Description:
H.R. 4174 would amend federal law to change how the federal government manages and uses the information it collects. Specifically the legislation would:
- Require agencies to develop plans for identifying and addressing policy questions relevant to their programs;
- Direct agencies to publish all the data they collect in an open format and to maintain comprehensive data inventories; and
- Require agencies to establish and coordinate confidentiality and disclosure policies with other government agencies.
CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 4174 would cost $75 million (less than $1 million per federal agency) over the 2018-2022 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary funds. Enacting the legislation also could affect direct spending by agencies not funded through annual appropriations and would impose new fines, which are recorded as revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. CBO estimates, however, that any changes in direct spending and revenues would not be significant.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4174 would not significantly increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.
H.R. 4174 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
