I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2392 
To improve the effectiveness of the Government’s collection, analysis, and 
dissemination of business information by using modern interactive data 
technologies. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 13, 2009 
Mr. ISSA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Oversight and Government Reform 
A BILL 
To improve the effectiveness of the Government’s collection, 
analysis, and dissemination of business information by 
using modern interactive data technologies. 
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 ‘‘Government Informa-
tion Transparency Act’’. 
SEC. 2. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO STANDARDIZATION 
OF COLLECTION, ANALYSIS, AND DISSEMINA-
TION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION. 
(a) PURPOSES.— 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:01 May 19, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2392.IH
H2392
smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
(1) IN GENERAL.—The purpose of this Act is to 
provide, to the maximum extent practicable, for the 
Federal Government to standardize the collection, 
analysis, and dissemination of business and financial 
information regarding business activities of compa-
nies through the use of a single data standard 
known as eXtensible Business Reporting Language. 
(2) ADDITIONAL PURPOSES.—In addition, the 
purposes of this Act are— 
(A) to require the use of the eXtensible 
Business Reporting Language standard to es-
tablish common definitions and structures that 
will maximize to the extent practicable the com-
parability and interoperability of data collected 
and held by Executive agencies; and 
(B) to provide for continued upgrading 
and maintenance of such common definitions 
and structures to remain current and of max-
imum utility as technologies and industry-spe-
cific or agency-specific content evolve over time. 
(b) BEST PRACTICES.—Within 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office 
of Management and Budget, acting through the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, shall prepare and dis-
seminate to Executive agencies guidance documents re-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:01 May 19, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2392.IH
H2392
smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
garding best practices to accomplish the purposes set forth 
in subsection (a). 
(c) ESTABLISHMENT OF AGENCY PROCEDURES.— 
Within 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the head of each agency shall establish procedures for ac-
complishing the purposes set forth in subsection (a) within 
the agency concerned. 
(d) PUBLIC ACCESS TO INTERACTIVE DATA.—Upon 
establishment of the procedures required by subsection (c), 
the head of each agency shall ensure that the information 
collected under the standard is accessible to the general 
public to the extent permitted by law. 
SEC. 3. ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
Within 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, and annually thereafter on the anniversary of 
such date, the Director of the Office of Management and 
Budget shall submit to the Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate a report on the status of the imple-
mentation of this Act. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITION. 
In this Act; 
(1) AGENCY.—The term ‘‘agency’’ means any 
executive department, military department, Govern-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:01 May 19, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2392.IH
H2392
smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
ment corporation, Government controlled corpora-
tion, independent establishment, or other establish-
ment in the executive branch of the Government (in-
cluding the Executive Office of the President), or 
any independent regulatory agency, but does not in-
clude— 
(A) the Government Accountability Office; 
(B) the Federal Election Commission; 
(C) the governments of the District of Co-
lumbia and of the territories and possessions of 
the United States, and their various subdivi-
sions; or 
(D) Government-owned contractor-oper-
ated facilities, including laboratories engaged in 
national defense research and production activi-
ties. 
(2) EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENT, MILITARY
DE-
PARTMENT, GOVERNMENT
CORPORATION, GOVERN-
MENT
CONTROLLED
CORPORATION, INDEPENDENT 
ESTABLISHMENT.—The terms ‘‘Executive depart-
ment’’, ‘‘military department’’, ‘‘Government cor-
poration’’, ‘‘Government controlled corporation’’, and 
‘‘independent establishment’’ have the meanings 
given those terms by chapter 1 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:01 May 19, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2392.IH
H2392
smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
(3) INDEPENDENT REGULATORY AGENCY.—The 
term ‘‘independent regulatory agency’’ has the 
meaning given that term by section 3502(5) of title 
44, United States Code. 
Æ 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:01 May 19, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2392.IH
H2392
smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS