Federal CIO Authorization Act of 2018

Mr. Speaker, it should come as no surprise to anyone in this Chamber that technology is integrated into every facet of our daily lives. We have come a long way since the bill that established the role of the Federal Chief Information Officer, the E-Government Act, when it was originally passed.

Less than 50 percent of the U.S. population had access to the internet in 2001. Nearly every American now has access to the internet.

Just 62 percent of Americans had cell phones when the original bill passed. Now 95 percent of Americans own cell phones and 77 percent own smartphones.

Mobile apps were non-existent in 2002. Today, over 2.2 million apps are available to consumers.

This bill recognizes how far technology has come. It codifies the position of the Federal CIO and elevates the office to report directly to the head of the Office of Management and Budget.

This bill establishes the role of the Federal CISO, the Chief Information Security Officer, who reports to the CIO and leads OMB's cybersecurity efforts.

Empowering CIOs at the Federal agencies is consistent with the principles of the Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act and the Federal CIO should not be treated differently.

$90 billion is spent on purchasing IT goods and services. Eighty percent of that is on old, outdated technology. We need a strong Federal CIO to make sure American taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friends, my colleagues--Mark Meadows from North Carolina; Gerry Connolly from Virginia; my partner in crime on the Information Technology Subcommittee, my good friend, Robin Kelly from Illinois; and also Brenda Lawrence from Michigan--for showing the American people that bipartisanship actually happens up here in Washington, D.C., in order to make sure we are keeping Americans safe.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6901) to amend chapter 36 of title 44, United States Code, to make certain changes relating to electronic Government services, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6901, introduced by Congressman Will Hurd of Texas.

The Federal CIO Authorization Act is a bipartisan measure to modernize legacy Federal technology policy.

The Office of Electronic Government was established by the E- Government Act of 2002. The head of this office is commonly referred to as the Federal Chief Information Officer, or Federal CIO.

This bill authorizes and renames the Office of Electronic Government as the Office of the Federal CIO. Codifying the position of the Federal CIO emphasizes the importance of the role to the formation of government-wide technology policy.

Under this bill, the Federal CIO will report to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

The bill also codifies the position of Federal Chief Information Security Officer, under the direction of the Federal CIO.

The bill promotes cost-efficient and secure technology use throughout the Federal Government.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hurd), the sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast votes on the following legislative measures. If I were present for roll call votes, I would have voted ``No'' for the following vote:

Roll No. 423, November 29, 2018: On Agreeing to the Resolution, H. Res. 1160, Providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 88) to modify the boundary of the Shiloh National Military Park located in Tennessee and Mississippi, to establish Parker's Crossroads Battlefield as an affiliated area of the National Park System, and for other purposes.

If I were present for roll call votes, I would have voted ``Aye'' for the following votes:

Roll No. 424, November 29, 2018: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 7187, the National Flood Insurance Program Further Extension Act; and

Roll No. 425, November 30, 2018: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, H.R. 6901, the Federal CIO Authorization Act of 2018.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the Federal CIO Authorization Act would make several commonsense changes to existing law.

First, it would update the name of the Administrator for E-Government to the Federal Chief Information Officer and require that individual to report directly to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Second, it would establish the position of Federal Chief Information Security Officer, who would report to the Federal CIO and assist OMB in its cybersecurity efforts.

Finally, the bill would require the Federal CIO to submit a proposal on consolidating IT across Federal agencies, especially smaller agencies, through the use of shared services.

Mr. Speaker, I urge every Member in this Congress to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I was unexpectedly detained and unable to cast my vote in support of this legislation. If present in the chamber, I would have voted Aye on H.R. 6901.