Congressional Evidence-Based Policymaking Resolution

Bill Number: H.Con.Res. 32
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Congress
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-05-13: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Last Updated: 2025-11-13T09:05:45Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This concurrent resolution establishes the Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking to review federal data practices, analyze their use in policymaking, and provide recommendations to Congress. The goal is to promote "evidence-building" (gathering reliable data on program effectiveness) and "evidence-based policymaking" (using that data to inform laws and decisions), building on the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018.

Key Provisions

Commission Establishment: Creates a temporary commission in the legislative branch with 12 members appointed within 45 days of the resolution's adoption. Appointments are balanced across House and Senate leaders (three each from Speaker, House Minority Leader, Senate Majority Leader, and Senate Minority Leader).
Members include: academic experts in Congress, social science, or data science; former congressional members or senior staff; and employees from offices involved in data tasks (e.g., Congressional Data Task Force).
Current Members of Congress are ineligible to serve.
Co-chairs are selected by the House Speaker and Senate Majority Leader.
Staffing and Operations:
Appoints a Director (paid up to Executive Schedule Level V, about $150,000 annually) and up to 8 full-time and 4 part-time staff.
Staff are covered by the Congressional Accountability Act (which applies workplace protections like anti-discrimination rules to congressional employees).
Allows detailing (temporary assignment) of House or Senate employees to the commission.
Duties and Recommendations:
Study ways to integrate evidence into federal policymaking, including:
Encouraging agencies to prioritize data on program effectiveness for new initiatives or renewals.
Supporting states in making data more accessible.
Revising laws to improve access to administrative (government records) and survey data for research.
Incorporating tools like outcome measurements (tracking results) and impact analysis (evaluating effects) into lawmaking.
Enabling Congress to use real-time, structured, machine-readable data in legislation.
Exploring a congressional Chief Data Officer role (a senior position to oversee data strategy, possibly in a new office).
Boosting congressional expertise by hiring technologists, data scientists, privacy experts, and others for policy evaluation and drafting.
Recommendations require a two-thirds vote to be adopted.
Reporting:
Interim reports on findings as needed (requiring two-thirds agreement).
Final report due by the end of the 119th Congress (January 3, 2027).
Funding: Authorizes necessary appropriations, split equally (50%) between House and Senate funds.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Introduces a new bipartisan commission focused specifically on congressional use of federal data, extending the 2018 Act (which mainly targeted executive branch agencies).
No direct amendments to prior laws, but recommends potential revisions to improve data access and integration into the legislative process, which could lead to future statutory changes.
Establishes novel roles like a potential Chief Data Officer for Congress, absent in current law.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: May pressure federal agencies to generate more evidence on program outcomes, fostering collaboration with Congress and states for data sharing; could streamline policymaking but increase administrative burdens for data production.
Citizens: Indirect benefits through more effective, data-informed laws (e.g., better-targeted programs in areas like health or education); potential privacy risks if data access expands without strong safeguards.
International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though improved U.S. data practices could enhance global policy benchmarking or research collaborations.
Overall, aims to modernize Congress's approach to legislation, potentially leading to more efficient government spending and policy outcomes.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Congress: House and Senate leaders, staff, and support offices (e.g., data task forces) directly involved in appointments, staffing, and implementing recommendations.
Federal Agencies: Executive branch entities required to produce and share evidence, potentially facing new mandates.
States and Researchers: Benefit from easier data access for state-level analysis and academic studies.
Experts and Professionals: Academics, data scientists, former lawmakers, and privacy specialists who may serve on the commission or be hired for expertise.
Citizens and Advocacy Groups: Affected indirectly via policies informed by better data, with privacy advocates monitoring data access changes.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Ensures compliance with existing privacy laws (e.g., via the 2018 Act) but recommendations could spark debates on balancing data access with protections under laws like the Privacy Act. Commission employees gain workplace rights under the Congressional Accountability Act.
Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's Article I powers to oversee federal operations and appropriate funds; promotes informed legislation without altering separation of powers.
Political: Bipartisan structure (balanced appointments, two-thirds vote threshold) encourages consensus but may slow decisions; could reduce partisan policymaking by emphasizing data over ideology, though implementation depends on future Congresses. As a concurrent resolution, it requires House-Senate agreement but does not need presidential approval, limiting its binding force to advisory recommendations.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4]

Cosponsors (6)

Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2], Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]

Recent Actions

2025-05-13: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2025-05-13: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2025-05-13: Submitted in House
2025-05-13: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

Congressional Evidence-Based Policymaking Resolution — issued 2025-05-13 — PDF (8 pages)