Bill Overview
Title: Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act
Description: This bill requires the Government Publishing Office (GPO) to establish and maintain a publicly available online portal containing copies of all congressionally mandated reports other than those required to be submitted to the House or Senate Committees on Intelligence, Armed Services, Appropriations, or Foreign Relations. A federal agency must submit a congressionally mandated report and specified information about the report to the GPO between 30 and 45 days after submission of the report to either chamber or to any congressional committee or subcommittee. Upon the written request of the chair of a congressional committee or subcommittee to the GPO, a report submitted to that committee or subcommittee shall not be submitted or published on the portal. Federally chartered corporations, the Government Accountability Office, and any elements of the intelligence community are excluded from the requirements of this bill. The Office of Management and Budget must issue guidance to federal agencies on the bill's requirement for agencies to submit copies of congressionally mandated reports and related information to the GPO.
Sponsors: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Target Audience
Population: People benefiting from enhanced access to congressionally mandated reports
Estimated Size: 10000000
- The bill ensures public access to a wide array of governmental reports, potentially increasing transparency of government operations.
- Individuals reliant on congressional reports for research, advocacy, or policy development will benefit as it simplifies their access to information.
- Stakeholders, including businesses, NGOs, and media, make use of these reports to inform decision-making and fulfill their missions.
- The Office of Management and Budget will provide guidance to federal agencies, implicating compliance and procedural changes within government entities.
- Journalists and researchers will find it easier to gather data and insights due to this consolidation of government reports online.
Reasoning
- The target population for this policy primarily includes individuals and organizations that utilize congressional reports for research, policy advocacy, or to enhance transparency and accountability of government operations.
- The budget constraints require an efficient online portal that can host these reports with sufficient security and accessibility features, without overshooting the costs.
- The policy's impact is expected to be significant among those who are actively engaged in legislative processes or who require these reports for their work, such as journalists, researchers, NGOs, advocacy groups, and businesses.
- While the policy may not directly affect the wellbeing of those who do not use these reports, the indirect benefits include greater governmental transparency and potentially better-informed decision-making across various sectors.
- Interviews must account for a range of biographical details to capture diverse perspectives, focusing both on those who are directly impacted and those who indirectly benefit from increased transparency.
Simulated Interviews
Policy Analyst (Washington DC)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will greatly aid my work by providing quicker and easier access to crucial reports.
- I believe it will lead to more informed policy recommendations from our organization.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Journalist (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to a consolidated portal will streamline my research and ensure timely access to reports.
- This policy will enhance journalistic integrity through readily available documentation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Graduate Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act will significantly reduce my research time, providing direct access to needed documents.
- It supports academic work and fosters greater interaction with governmental processes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
CEO of a Tech Startup (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 53 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having easy access to these reports will help my company offer more precise data insights.
- This policy could drive innovation in tech solutions for public administration.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Retired Engineer (Houston, TX)
Age: 61 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This portal means my group can make more informed decisions about local government interactions.
- I am pleased we're promoting transparency even in retirement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Research Scientist (Boston, MA)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This will facilitate access to government reports, which is foundational to my team's work.
- It levels the playing field for researchers in institutions without direct government connections.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Legal Counsel (Las Vegas, NV)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could enhance legal advisement by providing reliable document access.
- Overall efficiency in legal research will improve.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
NGO Program Manager (Miami, FL)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved access to government reports aligns with greater transparency and accountability in rights advocacy.
- This is empowering for NGOs working with limited resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Public Policy Strategist (Chicago, IL)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- High accessibility to these reports will help in forming more accurate regional development plans.
- It supports comprehensive policy-making through accessible data.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Farmer (Rural Iowa)
Age: 65 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I may not need the reports frequently, but transparency in government is always positive.
- This policy seems useful for folks in local governance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $3000000 (Low: $2500000, High: $3500000)
Year 2: $1500000 (Low: $1200000, High: $1800000)
Year 3: $1500000 (Low: $1200000, High: $1800000)
Year 5: $1500000 (Low: $1200000, High: $1800000)
Year 10: $1500000 (Low: $1200000, High: $1800000)
Year 100: $1500000 (Low: $1200000, High: $1800000)
Key Considerations
- Initial setup costs for the online portal are the primary financial commitments, after which maintenance and updates account for recurring expenses.
- While improving transparency and accessibility, the act necessitates that federal agencies comply with new guidelines and promptly publish mandated reports.
- Operational efficiencies and potential minor savings could result from reduced physical filing and handling of information requests.