House Advances Bipartisan Evidence-Based Policymaking Bill
House Advances Bipartisan Evidence-Based Policymaking Bill
 
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November 2017

On November 15, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2017 (
HR 4174). The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform unanimously approved the bill on November 2.

In late October, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) introduced H.R. 4174 and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced a nearly identical bill, S. 2046, in the Senate. Reportedly, the minor differences were reconciled and included in the version of HR 4174 that passed the House.

This fast-moving bill grew out of recommendations in the report released by the congressionally created bipartisan Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking. Members of the House and Senate describe it as the "down-payment" legislation that would enact some of the less complicated (and less controversial) recommendations.

Ryan and Murray have publically indicated their intentions to introduce additional legislation to address the remaining recommendations. Future legislation will presumably depend on the success of the current bill.

AERA joined more than 100 organizations and leaders in a letter in support of the bill as well as issued a stand-alone statement in support of the report and efforts to proceed with legislation. The commission co-chairs also recently published an op-ed in Roll Call calling on Congress to quickly pass the Ryan-Murray legislation.

Related stories:
Commission for Evidence-Based Policy Releases Report,” AERA Highlights, September 2017