Bill Overview
Title: Ensuring Full Participation in the Census Act of 2022
Description: This bill prohibits the Bureau of the Census from using questions regarding citizenship, nationality, or immigration status in the decennial census. The bill does not apply to the American Community Survey.
Sponsors: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals residing in the United States
Estimated Size: 300000000
- The decennial census affects every individual living in the United States as it determines representation in the House of Representatives and the allocation of federal funds.
- There are approximately 331 million people currently residing in the United States.
- The census aims to count every person residing in the U.S., regardless of citizenship status.
- By removing questions about citizenship, nationality, or immigration status, the legislation ensures broader participation, especially among immigrant communities.
Reasoning
- The policy affects everyone in the U.S. as the census counts all residents which influences representation and federal funding.
- $30,000,000 is a limited budget considering the scale of the census which involves contacting every household in the U.S.
- Non-citizens, particularly undocumented immigrants, might feel safer participating without questions about citizenship.
- Some citizens may perceive this as reducing transparency, potentially impacting their willingness to participate or trust in the results.
- The policy will likely have varying impacts on wellbeing depending on individual perspectives on privacy, representation, and government trust.
- While the policy affects the entire U.S. population, the direct wellbeing impact will vary more significantly among immigrant communities who may feel more included.
Simulated Interviews
Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy makes me more comfortable in responding to the census.
- I think it's crucial for capturing an accurate representation of immigrant communities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Farmer (Rural Alabama)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Removing questions about citizenship might lower trust for some people I know.
- I'm not directly affected but I can see this as positive for the community's overall response rate.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Freelance Artist (New York, NY)
Age: 34 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel seen and counted in a way that's respectful of my privacy.
- It should encourage my roommates to participate too.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Retired School Teacher (Miami, FL)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's important for everyone to be counted, especially those afraid of government surveys.
- This could help more elderly immigrant communities trust the process.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Government Employee (Austin, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I understand the intention behind it, but accurate data collection is hard without comprehensive questions.
- This could affect local resource allocations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this means more of my friends and their families will participate.
- Policies like this give me hope for more inclusive policy-making.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Healthcare Worker (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Seen too many people left out due to fear of the government's questions.
- This policy is a step towards inclusivity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Tech Entrepreneur (Seattle, WA)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Happy to see steps towards data privacy while maintaining census integrity.
- Makes demographic data gathering less intrusive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Elementary School Teacher (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This will hopefully result in better funding for our community’s needs.
- Too many families skip out on answering due to fear.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Musician (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 38 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Feeling more willing to participate without needing to disclose sensitive details.
- It's a step towards a more inclusive society.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $30000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $35000000)
Year 2: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
Year 3: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 5: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 10: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $15000000)
Year 100: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $15000000)
Key Considerations
- The removal of contentious questions may increase trust and participation in the census, leading to more accurate population counts.
- Accurate census data is critical for fair representation and federal fund allocation, influencing numerous programs and legislative decisions.
- The demand for a robust communication strategy to educate the public about the changes and encourage participation is essential to realize expected benefits.