Results for America Statement on Final Passage of Ryan-Murray Evidence Bill

WASHINGTON, DC – Results for America (RFA) issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate gave final approval to the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act today. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday, and it now goes to the President for his signature. The bipartisan legislation, sponsored by U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), would implement key recommendations in the final report of the Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking.

“The bipartisan passage of the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act is a significant step toward a more efficient, more effective government that uses evidence and data to improve results for the American people,” CEO and Co-Founder Michele Jolin said.

“We commend Speaker Ryan, Senator Murray and their bipartisan colleagues in both chambers for advancing legislation that will help build evidence about the federally-funded practices, policies and programs that deliver the best outcomes. By ensuring that each federal agency has an evaluation officer, an evaluation policy and evidence-building plans, we can maximize the impact of public investments.”

The bill was originally introduced on October 31, 2017, by Speaker Ryan and Senator Murray. A summary of the bill can be found here.

The legislation included several recommendations that RFA promoted through testimony, annual federal Invest in What Works Standards of Excellence Indexes, and Invest in What Works Coalition letters – including proposals to require a Chief Evaluation Officer, an evaluation policy and evidence-building plans at each federal agency. Last fall, RFA released a letter signed by 109 local, state, and national leaders and organizations endorsing the Ryan-Murray bill.

The legislation builds on the final report of the Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking, which was developed over 15 months and agreed to unanimously by the members of the Commission. RFA was a strong supporter of S.991, the Evidence-Based Policymaking Commission Act — sponsored by Speaker Ryan and Senator Murray and signed into law by President Obama — which created the Commission.

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