Susan Collins
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Chairman and Ranking Member of committee overseeing GAO both recommended him to President Obama as best candidate.
November 24, 2010 -
With Congress set to return for a lame-duck session after the elections, it is unclear whether lawmakers will have the time or inclination to pass a comprehensive cybersecurity bill. Some experts are calling for Congress to address at least some of the most important aspects if they can\'t agree on a larger bill.
October 27, 2010 -
Eight reports to Congress over the last six years have pointed out numerous shortcomings in the Federal Protective Service. The issues include inadequate training and supervision of contract guards, insufficient staff and budget, and security breaches that have allowed bomb-making materials to be smuggled into supposedly secure buildings. Now, lawmakers say enough is enough, and have introduced legislation designed to modernize and reform the FPS, which is responsible for security in 9,000 federal buildings and courthouses.
September 22, 2010 -
Senators praise Lew for experience. Committee plans to vote on his nomination next week. Lew said technology, acquisition reform and performance management are among his top non-budget priorities.
September 17, 2010 -
The Office of Management and Budget is throwing a lifeline, of sorts, to 15 agencies who have IT projects that are on its high-risk list. Federal CIO Vivek Kundra said the 26 projects on his new high priority list are mission critical. He said some extra attention now could reap dividends down the road when those projects finally realize their long-awaited potential.
August 24, 2010 -
Agencies are to review all IT projects over the next month, and the programs that are in the worst shape will go through TechStat sessions. This analysis is part two of a three pronged approach to fixing systemic problems with technology initiatives. Federal CIO Kundra says OMB will try to address those long-standing problems in October through the release of best practices.
July 28, 2010 -
The Senate Homeland Security Committee approved a bill that could dramatically reshape how agencies secure their computer networks.
June 30, 2010 -
The administration issues two new memos focusing on all IT projects and specifically on financial management systems. OMB will issue guidance in the next month detailing how they will evaluate which programs are at most risk. OMB\'s Zients says programs worth more than $10 billion are significantly off track in cost, schedule or both.
June 29, 2010 -
Sometime in the next few weeks, the Senate is expected to take up a bill designed to strengthen the nation\'s cybersecurity infrastructure. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved the legislation Thursday by voice vote.
June 25, 2010 -
Senator Joseph Lieberman thinks his cybersecurity bill will be the one to cross the finish line to the President\'s desk.
June 16, 2010 -
With as many as 40 different cybersecurity bills in various stages of consideration on Capitol Hill, which one will make it to President Obama\'s desk? The chairman of one powerful Senate committee is betting his cybersecurity measure will win approval in the Senate, and eventually earn the President\'s signature before mid-summer.
June 16, 2010 -
Sens. Lieberman, Collins and Carper\'s legislation creates two new offices to oversee federal cybersecurity in DHS and the White House. It also forms a new Federal Information Security Taskforce made up of agency chief information security officers. Bill does not include \"kill switch\" provision for private sector networks.
June 10, 2010 -
Audit agency calls for business cases to justify new multiple award contracts, and a database listing all existing contracts. Sen. McCaskill plans to hold a second hearing on interagency contracting in June.
May 25, 2010 -
The upper chamber will review IMPROVE Act provisions through the Defense Authorization bill. The Senate also is considering other acquisition bills focusing on the workforce.
April 30, 2010 -
Martha Johnson seen by many as the most qualified candidate to be GSA administrator in a decade. But her nomination remains on hold in the Senate because Sen. Christopher Bond is unhappy with GSA\'s plans for a new federal building in Kansas City. Some call Bond\'s use of the hold authority an abuse of power.
January 14, 2010