A bipartisan group of House lawmakers has introduced a bill that aims to help federal agencies use savings from information technology initiatives to fund future IT modernization projects.
Under the Modernizing Government Technology Act, federal agency savings achieved through IT-related efforts would be placed in a working capital fund that can be used for up to three years for modernization programs, Rep. Will Hurd’s (R-Texas) office said Friday.
The MGT Act looks to end the “use-it or lose-it approach” that affects government technology initiatives, the press release stated.
Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-Virginia) said the proposed legislation will build on the Federal IT Acquisition and Reform Act (FITARA) and help agencies retain potential savings from FITARA to support cloud migration efforts.
Hurd and Connolly introduced the bill with Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Illinois).
In a letter published Friday, CSRA President and CEO Larry Prior told leaders of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and its information technology subcommittee that he supports the MGT Act and believes the bill would help strengthen cybersecurity of government networks.
A group of senators led by Sens. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) and Tom Udall (D-New Mexico) also proposed companion legislation in the Senate.