National Secure Data Service Act
Bill: H.R.3133 | Sponsor: Rep. Beyer, Donald S., Jr. (D-VA)
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
National Secure Data Service Act
This bill establishes a National Secure Data Service demonstration project. The bill follows a recommendation in the 2017 Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking report calling for establishment of such a service to facilitate access to data across government.
The project shall be (1) aligned with the principles, best practices, and priority actions recommended by the Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence Building; and (2) managed by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics.
The project shall engage with state and federal agencies to collect, acquire, analyze, report, and disseminate statistical data in the United States and other nations to support government-wide evidence-building activities.
The bill includes provisions to ensure confidentiality and transparency.

To establish a National Secure Data Service, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Secure Data Service Act''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL SECURE DATA SERVICE.

    (a) In General.--The Director, in consultation with the Chief 
Statistician of the United States, shall establish a demonstration 
project to develop, refine and test models to inform the full 
implementation of the Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking 
recommendation for a government-wide data linkage and access 
infrastructure for statistical activities conducted for statistical 
purposes, as defined in chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code.
    (b) Establishment.--Not later than one year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish a National Secure 
Data Service demonstration project. The National Secure Data Service 
demonstration project shall be--
            (1) aligned with the principles, best practices, and 
        priority actions recommended by the Advisory Committee on Data 
        for Evidence Building, to the extent feasible; and
            (2) operated directly by or via a contract that is managed 
        by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics.
    (c) Data.--In carrying out this subsection, the Director shall 
engage with State and federal agencies to collect, acquire, analyze, 
report, and disseminate statistical data in the United States and other 
nations to support governmentwide evidence-building activities 
consistent with the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 
2018.
    (d) Privacy and Confidentiality Protections.--If the Director 
issues a management contract under subsection (b), the awardee shall be 
designated as an ``agent'' under chapter 35 of title 44, United States 
Code Subchapter III, section 3561 et seq., with all requirements and 
obligations for protecting confidential information delineated in the 
Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 
2018 and the Privacy Act of 1974.
    (e) Technology.--In carrying out this subsection, the Director 
shall consider application and use of systems and technologies that 
incorporate protection measures to reasonably ensure confidential data 
and statistical products are protected in accordance with obligations 
under chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, subchapter III, 
section 3561 et seq., including systems and technologies that ensure 
raw data and other sensitive inputs are not accessible to recipients of 
statistical outputs from the National Secure Data Service demonstration 
project.
    (f) Transparency.--The National Secure Data Service established 
under subsection (b) shall maintain a public website with up-to-date 
information on supported projects.
    (g) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the National Secure Data Service demonstration project 
established under subsection (b) shall submit a report to Congress that 
includes--
            (1) a description of policies for protecting data, 
        consistent with applicable Federal law;
            (2) a comprehensive description of all completed or active 
        data linkage activities and projects;
            (3) an assessment of the effectiveness of the demonstration 
        project for mitigating risks and removing barriers to a 
        sustained implementation of the National Secure Data Service as 
        recommended by the Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking; 
        and
            (4) if deemed effective by the Director, a plan for scaling 
        up the demonstration project to facilitate data access for 
        evidence building while ensuring transparency and privacy.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Director to carry out this subsection $56,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.
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