Issa preps IT reform legislation
The chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is expected to introduce legislation in January that would likely enhance the CIO role, address strategic sourcing and improve acquisition workforce training.
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) is readying a bill that would put more responsibility onto agency CIOs.
The chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is expected to introduce IT procurement reform legislation in January, a staff member said Oct. 18.
Richard Beutel, senior counsel for procurement at the committee, said Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) plans to hold at least a subcommittee hearing and a full committee hearing before the end of this Congress to get feedback on how the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act could change the government marketplace. Issa also intends to reach out over the next three months to gather more input from industry on its provisions and the direction in which the legislation would take procurement.
Based on a draft version, the bill is likely to give more power to agency CIOs. The draft, which Issa released on Sept. 20, would require CIOs to approve agency spending on IT and the hiring of employees with IT responsibilities in the agency. It also would limit agencies to one CIO for the whole agency; bureaus, offices or subordinate agency organizations could not have their own CIOs.
Resources
Article: New bill would grant CIOs greater authority
The committee is also working to build support in the Senate for a companion bill, Beutel said.
As currently written, the bill would also push for strategic sourcing and building cadres of IT acquisition professionals.
NEXT STORY: Executive compensation debate returns