Rep. Mace Advocates for Government IT Modernization Act to Replace Outdated Systems

The Need for Government IT Modernization

• 💡 The Modernizing Government Technology Reform Act aims to bring federal government IT systems into the 21st century.
• 💰 The U.S. government spends over $100 billion annually on IT, with a significant portion going to maintaining outdated legacy systems.
• ⏳ Government efforts to modernize technology are reportedly years behind schedule, with some systems being over 30 years old.

Examples of Outdated Systems

• ✈️ Air traffic control systems are in some cases more than 30 years old.
• 🏥 Veterans' health records are stored in a system that is over 30 years old.
• 🏛️ Specific examples of old systems include a USDA system (41 years old), an EPA system (51 years old), and a Treasury system (59 years old).

Costs and Risks of Legacy Systems

• 💸 Maintaining these legacy systems is immensely costly and drives inefficiency.
• ⚠️ These outdated platforms create national security risks and expose the government to major cyber threats.
• 📉 The comparison is made to using Starlink versus dial-up, highlighting the nonsensical nature of maintaining old technology.

Key Provisions of the Modernizing Government Technology Reform Act

• 🚀 The bill would reauthorize the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) and its governing board through 2032, enabling long-term investments.
• 📈 Reforms include ensuring the TMF is reimbursed at the necessary level and requiring agencies to reimburse administrative fees.
• 📝 A new requirement for agencies to create an inventory of legacy IT systems will provide Congress with an oversight tool.
• ✅ The legislation is described as common sense, addressing a real area of concern and is a culmination of years of work by the cybersecurity subcommittee.

Bipartisan Support and Call to Action

• 🤝 The bill is a result of collaboration with the late colleague Jerry Connelly, who was a strong supporter of the TMF.
• 🙏 The ranking member Shantel Brown is recognized for continuing Mr. Connelly's work on the bill.
• 📣 Colleagues are urged to support the bill for the benefit of the American people.