The Daily Scoop Podcast – Episode Summary
Episode: Agency software-buying bill advances in the House
Date: December 3, 2025
Host: Billy Mitchell
Main Theme
This episode focuses on recent legislative actions in the House concerning federal government technology and software procurement. The main stories are:
- The advancement of the Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets (SOMOZA) Act
- The passage of an SBA IT modernization bill responding to a problematic platform rollout
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. SOMOZA Act Progresses in the House
- [00:32] The SOMOZA Act, intended to reform government software procurement, has cleared the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, positioning it for a full House vote.
- The bill would require agencies to assess existing software licensing and streamline future IT acquisitions to prevent redundancy.
- Legislative History:
- Reintroduced in the House in September after the Senate acted in July.
- Passed in the House last year, but stalled in the Senate.
- Has support from major software and IT trade groups, including:
- Computer and Communications Industry Association
- Alliance for Digital Innovation
- NetChoice
- Open Policy
- Software Information Industry Association
- Speaker Quote:
- "The current iteration of the SOMOZA Act is identical to what was passed in the chamber last year." — Billy Mitchell, summarizing Chairman James Comey's remark ([01:23])
- Congress has attempted to pass the legislation since at least 2022, underscoring the persistent challenge of government software asset management.
2. SBA Modernization Bill Responds to Tech Rollout Failures
- [01:37] The House passed a bill requiring the Small Business Administration to address nearly a dozen GAO recommendations about its problematic unified certification platform (UCP).
- Background:
- The UCP was launched in 2023 to improve access for small businesses to SBA contract assistance.
- The rollout encountered significant issues:
- Deployment delays
- A pause in application processing in August 2024
- Concerns about incomplete data migration and system security upon later launch
- Speaker Quote:
- "The failed portal rollout resulted in delays, errors and cybersecurity risks, shutting out small businesses from vital government contracting opportunities." — Billy Mitchell, summarizing Chairman Roger Williams' remarks ([02:34])
- The SBA IT Modernization Reporting Act, led by Reps. Gil Cisneros (D-CA) and Brian Jack (R-GA), aims to ensure better management and oversight of SBA’s digital projects going forward.
Memorable Quotes
- On legislative persistence:
- "Congress has been trying to move forward with the SOMOZA Act since at least 2022." — Billy Mitchell, ([01:12])
- On the impact of IT failures:
- "Shutting out small businesses from the vital government contracting opportunities." — summarizing Roger Williams ([02:38])
Notable Timestamps
- [00:32] – SOMOZA Act advancement overview
- [01:23] – Details on House and Senate legislative process/committee remark
- [01:37] – Transition to SBA IT Modernization story
- [02:34] – House Small Business Committee Chair’s remarks on UCP failures
Tone & Language
- Informative and succinct, with a clear focus on legislative process and technological impact.
- Balanced reporting; quotes used to convey official sentiment and underscore the urgency behind legislative actions.
Summary Table
| Segment | Timestamps | Key Points | |---------------------|-------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | SOMOZA Act | 00:32–01:37 | House advances software asset management bill; longstanding effort; trade group support | | SBA Modernization | 01:37–02:34 | Bill compels SBA to fix issues after tech platform rollout fails; aims to protect small business |
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