Homeland Security Acquisition Professional Career Program Act

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.

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.

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.

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.

Madam Speaker, the Department of Homeland Security's staff, like all our government agencies, should reflect the diversity of this country. That is why I rise to offer H.R. 367, the ``Homeland Security Acquisition Professional Career Program Act.''

Due in large part to the American Rescue Plan, the United States is well on its way to crushing the virus that has plagued us for over a year. As a result, domestic travel is increasing.

Accordingly, we must ensure that airports, like McCarran International in Las Vegas, have the equipment and trained personnel they need to safely and efficiently welcome travelers.

We can and should fill these frontline jobs, ranging from TSA agents to cyber security analysts, with veterans and graduates of HBCUs and Hispanic-serving institutions. That is exactly what my bill seeks to do.

Each year, the Department spends billions of dollars acquiring the goods and services needed to carry out its many missions. In addition to COVID-19 supplies, this includes everything from Coast Guard ships to the screening technologies that the Transportation Security Administration uses to secure our nation's travel infrastructure.

Unfortunately, a Government Accountability Office review found that 51 of these DHS major acquisition programs experienced workforce shortfalls.

In an effort to address said shortages, DHS established the Acquisition Professional Career Program.

This 3-year development program affords individuals rigorous training and on-the-job experience within DHS.

It also provides rotations to other components or offices within the Department, mentorship, and additional career development opportunities.

As a result, program participants graduate as certified acquisition professionals in their respective fields, such as contract specialists, cost estimators, and systems engineers.

H.R. 367 will ensure this program remains in place for years to come so that DHS maintains a pipeline for qualified acquisition leaders.

My bill will also require DHS to provide Congress with key information on the program for the next 5 years.

H.R. 367, if enacted, would help DHS strengthen and diversify its acquisition workforce by directing recruitment efforts to historically underrepresented individuals.

This will ensure that the Department, specifically including our TSA officials, is more representative and is more sensitive to the needs, cultural differences, and societal expectations of our heterogenous population, including the traveling public.

With that, I urge my colleagues to vote `yes' on its passage.

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.

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

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. Speaker, I was unable to be present. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 120, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 121, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 122, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 123, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 124, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 125, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 126, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 127, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 128, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 129, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 130, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 131, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 132, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 133.