S. 2359 — Introduced in Senate

II 115th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2359 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 30, 2018Mrs. McCaskill introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs A BILL To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish a Joint Requirements Council in the Department of Homeland Security. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the DHS Joint Requirements Council Act of 2018. 2. Joint Requirements Council (a) In general Title VII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 341 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 710. Joint Requirements Council (a) Definition of joint requirement In this section, the term joint requirement means a condition or capability of multiple operating components of the Department that is required to be met or possessed by a system, product, service, result, or component to satisfy a contract, standard, specification, or other formally imposed document. (b) Department leadership councils (1) Establishment The Secretary may establish such Department leadership councils as the Secretary determines necessary to ensure coordination and improve programs and activities of the Department. (2) Function A Department leadership council shall— (A) serve as a coordinating forum; (B) advise the Secretary and Deputy Secretary on Department strategy, operations, and guidance; (C) establish policies to reduce duplication in programs; and (D) consider and report on such other matters as the Secretary or Deputy Secretary may direct. (3) Relationship to other forums The Secretary or Deputy Secretary may delegate the authority to direct the implementation of any decision or guidance resulting from the action of a Department leadership council to any office, component, coordinator, or other senior official of the Department. (c) Joint Requirements Council (1) Establishment There Secretary shall establish within the Department a Joint Requirements Council. (2) Mission In addition to other matters assigned to it by the Secretary and Deputy Secretary, the Joint Requirements Council shall— (A) identify, assess, and validate joint requirements (including existing systems and associated capability gaps) to meet mission needs of the Department; (B) ensure that appropriate efficiencies are made among life-cycle cost, schedule, and performance objectives, and procurement quantity objectives, in the establishment and approval of joint requirements; and (C) make prioritized capability recommendations for the joint requirements validated under subparagraph (A) to the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary, or the chairperson of a Department leadership council designated by the Secretary to review decisions of the Joint Requirements Council. (3) Chairperson The Secretary shall appoint a chairperson of the Joint Requirements Council, for a term of not more than 2 years, from among senior officials of the Department as designated by the Secretary. (4) Composition The Joint Requirements Council shall be composed of senior officials representing components of the Department and other senior officials as designated by the Secretary. (5) Relationship to future years Homeland Security Program The Secretary shall ensure that the Future Years Homeland Security Program required under section 874 is consistent with the recommendations of the Joint Requirements Council required under paragraph (2)(C), as affirmed by the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary, or the chairperson of a Department leadership council designated by the Secretary under that paragraph. . (b) Technical and conforming amendment The table of sections in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–296; 116 Stat. 2135) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 709 the following: Sec. 710. Joint Requirements Council. .