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By: FEDweek StaffThe Democratic leaders of the House Homeland Security Committee have reintroduced a wide-ranging bill (HR-4357) on DHS including personnel-related provisions aimed at the department’s consistently low standings in the annual federal employee survey and the related rankings of the best and worst places in government to work.
Among other provisions, the bill would:
* authorize an employee engagement steering committee for identifying and addressing factors that contribute to low morale, and establish an annual employee award program and career enhancing opportunities including a rotational program;
* centralize oversight of acquisition under the under secretary for management and require that office to assess the department’s acquisition workforce needs and regularly report to Congress on the performance of the department’s acquisition programs;
* set a fixed five-year term for the under secretary for management and restrict who may serve as acting officials by requiring prior service in a senior leadership position 90 days before to the designation; and
* create a new under secretary overseeing all of the department’s law enforcement divisions who would third in command at the department, while requiring use-of-force policies to emphasize de-escalation tactics and training.
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