Data Coalition Chief Executive Officer Nick Hart issued the following statement on the publication of new open data from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Department of Treasury on the federal Paycheck Protection Program established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act:

The Data Coalition members appreciate the Executive Branch’s recent publication of new data resources on some of the recipients and distribution of loans under the Paycheck Protection Program. The publication of open data is an approach for enhancing government transparency and accountability. However, the Data Coalition is disappointed this information was only published following a Freedom of Information Act request, instead of proactively in compliance with the requirements signed into law by the President as part of the OPEN Data Government Act in 2019. The OPEN Government Data Act rightfully establishes an expectation that non-sensitive government data be made open by default. 

The recently-published Paycheck Protection Program open data has substantial quality issues that should be addressed by the Treasury Department and SBA as a matter of good practice and in accordance with the Information Quality Act, the OPEN Government Data Act, and other existing federal laws. For example, the application of basic data standards for text fields in the administrative records will vastly improve analytical capabilities for researchers and oversight officials alike. 

The Treasury Department has yet to name its Chief Data Officer under the OPEN Government Data Act, which was required to be designated over a year ago. The Data Coalition calls on the Treasury Department Secretary to rapidly designate a Chief Data Officer who can support compliance with the important provisions of that law, as well as to begin addressing data quality and accessibility issues affecting transparency and accountability related to government’s spending on the coronavirus pandemic. 

The American public has a right to know how its government is using taxpayer dollars and this requires that the government publish high-quality data. The Data Coalition members look forward to working with the Executive Branch to continue promoting high-quality, accessible, and usable data. 

Data Coalition Chief Executive Officer Nick Hart issued the following statement on the White House Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) issuance of guidance to federal agencies on "Implementation Guidance for Supplemental Funding Provided in Response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)":  

The Data Coalition applauds the focus in the guidance on promoting evidence-based decision-making and open data, balanced with the need to expedite spending in order for resources to meet the needs of the American people and businesses. OMB’s new guidance identifies steps that align with the goal of awarding funds rapidly for mission-critical purposes, while also promoting transparency and accountability. The Data Coalition encourages agencies to lean on existing frameworks like the DATA Act of 2014, which has put federal agencies in a much better position than they were a decade ago to track and report on emergency spending.

Washington, D.C. – Data Coalition Chief Executive Officer Nick Hart issued the following statement on the White House Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) issuance of guidance to federal agencies on "Program Evaluation Standards and Practices" required by the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking (Evidence) Act of 2018: 

Data Coalition members welcome responsible guidance from the White House on how federal agencies use data to continuously improve federal programs. The new OMB guidance establishes reasonable standards for increasing the number and quality of evaluations available to policymakers. Data Coalition members strongly support the five principles outlined in the guidance: relevance and utility, rigor, independence and objectivity, transparency, and ethics. We look forward to working with federal agencies to implement effective evaluation practices in coming months and years. 

###

On Thursday, February 13, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY) along with Senators Mark Warner (D-VA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ron Johnson (R-WI), David Perdue (R-GA), and James Lankford (R-OK) introduce the bipartisan CFO Vision Act of 2020. Following its introduction, Data Coalition CEO Nick Hart issued the following statement:

The CFO Vision Act proposes practical improvements to the way our country’s financial system is managed, by clarifying responsibilities of the chief financial officers, while also enhancing how government manages taxpayer funds. The bipartisan CFO Vision Act is a step toward using data to better align the American public’s expectation that our government has strong financial management paired with ongoing efforts to operate as effectively and efficiently as possible.

On Wednesday, February 5, the bipartisan Taxpayers Right-To-Know Act (H.R. 3830) unanimously passed the House of Representatives. Following the bill’s House passage, Data Coalition CEO Nick Hart issued the following statement:

The Data Coalition applauds the unanimous passage of the Taxpayers Right-to-Know Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. The American public and decision-makers need reliable information to understand programs across government, including what programs even exist. The development of program inventories and the application of data standards in this legislation, which build on the DATA Act, will enable more transparent information about federally-funded programs. The bill will also improve access to information about program evaluation and relevant studies produced by agencies, aligning with the Evidence Act.

The Data Coalition looks forward to working with Congress to advance this legislation in 2020.

###

The Data Coalition issued the following statement from CEO Nick Hart following the President’s signing of the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) on January 29, 2020:

Building on the OPEN Government Data Act’s new legal requirements for federal agencies to develop and promote open data, the US-Mexico-Canada trade deal signed by the President contains expectations about producing and sharing open government data. The Data Coalition applauds the recognition that government contributions to open data promote competitiveness and innovation in the country’s economy. With a renewed bipartisan endorsement of open data by Congress and the President, federal agencies must be well positioned to prioritize implementation of these expectations in conjunction with the Federal Data Strategy and new agency Chief Data Officers. The Data Coalition members look forward to working with federal agencies to support and execute open data initiatives that benefit the American economy.

The full text of the US-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement can be found here.

###

Washington, D.C. – Data Coalition Chief Executive Officer Nick Hart issued the following statement on the OMB’s release of the Federal Data Strategy’s Year 1 Action Plan: 

The Data Coalition applauds the release of the Federal Data Strategy’s Action Plan for the first year of implementation. Government has room for much improvement in managing and using data more effectively, and the Federal Data Strategy is a productive start. In particular, the Data Coalition is pleased to see that a number of suggestions from industry and stakeholders outside government were thoughtfully incorporated into the final action plan. Data Coalition members look forward to working with the White House and federal agencies in 2020 to truly support data as a strategic asset.

On January 7, 2020 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. EST, the Data Coalition will host a conference call on the new action plan and its implications. Register here.

Note: A recording of the Data Coalition’s informational conference call on the year-one action plan is available here.

Washington, D.C. – Congress took steps this week to advance three key legislative priorities of the Data Coalition. On December 18 the Senate unanimously advanced a resolution to support the 2020 Census (SCR 31) and on December 19th, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform marked up the AI in Government Act of 2019 (H.R. 2575) and the Taxpayers Right-To-Know Act (H.R. 3830). The Data Coalition endorsed all three legislative efforts. Data Coalition Chief Executive Officer Nick Hart, Ph.D. issued the following statement on the congressional actions: 

The prioritization of bipartisan legislation in Congress that ensures data can be responsibly used to support accountability, transparency, and decision-making is a positive signal about our elected leaders’ enthusiasm for recognizing government data as a strategic asset. 

The Data Coalition applauds the Senate’s unanimous support for an effective and efficient 2020 Census, highlighting the significance and importance of participation in the census in 2020. The Data Coalition is pleased that the House Oversight and Reform Committee favorably reported out the AI in Government Act and the Taxpayers Right-To-Know Act. The Data Coalition urges the House to quickly pass these bipartisan bills. 

Washington, D.C. – Data Coalition Chief Executive Officer Nick Hart, Ph.D. issued the following statement on the passage of the Grant Reporting Efficiency and Agreements Transparency (GREAT) Act of 2019 on Monday, December 16, 2019:  

For far too long businesses, non-profits, local governments, and other federal grant recipients were expected to navigate cumbersome reporting processes, resulting in delayed and incomplete information. Because of insufficient reporting in the past, too little information is available to determine which grants most effectively accomplish program goals and best serve the American people. In passing the GREAT Act today, Congress decided to transform federal grant reporting for the modern era by directing federal agencies to modernize and improve grantee reporting.

The GREAT Act will fundamentally improve accountability and transparency for federal grants provided to school districts, police departments, fire stations, hospitals, food banks, homeless shelters, job training centers, and much more. The policies about data standards in the GREAT Act are long overdue, which is why the bipartisan cooperation to advance this common-sense legislation unanimously through Congress is welcome.

The Data Coalition strongly encourages the President to quickly sign the GREAT Act so the American people can begin to realize the tremendous benefits from better data on federal grants.

Washington, D.C. – Data Coalition Chief Executive Officer Nick Hart, Ph.D. issued the following statement on the House of Representatives’ recent vote to extend the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (Modernization Committee):

“The Data Coalition commends the House leadership for extending the bipartisan Modernization Committee through the second session of the 116th Congress. The Data Coalition’s members support the committee’s efforts to ensure strong congressional capacity for transparency, innovation, and data-driven decision-making. We look forward to working with Chair Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Vice Chair Tom Graves (R-GA), and all the committee members in promoting meaningful bipartisan solutions that ensure Congress can meet the expectations of the American public in the 21st century and beyond.”