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H.R. 2055 117th Congress House

Transparency in Government Act of 2021

Official title: To amend the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, the Legislative Reorganization A… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, the Financial Stability Act of 2010, and the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 to improve access to information in the legislative and executive branches of the Government, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 18, 2021 Introduced by: Mike Quigley Democratic · Illinois See on congress.gov
Congress Accounting and auditingAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresAppropriationsBanking and financial institutions regulation
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Budget processCivil actions and liabilityCongressional Research Service (CRS)Congressional agenciesCongressional committeesCongressional officers and employeesCongressional operations and organizationCongressional oversightCongressional-executive branch relationsCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationCriminal justice information and recordsDebt collectionDepartment of JusticeDepartment of the TreasuryElections, voting, political campaign regulationExecutive Office of the PresidentFederal officialsFinancial Stability Oversight CouncilFinancial crises and stabilizationFreedom of informationGovernment buildings, facilities, and propertyGovernment ethics and transparency, public corruptionGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHouse of RepresentativesInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaJudicial procedure and administrationJudicial review and appealsLaw enforcement officersLawyers and legal servicesLegislative rules and procedureLibrary of CongressLicensing and registrationsMarketing and advertisingMembers of CongressPerformance measurementPresidents and presidential powers, Vice PresidentsPublic contracts and procurementPublic participation and lobbyingSenateSound recordingSupreme CourtTax administration and collection, taxpayersTelevision and filmTransportation costsU.S. Capitol
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 19, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Mar 18, 2021
Referred 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.
Mar 18, 2021
Introduced in House
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 Latest action October 19, 2021

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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).
 Related & companion bills 8
  • HR 5150 Reintroduction of Transparency in Government Act of 2019
  • HR 22 Congressional Budget Justification Transparency Act of 2021
  • HR 2485 Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act
  • S 272 Congressional Budget Justification Transparency Act of 2021
  • S 807 Cameras in the Courtroom Act
  • HR 4257 Cameras in the Courtroom Act
  • S 2838 Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act
  • HR 7619 SUNLIGHT Act of 2022
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 8
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1
D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Mar 18, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2055: Transparency in Government Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2055/
MLA
"H.R. 2055: Transparency in Government Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2055/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2055, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2055/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2055: Transparency in Government Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2055/)
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