The same applies to the Congressional REsearch Service of the Library of Congress. Some other non-federal studies of existing federal programs are given similar credibility. Policy research studies and reports. These are often too long and full of jargon or statistics that few understand. Few people on the Hill have time to read such things.
Some studies use old data or come up with ideas Members have long rejected.
These reports often have greater influence when the material in them comes indirectly, through the other items on this list. Administration views and lobby efforts. Congress naturally puts this factor low when the majority party is different from that of the President. Proposals are often influenced more by budget constraints than sound educational policy. Recommendations are often submitted too late in the process, but recommendations of a technical nature to improve current programs have a much better rate of success.