they need to effectively perform our constitutional oversight responsibilities.

I echo the sentiments of many of my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation. Today is a big step forward for the American people.

This bill ensures DHS does not fall behind other government agencies as we increase transparency for those we serve. I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this bill.