    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 133, 116th Congress, 1st Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Public Law 116-103
    116th Congress

    An Act

    To modernize Federal grant reporting, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Grant Reporting
    Efficiency and Agreements Transparency Act of 2019'' or the ``GREAT
    Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
    follows:

    Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
    Sec. 2. Purposes.
    Sec. 3. Definitions.
    Sec. 4. Data standards for grant reporting.
    Sec. 5. Single Audit Act.
    Sec. 6. Consolidation of assistance-related information; publication of
    public information as open data.
    Sec. 7. Evaluation of nonproprietary identifiers.
    Sec. 8. Rule of construction.
    Sec. 9. No additional funds authorized.

    SEC. 2. <>  PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are to--
    (1) modernize reporting by recipients of Federal grants and
    cooperative agreements by creating and imposing data standards
    for the information that those recipients are required by law to
    report to the Federal Government;
    (2) implement the recommendation by the Director of the
    Office of Management and Budget contained in the report
    submitted under section 5(b)(6) of the Federal Funding
    Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101
    note) relating to the development of a ``comprehensive taxonomy
    of standard definitions for core data elements required for
    managing Federal financial assistance awards'';
    (3) reduce burden and compliance costs of recipients of
    Federal grants and cooperative agreements by enabling technology
    solutions, existing or yet to be developed, for use in both the
    public and private sectors to better manage the data that
    recipients already provide to the Federal Government; and
    (4) strengthen oversight and management of Federal grants
    and cooperative agreements by agencies by consolidating the
    collection and display of and access to open data that has been
    standardized and, where appropriate, increasing transparency to
    the public.

    [[Page 3267]]

    SEC. 3. <>  DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act, the terms ``agency'', ``Director'', ``Federal award'',
    and ``Secretary'' have the meanings given those terms in section 6401 of
    title 31, United States Code, as added by section 4(a) of this Act.
    SEC. 4. DATA STANDARDS FOR GRANT REPORTING.

    (a) Amendment.--Subtitle V of title 31, United States Code, is
    amended by inserting <>  after chapter 63 the
    following:

    ``CHAPTER 64--DATA STANDARDS FOR GRANT REPORTING

    ``Sec.
    ``6401. Definitions.
    ``6402. Data standards for grant reporting.
    ``6403. Guidance applying data standards for grant reporting.
    ``6404. Agency requirements.

    ``Sec. 6401. <>  Definitions

    ``In this chapter:
    ``(1) Agency.--The term `agency' has the meaning given the
    term in section 552(f) of title 5.
    ``(2) Core data elements.--The term `core data elements'
    means data elements relating to financial management,
    administration, or management that--
    ``(A) are not program-specific in nature or program-
    specific outcome measures, as defined in section 1115(h)
    of this title; and
    ``(B) are required by agencies for all or the vast
    majority of recipients of Federal awards for purposes of
    reporting.
    ``(3) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director of
    the Office of Management and Budget.
    ``(4) Executive department.--The term `Executive department'
    has the meaning given the term in section 101 of title 5.
    ``(5) Federal award.--The term `Federal award'--
    ``(A) means the transfer of anything of value for a
    public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by a
    law of the United States, including financial assistance
    and Government facilities, services, and property;
    ``(B) includes a grant, a subgrant, a cooperative
    agreement, or any other transaction; and
    ``(C) does not include a transaction or agreement--
    ``(i) that provides for conventional public
    information services or procurement of property or
    services for the direct benefit or use of the
    Government; or
    ``(ii) that provides only--
    ``(I) direct Government cash
    assistance to an individual;
    ``(II) a subsidy;
    ``(III) a loan;
    ``(IV) a loan guarantee; or
    ``(V) insurance.
    ``(6) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the head of the
    standard-setting agency.

    [[Page 3268]]

    ``(7) Standard-setting agency.--The term `standard-setting
    agency' means the Executive department designated under section
    6402(a)(1).
    ``(8) State.--The term `State' means each State of the
    United States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth,
    territory, or possession of the United States, and each
    federally recognized Indian Tribe.
    ``Sec. 6402. <>  Data standards for grant
    reporting

    ``(a) In General.--
    ``(1) Designation of standard-setting agency.--The Director
    shall designate the Executive department that administers the
    greatest number of programs under which Federal awards are
    issued in a calendar year as the standard-setting agency.
    ``(2) <>  Establishment of standards.--Not
    later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this chapter,
    the Secretary and the Director shall establish Governmentwide
    data standards for information reported by recipients of Federal
    awards.
    ``(3) Data elements.--The data standards established under
    paragraph (2) shall include, at a minimum--
    ``(A) standard definitions for data elements
    required for managing Federal awards; and
    ``(B) unique identifiers for Federal awards and
    recipients of Federal awards that can be consistently
    applied Governmentwide.

    ``(b) Scope.--The data standards established under subsection (a)--
    ``(1) shall include core data elements;
    ``(2) may cover information required by law to be reported
    to any agency by recipients of Federal awards, including audit-
    related information reported under chapter 75 of this title; and
    ``(3) may not be used by the Director or any agency to
    require the collection of any data not otherwise required under
    Federal law.

    ``(c) Requirements.--The data standards established under subsection
    (a) shall, to the extent reasonable and practicable--
    ``(1) render information reported by recipients of Federal
    awards fully searchable and machine-readable;
    ``(2) be nonproprietary;
    ``(3) incorporate standards developed and maintained by
    voluntary consensus standards bodies;
    ``(4) be consistent with and implement applicable accounting
    and reporting principles; and
    ``(5) incorporate the data standards established under the
    Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31
    U.S.C. 6101 note).

    ``(d) Consultation.--In establishing the data standards under
    subsection (a), the Secretary and the Director shall consult with--
    ``(1) the Secretary of the Treasury to ensure that the data
    standards established under subsection (a) incorporate the data
    standards established under the Federal Funding Accountability
    and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note);
    ``(2) the head of each agency that issues Federal awards;
    ``(3) recipients of Federal awards and organizations
    representing recipients of Federal awards;

    [[Page 3269]]

    ``(4) private sector experts;
    ``(5) members of the public, including privacy experts,
    privacy advocates, auditors, and industry stakeholders; and
    ``(6) State and local governments.
    ``Sec. 6403. <>  Guidance applying data
    standards for grant reporting

    ``(a) <>  In General.--Not later than 3 years after
    the date of enactment of this chapter--
    ``(1) the Secretary and the Director shall jointly issue
    guidance to all agencies directing the agencies to apply the
    data standards established under section 6402(a) to all
    applicable reporting by recipients of Federal awards; and
    ``(2) the Director shall prescribe guidance applying the
    data standards established under section 6402(a) to audit-
    related information reported under chapter 75 of this title.

    ``(b) Guidance.--The guidance issued under subsection (a) shall--
    ``(1) to the extent reasonable and practicable--
    ``(A) minimize the disruption of existing reporting
    practices of, and not increase the reporting burden on,
    agencies or recipients of Federal awards; and
    ``(B) explore opportunities to implement modern
    technologies in reporting relating to Federal awards;
    ``(2) <>  allow the Director to permit
    exceptions for classes of Federal awards, including exceptions
    for Federal awards granted to Indian Tribes and Tribal
    organizations consistent with the Indian Self-Determination and
    Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.), if the
    Director publishes a list of those exceptions and submits the
    list to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
    Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Reform
    of the House of Representatives; and
    ``(3) take into consideration the consultation required
    under section 6402(d).

    ``(c) Updating Guidance.--
    ``(1) <>  In general.--Not less
    frequently than once every 10 years, the Director shall update
    the guidance issued under subsection (a).
    ``(2) Procedures.--In updating guidance under paragraph (1),
    the Director shall, to the maximum extent practicable, follow
    the procedures for the development of the data standards and
    guidance prescribed under this section and section 6402.
    ``Sec. 6404. <>  Agency requirements

    ``Not <>  later than 1 year after the date on which
    guidance is issued or updated under subsection (b) or (c), respectively,
    of section 6403, the head of each agency shall--
    ``(1) ensure that all of the Federal awards that the agency
    issues use data standards for all future information collection
    requests; and
    ``(2) amend existing information collection requests under
    chapter 35 of title 44 (commonly known as the `Paperwork
    Reduction Act') to comply with the data standards established
    under section 6402 of this chapter, in accordance with the
    guidance issued by the Secretary and the Director under section
    6403 of this chapter.''.

    [[Page 3270]]

    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of chapters for
    subtitle V of title 31, United States Code, <>  is amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 63
    the following:

    ``64. Data standards for grant reporting.........................6401''.
    SEC. 5. SINGLE AUDIT ACT.

    (a) Amendments.--
    (1) Audit requirements.--Section 7502(h) of title 31, United
    States Code, is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1),
    by inserting ``in an electronic form in accordance with the data
    standards established under chapter 64 and'' after ``the
    reporting package,''.
    (2) Regulations.--Section 7505 of title 31, United States
    Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

    ``(d) Such guidance shall require audit-related information reported
    under this chapter to be reported in an electronic form in accordance
    with the data standards established under chapter 64.''.
    (b) <>  Guidance.--Not later than
    3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall
    issue guidance requiring audit-related information reported under
    chapter 75 of title 31, United States Code, to be reported in an
    electronic form consistent with the data standards established under
    chapter 64 of that title, as added by section 4(a) of this Act.
    SEC. 6. <>  CONSOLIDATION OF ASSISTANCE-
    RELATED INFORMATION; PUBLICATION OF PUBLIC
    INFORMATION AS OPEN DATA.

    (a) <>  Collection of Information.--Not later than
    5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the
    Director shall, using the data standards established under chapter 64 of
    title 31, United States Code, as added by section 4(a) of this Act,
    enable the collection, public display, and maintenance of Federal award
    information as a Governmentwide data set, subject to reasonable
    restrictions established by the Director to ensure protection of
    personally identifiable information and otherwise sensitive information.

    (b) <>  Publication of Information.--The Secretary
    and the Director shall require the publication of data reported by
    recipients of Federal awards that is collected from all agencies on a
    single public portal, which may be an existing Governmentwide website,
    as determined appropriate by the Director.

    (c) FOIA.--Nothing in this section shall require the disclosure to
    the public of information that would be exempt from disclosure under
    section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the
    ``Freedom of Information Act'').
    SEC. 7. <>  EVALUATION OF NONPROPRIETARY
    IDENTIFIERS.

    (a) Determination Required.--The Director and the Secretary shall
    determine whether to use nonproprietary identifiers described in section
    6402(a)(3)(B) of title 31, United States Code, as added by section 4(a)
    of this Act.
    (b) Factors to Be Considered.--In making the determination under
    subsection (a), the Director and the Secretary shall consider factors
    such as accessibility and cost to recipients of Federal awards, agencies
    that issue Federal awards, private sector experts, and members of the
    public, including privacy experts, privacy advocates, transparency
    experts, and transparency advocates.

    [[Page 3271]]

    (c) Publication and Report on Determination.--Not later than the
    earlier of 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act or the date on
    which the Director and the Secretary establish data standards under
    section 6402(a)(2) of title 31, United States Code, as added by section
    4(a) of this Act, the Director and the Secretary shall publish and
    submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of
    the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of
    Representatives a report explaining the reasoning for the determination
    made under subsection (a).
    SEC. 8. <>  RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this Act, shall be
    construed to require the collection of data that is not otherwise
    required under any Federal law, rule, or regulation.
    SEC. 9. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.

    No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of
    this Act and the amendments made by this Act. Such requirements shall be
    carried out using amounts otherwise authorized.

    Approved December 30, 2019.

    LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 150:
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    SENATE REPORTS: No. 116-96 (Comm. on Homeland Security and Governmental
    Affairs).
    CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 165 (2019):
    Jan. 15, 17, considered and passed House.
    Oct. 21, considered and passed Senate, amended.
    Dec. 16, House concurred in Senate amendment.