I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4284 
To direct the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security 
to conduct reviews of certain contract actions by the Department of 
Homeland Security for the new Secure Border Initiative. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 9, 2005 
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama (for himself, Mr. KING of New York, Mr. THOMPSON 
of Mississippi, Mr. MCCAUL of Texas, Mr. PEARCE, Mr. SIMMONS, and 
Mr. SHAYS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Homeland Security 
A BILL 
To direct the Inspector General of the Department of Home-
land Security to conduct reviews of certain contract ac-
tions by the Department of Homeland Security for the 
new Secure Border Initiative. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Secure Border Initia-
tive Accountability Act of 2005’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following:
(1) An urgent need exists for the installation of 
additional surveillance equipment, including cameras 
and ground sensors, to secure the Nation’s borders. 
(2) In 1998, the legacy Immigration and Natu-
ralization Service initiated the Integrated Surveil-
lance Intelligence System, which included the instal-
lation of cameras and ground sensors to monitor 
targeted expanses of the Nation’s borders. 
(3) In 1999, the Immigration and Naturaliza-
tion Service awarded a $2,000,000 contract for the 
Integrated Surveillance Intelligence System, which 
expanded to $200,000,000 the following year. 
(4) In December 2004, the General Services 
Administration Office of Inspector General released 
an audit of part of the Integrated Surveillance Intel-
ligence System, which revealed a disturbing lack of 
management control over the project’s procurement 
and contracting practices. The audit found that ex-
tensive funds were paid for work that was poor, in-
complete, or never delivered to the Federal Govern-
ment. 
(5) The Subcommittee on Management, Inte-
gration, and Oversight of the Committee on Home-
land Security of the House of Representatives held 
a hearing on June 16, 2005, regarding the mis-
management of the Integrated Surveillance Intel-
ligence System. Disturbing testimony was received 
regarding numerous improper task orders and con-
tract awards, involving millions of dollars, that failed 
to comply with procurement laws and regulations. 
(6) The Secretary of Homeland Security an-
nounced on November 2, 2005, the comprehensive 
Secure Border Initiative, which will significantly ex-
pand the number of cameras and other surveillance 
equipment that must be effectively integrated with 
existing technologies that currently are deployed 
along the Nation’s borders. 
(7) It is essential that the new Secure Border 
Initiative include rigorous financial and management 
controls, to ensure the efficiency and cost-effective-
ness of this new program that will detect illegal 
aliens, drug smugglers, and terrorists who cross the 
Nation’s borders illegally, and not repeat the mis-
takes exhibited in the Integrated Surveillance Intel-
ligence System. 
SEC. 3. INSPECTOR GENERAL REVIEWS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Inspector General of the De-
partment of Homeland Security shall review each contract 
action related to the Department’s Secure Border Initia-
tive having a value greater than $20,000,000, to deter-
mine whether such action fully complies with applicable 
cost requirements, performance objectives, program mile-
stones, and timelines. 
(b) SCHEDULE FOR REVIEWS.—The Inspector Gen-
eral shall complete a review under section (a) with respect 
to a contract action— 
(1) within 60 days after the date of the initi-
ation of the action; and 
(2) upon the conclusion of performance of the 
contract. 
(c) REPORT BY INSPECTOR GENERAL.—Upon com-
pletion of each review required under subsection (a), the 
Inspector General shall submit to the Secretary of Home-
land Security a report containing the findings of the re-
view, including findings regarding any cost overruns, sig-
nificant delays in contract execution, lack of rigorous de-
partmental contract management, insufficient depart-
mental financial oversight, or other indicators of a high 
risk contract. 
(d) REPORT
BY SECRETARY.—The Secretary of 
Homeland Security shall report to the Committee on 
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate within 30 days after receipt of each 
report required under subsection (c) on the findings of the
report and the steps the Secretary has taken, or plans to 
take, to address the problems found in the review that is 
the subject of the report under subsection (c). 
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