The House Committee on Oversight and Reform on April 6 approved legislation that would open a new pipeline for computer equipment from the Federal government to students and veterans.
The Computers for Veterans and Students Act would require the General Services Administration (GSA) to transfer “Federal agencies’ surplus computers and equipment to nonprofits dedicated to refurbishing and distributing the technology to veterans, schools, low-income individuals, and seniors in an effort to close the digital divide.”
The bipartisan legislation was introduced by Reps. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., Rob Wittman, R-Va., and Elaine Luria, D-Va.
The text of the bill notes that GSA’s Computers for Learning Program current distributes surplus computers and related technology from Federal agencies to schools and educational nonprofits, but that program does not allow property to be transferred directly to refurbishers.
The Computers for Veterans and Students Act was one of several bills approved by the committee to improve government functions, and prevent the Federal government from doing business with companies still operating in Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
Among those other bills passed include the Access for Veterans to Records Act, the Measuring Real Income Growth Act, the Targeting Resources to Communities in Need Act of 2022, the Measuring Real Income Growth Act, the Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act, the Chance to Compete Act, and the Federal Contracting for Peace and Security Act.
