Finally, while I'll leave it to Simon Blackwell to address in greater detail the provisions of S. 803 as they relate to the potential of XML, I do want to mention the point highlighted in red on this slide. What is identified in the legislation as "standardized methods for navigating ... government information" ultimately translates into capture of the pertinent attributes of each E-record in appropriate elements of metadata. With such metadata, appropriately structured in XML and made accessible for queries and reporting on the Internet, a new era of efficiency and accountability will be born. At that point, excuses for the failure of public officials to act responsibly will begin to wear more and more thin.
