A key House panel yesterday approved proposed legislation that would restrict a certain amount of funds available for Air Force logistics information technology (IT) programs until the service submits a modernization strategy.
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| Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) is the chairman of the HASC intelligence, emerging threats and capabilities subcommittee. Photo: Thornberry. |
The House Armed Services Committee Intelligence, Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee approved its version of the fiscal year 2014 defense authorization bill without amending it during a markup session. The subcommittee’s legislation proposes halting the obligation and expenditure of at least 50 percent of Air Force procurement and research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) funds for these programs until 30 days after the service submits to the congressional defense committees a report on how it will modernize logistics IT programs. The Air Force spent $1 billion on its Expeditionary Combat Support System (ECSS) without producing an apparent military capability (Defense Daily, April 5).
The report would also have to include strategies to address near-term gaps and a long-term modernization plan as well as an analysis of root causes leading to ECSS’ cancellation.
The bill would also restrict Air Force funds for defensive cyberspace operations and Defense Department funds for biometrics. The proposed legislation would limit Air Force procurement and RDT&E funds for Defensive Cyberspace Operations to not more than 90 percent until a period of 30 days after the Air Force secretary submits a report detailing the service’s plan for sustainment of the Application Software Assurance Center of Excellence across the future years defense program.
The legislation also proposes to restrict DoD RDT&E funds in FY ’14 for future biometric architectures or systems to not more than 75 percent for a period of 30 days after the Air Force secretary submits a report to Congress. This report would be required to assess the future program structure for biometrics oversight, execution and architectural requirements for biometrics enabling capability.
The bill would also extend authorities to provide for the exchange of IT personnel between private industry and DoD and fully fund U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and efforts in Afghanistan, DoD-wide science and technology (S&T) investments and defense-wide energy programs.
The full HASC is scheduled to take up the proposed legislation June 5.