The Senate has joined the House in passing legislation to address problems with interoperability of communications equipment within DHS, a legacy of creating the department out of all or parts of nearly two dozen other agencies a decade ago that has been the subject of a series of audit reports, including a recent one.
The Senate amended HR-615 in passing it, however, meaning that further action is needed before it can become law.
The measure orders DHS to submit a strategy for achieving and maintaining interoperability in daily operations, planned events and emergencies, including an assessment of existing gaps, the results of prior efforts to fix them and the remaining obstacles, prior policy directives and the authorities DHS has to enforce compliance with them, and both prior and projected future spending.
The department also is to set long-term and interim goals, along with identifying intra-agency task forces and individuals responsible for improving interoperability.
