Gerald Connolly (D-VA)
Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act
A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act aims to improve how federal agencies manage and oversee their software. It requires agency Chief Information Officers to conduct a comprehensive assessment of all software paid for, used, or deployed within their agency. Following this assessment, agencies must develop a modernization plan to consolidate software entitlements and implement more cost-effective acquisition strategies. The bill includes specific, separate procedures for the intelligence community to protect national security. Finally, the Act mandates reports from the Director and the Comptroller General to track trends and compliance.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +4
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
It improves fiscal responsibility by requiring comprehensive assessments of software entitlements to prevent duplication and unnecessary spending.
- Scored +4
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates detailed reporting of software inventory and costs to various oversight committees.
- Scored +3
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill targets cost-effective acquisition and consolidation of software to reduce unnecessary agency costs.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Cost Reductions: The bill requires agencies to develop criteria for cost-effective acquisition strategies, such as enterprise licensing, to reduce unnecessary costs (Section 4(a)(2)).
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Improved Software Performance: Agencies are tasked with creating plans that improve the performance of their software assets (Section 4(a)(2)).
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Increased Transparency and Accountability: The Act requires a detailed accounting of software, including information on additional fees or costs not included in initial contracts (Section 3(a)(2)(B)).
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Better Training for Employees: The plan must ensure agency officers and employees are adequately trained in software acquisition, development, and negotiation policies (Section 4(b)(1)(D)).
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Enhanced Software Interoperability: The legislation pushes for the improvement of interoperability of software assets throughout the agency enterprise (Section 3(a)(2)(C)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Resource Demands on Agencies: Agencies must develop comprehensive assessments and modernization plans, which may require additional resources, services, or support (Section 4(b)(6)).
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Increased Oversight for Intelligence Community: Elements of the intelligence community must conduct assessments separately and submit them through specific channels to ensure national security protection (Section 3(f)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — It improves fiscal responsibility by requiring comprehensive assessments of software entitlements to prevent duplication and unnecessary spending. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill targets cost-effective acquisition and consolidation of software to reduce unnecessary agency costs.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates detailed reporting of software inventory and costs to various oversight committees. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill centralizes software management oversight under the Director of OMB and agency CIOs.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — Better software management and interoperability can indirectly enhance cybersecurity through more controlled asset oversight.
- 3/27/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Pat FallonRepublican · Texas
Nancy MaceRepublican · South Carolina
April McClain DelaneyDemocrat · Maryland