Hoyer Discusses the Information Technology Modernization Act on CNBC’s Squawk Box

“I think we have, clearly, examples of why we need to do this and make our systems more modern and more agile. What this bill does, it will set up a fund of $3 billion, and it will be a revolving fund. So they will draw down on it, then they will repay it over time. ‘They’ being various different government agencies. A board will be established, which will be headed up by Tony Scott, who is the [Chief] Information Officer who comes from Microsoft into the Administration, to make sure that we are using the latest technology. That we are doing large projects but doing them in a way that the private sector does. They do a part of it, test it, make sure it works, get it done quickly, and make sure that it's a secure system, as well. So this is all directed at trying to make it more transparent, more efficient, more secure, and give the public a more responsive government that they can trust.”

“This is going to utilize, I think, the best practices in the private sector, bring people from Silicon Valley and other high-tech centers of excellence into the federal government for their advice and counsel. As a matter of fact, [the Administration has] started [an organization] called 18F. I visited, out in San Francisco, a small [18F] office which is utilizing, as I said, the best talent of Silicon Valley to get us where we need to be so that people can have confidence that they get good communication and good value for their dollar, invested in information technology, and they have a secure system.”

“I think that we need to make sure that the private sector, which is more agile and moves more quickly, because it can -- we are using the experience that they get, the best practices that they install, and make sure that that's being used in the federal government because it's absolutely essential in this world that we keep our information technology both secure and up to date and efficient.”

“[Congressman] Darrell Issa, former Chairman of the Government Reform Committee, is a co-sponsor. He and I have talked about this. He is excited about it. Obviously one thing we have to do is pay for the $3 billion, which is the initial fund which will be a revolving fund which we think will be paid for by savings in making our systems more efficient. That's exactly what happened in Microsoft when Tony Scott was there, and I think it's what can happen in the federal government… I'm going to be talking to the Majority Leader. Our staffs have been in communication about this bill as well. This is a bipartisan, non-partisan issue, obviously making government more cost effective, more efficient, and more transparent is, I think, an objective of both parties.”