Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1282, the DHS Acquisition Review Board Act of 2017, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, in recent years, the Department of Homeland Security has strengthened the management of its major acquisition programs, which historically has been weak. H.R. 1282 authorizes the key mechanisms from the previous administration to ensure acquisitions valued at more than $300 million, which account for over $7 billion of DHS' annual budget, receive ongoing scrutiny--let me repeat, receive ongoing scrutiny. Since 2008, the Acquisition Review Board has brought leaders together from across the Department to validate foundational acquisition documents such as cost and schedule estimates and performance requirements. The Department has had to learn the hard way about the importance of adhering to its acquisition best practices, including the establishment of realistic requirements in cost estimates that take into account the life cycle of costs. An example is the SBInet program, started in 2006, that was supposed to bring together integration of systems of infrastructure and technology to secure the border. This program was terminated in 2011 only after $1 billion had been spent. Let me repeat that. This program was terminated in 2011, but only after $1 billion had been spent.…”