TechWonk Blog Subsection
TechWonk Blog
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In 2021, the U.S. Congress passed a landmark piece of legislation, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which took a critical step towards modernizing state, local, tribal, and territorial governments鈥� information technology (IT) systems. For the first time in history, this law aimed to ensure dedicated investments in key areas of state and tribal governments鈥� cybersecurity. As state [...]
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The global spread of COVID-19 accelerated the United States into one of the worst public health crises in generations. Entire segments of public life have since closed, the lives of millions have been interrupted, and the way we work and do business has shifted to an online and digital environment faster than anyone believed possible. Local, state, and federal governments, which are employers of millions [...]
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States have long been considered laboratories of democracies and increasingly are becoming cradles of innovation. Governors across the country are leading the charge in leveraging emerging technologies to solve the most pressing issues facing constituents. For example, states are using mobile application technology to better respond to their constituents needs, applying blockchain technology to save [...]
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This week, NAFTA negotiators will meet once again to renegotiate the 23-year-old, critically important trade agreement between the United States and two of its largest trading partners, Mexico and Canada. We share many of the Trump administration鈥檚 goals of modernizing this agreement, which was negotiated long before the incredible changes that the internet and digital technologies have brought to [...]
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The start of the 115th Congress and new administration not only marked an era of profound political change, but it also presented a unique and timely opportunity to modernize outdated policies. Lawmakers acted on many issues critical to the tech industry by enacting substantial reforms to bring both the U.S. federal tax code and the U.S. government procurement process into the 21st century. The Tax [...]
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This week, President Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) and federal IT contractors should note the changes it brings for them. We commend the Senate and House鈥檚 continued commitment to acquisition reform, adopting innovative technologies to help warfighters meet their missions, and improving oversight of cybersecurity. While no single provision can [...]
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鈥淩egular order鈥� for government funding used to mean a systematic cadence of work by the appropriations committees and both chambers of Congress to fashion a spending bill before the start of the new fiscal year. I鈥檝e been around Washington long enough to remember regular order in action and to see the fruits of that process. Unfortunately, 鈥渞egular order鈥� for the appropriations process has come to [...]