Overview
Title
An Act To amend the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to provide the Congressional Budget Office with necessary authorities to expedite the sharing of data from executive branch agencies, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 7032 is about making sure the group called the Congressional Budget Office can easily get the information they need from different parts of the government to do their work. It says the boss of this office can ask for the information, and they have to keep it secret, just like the rules say.
Summary AI
H.R. 7032, titled the "Congressional Budget Office Data Sharing Act," seeks to enhance the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO) capacity to obtain data from executive branch agencies. It amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 by allowing the CBO Director to access information from these agencies, ensuring confidentiality as required by law. The bill also mandates the CBO Director to report to Congress on any information requests and challenges encountered within a year of the Act's passage.
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AnalysisAI
The Congressional Budget Office Data Sharing Act, proposed under bill H. R. 7032, seeks to enhance the ability of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to access data from executive branch agencies. The principal aim is to amend the existing Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to grant CBO the necessary authorities for expedited data sharing. This change is intended to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the CBO's analysis and reports that inform Congress about budgetary and fiscal matters.
Summary of Significant Issues
Several notable issues arise from this bill. Firstly, the amendment grants the CBO Director the power to request information "with or without written agreement" from executive agencies. This could lead to uncertainties regarding whether explicit agreements are necessary and under what conditions they are appropriate. Furthermore, there is a stipulation that the Director must maintain confidentiality "as required by law." However, without specific guidelines, what constitutes adequate confidentiality could vary between agencies, potentially resulting in inconsistent application.
Another significant point of concern is the clause that prevents any future laws from overriding the Director's authority unless specifically stated. This might cause conflicts with new legislation, potentially leading to legal challenges if there are unclear overlaps between laws. Moreover, the requirement for the CBO Director to compile and submit a detailed report on information requests within a year might place an additional administrative burden on the office, which is not clearly quantified in the bill.
Impact on the Public
For the general public, the primary impact of this bill would likely be indirect. By facilitating more efficient and comprehensive data sharing, the CBO may potentially provide more accurate and timely budgetary analyses, which could result in more informed decision-making by Congress. This, in turn, might lead to better fiscal policies that could positively affect public services, taxation, and government spending efficiency.
However, the administrative burden that comes with compiling detailed reports could lead to an increase in public expenditure, although the extent of this financial impact remains unclear. Additionally, if confidentiality protocols are not uniformly maintained, it might raise concerns about the handling of sensitive information.
Impact on Stakeholders
The bill would primarily affect governmental and regulatory agencies, including the CBO itself. For the CBO, gaining streamlined access to needed data could enhance its ability to perform its duties effectively. However, the potential administrative burden of reporting and the need to navigate confidentiality issues might challenge the CBO's resources.
Executive agencies and commissions might face increased demands for information from the CBO without the clearly defined protection of a written agreement. This ambiguity could lead to complications in understanding and complying with these requests. Moreover, the mandate requiring the confidentiality of shared data might impose additional compliance responsibilities on these agencies.
In conclusion, while the Congressional Budget Office Data Sharing Act is aimed at improving the CBO's operational efficiency, the bill's ambiguities and potential administrative challenges could impact its effectiveness and create unforeseen burdens for both the CBO and executive agencies. The intention behind the bill underscores a desire for improved governance, but careful consideration and possible revisions might be needed to ensure its practical and fair implementation.
Issues
The provision in Section 2(a)(3) stating that 'No provision of law enacted after the date of the enactment of the Congressional Budget Office Data Sharing Act shall be construed to supersede, limit, or otherwise modify the authority of the Director' could potentially lead to future conflicts with other laws unless explicitly stated, possibly causing legal challenges and affecting the legislative process.
The amendment in Section 2(a)(2) allowing the Director to obtain information 'with or without written agreement' might create confusion about the necessity of written agreements, leading to ambiguity in enforcement and compliance among executive agencies.
The requirement in Section 2(b) for the Director to submit a report detailing requests for information within one year may impose an administrative burden, although its scope and potential cost are not clearly defined. This could lead to operational inefficiencies and increased public expenditure.
The language used in the amendments to Section 201(d), as mentioned in Section 2, is complex and could be simplified to improve clarity and accessibility for a non-specialized audience, thereby enhancing public understanding and transparency.
The phrase 'provided that the Director maintains the level of confidentiality required by law' in Section 2(a)(2) could be ambiguous without specific guidelines, potentially leading to inconsistencies in how confidentiality is maintained and understood across different agencies.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the act introduces its short title, which is the “Congressional Budget Office Data Sharing Act.”
2. Requests by CBO of information from executive agencies Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines changes to a law that allow the Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to request information from government agencies while maintaining confidentiality. It also requires the CBO Director to report on these requests and any issues faced when trying to access information within one year of the Act's passage.