Senate plans to take up Defense procurement reform
Critics say the legislation has too many loopholes and does not require enough oversight.
The Senate plans to take up as early as Wednesday a bill aimed at changing the Pentagon's weapons buying system, with at least two senators poised to offer amendments they hope will strengthen the legislation.
The bill, sponsored by Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., and ranking member John McCain, R-Ariz., has been hailed by supporters as a sweeping way to revamp how the Defense Department does business.
But critics say the legislation has too many loopholes and waivers and does not mandate enough outside oversight of the department to result in an effective overhaul of the acquisition system.
Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., a member of the Armed Services Committee, said Tuesday she is prepared to offer three amendments, including one that would give commanders in the field greater say in decisions made by the four-star Joint Requirements Oversight Council, which defines Defense Department procurement needs.
The current bill makes combatant commanders a formal part of the JROC process, but the amendment requires that they be involved in four areas, including deliberations on any missions or threats that would justify a new requirement.
The amendment also requires a Government Accountability Office review in two years to determine whether the council is soliciting and receiving advice from commanders.
McCaskill, a former state auditor, said she had spoken with the committee about her amendments and is "optimistic we're going to get them adopted."
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., may offer two amendments aimed at getting the Pentagon's ever-increasing price tags for weapons systems under control, an aide said.
One amendment would require a report on anticipated operation and support costs when major acquisition programs enter their design and development stage. Another possible amendment would require the Pentagon to devise plans to eliminate roadblocks to compiling reliable cost information on major programs.
Consideration of the Senate bill follows a GAO report last year that the Pentagon's 95 largest weapons programs have exceeded their original budgets by a combined total of $295 billion and are, on average, two years behind schedule.
Problems with defense weapons procurement have grabbed the attention of President Obama, whose interest in changing the system has injected urgency in the perennial and sometimes circular debate over Pentagon weapons buying.
Last week, he invited the top Democratic and Republican leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services committees to the White House to discuss the issue. Obama later said he hoped to have legislation on his desk for signature by the end of the month.
"If we can crack this nut, as tough as it is, it gives us further momentum to continue to make the changes in our budget that can start assuring taxpayers that their money is being well spent and in the process, it means that we're going to be spending our money in ways that are more likely to keep the American people safe," Obama said.
The House Armed Services Committee plans to mark up its own acquisition reform legislation Thursday, in the hope of sending it to the floor later this month.