(Photo courtesy Facebook/Darin LaHood)
By Eric Stock
WASHINGTON – The first bill that freshman U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria, brought to the House floor has won approval.
The plan to modernize and streamline federal information technology easily passed in the House in a 385-7 vote and awaits action in the Senate.
“The NITRD (Networking and Information Technology Research and Development) program works to prevent duplicative and overlapping efforts in this space, thereby enabling more efficient use of government resources and taxpayer dollars,” LaHood said.
NITRD was created in the 1990s. LaHood said the bill will help universities and private businesses, including Caterpillar, that use federal supercomputers for research and development.
“I am proud to witness my legislation that is set to modernize and streamline critical information technology for the private and public sectors pass the House floor with overwhelming bipartisan support,” LaHood noted. “This bill will modernize the NITRD Program so advancements in computing technologies can transform how companies learn, how they conduct business, and how we maintain a strong national security apparatus.”
Chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) said this taxpayer-funded research is intended to ensure that the United States remains the global leader in high-end computing and networking, which is crucial to our future economic and national security.
“Advanced networking and information technology supports and boosts American discovery and innovation, enhances national security, improves our international competitiveness, expands the U.S. economy, and creates millions of jobs.” Smith said.
