Results for America Applauds the Reintroduction of a Bipartisan Resolution to Establish a Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking

The Commission would promote and strengthen data and evidence-based policymaking across Congress, delivering better results for the American people.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, a bipartisan group of lawmakers led by U.S. Reps. William Timmons (R-SC), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Don Bacon (R-NE) and Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) — all members of the bipartisan Congressional What Works Caucus —  reintroduced a resolution that would establish a new Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking, a taskforce to promote the use of data for evidence-building and evidence-based policymaking across Congress. 

“Congress has a responsibility to ensure taxpayer dollars are invested in programs that actually deliver results,” said Rep. Timmons. “This bipartisan commission will strengthen our ability to use data, evidence, and real-world outcomes to shape policy that works. It is a smart step toward better governance and more effective stewardship of public resources.”

The resolution would establish a bipartisan Commission that will review and recommend ways to better integrate federal data and evidence into the legislative process, helping Congress make more informed decisions and effective legislation. The Commission would equip Congress with the tools, expertise, and data needed to craft more effective legislation and evaluate its real-world impact. If passed, it would mark a shift toward more informed, data-driven decision-making in Congress—improving policy outcomes and the efficient use of taxpayer dollars.

“This Commission’s mandate is simple: to help Congress expand its ability and capacity to deliver more impactful results for families across the country,” said Rep. Landsman. “By partnering outside experts with experienced Congressional staff, we can deliver evidence-based policy recommendations to lawmakers – a common-sense way to get real results for Americans.”

The Evidence-Based Policymaking Commission Act of 2016, passed by former Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and signed into law by President Obama, resulted in unanimous, bipartisan recommendations that informed new laws, such as the bipartisan Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act signed by President Trump, and the establishment of the National Secure Data Service demonstration project. This resolution will build upon the successful work started by the commission, directing agencies to provide Congress with the tools it needs to ensure effective governance and support of programs that will deliver real, meaningful results for the American people. 

“Building and using evidence and data to help Congress make better decisions and smarter investments is a win for the American people,” said Michele Jolin, CEO and Co-Founder of Results for America. “This Commission will help Congress bring a more effective and efficient approach to governance, and advance efforts to make investing in what works the new normal in Washington. We applaud Representatives Timmons and Landsman for their leadership and urge Congress to overwhelmingly pass the resolution.”

“The Partnership applauds this bipartisan effort to further institutionalize evidence-building and evidence-based policymaking within the legislative branch,” said Max Stier, President and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service. “We support Congress’s efforts to ensure it has the technology, expertise and data to produce rigorous, fact-based analysis that informs the legislative process. Now more than ever, lawmakers must have transparency and oversight into federal agency activities.”

“This bipartisan resolution creates a pathway for Congress to make better use of existing federal data for evidence-informed decision-making,” said Nick Hart, President and CEO of the Data Foundation. “This commission will help improve how Congress works and advance our shared commitment to leverage data as a strategic asset in creating more effective policies.”

“USAFacts is proud to support the bipartisan Congressional Evidence-Based Policymaking Resolution co-sponsored by Rep. Timmons and Rep. Landsman,” added Poppy MacDonald, President of USAFacts. “Our mission is to ground public debate in facts, and we see every day how data can lead to better decisions and better outcomes for the American people. This resolution is a meaningful step toward ensuring Congress has the tools and commitment to make policy rooted in facts, not politics.”

“With the Trump Administration and a Republican-led Congress prioritizing the reduction of wasteful spending, demonstrating the effectiveness of programs has never been more critical,” said Ted McCann, Vice President for Programs and Policies at the American Idea Foundation. “I commend the bipartisan reintroduction of the Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking Resolution as an essential measure to strengthen Congress’s ability to carry out this crucial task.”

“The use of data and evidence in the federal legislative process is critical to developing sound policy and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of government programs,” said Paul Decker, President and CEO of Mathematica. “This bipartisan resolution will help ensure that evidence-based policymaking is part of our government’s promise to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars—to invest in what works and fix what doesn’t.”

About Results for America:

Results for America is helping decision-makers at all levels of government harness the power of evidence and data to solve the world’s greatest challenges. Our mission is to make investing in what works the “new normal,” so that when policymakers make decisions, they start by seeking the best evidence and data available, then use what they find to get better results.