I.2.3 Benefits to Government Decision Making

Data access also furthers the objective of creating federal policy that is based on well grounded and thoroughly scrutinized scientific research. Where government officials are presented with only limited scientific authority on an issue, their ability to evaluate policy options may be unknowingly circumscribed or compromised. Where a full airing of the scientific argument is had, however, decision makers operate from a stronger knowledge base.

Broader data access allows consideration of all stakeholders' viewpoints in policy formation, leading to more durable and effective policy. It widens the discussion so that, instead of the views of only one or a few interest groups, decision makers can gain insights from a wide array of the public. Heightened scrutiny that accompanies broader data access also helps to ensure that the more relevant information, and material based on empirical data, are used in policy making.

Like scientists themselves, regulators will also be held to a higher level of scrutiny in an environment of broader data access. In some cases, regulators are now faced with "cherry-picked" studies, resulting in a skewed cross-section of the data. Under the new law, regulators may often be presented with competing interpretations of the same data. Regulators will know that their decisions to rely on conclusions in a particular study or group of studies will be reexamined. The standard of performance in reviewing studies will inevitably be elevated, resulting in stronger policy.

Once data access becomes a facet of policy formation rather than occurring after the formation of public policy, regulatory processes will also become more efficient. Proposed rules and policies will be more critically examined before being implemented where studies supporting the proposed policies are made available for thorough scrutiny.

The benefits of broader data access are likely to be most immediately observed in those policy areas where scientific expertise is most critical, such as the protection of public health and the environment. Other key areas which will benefit from liberalized access to study data include agriculture, transportation, workplace safety, and energy.