Congress
House panel advances bill to make federal contracting easier to understand
The Plain Language in Contracting Act would require agencies to use easy-to-understand language for certain procurement notices pertaining to small businesses.
Bipartisan group looks to push IRS towards simpler math error notices
The IRS MATH Act would require the tax agency to send more specific, straightforward notices when it corrects simple math errors on tax returns.
Biden signs extension of controversial spying program into 2026
The Section 702 authorities were reauthorized without the addition of a warrant requirement to review the communications of Americans caught up in foreign surveillance.
Senate bill aims to bring more private sector participation to federal AI innovation
The latest piece of AI-focused legislation seeks to make private sector collaboration a top priority for several agencies.
Bipartisan bill seeks to expand workers’ access to digital skills training programs
House and Senate lawmakers are seeking to modify current law to create a “digital skills at work grant program” for those accessing government-funded career services.
House passes bill barring spy agencies, law enforcement from buying Americans’ personal data
The measure doesn’t have support from the Biden administration, which argues it threatens national security and worsens Americans’ privacy protections.
House committee introduces 5 guardrails for internal AI use
The Committee on House Administration released its April AI Flash Report reviewing past and present agenda items to implement AI systems in legislative operations.
Lawmakers to include VET-TEC renewal under broader veteran bill, per committee spokesperson
VA’s five-year tech training pilot expired April 1 after Congress failed to pass legislation to renew the program.
New bill would create a governing body for water system cyber standards
The legislation comes after the Biden administration rescinded a memorandum that would have tied water sector cyber reviews to existing sanitation surveys.
House advances spy power reauthorization bill without warrant measure
The bill — which represents a win for Biden administration policy objectives — will now be taken up in the Senate, with a week to go before the authority sunsets.
VA not sharing details on supply chain upgrade, Republican lawmaker says
Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., who heads a House subcommittee focused on tech at Veterans Affairs, said “there does not seem to be any approved budget” for the new supply chain system, which the department estimates to cost between $9 billion and $15 billion.
White House, Senate Democrats tout new $1.4B anti-fraud proposal
Among the efforts that would see funding under the sweeping proposal are a new “early warning system” for fraud in government benefits.
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Mace sponsors bill to ban educational requirements for government contractors
The bill tracks with ongoing bipartisan efforts to push the government towards skills-based hiring.
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Wyden bill requires new cyber standards in federal tech procurement
The legislation comes in the wake of several cyber incidents targeting the federal government.
The Labor Department wants Congress to help to fix unemployment insurance tech, delivery
Among the asks: fund the program adequately, the Labor Department says.
Section 702 renewal has support in Congress, but intelligence officials are leery of warrant measure
The disputed surveillance authority expires April 19, and the intelligence community is sending a full-court press to keep it from garnering significant privacy reforms.
Congress tries again for comprehensive data privacy bill
The bill would establish national data privacy standards, with the Federal Trade Commission crafting rules for enforcement.
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