The E-Government Act of 2001 is an attempt to maximize the organization, accessibility, efficiency and quantity of online information pertaining to the federal government, while at the same time reducing costs. As new technologies are developed, new opportunities are created for the government to improve services.
The legislation would establish a federal Chief Information Office to promote e-government and implement new electronic policies.
Other goals of the measure are to improve upon the centralized online portal and establish an online directory of federal Web sites and indexes of resources.
The legislation would also institute an online national library, require federal courts to post opinions online, encourage compatibility of electronic signatures and provide for new and stronger privacy protections.
More than $200 million a year would go to supporting interagency projects and innovative uses of technology.
Acknowledging that private sector is way ahead of the government in utilizing new technology, the senators are nonetheless willing to forge ahead.
"The U.S. government has been a sometimes unwilling participant in the technological revolution of recent years," Burns said. "The legislation we are introducing today will change that by creating online service to make government more efficient, accessible and accountable to the citizens it represents.
"The private sector has benefited tremendously from the application of information technology," said Lieberman. "Now it's government's turn. We can and must take full advantage of the Internet and other technologies to overcome arbitrary boundaries between agencies, so government can provide the public with seamless, secure online services."
Quelle: CBS News
