The Foundations for Evidence-Based 

Policymaking Act of 2018

Title III Overview
The Evidence Act’s 3 Big Ideas

1. Evidence-Based Policymaking Requires Systematic Planning

2. Effective Federal Data Asset Use Requires High-Quality Data 

Governance 

3. Safely Expanding Access to Protected Data for Evidencebuilding 

• Title III – Confidential Information Protection and 

Statistical Efficiency Act (CIPSEA) 

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Expanding Access to Data for Evidence 

Vision

Commission Report: 

“(I)mproved access to data under more privacy-protective conditions 

can lead to an increase in both the quantity and the quality of 

evidence to inform important program and policy decisions.” 

House Report: 

“Evidence has the power to transform inefficient and ineffective 

programs to better serve the American public. Often, the production 

of evidence requires the use of data containing personally 

identifiable information.”

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Expanding Access to Data for Evidence

3. Safely Expanding Access to Protected Data for Evidencebuilding 

• Institutionalize Fundamental Responsibilities

• Expand Statistical Agencies and Units Access to Data Assets

• Expand Statistical Agencies and Units Provision of Data to 

Qualified Users

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• Institutionalize Fundamental Responsibilities 

• Identify trusted intermediaries 

• Process for Recognizing statistical agencies 

• Articulate high standards 

• Codification of Statistical Policy Directive 

Number 1 (the “Trust Directive”), built on core 

CIPSEA 

Expanding Access to Data for Evidence
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• Expand Statistical Agencies and Units Access to Data 

Assets 

• Empower trusted intermediaries to access data 

• Presumption of Accessibility 

Expanding Access to Data for Evidence
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• Expand Statistical Agencies and Units Provision of Data 

to Qualified Users 

• Ensure effective provision of data to evidencebuilders 

• Expanding Secure Access to CIPSEA Data Assets 

• Build tools and infrastructure 

Standard Application Process 

Expanding Access to Data for Evidence
Statistical Official Responsibilities

• Agency senior advisor 

• Statistical policy, techniques, and procedures

• Agency champion for data quality 

• Oversee data quality standards

• Agency champion for confidentiality protection and 

appropriate data access 

• Develop confidentiality standards

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Coordination Across Government

• Interagency Council on Statistical Policy (ICSP) 

• Enables the Office of Management and Budget to obtain 

direct participation from agencies in planning and 

coordinating Federal statistical activities

• Led by the Chief Statistician of the United States 

• Statistical Official's from all 24 CFO Act Agencies participate

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Safely Expanding Access to Protected Data for Evidence-Building

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• Institutionalizing Fundamental Responsibilities 

• Recognition of Statistical Agencies and Units 

• Codification of Statistical Policy Directive #1 

• Expanding Statistical Agencies and Units Access to Data Assets 

• Presumption of Accessibility for Statistical Agencies and 

Units 

• Expanding Statistical Agencies and Units Provision of Data to 

Qualified Users 

• Expanding Secure Access to CIPSEA Data Assets 

• Application to Access Data Assets for Developing Evidence 
Thank You!

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