Yesterday, Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA), William Timmons (R-SC), and Dean Phillips (D-MN) re-introduced a resolution (H.Con.Res.49) to establish a Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking that would convene experts to review, analyze and make recommendations to Congress on how to better incorporate federal data and evidence-based policymaking in the legislative process. 

This builds on the previous, successful bipartisan U.S. Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking from 2016, which focused on data and evidence in the executive branch. That Commission resulted in unanimous, bipartisan recommendations that informed new laws, such as the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act and the establishment of the National Secure Data Service demonstration project. 

Nick Hart, President and CEO of the Data Foundation, issued the following statement on behalf of our Data Coalition Initiative about the introduction of the resolution: 

“Congress has the challenging responsibility of gathering information about every government program for the American people, assessing performance and outcomes, prioritizing resources, and constantly seeking better ways to do its job and improve the institution. This resolution helps address all of these tasks by establishing a thoughtful process for determining how Congress can ensure that evidence and data are accessible when needed for critical decisions in the future. The Data Foundation and Data Coalition members are glad for the commitment to improving the legislative process and look forward to supporting the Commission’s efforts.”