A Davis retrospective: 12 years of making news

Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.), who announced today that he would not seek another term in the House, has been focused on information technology issues since his first term in 1996. As a member, and later as chairman, of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Davis has pushed for oversight and innovation in such areas as acquisition reform (the Services Acquisition Reform Act), security (the Federal Information Security Management Act) and e-government (the E-government Act).

The following is a career retrospective as seen in the pages of Federal Computer Week.

Acquisition reform tops list of priorities (March 3, 1996)
In his first term in Congress,

Davis , 47, opts to become one of the rare House experts on acquisition reform. "It's not something that will get you elected," he said, even in

Northern Virginia . "But I'm going to follow it because it's important."

Rep. Davis floats FSS privatization scenario (May 25, 1997)


Davis proposes week turning the Federal Supply Service into a quasigovernmental corporation that would run the multiple award schedule program more like a commercial business.

Davis plans to resurrect cooperative purchasing (March 15, 1998)
Davis announces he will introduce legislation this year to allow state and local governments to purchase information technology products and services from the General Services Administration's federal supply schedule.

GAO to consider FSS, FTS privatization (July 5, 1998)


Davis says he will ask the General Accounting Office to report on the pros and cons of merging the General Services Administration's Federal Supply Service and Federal Technology Service into a quasigovernmental organization operating along the lines of the U.S. Postal Service.

Lawmakers press for fed CIO czar (Sept. 18, 2000)
Davis, who recently introduced a bill calling for a federal IT czar, says the Office of Management and Budget does not have the resources needed to oversee the government's use of information technology.

How the House divides (March 4, 2001)
With the House Government Reform Committee's decision to split oversight of technology issues, Davis takes charge of the Technology and Procurement Policy Subcommittee.

Davis revives cyberthreat legislation (July 16, 2001)


Davis reintroduces a bill aimed at encouraging the private sector to share cybersecurity incidents with federal agencies.

Davis seeks further reforms (Oct. 28, 2001)


Davis plans to introduce legislation that would bring procurement laws in line with the government's shift from buying products to buying services.

Davis readies next take on acquisition reform (Nov. 11, 2001)
The legislation, to be known as the Services Acquisition Reform Act (SARA), is intended to bring procurement laws in line with the government's shift from buying products to buying services.

Rep. Davis calls for wider use of pay-for-performance bonuses (Feb. 11, 2002)
Davis is urging the Office of Personnel Manageme nt to use pay-for-performance bonuses to help diminish the government’s looming personnel crisis, especially as it affects IT workers.

Davis bill reinforces security rules (March 10, 2002)
Davis introduced a bill March 6 that would beef up congressional oversight of federal information security management, drawing initial praise from agencies and security experts and criticism from observers who say the bill needs more teeth.

Legislation to create 'smart' licenses (May 6, 2002)
Davis, along with Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), introduce the Driver's License Modernization Act of 2002, which would require all states to issue driver's licenses that contain a computer chip with identity information.

Davis seeks GSA review (Nov. 3, 2002)


Davis wants another review conducted before GSA streamlines contract and service offerings from FTS and FSS.

E-gov agenda takes shape (Dec. 1, 2002)
Congress puts the finishing touches on the E-Government Act of 2002, which, according to Davis, one of the bill's champions, will "revolutionize Americans' relationship with their government."

Davis takes helm of key committee (Jan. 12, 2003)


Davis has been named chairman of the House Government Reform Committee, a coveted position that will give him a chance to mold procurement reform across the federal government.

Davis urges more Networx changes (Dec. 12, 2004)
General Services Administration officials can expect continued pressure from Davis, who wants more changes in the sweeping Networx telecommunications contract.

Davis moves IT to reform committee's center stage (Feb. 9, 2005)
Issues such as e-government, cybersecurity, U.S. VISIT and information sharing will get the full House Government Reform Committee’s attention.

Davis pokes into preparedness (May 6, 2005)
The leader of the House Government Reform Committee wants to know if agencies are ready for employees to work remotely during terrorist attacks and natural disasters.

Rep. Davis calls for a federal transition to IPv6 (May 24, 2005)
The chairman of the House Government Reform Committee has announced an initiative to push civilian agencies toward adoption of IP Version 6 by 2008.

Davis co-sponsors FEMA reform (May 9, 2006)
House members introduce legislation to pull emergency management agency out of Homeland Security.

Davis asks OMB to act against TCE (May 25, 2006)
Congressman asks Evans to intercede in Treasury's determination to award its Treasury Communications Enterprise contract rather than using Networx.

House votes to create grants database (June 22, 2006)
The House has passed legislation, introduced by Davis and House majority whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), to establish a public database for tracking federal grants, a move that advocates say will bring a new level of transparency to the government grant-making process.

Davis introduces bill to protect sensitive info (Sept. 25, 2006)
It would require all federal agencies to tell the public when there is a data breach involving sensitive information.

Davis asks GAO to review SARA panel report (Jan. 17, 2007)
Davis had required the review last November, when he was still chairman of the House Government Reform Committee.

Rep. Davis pushes for better planning for US-VISIT (March 1, 2007)
In a letter to the DHS secretary, Davis suggested that US-VISIT use fiscal 2008 funding to develop an exit strategy for monitoring visitors leaving the United States at land border crossings.

Personal e-mail sparks fire between Davis, Bloch (July 13, 2007)
Davis wants access to correspondence Special Counsel Scott Bloch sent about Lurita Doan's Hatch Act violations and hearings.

Davis urges Waxman to advance data breach bill (July 27, 2007)
A provision in the bill would require agencies to ensure that computing and storage devices containing potentially sensitive information is accounted for and secure.

Rep. Davis introduces bill to promote rehiring of retirees (Sept. 19, 2007)
The legislation would let retired federal employees return to work on a short-term basis without losing annuity benefits.

Davis proposes a new role for inspectors general (Oct. 8, 2007)
Davis offered an amendment that would empower inspectors general to expose redundant programs and report to Congress with legislative proposals on how to end the programs.

Reps. Davis, Turner press for hearing on alleged Census troubles (Jan. 7, 2008)
Senior Republicans request House Oversight and Government Committee Democratic leaders to address reported issues with handheld program.