In recent comments regarding the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF), Rep. Will Hurd, R-Tex., said that he is “pretty sure that we have resolved the issue with TMF,” and expects Congress to include the full $150 million in an upcoming minibus funding bill.
Hurd is referencing H.R. 6147, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Regulated Agencies Appropriations Act, which is currently in conference committee. The House version includes $150 million for TMF, but the Senate bill does not include any funding. After a public conference committee meeting, the status of TMF remained unclear. However, in a recent interview, Hurd expressed his confidence in securing funding.
TMF also has backers in the White House and in Federal CIO Suzette Kent, who have both urged Congress to fund the initiative.
Another major supporter of TMF, Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., noted the importance of the fund to MeriTalk.
“The Technology Modernization Fund was authorized at $500 million in order to help to help agencies upgrade from their large-scale and vulnerable legacy IT systems to more modern and efficient IT systems,” he said. “Without adequate funds in the TMF, agencies will only be able to address the low hanging fruit and are likely to leave in place the legacy IT systems that are costly to maintain, difficult to secure, and the reasons why Congress passed the MGT Act in the first place.”