From cyber attacks to overseeing hundreds of billions in federal spending, state and local governments face growing technology challenges. A new bipartisan Senate bill would reform a half-century-old law to allow federal agencies to provide technology assistance to state and local partners and encourage greater cooperation between government agencies.
Under the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act of 1968, Congress authorized the executive branch to improve coordination with state, local, territorial, and tribal (SLTT) governments to help administer federal programs and grants by technical assistance.
Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) have introduced the Improving Intergovernmental Cooperation and Reducing Duplication Act to modernize the law. In particular, the bill updates the definitions under the 1968 law to bring them in line with our modern technology landscape. Additionally, the bill will require the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue new plans and policies for how to implement the law:
“The bill requires the OMB Director and [Office of Intergovernmental Affairs] to develop a strategic plan…
