H.R. 6430, Securing the Homeland Security Supply Chain Act

Floor Situation

On Tuesday, September 4, 2018, the House will consider H.R. 6430, the Securing the Homeland Security Supply Chain Act, under suspension of the rules. This bill was introduced on July 18, 2018 by Rep. Peter King (R-NY) and was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, which ordered the bill reported by unanimous consent on July 24, 2018.

Summary              

H.R. 6430 provides the Secretary of Homeland Security with the authority to restrict certain procurements related to information technology and associated products if, following a risk assessment, it is determined the vendor poses a threat to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) supply chain. If such a restriction is made, the Secretary is permitted to limit the amount of information disclosed about the decision-making process.

Background

Federal agencies rely on contractors to provide them with products and services to carry out their missions. Agencies such as DHS, could be at risk if the products and services supplied are exploited to introduce vulnerabilities into the Department’s supply chain. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) the complicated global economy means that “...agencies may have little visibility into, understanding of, or control over how the technology that they acquire is developed, integrated, and deployed....” Recent public reports about potential supply chain threats linked to foreign-based firms such as Kaspersky, ZTE, and Huawei highlight the pervasive and growing threats to the federal supply chain.[1]

The Department has stated through congressional hearings that they lack of authority to assess and mitigate risks to the supply chain during the procurement process and the need for more authority.

Cost

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates enacting the legislation would not significantly affect spending by the Department of Homeland Security.

Staff Contact

For questions or further information please contact Jake Vreeburg with the House Republican Policy Committee by email or at 2-1374.