[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 10, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H283-H285]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TESTED ABILITY TO LEVERAGE EXCEPTIONAL NATIONAL TALENT ACT OF 2017
Mr. HURD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 39) to amend title 5, United States Code, to codify the
Presidential Innovation Fellows Program, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 39
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 ``Tested Ability to Leverage
Exceptional National Talent Act of 2017'' or the ``TALENT Act
of 2017''.
SEC. 2. PRESIDENTIAL INNOVATION FELLOWS PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Chapter 31 of title 5, United States Code,
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SUBCHAPTER V--PRESIDENTIAL INNOVATION FELLOWS PROGRAM
``Sec. 3171. Presidential Innovation Fellows Program
``(a) Policy.--It is in the national interest for the
Government to attract the brightest minds skilled in
technology or innovative practices to serve in the Government
to work on some of the Nation's biggest and most pressing
challenges. This subchapter establishes a program to
encourage successful entrepreneurs, executives, and
innovators to join the Government and work in close
cooperation with Government leaders, to create meaningful
solutions that can help save lives and taxpayer money, fuel
job creation, and significantly improve how the Government
serves the American people.
``(b) Establishment.--The Administrator of General Services
shall continue the Presidential Innovation Fellows Program
(hereinafter referred to as the `Program') to enable
exceptional individuals with proven track records to serve
time-limited appointments in executive agencies to address
some of the Nation's most significant challenges and improve
existing Government efforts that would particularly benefit
from expertise using innovative techniques and technology.
``(c) Administration.--The Program shall be administered by
a Director, appointed by the Administrator under authorities
of the General Services Administration. The Administrator
shall provide necessary staff, resources and administrative
support for the Program.
``(d) Appointment of Fellows.--The Director shall appoint
fellows pursuant to the Program and, in cooperation with
executive agencies, shall facilitate placement of fellows to
participate in projects that have the potential for
significant positive effects and are consistent with the
President's goals.
``(e) Application Process.--
``(1) In general.--The Director shall prescribe the process
for applications and nominations of individuals to the
Program.
``(2) Program standards.--Following publication of these
processes, the Director may accept for consideration
applications from individuals. The Director shall establish,
administer, review, and revise, if appropriate, a
Governmentwide cap on the number of fellows. The Director
shall establish and publish salary ranges, benefits, and
standards for the Program.
``(f) Selection, Appointment, and Assignment of Fellows.--
``(1) Procedures.--The Director shall prescribe appropriate
procedures for the selection, appointment, and assignment of
fellows.
``(2) Consultation.--Prior to the selection of fellows, the
Director shall consult with the heads of executive agencies
regarding potential projects and how best to meet those
needs. Following such consultation, the Director shall select
and appoint individuals to serve as fellows.
``(3) Time limitation.--Fellows selected for the Program
shall serve under short-term, time-limited appointments. Such
fellows shall be appointed for no less than 6 months and no
longer than 2 years in the Program. The Director shall
facilitate the process of placing fellows at requesting
executive agencies.
``(g) Responsibilities of Agencies.--Each executive agency
shall work with the Director and the Presidential Innovation
Fellows Program advisory board established under section 3172
to attempt to maximize the Program's benefits to the agency
and the Government, including by identifying initiatives that
have a meaningful effect on the people served and that
benefit from involvement by one or more fellows. Such
agencies shall ensure that each fellow works closely with
responsible senior officials for the duration of the
assignment.
``Sec. 3172. Presidential Innovation Fellows Program advisory
board
``(a) In General.--The Administrator of General Services
shall continue an advisory board to advise the Director of
the Presidential Innovation Fellows Program by recommending
such priorities and standards as may be beneficial to fulfill
the mission of the Presidential Innovation Fellows Program
and assist in identifying potential projects and placements
for fellows. The advisory board may not participate in the
selection process under section 3171(f).
``(b) Chair; Membership.--The Administrator shall designate
a representative to serve as the Chair of the advisory board.
In addition to the Chair, the membership of the advisory
board shall include--
``(1) the Deputy Director for Management of the Office of
Management and Budget;
``(2) the Director of the Office of Personnel Management;
``(3) the Administrator of the Office of Electronic
Government of the Office of Management and Budget;
``(4) the Assistant to the President and Chief Technology
Officer; and
``(5) other individuals as may be designated by the
Administrator.
``(c) Consultation.--The advisory board may consult with
industry, academia, or nonprofits to ensure the Presidential
Innovation Fellows Program is continually identifying
opportunities to apply advanced skillsets and innovative
practices in effective ways to address the Nation's most
significant challenges.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter
31 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``subchapter v--presidential innovation fellows program
``3171. Presidential Innovation Fellows Program.
``3172. Presidential Innovation Fellows Program advisory board.''.
(c) Transition.--The Presidential Innovation Fellows
Program established pursuant to Executive Order 13704 (5
U.S.C. 3301 note) as in existence on the day before the date
of enactment of this Act shall be considered the Presidential
Innovation Fellows Program described in the amendments made
by this Act.
(d) No Additional Funds Authorized.--No additional funds
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act or
the amendments made by this Act. This Act and the amendments
made by this Act shall be carried out using amounts otherwise
authorized.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Hurd) and the gentleman from California (Mr. DeSaulnier)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
General Leave
Mr. HURD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include
any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
[[Page H284]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. HURD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
California (Mr. McCarthy), the majority leader.
Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, the government is many things. It is
large, it is complicated, and it is ineffective. I don't think anyone
would call it modern. While the world is rushing forward with things
like voice-based interfaces, autonomous vehicles, online retail, and
data analytics, government is stubbornly years, or even decades,
behind.
We do not have to accept it. One of the purposes of the Innovation
Initiative, our effort here in the House, is to bring government into
the modern age.
Right now, it can still take hours for citizens to get the IRS on the
phone to ask the most basic questions. Parents and students still deal
with the clunky user interfaces when applying for tuition assistance.
And the VA still uses a scheduling system that is a quarter century
old. It doesn't have to be this way.
We have a program right now, the Presidential Innovation Fellows
program, that brings in highly talented professionals from across the
country to help upgrade our government's use of technology. Now, these
are engineers, designers, innovators, and thinkers. They challenge the
old ways of thinking and introduce new approaches to make our
government work the way the American people deserve it to work.
I sponsored the TALENT Act to make sure this innovation program
continues into the future. By drawing on the great talent of the
American people, we can make government effective, efficient, and
accountable.
Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise today in strong support of the TALENT Act, a bill to ensure
that we continue to bring top private sector innovators into government
to help solve complex technological problems at Federal agencies.
The Presidential Innovation Fellows program was established by
President Obama in 2012 to identify and pursue projects that apply and
implement innovative private sector techniques in as little as 6
months. The program was made permanent by Executive Order 13704 in
2015, and would be codified by the bill before us today.
H.R. 39 would require the General Services Administration to continue
managing the program with guidance from an advisory board comprised of
representatives from different executive branch agencies. Over 100
Presidential Innovation Fellows have already been appointed to work
alongside dedicated civil servants at 25 Federal agencies and
departments.
At those agencies, fellows have been able to merge their experience
from top universities, pioneering companies, and successful nonprofits
with their desire to contribute to society through public service. This
collaboration has allowed the Federal Government to obtain new tools,
develop new technologies, and ultimately become more effective and
efficient.
Presidential Innovation Fellows have reshaped the way Americans
interact with their government in areas ranging from health care and
science to law enforcement and disaster response. Fifteen million
Americans can access their health data as a result of the program's
Blue Button initiative, and cancer patients can search for clinical
trials as part of work to support the Vice President's Cancer Moonshot
initiative.
Scientists can now obtain more weather data collected by NOAA, and
veterans can now more readily access custom prosthetic designs.
Citizens can review police records, including crime statistics and
data on officer-involved shootings. And FEMA and other first responders
can better target and prioritize their response to natural disasters.
All of these things have been made possible through the Presidential
Innovation Fellows program, and it is crucial that we continue our
support of these and other endeavors by ensuring its permanency.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 39.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HURD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Today, I am urging my colleagues to support H.R. 39, the TALENT Act,
introduced by Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California. This bill
passed the House on a strong bipartisan vote in the 114th Congress, and
I am glad to be part of the team working to enact this important
legislation into law.
The TALENT Act makes permanent the Presidential Innovation Fellows
program that was created in 2012. This highly competitive program
recruits talented, private sector innovators and technologists from
across the United States.
Presidential Innovation Fellows serve in the Washington, D.C., area
for 12 months at an executive agency. These agencies include the
Department of Energy, NASA, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Fellows bring with them their experience in the private sector to
help government turn ideas into tangible results that ultimately
benefit the American people. Since 2012, at least 96 top innovators
have participated in the program.
Past and current fellows have come from companies large and small and
hold degrees from top universities across the country. They have won a
variety of awards, including Fulbright scholarships, Silicon Valley
Business Journal's 40 Under 40 recognition, and Truman National
Security Project fellowships. These fellows truly are the best and the
brightest the United States has to offer, and they seek to utilize
their skills for the American people.
Presidential Innovation Fellows are giving the Federal Government the
tools it needs to successfully operate in the 21st century. Previous
projects completed by fellows include Uncle Sam's List. Fellows created
a database to offer a centralized information center in which agencies
can forgo buying new commodity IT and support services in favor of
existing services provided by the Federal agencies. This program has
saved an estimated $2.5 billion, and it is helping government become
more effective and efficient.
I commend Majority Leader McCarthy for the work to bring this
innovation to the government. Again, I urge support for this bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Representative Hurd for his
work, which has been an ongoing continuing work on this issue and on
this particular program.
I rise in support of this bipartisan bill, which builds on the work
that Majority Leader McCarthy and I and others in this House have been
doing to modernize government technology and renew America's faith in
government.
In 2016, exit polls showed that dissatisfaction with the government
spanned the political spectrum. That is a shame because government is
supposed to be a force for improving people's lives, keeping our
country safe, and expanding opportunities for all Americans.
That is why I unveiled the House Democrats' Renewing Faith in
Government agenda last summer. We must present bold solutions to reform
our democracy and our government. Certainly, on both sides of the
equation, that is what the American people were saying in the last
election.
One of the goals of our agenda is modernizing government technology.
Most Americans understand the transformative power of technology--the
Majority Leader spoke of it in so many different aspects of our lives--
and how digitizing businesses makes them more efficient, transparent,
and accountable. We have seen it in the private sector. Every day,
millions of Americans shop on sites like Amazon or Etsy and catch a
ride using Uber or Lyft.
Government technology is in terrible shape, and bringing the latest
practices from Silicon Valley into government would make a huge
difference in serving our citizens and streamlining the way government
works for the American people.
Last year, I worked closely with the Obama administration and Tony
Scott to advance one of its top priorities in this area: creating a
technology modernization fund for the rapid upgrade of
[[Page H285]]
the most outdated, costly, and insecure technology systems across the
Federal Government. Mr. Hurd was involved deeply in that effort. The
result was the Modernizing Government Technology Act, which the House
passed overwhelmingly with the help of Chairman Chaffetz and Majority
Leader McCarthy.
Last month, Majority Leader McCarthy and I expressed our bipartisan
support for one of President Obama's most successful efforts at
bringing Silicon Valley talent into the Federal workforce: the U.S.
Digital Service and GSA's 18F program. In fact, I visited the 18F
program in San Francisco and was extraordinarily impressed with the
individuals who peopled that project and were giving of their time. I
guess we were paying them a little bit, but, relatively speaking, they
were giving their time.
Today's bill, the TALENT Act, would make permanent the precursor to
both these programs: the Presidential Innovation Fellows. This program
has a proven track record of bringing top talent from the innovation
economy into the Federal workforce where it is sorely needed.
I hope the next administration will continue all of these innovative
programs, which have begun to change the culture within our government.
I also hope that the talented individuals--many of whom, as I
referenced, left high-paying jobs in the private sector--will stay on
through the transition and continue to serve their country by improving
government technology.
President Obama made real progress in this area, including with the
launch of his Open Data Directive, his We the People petition platform,
and his Cyber National Action Plan. More could have been achieved if
Congress had agreed to his request to invest more in these areas. We
have seen a dramatic example of why cybersecurity investment is so
critically important for our country, not for Democrats, not for
Republicans, but for all Americans. This is an effort toward that end.
I hope we can work together in this new Congress to unleash the
transformative power of modern technology within government and help
renew America's faith in our government. That is critical if we are to
be successful as a Nation. I am sure it hopefully is what all of us
want to do on a bipartisan basis.
I thank Representative DeSaulnier for his efforts, and I thank
Representative Hurd for his leadership on this effort.
I am pleased to join with my counterpart, Majority Leader McCarthy,
in strong support of this legislation.
{time} 1815
Mr. HURD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to make the gentleman from
California aware that I have no further speakers and I am prepared to
close.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I just briefly congratulate everyone who
has been involved. As somebody who represents the bay area and
struggles with the innovation in the private sector there to integrate
it into the public sector at all levels of government, I really admire
the work by Mr. Hurd, the comments and the contributions by the
administration, and Mr. McCarthy and Mr. Hoyer.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers on our side. I congratulate
Mr. Hurd.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HURD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take the opportunity to thank
for their years of service on such an important issue Mr. DeSaulnier
and Leader Hoyer and Leader McCarthy.
I would like to urge the adoption of this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hurd) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 39.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. HURD. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________