DATA Act Would Revolutionize Transparency in Government Spending

Statement of Angela Canterbury, Director of Public Policy, Project On Government Oversight:

The House of Representatives took a major step toward improving transparency and accountability in government spending today by approving the Digital Accountability and Transparency (DATA) Act.

In a time when Congress is often criticized for its deeply divisive politics, the House deserves praise for coming together and unanimously backing this landmark legislation. The DATA Act will give the public an unparalleled look at how the federal government spends taxpayer money.

By centralizing and simplifying the way agencies report spending, as well as tracking how contractors and grant recipients spend taxpayer dollars, the DATA Act will help watchdogs and the public identify and prevent waste, fraud and abuse.

The Project On Government Oversight applauds the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Darrell Issa (D-Calif.), as well as Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) and 13 others who co-sponsored the Act.

We urge the Senate to follow the House’s lead and pass the companion bill S. 1222.