Measure would upgrade IT, oversight at DHS
New authorizing legislation for the Homeland Security Department would give more power to the CIO there and require more contract oversight.
Two senators have introduced authorizing legislation for the Homeland Security Department that includes what they describe a guide for the next president and Congress. It would also make that department's chief information officer's position stronger and require more oversight of contracts.Sens. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said their goal in publishing the 191-page document is to lay out a vision for the next administration and the next Congress. They detailed the legislation on the panel's Web site Sept. 26. ”This bill would improve the integration, accountability, and effectiveness of the department to help it perform its missions at a level that is greater than the sum of its parts,” Lieberman said The bill would establish an undersecretary for policy, strengthen the CIO's authorities, require more contract oversight by requiring DHS to certify program managers for all major acquisitions, require a formal investment review process for all major acquisitions, establish a National Cyber Security Center, create a Test, Evaluation, and Standards Division and establish a director for operational testing.