U.S. Reps. Rudy Yakym (R-IN), Don Bacon (R-NE), and Blake Moore (R-UT) recently introduced the bipartisan Evidence-Based Grantmaking Act to ensure federal grant money is allocated properly to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.
“Taxpayer dollars should go to what works, not what wastes,” said Rep. Yakym, co-chairman of the What Works Caucus. “This common-sense bill uses real data to guide spending and stop waste, fraud, and abuse.
“Taxpayers deserve transparency and it’s our job to protect their hard-earned money, hold bad actors accountable, and make sure government programs actually work,” Yakym added.
On Jan. 13 the congressman sponsored H.R. 7025 alongside five original cosponsors, including Rep. Bacon, Rep. Moore, and U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), also a co-chair of the What Works Caucus.
“Improving government efficiency isn’t as simple as eliminating entire programs or downsizing federal agencies to save a quick buck,” said Rep. Bacon, the lead original cosponsor of the bill. “It requires careful, impartial consideration of what’s actually performing, and leaning on data and evidence. We should be looking at what’s delivering results for taxpayers, and this bill helps Congress and the federal government take an important step in that direction.”
The legislation would tie federal dollars to results and require federal agencies to prioritize funding for programs that are proven effective, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
The bill also would clearly define what “evidence-based” means, and would require that outcomes are regularly measured and reported, the summary says.
“Americans expect accountability when they entrust their tax dollars to the federal government,” Rep. Moore said. “This bill is a step toward ensuring federal grantmaking agencies only award funds to outcomes-based programs, providing measurable results and prioritizing government efficiency.”
H.R. 7025, which has been endorsed by Results for America, has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
“I’m proud to support the Evidence-Based Grantmaking Act, which helps communities draw down federal funding while ensuring dollars are being spent on evidence-proven programming that puts value right back in Americans’ pockets,” said Rep. Pettersen. “This bipartisan bill is a common-sense measure to make our government more efficient.”