*** The infrastructure bill currently under consideration in the Senate includes $1 billion for state and local cybersecurity grants over four years to be administered by the Cybersecurity and Information Security Agency. The legislation also includes $21 million to get the National Cyber Director office off the ground, a $100 million cyber response and recovery fund, $35 million for CISA's critical infrastructure capabilities and $157 million for cyber research and development to be managed by the Science & Technology Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security. The bill is expected to be amended with potentially more tech items added to the mix before a final vote.
*** The National Archives and Records Administration is now accepting comments on a draft strategic plan covering fiscal years 2022-2026. In the plan, the agency projects that by 2026, "NARA will provide policy, requirements, and oversight to support a transparent, inclusive and fully digital government."
*** The Commerce Department is using bots to cut the time it takes employees to correct inaccurate forms and process records from hours to minutes – a game-changer that's giving employees in the Enterprise Services Division time to focus on more complicated customer service tasks, the agency says. GCN has more on this story.