Statement on Signing the Congressional Budget Office Data Sharing Act

This signing statement accompanies President Biden's signing of H.R. 7032, the Congressional Budget Office Data Sharing Act, into law on September 30, 2024. The Act amends existing law to expand the authority of the Congressional Budget Office to access certain federal data for purposes of producing more accurate budget and economic analysis. The statement acknowledges the law's purpose while potentially flagging constitutional or interpretive considerations the executive branch intends to observe in implementing it.

The law and statement affect the Congressional Budget Office, federal agencies that hold relevant data, and ultimately Congress and the public, who rely on CBO analysis to understand the fiscal implications of legislation. By expanding CBO's data access, the Act is intended to improve the quality of nonpartisan budget scoring and economic projections that inform legislative decisions.

Signing statements are a constitutionally contested practice. While presidents have long used them to record their views on legislation, critics argue that statements signaling intent not to enforce certain provisions amount to an unconstitutional line-item veto. Supporters contend they are a legitimate expression of executive interpretation. The legal weight of this particular statement depends on how the executive branch implements the law going forward.

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