Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program Authorization Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 21, the FedRAMP Authorization Act, introduced by my distinguished colleague and friend, Representative Gerry Connolly.

Cybersecurity and technology modernization are both vital issues to ensure this government runs efficiently and effectively. This is even clearer in light of the unprecedented recent cyberattack that compromised both the private and public sectors' critical information systems. Congress must work to further the Federal Government's cybersecurity while moving Federal agencies to more modern solutions, which will help keep our public data safe and provide improved services to our Nation's citizens.

The Federal Risk and Authorization Program, or FedRAMP, is the main Federal program focused on helping agencies procure secure cloud computing services. The FedRAMP provides a consistent process for agencies to procure modern cloud systems in accordance with established Federal cybersecurity standards. Recent Federal policies make the focus on securing cloud services especially important.

With both the Cloud First initiative in 2011 and the Cloud Smart initiative from President Trump's administration, the government continues to focus on adopting modern, cost-effective cloud technology solutions.

The Federal Government is plagued by reoccurring problems in information technology, such as low asset utilization, duplicative systems, and fragmented resources. Shifting to the cloud provides for improved asset utilization, increased innovation, and more agile and responsive technology capabilities. These improved efficiencies have led to significant cost savings.

In fiscal year 2018, the government spent roughly $6.5 billion on cloud computing, with 84 percent coming from FedRAMP authorized cloud computing providers.

The centralized security authorization process offered by the FedRAMP program has saved agencies over $250 million in cost avoidance, according to the General Services Administration.

Recognizing these cost benefits, this legislation aims to increase the Federal Government's use of the consistent, centrally managed cloud computing security authorizations provided by the FedRAMP program. Codifying this successful program into law is an important step towards encouraging Federal agencies to take full advantage of this program and all the security benefits that it offers.

Mr. Speaker, again, I thank my colleague, Representative Connolly, for introducing this bill.

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Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I am prepared to close, and I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, protecting our public's valuable information by improving the Federal Government's cybersecurity and adopting modern technology should be a top priority of Congress.

I look forward to working together on issues like this that are in the best interest of the Nation. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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