Ratcliffe unveils bipartisan bill to digitize U.S. government services

U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) on May 10 introduced the bipartisan 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act, H.R. 5759, to digitize federal government processes, cut costs and improve how taxpayers interact with government agencies.

Joining Rep. Ratcliffe in introducing H.R. 5759, also known as the 21st Century IDEA, was U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) with original cosponsors who included U.S. Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Ryan Costello (R-PA), and Barbara Comstock (R-VA).

“The federal government exists to serve American people, and the 21st Century IDEA will ensure we’re meeting our citizens’ needs in the most efficient, cost-effective way possible,” said Rep. Ratcliffe.

A June 2015 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) report included data showing that in-person or live assistance calls to the IRS cost taxpayers on average between $40 and $60. In comparison, digital transactions cost 22 cents on average, according to the report.

H.R. 5759 would decrease federal costs and increase efficiency by digitizing government processes and establishing minimum standards for federal websites, including mobile-friendly interfaces in compliance with the latest security protocols, according to a summary provided by Rep. Ratcliffe’s office.

“The 21st Century IDEA enables accessible and efficient government resources, reduces production costs, and encourages continuous digital enhancement,” said Rep. Khanna.

Additionally, Rep. Ratcliffe noted that under H.R. 5759, the use of new and emerging technologies can “drastically improve the way our federal agencies provide critical services to folks across the country, including people with disabilities or those who live in rural areas with limited access to traditional, in-person assistance services.”

H.R. 5759 already has garnered the support of several companies and organizations from across America.

John Landwehr, vice president and public sector chief technology officer at Adobe, said the measure would be “a key step” toward decreasing the growing gap between Americans’ digital expectations and the federal government’s existing digital services.

“Representatives Khanna and Ratcliffe’s legislation would set clear benchmarks and speed up the timeline for departments to modernize vital digital services like providing electronic signatures and building more accessible websites and forms,” Landwehr said.

Citizens deserve access to such secure and convenient government services online, said Daniel Castro, vice president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. “Unfortunately, many federal agencies still use outdated, paper-based processes, instead of modern, digital ones,” he said. “This legislation would steer federal agencies towards developing sites that make government services more efficient, more secure, and easier to use.”

Craig Albright, vice president of legislative strategy at BSA, The Software Alliance, pointed out that because software plays an important role in how the government delivers digital services, H.R. 5759 “will be an important step to accelerate the benefits federal agencies and constituents can receive through the use of innovative technologies.”

Oracle Vice President for Government Affairs Jason Mahler called mandates under H.R. 5759 good government and said, “We fully support efforts that make government less burdensome, especially when it comes to improving day-to-day interactions with agencies and government offices.”

Mark MacCarthy, vice president for public policy at the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA), said the group supports H.R. 5759 because it “will help to modernize federal agency websites, support the increasing use of mobile devices, digitize government processes, transition away paper-based forms and in-person interactions, and leverage electronic signatures, and create a 21st Century digital experience for citizens.”

Michael J. McCalip, director of federal strategy and business development at ServiceNow, a government customer service solutions provider, said the U.S. government continually ranks near the bottom of most major surveys for customer service. “This has to change,” he said.

“This legislation, when enacted, will take IT modernization to the next level,” McCalip said about H.R. 5759. “The bill’s requirements that the federal government modernize websites and digitize government processes to eliminate paper and existing, costly manual processes is exactly what the federal government needs to do to provide 21st Century digital services to its citizenry.”

The measure has been referred to the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee for consideration.