Rep. Foushee Introduces Legislation to Help Local Governments Access Modern Technology

Rep Valerie Foushee (D-NC-04) introduced the State and Local Public Sector Innovation Act, which would establish a federal grant program through the U.S. Department of Commerce to modernize the technology infrastructure utilized by state and local governments to improve security and efficacy of public services. Specifically, the State and Local Public Sector Innovation Act would:

• Establish a grant program which would provide state and local government’s technology departments to modernize technology utilized by government entities.
• Grant funds can be utilized to purchase or upgrade existing technology and related infrastructure to upgrade cybersecurity systems, hire staff, update permitting processes to facilitate further modernization, and train staff to support technology modernization.
• 70 percent of grant funds provided to a state are required to be dispersed to local governments under the state jurisdictions.
• The Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce will allocate a portion of funding for regulatory enforcement.