H.R. 4258: Improving Digital Identity Act of 2021

117th Congress · introduced 2021-06-30 · Science, Technology, Communications · Latest: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 15.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2021-06-30 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 15. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Improving Digital Identity Act of 2021

Plain summary

Improving Digital Identity Act of 2021 This bill establishes the Improving Digital Identity Task Force to establish a government-wide effort to develop secure methods for governmental agencies to validate identity attributes to protect the privacy and security of individuals and support reliable, interoperable digital identity verification in the public and private sectors. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) shall develop and periodically update a framework of standards, methodologies, procedures, and processes as a guide for federal, state, and local governments to follow when providing services to support digital identity verification. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall award grants to states to upgrade systems that provide drivers' licenses or other types of identity credentials to support the development of highly secure, interoperable state systems that enable digital identity verification. The Government Accountability Office shall submit to Congress a report that includes (1) an analysis of legal and regulatory requirements with respect to the collection and retention of Social Security numbers by nongovernmental organizations, and (2) a recommendation on the necessity and effectiveness of any such legal and regulatory requirement analyzed and the use of a form of identification other than a Social Security number. DHS shall issue binding operational directives to federal agencies to implement (1) the Digital Identity Guidelines published by NIST; and (2) the memorandum of the Office of Management and Budget issued on May 21, 2019, which includes the subject Enabling Mission Delivery through Improved Identity, Credential, and Access Management .

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Improving Digital Identity Act of 2021

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11] · 13 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 4258, Improving Digital Identity Act of 2021 (2022-11-04)

Cosponsors on this site

Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Al Green (D-TX), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11] reported raising $2.6 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117hr4258.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/hr>

Record fed-us-cong117-hr4258 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117