79–006 

115TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 115–915 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CHIEF DATA 

OFFICER AUTHORIZATION ACT 

SEPTEMBER 4, 2018.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 

of the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. MCCAUL, from the Committee on Homeland Security, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 6447] 

The Committee on Homeland Security, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 6447) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the position of Chief Data Officer of the Department of 

Homeland Security, and for other purposes, having considered the 

same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

Purpose and Summary ............................................................................................ 3 

Background and Need for Legislation .................................................................... 3 

Hearings ................................................................................................................... 4 

Committee Consideration ........................................................................................ 4 

Committee Votes ...................................................................................................... 4 

Committee Oversight Findings ............................................................................... 5 

New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures ............. 5 

Congressional Budget Office Estimate ................................................................... 5 

Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives .................................... 5 

Duplicative Federal Programs ................................................................................ 5 

Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff Benefits ... 5 

Federal Mandates Statement ................................................................................. 6 

Preemption Clarification ......................................................................................... 6 

Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings ..................................................................... 6 

Advisory Committee Statement .............................................................................. 6 

Applicability to Legislative Branch ........................................................................ 6 

Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation ...................................................... 6 

Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported ..................................... 8 

The amendment is as follows: 

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

2 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Department of Homeland Security Chief Data Officer Authorization Act’’. 

SEC. 2. CHIEF DATA OFFICER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. 

Section 703 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 343) is amended by 

adding at the end the following new subsection: 

‘‘(c) CHIEF DATA OFFICER.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation with the Chief Information 

Officer, shall designate a career appointee (as such term is defined in section 

3132 of title 5, United States Code) of the Department as the Chief Data Officer 

of the Department. 

‘‘(2) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Chief Data Officer shall possess demonstrated 

training and experience in the management, governance, generation, collection, 

protection, analysis, use, and sharing of data, including the protection and deidentification of personally identifiable information. 

‘‘(3) FUNCTIONS.—The Chief Data Officer shall be responsible for the following: 

‘‘(A) Ensuring that the Department conforms with data management best 

practices recognized across industry and the Federal Government. 

‘‘(B) Coordinating the organization and integration of data across the Department for improved interoperability, analysis, and decision-making. 

‘‘(C) Reviewing the impact of the infrastructure of the Department regarding data integrity and interoperability. 

‘‘(D) Coordinating the release of data for public use following appropriate 

privacy reviews within the Department, as coordinated with the Chief Privacy Officer. 

‘‘(E) Promoting the use of modern data systems to improve Department 

operations. 

‘‘(F) Coordinating the storage of Department records in accordance with 

the National Archives and Records Administration’s General Records 

Schedules. 

‘‘(G) Overseeing, in coordination with the Chief Privacy Officer of the Department, as appropriate, the Department’s compliance with the following 

responsibilities: 

‘‘(i) Issuing guidelines ensuring and maximizing the quality, objectivity, utility and integrity of information (including statistical information). 

‘‘(ii) Establishing administrative mechanisms that allow affected persons to seek and obtain correction of information maintained and disseminated by relevant components of the Department that does not 

comply with the Department’s guidelines. 

‘‘(iii) Reporting to the Director of the Office of Management and 

Budget about the number and nature of complaints received by relevant components of the Department regarding the accuracy of information disseminated and how such complaints were handled by such 

components. 

‘‘(H) Coordinating with appropriate officials of the Department, including 

the Chief Privacy Officer, component privacy officers, component Chief Data 

Officers, and program managers, regarding the use of data within their respective components and under their authorities. 

‘‘(I) Serving as the liaison to other Federal agencies and the Office of 

Management and Budget on data and the best way to use existing Department data for statistical purposes. 

‘‘(4) COMPONENT CHIEF DATA OFFICERS.—The heads of each operational component of the Department, in consultation with the Chief Data Officer of the Department and the Chief Information Officer of such component, shall designate 

a career appointee (as such term is defined in section 3132 of title 5, United 

States Code) from each such component of the Department as the Chief Data 

Officer of their respective component. Each such component Chief Data Officer 

shall— 

‘‘(A) have the qualifications described under subsection (c)(2); and 

‘‘(B) coordinate with and assist the Chief Data Officer of the Department 

in the implementation of the functions specified in subparagraphs (A) 

through (F) of paragraph (3) for their respective component. 

‘‘(5) REPORTS.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 

subsection and periodically thereafter as necessary, the Secretary shall submit 

to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and 

the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate 

3 

a report on the implementation of this subsection, including any concerns regarding such implementation.’’. 

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

The purpose of H.R. 6447 is to amend the Homeland Security Act 

of 2002 to establish the position of Chief Data Officer of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes. 

H.R. 6447 requires the Secretary, in consultation with the Chief 

Information Officer, to designate a Chief Data Officer of the Department. The Chief Data Officer is responsible for overseeing data 

management and analytics efforts at the Department and serves as 

the liaison with other federal agencies regarding the use of Department data. H.R. 6447 also requires the heads of operational components, in consultation with the Chief Data Officer and component 

Chief Information Officers, to appoint component Chief Data Officers to assist the Chief Data Officer of the Department with data 

management and analytics efforts within their respective components. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

Organizations like the Department of Homeland Security generate, collect, and maintain vast quantities of data (electronic information) in carrying out their day-to-day operations. In both industry and government, there is growing recognition that data is a valuable resource that can be analyzed and used to help create operational efficiencies and cost savings, drive policy and decision making, and identify and model trends. However, there is also a growing consensus that data continues to be underutilized by organizations as an asset, largely as a result of poor data management and 

organization practices. 

To address these concerns, the private sector and Federal, State, 

and local governments have increasingly begun appointing Chief 

Data Officers, or equivalent positions, to their management teams. 

Generally, Chief Data Officers are tasked with overseeing policies 

to manage, organize, and format data in order to better carry out 

data manipulation and analysis for improved business value and 

policy insight. While an organization’s Chief Information Officer 

oversees and maintains the systems that produce data, Chief Data 

Officers are given the responsibility of managing and utilizing such 

data. 

The importance of data in today’s world makes Chief Data Officers at the Department and its operational components integral to 

providing the Department with the capacity and tools for making 

data-driven decisions. Within the Department, U.S. Immigration 

and Customs Enforcement and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have each already appointed component Chief Data 

Officers. H.R. 6447 allows the Chief Data Officer of the Department to coordinate component data efforts and prevent them from 

becoming siloed as Chief Data Officers proliferate both internally 

at the Department’s components and across the federal government. 

4 

HEARINGS

None. The Committee met with officials from the Department 

who provided information that helped the Committee develop an 

understanding of the need for this legislation. 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

The Committee met on July 24, 2018, to consider H.R. 6447, and 

ordered the measure to be reported to the House with a favorable 

recommendation, as amended, by unanimous consent. The Committee took the following actions: 

The Committee adopted H.R. 6447, as amended, by unanimous 

consent. 

The following amendments were offered: 

An amendment offered by MR. LANGEVIN (#1); Page 2, beginning 

line 7, strike ‘‘The Chief Information Officer shall’’ and insert ‘‘The 

Secretary, in consultation with the Chief Information Officer, 

shall’’.; was AGREED TO, by unanimous consent. 

An amendment offered by MR. LANGEVIN (#2); Page 4, beginning 

line 5, strike ‘‘of the Department shall’’ and insert ‘‘of the Department, in consultation with the Chief Data Officer of the Department and the Chief Information Officer of such component, shall’’.; 

was AGREED TO, by unanimous consent. 

An amendment offered by MRS. DEMINGS (#3); Page 3, beginning 

line 16, insert the following: 

‘‘(G) Overseeing, in coordination with the Chief Privacy Officer of 

the Department, as appropriate, the Department’s compliance with 

the following responsibilities: 

‘‘(i) Issuing guidelines ensuring and maximizing the quality, 

objectivity, utility and integrity of information (including statistical information). 

‘‘(ii) Establishing administrative mechanisms that allow affected persons to seek and obtain correction of information 

maintained and disseminated by relevant components of the 

Department that does not comply with the Department’s guidelines. 

‘‘(iii) Reporting to the Director of the Office of Management 

and Budget about the number and nature of complaints received by relevant components of the Department regarding 

the accuracy of information disseminated and how such complaints were handled by such components.’’.; was AGREED TO, 

by unanimous consent. 

COMMITTEE VOTES

Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives requires the Committee to list the recorded votes on the motion to report legislation and amendments thereto. 

No recorded votes were requested during consideration of H.R. 

6447. 

5 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the Committee has held oversight hearings and 

made findings that are reflected in this report. 

NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, ENTITLEMENT AUTHORITY, AND TAX

EXPENDITURES

In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee finds that H.R. 6447, the 

Department of Homeland Security Chief Data Officer Authorization 

Act, would result in no new or increased budget authority, entitlement authority, or tax expenditures or revenues. 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATE

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, a cost estimate provided by the Congressional 

Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget 

Act of 1974 was not made available to the Committee in time for 

the filing of this report. The Chairman of the Committee shall 

cause such estimate to be printed in the Congressional Record upon 

its receipt by the Committee. 

STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, H.R. 6447 contains the following general performance goals and objectives, including outcome related goals and 

objectives authorized. 

This bill requires the Secretary to appoint a Chief Data Officer 

of the Department and the heads of the Department’s operational 

components to appoint Chief Data Officers within their respective 

components. The bill also requires the Secretary to submit a report 

to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate no later than 180 days after its enactment, and periodically thereafter if necessary, on the Department’s 

implementation of the requirements of the bill. 

DUPLICATIVE FEDERAL PROGRAMS

Pursuant to clause 3(c) of rule XIII, the Committee finds that 

H.R. 6447 does not contain any provision that establishes or reauthorizes a program known to be duplicative of another Federal program. 

CONGRESSIONAL EARMARKS, LIMITED TAX BENEFITS, AND LIMITED

TARIFF BENEFITS

In compliance with rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, this bill, as reported, contains no congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in 

clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of the rule XXI. 

6 

FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

An estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of the 

Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chairman of the 

Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee. 

PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION

In compliance with section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act 

of 1974, requiring the report of any Committee on a bill or joint 

resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the bill or 

joint resolution is intended to preempt State, local, or Tribal law, 

the Committee finds that H.R. 6447 does not preempt any State, 

local, or Tribal law. 

DISCLOSURE OF DIRECTED RULE MAKINGS

The Committee estimates that H.R. 6447 would require no directed rule makings. 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this legislation. 

APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the 

terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or 

accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION

Section 1. Short title 

This section provides that this bill may be cited as the ‘‘Department of Homeland Security Chief Data Officer Authorization Act’’. 

Sec. 2. Chief Data Officer of the Department of Homeland Security 

This section establishes a new Subsection (c) under Section 703 

of the Homeland Security Act as follows: 

Subsection (c)(1) requires the Secretary of the Department, in 

consultation with the Chief Information Officer, to designate a career appointee of the Department, defined in Section 3132 of Title 

5 United States Code, as the Chief Data Officer of the Department. 

The Committee expects the Secretary to utilize the Chief Information Officer’s expertise and recommendations in designating a 

qualified career appointee within the Department as the Chief 

Data Officer. 

Subsection (c)(2) requires that any appointee to a position of 

Chief Data Officer in the Department be qualified for the position 

with prior data management and analytics-related training and experience. While the background and experience of an individual appointed to Chief Data Officer in the Department may vary, the 

Committee expects such individual to be qualified for the position 

7 

as demonstrated by appropriate experience and training relating to 

the functions of the Chief Data Officer listed under Subsection 

(c)(3). 

Subsection (c)(3) establishes that the responsibilities of the Chief 

Data Officer of the Department shall include: 

• coordinating the management, governance, and improved 

operational use of data at the Department; 

• coordinating, as appropriate, the release of data for public 

use, in accordance with appropriate privacy reviews; 

• coordinating with the appropriate officials in the Department on the use of data; 

• overseeing, in coordination with the Chief Privacy Officer, 

as appropriate, the Department’s compliance with the responsibilities under Section 515 of the Treasury and General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001; and 

• serving as the liaison with other federal agencies on data 

use. 

The Committee intends that the Chief Data Officer’s responsibilities include a focus on implementing policies, plans, and activities 

that improve data management, governance, and utilization at the 

Department. The Committee expects the Chief Data Officer to 

serve as the lead official for coordinating the use of data with relevant officials across the Department to improve government transparency, create operational efficiencies, improve policy insight, 

achieve cost savings, map and identify trends, and achieve data 

interoperability across systems. The Chief Data Officer is also the 

Department’s lead external liaison on data use, including with 

other federal agencies and the U.S. Office of Management and 

Budget. The Committee intends that any policies, plans, and activities implemented by the Chief Data Officer under this bill shall be 

carried out pursuant to applicable privacy and statistics laws. 

Subsection (c)(4) requires the heads of each operational component at the Department to appoint, in consultation with the Chief 

Data Officer and Chief Information Officer of their respective component, a Chief Data Officer of their respective component. Component Chief Data Officers shall be career appointees within the Department who meet the qualifications under Subsection (c)(2). The 

component Chief Data Officers are responsible for coordinating 

with and assisting the Chief Data Officer of the Department in 

data management and analytics efforts within their respective components. The Committee intends for the heads of each operational 

component to consult with the Chief Data Officer of the Department and Chief Information Officer of their respective component 

to determine the appropriate role and organizational placement of 

their component Chief Data Officer. 

Subsection (c)(5) requires the Department to submit a report 180 

days after the enactment of this bill, and periodically thereafter if 

necessary, regarding the Department’s implementation of the requirements of this bill. The Committee expects this report to measure the Department’s progress in appointing the Chief Data Officer 

of the Department and the component Chief Data Officers and to 

determine if further authorities are needed for Chief Data Officers 

at the Department to carry out the responsibilities under this bill. 

8 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, 

as reported, are shown as follows (new matter is printed in italic 

and existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in 

roman): 

HOMELAND SECURITY ACT OF 2002 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE VII—MANAGEMENT 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 703. CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Chief Information Officer shall report to 

the Secretary, or to another official of the Department, as the Secretary may direct. 

(b) GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION FUNCTIONS.— (1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this subsection: 

(A) GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION.—The term ‘‘geospatial information’’ means graphical or digital data depicting natural or manmade physical features, phenomena, or boundaries of the earth and any information related thereto, including surveys, maps, charts, remote sensing data, and 

images. 

(B) GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY.—The term ‘‘geospatial 

technology’’ means any technology utilized by analysts, 

specialists, surveyors, photogrammetrists, hydrographers, 

geodesists, cartographers, architects, or engineers for the 

collection, storage, retrieval, or dissemination of geospatial 

information, including— 

(i) global satellite surveillance systems; 

(ii) global position systems; 

(iii) geographic information systems; 

(iv) mapping equipment; 

(v) geocoding technology; and 

(vi) remote sensing devices. 

(2) OFFICE OF GEOSPATIAL MANAGEMENT.— 

(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Office of Geospatial Management is established within the Office of the Chief Information Officer. 

(B) GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION OFFICER.— 

(i) APPOINTMENT.—The Office of Geospatial Management shall be administered by the Geospatial Information Officer, who shall be appointed by the Secretary 

and serve under the direction of the Chief Information 

Officer. 

(ii) FUNCTIONS.—The Geospatial Information Officer 

shall assist the Chief Information Officer in carrying 

out all functions under this section and in coordinating the geospatial information needs of the Department. 

9 

(C) COORDINATION OF GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION.—The 

Chief Information Officer shall establish and carry out a 

program to provide for the efficient use of geospatial information, which shall include— 

(i) providing such geospatial information as may be 

necessary to implement the critical infrastructure protection programs; 

(ii) providing leadership and coordination in meeting 

the geospatial information requirements of those responsible for planning, prevention, mitigation, assessment and response to emergencies, critical infrastructure protection, and other functions of the Department; and 

(iii) coordinating with users of geospatial information within the Department to assure interoperability 

and prevent unnecessary duplication. 

(D) RESPONSIBILITIES.—In carrying out this subsection, 

the responsibilities of the Chief Information Officer shall 

include— 

(i) coordinating the geospatial information needs 

and activities of the Department; 

(ii) implementing standards, as adopted by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget under 

the processes established under section 216 of the EGovernment Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 3501 note), to facilitate the interoperability of geospatial information 

pertaining to homeland security among all users of 

such information within— 

(I) the Department; 

(II) State and local government; and 

(III) the private sector; 

(iii) coordinating with the Federal Geographic Data 

Committee and carrying out the responsibilities of the 

Department pursuant to Office of Management and 

Budget Circular A–16 and Executive Order 12906; and 

(iv) making recommendations to the Secretary and 

the Executive Director of the Office for State and 

Local Government Coordination and Preparedness on 

awarding grants to— 

(I) fund the creation of geospatial data; and 

(II) execute information sharing agreements regarding geospatial data with State, local, and tribal governments. 

(3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to 

carry out this subsection for each fiscal year. 

(c) CHIEF DATA OFFICER.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation with the 

Chief Information Officer, shall designate a career appointee (as 

such term is defined in section 3132 of title 5, United States 

Code) of the Department as the Chief Data Officer of the Department. 

(2) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Chief Data Officer shall possess 

demonstrated training and experience in the management, governance, generation, collection, protection, analysis, use, and 

10 

sharing of data, including the protection and de-identification 

of personally identifiable information. 

(3) FUNCTIONS.—The Chief Data Officer shall be responsible 

for the following: 

(A) Ensuring that the Department conforms with data 

management best practices recognized across industry and 

the Federal Government. 

(B) Coordinating the organization and integration of 

data across the Department for improved interoperability, 

analysis, and decision-making. 

(C) Reviewing the impact of the infrastructure of the Department regarding data integrity and interoperability. 

(D) Coordinating the release of data for public use following appropriate privacy reviews within the Department, 

as coordinated with the Chief Privacy Officer. 

(E) Promoting the use of modern data systems to improve 

Department operations. 

(F) Coordinating the storage of Department records in accordance with the National Archives and Records Administration’s General Records Schedules. 

(G) Overseeing, in coordination with the Chief Privacy 

Officer of the Department, as appropriate, the Department’s 

compliance with the following responsibilities: 

(i) Issuing guidelines ensuring and maximizing the 

quality, objectivity, utility and integrity of information 

(including statistical information). 

(ii) Establishing administrative mechanisms that 

allow affected persons to seek and obtain correction of 

information maintained and disseminated by relevant 

components of the Department that does not comply 

with the Department’s guidelines. 

(iii) Reporting to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget about the number and nature of 

complaints received by relevant components of the Department regarding the accuracy of information disseminated and how such complaints were handled by 

such components. 

(H) Coordinating with appropriate officials of the Department, including the Chief Privacy Officer, component privacy officers, component Chief Data Officers, and program 

managers, regarding the use of data within their respective 

components and under their authorities. 

(I) Serving as the liaison to other Federal agencies and 

the Office of Management and Budget on data and the best 

way to use existing Department data for statistical purposes. 

(4) COMPONENT CHIEF DATA OFFICERS.—The heads of each 

operational component of the Department, in consultation with 

the Chief Data Officer of the Department and the Chief Information Officer of such component, shall designate a career appointee (as such term is defined in section 3132 of title 5, 

United States Code) from each such component of the Department as the Chief Data Officer of their respective component. 

Each such component Chief Data Officer shall— 

11 

(A) have the qualifications described under subsection 

(c)(2); and 

(B) coordinate with and assist the Chief Data Officer of 

the Department in the implementation of the functions 

specified in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of paragraph 

(3) for their respective component. 

(5) REPORTS.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 

enactment of this subsection and periodically thereafter as necessary, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 

Senate a report on the implementation of this subsection, including any concerns regarding such implementation. 

* * * * * * * 

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