Why a ?

Millions of Americans use legislative information provided by third parties.

For example, GovTrack, in 2013, had 8 million unique users.

39 million page views And Cornell’s Legal Information Institute, in 2013, had of the US Code alone.

Government uses legislative information provided by third parties, too.

For example, Capitol Bells is used by 250 Members of Congress and 6,500 staffers.

And GovTrack is used by 80 Congressional websites (widgets) Congress’l staff: 2,500 daily page views House and Senate leadership

But… why a ?

1)Improved access to information 2)Build new services and platforms

1) Access to information

The United States Project (Github)

Sunlight Congress API 565,146,724 calls since creation

Statutes At Large Project

2) New services and platforms

Scout

Sunlight’s Congress App

(Leg)Cyte

Ok, but… why a ?

Congress External Stakeholders Better info for everyone We believe…

We are… a coalition of citizens, public interest groups, trade associations, and businesses that champion greater governmental transparency through improved public access to and long-term preservation of congressional information. Capitol Bells(Leg)Cyte Competitive Enterprise InstituteLegisWorks CREWOpen Gov Foundation Data Transparency CoalitionOpenTheGovernment.org Electronic Frontier FoundationParticipatory Politics Foundation Engine AdvocacyR Street Institute FastcaseSunlight Foundation Free Government InformationTech Freedom GovTrack.usWashingtonWatch.com

We have recommendations on best practices… and will continue to work in partnership with Congress to expand access to legislative information.