Hurds IT Reform Bill Passes House

Many parts of the Federal Governments IT infrastructure are stuck in the Stone Age Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. U.S. Representative Will Hurds major federal IT reform package was passed this week with overwhelming bipartisan support and sent to the Senate. The Modernizing Government Technology (MGT) Act would reduce wasteful spending on outdated IT and enhance information security by accelerating the federal governments transition to modern technology like cloud computing. Hurds initiative was a bipartisan effort that built on work by Representatives from both sides of the aisle. After originally introducing the MOVE IT Act Hurd worked with Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) who had introduced competing legislation and Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) Elijah Cummings (D-MD) Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Robin Kelly (D-IL) to achieve a bipartisan solution addressing the egregious waste of over $60B a year.

Many parts of the Federal Governments IT infrastructure are stuck in the Stone Age" said Hurd who chairs the House IT Subcommittee and has championed multiple initiatives to move government into the 21st Century. The MGT Act will save taxpayer dollars increase government accountability and help government be more efficient in serving the American people." The federal government must come into the 21^st century. We owe it to the people we serve" said Rep. Connolly on the House floor today. We need to streamline the management of IT assets. We need to make strategic and wise investments and we need to have a schedule of replacement for legacy systems. We need to encrypt and protect against cyberattacks for the sake of the American people. "The Modernizing Government Technology Act is another piece in the puzzle we are putting together to move federal IT systems into the 21st century." PSC welcomes seeing the bipartisan Modernizing Government Technology Act HR 6004 being readied for action by the full House of Representatives. This is exactly the type of legislation that balances the important needs of federal agencies with appropriate controls and congressional oversight. We thank Mr. Hurd Mr. Connolly and all members for their action to improve government information technology operations. We are confident that this bill can and will be enacted into law" said David Berteau president and CEO of the Professional Services Council (PSC). The governments outdated funding system locks federal agencies in a cycle of keeping outdated IT systems going with the digital equivalent of duct tape instead of investing in the new technologies they need said Trey Hodgkins senior vice president for the IT Alliance for Public Sector a division of tech group ITI. The Modernizing Government Technology Act creates an environment where federal agencies can adopt new technologies like cloud computing and strengthen their cybersecurity. We hope the Houses strong bipartisan approval of the bill compels Senators to act and improve upon this important national security measure.