Legis Daily

Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018

USA115th CongressHR-4174| House 
| Updated: 1/14/2019
Paul D. Ryan

Paul D. Ryan

Republican Representative

Wisconsin

Cosponsors (3)
Derek Kilmer (Democratic)Trey Gowdy (Republican)Blake Farenthold (Republican)

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 This bill requires agency data to be accessible and requires agencies to plan to develop statistical evidence to support policymaking. TITLE I--FEDERAL EVIDENCE-BUILDING ACTIVITIES (Sec. 101) The bill requires agencies to submit annually to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Congress a systematic plan for identifying and addressing policy questions. The plan must include, among other things questions for developing evidence to support policymaking; data the agency intends to collect, use, or acquire to facilitate the use of evidence in policymaking; methods and analytical approaches that may be used to develop evidence to support policymaking; and challenges to developing evidence to support policymaking, including any statutory or other restrictions to accessing relevant data. Each agency shall designate a senior employee as Evaluation Officer to coordinate evidence-building activities and an official with statistical expertise to advise on statistical policy, techniques, and procedures. The OMB shall establish an Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence Building. Agency strategic plans shall contain an assessment of the coverage, quality, methods, effectiveness, and independence of the agency's statistics, evaluation, research, and analysis efforts. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) shall submit to Congress a report that (1) summarizes agency findings and highlights trends in the assessment, and (2) recommends actions to further improve agency capacity to use evaluation techniques and data to support evaluation efforts. The OMB shall issue guidance for program evaluation and identify best practices for evaluation. Agencies must implement such guidance. The Office of Personnel Management shall, for program evaluation within an agency, identify key skills and competencies, establish or update an occupational series, and establish a new career path. TITLE II--OPEN GOVERNMENT DATA ACT Open, Public, Electronic, and Necessary Government Data Act or the OPEN Government Data Act (Sec. 202) This bill requires public government data assets to be published as machine-readable data. The General Services Administration must maintain an online federal data catalogue to provide a single point of entry for the public to access agency data. Each agency shall develop and maintain a comprehensive data inventory and designate a Chief Data Officer. The bill establishes in the OMB a Chief Data Officer Council for establishing government-wide best practices for the use, protection, dissemination, and generation of data and for promoting data sharing agreements among agencies. The GAO shall report to Congress identifying (1) the value of information made available to the public as a result of this bill, (2) whether publishing information that has not yet been published would be valuable to the public, and (3) the completeness of each comprehensive data inventory developed. The OMB shall biennially report on agency performance and compliance with this bill. TITLE III--CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION PROTECTION AND STATISTICAL EFFICIENCY Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2018 (Sec. 302) The bill codifies and revises the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002. Each statistical agency or unit shall (1) produce and disseminate relevant and timely statistical information; (2) conduct credible, accurate, and objective statistical activities; and (3) protect the trust of information providers by ensuring the confidentiality and exclusive statistical use of their responses. (Sec. 303) An agency shall make data assets available to any statistical agency or unit for purposes of developing evidence. This shall not apply to any data asset that is subject to a statute that prohibits the sharing or intended use of such asset. Each statistical agency or unit shall expand access to data assets acquired or accessed to develop evidence while protecting such assets from inappropriate access and use. The OMB shall (1) make public all standards and policies established under this bill; (2) ensure that statistical agencies and units have the ability to make information public on the federal data catalogue; and (3) establish a process through which agencies, the Congressional Budget Office, state, local, and tribal governments, researchers, and other individuals may apply to access the data assets accessed or acquired by a statistical agency or unit for purposes of developing evidence.

Bill Text Versions

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Timeline
Oct 31, 2017
Introduced in House
Oct 31, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Nov 2, 2017
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Nov 2, 2017
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Nov 15, 2017
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 303.
Nov 15, 2017
Reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 115-411.
Nov 15, 2017
Mr. Farenthold moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Nov 15, 2017
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9281-9291)
Nov 15, 2017
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4174.
Nov 15, 2017
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H9281-9288)
Nov 15, 2017
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H9281-9288)
Nov 15, 2017
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Nov 16, 2017
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Dec 19, 2018
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7871-7878)
Dec 19, 2018
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7871-7878)
Dec 19, 2018
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 19, 2018
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7870-7878)
Dec 19, 2018
Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Dec 21, 2018
Mr. Walker moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment. (consideration: CR H10518-10526; text as House agree to Senate amendment: CR H10518-10525)
Dec 21, 2018
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 4174.
Dec 21, 2018
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Dec 21, 2018
On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 356 - 17 (Roll no. 484).
View Vote
Dec 21, 2018
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 31, 2018
Pursuant to the provisions of H. Con. Res. 149, enrollment corrections on H.R. 4174 have been made.
Jan 2, 2019
Presented to President.
Jan 14, 2019
Signed by President.
Jan 14, 2019
Became Public Law No: 115-435.
  • October 31, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • October 31, 2017
    Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.


  • November 2, 2017
    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.


  • November 2, 2017
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • November 15, 2017
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 303.


  • November 15, 2017
    Reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 115-411.


  • November 15, 2017
    Mr. Farenthold moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • November 15, 2017
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9281-9291)


  • November 15, 2017
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4174.


  • November 15, 2017
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H9281-9288)


  • November 15, 2017
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H9281-9288)


  • November 15, 2017
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • November 16, 2017
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.


  • December 19, 2018
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7871-7878)


  • December 19, 2018
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7871-7878)


  • December 19, 2018
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • December 19, 2018
    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7870-7878)


  • December 19, 2018
    Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.


  • December 21, 2018
    Mr. Walker moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment. (consideration: CR H10518-10526; text as House agree to Senate amendment: CR H10518-10525)


  • December 21, 2018
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 4174.


  • December 21, 2018
    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.


  • December 21, 2018
    On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 356 - 17 (Roll no. 484).
    View Vote


  • December 21, 2018
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • December 31, 2018
    Pursuant to the provisions of H. Con. Res. 149, enrollment corrections on H.R. 4174 have been made.


  • January 2, 2019
    Presented to President.


  • January 14, 2019
    Signed by President.


  • January 14, 2019
    Became Public Law No: 115-435.

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • S 115-2046: A bill to amend titles 5 and 44, United States Code, to require Federal evaluation activities, improve Federal data management, and for other purposes.
  • HCONRES 115-149: Directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make certain corrections in the enrollment of H.R. 4174.
Administrative remediesAdvisory bodiesBusiness recordsCensus and government statisticsComputers and information technologyComputer security and identity theftCongressional oversightEvidence and witnessesExecutive agency funding and structureFederal officialsGovernment information and archivesOffice of Management and Budget (OMB)Performance measurementPolicy sciencesRight of privacyTechnology assessment

Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018

USA115th CongressHR-4174| House 
| Updated: 1/14/2019
Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 This bill requires agency data to be accessible and requires agencies to plan to develop statistical evidence to support policymaking. TITLE I--FEDERAL EVIDENCE-BUILDING ACTIVITIES (Sec. 101) The bill requires agencies to submit annually to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Congress a systematic plan for identifying and addressing policy questions. The plan must include, among other things questions for developing evidence to support policymaking; data the agency intends to collect, use, or acquire to facilitate the use of evidence in policymaking; methods and analytical approaches that may be used to develop evidence to support policymaking; and challenges to developing evidence to support policymaking, including any statutory or other restrictions to accessing relevant data. Each agency shall designate a senior employee as Evaluation Officer to coordinate evidence-building activities and an official with statistical expertise to advise on statistical policy, techniques, and procedures. The OMB shall establish an Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence Building. Agency strategic plans shall contain an assessment of the coverage, quality, methods, effectiveness, and independence of the agency's statistics, evaluation, research, and analysis efforts. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) shall submit to Congress a report that (1) summarizes agency findings and highlights trends in the assessment, and (2) recommends actions to further improve agency capacity to use evaluation techniques and data to support evaluation efforts. The OMB shall issue guidance for program evaluation and identify best practices for evaluation. Agencies must implement such guidance. The Office of Personnel Management shall, for program evaluation within an agency, identify key skills and competencies, establish or update an occupational series, and establish a new career path. TITLE II--OPEN GOVERNMENT DATA ACT Open, Public, Electronic, and Necessary Government Data Act or the OPEN Government Data Act (Sec. 202) This bill requires public government data assets to be published as machine-readable data. The General Services Administration must maintain an online federal data catalogue to provide a single point of entry for the public to access agency data. Each agency shall develop and maintain a comprehensive data inventory and designate a Chief Data Officer. The bill establishes in the OMB a Chief Data Officer Council for establishing government-wide best practices for the use, protection, dissemination, and generation of data and for promoting data sharing agreements among agencies. The GAO shall report to Congress identifying (1) the value of information made available to the public as a result of this bill, (2) whether publishing information that has not yet been published would be valuable to the public, and (3) the completeness of each comprehensive data inventory developed. The OMB shall biennially report on agency performance and compliance with this bill. TITLE III--CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION PROTECTION AND STATISTICAL EFFICIENCY Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2018 (Sec. 302) The bill codifies and revises the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002. Each statistical agency or unit shall (1) produce and disseminate relevant and timely statistical information; (2) conduct credible, accurate, and objective statistical activities; and (3) protect the trust of information providers by ensuring the confidentiality and exclusive statistical use of their responses. (Sec. 303) An agency shall make data assets available to any statistical agency or unit for purposes of developing evidence. This shall not apply to any data asset that is subject to a statute that prohibits the sharing or intended use of such asset. Each statistical agency or unit shall expand access to data assets acquired or accessed to develop evidence while protecting such assets from inappropriate access and use. The OMB shall (1) make public all standards and policies established under this bill; (2) ensure that statistical agencies and units have the ability to make information public on the federal data catalogue; and (3) establish a process through which agencies, the Congressional Budget Office, state, local, and tribal governments, researchers, and other individuals may apply to access the data assets accessed or acquired by a statistical agency or unit for purposes of developing evidence.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
7 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Oct 31, 2017
Introduced in House
Oct 31, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Nov 2, 2017
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Nov 2, 2017
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Nov 15, 2017
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 303.
Nov 15, 2017
Reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 115-411.
Nov 15, 2017
Mr. Farenthold moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Nov 15, 2017
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9281-9291)
Nov 15, 2017
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4174.
Nov 15, 2017
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H9281-9288)
Nov 15, 2017
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H9281-9288)
Nov 15, 2017
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Nov 16, 2017
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Dec 19, 2018
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7871-7878)
Dec 19, 2018
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7871-7878)
Dec 19, 2018
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 19, 2018
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7870-7878)
Dec 19, 2018
Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Dec 21, 2018
Mr. Walker moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment. (consideration: CR H10518-10526; text as House agree to Senate amendment: CR H10518-10525)
Dec 21, 2018
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 4174.
Dec 21, 2018
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Dec 21, 2018
On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 356 - 17 (Roll no. 484).
View Vote
Dec 21, 2018
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 31, 2018
Pursuant to the provisions of H. Con. Res. 149, enrollment corrections on H.R. 4174 have been made.
Jan 2, 2019
Presented to President.
Jan 14, 2019
Signed by President.
Jan 14, 2019
Became Public Law No: 115-435.
  • October 31, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • October 31, 2017
    Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.


  • November 2, 2017
    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.


  • November 2, 2017
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • November 15, 2017
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 303.


  • November 15, 2017
    Reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 115-411.


  • November 15, 2017
    Mr. Farenthold moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • November 15, 2017
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9281-9291)


  • November 15, 2017
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4174.


  • November 15, 2017
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H9281-9288)


  • November 15, 2017
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H9281-9288)


  • November 15, 2017
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • November 16, 2017
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.


  • December 19, 2018
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7871-7878)


  • December 19, 2018
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7871-7878)


  • December 19, 2018
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • December 19, 2018
    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7870-7878)


  • December 19, 2018
    Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.


  • December 21, 2018
    Mr. Walker moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment. (consideration: CR H10518-10526; text as House agree to Senate amendment: CR H10518-10525)


  • December 21, 2018
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 4174.


  • December 21, 2018
    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.


  • December 21, 2018
    On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 356 - 17 (Roll no. 484).
    View Vote


  • December 21, 2018
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • December 31, 2018
    Pursuant to the provisions of H. Con. Res. 149, enrollment corrections on H.R. 4174 have been made.


  • January 2, 2019
    Presented to President.


  • January 14, 2019
    Signed by President.


  • January 14, 2019
    Became Public Law No: 115-435.
Paul D. Ryan

Paul D. Ryan

Republican Representative

Wisconsin

Cosponsors (3)
Derek Kilmer (Democratic)Trey Gowdy (Republican)Blake Farenthold (Republican)

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • S 115-2046: A bill to amend titles 5 and 44, United States Code, to require Federal evaluation activities, improve Federal data management, and for other purposes.
  • HCONRES 115-149: Directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make certain corrections in the enrollment of H.R. 4174.
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative remediesAdvisory bodiesBusiness recordsCensus and government statisticsComputers and information technologyComputer security and identity theftCongressional oversightEvidence and witnessesExecutive agency funding and structureFederal officialsGovernment information and archivesOffice of Management and Budget (OMB)Performance measurementPolicy sciencesRight of privacyTechnology assessment