Peters’ Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Legislative Process Efficiency Heads to President to be Signed into Law

WASHINGTON, DC – The House passed bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, to provide the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) with timely access to information they need to complete estimates on the budgetary impacts of legislation has passed the Senate. CBO estimates are required to advance almost all legislation through Congress, however, procedural issues can delay this office’s ability to obtain information they need from federal agencies to complete these analyses. The delays in CBO’s receipt of agency information and data can also adversely impact their ability to provide the most accurate analyses. Peters’ legislation would make the legislative process more efficient by reducing the time it takes for CBO to obtain data from federal agencies. The bill passed the Senate in June 2023 with unanimous consent before heading to the House where XXX. It now heads to the President to be signed into law.  

“The Congressional Budget Office provides critical information to lawmakers to help them best understand the financial impacts of proposed reforms. By cutting red tape to provide CBO with timely access to data, we can ensure Congress is making informed decision and advancing legislation that works for the American people,” said Senator Peters. “This bipartisan legislation will streamline how CBO accesses information, issues reports, and informs Congress on the budgetary impacts of proposed legislation.” 

Peters’ Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Data Access Act would eliminate procedural delays in CBO’s ability to access information from federal agencies by providing CBO with the same exemption to the Privacy Act granted to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and both chambers of Congress. Similar to the GAO’s exemption, CBO would still be required to maintain agencies’ data at the same level of confidentiality that is required of the agency from which the data originated. Every day, Peters works to improve the lives of Michiganders. By making the Congressional process more efficient, he makes meaningful progress for all Americans.  

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