Public Law 118-104: Congressional Budget Office Data Access Act
Enactment Date: January 16, 2025
Summary:
The Congressional Budget Office Data Access Act (CBO Data Access Act) is a new law that enhances public access to data and information produced by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The CBO is an independent, non-partisan agency that provides budget and economic analysis to the U.S. Congress.
Key Provisions:
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Public Release of CBO Data: Requires the CBO to make certain data and information publicly available through an online portal within 60 days of its production. This includes:
- Economic and budget forecasts
- Cost estimates for legislation
- Analyses of tax and spending policies
- Historical data on the federal budget
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Data Accessibility Mandate: The CBO must ensure that the publicly released data is accessible in a machine-readable format and can be easily downloaded, analyzed, and used by the public.
- Data Quality Standards: The CBO is required to develop and adhere to data quality standards to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and transparency of the released data.
- Data Use Restrictions: The released data may not be used for commercial purposes or to promote or support any political party or candidate.
- Training and Support: The CBO must provide training and support to users to assist them in accessing and utilizing the released data.
Benefits:
The CBO Data Access Act is expected to provide several benefits:
- Increased Transparency: By making CBO data and information publicly available, the law enhances transparency and accountability in the federal budget process.
- Improved Policymaking: Researchers, analysts, and policymakers will have access to a more comprehensive and timely data set to inform their work and decision-making.
- Public Engagement: The law empowers citizens and stakeholders to better understand the economic and budgetary implications of government policies.
- Economic Analysis: The publicly released data will support economic analysis and forecasting by academic researchers, businesses, and think tanks.
Conclusion:
The Congressional Budget Office Data Access Act is a significant step towards increasing public access to data and information used in the federal budgeting process. By making CBO data more accessible and usable, the law aims to improve transparency, enhance policymaking, and empower citizens to hold their elected officials accountable.
Public Law 118 – 104 – Congressional Budget Office Data Access Act
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