Overview
Title
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 lets the people in charge of checking the country's money get important information faster and easier from other government groups, to make sure everything is added up correctly. It also says that other new rules can't take away this power unless they say so directly.
Summary AI
H. R. 7032, titled the "Congressional Budget Office Data Sharing Act," aims to enhance the ability of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to gather data from executive branch agencies. The bill modifies the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to ensure the CBO can obtain necessary information swiftly, maintaining the required levels of confidentiality. It also specifies that no future law can change this authority unless explicitly stated. Additionally, the CBO must report on any challenges encountered in accessing this information within one year after the bill's enactment.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The proposed legislation, titled the "Congressional Budget Office Data Sharing Act," aims to amend the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974. It intends to facilitate the sharing of data between the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and executive branch agencies. By providing the CBO with necessary authorities, the bill seeks to expedite the process of obtaining information from these agencies, ensuring that the CBO has access to the data required for its analyses and reports. The bill outlines amendments to current laws and mandates that the Director of the CBO maintain confidentiality when handling shared information.
Summary of Significant Issues
Several key issues arise from the proposed changes:
Future Legislation Conflicts: The bill states that no future law can override the CBO Director's authority to request information unless explicitly stated. This could lead to legal conflicts or ambiguities with new laws, impacting congressional dynamics and legislative supremacy.
Agreements for Data Sharing: The amendment allows for data sharing "with or without written agreement," which may create uncertainty regarding when formal agreements are necessary. This could affect the transparency and accountability of interactions between the CBO and executive agencies.
Administrative Burden: The requirement for the CBO Director to report on the information requests could create a significant administrative burden. This could impact how the CBO allocates its resources and performs its tasks without clear guidelines on the report's scope and cost.
Confidentiality Ambiguities: The mandate to maintain confidentiality "as required by law" lacks specific guidelines, potentially leading to varied interpretations and inconsistencies in handling sensitive information across different agencies.
Complex Language: The legal language used in the bill may be complex, which might limit understanding and engagement from the general public who are not specialized in legislative or legal matters.
Potential Impact on the Public and Stakeholders
Impact on the General Public
The bill aims to streamline data sharing between federal entities, which could lead to more accurate and timely analysis by the Congressional Budget Office. This might indirectly benefit the public by improving the quality of information available for legislative decision-making, potentially leading to better-informed policy decisions that affect everyday life.
Impact on Government Agencies
For executive branch agencies, the bill could mean a more structured and possibly expedited process for sharing information with the CBO. However, the lack of specificity regarding agreements and confidentiality might present operational challenges, requiring agencies to adapt their compliance and data handling procedures.
Impact on the Congressional Budget Office
The CBO might experience both benefits and challenges. The ability to gather information more efficiently could enhance its analytical capabilities. Conversely, the reporting requirement could stretch its administrative resources, affecting its ability to conduct comprehensive budget analysis and reporting.
Impact on Legislative Processes
Overall, the bill's emphasis on maintaining the CBO's data access authority could uphold the office's independent analysis function essential for Congress. However, potential conflicts with future legislation could pose challenges to legislative efficiency and clarity if not carefully navigated.
In conclusion, while the bill aims to promote efficient data sharing, several aspects require careful consideration to avoid unintended consequences for agencies and the legislative framework as a whole. The clarity and simplicity of language could also be improved to enhance public comprehension and engagement.
Issues
The provision in Section 2(a)(2) stating that no law enacted after the Congressional Budget Office Data Sharing Act will supersede, limit, or modify the authority of the Director unless specifically stated could create potential conflicts or legal ambiguities with future legislation, impacting the balance of powers and legislative supremacy.
The amendment in Section 2(a) allowing the Director to obtain information 'with or without written agreement' may lead to ambiguity and potential disputes regarding the need for formal agreements, possibly affecting the transparency and accountability of data sharing between the CBO and 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 on the Congressional Budget Office. However, without clear definitions of the scope and cost, this requirement might impact resource allocation within the CBO.
In Section 2(a), the mandate that the Director maintains confidentiality 'as required by law' could be ambiguous without specific guidelines or criteria, potentially leading to inconsistencies in how confidential information is handled across different agencies.
The language used in Section 2 could be simplified to improve clarity and accessibility, making the legislation more understandable to stakeholders not specialized in legal or legislative terminology. This could enhance public engagement and comprehension of the legislative process.
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.