Derek Kilmer

• House Modernization Committee recommends bringing back Office of Technology Assessment

  Congress stood up OTA in 1972 as a tech-focused watchdog to serve a complementary oversight role to the Government Accountability Office, but lawmakers in 1995 zeroed out funding for the office.

  Congress

  July 26, 2019
• First look at new ideas to modernize Congress

  In today's Federal Newscast, the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress approved its first round of recommendations.

  Federal Newscast

  May 28, 2019
• To modernize Congress, start with staffer pay and technology, retired lawmakers say

  Several retired members of Congress, when asked where it all went wrong, told the committee that staffers need better pay, and Congress as a whole needs a better grasp on technology, among other recommendations.

  Congress

  May 03, 2019
• New bill to help temporary federal workers save for retirement

  In today's Federal Newscast, A bipartisan pair of lawmakers want to give some federal employees a new retirement flexibility.

  Federal Newscast

  May 03, 2019
• Congress ‘lacks sufficient capacity’ to oversee tech issues, but is Office of Tech Assessment the solution?

  Members of the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress agree Congress lacks tech oversight capacity to keep an eye on federal agencies, but whether that means bringing back the Office of Technology Assessment, as some lawmakers have suggested, remains unclear.

  Congress

  March 29, 2019
• Kilmer: It’s ‘well past due’ for Congress to modernize

  A new select committee is tasked with finding ways to update how Congress conducts day-to-day business. It has one year to provide recommendations.

  Congress

  February 15, 2019
• New legislation could safeguard feds during government shutdown

  Two bills were introduced this week in the House and Senate to combat chaos in federal employee lives triggered by the government shutdown, days away from becoming the longest in history.

  Government Shutdown

  January 10, 2019
• DoD employees will now get full locality per diem for trips 30 days or more

  After a nearly four-year battle, DoD workers traveling for more than 30 days will get full locality pay.

  Reporter's Notebook

  August 21, 2018
• Rep. Foxx planning ‘GREAT’ legislation to standardize grant data

  The Grant Reporting Efficiency and Assistance Transparency Act expands on the DATA Act's standardized federal spending reports.

  Open Data/Transparency

  September 27, 2017
• EPA’s chief touts state partnerships and efficiency, despite bipartisan criticism of budget

  Democrats and Republicans voiced their concern that EPA's 31 percent cut in funding for fiscal 2018 could do more harm than good, and leave states "holding the bag" for the federal agency.

  Management

  June 15, 2017
• Lawmakers make another run at repealing DoD per diem cuts

  For the third year in a row, members of the House and Senate are trying to undo an unpopular 2014 DoD policy change that drastically cut reimbursement rates for military members and civilians on long-term travel.

  DoD Reporter's Notebook

  April 18, 2017
• Lawmakers push for more exemptions to hiring freeze

  Lawmakers introduced five bills to ensure the readiness of the federal workforce in the face of the hiring freeze or potential furloughs.

  Hiring/Retention

  February 13, 2017
• Data bill setting new default standard for open government

  Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.) is introducing the “OPEN Government Data Act,” which he said will make the new default standard for government data an "open" one.

  Open Data/Transparency

  April 14, 2016
• Time to retire ‘E-Government’

  Rep. Derek Kilmer is set to introduce a new bill that would change all references to E-Government administrator to the Federal CIO.

  Reporter's Notebook

  April 11, 2016