Washington,
D.C.
— TechNet, the national, bipartisan network of innovation
economy CEOs and senior executives, today welcomed the inclusion of $100
million in the FY 2018 omnibus appropriations bill for the Technology
Modernization Fund, which was established in the Modernizing Government Technology (MGT) Act.

A top legislative priority for TechNet,
the MGT Act authorizes funding to improve, retire, or replace federal
government technology systems, accelerate the transition to cloud computing
platforms, and procure IT products and services to strengthen the federal
government’s cybersecurity defenses and better serve citizens. Representative Will Hurd (R-TX) authored the
bill in the House, and Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Tom Udall (D-NM) sponsored
it in the Senate. Last December, it was
enacted into law as part of the National
Defense Authorization Act
.

“Funding
the Modernizing Government Technology Act
is a critical step in protecting our nation’s IT systems from cyberattacks and
ensuring the government is using state-of-the-art technologies to better serve
our people,”
said TechNet President and CEO Linda
Moore. “Instead of wasting 80 percent of its annual budget on maintaining
older and less secure IT systems, the U.S. should be investing in IT systems that
provide stronger cybersecurity defenses and better services to our nation’s
citizens.

“TechNet
appreciates the work of everyone who helped pass the MGT Act and fund it,”

added Moore. “In particular, we thank Leader Kevin McCarthy, Whip Steny Hoyer, Representatives
Will Hurd and Robin Kelly, Senators Jerry Moran and Tom Udall, and the Trump
Administration for championing this issue and delivering on it.”

Last November, TechNet wrote to
Congress in support of funding the MGT Act.
A copy of that letter is available here. Last week, TechNet renewed this call for
Congress to fund the MGT Act in the omnibus.
A copy of that letter is available here.