IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

Sitting on President Bush's desk and awaiting his expected signature when he returns from the NATO summit later this week is the E-Government Act, which Congress approved late last week. Among the bill's main provisions:

• Establish an Office of Electronic Government headed by a presidentially appointed administrator within the White House Office of Management and Budget. Many backers of the legislation wanted the E-administrator's position to be labeled CIO and require Senate confirmation, which they said would give the official more clout. The White House balked, saying the administration didn't need another confirmed position. The lawmakers backed off, and the post won't require Senate confirmation. The legislation charges the E-administrator, the highest-ranking federal IT official, to implement E-government initiatives and oversee agencies' compliance with federal rules and regulations. The post is similar to the job held by Mark Forman, associate director for IT and E-government in OMB. He's expected to be named E-administrator.
• Authorize $45 million this year, and increase to $150 million in fiscal year 2006, for a newly established E-government fund that will invest in interagency IT projects with governmentwide application.
• Create an interagency panel to recommend to OMB standards for government IT.
• Improve the federal Internet portal, FirstGov.gov, to provide online information and services based on citizens' needs and not agency jurisdiction.
• Require regulatory agencies to conduct administrative rule-makings on the Internet and federal courts to post court information and judicial opinions on their Web sites.
• Let agencies, scientists, policy makers, and the public have access via the Internet to nonsensitive information about where federal funds for scientific research are spent.
• Improve recruitment and training for federal information-technology professionals.
• Establish significant privacy protections for personally identifiable information maintained by the government.
• Update, improve, and make permanent proven information-security provisions.

Statements from the Republican White House and the lead Democratic backer of the bill, Senate Governmental Affairs Committee outgoing chairman Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., praise the bipartisan efforts in getting the bill passed. "Congressional passage of this legislation represents the culmination of years of work," Lieberman says. "As a result, the government will be taking full advantage of the Internet and other information technologies to maximize efficiency and provide the public with seamless, secure online information and services."

Quelle: Commweb