Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Evidence-Based Policy-
making Commission Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is established in the executive branch a commis-
sion to be known as the ‘‘Commission on Evidence-Based 
Policymaking’’ (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commis-
sion’’). 
SEC. 3. MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 
shall be comprised of 15 members as follows: 
(1) Three shall be appointed by the President, of 
whom— 
(A) one shall be an academic researcher, 
data expert, or have experience in administering 
programs; 
(B) one shall have expertise in database 
management, confidentiality, and privacy mat-
ters; and 
(C) one shall be the Director of the Office of 
Management and Budget (or the Director’s des-
ignee). 
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(2) Three shall be appointed by the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives, of whom— 
(A) two shall be academic researchers, data 
experts, or have experience in administering pro-
grams; and 
(B) one shall have expertise in database 
management, confidentiality, and privacy mat-
ters. 
(3) Three shall be appointed by the Minority 
Leader of the House of Representatives, of whom— 
(A) two shall be academic researchers, data 
experts, or have experience in administering pro-
grams; and 
(B) one shall have expertise in database 
management, confidentiality, and privacy mat-
ters. 
(4) Three shall be appointed by the Majority 
Leader of the Senate, of whom— 
(A) two shall be academic researchers, data 
experts, or have experience in administering pro-
grams; and 
(B) one shall have expertise in database 
management, confidentiality, and privacy mat-
ters. 
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(5) Three shall be appointed by the Minority 
Leader of the Senate, of whom— 
(A) two shall be academic researchers, data 
experts, or have experience in administering pro-
grams; and 
(B) one shall have expertise in database 
management, confidentiality, and privacy mat-
ters. 
(b) EXPERTISE.—In making appointments under this 
section, consideration should be given to individuals with 
expertise in economics, statistics, program evaluation, data 
security, confidentiality, or database management. 
(c) CHAIRPERSON AND CO-CHAIRPERSON.—The Presi-
dent shall select the chairperson of the Commission and the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives shall select the co- 
chairperson. 
(d) TIMING OF APPOINTMENTS.—Appointments to the 
Commission shall be made not later than 45 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
(e) TERMS; VACANCIES.—Each member shall be ap-
pointed for the duration of the Commission. Any vacancy 
in the Commission shall not affect its powers, and shall be 
filled in the manner in which the original appointment was 
made. 
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(f) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Commission shall 
serve without pay. 
(g) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the Com-
mission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem 
in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of 
agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United 
States Code, while away from their homes or regular places 
of business in the performance of services for the Commis-
sion. 
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) STUDY OF DATA.—The Commission shall conduct 
a comprehensive study of the data inventory, data infra-
structure, and statistical protocols related to Federal policy-
making and the agencies responsible for maintaining that 
data to— 
(1) determine the optimal arrangement for which 
administrative data on Federal programs and tax ex-
penditures and related data series may be integrated 
and made available to facilitate program evaluation, 
continuous improvement, policy-relevant research, 
and cost-benefit analyses by qualified researchers and 
institutions; 
(2) make recommendations on how data infra-
structure and protocols should be modified to best ful-
fill the objectives identified in paragraph (1); and 
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(3) make recommendations on how best to incor-
porate outcomes measurement, institutionalize ran-
domized controlled trials, and rigorous impact anal-
ysis into program design. 
(b) CLEARINGHOUSE.—In undertaking the study re-
quired by subsection (a), the Commission shall consider 
whether a clearinghouse for program and survey data 
should be established and how to create such a clearing-
house. The Commission shall evaluate— 
(1) what administrative data are relevant for 
program evaluation and Federal policy-making and 
should be included in a potential clearinghouse; 
(2) which survey data the administrative data 
identified in paragraph (1) may be linked to, in ad-
dition to linkages across administrative data series; 
(3) what are the legal and administrative bar-
riers to including or linking these data series; 
(4) what data-sharing infrastructure should be 
used to facilitate data merging and access for research 
purposes; 
(5) how a clearinghouse could be self-funded; 
(6) which types of researchers, officials, and in-
stitutions should have access to data and what their 
qualifications should be; 
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(7) what limitations should be placed on the use 
of data provided; 
(8) how to protect information and ensure indi-
vidual privacy and confidentiality; 
(9) how data and results of research can be used 
to inform program administrators and policymakers 
to improve program design; and 
(10) what incentives may facilitate interagency 
sharing of information to improve programmatic ef-
fectiveness and enhance data accuracy and com-
prehensiveness. 
(c) REPORT.—Upon the affirmative vote of at least 
three-quarters of the members of the Commission, the Com-
mission shall submit to the President and Congress a de-
tailed statement of its findings and conclusions as a result 
of the activities required by subsections (a) and (b), together 
with its recommendations for such legislation or adminis-
trative actions as the Commission considers appropriate in 
light of the results of the study. 
(d) DEADLINE.—The report under subsection (c) shall 
be submitted not later than the date that is 15 months after 
the date a majority of the members of the Commission are 
appointed pursuant to section 3. 
(e) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘adminis-
trative data’’ means data— 
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(1) held by an agency or a contractor or grantee 
of an agency (including a State or unit of local gov-
ernment); and 
(2) collected for other than statistical purposes. 
SEC. 5. OPERATION AND POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) EXECUTIVE BRANCH ASSISTANCE.—The heads of 
the following agencies shall advise and consult with the 
Commission on matters within their respective areas of re-
sponsibility: 
(1) The Bureau of the Census. 
(2) The Internal Revenue Service. 
(3) The Department of Health and Human Serv-
ices. 
(4) The Department of Agriculture. 
(5) The Department of Housing and Urban De-
velopment. 
(6) The Social Security Administration. 
(7) The Department of Education. 
(8) The Department of Justice. 
(9) The Office of Management and Budget. 
(10) The Bureau of Economic Analysis. 
(11) The Bureau of Labor Statistics. 
(12) Any other agency, as determined by the 
Commission. 
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(b) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet not later 
than 30 days after the date upon which a majority of its 
members have been appointed and at such times thereafter 
as the chairperson or co-chairperson shall determine. 
(c) RULES OF PROCEDURE.—The chairperson and co- 
chairperson shall, with the approval of a majority of the 
members of the Commission, establish written rules of proce-
dure for the Commission, which shall include a quorum re-
quirement to conduct the business of the Commission. 
(d) HEARINGS.—The Commission may, for the pur-
pose of carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act 
at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence 
as the Commission considers appropriate. 
(e) CONTRACTS.—The Commission may contract with 
and compensate government and private agencies or per-
sons for any purpose necessary to enable it to carry out 
this Act. 
(f) MAILS.—The Commission may use the United 
States mails in the same manner and under the same condi-
tions as other agencies of the Federal Government. 
(g) GIFTS.—The Commission may accept, use, and 
dispose of gifts or donations of services or property. 
SEC. 6. FUNDING. 
Subject to the availability of appropriations— 
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(1) at the request of the Director of the Census, 
the agencies identified as ‘‘Principal Statistical Agen-
cies’’ in the report, published by the Office of Manage-
ment and Budget, entitled ‘‘Statistical Programs of 
the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2015’’ 
shall provide funds, in a total amount not to exceed 
$3,000,000, to the Director for purposes of carrying 
out the activities of the Commission as provided in 
this Act; and 
(2) the Bureau of the Census shall provide ad-
ministrative support to the Commission, which may 
include providing physical space at, and access to, the 
headquarters of the Bureau of the Census, located in 
Suitland, Maryland. 
SEC. 7. PERSONNEL. 
(a) DIRECTOR.—The Commission shall have a Direc-
tor who shall be appointed by the chairperson with the con-
currence of the co-chairperson. The Director shall be paid 
at a rate of pay established by the chairperson and co-chair-
person, not to exceed the annual rate of basic pay payable 
for level V of the Executive Schedule (section 5316 of title 
5, United States Code). 
(b) STAFF.—The Director may appoint and fix the 
pay of additional staff as the Director considers appro-
priate. 
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(c) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The Commission 
may procure temporary and intermittent services under 
section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for 
individuals which do not to exceed the daily equivalent of 
the annual rate of basic pay for a comparable position paid 
under the General Schedule. 
SEC. 8. TERMINATION. 
The Commission shall terminate not later than 18 
months after the date of enactment of this Act. 
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Union Calendar No. 159 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 1831 
[Report No. 114–211] 
A BILL 
To establish the Commission on Evidence-Based 
Policymaking, and for other purposes. 
JULY 16, 2015 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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