[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4232 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4232

To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for the establishment 
 of a program under which the Government shall furnish a home computer 
    and Internet access to each of its employees, at no cost to the 
                   employee, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 11, 2000

 Mr. Cummings (for himself, Mr. Waxman, Mrs. Morella, Ms. Norton, and 
  Mr. Wynn) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for the establishment 
 of a program under which the Government shall furnish a home computer 
    and Internet access to each of its employees, at no cost to the 
                   employee, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Workforce Digital Access 
Act''.

SEC. 2. RESIDENTIAL DIGITAL ACCESS BENEFITS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 79 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 7906. Residential digital access benefits
    ``(a) For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) the term `employee' means an individual who--
                    ``(A) is employed in or under an agency; and
                    ``(B) has completed the applicable probationary or 
                trial period (if any), or at least 1 year of current 
                continuous service in the same or similar positions 
                (disregarding any break in service of 3 days or less);
        but does not include an employee excluded under paragraph 
        (2)(B) or (3) of subsection (g);
            ``(2) the terms `agency' and `entity of the legislative 
        branch' have the same respective meanings as given them under 
        section 7905, except that the term `agency' does not include a 
        Government corporation (as defined by section 103); and
            ``(3) the term `Government' means the Government of the 
        United States.
    ``(b)(1) In order to promote greater technological proficiency 
within the Government's workforce, the General Services Administration 
and the Office of Personnel Management shall (to the extent of the 
duties and responsibilities assigned to each of them by the President, 
in conformance with succeeding provisions of this section) establish 
and operate a program under which there shall be furnished to each 
employee, at no cost to the employee, his or her own home computer, 
complete with Internet service (hereinafter in this section referred to 
collectively as `digital access benefits'). An employee not wishing to 
receive digital access benefits under this section may instead elect--
            ``(A) to receive free Internet service alone; or
            ``(B) to decline benefits under this section altogether.
    ``(2) For purposes of this section--
            ``(A) the term `home computer' means a computer (including 
        any necessary peripheral devices and software) that--
                    ``(i) at a minimum, is capable of providing access 
                to the Internet, and is able to perform office 
                automation and e-learning functions; and
                    ``(ii) is furnished for home use; and
            ``(B) the term `Internet service' means access to the 
        Internet through an Internet Service Provider (including the 
        ability to send and receive electronic mail) from one's home.
    ``(c) Any digital access benefits furnished under this section 
shall include at least the following:
            ``(1) Training on the use of computers and applications 
        (both Internet-based and, to the extent practicable, through 
        facilities at or convenient to the employee's workplace).
            ``(2) One or more upgrade options, available at the 
        employee's request and expense.
    ``(d) Any Internet service furnished under this section shall 
include at least the following:
            ``(1) A permanent home page that includes a component 
        linking the employee to designated Government sites and 
        resources.
            ``(2) Features that allow for information sharing and 
        communication, including a means by which an agency may readily 
        contact or communicate with employees at home (on a nationwide, 
        regional, or other basis, as the agency may require).
            ``(3) Inclusion on the permanent home page of a means by 
        which an employee may directly reach the employing agency's Web 
        site or intranet, if appropriate.
            ``(4) All training and support services under subsection 
        (c) that are relevant to Internet service.
    ``(e) Nothing in this section shall be considered to permit or 
require--
            ``(1) that employees declining benefits in accordance with 
        subsection (b)(1)(B) be denied access to training on the use of 
        computers and applications (as described in subsection (c)); or
            ``(2) that employees electing free Internet service alone 
        be denied access to training on the use of computers and 
        applications (as so described) beyond that specified in 
        subsection (d)(4).
    ``(f)(1) The General Services Administration may contract with any 
qualified person to procure the goods and services required in order to 
carry out this section. Contracts under this subsection shall include 
appropriate provisions relating to the following:
            ``(A) The time and manner in which any transfers of title 
        to personal property shall be made.
            ``(B) Restrictions to prevent inappropriate financing or 
        subsidization of benefits, including commercial advertising.
            ``(C) Measures to prevent unauthorized tracking of computer 
        use and to otherwise protect a user's privacy.
            ``(D) Measures to prevent the unauthorized sale or release 
        of names or other identifying information.
            ``(E) Provisions to make benefits under this section 
        accessible to persons with disabilities, such as through 
        appropriate modifications or accessories.
            ``(F) Options for the renewal or extension of benefits, 
        including the conditions under which a computer (or other piece 
        of equipment) will periodically be replaced with a new one.
            ``(G) Measures to permit the donation of used equipment to 
        schools, nonprofit organizations, or other similar entities, to 
        the extent practicable.
            ``(H) Measures to prevent unauthorized access to Government 
        databases, sites, and other functions or capabilities intended 
        for employees only, such as upon an employee's separation from 
        service.
    ``(2) The General Services Administration may prescribe any 
regulations necessary to carry out its duties and responsibilities 
under this section.
    ``(g)(1) In order to carry out this section, the Office of 
Personnel Management shall--
            ``(A) upon request, furnish information or technical 
        assistance--
                    ``(i) on the design or operation of the program or 
                any aspect of the program; and
                    ``(ii) on the design or delivery of Internet-based 
                training;
            ``(B) establish procedures for the communication of 
        information to and from employees, including procedures for the 
        election of benefits; and
            ``(C) provide general program oversight, and perform such 
        other functions as the Office considers appropriate to 
        facilitate the efficient delivery (and, to the extent 
        practicable, the optimal use) of benefits.
    ``(2) The Office may prescribe any regulations necessary to carry 
out its duties and responsibilities under this section, including--
            ``(A) in the case of an employee who has previously 
        received or declined benefits under this section, provisions 
        relating to if, and under what conditions, such employee may 
        become eligible for benefits under this section based on 
        subsequent employment; and
            ``(B) provisions for the exclusion of any employees abroad 
        as to whom the application of this section would be 
        impracticable or inappropriate.
    ``(3) There may, under this paragraph, be excluded any employees as 
to whom the application of this section would be impracticable or 
inappropriate by reason of their temporary or intermittent employment. 
Authority under this paragraph may be exercised--
            ``(A) by the same official or agency as under section 
        8347(g), (i), (j), (l), or (p) (in connection with retirement); 
        and
            ``(B) by the respective committees named in section 
        7905(c)(2)-(3), in the case of the entities of the legislative 
        branch to which those provisions relate.
    ``(h)(1) The General Services Administration and the Office of 
Personnel Management shall carry out their respective duties and 
responsibilities under this section in consultation with one another 
and with such other agencies as each considers appropriate.
    ``(2) In carrying out this subsection, the General Services 
Administration shall afford employing agencies reasonable opportunity 
to communicate any needs or concerns specific to that agency.
    ``(i) Each employing agency shall keep such records, make such 
certifications, and furnish such information--
            ``(1) as the General Services Administration may require to 
        carry out its duties and responsibilities under this section; 
        and
            ``(2) as the Office of Personnel Management may require to 
        carry out its duties and responsibilities under this section.
    ``(j)(1) There are authorized to be appropriated to each agency 
(including to the General Services Administration and the Office of 
Personnel Management, both as employing agencies and as administering 
agencies) such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
    ``(2) The costs associated with furnishing benefits to an employee 
under this section shall be paid--
            ``(A) by that individual's employing agency;
            ``(B) out of amounts made available to that agency under 
        paragraph (1); and
            ``(C) at the times and in the amounts specified by the 
        General Services Administration.
    ``(3)(A) The amounts paid by an agency under this subsection shall 
be deposited in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the 
Employees' Digital Access Fund. The Fund is available--
            ``(i) without fiscal year limitation for all payments to 
        persons providing goods or services under this section (as 
        referred to in subsection (f)); and
            ``(ii) to pay the respective expenses of the General 
        Services Administration and the Office of Personnel Management 
        in administering this section, within the limitations that may 
        be specified annually by Congress.
    ``(B) The Secretary of the Treasury may, with respect to the Fund, 
exercise the same authorities as described in section 8909(c). The 
provisions of section 8909(f) shall similarly apply with respect to--
            ``(i) any payment made from the Fund to any qualified 
        person (as referred to in subsection (f)) in consideration for 
        any goods or services provided by such person under this 
        section; and
            ``(ii) the net income or profit accruing to or realized by 
        such person from business conducted under this section.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 79 of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``7906. Residential digital access benefits.''.

SEC. 3. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) In General.--The Office of Management and Budget shall prepare 
and submit to the President and each House of Congress a report on the 
operation of the program established under section 7906 of title 5, 
United States Code, as amended by this Act. The report shall be 
submitted by the end of the third year of the program's operation, and 
shall specifically address the following:
            (1) Any cost savings, efficiencies, or other benefits 
        realized through the program, such as:
                    (A) Improved individual or collective 
                organizational performance.
                    (B) Better employee productivity or morale.
                    (C) Greater flexibilities in the performance of 
                work outside of the customary hours or workplace.
                    (D) Enhancement of Government recruitment and 
                retention efforts.
                    (E) Reduced printing or mailing costs to the 
                Government.
                    (F) Improved communications capabilities, 
                especially with regard to individuals in rural or 
                remote locations.
                    (G) New Internet-based training opportunities.
            (2) Best practices developed by particular agencies to take 
        advantage of any technologies or capabilities made available 
        through the program.
            (3) The extent to which family members of employees were 
        able to make use of or otherwise share in the benefits made 
        available through the program.
            (4) The extent to which the program (A) benefited 
        communities or segments of the population that historically 
        have been technologically underserved, and (B) otherwise helped 
        alleviate the problem commonly referred to as the ``digital 
        divide''.
    (b) Assistance.--Each agency shall (to the extent not otherwise 
prohibited by law) submit to the Office of Management and Budget such 
information as the Office may require in order to prepare its report 
under this section.

SEC. 4. BUDGET ACT COMPLIANCE.

    Any contract authority under this Act shall be available only to 
such extent or in such amounts as are provided in advance in 
appropriation Acts.

SEC. 5. COMMENCEMENT AND TERMINATION PROVISIONS.

    Benefits under section 7906 of title 5, United States Code, as 
amended by this Act, may be furnished only on the basis of elections 
made during the 48-month period beginning on the first day of the first 
fiscal year beginning at least 12 months after the date of enactment of 
this Act.
                                 <all>