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119-hr-1247119th Congress

WISE Government Act

Sponsored By: Representative Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would make federal journal subscriptions more transparent and easier for agency staff to use. It would ban contracts that hide subscription prices from other agencies and the Library of Congress, require agency libraries to post clear intranet access policies within six months, and ask the General Services Administration to report on subscriptions and costs within 12 months.

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  • Agency libraries and procurement teams would be allowed to share subscription cost information across agencies and with the Library of Congress, removing contractual barriers to price disclosure.
  • Agency employees, including regional staff, would get easily accessible intranet guidance on how to use library subscriptions, with agencies required to publish those policies within six months.
  • The General Services Administration would deliver a report to Congress and agency libraries within 12 months that surveys subscriptions and costs, outlines access problems, and recommends short- and long-term solutions, including assessing the need for greater interagency transparency and new purchasing models.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

New transparency rules for agency journals

Agencies would be barred from contracts that hide journal prices from other agencies or the Library of Congress. This ban would start at enactment. Within 6 months, each agency would post clear, easy-to-find rules for using library subscriptions on its intranet. Regional staff would be included.

Study to expand agency library access

Within 12 months, the Administrator of General Services would send Congress and agency libraries a report on expanding access to scientific journals and other serials. The report would list subscriptions and costs for agency libraries and the Library of Congress. It would map access problems, like contract limits, new media formats, regional access, purchasing gaps, and prices. It would give short- and long-term fixes, including whether to add transparency or new buying models. The bill would also define who is covered, including executive and military departments and science agencies like EPA and NASA.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]

IL • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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