Recommendations of the Commission on Evidence-Based PolicymakingThe Commission's recommendations represent a comprehensive strategy for tackling the greatest problems facing evidence building today -- data access is limited, privacy-protecting practices are inadequate, and the capacity to generate the evidence needed to support policy decisions is insufficient. The Congress, the President, and the American people are ill-served by this state of affairs. Government must do what it takes to increase the quantity and quality of evidence building. The strategy outlined in the Commission's report simultaneously improves privacy protections and makes better use of data the government already collects to support policymaking. Together with leadership from the President and the Congress in calling for credible evidence to support policy decisions throughout government, implementation of the Commission's recommendations is an important step in providing the country with an effective government.Whether deciding on funding allocations, assessing proposed regulations, or understanding how to improve processes for efficiently providing services, evidence should play an important role in key decisions made by government officials. The Commission proposes modernizing the country's evidence-building capacity to make sure our government's decision-making process is among the best in the world, now and in the future.Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking CEBP_483d2c60-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c73Government StaffPrivate ResearchersFoundationsNon-ProfitsBusiness CommunityThe PublicCongressPresidentAmerican PeopleMembers of the Commission on Evidence-Based PolicymakingKatharine G. AbrahamChairRon HaskinsCo-Chair Sherry GliedRobert M. GrovesRobert HahnHilary HoynesJeffrey B. Liebman Bruce D. MeyerPaul OhmNancy PotokKathleen Rice MosierRobert J. SheaLatanya SweeneyKenneth R. TroskeKim R. WallinRigorous evidence is created efficiently, as a routine part of government operations, and used to construct effective public policy_483d2e0e-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c73To make recommendations on (1) how the Federal government can provide the infrastructure for secure access to data, (2) the mechanisms to improve privacy protections and transparency about the uses of data for evidence building, and (3) the institutional capacity to support evidence building. _483d2ec2-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c73EvidenceGenerating and using evidence to inform government policy-making and program administration is not a partisan issue. The strategy described in this report offers a non-partisan approach to improving how government staff, private researchers, foundations, non-profits, the business community, and the public interact to make sure government delivers on its promises. Non-PartisanshipEffectivenessEfficiencyData AccessImprove Secure, Private, and Confidential Data Access_483d2f76-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c731There are many barriers to the effective use of government data to generate evidence. Better access to these data holds the potential for substantial gains for society. The Commission's recommendations recognize that the country’s laws and practices are not currently optimized to support the use of data for evidence building, nor in a manner that best protects privacy. To correct these problems, the Commission makes the following recommendations:Secure Data ServiceEstablish a National Secure Data Service to facilitate access to data for evidence building while ensuring privacy and transparency in how those data are used._483d312e-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c731.1As a state-of-the-art resource for improving government's capacity to use the data it already collects, the National Secure Data Service will be able to temporarily link existing data and provide secure access to those data for exclusively statistical purposes in connection with approved projects. The National Secure Data Service will do this without creating a data clearinghouse or warehouse.PrivacyRequire stringent privacy qualifications for acquiring and combining data for statistical purposes._483d31e2-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c731.2Require stringent privacy qualifications for acquiring and combining data for statistical purposes at the National Secure Data Service to ensure that data continue to be efectively protected while improving the government's ability to understand the impacts of programs on a wider range of outcomes. At the same time, consider additional statutory changes to enable ongoing statistical production that, under the same stringent privacy qualifcations, may make use of combined data.Data Collection & UseReview and, where needed, revise laws authorizing Federal data collection and use to ensure that limited access to administrative and survey data is possible to return benefits to the public through improved programs and policies, but only under strict privacy controls._483d328c-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c731.3Earnings DataEnsure state-collected quarterly earnings data are available for statistical purposes, including to support the many evidence-building activities for which earnings are an important outcome._483d334a-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c731.4State-Collected DataMake additional state-collected data about Federal programs available for evidence building._483d33fe-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c731.5StatesWhere appropriate, states that administer programs with substantial Federal investment should in return provide the data necessary for evidence building.Confidential DataDevelop a uniform process for external researchers to apply and qualify for secure access to confidential government data for evidence-building purposes while protecting privacy by carefully restricting data access to qualified and approved researchers._483d34bc-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c731.6ResearchersPrivacyModernize Privacy Protections for Evidence Building_483d35de-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c732Enhancements to privacy, coupled with improved methods for secure data access, will revolutionize how government uses and protects the data it collects. Among the Commission’s recommendations to achieve this vision are:Risk AssessmentRequire comprehensive risk assessments on de-identified confidential data intended for public release to improve how data are protected and risk is managed._483d36a6-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c732.1TechnologiesAdopt modern privacy-enhancing technologies for confidential data used for evidence building to ensure that government's capabilities to keep data secure and protect confidentiality are constantly improving._483d3778-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c732.2Data StewardshipAssign senior officials the responsibility for stewarding data within government departments. _483d385e-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c732.3Federal AgenciesAgencies should improve leadership, coordination, and collaboration when implementing protections for the use of confidential data.StatisticsCodify policies for maintaining integrity and objectivity in Federal statistics to promote continued public trust in the accuracy of information being used to guide government decision-making._483d393a-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c732.4ImplementationImplement the National Secure Data Service_483d3a16-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c733The Commission's recommendations for improved data access and strong privacy protections rely heavily on the establishment of the National Secure Data Service. Being able to combine data within a secure environment will be an increasingly vital aspect of the evidence-building community's capacity to meet future demand from policymakers. Increased transparency will enable the public to be informed about how data are being used to improve their government, even as data are being stringently protected. The Commission envisions that the National Secure Data Service will operate an effective and efficient service that can be held accountable by policymakers and the American public. Te Commission's recommendations to implement the National Secure Data Service include: Infrastructure & ExpertiseBuild on the infrastructure and expertise already developed in government, including at the U.S. Census Bureau, to ensure that data linkages and access to confidential data for statistical purposes are conducted in the most secure manner possible. _483d3afc-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c733.1U.S. Census BureauData LinkagesRequire public input, guidance, and participation in the policies and procedures for data linkage activities through public and stakeholder representation on the National Secure Data Service's steering committee._483d3be2-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c733.2Transparency & AccountabilityEstablish a new transparency and accountability portal for evidence-building activities to ensure the public is notified about how confidential data are used for evidence building and to document routine audits for compliance with rules governing privacy, confidentiality, and data access._483d3cbe-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c733.3Flexibility & InnovationInnovate continuously on privacy-protective data access approaches with sufficient administrative flexibilities to ensure government can adjust as technology advances._483d3dc2-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c733.4Data Inventories & DocumentationIncrease efforts to make information available about the government's current data inventories and supply related data documentation to help researchers inside and outside government know which data they need to evaluate programs and policies._483d3e9e-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c733.5ResearchersCapacityStrengthen Federal Evidence-Building Capacity_483d3f8e-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c734Evidence-Building CommunityMore privacy protective approaches and improved access to data alone will not improve the volume and quality of evidence. The evidence-building community also needs sufficient capacity, administrative flexibilities, and appropriate program design to enable a strong and effective evidence-generation system to operate. To strengthen the evidence-building capacity within the Federal government, the Commission makes the following recommendations: EvaluationIdentify or establish a Chief Evaluation Officer in each department to coordinate evaluation and policy research and to collaborate with other evidence-building functions within Federal departments._483d4088-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c734.1Chief Evaluation OfficersLearningDevelop learning agendas in Federal departments to support the generation and use of evidence to address the range of policymakers' questions._483d4178-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c734.2CoordinationImprove coordination of government-wide evidence building by directing the Office of Management and Budget to facilitate cross-government coordination, and consider how a greater commitment to foundational information policy responsibilities can be achieved, including through any consolidation or reorganization at the Office of Management and Budget that may be necessary._483d4268-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c734.3Office of Management and BudgetProcessesAlign administrative processes with evidence-building activities, including those relating to the approval of information collections and the procurement of services for evidence building._483d436c-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c734.4ResourcesEnsure that sufficient resources to support evidence-building activities are available, including resources to support implementation of the Commission's recommendations._483d445c-b612-11e7-bea4-d96dd9594c734.52017-10-20https://www.cep.gov/content/dam/cep/report/cep-final-report.pdfOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net