Reps. Khanna and Ratcliffe introduce legislation for more efficient digital government
The 21st Century IDEA enhances citizen services, reduces costs and digitizes government processes
May 10, 2018 – Washington, DC – Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) introduced legislation today to improve citizens’ interaction with the federal government online, while reducing the cost of assistance from federal agencies.
The 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act (IDEA) will lower federal costs and increase efficiency by digitizing government processes and establishing minimum standards for federal websites, including mobile-friendly interfaces in compliance with the latest security protocols.
Recent data from the IRS shows that in-person or live assistance calls to the agency cost taxpayers between $40 and $60 on average, while digital transactions cost only $0.22 on average. By allowing more in-person transactions to be replaced with online transactions, the 21st Century Idea modernization will reduce such federal costs significantly.
“The 21st Century IDEA enables accessible and efficient government resources, reduces production costs, and encourages continuous digital enhancement,” Rep. Khanna said. “Government exists to serve citizens, and this bill ensures government leverages available technology to provide the cohesive, user-friendly online service that people around this country expect and deserve.”
“The federal government exists to serve American people, and the 21st Century IDEA will ensure we’re meeting our citizens’ needs in the most efficient, cost-effective way possible,” Rep. Ratcliffe said. “Our bill takes advantage of new and emerging technologies that can drastically improve the way our federal agencies provide critical services to folks across the country, including people with disabilities or those who live in rural areas with limited access to traditional, in-person assistance services.”
Original cosponsors include, Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), John Ratcliffe (R-Texas), Barbara Comstock (R-Va.), Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.), Ryan Costello (R-Pa.), John R. Curtis (R-Utah), Anna G. Eshoo (D-Calif.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Duncan D. Hunter (R-Calif.), Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Steve Russell (R-Okla.), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ).
More information about the 21st Century IDEA is available here.
Adobe, Vice President & Public Sector Chief Technology Officer, John Landwehr:
“There is a growing gap between the digital expectations of citizens and government’s current digital services – and this legislation would be a key step towards closing that gap by transforming digital government services and improving citizen experiences. Representatives Khanna and Ratcliffe’s legislation would set clear benchmarks and speed up the timeline for departments to modernize vital digital services like providing electronic signatures and building more accessible websites and forms.”
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, Vice President, Daniel Castro:
“Citizens deserve access to secure and convenient government services online. Unfortunately, many federal agencies still use outdated, paper-based processes, instead of modern, digital ones. This legislation would steer federal agencies towards developing sites that make government services more efficient, more secure, and easier to use.”
BSA | The Software Alliance, Vice President, Legislative Strategy, Craig Albright:
“Software plays a critical role in the delivery of government services in the digital age. The 21st Century IDEA Act promotes the modernization of digital government services, and it will be an important step to accelerate the benefits federal agencies and constituents can receive through the use of innovative technologies.”
Oracle, Vice President for Government Affairs, Jason Mahler:
“The 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act (21st Century IDEA Act) would mandate that the US Government provide better information and digital services to citizens, which is good government at its core. We fully support efforts that make government less burdensome, especially when it comes to improving day to day interactions with agencies and government offices.”
SIIA, Vice President for Public Policy, Mark MacCarthy:
“While the government is making substantial progress towards embracing cloud computing and replacing legacy IT systems, many citizen services remain trapped in a 20th Century analog world. American citizens expect and deserve greater efficiency from the government, such as digital services that keep pace with innovation and let us manage our lives through connected devices anywhere, at any time.
“SIIA supports the 21st Century IDEA Act because it will create a digital services strategy to enhance citizen-facing digital services and improve customer experience, while also substantially reducing costs. This legislation will help to modernize federal agency websites, support the increasing use of mobile devices, digitize government processes, transition away paper-based forms and in-person interactions, and leverage electronic signatures, and create a 21st Century digital experience for citizens.
“SIIA applauds Congressmen Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and John Ratcliffe (R-TX) for introducing this legislation to provide American citizens with modern, cost effective digital government services.”
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3 Reasons the ‘Downs’ Have Greater
Impact In An ‘Up and Down’ Stock Market
After a relatively calm 2017, stock market investors had to buckle their seat belts this year. Since the end of January, the S&P 500, Nasdaq and Dow Jones industrial average have all taken investors on a roller coaster ride.
The wild swings bring with them a variety of “get rich quick” stock picks and many investors may be tempted to only look at the upside. But Brian Decker, a financial planner and founder of Decker Retirement Planning Inc. (www.deckerretirementplanning.com), says that it is much more important for investors to consider the downside in turbulent markets.
“Recovering from a bad choice takes longer and is more expensive than most investors acknowledge,” Decker says. “People who are trying to build retirement income are especially at risk during volatile markets.”
Decker uses this example to explain why it takes longer to recover from a bad investment than to profit from a good one:
“If you invest $100 in a stock and it loses 50 percent, the investment is now worth $50. If tomorrow that same stock goes up 50 percent, (which would be $25) that stock is now worth $75. So the investor has lost $25 even though the stock lost and gained the same percentage.”
Decker says the same thing happens even when the gain happens first and the loss comes afterward.
If you invest $100 in a stock and it gains 50 percent, it is now worth $150. But if it loses 50 percent tomorrow, it is now also worth $75. “Either way, the investor has lost 25 percent of the value even though the stock went up and down the same percentage,” he says.
Decker says there are several reasons investors should consider the downside of a stock more than the upside in this volatile market. Those include:
Decker says there are plenty of ways for investors to win in both a down and up market. However, in order achieve that, their financial advisor should design a double-sided strategy that will win regardless of whether Wall Street is experiencing a bull or bear market.
About Brian Decker
Brian Decker, a financial planner and founder of Decker Retirement Planning Inc. (www.Deckerretirementplanning.com), has more than 30 years of experience in asset management and has worked for several brokerage firms. He became a fiduciary in 1995 and since then has created several investment models and honed his risk-management skills with a focus on investment models designed to make money in up or down markets. He has a degree in finance and marketing from the University of Washington.
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5 Ways To Fight Fatigue
And Energize Your Life
Feeling tired is a common complaint people express. Sometimes the self-description morphs into “I feel tired all the time,” and experts say that’s when extreme tiredness becomes better known as fatigue.
Fatigue, when someone lacks energy and feels exhausted mentally or physically, can negatively impact performance at work, family life, and social relationships. Often, it is not a medical issue, but one that can be reversed by a lifestyle change.
“People would be amazed at how much energy they’d have and how much better they’d feel if they treated themselves better,” says Dr. Raj Gupta (www.drrajgupta.com), founder of Soul Focus Wellness Center and author of Wellness Center Solution: How Physicians Can Transform Their Practices, Their Income and Their Lives.
“We all have busy lives, but there are simple ways to not let your schedule overwhelm you and make your health suffer as a consequence.”
Stress, Dr. Gupta says, can lead to fatigue symptoms such as a craving for sweets and salty foods, difficulty sleeping and irritability. He suggests five ways to fight fatigue and regain energy:
“Living life with zest, vitality and complete health is easier than you think,” Dr. Gupta says. “By managing these five simple aspects, one can maintain a healthy, fulfilling life.”
About Dr. Raj Gupta
Dr. Raj Gupta (www.drrajgupta.com), who has more than 20 years experience as a chiropractor, is the founder of Soul Focus Wellness Center. He also is the author of Wellness Center Solution: How Physicians Can Transform Their Practices, Their Income and Their Lives, and of the forthcoming book, From Health Club to Health Care: How Gym Owners Can 10X Their Income. He has been featured in US News and World Report Health, Woman’s World Magazine and The New York Daily News. He has a doctorate in chiropractic from Life University.
