I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2571 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 15, 2011 Mr. Schock (for himself and Mr. Quigley) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration A BILL To provide the Director of the Congressional Research Service with the authority to obtain information directly from agencies of the Federal Government.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Transparency and Accountability in Government Act.

2.

Access of congressional research service to government information

(a)

Direct access to information

Section 203 of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 166) is amended— (1)by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (k); and (2)by inserting after subsection (i) the following new subsection: (j)In carrying out the duties and functions of the Congressional Research Service in response to a request made by a Member of Congress, the Director is authorized to secure such information, data, estimates, and statistics directly from the various departments, agencies, and establishments of the executive branch of the Government and the regulatory agencies and commissions of the Government as the Director determines (with the approval of the Member making the request) to be necessary to carry out the request, and all such departments, agencies, establishments, and regulatory agencies and commissions shall furnish the Director with all such available material (other than material the disclosure of which would be a violation of law). . (b)

Conforming amendment

Section 203(d)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 166(d)(1)) is amended in the matter following subparagraph (C) by striking and in the performance of this duty and all that follows through comply with such request;.