Congress
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It looks like congressional reform of how agencies buy technology won't happen. Industry experts hold little hope that any of the multiple bills attempting to fix long-standing problems with IT acquisition will pass before the end of the year. Federal News Radio's Executive Editor Jason Miller joined Tom Temin and Emily Kopp on the Federal Drive with details on why all the pessimism. Read Jason's related article.
August 07, 2014 -
IT Alliance for Public Sector experts say there are two major reasons for their fleeting hope—one is the little time lawmakers have in Washington over the next four months; and second is the continued impasse among the Senate and House over the role of agency CIOs. ITAPS says a two-and-a-half month continuing resolution is likely and an omnibus spending bill for 2015 is gaining support.
August 07, 2014 -
In a letter to the leaders of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, IGs from large and small agencies say constraints placed upon auditors from EPA, DoJ and Peace Corps represent a serious challenge to the authority of every IG.
August 06, 2014 -
Frank Kendall, the undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, sent a letter to Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Carl Levin (D-Mich.) back in June detailing how Congress can help DoD improve its acquisition outcomes. The list includes stopping sequestration, continued support of workforce training and simplifying rules and regulations.
August 06, 2014 -
Comedian Steve Martin has some useful words of advice -- two of them, actually -- for tax deadbeats on Capitol Hill, says Senior Correspondent Mike Causey.
August 04, 2014 -
Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) introduced a bill Thursday that would reduce the amount new federal employees must pay toward their government pensions. The National Treasury Employees Union and the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association support the legislation, which would repeal the last two increases in retirement contributions.
August 01, 2014 -
Consider yourself on holiday, of sorts, for the next five weeks. Even if you've had your vacation or can't afford one the time between now and Labor Day should be more relaxed because Congress is gone. And that's good news for most feds.
August 01, 2014 -
Carolyn Watts Colvin, the nominee to be Social Security Administration commissioner, vowed to Senate lawmakers to soothe turbulent relations between the agency and its labor unions. Colvin also said she plans to tackle troubled IT systems that still run COBOL.
August 01, 2014 -
A partially trained workforce working within a nearly impossible system is not a recipe for success. But that's how things are when it comes to federal acquisition, according to the Professional Services Council. The industry group has sent Congress a long list of recommendations to make procurement faster and more competitive. Council President Stan Soloway joined Tom Temin and Emily Kopp on the Federal Drive to discuss how the study got started.
July 29, 2014 -
The House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Government Operations wants to know how agencies plan to dispose of and consolidate more than 7,000 federal properties worth $350 billion. On the same day, the FBI announced the finalists for the site of its consolidated relocation.
July 29, 2014 -
Worried about a repeat of last year's government shutdown? Senior Correspondent Mike Causey tells us whether there's another October surprise in your future.
July 29, 2014 -
Congress is a step closer to transforming the Veterans Affairs Department. House and Senate negotiators have agreed to a $17 billion deal. Among many things, the bill will provide funding for veterans to seek care at non VA facilities. Martin Matishak, staff writer for the Hill Newspaper, joined Tom Temin and Emily Kopp on the Federal Drive to break down the numbers.
July 28, 2014 -
The National Security Agency's top lawyer says the Edward Snowden disclosures not only hurt U.S. intelligence gathering capabilities - they may have also damaged the chance of Congress successfully passing cybersecurity legislation anytime in the near future.
July 25, 2014 -
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee members approved the Federal Records Accountability Act, which mandates preservation of digital correspondence. The committee also passed the Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessarily Burdensome Act, which would establish a presidential committee to find and review outdated, burdensome, costly or obsolete regulations.
July 25, 2014 -
Rep. Tom Latham (R-Iowa) introduced a bill requiring agencies to use continuous process improvement measures. The bipartisan "Lean and Responsive Government Act" looks to improve efficiency and effectiveness in agency management.
July 23, 2014