By Adam Mazmanian
The House of Representatives passed the Senate s version of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Act Plan on Wednesday. The vote was 220-211.
The signature elements of the bill include money for direct individual payments to Americans, expanded tax credits for children, an extension of enhanced unemployment benefits as well as public health measures to speed the acquisition and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
But for the federal IT community, the bill will also be remembered for its dramatic expansion of the Technology Modernization Fund. The bill adds $1 billion to the $175 million capitalization of the revolving fund that agencies can use to upgrade their information technology. So far, the fund has been used in relatively small projects to acquire cloud email or digitize citizen services, but the addition of $1 billion through fiscal year 2025 means that the fund can support more substantial projects and address more applicants for funds.
Quick Hits Two Senate committees voted on Wednesday to advance the nomination of President Joe Biden s pick for deputy director at the
Office of Management and Budget,
Shalanda Young. Her nomination for the somewhat sleepy post of OMB deputy director has assumed new urgency in since
Neera Tanden, Biden s pick for OMB director, dropped out of the running after Senate opposition.
If confirmed, the Biden administration plans for Young to serve as acting director of OMB, White House Press Secretary
Jen Psaki said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
White House Chief of Staff
Ron Klainsaid in an interview with Punchbowl News on Tuesday that Young herself is a very serious candidate for the top position at OMB and definitely under consideration.
CompTIA Says American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 will Strengthen US Cybersecurity Capabilities, Advance IT Modernization
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DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., March 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the information technology (IT) industry and workforce, through its CEO Todd Thibodeaux, issued the following statement on the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 signed into law Thursday by President Joe Biden. The technology investments in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 address two critical needs. Adding to the Technology Modernization Fund will allow local, state and federal governments to replace aging IT systems with emerging technologies that will enable them to deliver essential services to constituents in a more efficient and secure manner. Funding for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency provides more support to strengthen our cybersecurity capabilities to address ongoing threats.
Coronavirus relief bill includes $7.6 billion to target the homework gap
Cat Zakrzewski, The Washington Post
March 10, 2021
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WASHINGTON - With the coronavirus relief bill the final expected to get the final green light Wednesday in Congress, setting aside $7.17 billion to help students and teachers get online in an ambitious effort to address the homework gap.
The pandemic exacerbated long-running inequality in access to the Internet throughout the United States.
The funding will allow elementary schools, high schools and libraries to purchase Wi-Fi hotspots, modems and routers for students, and also fund the Internet service that those devices use. It will be distributed through the Federal Communications Commission s E-rate program, which has long helped schools and libraries obtain affordable Internet access.
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021: Summary | Holland & Knight LLP jdsupra.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from jdsupra.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.