# What This Bill Actually Does

Right now, when Congress's research team needs information from federal agencies like the EPA, Department of Defense, or Social Security Administration, they have to go through a formal request process that can be slow and cumbersome. This bill speeds things up by giving the Congressional Research Service (CRS)—the nonpartisan research arm that helps members of Congress understand complex issues—the direct authority to ask federal agencies for information and get it quickly.

Think of it like this: instead of Congress having to file a formal information request and wait for an agency to decide whether to comply, the CRS director can now just ask for the data they need, and agencies are required to provide it in a timely manner. This matters because Congress needs accurate, up-to-date information to make decisions about laws and budgets. If the CRS is researching healthcare policy, climate change, or government spending, they can now get the actual data from relevant agencies without unnecessary delays.

The bill also includes important safeguards to protect sensitive information. Whatever confidential or classified information the CRS receives from an agency stays confidential—they have to follow the same secrecy rules that apply to the agency itself. CRS employees who leak or misuse this information face the same legal penalties as federal employees would. This ensures that while Congress gets faster access to information it needs, national security secrets and other protected data remain protected.

Modernizing the Congressional Research Service’s Access to Data Act

Bice, Stephanie I.

Modernizing the Congressional Research Service's Access to Data Act This bill grants the Congressional Research Service (CRS) the authority to secure all forms of records, information, and data directly from the various departments, agencies, and establishments of the executive branch, regulatory agencies, and commissions, as necessary to carry out congressional requests. Such government entities must furnish CRS with such material in a timely manner. CRS must maintain the same level of confidentiality for such material as is required by law of the government entity from which it is obtained. The bill subjects CRS officers and employees to the same statutory penalties for unauthorized disclosure or use of such material as officers or employees of the government entity from which it is obtained.