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.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7593 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7593
To enhance the authority of the Director of the Congressional Research
Service to obtain information directly from agencies of the Federal
government.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 8, 2024
Mrs. Bice (for herself, Mr. Carey, Mr. Kilmer, and Mr. Morelle)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
House Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To enhance the authority of the Director of the Congressional Research
Service to obtain information directly from agencies of the Federal
government.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Modernizing the Congressional
Research Service's Access to Data Act''.
SEC. 2. ACCESS OF CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE TO GOVERNMENT
INFORMATION.
(a) Direct Access to Information.--Section 203 of the Legislative
Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 166) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (k); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (i) the following new
subsection:
``(j)(1) In carrying out the duties and functions of the
Congressional Research Service under subsection (d), the Director is
authorized to secure books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers,
documents, secure information, and other data in all forms directly
from the various departments, agencies, and establishments of the
executive branch of the Government and the regulatory agencies and
commissions of the Government as the Director determines to be
necessary to carry out the request, and all such departments, agencies,
establishments, and regulatory agencies and commissions shall furnish
the Director with all such available material in a timely manner.
``(2) With respect to books, records, correspondence, memoranda,
papers, documents, secure information, and other data in all forms
obtained under paragraph (1), the Director shall maintain the same
level of confidentiality as is required by law of the department,
agency, establishment, or regulatory agency or commission from which it
is obtained. Officers and employees of the Congressional Research
Service shall be subject to the same statutory penalties for
unauthorized disclosure or use as officers or employees of the
department, agency, establishment, or regulatory agency or commission
from which it is obtained.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 203(d)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
166(d)(1)) is amended in the matter following subparagraph (C) by
striking ``and in the performance of this duty'' and all that follows
through ``comply with such request;''.
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Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Modernization.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Reported by the Committee on House Administration. H. Rept. 118-631.
Reported by the Committee on House Administration. H. Rept. 118-631.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 528.
Mr. Steil moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5047-5049)
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DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 7593.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5047-5048)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5047-5048)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.