Homeland Security Acquisition Professional Career Program Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 367, the ``Homeland Security Acquisition Professional Career Program Act,'' which establishes in the Department of Homeland Security an acquisition professional career program to develop a cadre of acquisition professionals.

Acquisition professionals work in one of six career fields, each of which plays a vital role in Department Acquisition.

The six Acquisition career fields include:

1. Contract Specialist,

2. Program Manager,

3. Logistician,

4. Systems Engineer,

5. Industrial Engineer/Cost Estimator, and

6. IT Acquisition Specialist.

Homeland Security Acquisition Professional Career Program participants are appointed to rotational assignments within department components to gain experience in a wide variety of work environments.

The program is three years, and upon successful completion participants are placed into a permanent full-time position at the GS- 12 grade.

Job applications to the Department of Homeland Security go through multiple levels of review.

Human Resources Specialists screen applications to determine whether basic eligibility requirements are met for the position and rate applications according to the additional qualifications listed in the job announcement.

If the application rates among the best qualified, it will be forwarded to the hiring manager who will make the final selection.

Selection procedures are subject to Federal Civil Service laws, which ensures that all applicants receive fair and equal treatment in the hiring process.

Acquisition Professionals are responsible for nearly $20 billion in annual purchases for the Department of Homeland Security.

The Management Directorate shall administer this essential program, including carrying out recruitment efforts and providing specialized acquisition training.

I ask my colleagues to join me in voting for passage of H.R. 367.

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