Bipartisan bill unveiled by Cassidy bolsters federal oversight of software assets

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) this week signed on as the lead original cosponsor of a bipartisan bill that would help federal agencies create a plan to purchase software in a more cost-effective manner that saves taxpayer dollars.

“Taxpayers expect us to be responsible with their money. The government should not be overpaying for software when the same product is available for less,” Sen. Cassidy said on March 22. “This bill requires agencies to spend their money as if a taxpayer was spending their own money — wisely.”

The Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act, S. 931, which is sponsored by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), would require federal agencies to conduct an independent assessment of their software licensing practices. 

The findings of these assessments aim to help federal chief information officers better manage how agencies acquire IT products, and would allow federal agencies to receive more cost-competitive deals on their software assets and achieve important IT modernization goals, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Cassidy’s office. 

“Improving how the government manages something as simple as the software they buy can help save taxpayers in the long run,” said Sen. Peters. “By requiring federal agencies to better track their software purchases, this commonsense, bipartisan bill will reduce waste, save taxpayer dollars, strengthen cybersecurity, and modernize government operations to help ensure the federal government can more effectively serve taxpayers.”

Five other members joined Sen. Cassidy as an original cosponsor of S. 931, including U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Joni Ernst (R-IA).

The bill has garnered support from the Computer & Communications Industry Association, the Alliance for Digital Innovation, the Coalition for Fair Software Licensing, and NetChoice.