Introducing Results for America’s Evidence-Based Legislative Inventory

Evidence-based policymaking is when government makes decisions based on rigorous evidence and data about what works. Policymakers should start each decision-making process by seeking the best evidence and data available, then use that information to adopt policies and direct funding in a way that achieves better results for the American people.

Evidence-based policymaking

Evidence-based policymaking helps the federal government build on what works rather than starting from scratch. By learning from proven programs and addressing outdated funding practices, Congress can direct resources toward solutions that are more effective, efficient and responsive to community needs.

Legislation can advance evidence-based policymaking by embedding learning and results into federal law. When Congress prioritizes evidence, it helps ensure taxpayer dollars have the greatest possible impact — delivering better outcomes for the American people and reinforcing confidence in the federal government’s ability to solve real problems.

Access the Full Inventory Here

How to Use the Evidence-Based Legislative Inventory

The Inventory can be used to track, review and analyze evidence-based legislation to serve as a roadmap for the development of new bills or to inform reintroduction of existing legislation.

To search for relevant legislation, filter by Congress session, Sponsor, Cosponsor, Committee, Issue Area, and/or Evidence Provision.

Each bill shows up to three badges indicating its related evidence provision: Includes an Evidence Definition, Defines and Prioritizes Evidence, and Builds Evidence.

Click the legislation to view additional information, such as a summary, sponsorship and information about how it advances evidence.

If you would like to learn more about this resource, or have questions about navigating the Evidence-Based Legislative Inventory, please contact our team.

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Understanding the Evidence-Based Legislative Inventory

Results for America assesses federal legislation for three major criteria:

Clearly defining “evidence” is a key step in ensuring that federal grant programs are investing in what works. By determining what counts as evidence under statute, federal agencies can then evaluate and score proposals against a clear standard and set expectations for applicants. In order to define evidence in legislation, bills can:

  1. Reference an existing evidence definition in statute [link to inventory bill number H.R. 3130].
  2. Develop a new evidence definition [link to inventory bill number H.R. 3250].
  3. Direct federal agencies to develop a definition [link to inventory bill number H.R. 7025].

All three of these examples are included in the inventory.

For more information, review Results for America’s evidence definitions, and view examples of evidence definitions under current law in Results for America’s Federal Evidence-Based Spending Guide.

In addition to defining evidence, prioritizing evidence helps ensure that a greater proportion of government dollars are invested in strategies proven to improve outcomes.

There are two broad approaches to prioritizing evidence for federal grant programs in legislation:

  1. Requiring [link to inventory bill number H.R. 8981] that grant funding be used to support evidence-based programs.
  2. Establishing a preference [link to inventory bill number H.R. 7811] for grant applications that meet the government’s evidence definitions (e.g., Evidence Preference/Allocating Bonus Points).

For more information, view examples of federal programs prioritizing evidence under current law in Results for America’s Federal Evidence-Based Spending Guide.

Funding program evaluation helps build evidence to inform the field about what works, for whom and under what circumstances. Evaluation results show how specific interventions affect outcomes and provide important insights into program design.

There are several ways legislation can promote building evidence through evaluation:

  1. Funds can be reserved and/or authorized for rigorous evaluation of federal grant activities. Legislation may also require independent evaluations, and give agencies clear authority to procure and pay for third-party evaluations.
  2. Funds can be made available for technical assistance, training, or additional grants to help agencies and/or grantees implement evaluations.
  3. Funds can be used to establish a board, commission, or advisory group to set evidence priorities, advise on research and evaluation methods, and disseminate results.
  4. Funds can be used to build or expand a clearinghouse, public evaluation database, open data portal, or data-sharing system.

For more information, view examples of federal programs building evidence under current law in Results for America’s Federal Evidence-Based Spending Guide

Results for America’s Shifting Dollars Technical AssistanceSM

Our Shifting Dollars Technical Assistance℠ is available to leaders at every level of government to better integrate data and evidence into their decisions.

Learn more about our resources and trainings