House approves Hurd bill to modernize federal government information technology

The House approved a federal IT reform package on Thursday that U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX) introduced to replace outdated and wasteful IT and information security with modern technology.

The Modernizing Government Technology (MGT) Act, H.R. 6004, would enhance the federal government’s IT capabilities by promoting the use of cutting-edge technology like cloud computing.

“Many parts of the federal government’s IT infrastructure are stuck in the Stone Age,” Hurd said. “The MGT Act will save taxpayer dollars, increase government accountability, and help government be more efficient in serving the American people.”

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) added that too many of the government’s technology systems are outdated and that 80 percent of an $80 billion budget is dedicated to maintaining old legacy systems.

“Rep. Will Hurd’s bipartisan legislation will help bring the government’s technology system into the modern age, allowing the government to do its job more effectively, save taxpayer’s money, and keep public information secure,” McCarthy said. “However, even as we use innovation to improve the way government functions, we can’t ignore the importance of innovation in the private sector.”

Under the bill, an IT working capital fund would be established for each government agency to improve, retire or replace current IT systems. Federal agencies would be able to reinvest savings realized through modernized IT.