House Passes Federal CIO Reauthorization Bill After Reintroduction; Rep. Will Hurd Quoted

The House of Representatives voted to pass a bill to reauthorize the role of the federal chief information officer and appoint a complementary support executive. The Federal CIO Authorization Act of 2018 aims to further secure the nation’s digital infrastructure and streamline information technology reporting, the office of Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, said Tuesday. 

Reps. Hurd and Robin Kelly, D-Ill., are the sponsors of the legislation that passed the House following the bill’s reintroduction earlier this month. The bill directs the federal CIO to serve as a presidential appointee who would report to the Office of Management and Budget’s director. The legislation would also appoint a federal chief information security officer who would report directly under the federal CIO. 

“This bill helps keep the vast information stored by the federal government secure from hackers by making clear that the federal CIO is in charge of the security of our data across the government,” Hurd said.