Congressional Budget Office Data Access Act

Congressional Budget Office Data Access Act

This bill exempts the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) from the Privacy Act of 1974 to expedite the sharing of data and information between CBO and federal agencies.

Under current law, the Privacy Act of 1974 generally prohibits federal agencies from disclosing certain records pertaining to an individual without the individual's prior written consent. This bill allows federal agencies to disclose such records to CBO (or to an authorized representative of CBO) without obtaining the prior written consent of the individual.

Several agencies, including the Government Accountability Office and the National Archives and Records Administration, are currently exempt from these requirements, and this bill adds CBO to the list of exemptions.

Bill 118 s 1549, also known as the Congressional Budget Office Data Access Act, is a piece of legislation that aims to increase transparency and accessibility of data produced by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The CBO is a nonpartisan agency that provides economic and budgetary analysis to Congress, and its data is crucial for lawmakers to make informed decisions on legislation.

The main purpose of this bill is to ensure that the public and Congress have easier access to the data and analysis produced by the CBO. It requires the CBO to make its data available in a machine-readable format on its website, allowing for easier analysis and comparison of budgetary information. This will help increase transparency and accountability in the budgeting process.

Additionally, the bill requires the CBO to provide training and technical assistance to Congress and the public on how to use the data effectively. This will help ensure that lawmakers and the public can make informed decisions based on the CBO's analysis. Overall, the Congressional Budget Office Data Access Act aims to improve transparency and accessibility of important budgetary data produced by the CBO, ultimately leading to more informed decision-making by Congress and the public.