Bill Overview
Title: Ensuring a Fair and Accurate Census Act
Description: This bill addresses the operations of the Bureau of the Census. Specifically, the bill (1) requires the Deputy Director of the bureau to appoint an employee responsible for optimizing racial and ethnic equity in the decennial census of population; and (2) provides statutory authority for specified advisory committees. The bureau may not include in the census any subject, type of information, or question that was not submitted to Congress. The bureau must submit to Congress a report biannually that (1) describes each component of the operational plan for the subsequent decennial census of population; and (2) includes a detailed statement on the status of all research, testing, and operations that are part of the bureau's comprehensive plan for the decennial census. The bureau must submit to Congress a certification stating that any question that has not appeared on the previous two decennial censuses has been researched, studied, and tested according to established statistical policies and procedures. The Government Accountability Office must review such certification and report to Congress on whether the questions to be included have been researched, studied, and tested according to such policies and procedures. The bureau, by January 1, 2026, and every 10 years thereafter, must transmit to Congress a lifecycle cost estimate for the decennial census of population first occurring after the date of transmittal. The bureau must submit to Congress a report on local-level data and local field operations.
Sponsors: Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12]
Target Audience
Population: People worldwide as census data from the US can influence global research and policy
Estimated Size: 332000000
- The decennial census aims to count every person living in the United States.
- The census data affects political representation, as census counts determine Congressional seat distribution.
- Federal funding allocations for various public services rely on accurate census data.
- The census data impacts planning and research across housing, transportation, and health sectors among others.
- Optimizing racial and ethnic equity in the census aims to ensure underrepresented groups are correctly counted.
Reasoning
- The impact of this census policy extends across the entire US population, as it directly affects how individuals are counted and represented.
- Census data is crucial for determining federal funding allocation, which directly impacts public services available to communities.
- Racial and ethnic equity component aims to address historical undercounting of minority groups, which can affect policy outcomes and equitable resource distribution.
- While the policy operates at a federal level, the detailed local data may influence infrastructure planning and service delivery at a community level.
- The policy has a higher potential impact on underrepresented communities due to efforts to optimize racial and ethnic equity.
- Some individuals may not notice an immediate impact unless they engage with civic, community, or policy-motivated activities.
Simulated Interviews
Community Organizer (New York City, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe this policy is critical for ensuring that people in my community are counted correctly.
- The efforts towards racial and ethnic equity are crucial, though I hope it's followed by actionable change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Data Scientist (Austin, TX)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy's focus on data accuracy and equity is necessary and can lead to more informed policies.
- I see this as beneficial both for business planning and community support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
School Teacher (Chicago, IL)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Census accuracy can potentially bring more resources to our schools and community.
- Equitable census practices can finally bring fair representation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Farmer (Rural Kansas)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am cautiously optimistic. Rural areas often feel overlooked; this might help.
- Consistent data and representation is key for our farming community.
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 |
College Student (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 21 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support this policy as it seeks to correct imbalances and promote equality in data representation.
- Being heard and counted correctly matters immensely for our communities.
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 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Small Business Owner (Biloxi, MS)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Accurate census data can help my business understand customer demographics better.
- I'm concerned about too much bureaucracy affecting effectiveness.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Social Worker (Detroit, MI)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our communities have felt neglected for too long; this policy is a step in the right direction.
- Representation and accurate data could mean more resources and support.
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 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Local Government Official (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Ensuring everyone is counted accurately aids in better planning.
- Local-level data is crucial for resource distribution and community projects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Entrepreneur (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Accurate census data can drive better business strategies.
- Tech and data sectors rely heavily on reliable information; this policy supports integrity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Healthcare Worker (Miami, FL)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Racial and ethnic equity in census data can improve public health responses.
- Accurate data is essential for tailoring health services to community needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $90000000 (Low: $75000000, High: $110000000)
Year 2: $92000000 (Low: $75000000, High: $115000000)
Year 3: $95000000 (Low: $75000000, High: $120000000)
Year 5: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $125000000)
Year 10: $120000000 (Low: $95000000, High: $140000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Ensuring a fair and accurate census is critical to equitable representation and fair distribution of federal funds.
- Complexity in updating census operations means costs may fluctuate depending on implementation efficiency.
- Costs are spread over the preparation years towards the decennial census with some periodic peaks.