Oversight Committee Passes Information Technology and Cybersecurity Reforms
WASHINGTON – The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee today approved by a voice vote two bipartisan bills designed to improve the federal government’s management of information technology procurement and information security.
“These critical bills lay the groundwork for saving taxpayer money and protecting our information from cyber attacks,” said Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif. “Our update to the decade old Federal Information Security Management Act will enhance our cybersecurity. Our IT purchasing reform legislation will not only help eliminate as much as $20 billion in waste, but improve our ability to make government work for the American people.”
· H.R. 1163, the Federal Information Security Amendments Act of 2013– cosponsored by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., and Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va. This legislation enhances the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) of 2002 by improving the framework for ensuring security over information technology systems that support the federal government. It establishes a mechanism for stronger oversight through a focus on automated and continuous monitoring of cybersecurity threats and the implementation of regular threat assessments.
· H.R. 1232, the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act introduced by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va. Program failures and cost overruns plague three-quarters of large federal IT programs and estimates suggest that as much as $20 billion of taxpayer money is wasted each year. FITARA enhances the accountability and authority of agency Chief Information Officers, aggregates demand among the federal agencies to get the best price for the taxpayer, and encourages agencies to pool resources and expertise to better manage IT acquisition. Click here for a section by section of the legislation.
A total of thirteen bills were considered at today’s business meeting. You can read about other bills adopted earlier at today’s markup here.
“These critical bills lay the groundwork for saving taxpayer money and protecting our information from cyber attacks,” said Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif. “Our update to the decade old Federal Information Security Management Act will enhance our cybersecurity. Our IT purchasing reform legislation will not only help eliminate as much as $20 billion in waste, but improve our ability to make government work for the American people.”
· H.R. 1163, the Federal Information Security Amendments Act of 2013– cosponsored by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., and Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va. This legislation enhances the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) of 2002 by improving the framework for ensuring security over information technology systems that support the federal government. It establishes a mechanism for stronger oversight through a focus on automated and continuous monitoring of cybersecurity threats and the implementation of regular threat assessments.
· H.R. 1232, the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act introduced by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va. Program failures and cost overruns plague three-quarters of large federal IT programs and estimates suggest that as much as $20 billion of taxpayer money is wasted each year. FITARA enhances the accountability and authority of agency Chief Information Officers, aggregates demand among the federal agencies to get the best price for the taxpayer, and encourages agencies to pool resources and expertise to better manage IT acquisition. Click here for a section by section of the legislation.
A total of thirteen bills were considered at today’s business meeting. You can read about other bills adopted earlier at today’s markup here.