[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4891 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4891

To advance Federal Government innovation through the implementation and 
    use of multi-cloud computing software technology, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 25, 2023

  Mr. Timmons (for himself, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Langworthy, and Mr. Trone) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                      Oversight and Accountability

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To advance Federal Government innovation through the implementation and 
    use of multi-cloud computing software technology, 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 ``Multi-Cloud Innovation and 
Advancement Act of 2023''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The Federal Government, across multiple presidential 
        administrations and Congresses, has continuously supported the 
        ability of Federal agencies to move to cloud computing, 
        including through--
                    (A) the ``Federal Cloud Computing Strategy'' 
                released by the United States Chief Information Officer 
                on February 8, 2011;
                    (B) the ``2019 Federal Cloud Computing Strategy-
                Cloud Smart'' released by the United States Chief 
                Information Officer in 2019;
                    (C) the prioritization of cloud computing security 
                in Executive Order No. 14028 (86 Fed. Reg. 26633; 
                relating to improving the Nation's cybersecurity), 
                which was issued on May 12, 2021; and
                    (D) more than a decade of appropriations and 
                authorization legislation that provides Federal 
                agencies with relevant authorities and appropriations 
                to modernize on-premises information technology systems 
                and more readily adopt cloud computing products and 
                services.
            (2) Federal agencies have adopted cloud computing using 
        various service delivery models, often through duplicative 
        contract actions and engineering efforts, which approach, while 
        offering faster deployments, does not capitalize on 
        opportunities for operational efficiencies, standardized 
        security, and cost reduction through service streamlining and 
        consolidated procurement.
            (3) The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of cloud 
        computing by Federal agencies, prompting such agencies to 
        require assistance managing and developing multi-cloud 
        strategies to allow Federal agencies to select cloud computing 
        providers that will meet their mission needs while achieving 
        the goals of the Federal cloud computing strategies described 
        in paragraph (1).
            (4) There is a shortage of staff within Federal agencies 
        who have the necessary digital skills and expertise relating 
        to--
                    (A) cloud computing services; and
                    (B) deploying and securing applications on more 
                than one cloud computing service.
            (5) Adoption of multi-cloud software technology can 
        securely deliver operational and management consistency and 
        resiliency to optimize Federal agencies' use of cloud computing 
        environments and provide a flexible and scalable infrastructure 
        to Federal agencies.

SEC. 3. IMPLEMENTATION OF MULTI-CLOUD SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Director, in consultation with the 
Administrator of General Services, the Director of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology, the Director of the 
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Administrator 
of the United States Digital Service, is directed to carry out the 
following:
            (1) Examine how executive agencies can implement multi-
        cloud computing software technology architecture to allow for 
        portability and interoperability across multiple cloud 
        computing software vendors.
            (2) Develop written guidance for all executive agencies 
        based on the results of the examination described in paragraph 
        (1) that--
                    (A) describes how executive agencies should use 
                multi-cloud software technology to allow for 
                applications, data, and programs to be portable and 
                interoperable between public, private, and edge cloud 
                environments; and
                    (B) outlines a roadmap for implementation of multi-
                cloud software technology across executive agencies no 
                later than January 1, 2025.
    (b) Briefing.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Director shall provide to the relevant 
committees of Congress--
            (1) a copy of the written guidance described in subsection 
        (a); and
            (2) a briefing on implementation of multi-cloud software 
        technology by executive agencies, along with any 
        recommendations related to expansion or extension of such 
        implementation.
    (c) Workforce Development Study.--Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit 
to Congress and make publicly available a report--
            (1) assessing the state of the digital skills and expertise 
        gap within the Federal workforce relating to information and 
        communications technology, with particular attention to the 
        skills and expertise gap relating to cloud computing and multi-
        cloud software technology;
            (2) any recommendations for Federal workforce development 
        activities, including trainings, certifications, and 
        partnerships, to address any gap identified as a result of the 
        assessment described in paragraph (1); and
            (3) any recommendations relating to hiring practices for 
        executive agencies to address any gap identified as a result of 
        the assessment described in paragraph (1).
    (d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress 
and make publicly available a report assessing how executive agencies 
have implemented the guidance developed under subsection (a) to deploy 
and secure multi-cloud software technology architecture that includes 
multiple cloud computing software vendors.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Cloud computing.--The term ``cloud computing'' has the 
        meaning given the term in Special Publication 800-145 of the 
        National Institute of Standards and Technology, or any 
        successor document.
            (2) Comptroller general.--The term ``Comptroller General'' 
        means the Comptroller General of the United States.
            (3) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the Office of Management and Budget.
            (4) Executive agency.--The term ``executive agency'' has 
        the meaning given the term in section 133 of title 41, United 
        States Code.
            (5) Information and communications technology.--The term 
        ``information and communications technology'' has the meaning 
        given the term in subpart 2.101 of the Federal Acquisition 
        Regulation, or successor regulation, and includes associated 
        services.
            (6) Multi-cloud software technology.--The term ``multi-
        cloud software technology'' means software technology that 
        allows for data, application, and program portability and 
        interoperability between multiple cloud computing software 
        vendors and between public, private, and edge cloud 
        environments in a manner that securely delivers operational and 
        management consistency, comprehensive visibility, and 
        resiliency.
            (7) Relevant committees of congress.--The term ``relevant 
        committees of Congress'' means the Committee on Oversight and 
        Accountability of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
        Senate.
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