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
The bill is like giving Congress special tools to ask the President's helpers for information they need, making sure it happens fast and correctly. It also makes sure that new rules can't easily change this, unless they say so clearly.
Summary AI
H.R. 7032 aims to update the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to enhance the ability of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to obtain information from executive branch agencies more quickly. The bill clarifies that no new laws will weaken CBO's authority to access data, unless the laws explicitly state so. Additionally, it requires the CBO Director to report annually on the information requests made under the new provisions and any related access challenges. The bill has passed the House of Representatives.
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AnalysisAI
Overview of the Bill
The Congressional Budget Office Data Sharing Act (H. R. 7032) is a legislative proposal aimed at enhancing the ability of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to access data from executive branch agencies. The act amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to facilitate smoother data sharing while ensuring that necessary confidentiality is maintained. The bill passed the House of Representatives and is currently with the Senate.
Significant Issues
One of the main changes introduced by the bill is the authorization for the CBO Director to obtain information from federal agencies "with or without written agreement." This provision could lead to confusion and inconsistency about whether written agreements are necessary for data requests, potentially causing friction between the CBO and data-providing agencies.
Another important aspect is the directive that no new law enacted after this bill can modify the CBO’s authority to obtain information, unless the new law explicitly refers to this provision. This could create legal complications, as any future law intending to affect the CBO would require explicit mention of this adjustment—a detail that might be inadvertently overlooked.
The responsibility placed on the CBO Director to maintain confidentiality is another point of contention. The bill states that the director must maintain the confidentiality level "required by law," without providing specific guidelines on how this should be ensured. This vagueness could lead to risks of confidentiality breaches.
Additionally, the bill mandates that the CBO Director submit a report listing information requests and challenges encountered within a year of the act's passage. While transparency is valuable, this requirement could impose significant administrative duties, especially if the scope and cost of compiling such a report are substantial.
Potential Impact on the Public
Expedited sharing of data could lead to better-informed budgetary decisions by Congress, potentially improving fiscal policy effectiveness and economic outcomes for the general public. With more timely and accurate data, policymakers could address issues such as budget allocations and policy impacts more efficiently.
However, any ambiguities in the law's provisions could lead to disruptions or delays in how the CBO and government agencies interact. Should disputes arise regarding data requests, these could stall the sharing of information crucial for policy decisions.
Stakeholder Impact
For the CBO, the act significantly increases the scope and ease of data access, potentially enhancing its ability to perform its duties effectively. However, the increased administrative responsibilities, particularly the reporting requirement, might require additional resources or staffing adjustments.
For executive agencies, while the mandate to share information might streamline processes and foster transparency, uncertainties about when written agreements are necessary could create operational challenges. These agencies might also experience increased demands on their systems to accommodate more frequent data sharing.
In conclusion, while the Congressional Budget Office Data Sharing Act promises improvements in data accessibility and potentially better policy outcomes, it raises various legal and operational issues that stakeholders must carefully consider and address to ensure its effective implementation.
Issues
The amendment in section 201(d) that allows the Director to obtain information 'with or without written agreement' might lead to ambiguity regarding when a written agreement is necessary. This could result in potential legal and operational disputes concerning data sharing procedures.
The provision in section 201(d) 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' poses a risk of future legal conflicts unless new laws explicitly address this act. This could lead to substantial legal and operational challenges in the future.
The requirement for the Director to maintain confidentiality as per section 201(d) includes the phrase 'provided that the Director maintains the level of confidentiality required by law', which is potentially ambiguous. Without specific guidelines, this can lead to confidentiality breaches or non-compliance risks.
The requirement in section 2(b) for the Director to submit a report detailing information requests within one year could impose an administrative burden, yet the scope and potential financial costs are undefined, raising concerns about resource allocation and operational efficiency.
The language across sections could be simplified to improve clarity and accessibility, which would help ensure that the general public and those not specialized in legislative or legal terminology understand the act's provisions.
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.