NTU urges all Representatives to vote “YES” on S. 994, the Digital Accountability and Transparency (DATA) Act. This legislation would take an important step toward greater accountability to taxpayers by providing more information on how their hard-earned dollars are spent.
Through the expansion of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, the DATA Act would build on the benefits to taxpayers provided by USASpending.gov by consolidating and standardizing government spending data including contracts, loans, and grants. This information would be made available online to the public.
Government-wide data standards with consistent accounting methods would make it easier for taxpayers as well as government officials to compare expenditures on an “apples-to-apples” basis. Streamlining and simplifying reporting requirements would reduce compliance costs for recipients. New rules requiring information to be filed timely and in searchable, downloadable formats would help provide a more comprehensive picture of government spending. Together, these important reforms would improve not just the quantity, but also the quality of data on USASpending.gov.
The DATA Act would bring increased transparency to a system that is too often rife with favoritism, waste, and fraud. As the federal government continues to make heavy demands on the public’s paychecks, taxpayers deserve the opportunity to find out more details about how the money they send to Washington is being spent. Mounting debt and runaway spending make it all the more crucial that the tough choices confronting elected officials are informed by reliable financial data.
Roll call votes on S. 944 will be included in NTU’s annual Rating of Congress and a “YES” vote will be considered the pro-taxpayer position.
If you have any questions, please contact NTU Federal Affairs Manager Nan Swift at (703) 683-5700