Senate Passes Ranking Member Boyle’s Congressional Budget Office Data Sharing Act
Boyle Bill Will Keep Congress Better Informed, Improve CBO’s Ability to Provide Cost Estimates and Reports
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last night, the Senate passed H.R. 7032, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Data Sharing Act, following a unanimous, bipartisan vote in the House. This legislation to improve CBO's ability to provide timely cost estimates and reports was introduced by Pennsylvania Congressman Brendan F. Boyle, Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee. He was joined by House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington as an original cosponsor.
“As Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, ensuring that the dedicated staff of the Congressional Budget Office have the resources they need is one of my top priorities,” said Ranking Member Boyle. “For too long, CBO has faced roadblocks obtaining the data they need to produce the reports and analyses that keep Congress informed. I introduced the CBO Data Sharing Act to remove those roadblocks — and with unanimous, bipartisan approval in the Senate, we are one step closer to delivering this commonsense reform. I want to thank Chairman Arrington and my colleagues in both chambers for their support. I look forward to seeing President Biden sign my bill into law very soon.”
Background:
CBO works collaboratively with executive agencies to get access to data. CBO obtains data in a variety of ways, ranging from informal discussions and email to formal legal agreements involving third-party hosting companies. When receiving data is delayed, it is usually because executive agency employees want to ensure sensitive data is protected. The bill amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (Budget Act) to strengthen and protect CBO's data access authority and related obligations to protect sensitive data sets. This in turn provides CBO with the timely access to information it needs to complete its work for Congress. Ultimately, this will make Congress more efficient and ensure that Members and committees get the information they request from CBO in a timely manner.
A fact sheet on the CBO Data Sharing Act is available here and the text is available here.
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