H.R. 1252DHS Acquisition Authorities Act of 2017

1 recorded action148 of these members are on the 2026 ballotWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: Clay Higgins [R-LA-03]
Cosponsors: 1 · 1 Republican
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Committees: Homeland Security Committee, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Latest action: Mar 21, 2017 · Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

IntroducedFeb 28, 2017
Passed the HouseMar 20, 2017
Passed the SenateNot yet reached
Sent to the PresidentNot yet reached
Became lawNot yet reached

What the measure doesCRS summary

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.

How every member votedHouse roll call 175

House Mar 20, 2017

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

DHS Acquisition Authorities Act of 2017

Passed · Two-thirds required

407 Yea 1 Nay 21 not voting

Crossed both parties 1 of 408 voting members broke with their own party: 1 Republican.

Open the official roll call

How the chamber split

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DemocratsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

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All members429 members

Democratic193 members

Republican236 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors1 · 1 Republican

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor H.R. 1252 and vote against it. 1 signed when it was filed.

RMichael T. McCaul [R-TX-10]Original

Loading the public record

H.R. 1252DHS Acquisition Authorities Act of 2017

What the measure doesCRS summary

How every member votedHouse roll call 175

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

How the chamber split

Cosponsors1 · 1 Republican

H.R. 1252DHS Acquisition Authorities Act of 2017

What the measure doesCRS summary

How every member votedHouse roll call 175

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

How the chamber split

Cosponsors1 · 1 Republican

Who lobbied on H.R. 12522 organizations

Who lobbied on H.R. 12522 organizations