Building upon the Clinger-Cohen Act, the E-Government Act serves as the primary legislative vehicle to guide evolving federal IT management practices and to promote initiatives to make government information and services available online. In doing so, it also represents a continuation of efforts to realize greater efficiencies and reduce redundancies through improved intergovernmental coordination, and by aligning IT investments. The law contains a variety of provisions related to federal government IT management, information security, and the provision of services and information electronically. One of the most recognized provisions involves the creation of an Office of Electronic Government (OEG) within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The OEG is headed by an Administrator, who is responsible for carrying out a variety of information resources management (IRM) functions, as well as administering the interagency E-Government Fund authorized by the law. Shortly before the fifth anniversary of the passage of the E-Government Act, authorization of appropriations for several key provisions expired on September 30, 2007. Some of the activities and offices affected by the expiring authorizations include, but are not limited to, the General Services Administration (GSA) E-Government Fund (Sec. 101); the OMB Office of Electronic Government (Sec. However, the occasion to consider reauthorization of the E-Government Act provides Congress the opportunity to assess the results of federal e-government initiatives since 2002, consider how they have affected the administration of government, and decide what changes, if any, are necessary. S. 2321 would amend and reauthorize appropriations for the E-Government Act of 2002. A comparable bill has not been introduced in the House. The activities covered by this section include those related to the operation of the federal Internet portal (USA.gov); activities related to the operation of an online repository of federally funded research and development; GSA efforts to study and enhance the use of community centers to provide computer and Internet access to the public; GSA efforts to develop and maintain common protocols for geographic information systems; the Federal Information Security Management Act; NIST responsibilities for standards to protect federal information systems; the Information Technology Exchange Program; the E-Government Fund; and to carry out activities related to Title I and II of the E-Government Act that are not otherwise specifically provided for. Related Issues for Congress

In considering whether to reauthorize the E-Government Act, Congress may also wish to consider a number of other issues related to the implementation and oversight of the E-Government Act, and e-government initiatives generally. Cross Agency Funding and the Role of the E-Government Fund

The problem of cross agency funding highlights the clash between the horizontal nature of government-wide e-government initiatives and the vertical organization of government. Although the E-Government Act authorized a significant sum that can be spent on e-government initiatives in the form of the E-Government Fund (a cumulative minimum of $345 million from FY2003-FY2007), concerns regarding oversight have prompted Congress to appropriate no more than $5 million in any given fiscal year since the passage of the E-Government Act.
December 2007 marked the fifth anniversary of the passage of the E-Government Act of 2002. Shortly before this anniversary, authorization of appropriations for several key provisions expired on September 30, 2007. Some of the activities and offices affected by the expiring authorizations include, but are not limited to, the Office of Electronic Government (OEG) within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the General Services Administration (GSA) E-Government Fund; the GSA program to operate a federal Internet portal; and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) responsibility to develop standards, guidelines, and associated methods and techniques for protecting federal information systems.
Building upon the Clinger-Cohen Act, the E-Government Act serves as the primary legislative vehicle to guide evolving federal IT management practices and to promote initiatives to make government information and services available online. In doing so, it also represents a continuation of efforts to realize greater efficiencies and reduce redundancies through improved intergovernmental coordination, and by aligning IT investments. The law contains a variety of provisions related to federal government IT management, information security, and the provision of services and information electronically. One of the most recognized provisions involves the creation of an Office of Electronic Government (OEG) within the OMB. The OEG is headed by an Administrator, who is responsible for carrying out a variety of information resources management (IRM) functions, as well as administering the interagency E-Government Fund authorized by the law.
Although the E-Government Act authorized a cumulative minimum of $345 million from FY2003-FY2007 for the E-Government Fund, concerns regarding oversight have prompted Congress to appropriate no more than $5 million in any given fiscal year since the passage of the act.
The occasion to consider reauthorization of the E-Government Act provides Congress the opportunity to assess the results of federal e-government initiatives since 2002, consider how they have affected the administration of government, and decide what changes, if any, are necessary. In considering whether to reauthorize any, some, or all of these provisions, Congress may also wish to consider a number of other issues related to the implementation and oversight. These issues include, but are not limited to: what actions may be needed to reconcile the fundamental disparity between the horizontal nature of government-wide e-government initiatives, and the vertical organization of government oversight and funding mechanisms; how e-government initiatives should be funded and the role of the E-Government Fund; and the continuity and future direction of e-government efforts with the upcoming transition of presidential administrations.
On November 7, 2007, S. 2321, the E-Government Reauthorization Act of 2007 was introduced. The bill would amend and reauthorize appropriations for the E-Government Act. A comparable bill has not been introduced in the House.