IB 

Union Calendar No. 528 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7593 

[Report No. 118–631] 

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 

AUGUST 16, 2024 

Additional sponsor: Mr. DAVIS of North Carolina 

AUGUST 16, 2024 

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union 

and ordered to be printed 


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•HR 7593 RH

A BILL 

To enhance the authority of the Director of the Congressional Research Service to obtain information directly 

from agencies of the Federal government. 


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•HR 7593 RH

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Modernizing the Con5 gressional Research Service’s Access to Data Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. ACCESS OF CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE 

7 TO GOVERNMENT INFORMATION. 

8 (a) DIRECT ACCESS TO INFORMATION.—Section 203 

9 of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 

10 166) is amended— 

11 (1) by redesignating subsection (j) as sub12 section (k); and 

13 (2) by inserting after subsection (i) the fol14 lowing new subsection: 

15 ‘‘(j)(1) In carrying out the duties and functions of 

16 the Congressional Research Service under subsection (d), 

17 the Director is authorized to secure books, records, cor18 respondence, memoranda, papers, documents, secure in19 formation, and other data in all forms directly from the 

20 various departments, agencies, and establishments of the 

21 executive branch of the Government and the regulatory 

22 agencies and commissions of the Government as the Direc23 tor determines to be necessary to carry out the request, 

24 and all such departments, agencies, establishments, and 


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•HR 7593 RH

1 regulatory agencies and commissions shall furnish the Di2 rector with all such available material in a timely manner. 

3 ‘‘(2) With respect to books, records, correspondence, 

4 memoranda, papers, documents, secure information, and 

5 other data in all forms obtained under paragraph (1), the 

6 Director shall maintain the same level of confidentiality 

7 as is required by law of the department, agency, establish8 ment, or regulatory agency or commission from which it 

9 is obtained. Officers and employees of the Congressional 

10 Research Service shall be subject to the same statutory 

11 penalties for unauthorized disclosure or use as officers or 

12 employees of the department, agency, establishment, or 

13 regulatory agency or commission from which it is ob14 tained.’’. 

15 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 203(d)(1) 

16 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 166(d)(1)) is amended in the matter 

17 following subparagraph (C) by striking ‘‘and in the per18 formance of this duty’’ and all that follows through ‘‘com19 ply with such request;’’. 


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kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
Union Calendar No. 528 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7593 

[Report No. 118–631] 

A BILL 

To enhance the authority of the Director of the 

ernment. mation directly from agencies of the Federal govCongressional Research Service to obtain inforAUGUST 16, 2024 

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 

State of the Union and ordered to be printed 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB