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Congressmen Issa (R-Ca.) and Connolly (D-Va.) Launch Cloud Computing Caucus; Non-Profit Advisory Group to Support Cloud Efforts
[January 16, 2014]

Congressmen Issa (R-Ca.) and Connolly (D-Va.) Launch Cloud Computing Caucus; Non-Profit Advisory Group to Support Cloud Efforts


WASHINGTON --(Business Wire)--

The Cloud Computing Caucus Advisory Group, a newly-formed, non-profit, non-partisan coalition of industry and key government stakeholders, focused on raising awareness of issues associated with cloud computing, announced its plans to support the Cloud Computing Caucus. The Cloud Computing Caucus is co-chaired by Congressmen Darrell Issa (R-Ca.) and Gerry Connolly (D-Va.). Details on the Cloud Computing Caucus Advisory Group are available at www.cloudcomputingcaucus.org.

Congressman Connolly (D-Va.) (Photo: Business Wire)

Congressman Connolly (D-Va.) (Photo: Business Wire)

Three years have passed since the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued the Cloud First policy, mandating that Federal agencies take full advantage of cloud computing benefits to maximize capacity utilization, improve IT flexibility and responsiveness, and minimize cost. MeriTalk research shows agencies are saving $5.5 billion with cloud implementations but could achieve even greater potential savings of an estimated $12 billion annually. Yet, the Federal cloud landscape still lacks widespread adoption - the Federal Risk Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) has approved only 11 certified cloud computing providers to date.1

"In order to take advantage of all that cloud computing can do to improve Federal government activities, we are pleased to announce the formation of the Congressional Cloud Computing Caucus," said Chairman Issa (R-Ca.), Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and co-chair of the Cloud Computing Caucus. "This bipartisan caucus will be dedicated to fosteing awareness and understanding of this critical IT issue."



"With a growing demand for cloud adoption, members and policy makers need to understand the untapped potential of cloud computing, the realized savings to date, and remaining challenges to full implementation across the federal government," said Congressman Connolly (D-Va.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Government Operations and co-chair of the Cloud Computing Caucus. "The Cloud Computing Caucus and the Advisory Group will play a critical role in raising awareness of these issues and ensuring lawmakers have the necessary facts and knowledge to develop policies that promote effective adoption of cloud computing."

The Cloud Computing Caucus Advisory Group's online platform will include relevant cloud news, cloud computing research, a cloud savings calculator, and serve as the sounding board for cloud discussion. In addition to an online presence, the Cloud Computing Caucus Advisory Group will host quarterly, in-person "Hillversation" meetings on Capitol Hill to bring together cloud computing experts to discuss their cloud priorities, pain points, and best practices. The first Hillversation will take place in late February and will focus on "Viewpoints on FedRAMP."


"One thing Republicans and Democrats agree on is the IT forecast - and it is cloudy," said Steve O'Keeffe, founder of MeriTalk and founding supporter of the Cloud Computing Caucus Advisory Group. "We look forward to working with Congressmen Issa and Connolly, as well as other law makers, to help fix Federal IT."

"The Cloud Computing Caucus Advisory Group will play an important role in keeping lawmakers informed about Federal IT and cloud computing," said Teresa Carlson (News - Alert), Vice President, Worldwide Public Sector, Amazon Web Services (AWS), a founding supporter of the Cloud Computing Caucus Advisory Group. "AWS is committed to supporting the Advisory Group's efforts and offering guidance to Federal lawmakers on the issues surrounding cloud computing. We are honored to be a founding supporter of a program with such a significant impact on the future of cloud computing."

Thank you to the founding supporters of the Cloud Computing Caucus Advisory Group - Amazon, Microsoft, and EMC (News - Alert). For more on the inaugural Hillversation as well as the latest developments of the Cloud Computing Caucus Advisory Group, please visit www.cloudcomputingcaucus.org.

About the Cloud Computing Caucus Advisory Group

The Cloud Computing Caucus Advisory Group is a non-profit, non-partisan coalition of technology companies and industry groups focused on educating lawmakers and the public about cloud computing as well as other information technology issues. The Cloud Computing Caucus Advisory Group is driven by the understanding that sound policy relies on a full understanding of the issues affecting Federal information technology. It is separate and distinct from the Cloud Computing Caucus, a Congressional Member Organization. For more information on the Cloud Computing Caucus Advisory Group, please visit www.cloudcomputingcaucus.org or follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @CloudCaucusAG.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to competition, management of growth, new products, services and technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment and data center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's (News - Alert) financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings.

1 As of December 20, 2013


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