Indy Standard

U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at modernizing federal agencies' data management practices. The proposed bill seeks to extend the Chief Data Officers (CDO) Council, which was initially established by the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018. The new legislation mandates that the Council evaluate federal data management practices to improve data quality, access, and transparency.

"I worked with former Speaker Paul Ryan to establish the Chief Data Officers (CDO) Council via the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018, to better coordinate data sharing and best practices across the federal government," said Senator Young. "Our bill builds on the Council’s existing efforts and makes AI readiness part of the Council’s purpose, while requiring the CDO Council and the OMB Director to report detailed recommendations on data policy changes. This bill will help the federal government operate more effectively and provide taxpayers with better service."

Senator Peters emphasized the growing importance of artificial intelligence in government operations: "As the use of artificial intelligence continues to grow, federal agencies must have strong data practices and protections in place to better provide efficient and effective services to the American people. Extending the Chief Data Officers Council will ensure that the federal government is able to pursue best practices to manage and protect data, especially as agencies increasingly adopt AI and other technologies to improve government operations."

The CDO Council has released various toolkits, reports, and pilot programs since its inception in 2018, aimed at enhancing data sharing practices among federal agencies. However, it is currently set to expire in 2025. The Modernizing Data Practices to Improve Government Act proposes extending this term by seven years.

The legislation also requires that OMB submit a report with recommendations on how to clarify and enhance CDO roles across government sectors. This includes identifying necessary resources and skills for supporting data governance and AI adoption within federal agencies.

Additionally, under this bill, the CDO Council would be tasked with reporting key data governance issues back to OMB and Congress. These reports would include recommendations for ensuring agency data reliability, transparency, high quality standards, as well as an assessment of challenges preventing AI adoption across different agencies.

Further provisions in this legislation require that CDOs offer guidance on defining synthetic data created by AI systems. They must also provide recommendations for ownership and retention policies concerning contracts related to AI procurement.