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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7593 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7593

To enhance the authority of the Director of the Congressional Research 
  Service to obtain information directly from agencies of the Federal 
                              government.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 8, 2024

    Mrs. Bice (for herself, Mr. Carey, Mr. Kilmer, and Mr. Morelle) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                          House Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To enhance the authority of the Director of the Congressional Research 
  Service to obtain information directly from agencies of the Federal 
                              government.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Modernizing the Congressional 
Research Service's Access to Data Act''.

SEC. 2. ACCESS OF CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE TO GOVERNMENT 
              INFORMATION.

    (a) Direct Access to Information.--Section 203 of the Legislative 
Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 166) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (k); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (i) the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(j)(1) In carrying out the duties and functions of the 
Congressional Research Service under subsection (d), the Director is 
authorized to secure books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, 
documents, secure information, and other data in all forms directly 
from the various departments, agencies, and establishments of the 
executive branch of the Government and the regulatory agencies and 
commissions of the Government as the Director determines to be 
necessary to carry out the request, and all such departments, agencies, 
establishments, and regulatory agencies and commissions shall furnish 
the Director with all such available material in a timely manner.
    ``(2) With respect to books, records, correspondence, memoranda, 
papers, documents, secure information, and other data in all forms 
obtained under paragraph (1), the Director shall maintain the same 
level of confidentiality as is required by law of the department, 
agency, establishment, or regulatory agency or commission from which it 
is obtained. Officers and employees of the Congressional Research 
Service shall be subject to the same statutory penalties for 
unauthorized disclosure or use as officers or employees of the 
department, agency, establishment, or regulatory agency or commission 
from which it is obtained.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 203(d)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 
166(d)(1)) is amended in the matter following subparagraph (C) by 
striking ``and in the performance of this duty'' and all that follows 
through ``comply with such request;''.
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