Introduction of the Homeland Procurement Reform Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. CORREA. Madam Speaker, I am proud to reintroduce this bipartisan legislation to reform the way the Department of Homeland Security procures uniforms and protective equipment for its personnel. The aim is to improve the quality of uniforms and equipment issued to Department frontline personnel by encouraging the procurement of domestically sourced uniform items.

Today, OHS has tens of thousands of uniformed officers, but not all of those uniforms are made here in the United States. Under this legislation, at least a third of OHS funds spent on uniforms are to be used to purchase goods manufactured by American small businesses.

Madam Speaker, my bill is good for homeland security, and it is good for small American businesses.

Additionally, in response to concerns expressed by frontline personnel about how quickly they exhaust their annual uniform allowances, my bill directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to take a hard look at the adequacy of the allowances. In studying the issue, the Secretary is required to determine what improvements can be made to the current allowances and what impacts the current allowances have had on employee morale and retention

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