Bill Summary
The "Executive Transparency Act" is proposed legislation that aims to enhance government accountability by requiring a range of high-ranking officials within the U.S. executive branch to provide annual briefings to specified congressional committees. The selected officials include members of the Cabinet, such as the Secretaries of State, Defense, and Treasury, as well as heads of various agencies, including the Director of National Intelligence and the Chair of the Federal Reserve Board.
These briefings will cover relevant information as determined by the committees, fostering greater transparency and communication between the executive branch and Congress. The bill amends Title 5 of the U.S. Code to formalize this requirement, thereby establishing a structured approach for oversight and ensuring that Congress is kept informed about the operations and issues pertinent to these officials’ respective domains.
Overall, the legislation seeks to promote transparency in government actions, allowing Congress to fulfill its oversight responsibilities more effectively.
Possible Impacts
The "Executive Transparency Act" as outlined in the legislation could affect people in the following ways:
1. **Increased Government Accountability**: By requiring key officials, such as the Secretaries of State, Defense, and Health and Human Services, to provide annual briefings to Congress, the Act enhances transparency regarding government operations and decision-making. This could lead to more informed oversight, reducing the likelihood of mismanagement or corruption, which directly benefits citizens by promoting accountability in government.
2. **Enhanced Public Awareness of Key Issues**: The annual briefings will provide Congress with regular updates on critical areas such as national security, healthcare, and environmental policy. As congressional committees share these briefings with the public or report on them, citizens will have better access to information about government priorities and challenges, potentially leading to greater public engagement and advocacy around these issues.
3. **Influence on Legislative Priorities**: The information shared during these briefings can inform congressional committees' decisions on funding and policy initiatives. This may directly impact citizens by shaping laws and regulations that affect various sectors, such as education, healthcare, and public safety. For example, if the Secretary of Education highlights pressing challenges in the education system, it could lead to legislative efforts aimed at reforming education funding or policies, with direct implications for students, educators, and communities.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6452 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6452
To amend title 5, United States code, to require certain officials to
provide an annual briefing to certain congressional committees.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 4, 2025
Mr. Lawler introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 5, United States code, to require certain officials to
provide an annual briefing to certain congressional committees.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Executive Transparency Act''.
SEC. 2. ANNUAL BRIEFING TO CONGRESS.
(a) Annual Briefing to Congress.--Subchapter II of chapter 29 of
title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
``Sec. 2955. Annual briefing to Congress
``The following officials shall provide an annual briefing, in such
form and manner as the applicable committees may require, to the
corresponding congressional committees:
``(1) The Secretary of State; the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate,
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate.
``(2) The Secretary of the Treasury; the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate,
the Committee on Financial Services of the House of
Representatives, the Committee on Ways and Means of the House
of Representatives, the Committee on Finance of the Senate, and
the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the
Senate.
``(3) The Secretary of Defense; the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate
and the Committees on Armed Services of the House of
Representatives and the Senate.
``(4) The Attorney General; the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate
and the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives and the Senate.
``(5) The Secretary of the Interior; the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate,
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate, and the Committee on Indian Affairs of the
Senate.
``(6) The Secretary of Agriculture; the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate,
the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives,
and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of
the Senate.
``(7) The Secretary of Commerce; the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate,
the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate.
``(8) The Secretary of Labor; the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate,
the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
and Pensions of the Senate.
``(9) The Secretary of Health and Human Services; the
Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives
and the Senate, the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of Representatives, the Committee on Ways and Means of
the House of Representatives, the Committee on Finance of the
Senate, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate.
``(10) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; the
Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives
and the Senate, the Committee on Financial Services of the
House of Representatives, and the Committee on Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.
``(11) The Secretary of Transportation; the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate,
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House
of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Environment
and Public Works of the Senate.
``(12) The Secretary of Energy; the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate,
the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate.
``(13) The Secretary of Education; the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate,
the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
and Pensions of the Senate.
``(14) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs; the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate
and the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives and the Senate.
``(15) The Secretary of Homeland Security; the Committees
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the
Senate, the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate.
``(16) The United States Trade Representative; the
Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives
and the Senate, the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Finance of the Senate.
``(17) The Director of National Intelligence; the
Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives
and the Senate, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
of the House of Representatives, and the Select Committee on
Intelligence of the Senate.
``(18) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget;
the Committees on Appropriations and the Budget of the House of
Representatives and the Senate, the Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform of the House of Representatives, and the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the
Senate.
``(19) The Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency; the Committees on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives and the Senate, the Committee on Energy and
Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate.
``(20) The Administrator of the Small Business
Administration; the Committees on Appropriations of the House
of Representatives and the Senate, the Committee on Small
Business of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on
Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate.
``(21) The Chair of the Federal Reserve Board; the
Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives
and the Senate, the Committee on Financial Services of the
House of Representatives, and the Committee on Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.
``(22) The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency; the
Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives
and the Senate, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
of the House of Representatives, and the Select Committee on
Intelligence of the Senate.
``(23) The Director of the Federal Bureau of
Investigations; the Committees on Appropriations and the
Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
``(24) The Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission;
the Committees on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives and the Senate, the Committee on Financial
Services of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.
``(25) The Administrator of the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention; the Committees on Appropriations of the House
of Representatives and the Senate, the Committee on Energy and
Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.
``(26) The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services; the Committees on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives and the Senate, the Committee on
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives,
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the
Senate, and the Committee on Finance of the Senate.
``(27) The Chair of the Federal Trade Commission; the
Committees on Appropriations and the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives and the Senate, the Committee on Energy and
Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
``(28) The Administrator of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency; the Committees on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives and the Senate, the Committee on
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate.
``(29) The Chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; the
Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives
and the Senate, the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of Representatives, and the Committee on the Environment
and Public Works of the Senate.
``(30) The Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service;
the Committees on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives and the Senate, the Committee on Ways and Means
of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Finance
of the Senate.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for subchapter II of
chapter 29 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following:
``2955. Annual briefing to Congress.''.
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