USE OF SMART CARD TECHNOLOGY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

SEC. 373. USE OF SMART CARD TECHNOLOGY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (a) Department of Navy as Lead Agency.—The Department of the Navy shall serve as the lead agency for the development and implementation of a Smart Card program for the Department of Defense. (b) Cooperation of Other Military Departments.—The Department of the Army and the Department of the Air Force shall each establish a project office and cooperate with the Department of the Navy to develop implementation plans for exploiting the capability of Smart Card technology as a means for enhancing readiness and improving business processes throughout the military departments. (c) Senior Coordinating Group.—(1) Not later than November 30, 1999, the Secretary of Defense shall establish a senior coordinating group to develop and implement— (A) Department-wide interoperability standards for use of Smart Card technology; and (B) a plan to exploit Smart Card technology as a means for enhancing readiness and improving business processes. (2) The senior coordinating group shall be chaired by a representative of the Secretary of the Navy and shall include senior representatives from each of the Armed Forces and such other persons as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate. (3) Not later than March 31, 2000, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report containing a detailed discussion of the progress made by the senior coordinating group in carrying out its duties. (d) Role of Department of Defense Chief Information Office.—The senior coordinating group established under subsection (c) shall report to and receive guidance from the Department of Defense Chief Information Office. (e) Increased Use Targeted to Certain Naval Regions.—Not later than November 30, 1999, the Secretary of the Navy shall establish a business plan to implement the use of Smart Cards in one major Naval region of the continental United States that is in the area of operations of the United States Atlantic Command and one major Naval region of the continental United States that is in the area of operations of the United States Pacific Command. The regions selected shall include a major fleet concentration area. The implementation of the use of Smart Cards in each region shall cover the Navy and Marine Corps bases and 113 STAT. 581 all non-deployed units in the region. The Secretary of the Navy shall submit the business plan to the congressional defense committees. (f) Funding for Increased Use of Smart Cards.—Of the funds authorized to be appropriated for the Navy by section 102(a)(4) or 301(2), the Secretary of the Navy— (1) shall allocate such amounts as may be necessary, but not to exceed $30,000,000, to ensure that significant progress is made toward complete implementation of the use of Smart Card technology in the Department of the Navy; and (2) may allocate additional amounts for the conversion of paper-based records to electronic media for records systems that have been modified to use Smart Card technology. (g) Definitions.—In this section: (1) The term “Smart Card” means a credit card-size device, normally for carrying and use by personnel, that contains one or more integrated circuits and may also employ one or more of the following technologies: (A) Magnetic stripe. (B) Bar codes, linear or two-dimensional. (C) Non-contact and radio frequency transmitters. (D) Biometric information. (E) Encryption and authentication. (F) Photo identification. (2) The term “Smart Card technology” means a Smart Card together with all of the associated information technology hardware and software that comprise the system for support and operation. (h) Repeal of Requirement for Automated Identification Technology Office.—Section 344 of the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (Public Law 105–261; 112 Stat. 1977; 10 U.S.C. 113 note) is amended by striking subsection (b).