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H.R.2055 / 117th Congress

Transparency in Government Act of 2021

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

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Mar 18, 2021

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,

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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).

Read the summary on Congress.gov
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Who introduced it

Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] · D–IL

Committees

  • Judiciary Committee
  • Rules Committee
  • Budget Committee
  • Financial Services Committee
  • Ethics Committee
  • Committee on House Administration
  • Oversight and Government Reform Committee
1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. Introduced in House

  10. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

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Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.2055 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.2055 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.2055 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.2055 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

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