The bipartisan Strengthening Agency Management And Oversight Of Software Assets (SAMOSA) Act, which passed the House in December, is now being championed by Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, in the Senate. The bill aims to bring the federal government's computer systems into the 21st century and potentially save taxpayers $750 million annually by consolidating federal agencies' cloud computing software licenses.
The SAMOSA Act requires every government agency's Chief Information Officer to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the software used within the agency within 18 months. This assessment includes taking inventory of current software, identifying contracts and their expiration dates, and listing additional fees or costs related to the software, including cloud services fees.
