Data is central to the legislative process. It allows congressional offices to track trends, assess the results of prior legislation, and craft effective public policy. However, Congress often faces challenges in locating and working with metrics to help inform their decisions. With enhanced data literacy, Congress can craft legislation more effectively, ensuring that relevant and useful data becomes more accessible to lawmakers and the American public alike.
To make this possible, USAFacts and UC Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy teamed up to create a novel continuing education program for congressional staff. The Data Skills for Congress program, launched in 2023, equips member and professional staff with skills to use data in policy-making and constituent services, and write legislation to improve public data. Data Skills for Congress is the first program of its kind approved by the House and Senate Ethics Committees.
