Congress is creating a special commission to figure out how to make better use of government data when making laws and policies. Right now, Congress often passes laws without solid evidence about whether similar programs actually work or what results they produce. This commission will study how Congress can do better.

The commission will have 12 members—a mix of academic researchers, former members of Congress, and government data experts—appointed by the leadership of both the House and Senate. They'll spend time looking at practical questions like: How can Congress get federal agencies to test whether their programs actually work? How can lawmakers access real-time data to inform their decisions? Should Congress hire a Chief Data Officer to manage information? And how can Congress bring in more data scientists and tech experts to help write better laws?

The commission will work until the end of the current congressional session and must submit a final report with their recommendations. Any recommendations need approval from at least two-thirds of the members to be official. The goal is straightforward: help Congress make laws based on facts and evidence rather than assumptions, so taxpayer money goes to programs that actually work.

Congressional Evidence-Based Policymaking Resolution

Kilmer, Derek

Congressional Evidence-Based Policymaking Resolution This concurrent resolution establishes the Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking in the legislative branch to review, analyze, and make recommendations for promoting the use of federal data for evidence-building and evidence-based policymaking. Current Members of Congress may not serve on the commission.