February 6, 2007
Washington, D.C.—Congressman Christopher P. Carney (D-PA), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Management, Oversight and Investigations, has introduced bipartisan legislation with Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL) to create oversight and accountability for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
“This is a crucial first step to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in Department of Homeland Security’s procurement, contracts and purchase cards. This bipartisan legislation, provisions of which were introduced last year by my colleague Ranking Member Rogers, will begin to address the DHS procurement process, which is rife with problems. We are going to require regular procurement training for DHS acquisition employees, new requirements for DHS to review past history before awarding contracts and institute guidance in the use of costly purchase cards,” said Congressman Carney.
Ranking Member Mike Rogers said, “This bill addresses a number of problems we identified last year through examinations by the Management Subcommittee, which I chaired. I am pleased to join the new subcommittee chairman in this effort to strengthen DHS procurement and save taxpayers’ dollars.”
Congressman Carney continued, “I came to Congress with the goal of making the American people safer. Our local communities rely on the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate with our first responders in a time of crisis. There is no room for mismanagement or disorganization.”
“Congress must hold DHS to a high standard. We need efficient, accountable and effective leaders at this agency. This legislation requires an annual report for procurement training, it mandates that bidders for contracts have their performance history examined and creates Department-wide guidance for the use of purchase cards. These measures will ensure that the Department of Homeland Security is being run in the best way possible and keeping our country safe. That is what I came to Congress to do and I look forward to working with Ranking Member Rogers to assure its passage,” concluded Carney.
There are 15 bipartisan cosponsors of the bill.
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