HR-2055 : Still Just a Bill

Transparency in Government Act of 2021

This bill establishes and otherwise modifies several reporting, disclosure, and other requirements across all branches of government to expand public access to information.

For example, with respect to the legislative branch, the bill
  • establishes additional financial disclosure requirements for Members of Congress,
  • requires congressional committees to post certain materials (e.g., schedules and transcripts) within specified time frames, and
  • provides for the creation of a centralized online database of congressionally mandated reports.

Additionally, with respect to the executive branch, the bill

  • requires agencies to publicly disclose additional information relating to sponsored advertisements, budget requests, and grant recipients;
  • requires certain legal advisory opinions and rulemaking materials to be published within specified time frames; and
  • provides for the appointment of a special counsel to prosecute individuals in the executive branch for contempt of Congress.

Finally, with respect to the judicial branch, the bill

  • requires the Supreme Court to allow proceedings that are conducted in open court to be televised,
  • requires certain financial disclosure statements of judicial officers to be posted within specified time frames, and
  • requires certain electronic filing systems to be consolidated and meet certain data standards (e.g., search functions).

Action Timeline

Action DateTypeTextSource
2021-10-19CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.House committee actions
2021-03-18IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, the Judiciary, Ethics, Financial Services, the Budget, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2021-03-18IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, the Judiciary, Ethics, Financial Services, the Budget, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2021-03-18IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, the Judiciary, Ethics, Financial Services, the Budget, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2021-03-18IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, the Judiciary, Ethics, Financial Services, the Budget, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2021-03-18IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, the Judiciary, Ethics, Financial Services, the Budget, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2021-03-18IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, the Judiciary, Ethics, Financial Services, the Budget, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2021-03-18IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, the Judiciary, Ethics, Financial Services, the Budget, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2021-03-18IntroReferralIntroduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Sponsor :

Mike Quigley [D] (IL-5)
See Cosponsors

Policy Area :

Congress
Related Subjects
  • Accounting and auditing
  • Administrative law and regulatory procedures
  • Appropriations
  • Banking and financial institutions regulation
  • Budget process
  • Civil actions and liability
  • Congressional agencies
  • Congressional committees
  • Congressional-executive branch relations
  • Congressional officers and employees
  • Congressional operations and organization
  • Congressional oversight
  • Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
  • Criminal justice information and records
  • Debt collection
  • Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
  • Federal officials
  • Financial crises and stabilization
  • Freedom of information
  • Government buildings, facilities, and property
  • Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
  • Government information and archives
  • Government studies and investigations
  • House of Representatives
  • Internet, web applications, social media
  • Judicial procedure and administration
  • Judicial review and appeals
  • Law enforcement officers
  • Lawyers and legal services
  • Legislative rules and procedure
  • Licensing and registrations
  • Marketing and advertising
  • Members of Congress
  • Performance measurement
  • Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
  • Public contracts and procurement
  • Public participation and lobbying
  • Senate
  • Sound recording
  • Supreme Court
  • Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
  • Television and film
  • Transportation costs
  • U.S. Capitol
Related Geographic Entities
Related Organizations
  • Congressional Research Service (CRS)
  • Department of Justice
  • Department of the Treasury
  • Executive Office of the President
  • Financial Stability Oversight Council
  • Library of Congress

Related Bills

See Related Bills