Charting a New Course for Congressional Decision-Making

In the ever-evolving landscape of American governance, a new bipartisan initiative is gaining momentum on Capitol Hill. The Congressional Evidence-Based Policymaking Resolution (H.Con.Res 49), reminiscent of the successful Ryan-Murray Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking from 2016, aims to revolutionize how our legislators use data and evidence in their decision-making processes.

The House Resolution proposes the creation of a new 12-member bipartisan Commission within the legislative branch. This Commission would be tasked with studying and recommending ways to enhance Congress's use of data and evidence in its decision-making processes.

The proposed Commission would include a mix of academic researchers, former congressional members or senior staffers, and employees from support agencies. Its mandate would cover a range of critical areas, from encouraging federal agencies to produce evidence on program effectiveness to exploring ways of incorporating real-time data into the lawmaking process.

The Data Foundation hosted a webinar in September 2024 featuring Richard Coffin from USA Facts and Kenny Megan from Results for America to explore this resolution and its implications for the future of policymaking.

Richard Coffin represents USA Facts, a nonprofit organization founded by former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. USA Facts is dedicated to making government data accessible to the public, fostering a better understanding of national issues and supporting evidence-based decision-making. Its  work includes producing an annual report for Congress aimed at bringing open government data to legislators.

Kenny Megan serves as the Federal Policy Director at Results for America, a national nonprofit focused on advancing evidence-based policymaking at all levels of government. Results for America provides technical assistance to both local and federal entities, helping them implement evidence-informed strategies and data-driven policies. Results for America also supports the What Works Caucus, a bipartisan congressional group committed to advancing evidence-informed  policymaking in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The September 2024 conversation with Richard and Kenny  revealed a shared enthusiasm for the House resolution's potential to enhance Congressional capacity and improve policy outcomes across the board. The timing of this resolution couldn't be more relevant. In the wake of the Supreme Court's decision in the Loper Bright case, which overturned the long-standing Chevron deference, Congress finds itself in uncharted waters. As Richard pointed out during our webinar, this new landscape presents both an opportunity and a responsibility for Congress to be more specific about data collection and policy evaluation.

Perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of this resolution is its potential to create a more holistic, government-wide approach to evidence-informed policymaking. Currently, as Kenny noted, different agencies often operate in silos when it comes to implementing evidence-informed practices. A commission could help break down these barriers, fostering a more unified and effective approach across the federal government.

The resolution also aims to improve what Richard called the "evidence loop" – the feedback cycle between legislation, implementation, and evaluation. This includes enhancing collaboration between federal, state, and local governments, ensuring that the impacts of policies are thoroughly assessed and understood at all levels.

Looking ahead, there's hope that this resolution could spark a cultural shift within Congress itself. Just as the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act is shifting the data culture within executive agencies, this new initiative could foster a similar transformation on Capitol Hill, leading to more data-driven decision-making across the board.

The resolution represents a crucial step towards modernizing Congress's approach to data and evidence, ultimately leading to more effective governance.Moving forward, the Data Foundation is committed to supporting this important initiative and ensuring that Congress improves its processes and capacity for responsibly leveraging data and evidence. 

The path to better governance is paved with data and evidence. With this resolution, Congress has the opportunity to take a significant step down that path. Let's ensure they have the support and resources they need to make it happen.

AI Disclaimer: This blog post was created with the assistance of an AI tool. The AI did not independently write or publish this post. The author takes full responsibility for reviewing, editing, and approving the final content.