[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 17, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H4259-H4266]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MODERNIZING GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY ACT OF 2017
Mr. HURD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 2227) to modernize Government information technology, and for
other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2227
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 ``Modernizing Government
Technology Act of 2017'' or the ``MGT Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
(1) The Federal Government spends nearly 75 percent of its
annual information technology funding on operating and
maintaining existing legacy information technology systems.
These systems can pose operational risks, including rising
costs and inability to meet mission requirements. These
systems also pose security risks, including the inability to
use current security best practices, such as data encryption
and multi-factor authentication, making these systems
particularly vulnerable to malicious cyber activity.
(2) In 2015, the Government Accountability Office (GAO)
designated Improving the Management of IT Acquisitions and
Operations to its biannual High Risk List and identified as a
particular concern the increasing level of information
technology spending on operations and maintenance, making
less funding available for development or modernization. The
GAO also found the Government has spent billions on failed
and poorly performing information technology investments due
to a lack of effective oversight.
(3) The Federal Government must modernize Federal IT
systems to mitigate existing operational and security risks.
(4) The efficiencies, cost savings, and greater computing
power offered by modernized solutions, such as cloud
computing, have the potential to--
(A) eliminate inappropriate duplication and reduce costs;
(B) address the critical need for cybersecurity by design;
and
(C) move the Federal Government into a broad, digital-
services delivery model that will transform the ability of
the Federal Government to meet mission requirements and
deliver services to the American people.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are the following:
(1) Assist the Federal Government in modernizing Federal
information technology to mitigate current operational and
security risks.
(2) Incentivize cost savings in Federal information
technology through modernization.
(3) Accelerate the acquisition and deployment of modernized
information technology solutions, such as cloud computing, by
addressing impediments in the areas of funding, development,
and acquisition practices.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF AGENCY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
SYSTEMS MODERNIZATION AND WORKING CAPITAL
FUNDS.
(a) Information Technology System Modernization and Working
Capital Funds.--
(1) Establishment.--The head of a covered agency may
establish within such agency an information technology system
modernization and working capital fund (in this section
referred to as the ``IT working capital fund'') for necessary
expenses described in paragraph (3).
(2) Source of funds.--The following amounts may be
deposited into an IT working capital fund:
(A) Reprogramming and transfer of funds made available in
appropriations Acts subsequent to the date of the enactment
of this Act, including transfer of any funds for the
operation and maintenance of legacy information technology
systems, in compliance with any applicable reprogramming law
or guidelines of the Committees on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives and the Senate.
(B) Amounts made available to the IT working capital fund
through discretionary appropriations made available
subsequent to the date of the enactment of this Act.
(3) Use of funds.--An IT working capital fund established
under paragraph (1) may be used, subject to the availability
of appropriations, only for the following:
(A) To improve, retire, or replace existing information
technology systems in the covered agency to enhance
cybersecurity and to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
(B) To transition legacy information technology systems at
the covered agency to cloud computing and other innovative
platforms and technologies, including those serving more than
one covered agency with common requirements.
(C) To assist and support covered agency efforts to provide
adequate, risk-based, and cost-effective information
technology capabilities that address evolving threats to
information security.
(D) To reimburse funds transferred to the covered agency
from the Technology Modernization Fund established under
section 4, with the approval of the Chief Information Officer
of the covered agency.
(4) Existing funds.--An IT working capital fund may not be
used to supplant funds provided for the operation and
maintenance of any system within an appropriation for the
covered agency at the time of establishment of the IT working
capital fund.
(5) Prioritization of funds.--The head of each covered
agency shall prioritize funds within the IT working capital
fund to be used initially for cost savings activities
approved by the Chief Information Officer of the covered
agency, in consultation with the Administrator of the Office
of Electronic Government. The head of each covered agency may
reprogram and transfer any amounts saved as a direct result
of such activities for deposit into the applicable IT working
capital fund, consistent with paragraph (2)(A).
(6) Return of funds.--Any funds deposited into an IT
working capital fund shall be available for obligation for
three years after the last day of the fiscal year in which
such funds were deposited.
(7) Agency cio responsibilities.--In evaluating projects to
be funded from the IT working capital fund, the Chief
Information Officer of the covered agency shall consider, to
the extent applicable, guidance issued pursuant to section
4(a)(1) to evaluate applications for funding from the
Technology Modernization Fund established under that section
that include factors such as a strong business case,
technical design, procurement strategy (including adequate
use of incremental software development practices), and
program management.
(b) Reporting Requirement.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and every six months thereafter,
the head of each covered agency shall submit to the Director
the following, with respect to the IT working capital fund
for the covered agency:
[[Page H4260]]
(A) A list of each information technology investment funded
with estimated cost and completion date for each such
investment.
(B) A summary by fiscal year of obligations, expenditures,
and unused balances.
(2) Public availability.--The Director shall make the
information submitted under paragraph (1) publicly available
on a website.
(c) Covered Agency Defined.--In this section, the term
``covered agency'' means each agency listed in section 901(b)
of title 31, United States Code.
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF TECHNOLOGY MODERNIZATION FUND AND
BOARD.
(a) Technology Modernization Fund.--
(1) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury a
Technology Modernization Fund (in this section referred to as
the ``Fund'') for technology-related activities, to improve
information technology, to enhance cybersecurity across the
Federal Government, and to be administered in accordance with
guidance issued by the Director.
(2) Administration of fund.--The Commissioner of the
Technology Transformation Service of the General Services
Administration, in consultation with the Chief Information
Officers Council and with the approval of the Director, shall
administer the Fund in accordance with this subsection.
(3) Use of funds.--The Commissioner shall, in accordance
with the recommendations of the Technology Modernization
Board established under subsection (b), use amounts in the
Fund for the following purposes:
(A) To transfer such amounts, to remain available until
expended, to the head of an agency to improve, retire, or
replace existing Federal information technology systems to
enhance cybersecurity and improve efficiency and
effectiveness.
(B) For the development, operation, and procurement of
information technology products, services, and acquisition
vehicles for use by agencies to improve Governmentwide
efficiency and cybersecurity in accordance with the
requirements of such agencies.
(C) To provide services or work performed in support of the
activities described under subparagraph (A) or (B).
(4) Authorization of appropriations; credits; availability
of funds.--
(A) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Fund $250,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2018 and 2019.
(B) Credits.--In addition to any funds otherwise
appropriated, the Fund shall be credited with all
reimbursements, advances, or refunds or recoveries relating
to information technology or services provided through the
Fund.
(C) Availability of funds.--Amounts deposited, credited, or
otherwise made available to the Fund shall be available, as
provided in appropriations Acts, until expended for the
purposes described in paragraph (3).
(5) Reimbursement.--
(A) Payment by agency.--For a product or service developed
under paragraph (3)(B), including any services or work
performed in support of such development under paragraph
(3)(C), the head of an agency that uses such product or
service shall pay an amount fixed by the Commissioner in
accordance with this paragraph.
(B) Reimbursement by agency.--The head of an agency shall
reimburse the Fund for any transfer made under paragraph
(3)(A), including any services or work performed in support
of such transfer under paragraph (3)(C), in accordance with
the terms established in a written agreement described in
paragraph (6). Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an
agency may make a reimbursement required by this subparagraph
from any appropriation made available subsequent to the date
of the enactment of this Act for information technology
activities, consistent with any applicable reprogramming law
or guidelines of the Committees on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives and the Senate. An obligation to
make a payment under a written agreement described in
paragraph (6) in a fiscal year after the date of the
enactment of this Act shall be recorded pursuant to section
1501 of title 31, United States Code, in the fiscal year in
which the payment is due.
(C) Prices fixed by commissioner.--The Commissioner, in
consultation with the Director, shall establish amounts to be
paid by an agency and terms of repayment for use of a product
or service developed under paragraph (3)(B), including any
services or work performed in support of such development
under paragraph (3)(C), at levels sufficient to ensure the
solvency of the Fund, including operating expenses. Before
making any changes to the established amounts and terms of
repayment, the Commissioner shall conduct a review and obtain
approval from the Director.
(D) Failure to make timely reimbursement.--The Commissioner
may obtain reimbursement by the issuance of transfer and
counterwarrants, or other lawful transfer documents,
supported by itemized bills, if payment is not made by an
agency--
(i) within 90 days after the expiration of a repayment
period described in a written agreement described in
paragraph (6); or
(ii) within 45 days after the expiration of the time period
to make a payment under a payment schedule for a product or
service developed under paragraph (3)(B).
(6) Written agreement.--
(A) In general.--Before the transfer of funds to an agency
under paragraph (3)(A), the Commissioner (in consultation
with the Director) and the head of the requisitioning agency
shall enter into a written agreement documenting the purpose
for which the funds will be used and the terms of repayment,
which may not exceed five years unless approved by the
Director. An agreement made pursuant to this subparagraph
shall be recorded as an obligation as provided in paragraph
(5)(B).
(B) Requirement for use of incremental development
practices.--For any funds transferred to an agency under
paragraph (3)(A), in the absence of compelling circumstances
documented by the Commissioner at the time of transfer, such
funds shall be transferred only on an incremental basis, tied
to metric-based development milestones achieved by the
agency, to be described in a written agreement required under
subparagraph (A).
(7) Reporting requirement.--Not later than six months after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall
publish and maintain a list of each project funded by the
Fund on a public website, to be updated not less than
quarterly, that includes a description of the project,
project status (including any schedule delay and cost
overruns), and financial expenditure data related to the
project.
(b) Technology Modernization Board.--
(1) Establishment.--There is established a Technology
Modernization Board (in this section referred to as the
``Board'') to evaluate proposals submitted by agencies for
funding authorized under the Fund.
(2) Responsibilities.--The responsibilities of the Board
are the following:
(A) Provide input to the Director for the development of
processes for agencies to submit modernization proposals to
the Board and to establish the criteria by which such
proposals are evaluated, which shall include addressing the
greatest security and operational risks, having the greatest
Governmentwide impact, and having a high probability of
success based on factors such as a strong business case,
technical design, procurement strategy (including adequate
use of incremental software development practices), and
program management.
(B) Make recommendations to the Commissioner to assist
agencies in the further development and refinement of select
submitted modernization proposals, based on an initial
evaluation performed with the assistance of the Commissioner.
(C) Review and prioritize, with the assistance of the
Commissioner and the Director, modernization proposals based
on criteria established pursuant to subparagraph (A).
(D) Identify, with the assistance of the Commissioner,
opportunities to improve or replace multiple information
technology systems with a smaller number of information
technology systems common to multiple agencies.
(E) Recommend the funding of modernization projects, in
accordance with the uses described in subsection (a)(3), to
the Commissioner.
(F) Monitor, in consultation with the Commissioner,
progress and performance in executing approved projects and,
if necessary, recommend the suspension or termination of
funding for projects based on factors such as failure to meet
the terms of a written agreement described in subsection
(a)(6).
(G) Monitor operating costs of the Fund.
(3) Membership.--The Board shall consist of eight voting
members.
(4) Chair.--The Chair of the Board shall be the
Administrator of the Office of Electronic Government.
(5) Permanent members.--The permanent members of the Board
shall be the following:
(A) The Administrator of the Office of Electronic
Government.
(B) A senior official from the General Services
Administration having technical expertise in information
technology development, appointed by the Administrator of
General Services, with the approval of the Director.
(6) Additional members of the board.--
(A) Appointment.--The other members of the Board shall be
appointed as follows:
(i) One employee of the National Protection and Programs
Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security, appointed
by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
(ii) One employee of the Department of Defense, appointed
by the Secretary of Defense.
(iii) Four Federal employees primarily having technical
expertise in information technology development, financial
management, cybersecurity and privacy, and acquisition,
appointed by the Director.
(B) Term.--Each member of the Board described in paragraph
(A) shall serve a term of one year, which shall be renewable
up to three times, at the discretion of the appointing
Secretary or Director, as applicable.
(7) Prohibition on compensation.--Members of the Board may
not receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason
of their service on the Board.
(8) Staff.--Upon request of the Chair of the Board, the
Director and the Administrator of General Services may
detail, on a nonreimbursable basis, any of the personnel of
the Office of Management and Budget or the General Services
Administration (as the case may be) to the Board to assist
the Board in carrying out its functions under this Act.
(c) Responsibilities of Commissioner.--
(1) In general.--In addition to the responsibilities
described in subsection (a), the Commissioner shall support
the activities of the Board and provide technical support to,
and, with the concurrence of the Director, oversight of,
agencies that receive transfers from the Fund.
[[Page H4261]]
(2) Responsibilities.--The responsibilities of the
Commissioner are the following:
(A) Provide direct technical support in the form of
personnel services or otherwise to agencies transferred
amounts under subsection (a)(3)(A) and for products,
services, and acquisition vehicles funded under subsection
(a)(3)(B).
(B) Assist the Board with the evaluation, prioritization,
and development of agency modernization proposals.
(C) Perform regular project oversight and monitoring of
approved agency modernization projects, in consultation with
the Board and the Director, to increase the likelihood of
successful implementation and reduce waste.
(D) Provide the Director with information necessary to meet
the requirements of subsection (a)(7).
(d) Agency Defined.--In this section, the term ``agency''
has the meaning given that term in section 551 of title 5,
United States Code.
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Cloud computing.--The term ``cloud computing'' has the
meaning given that term by the National Institute of
Standards and Technology in NIST Special Publication 800-145
and any amendatory or superseding document thereto.
(2) Commissioner.--The term ``Commissioner'' means the
Commissioner of the Technology Transformation Service of the
General Services Administration.
(3) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the Office of Management and Budget.
(4) Information technology.--The term ``information
technology'' has the meaning given that term in section 3502
of title 44, United States Code.
(5) Legacy information technology system.--The term
``legacy information technology system'' means an outdated or
obsolete system of information technology.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Hurd) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly) 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 may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
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 myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 2227, the Modernizing
Government Technology Act, or the MGT Act.
Each year, the Federal Government spends over $80 billion a year on
information technology, with nearly 75 percent of that directed just
towards operating and maintaining existing IT systems. Couple this with
innovation and management strategies that are decades behind the
private sector when it comes to IT, and the increasing cost of
maintaining these aging and insecure systems, this is unsustainable.
These systems pose increasing operational and security risks for the
Federal Government, as we saw with the devastating OPM data breach,
which impacted over 20 million people.
As we see cybersecurity attacks on the rise across the globe, it is
imperative that we modernize and protect our information technology
systems. The American people deserve better from their government,
especially on an issue that is completely solvable. Our government
needs to be able to introduce cutting-edge technology into their
networks to improve operational efficiency and decrease operational
cost.
This bipartisan IT reform package is designed to reduce wasteful IT
spending and strengthen information security by accelerating the
Federal Government's transition to modern technology, like cloud
computing. This legislation is an innovative solution and a tremendous
step forward in strengthening our digital infrastructure.
This bill passed the House on voice vote last year and passed out of
the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee by voice this year.
Unfortunately, we ran out of time on this bill last Congress with the
Senate, but we have an opportunity to act this year with an improved
bill.
H.R. 2227 authorizes two types of funds to modernize legacy IT and
incentivize IT savings in Federal agencies. The bill authorizes funds
within individual CFO Act agencies, and it authorizes a centralized
fund located within Treasury and overseen by OMB. The two funds will
incentivize IT savings and reward cost-sensitive and responsible chief
information officers.
Under MGT, savings obtained by Federal agencies, by doing things like
streamlining IT systems, replacing legacy products, and transitioning
to cloud computing, can be placed in a working capital fund that can be
accessed for up to 3 years for further modernization efforts.
This approach eliminates the traditional use-it-or-lose-it approach
that has plagued government technology for decades. This approach to
technology investments will transform government technology by keeping
our information and digital infrastructure secure from cyber attacks
while saving billions of taxpayer dollars.
This important bill has enjoyed widespread support from colleagues in
the House and the Senate.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member, the gentlewoman from
Illinois (Ms. Kelly), my friend, for her support on this. I thank the
gentleman from the Commonwealth of Virginia (Mr. Connolly) for all he
has done. I especially thank Chairman Chaffetz and Ranking Member
Cummings for their support.
The majority leader, Kevin McCarthy, and the minority whip, Steny
Hoyer, have been vital to the success of getting this bill moving
forward.
I thank all of the other Members as well who have provided support
and leadership for the MGT Act.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support from a number
of industry and trade groups in support of this bill.
Professional Services Council,
Arlington, VA, April 27, 2017.
Hon. Jerry Moran,
U.S. Senator, Washington, DC.
Hon. Will Hurd,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
Subcommittee on Information Technology, Washington, DC.
Hon. Tom Udall,
U.S. Senator, Washington, DC.
Hon. Gerry Connolly,
Ranking Member, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
Subcommittee on Government Operations, Washington, DC.
Dear Senators Moran and Udall, Chairman Hurd and Ranking
Member Connolly: On behalf of the over 400 member companies
of the Professional Services Council (PSC), I write to convey
our association's strong support for your legislation, the
Modernizing Government Technology Act of 2017 (the ``MGT
Act''), and to thank you for your continued leadership to
advance policies that will upgrade the government's legacy IT
systems.
The MGT Act would establish a critical source of dependable
funding for federal agencies to invest in IT system
modernization, incentivize agencies to utilize the funds for
agency priorities, and accelerate the transition to the
cloud.
PSC supports the Act because we believe the bill will help
make government more effective and its networks more secure,
while reducing overall costs. Enactment would be a much-
needed and critical step to begin addressing the immense
challenges associated with upgrading federal information
technology systems and limiting cybersecurity vulnerabilities
inherent in the government's outdated computer systems.
PSC looks forward to working with you to see this
legislation enacted. Thank you for your leadership and
attention to this important issue. If you or your colleagues
have any questions or need additional information, please do
not hesitate to reach out to me.
Yours Respectfully,
David J. Berteau,
President and CEO.
____
IT Alliance
for Public Sector,
Washington, DC, April 28, 2017.
Re The Modernizing Government Technology Act of 2017 (MGT
Act).
Hon. Will Hurd,
Chairman, Subcommittee on Information Technology, Committee
on Oversight and Government Reform, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Hon. Robin Kelly,
Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Information Technology,
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Hurd and Ranking Member Kelly: On behalf of
the member companies of the Information Technology Alliance
for Public Sector (ITAPS), I am writing to express our strong
support for the Modernizing Government Technology (MGT) Act
of 2017. We appreciate all the time, effort, and commitment
you have dedicated to reforming how the federal government
funds and invests in information technology (IT). This
bipartisan, bicameral legislation would enable new means to
fund IT solutions, including for IT modernization efforts,
and provide
[[Page H4262]]
funding availability to permit government IT to better keep
pace with innovation. We commend your staffs for
collaborating and working with ITAPS and our members.
The time is ripe to transform the way the federal
government acquires IT, and this bipartisan legislation is a
substantial step toward that transformation. The federal
government today spends about $60 billion dollars annually
sustaining their existing IT and their funding streams allow
them to either continue to sustain those systems or
modernize, but they do not have the funding to do both at the
same time. The MGT Act creates the necessary new options for
agencies to be able to sustain what is necessary for their
mission, while investing in modernizing and transforming IT
capabilities in the federal government for the digital era.
Again, thank you for the engagement you and your staff
afforded ITAPS and our members. We look forward to continuing
to work with you further as the bill advances through the
legislative process.
Sincerely,
A.R. ``Trey'' Hodgkins, III, CAE,
Senior Vice President, Public Sector.
____
Adobe applauds Congressman Will Hurd (Texas) for
reintroducing the Modernizing Government Technology Act, H.R.
2227, and urges Congress to move quickly to enact this
important piece of legislation. Modernizing the federal IT
infrastructure is crucial to ensuring a stronger cyber
security foundation. The federal government on average spends
nearly 80 percent of its IT budget on servicing and
maintaining legacy IT systems, drowning out investments in
newer technologies that often deliver better, more secure and
less costly services to citizens.--Adobe VP & Public Sector
Chief Technology Officer John Landwehr
____
Amazon Web Services,
Herndon, VA, April 28, 2017.
Re Support for H.R. 2227, the Modernizing Government
Technology Act.
Hon. Will Hurd,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Robin Kelly,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Gerry Connolly,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Jerry Moran,
U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Tom Udall,
U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman Hurd, Congresswoman Kelly, Congressman
Connolly, Senator Udall, and Senator Moran: On behalf of our
customers, we applaud your leadership and commitment to
transforming federal information technology (IT) through the
Modernizing Government Technology Act (MGT Act), H.R. 2227.
At Amazon Web Services, we believe in putting our customers
first by giving them the right tools to enable success, and
similarly this bipartisan and bicameral legislation gives our
customers the funding mechanisms they need to move to more
modern and secure federal IT systems and services.
The MGT Act allows agencies to modernize aging and
vulnerable systems and migrate to innovative technologies
such as commercial cloud computing. By giving agencies more
control over IT investments, the bill creates more strategic,
efficient, and common-sense incentives for agency buyers
without compromising transparency and oversight. Flexible
funding mechanisms like the agency working capital funds in
this piece of legislation enable the adoption of the most
secure, cutting-edge commercial technologies that the private
sector has long adopted.
The commitment of both Republican and Democrat members in
both the House and the Senate on the MGT Act and previous
versions of the legislation represents an acknowledgment that
Congress must act to improve and secure federal IT. This bill
gives the federal government the chance to provide better
constituent services that citizens have grown to expect and
deserve.
Again, we applaud the introduction of the MGT Act and urge
Congress to act this year to pass the legislation.
Sincerely,
Steve Block,
AWS Public Policy.
____
Brocade,
April 27, 2017.
Re Modernizing Government Technology Act of 2017.
Hon. Jason Chaffetz,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House
of Representatives.
Hon.Will Hurd,
Chairman, Subcommittee on Information Technology, Committee
on Oversight and Government Reform, House of
Representatives.
Hon. Elijah Cummings,
Ranking Member, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
House of Representatives.
Hon. Robin Kelly,
Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Information Technology,
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of
Representatives.
Dear Chairman Chaffetz, Chairman Hurd, Ranking Member
Cummings and Ranking Member Kelly: On behalf of Brocade, I am
writing in support of the Modernizing Government Technology
Act of 2017. This bipartisan bill is an important step
forward to accelerate the modernization of federal IT
networks. The Modernizing Government Technology Act will
provide federal agencies with critical and flexible financing
mechanisms to help break the cycle of federal IT investment
in outdated technologies. By facilitating federal agency IT
modernization, the bills will help agencies improve IT
effectiveness, bolster security, reduce maintenance spending
and better serve citizens, warfighters and veterans.
As an active partner in federal agency network
modernization, Brocade appreciates your leadership in moving
this bill forward this year. Brocade is committed to working
with other stakeholders to achieve the objectives of the
Modernizing Government Technology Act to help agencies
transition to modern networks that leverage open standards,
multivendor networks, and software-based technologies to
achieve their mission.
Sincerely,
Jeff Rangel,
Senior Director, Corporate Affairs.
____
CA Technologies,
May 1, 2017.
Hon. Will Hurd,
Chairman, Subcommittee on Information Technology, Committee
on Oversight and Government Reform, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Hon. Gerald Connolly,
Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Government Operations,
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Hurd and Ranking Member Connolly: I am
writing to express our support for H.R. 2227, the Modernizing
Government Technology Act of 2017 (MGT Act). This Act will
help address a vital challenge the Federal government faces
in providing better services for its citizens.
According to the Government Accountability Office, the
Federal government spends more than 75 percent of its IT
budget on operations and maintenance, rather than on
expenditures for new technologies. This limits the ability of
the government to provide innovative and efficient services
to citizens and it puts federal IT infrastructure at risk.
The MGT Act will enable agency officials to acquire and
deploy new technologies in ways that will help them provide
better services and cost savings to citizens in a more secure
fashion.
We want to thank you and your staffs for your tireless work
and active engagement with industry on this bill. CA
Technologies looks forward to continuing to work with Members
of the Committees and with House leadership as this bill
moves forward in the legislative process.
With warmest regards,
Brendan Peter,
Vice President, Global Government Relations.
____
[From Ian J. Rayder, Government Affairs, Cisco]
Cisco supports the important goals of the Modernizing
Government Technology Act of 2017, which was introduced with
bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. If
passed, the bill will accelerate a pivot away from outmoded
legacy systems to modernized solutions, which should cut
costs, improve security and boost operational efficiency. The
MGTA can help the federal government change the status quo
where nearly 80% of IT spending is used to maintain aging,
insecure, and expensive legacy federal IT systems. We thank
Information Technology Subcommittee Chairman Hurd, Ranking
Member Kelly, Government Operations Subcommittee Ranking
Member Connolly, and Oversight and Government Reform Chairman
Chaffetz for their leadership on this important issue.
____
Compuware,
May 1, 2017.
Hon. Will Hurd,
Washington, DC.
Congressman Hurd: Compuware, the world's leading mainframe-
dedicated software company, is pleased to see the
introduction of the Modernizing Government Technology Act of
2017. As you know, we are headquartered in Detroit, Michigan
with 99% of our development team onsite. Our innovative
mainframe software assist the world's largest banks,
insurance companies and retail, transportation and government
organizations by enabling them to deliver mainframe-supported
products and services more quickly, cost-effectively and with
a higher level of quality.
A new generation of Federal IT leaders will soon assume
responsibility for guiding the agencies through modernization
efforts that meet citizens' increasingly tech-centric
demands. Having forged their careers in a period of intensive
technological innovation, these leaders are by and large
well-prepared to do so and the MGT Act provides a viable
funding path to support modernization efforts.
We are encouraged that the MGT Act suggests that an IT
modernization plan should pair the right applications with
the right platforms. One of the major platforms being
modernized is the mainframe. The reality is, a large
percentage of the mission-critical applications and systems
that run on the mainframe today will remain there for decades
to come. Organizations and agencies should build on what
works well and continue to leverage the decades of investment
in business rules and intellectual property.
[[Page H4263]]
Mainframe longevity is no accident. No other computing
platform comes close to delivering the performance,
scalability, reliability and security of the post-modern
mainframe. None offers a lower marginal cost. Nor has any
other platform come close to demonstrating a similar ability
to adapt to the changes in the world around it decade after
decade. The correct course of action is to diligently and
smartly leverage a post-modern mainframe for what it does
best.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments and we
look forward to providing additional information for the
Committee Report. Compuware is always available to testify.
Sincerely,
Chris O'Malley,
CEO, Compuware.
____
CSRA,
Falls Church, VA, April 28, 2017.
Re the Modernizing Government Technology Act of 2017.
Hon. Jason Chaffetz,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Hon. Elijah Cummings,
Ranking Member, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Hon. Will Hurd,
Chairman, Subcommittee on Information Technology, Committee
on Oversight and Government Reform.
Hon. Robin Kelly,
Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Information Technology,
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Congressional Leaders: On behalf of CSRA, I write today to
express my strong support for the Modernizing Government
Technology Act (MGT Act), which is a shining example of
forward-looking leadership from Congress to help move the
government into the 21st century. As one of the leading
providers of next generation technology to the federal
government, CSRA wants to partner in providing solutions that
save taxpayer dollars and facilitate a better customer
experience for our citizens. The MGT Act is a crucial step
forward in creating our shared future of innovation.
Investing in the transformation of aging IT infrastructure,
as the MGT Act will do, will help protect networks currently
vulnerable to cybersecurity threats and make government more
efficient and effective for the American people. We know that
investments like these make highest and best use of the
taxpayer dollar, saving enormous sums of money down the line.
Innovation has long fueled the American economy; technology
can now make possible the achievement of national priorities.
I salute Congressman Will Hurd, Congresswoman Robin Kelly,
Senator Moran, Senator Udall, and the entire bipartisan,
bicameral coalition who have brought us to this moment of
opportunity. We urge the support of the entire Congress for
this legislation, which is a kick-start in creating a
government as dynamic and innovative as America itself.
Sincerely,
Lawrence B. Prior.
____
Intel Corporation,
Washington, DC, May 16, 2017.
Hon. Will Hurd,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman Hurd: Intel Corporation commends your
leadership in enabling the Federal Government to upgrade its
legacy IT Infrastructure through the Modernizing Government
Technology Act of 2017.
Your bill would enable the retirement, replacement, and
modernization of legacy IT that is difficult to secure and
expensive to maintain. This bill would strengthen the
incentives and wherewithal of federal agencies and
organizations to invest prudently in IT, thereby saving money
and increasing the performance of their IT systems.
Intel applauds your bi-partisan, bi-cameral effort aimed at
making our government work better for all citizens by
providing the means to enable it to keep pace with IT
innovation.
Sincerely,
Peter Pitsch,
Executive Director, Federal Relations. Associate General
Counsel, Intel Corporation.
____
Microsoft,
Redmond, WA, May 2, 2017.
Rep. Will Hurd,
Chairman, Subcommittee on Information Technology, Committee
on Oversight and Government Reform, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Rep. Robin Kelly,
Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Information Technology,
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Hurd and Ranking Member Kelly: On behalf of
Microsoft Corporation, I am writing to congratulate you on
introduction of the Modernizing Government Technology Act of
2017 (H.R. 2227). Microsoft fully understands the promise
modern technology holds for enabling more efficient and
effective results for taxpayers and supports your efforts. We
commend you for including in the bill a fund to support IT
modernization, as it's critically needed by agencies that
need to improve their systems but are unable due to budget
constraints.
Microsoft also applauds you for working with the White
House Office of American Innovation on this legislation.
Having strong bipartisan, bicameral partners, combined with
Executive Branch support, demonstrates your commitment to
improve the federal information technology procurement
process.
We look forward to working with you and your bipartisan
colleagues in the House and Senate as the bill moves through
the legislative process.
Sincerely,
Frederick S. Humphries, Jr.,
Corporate Vice President,
U.S. Government Affairs (USGA).
____
UNISYS,
April 28, 2017.
Hon. Will Hurd,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Robin Kelly,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Representatives Hurd and Kelly: On behalf of the
Unisys Corporation, thank you for introducing the Modernizing
Government Technology Act of 2017 (MGT Act). Unisys strongly
supports enactment of the MGT Act because it provides needed
flexibility and funding resources to enable the Federal
Government to modernize its legacy IT systems and leverage
government-wide resources to gain efficiencies.
As a global information technology company that provides
leading edge security solutions to the government and
commercial markets, Unisys recognizes that one of the major
challenges facing clients is how to fund modernization
investments while maintaining existing mission critical IT
systems. The MGT Act addresses this challenge by authorizing
new modernization funding mechanisms for Federal agencies
that will allow them to build in cyber security by design,
effectively share government data, create long-term savings
and eliminate duplication.
Thank you again for introducing this much needed
legislation.
Sincerely,
Venkatapathi Puvvada,
President, Federal Systems.
____
Level 3 Statement on MGT Act of 2017
Today, Representatives Will Hurd (R-TX), Robin Kelly (D-IL)
and Gerry Connolly (D-VA), and Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS)
and Tom Udall (D-NM), introduced the Modernizing Government
Technology Act of 2017 to provide federal agencies additional
resources and flexibility to modernize outdated information
technology systems. Below is a statement from Level 3
Communications:
``Level 3 Communications applauds Representatives Hurd,
Kelly and Connolly, and Senators Moran and Udall, for
championing federal IT reform and their commitment to
maximizing the value of taxpayer dollars by transforming how
the government invests in technology. Level 3 stands ready to
continue our collaboration with federal agencies to transform
their networks to improve efficiency, reduce costs and
maximize security.''
Mr. HURD. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I thank my friends, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hurd) and the
gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Kelly), for their leadership in bringing
this bill to the floor.
Of course, I rise in support of the bill, H.R. 2227, the Modernizing
Government Technology Act of 2017.
Mr. Speaker, over the past several years, we have all witnessed the
chaos and havoc that sophisticated cyber attacks can, and do, wreak on
our Nation and around the world.
Just this past week, there was a massive ransomware attack that hit
200,000 victims in 150 countries, and those numbers are expected to
grow exponentially. This is just the latest in a string of high-profile
attacks, including Sony, Yahoo, the OPM data breach, and even efforts
to influence our elections and those in Europe.
These attacks jeopardize America's safety, privacy, and cost untold
millions of dollars in the private sector and public sector as well.
These attacks affect both the public and private sector, and bad actors
repeatedly target our Federal Government. Those attacks often succeed
because Federal computer systems are so outdated that they cannot
implement network defenses as basic as encryption. Some legacy systems
go back a half a century.
The Federal Government spends nearly $60 billion a year sustaining
its existing IT systems. When agencies are forced to spend nearly 80
percent of that to maintain legacy computer systems, they have fewer
resources to modernize and reinvest. As a result, agencies cannot
afford to invest in the modern technologies that other large
enterprises need to survive. Many Federal agencies do not use cloud
computing to help secure computer networks and improve our ability to
deliver services to the American people.
[[Page H4264]]
The MGT Act we are talking about today and on which I am proud to be
one of the lead Democratic cosponsors is a critical step to help
improve the Federal Government's IT systems. The MGT Act of 2017 will
help our cyber defenders protect our most important digital resources.
This bill marries two bills from the previous Congress, both of which
I was proud to be an original cosponsor of--the IT Modernization Act
and the MOVE IT Act. The MGT Act establishes a clear role for both of
these pieces of legislation to improve Federal IT systems.
I was an original cosponsor for Minority Whip Steny Hoyer's IT
Modernization Act, which created a revolving fund using $3 billion
appropriations for Treasury to replace legacy systems.
I was pleased to join my friend, Ms. Kelly, the ranking member of the
Information Technology Subcommittee, and Mr. Hurd, on the MOVE IT Act,
which revived a proposal first discussed during the consideration of
the legislation FITARA, the Federal Information Technology Acquisition
Reform Act.
These two bills were different, but complementary, and worked,
ultimately, to join the two to create this act in front of us today,
the MGT Act. That act lays the foundation for the future of IT
modernization funding and reinvestment and investment by the Federal
Government long overdue. The act will authorize an upfront investment
to retire minimal large-scale legacy systems and affect multiple
agencies.
This bipartisan, bicameral legislation will provide mechanisms and
much-needed funding for agencies to speed up that slow process of
moving from legacy IT systems to cutting-edge, 21st century
technologies. It would also provide needed reporting requirements to
ensure that agencies are acquiring modern technology and that we can
measure that it is being done in a cost-effective way. It places an
emphasis on following the practices of private industry and moving
toward cloud computing solutions.
The MGT Act language will allow agencies to reinvest those savings,
as my friend just indicated, and that is a commonsense proposal, but
not one we find commonly in the Federal Government.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the act, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. HURD. Mr. Speaker, I know the gentleman from the Commonwealth of
Virginia has a few more speakers, so I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), my friend, the distinguished whip on the
Democratic side.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Hurd for his leadership on this
issue. I am pleased to work with him on it.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill.
It will not be a controversial bill. It will not make the front page
of the paper tomorrow. People will not be seized of this bill passing.
But this bill may well have a very great consequence to it and to the
efficiency and effectiveness of our Federal Government.
Last July, I outlined a series of reforms to renew America's faith in
their government, which included modernizing government technology. Not
long after, I introduced the Information Technology Modernization Act
to achieve that goal; and, of course, Mr. Connolly was a cosponsor with
me on that bill.
I am glad that this bill on the floor today includes my legislation.
It would be a major step toward ensuring that our government is using
the latest technology systems, is well protected from cyber threats,
and can serve the American people more effectively.
{time} 1500
Mr. Hurd came over to me on the floor and we talked about our two
ideas. As the gentleman from Virginia has said, they were
complementary, and I am pleased that we could work together to put
these bills together and that we now have agreement with the Senate. We
passed a bill through the House.
Last week's major global cyber attack was yet another reminder of how
critical it is that our government's technology systems are upgraded to
the latest and most secure technology. If any lesson was needed, we got
it.
Americans count on government agencies to protect their personal
data, and our security agencies rely on our government systems to
safeguard classified and sensitive information. Unfortunately, our
government technology systems are now far behind the latest technology
and are in desperate need of upgrades.
I congratulate the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Kelly) for her work
on this effort.
What this legislation does is authorize the creation of a technology
modernization fund to finance rapid upgrades of government technology
systems similar to funds that are available in the private sector so
they can move quickly and seize the best and latest technology
available. It would prioritize the systems that are the most
vulnerable, and it would implement best practices from the private
sector. In other words, those that are working least well will be the
first addressed.
Once upgrades are completed, agencies will pay back into the fund
from the savings achieved through greater efficiency, i.e., a revolving
fund, making it possible then to finance additional projects in a way
that is self-sustaining after the initial investment. All of this would
be done in a way that is transparent and accountable.
Once this bill is enacted, we must take the next step and provide, of
course, that initial funding.
I have been proud to work across the aisle with Majority Leader
McCarthy, Chairman Chaffetz, Mr. Hurd, and, of course, my dear, dear
friend from Virginia, my colleague in the Washington metropolitan area,
Representative Connolly on our side.
Representative Kelly, whom I just mentioned, and Congressman Ted Lieu
have also been champions of this effort, and I thank them for their
input and their strong support as we worked to bring it to the floor in
a bipartisan fashion.
Again, I want to say how pleased I am to work on these issues with
all of my colleagues, but particularly with the majority leader, Mr.
McCarthy, my friend from California, and thank him for his leadership.
I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting the Modernizing
Government Technology Act, and I hope the Trump administration will
include investment to capitalize this new fund in their fiscal 2018
budget.
Mr. HURD. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy), the distinguished majority
leader.
Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, before the minority whip departs, I want
to thank him for his work on this. This has really been a bipartisan
effort, and it is really putting the country first. The gentleman is
correct: This might not make headlines, but this will have a greater
effect on our government being more efficient, effective, and
accountable. We thank him for his work on it.
Mr. Speaker, there are some things we get used to hearing, but when
you think about it, it is amazing just how much things have changed.
I hear a friend say that all of the photos he took on his phone
automatically updated to his cloud--not surprising there. But how long
ago was it that we couldn't even take pictures on our phone, much less
have them saved automatically on a cloud?
Nowadays, it is not uncommon to cash your checks online, manage your
accounts on Mint, pay individuals back online. Many millennials don't
even carry cash anymore. That is a revolution in money management that
just happened in a matter of years.
So, Mr. Speaker, why in the world would the Department of Defense use
a 54-year-old system as a backup to send and receive emergency messages
for our nuclear forces, a 54-year-old system that relies on floppy
disks? Why would the master file of the public's taxes at the IRS run
on a 1950s code?
Eighty percent of the $80 billion we spend each year on IT is used to
maintain legacy systems, to buy expensive parts that nobody uses
anymore for a 54-year-old system we shouldn't even have.
We would expect more from the private sector. We would expect mobile
cameras, cloud computing, online banking. Heck, we would even expect to
upgrade our phones and apps and
[[Page H4265]]
technology on a rolling basis every single week. Well, why should we
expect less from the Federal Government?
I would say this is about more than expectations. We all saw what
happened over the weekend with the massive global cyber attack:
hospitals shut down, transportation systems. This is a government
service issue. It is a government waste issue. It is a national
security issue.
Now, government may never be like Silicon Valley, but it should not
be stuck in the age of ``Mad Men.'' That is not only costly, it is
dangerous.
Will Hurd, an individual that has served his Nation in some of the
most dangerous parts of the world, an individual who worked in the
private sector when it came to technology, an individual who serves in
this body and, I will say this based upon everybody else I have served,
probably has the most bipartisan approach of anyone I have ever seen
serve in that position--he doesn't care about party. It is just as the
time when he worked in the CIA. He cares about his country. He has seen
the most deadly things happen, and, through his technology company, he
has seen that people fight wars new ways.
So he took it upon himself--it is not the issue that people would
campaign upon, but it is an issue that he saw needed a solution. He
worked with both sides of the aisle, and he said: Why can't we
modernize our own technology?
The Veterans Administration was created in 1921, and if somebody that
was a veteran had a problem and a claim, they would write it on a piece
of paper. In 1921, on a warm day like today, we would have fans going
to try to cool ourselves down. We would rush, after we got done voting,
to turn on our radios to see what the news was saying.
Well, the world all changed. We can look at our phones and get the
news instantaneously. We got central air to cool ourselves down. And if
you have a claim with the VA, lots of times they write it on a piece of
paper.
Well, do you know what? That is all going to stop today. That is
going to stop because we are going to make a smart investment. We are
going to make the Federal Government have the same accountability that
we expect in business or anywhere else.
And do you know what will happen? Government will become more
effective, more efficient, more accountable, and more transparent.
So I want to tip my hat to both sides of the aisle, and especially to
Congressman Will Hurd. He took the leadership, had the tenacity to stay
with it and the ability to work with all on, really, the issue that
people wouldn't talk about but expect to happen, and he was the right
person at the right time to make the push. That is why I support this
bill.
Mr. CONNOLLY. May I inquire of the Speaker how much time is left on
this side?
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Rogers of Kentucky). The gentleman from
Virginia has 11\1/2\ minutes remaining.
Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield 5\1/2\ minutes to the
gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Kelly), my good friend.
Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support this
commonsense, bipartisan bill that updates our woefully outdated IT
infrastructure.
I want to say thank you to my good friend and partner on the IT
subcommittee, Chairman Hurd, for his leadership on this very important
measure and to my colleagues who worked so hard on this bill: Chairman
Chaffetz, Ranking Member Cummings, our House leadership stewards--
Democratic Whip Hoyer from the majority, Mr. McCarthy--and Mr. Connolly
of Virginia for his energy and work in dealing with this bill. I also
want to give a special thanks to all of the staff and a special shout-
out to my staff: Jay Cho and Zach Ostro.
The Modernizing Government Technology Act has come a long way from
the early days when it was called MOVE IT. It has been a tough and
sometimes frustrating journey, but we have made it, and we have a good
bill in front of us.
Last year, the House passed this bill only to have it die in the
Senate. Despite these roadblocks, we kept working because it is worth
it. This bill will revolutionize and upgrade our outdated IT fractured
while bringing cost-saving innovation and greater security to
government agencies.
In my years serving as the ranking member of the Oversight
Committee's IT Subcommittee, I have learned one thing: We need to get
back to basics, and this bill does just that.
Our current use-it-or-lose-it approach to Federal IT just isn't
working. It is no secret that Federal agencies are struggling to stay
up to date, especially when compared to the private sector.
Each year, we spend $80 billion in taxpayer dollars to maintain
legacy IT systems that are vulnerable to cyber attacks; and each year
that we don't upgrade these systems, they become even more difficult
and expensive to secure. This is unacceptable and a waste of taxpayer
dollars.
For too long, we have kicked the can down the road and left our
outdated IT systems vulnerable to costly attacks. The dangers of our
system are clear. Every day we are reminded of the importance of having
modern IT systems and robust cybersecurity practices in place.
In 2015, hackers made off with the personal information of more than
20 million Americans, including congressional staffers, in the OPM data
breach. Just this past week, as you have heard, a global ransomware
attack, WannaCry or WannaCrypt, wreaked havoc worldwide, paralyzing
businesses and governments alike. These attacks will only grow more
frequent and more difficult to combat.
The MGT Act is a major step in the right direction. It will cut costs
and enhance our security. It builds on prior work like Clinger-Cohen
and FITARA, and it gives agencies the flexibility needed to modernize
vulnerable systems and develop cost savings for taxpayers.
Under this bill, agencies can take the savings from upgrading their
systems and reinvest them into their working capital fund for future IT
modernization. We are going to go from an outdated method of purchasing
IT to one that empowers CIOs to make smart, strategic investments in
innovative technologies; and as an end result, our data will be more
secure and our government more efficient.
I am proud of this bill, and I am proud of the bipartisan work that
made it possible, proud of what we accomplished by working together on
the IT Subcommittee.
The MGT Act is a necessary component to strengthening our
cybersecurity that saves taxpayers money. I urge my colleagues to
support this bill.
Mr. HURD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform my friend from the
Commonwealth that I have no further speakers and am prepared to close.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
In closing, I think this is an important piece in the information
technology modernization effort that our committee and this body has
undertaken for the last 5 or 6 years. One of the key pieces of
legislation undergirding today's bill is the Federal Information
Technology Acquisition Reform Act I was proud to cowrite and coauthor
with then-Chairman Darrell Issa.
I am equally proud today to have worked with my friend Mr. Hurd from
Texas, my friend Ms. Kelly from Illinois, and, of course, Mr. Steny
Hoyer, the Democratic whip, in forging this additional piece that we
believe will bring the Federal Government into the 21st century--
technologically literate and protecting the databases that protect the
American people.
Hundreds of millions of pieces of data are at risk in the current
cyber environment, and some simple but critical investments can make
all the difference. That is what we are voting for today.
I urge passage of the legislation and, again, congratulate my
colleagues and friends for working together in a bipartisan way to
bring this bill to fruition.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HURD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, we have some young folks in the Chamber right now, and I
hope they recognize that this is how their government is supposed to
work: people working together, putting their differences past them for
the betterment of our great Nation.
[[Page H4266]]
It is an honor for me to have this opportunity to do this with so
many of my friends that I have grown to love and respect over these
last 2 years. And we get to save government money, protect our digital
infrastructure, and make sure that our government is providing the kind
of services we should and that the American people demand.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the MGT Act and
of continued efforts to improve the federal government's cybersecurity
posture. I would like to thank Mr. Hurd for his tireless efforts
advocating for this bill and his partners on the Oversight Committee,
Mr. Connolly and Ms. Kelly for their cybersecurity leadership. I also
must acknowledge the House's Minority Whip and my good friend, Mr.
Hoyer, for his work pushing for IT modernization.
The idea for the kind of revolving fund included as part of the MGT
Act grew out of President Obama's Cybersecurity National Action Plan,
itself issued in direct response to the massive breach of the Office of
Personnel Management. OPM was yet another wake up call to the
government about the lax attitude toward security present at many
agencies, but, to the prior administration's credit, the CNAP contained
a number of needed policy shifts, including the creation of a federal
Chief Information Security Officer and the use of DHS's authority to
conduct a government-wide review of high value assets.
Central to the CNAP, though, was the realization that attempting to
secure antiquated federal IT systems was a losing proposition. Just as
the Internet--developed in the 1970s--was not created with security in
mind, so, too, are many older government systems devoid of even basic
security controls. When we think about the fact that the iPhone turns
ten next month and the huge improvements that have been made from the
first generation model to today's, it's easy to see how systems that
are two or three decades old can hamper security.
Using outdated software also compromises efficiency. There's a reason
businesses keep up to date with technology--it saves them money. The
cleverness of the revolving fund approach is that it uses these savings
to drive further upgrades in a virtuous cycle. I hope that the MGT Act
is viewed as a pilot program, as there is a lot more technical debt we
have incurred than will be solved by $250 million per year. But it is a
very important first step, and I commend the sponsors for their work.
And I hope that federal agencies view this bill as license to be
innovative in their upgrade planning and to bring us a more efficient--
and secure--government.
{time} 1515
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. 2227, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________