OVERSIGHT OF DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AUTOMATED IDENTIFICATION TECHNOLOGY.

SEC. 344. OVERSIGHT OF DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AUTOMATED IDENTIFICATION TECHNOLOGY. (a) Definitions.— In this section: (1) The term “automated identification technology program” means a program in the Department of Defense, including any pilot program, employing one or more of the following technologies: (A) Magnetic stripe. (B) Bar codes, both linear and two-dimensional (including matrix symbologies). (C) Smart Card. (D) Optical memory. (E) Personal computer memory card international association carriers. (F) Any other established or emerging automated identification technology, including biometrics and radio frequency identification. (2) The term “Smart Card” means a credit card size device that contains one or more integrated circuits. (b) Establishment of Automated Identification Technology Office.— (1) The Secretary of Defense shall establish an Automated Identification Technology Office within the Department of Defense that shall be responsible for— (A) overseeing the development and implementation of all automated identification technology programs in the Department; and (B) coordinating automated identification technology programs with the Joint Staff, the Secretaries of the military departments, and the directors of the Defense Agencies. (2) After the date of the enactment of this Act, funds appropriated for the Department of Defense may not be obligated for an automated identification technology program unless the program has been reviewed and approved by the Automated Identification Technology Office. Pending the establishment of the Automated Identification Technology Office, the review and approval of a program by the Smart Card Technology Office of the Defense Human Resources Field Activity of the Department of Defense shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this paragraph even if the approval was given before the date of the enactment of this Act. (3) As part of its oversight responsibilities, the Automated Identification Technology Office shall establish standards designed— (A) to ensure the compatibility and interoperability of automated identification technology programs in the Department of Defense; and (B) to identify and terminate redundant, infeasible, or uneconomical automated identification technology programs. (c) Funding for Increased Use of Smart Cards.— (1) Of the funds available for the Navy for fiscal year 1999 for operation and maintenance, the Secretary of the Navy shall allocate sufficient amounts, up to $25,000,000, for the purpose of making significant progress toward ensuring that Smart Cards with a multi-application, multi-technology automated reading capability are issued and used throughout the Navy and the Marine Corps for purposes for which Smart Cards are suitable. 112 STAT. 1978 (2) Not later than June 30, 1999, the Secretary of the Navy shall equip with Smart Card technology at least one carrier battle group, one carrier air wing, and one amphibious readiness group (including the Marine Corps units embarked on the vessels of such battle and readiness groups) in each of the United States Atlantic Command and the United States Pacific Command. (3) None of the funds appropriated pursuant to any authorization of appropriations in this Act may be expended after June 30, 1999, for the procurement of the Joint Uniformed Services Identification card for members of the Navy or the Marine Corps or for the issuance of such card to such members, until the Secretary of the Navy certifies in writing to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on National Security of the House of Representatives that the Secretary has completed the issuance of Smart Cards in accordance with paragraph (2). (d) Defense-Wide Plan.— Not later than March 31, 1999, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan for the use of Smart Card technology by each military department. The Secretary shall include in the plan an estimate of the costs of the plan, the savings to be derived from carrying out the plan, and a description of the ways in which the Department of Defense will review and revise business practices to take advantage of Smart Card technology.