Topic: Defense — General
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2008-09-26 00:00:00

Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act of 2008 and 2009 - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for FY2008-FY2009. Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide for the establishment within DHS of an Under Secretary for Policy. Requires the Secretary of DHS to ensure that DHS develops and maintains the capability to coordinate operations and strategically plan across all of its component organizations. Authorizes the Secretary to establish within DHS an Office of Operations Coordination and Planning. Directs the Secretary to consolidate key headquarters of DHS. Establishes within DHS an Office of International Affairs.Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a process for the review of proposed investments by DHS and a DHS-wide Acquisition Review Board; (2) establish within DHS's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization a mentor-protege program; and (3) submit to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on Homeland Security an annual report on the exercise of other transaction authority. Requires the Chief Procurement Officer and the Chief Human Capital Officer to develop and deliver to relevant congressional committees a five-year strategic plan for the acquisition workforce.Authorizes the Secretary to convert competitive service positions within the Office of Intelligence and Analysis to, and establish new, excepted service positions. Establishes within DHS an Office of the Chief Learning Officer. Directs the Secretary to establish an open source collection, analysis, and dissemination program within the Office of Intelligence and Analysis.Establishes: (1) within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Cyber Security and Communications a National Cyber Security Division; (2) within DHS a National Cyber Security Center; and (3) the National Cyber Security Private Sector Advisory Board. Directs: (1) the Secretary to perform a comprehensive assessment of the cyber threat to critical infrastructure; and (2) the Under Secretary for Science and Technology to carry out a research and development program to improve the security of information systems. Designates DHS's Chief Medical Officer as Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs. Establishes: (1) in the Directorate of Science and Technology a Test, Evaluation, and Standards Division; and (2) in DHS a Director of Operational Testing.Increases the number of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and support personnel and agriculture specialists.Directs the President, through the Secretary and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to develop a national planning system that provides common processes across federal departments and agencies for developing plans to prevent, prepare for, protect against, respond to, and recover from natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. Establishes in DHS a Metropolitan Medical Response System to assist governments in preparing for and responding to mass casualty incidents. Directs the Administrator to establish a Task Force for Emergency Readiness pilot program.Establishes within DHS's Office of Infrastructure Protection an Office for Bombing Prevention. Directs the President to develop and update a national strategy to prevent and prepare for terrorist attacks in the United States using explosives or improvised explosive devices.Authorizes funding for specified personnel levels for the Federal Protective Service.