Lance: Open Access to Public Research

Press Release

In an effort to increase transparency and access to congressional research services, Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07) announced today that he has introduced the "Public Access to Congressional Research Service Reports Act." The Seventh District lawmaker said he was working jointly with Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05) to advance the bipartisan legislation. The Lance-Quigley measure would direct the Clerk of the House and the Congressional Research Service (CRS) to develop and maintain a centralized, searchable, electronic database of CRS materials for public access. These materials are currently only accessible to members of Congress and congressional staff.

"American taxpayers spend more than $100 million a year supporting the work of the Congressional Research Service. Their findings, reports and analysis should be public information. It is good public policy to allow educators, students, members of the news media and everyday citizens access to CRS' non-partisan taxpayer-funded reports," said Congressman Leonard Lance. "By providing public access to CRS reports, we can elevate our national discourse and make it easier for citizens to cut through the misinformation that too often pollutes the national debate. The American taxpayer deserves access to the same objective and nonpartisan CRS analyses on which we rely as Members of Congress. What is good for Congress should be good for the general public."

"The Congressional Research Service, which creates policy reports funded by taxpayer dollars, should be available to all citizens, not just members of Congress," added Congressman Mike Quigley. "The reports are an essential resource to lawmakers who rely on CRS's non-partisan work to help inform the policy we make every day. Providing access to this resource for all Americans will increase transparency and allow people to hold government representatives accountable for the work we do for the constituents we serve."

CRS is governed by requirements for accuracy, objectivity, balance, and nonpartisanship -- the very sort of analysis sought and valued by engaged constituents. The lawyers, economists, reference librarians and scientists of CRS offer invaluable research and analysis to members of Congress and their staff on all current and emerging issues of national policy. CRS provides the best possible information and analysis on which to base the policy decisions and the lawmakers believe that information should be publically available. Taxpayers spend more than $100 million per year supporting the work of CRS. The "Public Access to Congressional Research Service Reports Act" would make the following CRS documents available to the public through website of the Clerk of the House: CRS Issue Briefs; CRS Reports available to Members through the CRS website; and CRS Appropriations products.

"Across the nation, citizens are deeply and passionately engaged in debates about the future of our country and the significant challenges we face at home and abroad. However, as the public debate has become increasingly partisan and polarized, it is more important than ever for citizens to have full access to the same neutral, unbiased information that many of us rely on to help us formulate important decisions. Opening CRS to the public will empower our constituents with vital information about key issues, policies and budgets," the duo wrote in a letter to colleagues.

Numerous good government groups and advocates for more congressional transparency have endorsed the measure -- including:

American Association of Law Libraries, American Association of University Professors (AAUP), American Library Association, Association of Research Libraries, Center for Democracy and Technology, Center for Effective Government (formerly OMB Watch), Center for Responsive Politics, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Data Transparency Coalition, Defending Dissent Foundation, Essential Information, Free Government Information, Government Accountability Project, Humane Research, Jeremy Bigwood, Independent researcher, Investigative Newsource, iSolon.org, National Coalition for History, National Freedom of Information Coalition, National Priorities Project, National Security Counselors, Northern California Association of Law Libraries, Object Management Group, Inc., Open CRS, OpenTheGovernment.org, Project On Government Oversight (POGO), Society of Professional Journalists, The Sunlight Foundation, Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), Understanding Government, Utah Foundation for Open Government, Washington Coalition for Open Government

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