NW Kentucky News

The House of Representatives has passed four bills from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. These bills aim to improve government transparency, cybersecurity, and national security.

H.R. 1515, known as the Guidance Out of Darkness (GOOD) Act, was introduced by Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and Representative Ro Khanna (D-Calif.). This legislation mandates that agencies publish their regulatory guidance online in a single, accessible location. Chairman Comer emphasized the importance of this act by stating, “Unfortunately, agency guidance documents are difficult to find, leaving Americans and small businesses guessing, and oftentimes struggling, to comply with the law. The Guidance Out of Darkness Act rights this wrong by requiring federal agencies to be transparent about interpretations of the law through publishing guidance in an easily accessible, online location."

Another bill passed is H.R. 872, the Federal Contractor Cybersecurity Vulnerability Reduction Act of 2025. It was introduced by Cybersecurity Subcommittee Chairwoman Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and Subcommittee Ranking Member Shontel Brown (D-Ohio). This bill requires federal contractors to implement a vulnerability disclosure program to protect federal information systems from cyber-attacks. Chairwoman Mace remarked on its significance: “This is a matter of national security... Without basic vulnerability disclosure policies, we are leaving a gaping hole in our cybersecurity defenses.”

H.R. 856, titled the Safe and Smart Federal Procurement Act, was brought forward by Representative Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) and Oversight Committee Ranking Member Gerry Connolly (D-Va.). This legislation calls for an evaluation of the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable provisions in federal procurement processes for potential national security risks. Congressman Donalds highlighted its necessity: “Federal procurement processes—although often overlooked—are critical to the operation of our government and necessitate comprehensive assessment.”

Lastly, H.R. 758, known as the Mail Traffic Deaths Reporting Act, requires the U.S. Postal Service to report injuries and fatalities related to mail transportation vehicles. Introduced by Ranking Member Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) and Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), Chairman Comer noted its purpose: “The Mail Traffic Deaths Reporting Act increases transparency over the Postal Service’s transportation policies in order to ensure American lives are protected.”

These legislative efforts reflect ongoing initiatives within Congress to enhance oversight across various aspects of government operations.