The U.S. Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking developed a strategy for increasing the availability and use of data in order to build evidence about government programs, while protecting privacy and confidentiality. During the course of the bipartisan Commission’s work, members studied how data, research, and evaluation are currently used to build evidence, and how to strengthen the Federal government’s evidence-building capacity. Commissioners applied a diverse range of professional and research expertise to specifically consider strategies for enhancing and better integrating existing data infrastructure in the U.S. to support policy research and evaluation, and opportunities to improve practices for monitoring and assessing outcomes of government programs. This discussion will highlight the findings and final recommendations the Commission presented to the President and the Congress in September 2017.
Nick Hart is the director of BPC’s Evidence-Based Policymaking Initiative. Prior to joining BPC, he worked in the federal government for nearly a decade, most recently as the policy and research director for the U.S. Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking. In that capacity, he oversaw the commission’s policy and research support team and led the drafting process for “The Promise of Evidence-Based Policymaking,” the commission’s final report and recommendations presented to the Congress and the president in September 2017. Hart has worked on a wide range of issues including social security, disability, anti-poverty, environmental, energy, economic development, and criminal justice policies. He worked at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as a senior analyst and special assistant, where he contributed to writing executive branch budget proposals and encouraged increased capacity for evidence-based practices across government. He also served as OMB’s representative on the White House steering committee for President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Task Force. Hart has spoken widely about the history of evidence building efforts in the United States, and the need for organizational capacity to generate and use evidence to inform policymaking. He is an expert in evaluation, statistical, and evidence-based policy. He is currently the president of Washington Evaluators, a DC-based professional organization for program evaluators. He also serves on the Board of the Eastern Evaluation Research Society and on the American Evaluation Association’s Evaluation Policy Task Force.
Hart earned a doctorate from The George Washington University’s Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration, specializing in program evaluation. He also holds a Master of Science degree in Environmental Science and Master of Public Affairs degree from Indiana University, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Truman State University.
The Lunch @ DC hosts leaders in their field to foster thinking and discussion with D.C. government leaders and the community on a wide range of topics related to evidence and experimentation in government. It’s a time to listen, discuss, and socialize!