Deepwater Program Reform Act News

Mr. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6999, the Integrated Deepwater Program Reform Act of 2008. This legislation is based on similar Deepwater reform legislation, H.R. 2722, which passed the House by a vote of 426 to 0 last year, and on S. 924, which passed the Senate by unanimous consent. ·       Chairwoman Cantwell and Ranking Member Snowe of that Committee’s Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard. Each of these Members worked to craft the thoughtful and measured legislation before us – and I applaud their leadership and their dedication to ensuring effective management and oversight both of the United States Coast Guard and of taxpayers’ resources. Mr.

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on the Integrated Deepwater Program Reform Act, H.R. 2722. The legislation, authored by Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, would strengthen the management of the Coast Guard's Deepwater procurement program-which has been marred by failures in contractor performance and Coast Guard management. Management of the Deepwater Program, a $24b, 25-year program through which the Coast Guard will replace or rehabilitate all of its cutters and aircraft, was awarded in 2002 through a performance-based contract to a private sector team comprised of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, now known as the Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS).

U.S. Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, called on the Coast Guard to submit the designs for National Security Cutter (NSC) 3 for analysis by the Naval Surface Warfare Center (Carderock Division) and to submit the results of the analysis to Congress. In a letter to the Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Thad Allen, Chairman Cummings also called on the Coast Guard to commit to having the design and construction of all future NSCs certified by an independent, third party. Chairman Cummings said, "Last week, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure unanimously adopted by voice vote the Integrated Deepwater Program Reform Act, H.R.

U.S. Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, today (June 26, 2007) convened the Subcommittee to mark up the Integrated Deepwater Program Reform Act, H.R. 2722 and the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007, H.R. 2830, which would reauthorize the Coast Guard. Both bills were adopted by voice vote. Congressman Cummings said, "The Integrated Deepwater Program Reform Act, H.R. "In response to the issues we have examined during the oversight hearings our Subcommittee has convened on Deepwater, H.R. "The bill also requires the appointment of a civilian Chief Acquisitions Officer.

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 $24b, 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…