Cummings, Oberstar Introduce Act to Reform Deepwater
June 14, 2007
Press Release
start text Washington, D.C. — startwidainctext Today, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, introduced the Integrated Deepwater Program Reform Act to bring significant reform to the Coast Guard's highly troubled $24 billion, 25-year Deepwater acquisitions program. Chairman Cummings was joined in introducing the Act by Congressman James L. Oberstar (D-MN), Chairman of the full Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Among other reforms, the Act would prohibit the use of a private sector lead systems integrator for the Deepwater program two years after its enactment, require the use of full and open competition for acquisitions made under Deepwater, and require the use of third-party certification for assets acquired under Deepwater, including the classification of new cutters by the American Bureau of Shipping.
Significantly, the Act would also require that the head of acquisitions in the Coast Guard be a civilian reporting directly to the Commandant of the Coast Guard
Chairman Cummings said, "When I assumed the Chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, I pledged to become the number one advocate for the Coast Guard and for the men and women of this service who every day risk their lives to save others.
"I believe that fulfillment of this pledge entails setting the highest expectations of quality and effectiveness for all Coast Guard acquisitions programs and particularly for the assets acquired under Deepwater. It also entails creating within the Coast Guard the systems they need to meet these expectations.
"I have already led our Subcommittee in conducting three hearings on Deepwater - including one earlier this week during which we received an update from the Commandant regarding the steps he has taken to begin strengthening the management of Deepwater.
"Under the leadership of Chairman James Oberstar, the Full Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure also conducted an investigative hearing to examine the extent to which contractors complied with the requirements of the Deepwater contract during their work on the failed 123-foot patrol boat program.
"The measures contained in the Act Chairman Oberstar and I are introducing today respond directly to the problems we have examined in these hearings.
"Put simply, the assets acquired under Deepwater will be the tools on which the Coast Guard will rely for decades to come. They must not only meet or exceed all contractual requirements, they must ensure the safety of all Coast Guard personnel and they must ensure that these personnel are able to perform their vital missions.
"To ensure the quality and reliability of all assets acquired under Deepwater, the Act mandates the use of third-party certification for all cutters and aircraft. To help control costs on the program and ensure that the Coast Guard receives the best value for the expenditure of taxpayers' resources, the Act requires the use of full and open competition for all Deepwater acquisitions.
"The Act also prohibits the use of private sector firms as the lead systems integrator two years after its enactment. The Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security has emphasized that the Coast Guard must move slowly and deliberately to prepare to assume the role of lead systems integrator. For that reason, our Act gives the service the time to put effective systems in place and to chart a delicate course as the Coast Guard transitions this role from the Integrated Coast Guard System team to its in-house team.
"Another of the key reforms required by the Act is the appointment of a civilian as Chief Acquisitions Officer reporting directly to the Commandant. I believe that the appointment of a civilian with extensive career experience in acquisitions management will bring to that position expertise that simply is not currently cultivated among uniformed Coast Guard officers given the service's mission requirements.
"I again commend the Commandant, Admiral Thad Allen, for the steps he has taken to correct Deepwater's course. The legislation we are introducing today will help to steady the new course by putting in place the systems and the personnel the Coast Guard needs to effectively manage all future procurements.
"I want to commend the leadership of Chairman Oberstar on this issue and his unwavering commitment to effective oversight, which infuses all of the work of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. I look forward to working with him, with Full Committee Ranking Member Congressman John Mica (R-FL) and Subcommittee Ranking Member Congressman Steven LaTourette (R-OH), and with all of my colleagues to advance this legislation within the Subcommittee and then in the Full Committee."
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