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NOMINATION OF JOHN H. THOMPSON 

HEARING 

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON 

HOMELAND SECURITY AND 

GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS 

UNITED STATES SENATE 

ONE HUNDRED THIRTEENTH CONGRESS 

FIRST SESSION 

NOMINATION OF JOHN H. THOMPSON TO BE DIRECTOR OF THE 

CENSUS, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

JULY 9, 2013 

Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.fdsys.gov/ 

Printed for the use of the 

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

( 
(II) 

COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS 

THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware Chairman 

CARL LEVIN, Michigan 

MARK L. PRYOR, Arkansas 

MARY L. LANDRIEU, Louisiana 

CLAIRE MCCASKILL, Missouri 

JON TESTER, Montana 

MARK BEGICH, Alaska 

TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin 

HEIDI HEITKAMP, North Dakota 

TOM COBURN, Oklahoma 

JOHN MCCAIN, Arizona 

RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin 

ROB PORTMAN, Ohio 

RAND PAUL, Kentucky 

MICHAEL B. ENZI, Wyoming 

KELLY AYOTTE, New Hampshire 

JEFF CHIESA, New Jersey 

RICHARD J. KESSLER, Staff Director 

JOHN P. KILVINGTON, Deputy Staff Director 

DEIRDRE G. ARMSTRONG, Professional Staff Member 

KRISTINE V. LAM, Professional Staff Member 

KEITH B. ASHDOWN, Minority Staff Director 

CHRISTOPHER J. BARKLEY, Minority Deputy Staff Director 

JAMES P. GELFAND, Minority Counsel 

LAURA W. KILBRIDE, Chief Clerk 

LAUREN M. CORCORAN, Hearing Clerk 
(III) 

C O N T E N T S 

Opening statements: Page 

Senator Carper ................................................................................................. 1 

Senator Coburn ................................................................................................. 5 

Senator Johnson ............................................................................................... 13 

Senator Ayotte .................................................................................................. 15 

Prepared statements: 

Senator Carper ................................................................................................. 23 

WITNESSES 

TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013 

Hon. Richard J. Durbin, A United States Senator from the State of Illinois 

Testimony .......................................................................................................... 4 

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 26 

John H. Thompson, Nominee to be Director of the Census, U.S. Department 

of Commerce 

Testimony .......................................................................................................... 6 

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 28 

Biographical and financial information .......................................................... 30 

Responses to pre-hearing questions ................................................................ 46 

Letter from the Office of Government Ethics ................................................. 66 

Responses to post-hearing questions for the Record ..................................... 68 

Letters of support from: 

Asian Americans Advancing Justice ............................................................... 71 

American Sociological Association ................................................................... 73 

Council for Community and Economic Research ........................................... 74 

Consortium of Social Science Associations ..................................................... 76 

Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness ............................................. 78 

American Statistical Association ..................................................................... 80 

Demos ................................................................................................................ 81 

Marketing Research Association ..................................................................... 83 

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ...................... 84 

National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund ................................................................................................ 86 

O’Hare Data and Demographic Services, LLC ............................................... 88 

Population Association of America and Association of Population Centers 90 

Prison Policy Initiative ..................................................................................... 91 

(1) 

NOMINATION OF JOHN H. THOMPSON 

TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013 

U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY

AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, Washington, DC. 

The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:35 a.m., in room 

SD–342, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Thomas R. Carper, 

Chairman of the Committee, presiding. 

Present: Senators Carper, Coburn, Johnson, and Ayotte. 

OPENING STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN CARPER 

Chairman CARPER. The Committee will come to order. Welcome, 

Mr. Thompson, and to the handsome young men that are with you, 

and everybody else, all of our guests, we welcome you this morning. 

I ran into Dick Durbin. I was with him briefly at a meeting earlier today, and I think he has been detained. He was going to come 

to introduce you, and as soon as he joins us. I will yield to him and 

ask him to do just that. 

Today Dr. Coburn, Senator Johnson, and I—and we will probably 

be joined by others on our Committee—we are pleased to consider 

the nomination, the President’s nomination of John H. Thompson 

to be Director of the U.S. Census Bureau. I think we all realize 

that the role of the Census is to serve as the leading source of quality data about the Nation’s people and our economy. The Bureau 

does this by conducting, as we know, numerous surveys. Sometimes 

we think it is just every 10 years, but it is actually every year, and 

those surveys in turn provide lawmakers like us, citizens, and businesses with a view of our Nation’s social and demographic makeup. 

The most important and visible survey conducted by the Census 

is, of course, the one we do every 10 years. This once-a-decade undertaking is really one of the few functions for the Federal Government that is actually explicitly spelled out under our Constitution. 

Its execution is often described as the largest peacetime mobilization in American history. 

However, the Census Bureau also conducts other important surveys such as the American Community Survey (ACS) which provides Federal, State, and local governments as well as the private 

sector with up-to-date information about the population within a 

certain geographic area. The collection of these data is important 

so that decisions such as how to distribute grant funding and 

where to build schools, where to build hospitals, and retail stores 

are not made with data that is nearly a decade old. 
2 

Additionally, the Census Bureau collects the data that provides 

us with our monthly unemployment numbers. The Census Bureau’s 

role in this area and in the Federal Government’s efforts to effectively target initiatives aimed at growing our economy should not 

be overlooked. 

The Census Bureau has now been without a Senate-confirmed 

Director for nearly a year when then-Director Bob Groves departed 

last August to become the Provost of Georgetown University. A real 

loss to our Nation, a real gain for Georgetown University. I am, 

therefore, pleased, though, that the President has nominated what 

I believe to be a qualified candidate to lead the Census Bureau at 

least for the next several years and maybe even beyond that. I intend to work with Dr. Coburn and with my colleagues on this Committee to complete our review and to hopefully report this nomination for action by the full Senate as quickly as we can. 

The nomination of John Thompson comes at a unique time during the decennial cycle. While most people only pay attention to the 

Census Bureau in the year or two leading up to the decennial census, it is these interim years in the middle of the decade when 

some of the critical research, some of the critical testing, and planning phases are completed and the groundwork is laid for the actual count. 

Last decade, there were many problems, as we will recall, leading up to the 2010 decennial census. The roots of these problems 

were multifold, but they included poor planning and cost estimation. And I would add to that the inability to use technology in 

ways that were cost-effective. Most notably, the Census Bureau 

awarded a $595 million contract for the development of half a million handheld computers. These devices promised to reduce the 

time and cost of large operations such as address canvassing and 

non-response followup. 

However, the project experienced constant setbacks, including 

technical problems, escalating costs, and missed deadlines. Eventually, the decision was made in April 2008 to abandon the use of the 

handheld computers for much of the 2010 decennial census and revert back largely to pencil and paper for the costly non-response 

followup operation. This decision ended up adding some $2 billion 

to the cost of the 2010 census, which in total cost taxpayers nearly 

$13 billion, the costliest counting or enumeration in our Nation’s 

history and twice the cost of the 2000 decennial census. 

I do not want to rehash the details of the handheld contract or 

other problems in the years and months prior to the 2010 decennial 

census, but I do want to call on the lessons learned during that experience as this Committee conducts oversight of the Census Bureau as we head into the 2020 decennial census. 

As I will mention in greater detail during the question-and-answer session, for each decennial census the Census Bureau has invested exponentially more resources to ensure quality results. The 

cost of conducting the census has, on average, doubled decennially 

since 1970. If that growth continues, the estimate for the 2020 census will not be $13 billion. It will be closer to $25 billion. Money 

we do not have. At a time when agencies across the Federal Government have been asked to do more with less, a $25 billion decennial census is just not acceptable. If you are confirmed, Mr. Thomp-
3 

son, this Committee will look to you to develop and implement initiatives to control costs while maintaining the quality and accuracy 

of the count. 

Another issue leading to the 2010 decennial census that I want 

to address is the 7-month leadership vacuum the Bureau struggled 

with in 2009. Less than 1 year before Census Day and facing a 

number of challenges, the Census Bureau was without a Senateconfirmed Director. While the nomination and confirmation process 

was part of the reason for this lengthy vacancy, the main issue was 

the 2008 election and the transition from the Bush Administration 

to the Obama Administration, which created the vacancy at the beginning of 2009. An election in a year ending in the number 8 can 

lead to a months-long vacancy at a critical time for the Census Bureau. 

To address that problem, a number of us introduced legislation 

to create 5-year terms for the Census Director. The first term started January 2012, and future terms would begin in January of 

years ending in the number 7 and the number 2 so that a Director 

would be in place for the beginning of either the planning phase 

of a decennial census or the operating phase. This provision was 

adopted in legislation moving through Congress in 2012 and was 

signed into law that year. 

Mr. Thompson, if you are confirmed, you will be the first person 

to be confirmed who was nominated under this new law, and you 

would fill out the term that ends not in 5 years from the date of 

your swearing-in but ending December 31, 2016. You would be eligible, if confirmed, to be nominated for an additional two full 

terms. We will cross that bridge when we come to it. 

Additionally, the provision that was signed into law also sets 

forth several qualifications for future Census Director nominees. 

The law now requires that nominees to be Census Director have a 

demonstrated ability in managing large organizations and experience in the collection, analysis, and the use of statistical data. I am 

pleased that the President has nominated someone who I believe 

meets these requirements. 

If confirmed, Mr. Thompson returns to the Census Bureau where 

he spent some 27 years holding various positions, including Associate Director for the decennial census and Chief of the Decennial 

Management Division. In the year 2000, he was the senior career 

employee responsible for all aspects of that year’s decennial census. 

In 2002, he left the Census Bureau and moved to Chicago to become the executive vice president of the National Opinion Research 

Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago. He performed the duties of that job so well that, in 2008, he was elevated to become 

president of that organization. 

I am pleased that he has agreed to leave Chicago and return to 

Washington, DC, to lead the Census Bureau into the next decennial census, if he is confirmed. We look forward to your testimony 

today, Mr. Thompson, and we also look forward to an introduction 

of you by our friend and colleague Senator Durbin. Senator Durbin, 

welcome. 
4 

1The prepared statement of Mr. Durbin appears in the Appendix on page 26. 

TESTIMONY OF HON. RICHARD J. DURBIN,1 A UNITED STATES 

SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF ILLINOIS 

Senator DURBIN. Thanks, Senator Carper, Senator Coburn, and 

Mr. Thompson. I was downstairs in the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting, and coming back and forth. I apologize for coming 

a few minutes late, but I wanted to be here today to introduce John 

Thompson formally as the senior Senator from the State he calls 

home. He has for nearly four decades had experience in research 

and statistics, and he is a strong candidate for the position of Director of the Census Bureau. 

He serves as president of the National Opinion Research Center, 

headquartered in Chicago, which conducts social science research 

in the public interest. In addition to ensuring the quality of the research, Mr. Thompson also oversees a nationwide staff and has 

helped make NORC’s activities more productive and cost-effective, 

Senator Coburn. While at NORC, he directed the National Immunization Survey from 2004 to 2006. It was the largest telephone survey of its kind in our Nation. 

Before starting at NORC 11 years ago, Mr. Thompson worked at 

the Census Bureau for 27 years, starting as a mathematical statistician in 1975 and going on to become the senior officer responsible for conducting and producing the 2000 census. 

Aside from his posts at NORC and the Census Bureau, he is also 

a leader in the social science research community, an elected Fellow of the American Statistical Association (ASA), an elected member of the Committee on National Statistics, and serves on the National Academy of Sciences panel addressing census concerns. 

Mr. Thompson’s decades of research and statistical experience 

will serve him well if he is chosen to lead this new agency whose 

primary mission is to produce reliable data about our Americans 

and our economy. 

I cannot imagine a more qualified nominee. He has shown he can 

be an effective person when it comes to producing quality data and 

managing a large organization. He will be able to use his experience to move the census more fully into the digital world and make 

it even more reliable, accurate, and accessible. 

I would also like to note on a personal basis that, while living 

and working in Chicago, Mr. Thompson had the chance to cheer on 

his favorite national hockey team—the Chicago Blackhawks. And 

now that the team has secured the Stanley Cup, he is willing to 

leave Chicago and consider moving to Washington. But we hope 

that the Cup will follow him here, which it has in the past, and 

I had it in my office 4 years ago when the Blackhawks were last 

Stanley Cup champs. He is certainly welcome, as you all are, to 

come visit and see this beautiful trophy. 

On a more serious note, in talking with Mr. Thompson, I am impressed with his enthusiasm for taking on the responsibilities of 

Director. His warm personality will make him a great addition to 

this agency. He has some ideas about evaluating research methods, 

which I am sure you will get into during the course of this hearing. 

It is my pleasure to formally introduce him and to say that I fully 

support this nomination. And I hope I can be excused to go back 
5 

to the Senate Judiciary Committee downstairs and do a little work 

there as well. 

Chairman CARPER. All right. We are going to vote on whether or 

not we should excuse him. [Laughter.] 

Thanks so much for coming, for introducing your constituent, and 

for offering a little bit of humor. And when Senator Durbin leaves, 

we will talk about those Chicago Cubs and figure out why he did 

not do a better job getting them to the World Series. [Laughter.] 

All right. Dr. Coburn. 

OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR COBURN 

Senator COBURN. Well, thank you, Senator Durbin, for that endorsement. And, John, welcome. I enjoyed our visits in my office, 

and as you know, this is an area that I have taken a keen interest 

in over the last 9 years. 

The last census cost almost $50 per person to count. It is ridiculous. And I think Senator Carper raised the issues that the census 

has to be accurate, but it also has to be affordable, given the financial place that we are in. 

We visited a large number of things, and Senator Carper mentioned the contracting for the handheld device, and you and I had 

discussions on that in my office. I think Dr. Groves has done a good 

job in redirecting the organization, and I have every confidence 

that you will continue to improve on that. 

I look forward to asking you some specific questions this morning, but I am supportive of your nomination, and I have expressed 

to you personally my desires and goals to see your organization be 

very successful and very efficient. 

So, with that, I will yield back. 

Chairman CARPER. Thanks, Dr. Coburn. 

John Thompson, nominated to be Director of the Census Bureau, 

has filed responses to a biographical and a financial questionnaire. 

He has answered pre-hearing questions submitted by our Committee, had his financial statements reviewed by the Office of Government Ethics. Without objection, this information will be made 

part of the hearing record with the exception of the financial data, 

which are on file and available for public inspection at our Committee’s offices. 

Our Committee rules require, Mr. Thompson, as you may know, 

that all witnesses at nomination hearings give their testimony 

under oath, and I am going to ask you, if you will, stand and raise 

your right hand. Do you swear that the testimony you are about 

to give to this Committee will be the truth, the whole truth, and 

nothing but the truth, so help you, God? 

Mr. THOMPSON. I do, Senator. 

Chairman CARPER. All right. Please be seated. 

We are going to go ahead and ask you to share with us your 

statement, and then I have a couple of traditional questions that 

we always ask that are required by law, and then we will ask more 

general questions. All right. Thanks. Welcome. We are glad you are 

here, and feel free to introduce those two guys that are sitting over 

your left shoulder and anybody else in the audience, any family or 

friends that you feel moved to introduce. 
6 

1The prepared statement of Mr. Thompson appears in the Appendix on page 28. 

Mr. THOMPSON. Well, thank you, Senator. Let me start by introducing my son Lowell. 

Chairman CARPER. How old is Lowell? 

Mr. THOMPSON. Lowell was born in 1980. 

Chairman CARPER. 1980. That is good. 

Mr. THOMPSON. John Thompson, my other son, who is 25 years 

old. Missy Koppelman, who works with me at the NORC, and I do 

not know how old she is. [Laughter.] 

Chairman CARPER. She is young. 

Mr. THOMPSON. And Dan Gaylin, who also works with me at 

NORC. 

Chairman CARPER. When people ask me the age of my two sons, 

I say, ‘‘I do not remember their ages, but I know their names.’’ 

[Laughter.] 

I do actually know their ages, too. They are 23 and 24. All right. 

Welcome, and we are glad that your two boys could be with you. 

They are proud of you. Please proceed. 

TESTIMONY OF JOHN H. THOMPSON,1 NOMINEE TO BE 

DIRECTOR OF THE CENSUS, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

Mr. THOMPSON. Thank you, Senator. Chairman Carper, Ranking 

Member Coburn, and Members of the Committee, I am pleased 

that you have convened this hearing to consider my nomination to 

the position of Director of the U.S. Census Bureau. I would like to 

begin by thanking President Obama for nominating me to one of 

the most important positions in the Federal statistical system. It 

is both an honor and a privilege to be given the opportunity to return to public service. I would also like to thank my wife, Bonnie, 

my family, and my colleagues at the National Opinion Research 

Center for their support and encouragement. 

Let me start by saying that I agree with the views of a number 

of previous Census Bureau Directors that a democracy needs credible, objective, and timely information on the growth of its population, the changing characteristics of its communities, and the 

health of its businesses to form the basis for solid policy decisions 

and other critical functions of governance. The statistical agencies 

produce such information in the United States. They are guided by 

principles of nonpartisanship, protection of individual privacy, and 

provision of high-quality information to inform decisionmakers and 

the public on the important issues facing our society and Nation. 

The Census Bureau is an important component of this information infrastructure. The statistics it collects are used to produce 

economic indicators, to determine the needs of local communities, 

and to inform policies to make American businesses more competitive. 

We are seeing a growing need for such data to support our economic growth and create jobs, and it is playing an increasingly significant role in all aspects of our daily lives. Going forward, our 

country will rely more heavily on institutions like the Census Bureau to deliver this vital resource. The next leader of the Census 

Bureau, therefore, must be committed to maintaining the Bureau’s 
7 

stature as the exemplary collector and disseminator of the highest 

quality information to help America forge its data-driven future. 

However, there are a number of rapidly emerging challenges and 

opportunities that have the potential to dramatically change the 

way in which information is collected, analyzed, and disseminated. 

Organizations that will be successful in the future must seize on 

these opportunities to produce quality information on a more timely and efficient basis. I am seeking your support for my nomination 

because I believe that I can provide the leadership and guidance 

that the Census Bureau needs at this critical time. If confirmed, I 

can assure you that I will use all of my skills and intellect to take 

the Bureau into the future, building on the exceptional groundwork 

that Dr. Robert Groves has already put in place. 

A little bit about me: I spent 27 years at the Census Bureau, followed by over 10 years at the National Opinion Research Center. 

At the Census Bureau, I held a number of management positions 

with increasing responsibility for the 1980, 1990, and 2000 censuses, the most significant being from 1997 through June 2001 

when I served as the Associate Director for Decennial Censuses— 

the career executive with responsibility for all aspects of census 

2000. I am proud to note that census 2000 was the first to employ 

state-of-the-art technology in optical scanning and intelligent character recognition to capture all of the information from the questionnaires, and all major operations were completed on schedule 

and within budget. 

I joined National Opinion Research Center in 2002 as executive 

vice president and became its president in 2008. NORC is a notfor-profit, independent organization affiliated with the University 

of Chicago that has been conducting important research in the public interest for over 70 years. NORC uses rigorous and innovative 

methods to conduct large surveys as well as to analyze and disseminate objective information. It informs decisionmakers and the 

public on important social, economic, and behavioral issues facing 

the Nation and the international community. 

During my tenure, I have seen and dealt with the dramatic 

changes that emerging technology can have on survey processes. 

Importantly, I have dealt with the growing demands to produce 

more information faster and less expensively through adoption of 

new technology and data sources. These are challenges that leaders 

of both private and Federal statistical organizations, including the 

Census Bureau, must be prepared to successfully confront. 

The Census Bureau, however, has a unique challenge and—at 

the same time—opportunity with respect to planning the 2020 census. I believe that the resources now available will support a new 

census design that will fundamentally change the way in which 

censuses are taken in the United States—a design that has the potential to produce significantly less costly and faster results that 

are of similar or better quality than in previous censuses. Among 

the most promising options to accomplish this are: 

First, using the Internet as the primary self-response option; 

Second, taking advantage of technology and operations research 

methods to re-engineer the field data collection operations—reducing both the infrastructure required to support these operations 

and the actual hours that enumerators spend collecting the data; 
8 

Third, making better use of Federal records to further reduce the 

dependence on in-person visits for data collection; 

And, fourth, drawing on the extensive array of emerging geographic tools and data sets to eliminate the need to physically canvass large portions of the United States to prepare the address list 

to support the 2020 census. 

In summary, the environment in which statistical agencies conduct their business is in a period of dynamic change with both 

risks and opportunities. I know what it means to manage in such 

an environment. Organizations that will be successful must constantly track emerging trends and advances and determine how 

they can be used to generate new and more effective processes. 

Most importantly, organizations must create and foster a culture of 

adaptability and creativity. 

I want to bring the skills I have developed both inside and outside of government to lead the Census Bureau. If I am confirmed, 

my goal will be to leave a legacy of innovation in all areas and at 

all levels of the Census Bureau and to design a 2020 census that 

represents a fundamental change for the future. I am committed to 

accomplishing this in an environment that is open and transparent 

to all stakeholders. 

Thank you and I am looking forward to working with this Committee. 

Chairman CARPER. Thanks very much for that testimony. Let me 

just start off with a couple of simple, straightforward questions. 

One, why do we need a census? The Constitution says we must 

have a census every 10 years. Why do we need it? Why do we need 

to do interim censuses and gather information in the meantime? 

Why is it important? 

Mr. THOMPSON. The census is important for a number of reasons—— 

Chairman CARPER. Before you do that, let me ask these perfunctory questions. All right? The three that I mentioned. 

No. 1, is there anything you are aware of in your background 

that might present a conflict of interest with the duties of the office 

to which you have been nominated? 

Mr. THOMPSON. No. 

Chairman CARPER. No. 2, do you know of anything, personal or 

otherwise, that would in any way prevent you from fully and honorably discharging the responsibilities of the office to which you 

have been nominated? 

Mr. THOMPSON. No. 

Chairman CARPER. And, No. 3, do you agree without reservation 

to respond to any reasonable summons to appear and testify before 

any duly constituted Committee of Congress if you are confirmed? 

Mr. THOMPSON. I certainly do. 

Chairman CARPER. OK. Good. Thank you. All right. Back to my 

question. Why do we need a census? Why do we need a good one? 

Why do we need one that is cost-effective? Why is it important for 

our country? 

Mr. THOMPSON. Well, the census has a number of important purposes, the first being the reapportionment of the House of Representatives every 10 years. 
9 

Chairman CARPER. That is not so important to us in Delaware. 

[Laughter.] 

Maybe someday. 

Mr. THOMPSON. Second, it provides data that is used to redraw 

the congressional boundaries every 10 years. And, third, it provides 

a variety of data that are used to administer important Federal 

programs and are used by businesses, city planners, academics, 

people interested in the status of our country. 

Chairman CARPER. How do businesses use this information? Why 

is it important? 

Mr. THOMPSON. It is important because they use it to make decisions that will help them grow, help them make right decisions, 

like where to put a new franchise, where certain individuals are 

that will buy their products based on ages, demographics, and income. 

Chairman CARPER. All right. Well, I think a lot in terms of roles 

of government; I think we all do. One of the roles of government 

is to provide a nurturing environment for job creation and job preservation, and I explain that part of what the census does is it provides information to businesses so they can make smart business 

decisions in terms of location of the kinds of businesses and their 

future plan, their future strategy, and implement the strategies for 

those businesses. 

Bob Groves, I think generally very much admired for the work 

that he did, I think he came in at a tough time and provided good 

leadership for the Census Bureau, and he has gone on to Georgetown to be their provost, and they are lucky to have him. Why was 

he effective? Why do you think he was an effective leader? What 

were the qualities that made him an effective leader? 

Mr. THOMPSON. Well, I think there are a number of qualities. 

Chairman CARPER. I think you know him. 

Mr. THOMPSON. I know Bob Groves. 

Chairman CARPER. Pretty well. 

Mr. THOMPSON. I believe I recommended to this Committee that 

he be considered to be the Director of the Census Bureau. He is 

a long-time colleague. He is one of the best survey methodologists 

in the world, so he brought that knowledge to the Census Bureau. 

He brought some management skills to the census. I know that the 

2010 census needed a lot of leadership, and under his leadership 

they ended up with ultimately a census that produced what appeared to be very accurate counts. But he also started at the Census Bureau to foster a culture of innovation and drawing creativity 

from all areas of the Bureau, and I think those are the three fundamental things that he brought. 

Chairman CARPER. What do you bring? Do not be immodest. 

Frankly, I appreciate humility, I admire humility, I admire modesty, but this is not the time. What do you bring? What did the 

President see in you? 

Mr. THOMPSON. Well, Senator, I understand a lot about statistical methodologies, not at the level of Robert Groves, but I do not 

think there is anybody else in the world that probably does. I have 

experience in managing large operations. I have experience in motivating people to do very good work. And I believe I have the kind 

of experience that will allow me to form relationships with the 
10 

many stakeholders of the Census Bureau and to put in place the 

groundwork for a new census process. 

Chairman CARPER. I think I mentioned to you I was out in Silicon Valley about 2 years ago at a technology summit, a summit 

on innovation and technology, and I think it might have actually 

been hosted on the campus of Google, as I recall. And during one 

of the panel presentations, there were four or five of these companies, very successful technology companies, that talked about how 

they use social media to solve any wide range of challenges and 

gave just very interesting presentations on how they were able to 

solve problems and address issues in ways that a couple years ago 

we never would have imagined that could be done. 

How do we capture that kind of innovation and that understanding of how to use the technical skills that we have, many of 

them just on our handheld devices today? How do we within the 

Census Bureau capture that input from the private sector and use 

their ideas, harness their ideas to be able to drive us to a better 

count, a more accurate count, and in a more effective way? How do 

we actually do that? Because I think there are folks out there that 

would like to be part of this process, and maybe not even with a 

profit motive in mind, just because it would be interesting, challenging, and important. 

Mr. THOMPSON. Yes. Well, Senator, I feel very strongly that the 

Census Bureau needs to form partnerships with the private sector 

to bring in new skills and new ideas, and if I am confirmed, I will 

certainly work toward setting up the appropriate vehicles, avenues 

for that to take place. 

Chairman CARPER. Talk to us about the survey that we do, I 

guess every year, the American Community Survey. I think when 

folks were critical of the Census Bureau, including some Members 

of Congress, they talked about the American Community Survey 

and they indicated among other things some of the questions are 

inappropriate, they are deemed to be invasive of people’s privacy. 

Why does the census need to know some of the answers to some 

of these questions? And Dr. Coburn, Senator Johnson, and I over 

here, we are big on common sense, and we learned that from our 

parents, and you probably did, too. 

I think you make a good case and others make a good case for 

the value of the survey—not just the decennial census—to, among 

others, our business community and State and local governments, 

but there is also great value in this American Community Survey. 

But I am not so sure that some of the questions are entirely appropriate or are needed. And I just want you to think out loud about 

that for us here today and what changes, if any, might be appropriate as we try to address the criticisms of this particular survey. 

Some would say let us just get rid of it. I do not know that this 

is a smart thing to do. But if it is not perfect, make it better. How 

do we make it better? 

Mr. THOMPSON. Well, Senator, let me start by saying that I think 

the American Community Survey is very important. It replaced the 

decennial long form, so it provides the information that used to 

come from the decennial long form every 10 years now on an annual basis and now in small areas just like the decennial long 

form. 
11 

I am also aware at a very high level of a number of issues associated with the American Community Survey. If confirmed, I am 

looking forward to digging into those issues with the many stakeholders of the American Community Survey. I would not want to 

design a new survey without getting the right kind of input in 

place. 

Chairman CARPER. OK. Well, we will probably have a chance to 

talk about this some more. 

Mr. THOMPSON. I look forward to it. 

Chairman CARPER. Dr. Coburn, please. 

Senator COBURN. Well, thanks again for your statement. The 

American Community Survey is kind of tied up in this lack of confidence in government today, which is difficult for you because it 

makes your job more difficult. 

What in your mind is in the American Community Survey that 

is also captured by private and other organizations out there in a 

sampling method? 

Mr. THOMPSON. Senator, I am not aware of any private organization that provides the level of detail comprehensively for the country that the American Community Survey does. But I understand 

also that there are undoubtedly opportunities to draw on resources 

to make the American Community Survey more effective. And, 

again, if I am confirmed, I would really look to finding ways to 

make it more efficient, make it less burdensome on the American 

public while still providing the same level of information. 

Senator COBURN. You talked in your opening statement about 

being able to provide a census more efficiently, more effectively, 

same quality of data or better, and do it for a better price, and 

most of that is going to be technology related. 

Does the Committee have your commitment that this is one of 

the things that you will strive for every day as you lead this organization? 

Mr. THOMPSON. Senator, that is one of the primary reasons that 

I am excited about going back to the Census Bureau, is to lead the 

effort to design a fundamentally new way to take the 2020 census. 

So you have my commitment on that. 

Senator COBURN. You and I in private conversations talked about 

getting the census online as a part of that and incenting people to 

comply. Have you given any thought on your future plans for the 

2020 census and how we will try to move toward using this new 

technology to where, in fact, we can do it more effectively, more efficiently, and incentivize people to comply so that we do not have 

the after-census review costs that are so expensive and oftentimes 

so difficult to ascertain? 

Mr. THOMPSON. Senator, I really think that motivating self-response by the Internet is an incredibly important goal for the 2020 

census. It will reduce the need to print hundreds of millions of 

questionnaires, to process those questionnaires, to have the storage 

space for them, to mail them, so that is very important. 

But I also want to note that I also understand that there are 

parts of the American population that will not have access to the 

Internet, even by 2020, and will need to have some other way that 

they can respond. 
12 

Senator COBURN. Sure, but that is part of your comprehensive 

plan. But the fact is that will not lessen your desire or intensity 

to utilize that technology. 

Mr. THOMPSON. No. 

Senator COBURN. Just being aware that there are areas where 

we are not going to get feedback utilizing that. 

Senator Carper and I held a lot of hearings on the 2010 census 

before it came about, and one of the problems was contracting at 

the Census Bureau, and what I am looking for is a commitment on 

cost-plus contracts, that, first of all, we are not going to utilize 

them unless they are an absolute necessity, and then we are going 

to make sure we get value out of cost-plus contracts. 

What are your thoughts on that? And what will be your policies 

that you set up to guide those thoughts? 

Mr. THOMPSON. Well, Senator, I agree with you that fixed-price 

contracts, if you can provide the level of specification, are the best 

value for the government. But even if you do cost-plus contracts, 

the real key is you have to have in place some detailed specifications; you have to have in place performance metrics, a delivery 

schedule for getting the results; and you have to have in place good 

management procedures that include formal change control processes. And if I am confirmed, I really want to work toward defining 

the level of specifications that will maximize the use of fixed-price 

contracts. 

Senator COBURN. One of my biggest frustrations here is when we 

have contracts and they do not perform, the Justice Department 

does not seek out or redress for the Federal Government based on 

lack of performance. Would you commit that if you have contractors 

that are contracting for you either under fixed-price or otherwise, 

you will give a referral to the Justice Department to make the Federal Government whole and the money that it spent in that regard? 

Mr. THOMPSON. Senator, you have my commitment that I will 

use every legal option at my disposal to direct toward contractors 

that do not perform. 

Senator COBURN. All right. Thank you. 

My office has heard from a lot of private entities, as have other 

Members of this Committee, that they can perform some of the 

mapping work that the census currently undertakes on its own for 

a tiny fraction of the price that the census spends. Are you committed to making sure that the census takes advantage of this new 

private industry rather than tasking the government to re-create 

the wheel when it is already available out there commercially? 

Mr. THOMPSON. Senator, you have my commitment to that as 

well. I think that there are a number of sources of emerging geographic information that can improve the processes that the census 

have in place in that area. 

Senator COBURN. One of the other concerns I have with the census, but really it applies to the whole government, we spend, outside of intelligence, $85 billion a year on information technology 

(IT) contracts, of which about half are failures. I think it is really 

important that you are on top of any area where we have an IT— 

and I think you have already referenced the weakness and the 

problem, because setting performance standards and holding compliance to those performance standards before you ever purchase 
13 

something is the key to that. That is where we fail across the Federal Government. I mean, we are throwing $40 billion a year away 

in this government on IT contracts. And my hope is that you will 

foster a culture of adapting the agency to products that have been 

tested and work rather than take products off the shelf and try to 

change them because the census does not want to meet the IT program. 

The problem is we have great IT programs out there. The government takes them in and then tries to change the program to fit 

the government rather than the government try to fit the program. 

My hope would be that your leadership would be exerted, that if 

we are going to buy something off the shelf, we actually take advantage of the technology from that proven off-the-shelf product 

rather than try to change it to meet—because it is easier than 

changing some programs or parameters within the census. 

The other area is I would like to discuss your thoughts on counting prisoners and military personnel in terms of the census. 

Mr. THOMPSON. So that is a very good question, Senator. My 

thoughts on that are that before each census, the Census Bureau 

works with stakeholders to define the rules they use, to determine 

where to count people where they usually live as of the census day, 

and then after each census, because our population and society is 

so dynamic, they review those rules for the next census. And my 

thoughts really on that are that I am going to—if I am confirmed, 

I am looking forward to reviewing those rules with the stakeholders in planning for the 2020 census so that there is agreement 

that we have the right rules in place. 

Senator COBURN. All right. Thank you very much. 

Chairman CARPER. Thank you, Dr. Coburn. Senator Johnson. 

OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR JOHNSON 

Senator JOHNSON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Thompson, 

welcome. Thank you for your testimony. 

Let us go back to that American Community Survey. It is my understanding the fines, if you do not respond to that, range somewhere between $100,000 and $500,000. Is that your understanding 

as well? 

Mr. THOMPSON. I understand there are fines, Senator. I am not 

aware of the specific level of the fines right now. But let me just 

say that I do not think fining people is the way to encourage response. The Census Bureau is a data collection agency, not an enforcement agency. And I really think that explaining to people why 

it is important, why their data is important, what it will be used 

for, is the best way to encourage response. 

Senator JOHNSON. Do you have any idea how often those fines 

are assessed? Really is it the Census Bureau that has the discretion in terms of how big that fine would be? 

Mr. THOMPSON. Senator, I do not have any current understanding on how the fines are assessed. I know that the Census 

Bureau does not determine those fines. They are determined by 

statute, and they are administered by the Justice Department. 

Senator JOHNSON. OK. Do you think that is appropriate? I mean, 

as head of the agency, would you try and minimize those fines? 
14 

Mr. THOMPSON. Senator, that is a very complicated issue, and I 

really do not have the insight or understanding to really make an 

effective decision there. 

Senator JOHNSON. OK. 

Mr. THOMPSON. But if I am confirmed, I can assure you that—— 

Senator JOHNSON. We should talk. 

Mr. THOMPSON. We will talk. 

Senator JOHNSON. The information I have in terms of the cost 

per household is $39 in 1990, $70 per household in 2000, and $96 

per household in 2010. There is obviously some inflationary gains 

or cost increases. Do you know the reason for the cost increases 

outside of inflation? 

Mr. THOMPSON. I do know something about the cost increases 

from the 1900 to the 2000 census, and in 2000, there was a situation where the census had been planning to use sampling to make 

the counts less expensive and use statistical adjustment to make 

the counts more accurate. That was a fairly controversial position. 

And late in the game, there was a decision by the Supreme Court 

that sampling would not be used for the purposes of apportionment, which then meant that the census in 2000 had to be redesigned starting in January 1999, which added considerably to the 

cost. 

Senator JOHNSON. Moving forward, have you established some 

kind of goal, I mean with the advances in information technology, 

do you have a goal in terms of productivity gains, actually reducing 

the cost per household? 

Mr. THOMPSON. Senator, I believe that if we can get the right 

level of resources and justify the need for those resources, of 

course, to do the research necessary, that we can put in place a 

census that should be no more expensive, adjusted for inflation, 

than the 2010 census. 

Senator JOHNSON. OK. Well, hopefully we can actually reduce 

that cost. 

You mentioned sampling. Statistics was not exactly my best 

course in college. What percentage of the population is actually 

canvassed, I mean physically accounted for? 

Mr. THOMPSON. With the decennial census? 

Senator JOHNSON. Right. 

Mr. THOMPSON. The goal is to count 100 percent. There are some 

processes in place where some statistical imputation is used for 

households where they just cannot get, in spite of all their efforts, 

a response from an individual. But the goal is to count everyone. 

Senator JOHNSON. So you said there is quite a bit of controversy 

in terms of a plan for sampling using statistics. So we do not do 

that in any way, shape, or form now? We do not augment the canvassing with any kind of sampling or statistics? 

Mr. THOMPSON. Let me just draw a little line here. There are a 

lot of uses for sampling to do quality control, things like that that 

make it more effective. 

Senator JOHNSON. OK. 

Mr. THOMPSON. But there is not a use of sampling to produce the 

counts for apportionment, and I believe that there are far better 

ways than using statistical adjustment to improve the other counts 

that—— 
15 

Senator JOHNSON. So how do we fill in the counts then? I mean, 

is there no adjustment to the actual canvassing? In other words, 

the people we count, that is the number? Or do we augment that 

going, well, we really think we only got about 95 percent so we are 

going to bump it up by 5 percent? 

Mr. THOMPSON. No. That would be a statistical adjustment. They 

do not do that. There is a process for a small number of households—at least this was the case in the 2000 census—where despite the best efforts to knock on a door, you could not get a response, and for a very small percentage of cases, a determination 

had to be made regarding was the household occupied or not, and 

if it was occupied, how many people would have been there. If you 

just said no, you would be assuming that it was all zero, and that 

was not right either. But this was a very small portion of the count 

that was—— 

Senator JOHNSON. OK. But it is specific to households, it is a 

very detailed augmentation. 

Mr. THOMPSON. Right. 

Senator JOHNSON. OK. Now that I am a Senator, I actually use 

the Census Web site more than I did as a private citizen. I just 

want to get your evaluation and opinion of the current Census Bureau Web site, and its ease of use. 

Mr. THOMPSON. I actually do not have that much trouble using 

it, but I am sort of like an insider. The Web site is much better 

than the Web site when I was there, so I find it easy to use. But 

I think the real determination of a Web site effectiveness is to work 

with the various outside users and get their opinion on how easy 

it is to use and then build in improvements. 

Senator JOHNSON. Picking up a little bit on Senator Coburn’s 

questions, you are coming from the private sector now. Are there 

other private sector models that you will bring, and experience, to 

the Census Bureau to improve it, whether it is the Web site or just 

your whole data collection, and your productivity? 

Mr. THOMPSON. Well, the experiences I have had at NORC have 

dealt with using systems to automate telephony, to use the Internet as a response option, to use mobile computing, to use social 

media. I intend to bring those findings into the Census Bureau. 

Senator JOHNSON. OK. Well, again, thank you for your responses. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Chairman CARPER. Thank you, Senator Johnson. 

Senator Ayotte, welcome. Good morning. 

OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR AYOTTE 

Senator AYOTTE. Good morning. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

I want to thank you, Dr. Thompson, and let me just say your 

qualifications are impeccable, and I am very pleased that you want 

to take on this important position, and we look forward—I look forward to working with you. 

I just wanted to start with whether you had another particular 

to review the 2012 U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) 

report, which really focused on concerns about the cost of the census. Have you had a chance to review that report? 

Mr. THOMPSON. I have reviewed the report, but at a very high 

level. 
16 

Senator AYOTTE. OK, because I think one of the things the report 

identified in it was that the costs of the decennial census rose from 

$8 billion in 2000 to $13 billion in 2010, which would be a 56-percent increase. And I know that you talked about a Supreme Court 

case that would have changed sampling methodology. But according to the GAO, one of the concerns they raised in that report was 

that the Census Bureau could not identify specific sources of cost 

growth from 2000 to 2010. And so within the report, the GAO 

found that the Bureau had not developed mitigation or contingency 

plans for looking forward to 2020, which I know Dr. Coburn already asked you about. So I think that is one of the key issues for 

you, thinking about the prior cost growth, thinking about obviously 

the fiscal challenges facing the Nation, of not doubling the cost 

growth looking forward to the 2020 census and having a strong 

plan. 

What initial thoughts do you have on that for us here today to 

make sure that we are responsibly using taxpayer dollars? 

Mr. THOMPSON. Well, let me first say that I do have the greatest 

respect for the GAO and for the inspector general (IG). They actually helped me a lot when I was there in 2000. And if I am confirmed, I do want to sit down with them, really understand their 

concerns in detail, and work for them. 

Senator AYOTTE. Good. 

Mr. THOMPSON. But I think it is important that you have a welllaid-out planning process with metrics, with milestones, and you 

have a good cost model so you can control costs, track costs, understand where you are. I think that is very important, and that is 

one of the things that I would plan to have in place. 

Senator AYOTTE. And, Dr. Thompson, to the extent you can, 

would you be coming back to the Committee also to share some 

thoughts on as you came up with the metrics and modeling looking 

forward to 2020? 

Mr. THOMPSON. Oh, I would welcome any opportunity to come 

work with the Committee. 

Senator AYOTTE. Terrific. 

Mr. THOMPSON. I would value the input. 

Senator AYOTTE. Great. And I know that you have already been 

asked questions about the American Community Survey, but this 

issue really—certainly as Dr. Coburn identified, this is an issue of 

trust with the government and also my constituents—I mean, I 

hear some deep concerns about some of the questions and the 

depth of this survey. And it cannot be underestimated. The stories 

that we hear, of course, are that my constituents are contacted, 

they are visited, they are visited, they are visited, and then they 

find out really the extent of the questions that they are asked. 

So what I did today was just looked at the current survey just 

to kind of get a sense of what it looks like, and it is about 48 questions, but that does not include subparts. And I think if I went 

through the subparts, it probably gets close to 100 questions that 

they are asked. And some of them are quite intrusive. I mean, I 

look at things like, ‘‘Because of a physical, mental, or emotional 

condition, does this person have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions?’’ That is a very personal question. 
17 

Or, ‘‘Does this person have difficulty dressing or bathing?’’ Obviously about someone with a disability. 

There is a whole length of other questions, I mean, very detailed 

questions, that this is an issue that I would hope that in your new 

position we would not be asking questions of individuals that are 

not fully justified or necessary, because these are very intrusive 

questions to ask individuals about, and obviously these questions 

go from the background of your heritage all the way to your income 

to where you live. 

I mean, I love this one: ‘‘Does this house, apartment, or mobile 

home have a sink with a faucet?’’ 

These are very detailed questions, so you can understand, with 

your average person where they are subject to fines being asked detailed questions by the government that are very personal, why 

that would raise very deep privacy concerns with many individuals. 

So that is what you are hearing from the public, and I would 

think that our responsibility, both as Members of Congress and 

your responsibility in your new position, would be to be as least intrusive as possible in terms of respecting the privacy of the American people. That is the commitment I am asking for from you 

today, because I can understand if I were asked some of these 

questions why I would get my dander up. 

Mr. THOMPSON. Senator, well, let me say that I would not want 

to unduly burden the American public, and I would be committed 

to ensuring that the questions that are asked have to be asked and 

there is a right purpose to them and a documented purpose. 

I also want to assure you that my whole career has been devoted 

to protecting the privacy of the responses, both at the Census Bureau and at NORC, the company I am at now. It is just critical to 

be in a position to continue to earn their trust so that you can collect vitally important information. 

Senator AYOTTE. Well, what I would hope is for obviously every 

single question on this survey, that it be scrutinized very carefully 

to really ask put yourself in the shoes of the people being asked, 

the American people, and then also why is this necessary for government to have this information. And I think there has to be a 

fairly high justification, particularly with some of the very personal 

questions that I raised. So I would hope that you would bring that 

kind of standard into reviewing this process. 

Mr. THOMPSON. Senator, if I am confirmed, I would love to explore these with you in more detail. Again, I do not want to unduly 

burden the American public, but at the same time, I want to collect 

the information that is necessary to administer the important programs that the American Community Survey is designed to support. 

Senator AYOTTE. Now, I appreciate that, and I think it is the 

issue of, people understanding, us making sure that we are really 

scrutinizing this so that information that does not need to be collected is not collected. So I appreciate very much your willingness 

to take this on and your prior experience in this area, and I look 

forward to working with you. 

Mr. THOMPSON. Thank you, Senator. 

Senator AYOTTE. Thank you. 
18 

Chairman CARPER. Senator Ayotte, thank you. Thanks for coming. Thanks very much for those questions. 

Senator AYOTTE. Thank you. 

Chairman CARPER. Sometimes people say to me, ‘‘Well, what 

have you done before you were a Senator that actually prepared 

you for what you are responsible for doing now?’’ And there are a 

number of things that I have done. And we all came here on different paths. Dr. Coburn had an incredible life and career that enabled him to lead businesses, big businesses, become a doctor, and 

serve in the Congress. We all come from different paths, but we 

pick up training, experiences from those different paths, core values. My core values, as I talk about from time to time, include figuring out the right thing to do, do it, not the easy thing, not the 

expedient thing, the right thing to do; and treating other people the 

way we want to be treated. We focus here on trying to get better 

results for less money, but, really, how do we focus on excellence 

in everything that we do? And just do not give up. We do not give 

up. So those are my core values. 

Talk to us about your core values as a human being, as a leader. 

Where do they come from? Where do those core values come from? 

And how are they going to help you in what you do? We talk about 

job experience and so forth. Sometimes our core values are more 

important than anything else, particularly as a leader. 

Mr. THOMPSON. So one of the values that has motivated me 

throughout my career is to produce information that has an important social good, and that is one of the reasons I went to the Census Bureau so that I could work on that. 

Another value that I really think is important is that I have always been very honest, very open with people, and to do things 

that have integrity, to make the right kind of decision, and to be 

open about it. 

My core values I guess are really based on honesty, integrity, 

and openness. 

Chairman CARPER. Where does that come from? How did you 

learn these things? 

Mr. THOMPSON. Well, I guess it started with my parents, who did 

a good job convincing me that it was very good to be open and honest. And then as I got to the Census Bureau, I got to work initially, 

both at Census and outside Census, with some of the finest statisticians who built the field, and they had this ethic about being open 

and about being honest, and learning from them was very important. 

Chairman CARPER. I was talking with someone the other day 

about lessons learned, and they were talking about we have good 

role models and we have bad role models, but we can learn from 

both of them. From the bad role models, we can learn how not to 

do bad things or stupid things. So both of those work. 

You had the opportunity to leave the Census Bureau after, I 

think, about 27 years and to go off to join the folks at the National 

Opinion Research Center. Most people have never heard of it. Most 

everybody has heard of the census and the Census Bureau. Most 

people do not have a clue what the National Opinion Research Center does. And you got there, and you ended up in a pretty impor-
19 

tant job, ended up being the president of the operation for a number of years. 

Just talk to us, for people who do not have a clue about the National Opinion Research Center or what they do, talk to us why 

that was an important thing for you to do in terms of your growth 

and your ability to assume these responsibilities that have been 

nominated for. 

Mr. THOMPSON. Thank you, Senator. Actually, I probably am one 

of the few people that had known of the National Opinion Research 

Center for quite a while. They had provided a lot of advice to me 

when I was at the Census Bureau on various statistical matters. 

They have a long history of doing excellent survey methodology 

work. So when I was looking around to retire after 27 years at the 

Census Bureau, I visited a number of companies, and NORC was 

a company that shared my vision of doing work that was very important for the public good. And at the time, NORC also offered a 

new challenge in that they were reinventing themselves at the time 

and needed some help to fix their data collection operations. And 

I was happy to go help out this organization which shared this 

view of doing high-quality work in the public good. 

And as I got to NORC, I had the opportunity then to work with 

technology to make operations more effective and reduce costs, and 

I had the opportunity to establish a vision for the company when 

I took over as president, which was based on establishing a leadership position in our field and drawing on our most important resource—our employees—to do that. 

Chairman CARPER. During the time I served as Governor, I was 

involved in the National Governors Association (NGA), and I remember meeting with other Governors. We would talk about the 

challenges that we faced in our respective States. And I would 

come back, and we would have cabinet meetings, and whatever 

issue we were focusing on—raising student achievement, environmental issues, job creation, financial controls—I would always say, 

‘‘Some Governor in some State, has wrestled with this issue, they 

have figured out how to deal with it in an effective way, and we 

have to find that State, that person, figure out how they do it, and 

see if it is something that could be exported to us, if we could do 

it.’’ 

Just about every other major country in the world—I think all 

of them conduct a census and have done it for a long time. Some 

of them probably do it pretty well. Some, probably not. Who are the 

countries that we can learn from? And what are some specific lessons we might be able to learn as we prepare for 2020? 

Mr. THOMPSON. I think right off the bat, our neighbor to the 

northern, Canada, would be a really good place to start working 

with. They have been using the Internet as a primary response option. I believe that they had a very successful utilization of that, 

so I think that would be one really good country to start with. 

England uses some similar methods to the United States. They 

would be another good country, as would Australia. 

Chairman CARPER. And what could they learn from us? 

Mr. THOMPSON. Well, what they would learn from us, I believe, 

is how to use automation in a very diverse setting, because our 

country I believe is more diverse than England and Australia, and 
20 

how we go about putting that in place would be, I think, very valuable for them. 

Chairman CARPER. OK. I want to go back to the American Community Survey again. Senator Johnson talked about the level of 

fines. You indicated—I thought it was a good response. You said, 

‘‘Our focus should not be so much on how much we want to fine 

people for their failure or refusal to actually participate, but try to 

better explain why the American Community Survey is important, 

why it is of value to our country, and why we need for folks to 

spend some time to comply with that or respond to it.’’ 

It is a shared responsibility, though. It should not fall just on the 

Census Bureau. It should fall on the business community who use 

that information on State and local governments, and on the Federal Government, on us. We have a shared responsibility to explain 

why it is important and not just to say, OK, if you do not do it, 

you are going to get fined. That is not the right response. 

I think the American Community Survey can be considered almost a dress rehearsal for the decennial and give us a chance to 

experiment with some new ideas, new technologies, new approaches that we do not want to bet the house on every 10 years, 

but we might be able to try some things on the ACS that would 

inform us going to 2020. Talk about how that might happen. 

Mr. THOMPSON. Certainly, Senator. Well, first off the bat, you 

have—the ACS is now starting to offer the Internet as a response 

option. 

Chairman CARPER. Talk a little bit more about that. Expand on 

that. 

Mr. THOMPSON. So there are options to learn how to motivate response via the Internet through the ACS. There is a wide body of 

research going on in the public and private sector right now about 

how to motivate individuals to respond via the Internet. And the 

ACS certainly offers a good test bed for trying new methodologies, 

bringing in researchers from outside the government to work with 

the Census Bureau to put in place the Internet techniques. 

The other opportunity, I think, that the ACS—well, there are at 

least two more. Another opportunity that the ACS offers is the ability to try out new technology on a limited basis to see how it works, 

to understand the mechanics of it, to understand the human factors 

that are associated with introducing it. 

And, finally, the ACS, because it is a widely dispersed survey, 

does offer the opportunity to have people do on-the-ground checks 

where you can look at some of the private sector geographic products and compare them to what the Census Bureau has and understand the nature of the differences and the nature of the gaps in 

them. 

Chairman CARPER. OK. I want to go back to several years ago 

to the run-up to the 2010 census. And I do not remember this with 

great precision, but my recollection is we had three Directors or 

Acting Directors of the Census just over a period of like a couple 

of years in the run-up to the Census. One of the reasons why a 

number of us on this Committee supported the idea of having a 5- 

year term for the Census Director was to provide some continuity 

and so that we would not ever go through that situation again. 
21 

If you should be confirmed for this position, you will fill out the 

remainder of the 5-year term that was being served by Dr. Groves; 

I think it is about 3 years. And if you are interested and the President is interested, whoever is President, and wants to nominate 

you again, he could do it, and that would carry us conceivably 

through the 2020 census. So we will have the opportunity for real 

continuity for 3 years and then maybe another 5 years, and hopefully not face what we faced several years ago. 

I think most people in this country, if you said, how would you 

like to be Director of the Census as opposed to being a movie star 

or a Senator or whatever, people would probably have other—Dr. 

Coburn? [Laughter.] 

People would say, ‘‘That is not a very interesting or exciting job.’’ 

Actually, I think it could be a hugely exciting job. 

Mr. THOMPSON. I think it is a very exciting job, Senator. At least 

it is very exciting to me. I think there is tremendous opportunity 

to work as Director with the other statistical agency heads to find 

efficiencies and adopt new technologies in government. The Census 

Bureau touches so many other agencies. There is tremendous opportunity. 

And the other thing that I think is really exciting is to really put 

in place a design for a 2020 census. That is a fundamental change 

in the way censuses are taken, and that is very exciting to me. 

Chairman CARPER. All right. My last question is: What can we 

do on our side, our end of this government in the legislative 

branch, in this Committee, what can we do to help the Census to 

do a better job, better results, more accurate, but not for a whole 

lot more money? 

Mr. THOMPSON. Senator, if I am confirmed, I would hope that I 

would have the opportunity to work with you and the other Members of the Committee on those issues and that you would be amenable to having me come down to talk to you about ideas and 

things, gain your advice and counsel. That would be just invaluable 

help. 

Chairman CARPER. All right. Sometimes when we have a hearing, we get to the end of the hearing—we always ask you to do an 

opening statement. This is one of those hearings where you will be 

given a chance just to offer a short closing statement as well, and 

you could re-emphasize something you thought was important, 

maybe something that occurred to you that you did not say earlier, 

something that comes to you by virtue of the questions you have 

heard. Maybe you want to more fully answer a question. But this 

is your opportunity to do that. 

Mr. THOMPSON. Well, thank you, Senator. Let me just re-emphasize the fact that I am glad that the President nominated me for 

this position. I am very excited about the opportunities to provide 

leadership to one of the most important statistical agencies in the 

United States. I am looking forward, if I am confirmed, to having 

the opportunity to lead the effort to design a new census. And I am 

also looking forward to the opportunity to build on the work that 

Bob Groves already started, to put in place a permanent culture at 

the Census Bureau that is adaptive and innovative. That is what 

I am really excited about. And I am interested in doing that in an 

environment that is open and transparent to all stakeholders. 
22 

Chairman CARPER. When we were considering legislation to provide for a 5-year term for the Census Director, we also considered 

whether or not to change the chain of command for the Census. 

And I think the idea was to say whether or not the Census Director 

should report directly to the Secretary of Commerce or to have the 

Census Director reporting not to the Secretary of Commerce but 

another reporting arrangement. 

In your view, what is the appropriate relationship between the 

Census Director and the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs and 

the Census Director and the Secretary of Commerce? And how do 

you envision working with the Under Secretary? I think it is Mark 

Doms, Under Secretary Doms. And we have a new Secretary there, 

Penny Pritzker. Just talk a little bit about that reporting relationship. 

Mr. THOMPSON. Sure. So I have always had pretty good relationships when I was at Census with the Under Secretary for Economic 

and Statistical Affairs (ESA), and with the Secretary of Commerce 

when I had the opportunity to work with them. And I am really 

looking forward to working with Mark Doms. He is the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs. And I am really looking forward to 

working with Secretary Pritzker, if I am confirmed. I met both of 

them. I think they are very qualified individuals, and I think that 

we will have a very productive working relationship. 

Chairman CARPER. All right. Good enough. 

OK. I think with that it is a wrap. I went on too long here, and 

Dr. Coburn I think gave up on me and bailed. I apologize in his 

absence for not yielding. 

We appreciate your willingness to do this. We appreciate the 

President giving us a good nominee, a good name, and his responsibility and the Administration’s responsibility is to find able people 

to fill these positions. Our responsibility, after they have vetted 

them, is for us to vet them and to review your credentials and have 

a chance to talk with you and have a public hearing like this, and, 

frankly, talk to a lot of other people who know you and are familiar 

with the work that you do and have done and your capabilities and 

the nature of the responsibilities the Census Director is going to be 

facing in the years to some. 

So we are grateful for your past service, grateful for your willingness to come back and to serve in this capacity. 

I want to again welcome your sons for joining us here today. As 

I watched you speak, from time to time I could see their lips 

move—— [Laughter.] 

As you were giving some of your testimony. But I thought you 

did and they did a good job in responding to our questions. 

We have some more time here for folks who are not here in person today to ask questions, but the hearing record will remain open 

until, noon tomorrow—for the submission of statements for those 

who want to give them and for questions for the record. 

With that having been said, this hearing is adjourned. Thanks 

very much. 

Mr. THOMPSON. Thank you, Senator. 

[Whereupon, at 11:47 a.m., the Committee was adjourned.] 
(23) 

A P P E N D I X 

Opening Statement of Chairman Carper 

Nomination of John H. Thompson to be Director ofthe Census Bureau, 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

July 9, 2013 

As prepared for delivery: 

We meet this moming to consider the nomination of John H. Thompson to be Director of the 

United States Census Bureau. The Census Bureau's mission is to serve as the leading source of 

quality data about the nation's people and economy. The Bureau does this by conducting 

numerous surveys every year which in turn provide lawmakers and citizens with a view of the 

nation's social and demographic makeup. 

The most important and visible survey conducted by the Census Bureau is, of course, the 

decennial census. This once-a-decade undertaking is one of the few functions explicitly required 

under our constitution. Its execution is often described as the largest peace time mobilization in 

American history. 

However, the Census Bureau also conducts other important surveys such as the American 

Community Survey which provides Federal, state, and local governments as well as the private 

sector with up to date information about the population within a certain geographic area. The 

collection of these data is important so that decisions such as how to distribute grant funding and 

where to build schools, hospitals, and retail stores are not made with data that is nearly a decade 

old. 

Additionally, the Census Bureau collects the data that provides us with our monthly 

unemployment numbers. The Census Bureau's role in this area and in the federal government's 

efforts to effectively target initiatives aimed at growing our economy should not be overlooked. 

The Census Bureau has been without a Senate-confirmed Director for nearly a year, when thenDirector Bob Groves departed last August to be the Provost of Georgetown University. I am 

therefore very pleased that the President has nominated a qualified candidate to lead the Census 

Bureau for the next several years. 1 intend to work with my colleagues on this Committee to 

complete our review and to report the nomination for action by the full Senate as quickly as we 

can. 

The nomination of John Thompson comes at a unique time during the decennial cycle. While 

most people only pay attention to the Census Bureau in the year or two leading up to the 

decennial census, it is these interim years in the middle of the decade when the critical research, 

testing, and planning phases are completed and the groundwork is laid for the actual count. 

Last decade, there were many problems leading up to the 2010 Decennial Census. The roots of 

these problems were in poor planning and cost estimation. Most notably, the Census Bureau 

awarded a $595 million contract for the development of half a million handheld computers. 
24 

These devices promised to reduce the time and cost of large operations such as address 

canvassing and non-response follow up. 

However, the project experienced constant setbacks, including technical problems, escalating 

costs, and missed deadlines. Eventually, the decision was made in April 2008 to abandon use of 

the handheld computers for much of the 2010 Decennial Census and revert back to paper and 

pencil for the costly non-response follow up operation. This decision ended up adding $2 billion 

to the cost of the 20 I 0 Census, which in total cost taxpayers nearly $13 billion, the costliest 

enumeration in our nation's history and twice the cost of the 2000 Decennial Census. 

I do not want to rehash the details of the handheld contract or other problems in the years and 

months prior to the 2010 Decennial Census, but I do want to call on the lessons learned during 

that experience as this committee conducts oversight of the Census Bureau as we head into the 

2020 Decennial Census. 

As I will mention in greater detail during the question and answer session, for each decennial 

census the Census Bureau has invested exponentially more resources to ensure quality results. 

The cost of conducting the census has, on average, doubled since 1970. If that growth continues, 

the estimate for the 2020 Census would exceed $25 billion. At a time when agencies across the 

Federal government have been asked to do more with less, a $25 billion decennial census is 

unacceptable. If you are confirmed, Mr. Thompson, this committee will look to you to develop 

and implement initiatives to control costs while maintaining the quality and accuracy of the 

decennial count. 

Another issue leading to the 20 I 0 Decennial Census I want to address is the seven-month 

leadership vacuum the Bureau struggles through in 2009. Less than one year before Census Day 

and facing a number of challenges, the Census Bureau was without a Senate-confirmed Director. 

While the nomination and confirmation process was part of the reason for this lengthy vacancy, 

the main issue was the 2008 election and the transition from the Bush Administration to the 

Obama Administration, which created the vacancy at the beginning of2009. An election in a 

year ending in '8' can lead to a months-long vacancy at a critical time for the Census Bureau. 

To address that problem, I introduced legislation to create five year terms for the Census 

Director. The first term started January 2012 and future terms would begin in January of years 

ending in '7' and '2' so that a Director would be in place for the beginning of either the planning 

phase of a decennial census or the operational phase. This provision was adopted in legislation 

moving through Congress in 2012 and was signed into law last year. 

Mr. Thompson, you are the first person to be nominated under this new law. If confirmed, you 

would fill out the term ending December 31, 2016 and be eligible to be nominated for an 

additional two full terms. Additionally, the provision that was signed into law also sets forth 

several qualifications for future Census Director nominees. The law now requires that nominees 

to be Census Director have a demonstrated ability in managing large organizations and 

experience in the collection, analysis, and use of statistical data. I am pleased that the President 

has nominated someone who meets these requirements. 
25 

If confinned, Mr. Thompson returns to the Census Bureau where he spent 27 years holding 

various positions, including Associate Director for the Decennial Census and Chief of the 

Decennial Management Division. In 2000, Mr. Thompson was the senior career employee 

responsible for all aspects of that year's decennial census. In 2002, he left the Census Bureau 

and moved to Chicago to be the Executive Vice President of the National Opinion Research 

Center at the University of Chicago. He perfonned the duties of that job so well that, in 2008, he 

was elevated to be President of that organization. 

I am pleased that he has agreed to leave Chicago and return to Washington D.C. to lead the 

Census Bureau into the next decennial census. I look forward to Mr. Thompson's testimony 

today and the opportunity to discuss with him his priorities for the Census Bureau. 
26 

Senator Richard J. Durbin 

July 9, 2013 

Remarks for Introduction of John Thompson 

It's an honor to introduce John Thompson, the President's nominee to be 

Director of the Census Bureau. 

Mr. Thompson has nearly four decades of experience in research and 

statistics, making him a strong candidate for the position. 

Currently, Mr. Thompson serves as President of the National Opinion 

Research Center, headquartered in Chicago. 

The Center conducts social science research in the public interest. 

In addition to ensuring the quality of the research it leads, Mr. 

Thompson also oversees the nationwide staff and has helped make 

NORC's activities more productive and cost-effective. 

While at NORC, he directed the National Immunization Survey from 

2004 to 2006, the largest telephone survey of its kind in the country. 

Before starting at NORC 11 years ago, Mr. Thompson worked at the 

Census Bureau for 27 years. 

He started out as a mathematical statistician in 1975 and went on to 

become the senior officer responsible for conducting and producing the 

2000 Census. 

Aside from his posts at NORC and the Census Bureau, he also is a 

leader in the social science research community. 

Mr. Thompson is an elected Fellow ofthe American Statistical 

Association, an elected member of the Committee on National Statistics, 
27 

and serves on a National Academy of Sciences panel addressing Census 

concerns. 

Mr. Thompson's decades of research and statistical experience will 

serve him well in leading an agency whose primary mission is to 

produce reliable data about our people and our economy. 

I can't imagine a more qualified nominee to lead the U.S. Census 

Bureau. Mr. Thompson is effective at producing quality data and 

managing a large organization. 

He has shown he can do so on time and cost effectively. 

As Director of the Census Bureau, he will be able to use his experience 

to move the Census more fully into the digital world and make it even 

more reliable, accurate, and accessible to all Americans. 

I would also note that while living and working in Chicago, he had the 

chance to cheer on his favorite national hockey team the Chicago 

Blackhawks. Now that the team has secured the national championship 

and the Stanley Cup, he may be ready to live and work in Washington. 

In talking with Mr. Thompson, I was impressed with his enthusiasm for 

taking on the responsibilities of Director. His warm personality will 

make him a great addition to the agency. 

He has some ideas about evaluating research methods to see where 

improvements can be made to data collection practices, so we can get 

the best possible results. 

It's my pleasure to introduce to the Committee Mr. John Thompson. 

I fully support his nomination and look forward to working with him as 

he becomes the next Director of the Census Bureau. 
28 

Prepared Statement of John H. Thompson 

Nominee to be Director of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce 

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

July 9, 2013 

Chairman Carper, Ranking Member Coburn, and members of the Committee, I am very pleased that you 

have convened this hearing to consider my nomination to the position of Director of the U.S. Census 

Bureau. I would like to begin by thanking President Obama for nominating me to one of the most 

important positions in the federal statistical system. It is both an honor and a privilege to be given the 

opportunity to return to public service. I would also like to thank my wife Bonnie, my family, and my 

colleagues at the National Opinion Research Center for their support and encouragement. 

I agree with the views of a number of previous Census Bureau Directors, that a democracy needs 

credible, objective and timely information on the growth of its population, the changing characteristics 

of its communities and the health of its businesses to form the basis of solid policy decisions and other 

critical functions of governance. The statistical agencies produce such information in the United States. 

They are guided by principles of non-partisanship, protection of individual privacy, and provision of high 

quality information to inform decision makers and the public on the important issues facing our society 

and nation. The Census Bureau is an important component of this information infrastructure. The 

statistics it collects are used to produce economic indicators, to determine the needs of local 

communities and to inform policies to make American businesses more competitive. We are seeing a 

growing need for such data to support our economic growth and create jobs; and it is playing an 

increasingly significant role in all aspects of our daily lives. Going forward, our country will rely more 

heavily on institutions like the Census Bureau to deliver this vital resource. The next leader of the 

Census Bureau, therefore, must be committed to maintaining the Bureau's stature as the exemplary 

collector and disseminator of the highest quality information to help America forge its data-driven 

future. 

However, there are a number of rapidly emerging challenges and opportunities that have the potential 

to dramatically change the way in which information is collected, analyzed, and disseminated. 

Organizations that will be successful in the future must seize on these opportunities to produce quality 

information on a more timely and efficient basis. I am seeking your support for my nomination, because 

I believe that I can provide the leadership and guidance that the Census Bureau needs at this critical 

time. If confirmed, I can assure you that I will use all of my skills and intellect to take the Census Bureau 

into the future, building on the exceptional groundwork that Dr. Robert Groves has already put in place. 

I spent 27 years at the Census Bureau, followed by over 10 years at National Opinion Research Center. 

At the Census Bureau, I held a number of management positions with increasing responsibility for the 

1980, 1990, and 2000 Censuses. The most significant being from 1997 through June 2001 when I served 

as the Associate Director for Decennial Censuses - the career executive with responsibility for all aspects 

of Census 2000. I am proud to note that Census 2000 was the first to employ state-of-the-art 

technology in optical scanning and intelligent character recognition to capture all of the information 

from the questionnaires, and all major operations were completed on schedule and within budget. 

I joined National Opinion Research Center (NORC) in 2002 as Executive Vice President and became its 

President in 2008. NORC has been conducting important research for the public good for over 70 years. 

It uses rigorous and innovative methods to conduct large surveys as well as the analysis and 
29 

dissemination of objective information to inform decision-makers and the public on important social, 

economic, and behavioral issues facing the nation and the international community. During my tenure, I 

have seen and dealt with the dramatic changes that emerging technology can have on survey processes. 

Importantly, I have dealt with the growing demands to produce more information, faster and less 

expensively through adoption of new technology and data sources. These are challenges that leaders of 

both private and Federal statistical organizations, including the Census Bureau, must be prepared to 

successfully confront. 

The Census Bureau, however, has a unique challenge and - at the same time - opportunity with respect 

to planning the 2020 census. I believe that the resources now available will support a new census 

design that will fundamentally change the way in which censuses are taken in the United States - a 

design that has the potential to produce significantly less costly and faster results that are of similar or 

better quality than in previous censuses. Among the most promising options to accomplish this are: 

1. Using the Internet as the primary self-response option. 

2. Taking advantage of technology and operations research methods to reengineer the field data 

collection operations - reducing both the infrastructure required to support these operations and 

the actual hours that enumerators spend collecting the data. 

3. Making better use of Federal records to further reduce the dependence on in-person visits for data 

collection. 

4. Drawing on the extensive array of emerging geographic tools and data sets to eliminate the need to 

physically canvass large portions of the United States to prepare the address list to support the 2020 

Census. 

In summary, the environment in which statistical agencies conduct their business is in a period of 

dynamic change with both risks and opportunities. I know what it means to manage in such an 

environment. Organizations that will be successful must constantly track emerging trends and advances 

and determine how they can be used to generate new and more effective processes. Most importantly, 

organizations must create and foster a culture of adaptability and creativity. 

I want to bring the skills I have developed both inside and outside of government to lead the Census 

Bureau. If I am confirmed, my goal will be to leave a legacy of innovation in all areas and in all levels of 

the Census Bureau, and to design a 2020 Census that represents a fundamental change for the future. I 

am committed to accomplishing this in an environment that is open and transparent to all stakeholders. 

Thank you and I am looking forward to working with this Committee. 
30 

HSGAC BIOGRAPHICAL QUESTIONS FOR 

EXECUTIVE NOMINEES 

1. Basic Biographical Information 

Please provide the following information. 
31 
32 

2. Education 

List all post-secondary schools attended. 

Virginia 

Tech 

University 

George I University 

Washington I 

University 

3 
33 

3. Employment 

(A) List all of your employment activities, including unemployment and self-employment. 

If the employment activity was military duty, list separate employment activity periods to 

show each change of military duty station. Do not list employment before your 18th 

birthday unless to provide a minimum of two years of employment history. 

(B) List lIny advisory, consultative, honorary or other part-time service or positions with 

federal, state, or local governments, not listed elsewhere. 

4. Potential Conflict of Interest 

(A) Describe any business relationship, dealing or financial transaction which you have had 

during the last 10 years, whether for yourself, on behalf of a client, or acting as an agent, 

that could in any way constitute or result in a possible conflict of interest in the position to 

which you have been nominated. 

In connection with the nomination process, I have consulted with the Office of Government 

Ethics and the Department of Commerce's designated agency ethics official to identify potential 

conflicts of interest. Any potential conflicts of interest will be resolved in accordance with the 

4 
34 

terms of an ethics agreement that I have entered into with the Department of Commerce's 

designated agency ethics official and that has been provided to this Committee. I am not aware 

of any other potential conflicts of interest. 

(B) Describe any activity during the past 10 years in which you have engaged for the 

purpose of directly or indirectly influencing the passage, defeat or modification of any 

legislation or affecting the administration or execution of law or public policy, other than 

while in a federal government capacity. 

I have engaged in no such activity. 

5. Honors and Awards 

List all scholarships, fellowships, honorary degrees, civilian service citations, military 

medals, academic or professional honors, honorary society memberships and any other 

special recognition for outstanding service or achievement. 

Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive 2001 

Department of Commerce Gold Medal, US Census Bureau - 2000 

Elected Fellow of the American Statistical Association - 2000 

Department of Commerce Silver Medal, US Census Bureau - 1998 

Department of Commerce Bronze Medal, US Census Bureau 1988 

Numerous Outstanding Performance and Special Achievement Awards 1980 1999 

6. Memberships 

List all memberships that you have held in professional, social, business, fraternal, 

scholarly, civic, or charitable organizations in the last 10 years. 

Unless relevant to your nomination, you do NOT need to include memberships in 

charitable organizations available to the public as a result of a tax deductible donation of 

$1,000 or less, Parent-Teacher Associations or other organizations connected to schools 

attended by your children, athletic clubs or teams, automobile support organizations (such 

as AAA), discounts clubs (Such as Groupon or Sam's Club), or affinity 

memberships/consumer clubs (such as frequent flyer memberships). 

5 
35 

American Statistical Association 1975 to Present Chair, Social Statistics Section 2011 

Chair, ASA Committee on Fellows 

2009 

American Association of Public 2002 to Present None 

Opinion Research 

Population Association of America Off and on since about 1985, None 

currently a member 

National Academies of Science: 2011 Present None 

Member of the Committee on 

National Statistics 

National Academies of Science: 2009-2010 None 

Member of the Panel on the Design 

of the 2010 Census Program of 

Evaluations and Experiments 

National Academies of Science: 2010 - Present None 

Member of the Panel to Review the 

2010 Census 

University Club of Chicago 2009 - Present I None 

7. Political Activity 

(A) Have you ever been a candidate for or been elected or appointed to a political office? 

No 

(8) List any offices held in or services rendered to a political party or election committee 

during the last ten years that you have not listed elsewhere. 

6 
36 

(C) Itemize all individual political contributions of $200 or more that you have made in the 

past five years to any individual, campaign organization, political party, political action 

committee, or similar entity. Please list each individual contribution and not the total 

amount contributed to the person or entity during the year. 

8. Publications and Speeches 

(A) List the titles, publishers and dates of books, articles, reports or other published 

materials that you have written, including articles published on the Internet. Please provide 

the Committee with copies of all listed publications. In lieu of hard copies, electronic copies 

can be provided via e-mail or other digital format. 

I have done my best to identify titles, publishers and dates of books, articles, reports or other 

published materials, including a thorough review of my personal files and searches of publicly 

available electronic databases. Despite my searches, there may be other materials J have been 

unable to identify, find, or remember. J have located the following: 

l<·'<;·;(~l·····< I" ." ..... ~. . filite(s) . "Organization and Administration of Sage/ GQ Press July 2011 

the 2010 U.S, Census." In Margo J. 

Anderson, Constance F. Citro, and 

Joseph J, Salvo (eds.) Encyclopedia 

of the U.S Census, Second Edition, 

CQ I Press., with Daniel Weinberg 

"The Nonhousehold Sources Paper presented at tile Annual August, 1978 

Coverage Improvement Program." Meetings orthe American Statistical 

Association, San Diego, California 

"Convergence Propenies of the Paper presented at the Annual I August, 1981 

Iterative 1980 Census Estimator." Meetings of the American Statistical 

Association) Detroit, Michigan 

"1980 Census Variance Estimation Paper presented at the Annual August, 1981 

Procedure," With Fan) Milton, C., Meetings of the American Statistical 

Henry Woitman, and Susan M. Association) Detroit) Michigan 

Miskura 

"Empirical Results from the 1980 Paper presented at the Annual August, 1981 

Census Sample Estimation Study," Meetings of the American Statistical 

With Kim, Jay, Henry F. Woltman, Association, Detroit, Michigan 

and Stephen M. V .. s, 

"1980 Census Weighting and Puper presented at the Annual August, 1981 

Variance Estimation Studies, Design Meetings of the American Statistical 

and Methodology." With Woltman, Association, Detroit, Michigan 

7 
37 

Henry r., Susan M. Miskur., and 

Peter A. Bounpane, 

"Sample Design, Estimation and Papor presented at the Annual August, 1982 

Presentation of Sampling Errors for Meetings of the American Statistical 

the 1980 Census Early Publications Association, Chicago, Illinois 

National Sample." With Fan, Milton 

C. Jay Kim and Henry F. Woltman 

"Evaluation ofthe 1980 Census Paper presented at the Annual August, 1984 

Precanvass Coverage Improvement Meeting of the American Statistical 

Program." With Fan, Milton C., and Association, Philadelphia, 

Martha L. Sutt Pennsylvania 

"The 1990 Post-Enumeration Paper presented at the Census March 22-25, 1992 

Survey: Statistical Lessons in, Bureau Annual Research 

Hindsight." With Fay, Robert B- Conference, Arlington, Virginia. 

"Census 2000: The Statistical Paper presented at the Joint August 9-13,1998 

Issues." With Robert E. Fay Meetings oftbe American Statistical 

ASSOCiation, Dallas, Texas 

"The Future of Survey Research: Paper presented at the Applied January I I, 2010 

Opportunities and Challenges" Demography Conference, San 

Antonio, TX. (Power point only) 

"Change and the 2020 Census: Not The National Academies Press 2011 

whether but how" Thomas M. Cook, Washington, D.C. 

Janet L. Norwood, and Daniel L. Note: I am not an author; however, 

Cork, Editors; Panel to as a member of the Panel to Review 

Review the 2010 Census; National the 2010 Census, 1 contributed to 

Research Council and approved the contents. 

"Principles and Practices for a The National Academies Press 2013 

Statistical Agency, Fifth Edition." Washington, D.C. 

Committee on National Statistics. Note: 1 am not an author; however, 

Constance F. Citro and Miron L- as a member of the Committee on 

Straf Editors. Division of National Statistics, I contributed to 

Behavioral and Social Sciences and and approved the contents. 

Education. 

"Recommendation on Census 2010 Memorandum to Commerce March J 7, 2008 

Field Data Collection Automation Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez 

Alternatives" Publicall), available 

document 

In addition to the items listed above, I was an occasional discussant andlor presenter at the annual meetings "fthe 

American Statistical Association from approximately 1980 to present. My remarks, which focused on technical 

evaluations of various decennial census operations or programs, were not published in any peer reviewed journals. 

Many of them were prepared at the Census Bureau, and I did not maintain possession of them after leaving Census. 

8 
38 

(B) List any formal speeches you have delivered during the last five years and provide the 

Committee with copies of those speeches relevant to the position for which you have been 

nominated. Include any testimony to Congress or any other legislative or administrative 

body. These items can be provided electronically via e-mail or other digital format 

Testimony to: on 

Federal Financial, Management, 

Government Information, Federal 

Services and International Security 

on 

Federal Management, 

Government Information, Federal 

Services and International Security 

United States Senate Committee on 

Homeland Security and 

subcommittee hearing room 

(C) List all speeches and testimony you have delivered in the past ten years, except for 

those the text of which you are providing to the Committee. 

9. Criminal History 

Since (and including) your 18th birthday, has any of the following happened? No 

Have you been issued a summons, citation, or ticket to appear in court in a criminal proceeding against you? 

(Exclude citations involving traffic infractions where the fine was less than $)00 and did not include alcohol or 

drugs.) No 

Have you been arrested by any police officer, sheriff, marshal or any other type of law enforcement official? No 

Have you been charged, convicted, or sentenced of a crime in any court? No 

9 
39 

Have you been or are you currently on probation or parole? No 

Are you currently on trial or awaiting a trial on criminal charges? No 

To your knowledge, have you ever been the subject or target of a federal, state or local criminal investigation? ~ . 

If the answer to any of the questions above is yes, please answer the questions below for 

each criminal event (citation, arrest, investigation, etc.). If the event was an investigation, 

where the question below asks for information about the offense, please offer information 

about the offense under investigation (if known). 

A) Date of offense: 

a. Is this an estimate (VeslNo): 

B) Description of the specific nature oflhe offense: 

C) Did the offense involve any orth. following? 

I) Domestic violence or a crime of violence (such as battery or assault) against your child, dependent, 

cohabitant, spouse, former spouse, or someone with whom you share a child in common: Yes I No 

2) Firearms or explosives: Yes f No 

3) Alcohol or drugs: Yes I No 

D) Location where the offense occurred (city, county, state, zip code, country); 

E) Were you arrested, summoned, cited or did you receive a ticket to appear as a result of this offensc by any 

police officer, sheriff, marshal or any other type of law enforcement official: Yes I No 

I) Name ofthe law enforcement agency that arrested/cited/summoned you: 

2) Location of the law enforcement agency (city, county, state, zip code, country): 

F) As a result ofthis offense were you cbarged, convicted, currently awaiting trial, and/or ordered to appear in 

court in a criminal proceeding against you: Yes I No 

I) If yes, provide the narnc ofthe court and the location oftbe court (city, county, state, zip code, 

country): 

2) If yes, provide all the cbarges brought against you for this offense, and the outcome of each charged 

offense (such as found guilty, found not-guilty, charge dropped or "nolle pros," etc). If you were found 

guilty of or pleaded guilty to a lesser offense, list separately both the original charge and the lesser 

offense: 

3) Ifna, provide explanation: 

G) Were you sentenced as a result of this offense: Yes I No 

H) Provide a description of the sentence: 

10 
40 

I) Were you sentenced to imprisonment for a tenn exceeding one year: Yes / No 

J) Were you incarcerated as a result ofthat sentence for not less than one year: Yes / No 

K) If the conviction resulted in imprisonment, provide the dates that you actually were incarcerated: 

L) If conviction resulted in probation or parole, provide the dates of probation or parole: 

M) Are you currently on trial, awaiting a trial, or awaiting sentencing on criminal charges for this offense: Yes I 

No 

N) Provide explanation: 

11 
41 

10. Civil Litigation and Administrative or Legislative Proceedings 

(A) Since (and including) your 18th birthday, have you been a party to any public record 

civil court action or administrative or legislative proceeding of any kind that resulted in (1) 

a finding of wrongdoing against you, or (2) a settlement agreement for you, or some other 

person or entity, to make a payment to settle allegations against you, or for you to take, or 

refrain from taking, some action. Do NOT include small claims proceedings. 

No 

(B) In addition to those listed above, have you or any business of which you were an officer, 

director or owner ever been involved as a party of interest in any administrative agency 

proceeding or civil litigation? Please identify and provide details for any proceedings or 

civil litigation that involve actions taken or omitted by you, or alleged to have been taken or 

omitted by you, while serving in your official capacity. 

Please note that the National Opinion Research Center has had numerous EEO claims filed against it by 

terminated employees while I have been President. J was not named individually, and none ofthe matters 

resulted in findings of wrongdoing against me. 

12 
42 

(C) For responses to the previous question, please identify and provide details for any 

proceedings or civil litigation that involve actions taken or omitted by you, or alleged to 

have been taken or omitted by you, while serving in your official capacity. 

11. Breach of Professional Ethics 

(A) Have you ever been disciplined or cited for a breach of ethics or unprofessional conduct 

by, or been the subject of a complaint to, any court, administrative agency, professional 

association, disciplinary committee, or other professional group? Exclude cases and 

proceedings already listed. 

No 

(B) Have you ever been fired from a job, quit a job after being told you would be fired, left 

a job by mutual agreement following charges or allegations of misconduct, left a job by 

mutual agreement following notice of unsatisfactory performance, or received a written 

warning, been officially reprimanded, suspended, or disciplined for misconduct in the 

workplace, such as violation of a security policy? 

1\0 

12. Tax Compliance 

(This information will not be published in the record of the hearing on your nomination, 

but it will be retained in the Committee's files and will be available for public inspection.) 

REDACTED 
43 

REDACTED 

13. Lobbying 

In the past ten years, have you registered as a lobbyist? If so, please indicate the state, 

federal, or local bodies with which you have registered (e.g., House, Senate, California 

Secretary of State). 

No 

14. Outside Positions 

X See OGE Form 278. (If, tor your nomination, you have completed an OGE Form 278 

Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure Report, you may check the box here to 

I complete this section and then proceed to the next section.) 

For the preceding ten calendar years and the current calendar year, report any positions 

held, whether compensated or not. Positions include but are not limited to those of an 

officer. director, trustee, geueral partner, proprietor, representative, employee, or 

consultant of any corporation, firm, partnership, or other business enterprise or any non· 

15 
44 

profit organization or educational institution. Exclude positions with religious, social, 

fraternal, or political entities and those solely of an honorary natnre. 

15. Agreements or Arrangements 

X See OGE Form 278. (Il: for your nomination, you have completed an OGE Form 278 

Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure Report, you may check the box here to 

complete this section and then proceed to the next section.) 

As of the dafe of filing your OGE Form 278, report your agreements or arrangements for: 

(I) continuing participation in an employee benefit plan (e.g. pension, 401k, deferred 

compensation); (2) continuation of payment by a former employer (including severance 

payments); (3) leaves of absence; and (4) future employment. 

Provide information regarding any agreements or arrangements you have concerning (1) 

future employment; (2) a leave of absence during your period of Government service; (3) 

continuation of payments by a former employer other than the United States Government; 

and (4) continuing participation in an employee welfare or benefit plan maintained by a 

former employer other than United States Government retirement benefits. 

16. Additional Financial Data 

All information requested under this heading must be provided for yourself, your spouse, 

and your dependents. (This information will not be published in the record of the hearing 

on your nomination, but it will be retained in the Committee's files and will be available for 

public inspection.) 

16 
SIGNATURE AND DATE 

state that I have read the foregoing Statement on Biographical and Financial Information and that the information 

 therein is, to the best of my knowledge, current, accurate, and complete. 

 

;H) day of )v;..JL-, 20 

26 
46 

u.s. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

Pre-hearing questionnaire for the nomination of 

John H. Thompson to be 

Director, U.S. Census Bureau 

I. Nomination Process and Conflicts ofInterest 

1. Why do you believe the. President nominated you to serve as Director of the Census 

Bureau? ' 

I believe ~hat my nomination was based on my strong background in managing large 

operatiorfs, my success in leading scientijicorganizations, and my extensive experience 

in making innovative uses of emerging technology. I have a deep understanding and 

respect for the Census Bureau, and I know firsthand that it is one of the most important 

statisticaiiagencies. 1 believe that [ have the right skills to lead the Census Bureau in 

meeting the challenges and taking advantage of the opportunities created by the 

dynamically changing environment in which it must conduct its work. 

2. Were any conditions, express or implied, attached to your nomination? If so, please 

explain. 

No 

3. What sJ)C4ific background and experience affirmatively qualifies you to be Director of 

the Census Bureau? 

[have worked at the Census Bureau and ai the National Opinion Research Center at the 

UniversitY of Chicago or NORC as it is known. As [will discuss below, the experiences 

at these or.ganizations have given me a strong and very broad background in survey 

methodold,gy. I have developed the management and leadership skills that are necessary 

to guide large organizations and direct complex operations. I have successfully 

integrated new technology to achieve efficiencies at both organizations. I understand 

Federal c{Jntracting as both a procurer and supplier of services. Finally, 1 have dealt 

first hand 'with the challenges and opportunities presented by emerging trends and 

developments in technology. communication. computing. social media. and "big data" 

that have ~he potential to dynamically change the way in which organizations like NORC 

and the Ci:nsus Bureau conduct their business processes. 

I spent theJirst 27 years of my career at the Census Bureau. [started as a Mathematical 

Statistician and rose to the position of Associate Director for Decennial Censuses. As a 

mathematical statistician, llearned and contributed to the science of survey research and 

methodology. 1 was responsible for directing all of the statistical processes for the 1990 

Census. As the Associate Director. 1 was the career executive with responsibility for 

managing,all aspects of Census 2000. The Census 2000 experience was one of the most 

Senate Homeland;Security and Governmental Affairs Committee 1 of20 
47 

challenging and rewarding jobs I have ever had and provided me with a wealth of 

invaluab?e training in the areas of management and leadership of large organizations. 

Census 2000 included the management of large contr;actsfor IT services, and was the 

first to employ optical scanning technology to capture all of the iriformation, including 

handwriting, from the questionnaires. Census 2000 also included a prototype option for 

response through the Internet. I am pleased to nOlf that all major operations were 

completed on schedule and within budget. 

In 2002, i retired from the Census Bureau and went to NORC at the University of 

Chicago, fitst as Executive Vice President, and then as President in 2008. NORC has 

been carrying out research for over 70 years and is guided by a mission of conducting 

high quality work for the public good and to support sound policy decisions. NORC 

conducts a broad portfolio of surveys on behalf of a number of Federal agencies, 

collecting data using telephone, in-person, mail, or Internet survey methods. Other nonsurvey work at NORC includes data dissemination and the conduct of analytical policy 

studies in areas such as health iriformation technology policy. NORC has about 650 full 

time employees, and a much larger number of temporary telephone or in-person 

interviewers. While not as large as the Census Bureau, NORC has a very broad portfolio 

of work. In addition, over 80 percent of the work that NORC conducts is through Federal 

contracts that have been awarded through Federal procurement processes. 

Understanding and adhering to the principles required of government contractors is 

essential Yor such work, and has allowed me to expand my experience base in this area. 

At NORC, I have gained extensive experience in utilizing technology to build efficiencies 

into operi;ltions. This has included development of a telephone calling system that 

reduced costs by 25 percent, the adoption of Internet survey methods, the utilization of 

mobile technology and hand held devices such as tablets to prepare address lists with 

GPS location information, and most recently, the use of social media in several research 

studies. I have also seen and adapted to the dramatic changes that emerging technology 

can have on survey processes - in particular the move of many households to drop 

landline telephones in favor of cellular telephony. 

My tenure al NORC has allowed me to build on the strong management skills I developed 

at the Ce;sus Bureau. At NORC, it is essential to carefolly.plan and prioritize each 

expendilure so that we have the right mix of investment in building our business, 

attracting new talent, and carrying out research to increase our capabilities and 

competitiveness. The financial success of the company depends on developing a sound 

plan each year that Is based on establishing reasonable performance goals to generate 

revenue accompanied by a spending budget that accomplishes the objectives described 

above wit~out going into the red Given the volatility of our market, having internal 

systems itj place to support careful monitoring, review and adjustment to unforeseen 

circumstances is a key management requirement. 

Most importantly, the President of an organization like NORC must establish a strategic 

vision to guide the organization for both the short and long-term future. The overarching 

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee 2of20 
48 

visionfo~ NORC is to be a leading research organization that uses rigorous and 

innovative methods to collect, analyze, and disseminate objective information to inform 

decision-kwkers and the public on the most important social, economic, and behavioral 

issuesfacing the nation and the international community. However, the environment in 

which NORC must conduct its business is in a period of dynamic change. There are 

growing demands to produce more information on a timelier and less costly basis. There 

are emerging trends and advances in technology. communication, computing, and "big 

data" that we must take advantage of Thus. an extremely important component of the 

strategic plan for NORC is that it must be constantly tracking these phenomena, and 

determining how they:may generate new and more efJective processes. We must have 

processes in place to create andfoster a culture of continual self-evaluation, adaptability 

and innol>ation at all levels of the organization. 

In summary, I have extensive management and leadership experience that will allow me 

to guide the Census Bureau and address the strategic issues that it faces with respect to 

its broad programs and the critical planning that must take place for the 2020 Census. 

As I have stated emphatically. I believe that the Census Bureau is one of the most 

important statistical agencies and I am prepared to lead it into the 21S' century. 

4. Have you made any commitments with respect to the policies and principles you will 

attempt to implement as Director of the Census Bureau? If so, what are they and to whom 

have the commitments been made? 

I have made no such commitments. 

5. If confiulled, are there any issues from which you may have to recuse or disqualify 

yourself because of a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest? If so, 

please explain what procedures you will use to carry out such a recusal or 

disqualification. 

Upon confirmation, I will resign from the following: 

• National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago 

• TJ:e Committee on National Statistics at the National Academies of Science 

• The National Academy of SCiences Panel to Review the 2010 Census 

In conneCtion with the nomination process, I have consulted with the Ofjice of 

Governmknt Ethics and the Department of Commerce 's designated agency ethics ofjicial 

to identifY potential conflicts of interest. Any potential conflicts 0/ interest will be 

resolved in accordance With the terms of an ethics agreement that 1 have entered into 

with the Department of Commerce's designated agency ethics ofjicial and that has been 

provfdedlo this Committee. I am not aware of any other potential confiicts o/interest. 

To carry out my disqualifications, I will provide a copy of my disqualification statement 

to my immediate stafJto ensure that mattersfrom which I am disqualified are not 

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee 30f20 
49 

presented to me. 1/ any such matter arises, it can be referred to my Deputy or another 

official as needed. 

II. Background of the Nominee 

6. You served in various roles during your previous tenure at the Census Bureau including 

Associate Director for the Decennial Census and Chief of the Decennial Management 

Division: What do you believe will be the most important similarities arid differences 

between \he challenges you faCed then and those you will face now, if you are 

confirmetl? What specific lessons that you learned during your earlier tenure will you be 

able to a~ply? 

I have addressed portions of these questions above, and I will build on that answer in the 

following response. The Decennial Census is a large and complex endeavor, requiring 

careful planning and the motivation and direction of a large staff. In 2000, there were 

demands to utilize technology for efficiency, the need to contract for services that were 

not available within the Census Bureau, and demands for cost savings. These are still 

very relevant for the 2020 Census. However, the advances in technology, mobile 

computing, communication, and geographic resources that are available today permit 

many opportunities that were not available in 2000. These include: 

• The Use of the Internet as a primary self-response option, eliminating large costs 

associated with printing, mailing and processing paper questionnaires. 

• The capability to reengineer the in-person data collection operations to Significantly 

reduce the infrastructure support requirements and to significantly reduce the hours 

that enumerators must spend in carrying out their work. Real time management 

reporting and the elimination of most paperproducts is also a given. 

• Utililing federal records that are available electronically to further reduce the costs 

of in-person data collection. 

• The ddvances in geographic products and technology offer great potential for 

subst~ntiallY reducing the needfor a complete canvass of the address list in the 

perio'd preceding the 2020 Census. In addition, obtaining input from local 

governments should be much more efficient. 

7. You have worked at the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) since 2002, first as 

the Executive Vice President and, since 2008, as President and Chief Executive Officer. 

How do you believe your time at NORC has prepared you to be Director of the Census 

Bureau? What have you learned during your tenure at NORC will you-apply at the 

Census Bureau, if you are confirmed? 

My response to question 3 above included answers to this question. 

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee 40f20 
50 

III. Role of the Director of the Census Bureau 

8. What do you anticipate will be your greatest challenges as Census Director, and if 

confirmed, how would you address these challenges? 

if confirmed, my greatest challenge will be to deal with the current lmvironment in which 

many organizations /ike the Census Bureau must operate. There are increasing demands 

to find ~ignijicant efficiencies in the way in which we do our business. These pressures 

are generated not on/yas a result of the need to reduce Federal spending. but alsofrom 

the opportunities presented by the advances I discussed above which create an 

environment where successful organizations must use innovation to produce more 

results. tit less cost. and more quickly. while meeting established quality standards. At 

the Census Bureau. this will require a careful prioritization of requirements and 

initiative~ across all programs as well as an ongoing process of internal evaluation to 

find efficiencies. 

The second greatest challenge that I see is directly related to planning and conducting 

the research necessary to design a census for 2020: I am very excited because we have 

an unprecedented opportunity to fUndamentally change the way in which decennial 

censuses will be taken in the United States. I believe that the 2020 Census if designed to 

take advantage of the four areas I described above will be less costly while maintaining 

high quality when compared to previous censuses and will set a new precedent for future 

censuses.l In developing this new census. it will be extremely important to prioritize the 

researchrinto a multi-year plan that will culminate in a design for the 2020 Census that 

meets this objective. The research program must be based on efficient testing strategies 

that include features such as replacing the large multi-focused enumeration tests with 

smaller targeted tests. and utilization of commercially available software to the greatest 

extent possible. However, in spite of the best cost saving efforts, I should note that the 

costs necessary to carry out this research will grow on an annual basis throughoutthe 

decade; requiring an ongoing dialogue with Congress and other stakeholders to ensure 

that ther~ is wide agreement that these fonds are being invested in the most effictfve way. 

The third greatest challenge will be to put in place a permanent and lasting culture of 

continual self-evaluation, adaptability, and innovation. Fortunately, Dr. Robert Groves 

has established a number of initiatives aimed at achieving this objective. but much work 

remains. 

9. If confinned, what would be your top three priorities? What do you hope to have 

accomplished at the end of your tenure? 

If confirmed, my top three priorities are as follows: 

1. Ensuring that the planning and research for the 2020 Census will be carried out in a 

fashion that will result in a design that meets the many objectives that I have 

discussed above. 

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee 50f20 
51 

1. Work with the heads of the other statistical agencies and the OMB to find ejflciencies 

across the Federal Statistical system, and to deal with the growing challenges that I 

discussed above. 

3. Buil" coalitions and open roads of communication with the Congress and the many 

stakeholders of all of the programs under the Census Bureau's broad purview. 

3. Build a culture of continual self-examination, adaptability, and innovation at all 

level.r of the Census Bureau. (These last two are tiedforthird.) 

Ifconfirmed, I hope to make significant progress in all of these areas. I want to leave a 

solid design and continuing research plan that will lead to a census In 2020 that the 

Congress and many other stakeholders endorse as a great success. I want the Census 

Bureau to be well positioned to continue its role as a leading statistical agency, and I 

would like to see positive developments in achieving ejflciencies across the Federal 

Statistical System through collaboration. Finally, I want to leave an enduring culture of 

innovation to ensure the future success of the organization in an environment that will 

dynamically change the ways in which information is produced and disseminated. 

10. How would you divide authorities and responsibilities between yourself and the Deputy 

Director, and between you and other top leaders at the Bureau? 

If confinhed, I view the roles and responsibilities of the Director and Deputy Director to 

be very similar to those of a President and CEO and a Chief Operating Ojflcer. I have 

experience in and have served successfUlly in both capacities. It is critically important 

that the .i)irector and Deputy Director have a close and respectful working relationship, 

with very open communications on all issues of importance to the Census Bureau. The 

Director;' similar to a President and CEO, must establish and articulate a clear vision, 

strategic1direction, long and short term goals, and priorities for an organization. The 

Director;must be held accountable for ensuring that key deCisions are made on a timeline 

that suppprts organizational success, and must represent the organization to key 

stakeholders and oversight entities. The Deputy Director, similar to a COO must be 

responsible for ensuring that sound management and financial processes are followed in 

accomplishing ihe goals established by the Director. and must be prepared to stand-in 

for the Director if circumstances arise that require such action. The Deputy Director 

should ,dake important recommendations to the Director regarding not just the conduct 

of operahons, but the formulation of the strategic direction of the Agency. The other top 

leaders Jt the Bureau are also expected to be highly accomplished directors of their 

particuldr program areas. They should be expected to contribute to the development of 

the overJrching goals and plans for the Census Bureau, and to formulate goals and 

ensure ghod management of their program areas. 

While I am very comfortable with being held accountable for making decisions and 

setting aldirection for the Census Bureau to fUlfill its responsibilities, I believe in 

establishing a collaborative environment with the top leaders of the Census Bureau. This 

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee 60f20 
52 

group represents an incredible wealth of talent and experience that must be fully utilized 

to advanCe the Census Bureau. 

IV. Policy Questions 

General Management 

A numbe{ of the.remaining questions askfor spetijic actions that I would take at the 

Census Bureau if I am confirmed I have not been at the Census Bureau for over ten 

years, aJi much has changed. I have not been briefed on any issues that are not in the 

public damain,·· and thus cannot provide a response that addresses any specijic actions 

that I woLld take. However, if confirmed, I plan to investigate and assess a number of 

areas anD issues at the Census Bureau including those posed by the Committee below 

and repoh to the Committee after my assessment is completed 

11. Since preparations for the 2010 Decennial Census; the Government Accountability Office 

(GAO) h3s noted the Census Bureau's need to improve its ability to ,make accurate and 

reliable c~st estimates that will lead to better cost controls in its operations. For example, 

a JanuarY, 2012 report found that while the Census Bureau has taken steps to strengthen 

its life cycle cost estimates, the Bureau has not yet established guidance for developing 

these esttinates.1 Do you believe there is value in establishing policies, procedures, or 

guidanee!ror developing life eycle cost estimates for Census Bureau operations? If so, 

what ste~ will you take, if confirmed; to strengthen and institutionalize the Bureau's 

proced~s for developing these cost estimates? 

I believe that there isslgnijicant value in developing lifo cycle cost estimates for 

operatiok in dny organization Including the CensUs Bureau. My experience at both the 

Census Bureau and NaRC has given me a strong background In developing such cost 

estimates: including establishing policies and procedures to guide the process. I should 

note that I1t my company, proper estimates of costs were essential given our small margin 

of error. IV I am confirmed, I will assess the Census Bureau cost estimation processes, 

drawing on my experience, to determine the steps that will be necessary to establish such 

procedurb. I will also begin a dialogue with the GAO regarding their concerns, and I 

will repoft my findings and recommendations to the Committee. 

12. Both GAO and the Commerce Office ofInspector General have noted that the Census 

Bureau's !accounting systems have significant weaknesses and lack the necessary 

informatilm to help guide daily decision making. Additionally, these weaknesses make it 

very diffi!:ult for the Bureau to estimate cost of a long-term project like the 2020 

Decennia) Census. If confirmed, what would you do to help ensure the Census Bureau's 

cost accokting and estimation information is reliable and accurate, and is able to inform 

both Buniau and congressional decision making? 

I GA0-12-S.0 

Senate H~meland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee 70f20 
53 

As withfoll cycle cost estimation, proper and accurate accounting systems are extremely 

important. Soundjinancial management depends on a reliable accounting system. I 

understand the importance of such systems, and should note that we have one in place at 

NORC. !t is particularly important that accurate and reliable accounting systems be 

de1leiopeli and in place to support the 2020 Census. If conjirmed, I will conduct an 

assessml,nt of the Census Bureau accounting systems and meet with the GAO and the 

Office of the Inspector General to get an in-depth understanding of their concerns 

regarding these issues. I will iriform the Committee of my jindings and plans for next 

steps. 

13. The Census Bureau has many parts of its organization that must work together if it is to 

achieve the effective enterprise management needed to contain costs for the 2020 

Decennial Census, the American Community Survey (ACS), and the many demographic 

surveys the Bureau conducts. If confirmed, what strategies Will you implement to ensure 

coordination among various Bureau activities to achieve the common goals of the 

Bureau? 'In your view, what practices are key to facilitating effective collaboration across 

orgrullza~onalboundaries? 

I know ji~sthand that the Cen.~us Bureau is a large and complex organization. 

Collaboration and communication across the program areas are very important, 

particulcirly in the currentfiscal environment. Duplication of efforts and ure-inventing 

the wheel" use valuable resources that could be better employed in advancing other 

prioritie$. It is critical that valuable lessons learned in each program area be 

communicated to allow other areas to build on them. 

My experiences in managing the 2000 Census and directing NORC have included 

establishing methods of stimulating collaboration and communication (one of the core 

values 04 NORC highlighted on our website is a commitment to collegiality and 

collaboration). The general approach that I have followed in establishing collaborations 

is to ide~tlfY the organizational barriers that are inhibitiVe and then put in place 

processe$ to overcome them. In my experience, the barriers to collaboration do not 

begin with reluctance of employees to communicate and share information. Most are 

very happy to discuss their work and achievements, but are also very busy delivering on 

their commitments for projects or other initiatives unique to their program areas. The 

challenge is to find ways in which they can receiVe and send information as an 

unobtrusive component of their work while still leaving time for completion of their 

aSSignments. There are a number of practices that can be used to facilitate collaboration 

and information sharing including; 

• Standardizing processes across program areas so that there is a common framework 

to build on. Such standardization reduces duplicative work and creates more time for 

both tnnovation and collaboration. (While this seems simple, it is in practice very 

diffieult in organizations where important ongoing operations have been implemented 

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee 8 of 20 
54 

on dfjferent plat/arms. Care must be taken to move to a new system without delaying 

the delivery of key services) 

• Creatingforums supported by top management for the interchange of ideas. 

• Holding annual programs where staff are encouraged to make presentations in an 

interQctive environment on the accomplishments they have made through the course 

ofthhr work. At NORC we call this program "Innovation Days, " an annual 

program that allows employees to share and discuss their work. I should note that 

programs such as this can be carried out without significant expenditure of funds. 

• Many organizations are utilizing modern Intranetfunctionality to create 

organization-wide vehicles for stimulating innovation and promoting iii/ormation 

exchOnge throughout all areas ·and all levels. We have just undertaken such an 

initiative at NORC and it is very exciting. 

Whatever means are used in an organization, to stimulate collaboration; there must be 

demonstr;ated commitment and support from top management that signals it is important 

and valued I am looking forward, if confirmed to working with the Census Bureau on 

both determining the existing level of collaboration across its broad program areas, and 

putting in place measures to support collaboration as necessary. 

14. What steps would you take, if confinned, to ensure the Census Bureau's various 

statistical programs are meeting the current and emerging needs of the nation's policy 

makers and other data users? 

As I have, discussed, the Census Bureau provides a broad spectrum of critically important 

iii/ormation to inform the nation 's policy makers and other data users. It is essential that 

in produJing these data. the Census Bureau understands the current and anticipates the 

foture needs of its user base. An open and ongoing dialogue with the Congress and other 

stakeholders must be established and continually supported. Dr. Groves has put in place 

a goodframeworkfor accomplishing this objective, including establishment of advisory 

boards and instilling a commitment within the agency to continuously reach out to its 

user cominunity. If confirmed, I will commit to building on this work J will. begin by 

meeting with the Committee,. Federal agencies and other key stakeholders to understand 

their unique needs and perspectives. This is certainly an area that I will cover in the 

report that I plan to submit to the Committee. 

15. The Census Director works with a variety of stakeholders, including Congress, officials 

at aU levCls of govemment, nongovernmental agencies, and the statistical community, 

among others. Please discuss how the Census Bureau can identify and leverage the 

resources of these organizations and other stakeholders to accomplish shared goals. 

As J noted in response to Question 14. creating a dialogue to understand and anticipate 

Congressional and other stakeholder concerns and needs is an important priority for the 

Census Bureau. In addition, I have also described the challenges facing the 

organizations similar to the National Opinion Research Center and agencies like the 

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee 90f20 
55 

Census Bureau. Finding ways to pool resources, eliminate duplicative work. and draw 

on a broad base of experience is becoming increasingly important. The Census Bureau 

currently has a number of vehicles and opportunities in place that allow for interactions 

with Congress and other stakeholders. In addition, the Director of the Census Bureau is 

well positioned to play a leadership role infostering communications and cooperation 

across these stakeholders., The first step that I would take, if confirmed, would be to 

start with this platform and assess its strengths and identify new avenues for increasing 

the potential for 'col/aboration, realizing efficiencies, and developing new solutions to our mutual problems. 

16. Since 1970, when measured in constant dollars, census costs have increased faster than 

inflation, even after allowing for popUlation growth. This suggests that a complete and 

accurate tount of the nation's population requires an ever-larger investment of Bureau 

resources. Do you believe there are trade-offs between the cost of conducting a surveys 

such as a:decennial census and the quality of such surveys? What are your suggestions 

for balan;cing the tension between a quality census and the need to control costs? What 

specific principles or criteria should Census Bureau managers tum to when weighing 

such trade-offs and determining the affordability of the quality offered by specific 

choices?' " 

As I have discussed above, one of the reasons that I am excited at the prospect of 

becoming the next Census Bureau Director is that I believe that 'we have an 

unprecedented opportunity to change the way in which decennial censuses will be taken 

in the United States. Advances in technology, computing, communication, and mobile 

equipment have created the opportunities to significantly reduce the cost of the 2020 

Census while maintaining or improving on quality. 

However, I do not mean to imply that there are not trade-offs between cost and quality. 

There is a real need to carefully consider each investment for the 2020 Census in terms of 

the potential benefits that will be realized. This is true for both the research that must be 

conducter;i to build a design for 2020 and the eventual plans for the actual census 

operations. To accomplish the necessary cost-benefit analysis, the Census Bureau must 

develop q cost model, a series of quality metrics and outcome measures that can be 

associated with both potential 2020 Census operations and the research projects that are 

under consideration to build the design for 2020. Having this information wi/1 allow for 

a data- elfiven decision process and serve as a basis to carry out an informed dialogue 

with the Congress and other stakeholders on these important choices. 

17. In 2006, ~he Census Bureau awarded a $595 million field data automation (PDCA) 

contract for the development of half a million handheld computers. However, the project 

experlen&d constant setbacks, including technical problems, escalating costs, and missed 

deadlineJ and eventually the decision was made in April 2008 to abandon use of the 

handheld]computers for much of the 2010 Decennial Census. While the handheld 

computers were used for the address canvassing operat,ion, the decision to revert back to 

using paper and pencil for the Non~Response Follow Up operation ended up adding 

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs ~ommittee 10 of 20 
56 

$2billion to the cost of the 2010 Decennial Census. What is your view of the use of costplus contracts? If confirmed, what steps would you take to maximize use of fixed-price 

contracts? 

I am very familiar with both cost-plus andfixed-price contracts. I used these vehicles 

when I was at the Census Bureau to acquire contract services for a number of large 

. operations including the receipt and processing of the vast majority of the paper 

questionnaires. This included the implementation of optical scanning technology to 

capture all information including handwritten entries. At the National Opinion Research 

Center we conduct most of our work on a contract basis for the Federal Government. We 

deliver significant services under both cost-plus andfIXed-price contracts. 

Fixed- price contracts are best usedfor projects where the requirements are well known 

and defined in advance of the issutlnce of the contract RFP. The scope of work for a 

flXed-d price contract is specified in great detait. and there is little. if any, leeway for 

deviations outside of a rigid set of requirements without a change order that is usually 

carefulty;negotiated by both government and contractor. 

Cost-pluS contracts are more appropriate for projects where it is anticipated that 

requirenlents may change during the course of the contract. The scope of work is more 

general t'!mn that of a fIXed- price contract and allows the government some flexibility to 

request changes without change order negotiations as long as the changes are within the 

scope of work. 

The advantage of a fIXed-price contract is that it will lock in a price for services. As long 

as the work is within the scope of the contract, a contractor must deliver the agreed upon 

services or face severe penalties. The risk of using a fIXed-price contract occurs for, 

projects where there is likelihood that unanticipated situations will arise that are outside 

of the rigid scope of work required for the fIXed price. Multiple changes to a fIXed-price 

contract become very expensive as a new scope of work has to be negotiated and . 

specified in minute detail for each change. 

A cost-p/IJS contract allows the government the flexibility to direct contractors to adapt to 

unanticipated situations as long as these have been anticipated in the broader scope of 

work that is generally in place for these contracts. The risk in using these contracts 

occurs b~cause a contractor has the right to bill for their costs as long as the government 

has directed or approved their work. Thus. in cost-plus situations where the government 

starts with a scope of work that is too vague. or issues a number of conflicting changes. 

large overruns usually result. Cost-plus contracts are much harder to manage than 

jixed-prite contracts. and it is critically important that best practices in contract 

manageJtent be followed. Before any contractor work is undertaken (generating billable 

expenses)'/or example. both sides must agree on ajairly detailedJuII-cycle plan based 

on well-defined requirements, a delivery schedule with milestones. and associated 

performance metrics. The implementation of the cost-plus contract must then take place 

with afo~mal change control process in place to prevent inadvertent "scope creep, " and 

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee II of 20 
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to ensure that the government understands the full cycle cost implication of any 

contemplated contract changes before they are implemented. 

if confirmed, I will work to achieve a 2020 Census design that maximizes the use offixedprice contracts. 

18. Many agencies are involved in the data collection and dissemination of federal statistics, 

including the Bureau of Economic Analysis and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Further, the 

Chief Statistician of the United States is within the Office of Management and Budget. 

How do you view the role of the Director of the Census Bureau between these various 

agencies? What are yoUr views on reducing respondent burden and perhaps combining or 

streamlining survey data collected by all various government agencies? 

This is another of the factors that excites me about the Censils Bureau Director position. 

Given the wide-ranging reach of the Census Bureau programs within the Federal 

Statisticdl System. the Director is uniquely positioned to work and facilitate collaboration 

across thf many agencies. I have seen through my experiences at NORC and at the 

Census B.ureau, opportunities for achieving efficiencies through using more standardized 

procedures and through sharing in/ormation including the potential use of existing 

records to reduce the requirements for direCt data collection. 

I strongly support cross-cutting efforts to reduce respondent burden and realize savings 

that can be better used to address the many challenges facing statistica/agencies that I 

have discussed above. if confirmed, I am lookingforward to working with the OMB and 

agency cQlleagues in realizing efficiencies and in improving the quality of the important 

information that we produce. 

2020 Decennial Census 

19. What are·the greatest challenges to getting a complete and accurate count of the 

Americru! population? What are some of the ways that the Census Bureau can address 

those ch~lenges, and if confirmed, what steps would you take to address those 

challengt;s? 

> The fUndamental challenge to a complete and accurate count is gaining the trust and 

cooperation of the American people to respond to the census, coupled with providing a 

means of response that best adapts to their needs. Furthermore. the diversity of our country dictates that no single methodology or approach will be inclusive of all 

population groups or areas. There are some important steps that must be taken to 

overcome this challenge: 

• Build awareness of the census and motivate cooperation. An important component of 

achieving this objective will be the engagement of leadership at aI/levels - national. 

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee 120f20 
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state, local, and tribal governments as well as national and local organizations - in 

supporting and communicating the importance of responding to the Census. 

• 'Provide options for response that meet the needs and expectations and language 

requirements of our diverse populatiol:!. The Internet offers great potential as a 

primary response optionfor large sections of the population, however, there are some 

groups that will not have access to, or prefer this mode of response. Alternative 

means of response must be identified and offered to these groups including mail, 

telephone, or in-person, 

• Design and conduct a well-planned and timely in-person operation to obtain 

responses from individuals or households who do not use any of the self-response 

options available. 

• While it is anticipated that a large portion of the population will be counted via the 

methods described above, there will still be a need to research and target methods of 

enumeration that will reach all of our diverse population groups and areas. This 

should include identifying in advance of the census areas with particular language 

needs, development of specific local area messaging, or areas with unique 

requirements for special proceduresinc/uding ensuring enumerator safety or gaining 

access to gated communities. 

20. If confirmed, what specific operational measures do you plan to personally examine to 

provide yourself with confidence that the 2020 Decennial Census is on track? 

If confirmed, I will examine the status of the research programs. As I have discussed 

above, the four most important areas for innovation and cost savings for the 2020 Census 

are: 

• The use of the Internet as a primary response option, 

• Reengineering of the operations to collect data from non-respondents taking 

advantage of the advances in automation, communication, computing and mobile 

technology 

• The use of federal records to forther reduce the costs of in-person data collection. 

• The use of innovative new geographic mapping and information technology to 

significantly reduce the address canvassing to prepare the census address list. 

I will be pleased to inform the Committee of the progress being made towards these 

objectives. 

21. At about $13 billion and $98 per household, the 2010 Decennial Census was the costliest 

enumeratiyn in history. The GAO has estimated that if the 2010 Decennial Census were 

used as a model for the next census, the total price could rise to as high as $30 billion. In 

your view, how can the Census Bureau cut the cost of a Decennial Census while still 

maintainhi.g an accurate enumeration? What operations within the decennial time frame 

do you beheve provides the best avenue for cost savings? 

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committe~ 130f20 
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As I have discussed above, I believe that we have an unprecedented opportunity to 

change the Wlry in which decennial censuses will be taken in the United States. Advances 

in technology, computing, communication, and mobile equipment have created the 

opportunities to significantly reduce the cost of the 2020 Census while maintaining or 

improving on quality. The four areas that I described above in response to Question 19 

offer the greatest potential for achieving cost savings. 

22. Do you believe it will btl possible to make the 2020 Decennial Census cost less than the 

2010 DeCennial? 

I believe }hat the fundamental opportunities I have discussed above have the potential to 

reduce the cost of the 2020 Decennial Census relative to the 2010 Census adjusted for 

inflation.' However, in order to realize this potential, there must be funding to support the 

advance research necessary to take full advantage of these opportunities. If confirmed, I 

will ensure that the Congress and other oversight bodies are fully informed on the plans, 

anticipated outcomes, and cost requirements for this research. 

23. The fundamental design of Decennial Censuses- mail out and mail back of the Census 

fonn with in-person follow-up for non-respondents - has been in use since 1970, and 

suffers from declining response rates. This approach is no longer capable of costeffectively counting a population that is growing larger, more diverse, increasingly 

difficult to find, and reluctant to participate in the census. Do you believe the Census 

Bureau should fundamentally transfonn the way it plans, tests, implements, monitors, and 

evaluate future decennial enumerations? If confinned, what, if any, changes do you 

intend to~implement heading into the 2020 Decennial Census? 

I 

I agree with Dr. Groves that the "traditional" methods of taking the decennial census are 

unsustainable. I strongly believe that we have an unprecedented opportunity to change 

the way in which decennial censuses will be taken in the United States. Advances in 

technology, computing, communication, and mobile equipment have created the 

opportunities to significantly reduce the cost of the 2020 Census while maintaining or 

improving on quality. I have describedfour fundamental changes that should be 

implemented for the 2020 Census in response to Question 19. 1 also believe that the 

"traditio1;UJ1" methods of conducting research to planfor the Decennial Census are also 

outdated. Previously, research was concentrated into two or three large test censuses 

that focused on a small number of large geographic areas. I believe that these expensive 

and by design non-representative tests should be replaced with a series of smaller, less 

expensive, more focused, and representative experiments. This will provide more 

extensive, and timely research findings that will be applicable to a much more 

representative component of the population in the United States. If confirmed, I plan to 

ensure th'pt the 2020 Census focuses on these objectives. 

24. Despite overall improvements in the measured accuracy of the Decennial Census, the 

Census continues to vary in the completeness of its count across different groups. In your 

view, what are the hard-to-count groups and how have hard-to-count groups changed 

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee 140f20 
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during arid since prior censuses? If confIrmed, how would you plan to count these groups 

for the 2020 Decennial Census and ensure a complete count of all groups? 

The Census Bureau has produced measures of decennial census coverage, for each 

census since at least 1950, which show a differential undercount for minority and 

Hispanic populations. The Census Bureau has also conducted studies that have 

identified a number of barriers to enumeration incllfding: tenuous or ambiguous ties to a 

single househald; high mobility; language issues; isolation from mainstream society;fear 

or distrust of government; or literacy. My response to Question 19 discusses how 1 

would approach an accurate enumeration of our diverse population. 

25. The Census Bureau is planning to provide an internet response option for the 2020 

Decennial CenSus. While internet usage continues to increase in the country, differences 

in accessibility to the internet across various demographic groups raise questions about 

what effect an internet response option will have on already hard-Io-count populations. 

What challenges and opportunities do you believe exist in implementing an internet 

response option for the 2020 Decennial Census? If confirmed, what steps would you take 

to mitigate problems that may arise in implementing the internet response option? 

I am very pleased that the Census Bureau is conducting a research program aimed at 

making the Internet, through multiple platforms, the primary response option for the 

2020 Census. 1 also understand that there will be some population groups that will not 

have access to the Internet in 2020. As I discussed above in response to Question 19, 

conducting a census that will be inclusive of all members of a population as diverse as 

ours reqtlires using multiple approaches to gaining cooperation and providing options 

for self-response. The use of the Internet will appeal to a broad cross-section of the 

population, and will result in Significant cost savings. This will allow for targeted efforts 

at those population groups that do not have Internet access without increasing the cost of 

the 2020 Census relaiive to 2010. 

I am also aware that while the Internet holds great promise, a well thought out research 

and testing program is'essential to encouraging a high Internet response rate In 2020. 

There is a large body of research and methodology that continues to expand that is being 

conducted in academia, research organizations like the National Opinion Research 

Center, and in other countries such as Canada. There are a number of well documented 

deployments of the Internet as a primary mode of self-response. If confirmed, I will 

ensure tHat the Census Bureau research program on Internet methodology builds on and 

contributes to this important field of methodology. 

26. Do you p'ledge to take the necessary steps to ensure that at least 50% of respondents to 

the 2020 'Decennial Census will respond to the questionnaire online? 

This is certainly a goal that 1 strongly endorse, and I believe that this is a likely outcome, 

provided!that the research necessary to motivate the population's use of the Internet as 

the primary self-response is funded If confirmed, I will ensure that the Congress and l 

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee 15 of 20 
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other oversight bodies are fully itiformed on the plans, anticipated outcomes, and cost 

requirem~nts for this research. . 

27. Having a!nearly complete and accurate address list is the cornerstone of a successful 

census. Fpr the 2020 Decennial Census, the Census Bureau would like to reduce the 

amount of field work and cost of address and map updates by targeting the address 

canvassidg operation. As part of this effort, the Bureau is investigating the address and 

mapping\!atabases. To ensure the most current address and mapping data are available 

for the 2020 Decennial Census, the Bureau has begun conducting market research with 

three pri.J~te-sector firms to assess how those firms might assist the Bureau with its 

address ahd mapping needs. What do you view are the opportunities and challenges of 

further le\reraging the private sector to help meet the Bureau's geographic support heeds? 

wJlile I do not know which firms the Census Bureau is working with. I see the value. in 

utilizing private sector expertise in mapping. address list development, and geographic 

information systems. Infact, some private entities in the statfstlca/field use such 

companiJs to assist In their own address list preparation, samplingframiuJevelopments, 

and othe1 uses of geographic information. I have previously noted thatl believe there is 

great potential for the Census Bureau to make use of private sector resources to 

signijicaiitly reduce their address canvasing operations in preparing the 2020 Census 

address list. This Is one of the four most important areas that I have identified for cost 

reductiorls in 2020. . The primary challenge that faces the Census Bureau in this r~gard is 

conductiJg the advance research and evaluations that will be necessary to determine 

where gaps exist in the private sector geographic products so that appropriate targeting 

can take place. As I have discussed above, if confirmed. Twill include my assessment of 

Census Bweau planning aimed at targeting the address canvass operations for the 2020 

Census. 

28. What is your view of the use of admitiistrative records to assist the Census Bureau in 

conductidg the decennial census and other surveys? 

1s I havejdiScUSsed above there are. tremendous opportunities to reduce costs and 

Improve accuracy through the use offederalrecords. 

I'!formation Teclinology Management 

As a general comment on the questions raised on Information Technology management. 

this is an 'area in which advances and innovation are occurring at an exponential poce. 

I have ledrned that staying current on the developments in this area requires the full time 

and atterl(ion of a dedicated staff supported by outside consultants that speCialize in 

various If disciplines (e.g., mobile technology, hardware and software solutions. etc.). 

To effectively manage and make decisions involving IT solutions, senior leaders at many 

organiza/ions /ike the Census Bureau or the National Opinion Research Center must rely 

on this mix of internal and external expertise to support decisions on IT investment and 

Senate Homeiank Security and Governmental Affairs Committee 160f20 
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29. 

30. 

management. The IT management questions that follow will require some type of 

as'sessmert of the current situation at the Census Bureau. If confirmed, I will work with 

the Cens~s Bureau IT staff as' well as' private IT consultants in carrying out these 

assessme'fls. Since I have not been briefed on the current status of IT management at the 

Census Bureau, I cannot provide anything more specific at this time .. 

The Cepsus Bureau has drafted a new investment management plan, system development 

methodology, and requirements development and manage prOl:esses to improve its ability 

to manag~ information technology (rt) investments and system development. However, 

GAO hrutfound that the plan does.not include guidelines for the membership of 

investmeht review boards, the frequency of board meetings, and the thresholds for 

escalating issues to higher-level boards. If confirmed, how do you intend to strengthen 

the CensUs Bureau's ability to manage its IT investments and system development? What 

do you b~lieve are the best practices in this area? 

Management of IT investments is critical for an agency such as the Census Bureau that 

must position itse/fto take full advantage of the advances technology offers for all of its 

program 'areas including the decennial census. There are a number of best practices in 

this areaVncluding the establishment o[ Investment review boards with clear 

responsibilities and guidelines; and developing a well thought out and comprehensive set 

of requi;~ments for systems, hardware, software, etc. If confirmed, I will assess the 

Census Bureau plans for IT investments, including consultation with the GAO. I will 

inform th~ Committee of the specific actions that should be taken at the Census Bureau to 

support 4 strong program to manage IT'investment. . 

Management of large IT'investments will be important to the success of the 2020 

Decennia'! Census. What are the top risks or challenges the Bureau faces as it attempts to 

acquire It solutions for the 2020 Decennial Census. I{coI!fmned, what actions would 

you take !o mitigate these risks? . 

The 2020'Census must take advantage of technological advances, and thus management 

of IT invJstments will be a key component of a successful census. In my opinion, there 

are two p~imary areas of risk in this process:':' acquisition of IT services or products and 

then manfgement and implementation of procured iT products or contracts. If 

confirmeil, I will assess the· status of readiness to address these risks and report to the 

CommittJe on my findings and recommended corrective actions if necessary. ' 

31. Federal iMormation systems and dati! have been Under constant attack by hackers whose 

technicalbophistication and capabilities continue to grow. Ifconfirmed, how do you plan 

to confro!t the cyber threat and secure the Bureau's systems to ensure that sensitive and 

personally identifiable information is property protected? What role, if any, do you 

believe tIie Department of Commerce or other bureaus within the department have in 

helping the Census Bureau secure its systems? 

Senate Homelanli Security and Governmental Affairs Commitiee 170f20 
63 

Protecting the sensitive and personal information of individuals or companies that are 

maintained by or under the supervision of Federal agencies is a critically important 

componeht o/maintainlng the trust of the publicthat information they provide is secure. 

Even a p~rception of a breach in securing their information could have severe 

conseque.'ncesfor foderal data col/ections and the. 2020 Census, as these efforts depend 

heavily oh public cooperation. Cyber-security is a rapidly evolvingfield in which new 

threats a~e emerging with ever increasingfrequency. It is important to ensure the 

Bureau hhs instituted best practices, as'identified by staiulards stettingbodies. I also 

believe it','iS important to pool and share experiences and best practices, across the broad 

. spectrum 0/ agencies that are defending against these attacks. It is also important to rely 

on privat~ sector companies that specialize in cyber-security. 

32. Ifconf~ed, do you intend to analyze the Census Bureau's IT workforce and identifY 

critical 01cupations, skills, and competencies to develop and address any IT workforce 

gaps? Ho~ would you address any gaps that may exist and what strategies, if any, would 

you develop? 

A highly competent ITwor!iforceisi:mother key requirement for realizing the true 

potentialbfthe technical advances that the Census Bureau must take advantage oj If 

cor!firme!J, I will make this assessment, and will then be in a position (0 address specific 

problems!or gaps. 

American Community Survey 

33. The ACSjis ail ongoing surVe! that provides data e~ery year to Federal, state, and local 

governIIi(!nts as well as the pnvate sector. Infonnatu)n from the survey generates data that 

help detebine how Federal and state funds are distributed each year. In your view, what 

is the valAe of continuing the ACS? 

The Ame"lcan Community Survey (ACS) has enormous value. The ACSreplaced the 

decennia!' census long-form and tHus provides a wealth o/vitally important iriformation 

thdt has d multitude of uses, including the data to support the allocation of hundreds of 

millions 6f dollars through Federal programs; providing state, metropolitan, and local 

governmental bodies with the data they needfor good planning. Furthermore, the ACS 

provides ihis information on a more timely and accurate basis compared to the decennial 

census lo~g-form. 

34. The Census Bureau is currently using anlnternet response option for the ACS on a 

limited bdsis. Do you intend to increase the percentage of households who would be able 

to comple1e this survey online if you are confinned? Do you pledge to do everything 

possible t1> achieve an online response rate of 90% for. the ACS within the next two 

years? 

Increasing online response for the ACS will reduce costs and increase timeliness. 

Increasing Internet response is an important goal not only for the A CS, but for the 2020 

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee 18 of20 
64 

decennial census as well. If confirmed, I will work to make the online response rate as 

high as possible for both of these data collection operations. I will report on my progress 

to the Committee. 

35. While the ACS provides valuable and up to date information, there have also been 

concerns that the survey impedes on respondents' privacy and is too lengthy and 

burdensome which may prevent a recipient of the survey from responding even ifhe or 

she is willing to. In your view, how should the Census Bureau balance the need for timely 

and sufficient data that serves the needs of all stakeholders with privacy and time 

constraints of those who receive the survey? 

I am aware at a high level of the issues associated with the ACS, but not at the level 

necessary to accurately address this question I am aware that the Census Bureau has 

establish~d an ombudsman position to address the concerns that arise with respect to its 

surveys, qnd that the Office of Management and Budget is in the process of coordinating 

an evaluation of the questions included in the ACS. I am also aware that there is 

appropriations language directing the Census Bureau to provide a report to the 

congressional Committees on Appropriations, and directing the Department of 

Commerce to acquire an independent analysis of the costs and benefits of making 

compliance with the ACS voluntary. If confirmed, I am lookingforward to being briefed 

on the ACS Including the status of these evaluations and then being in a position to better 

comment on these important issues. 

Statistical Agency Challenges 

36. Many Federal agencies collect and disseminate infonnation including the Bureau of 

Economic Analysis and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Please describe your experience 

with sharing datafor statistical purposes among such agencies. How would you balance 

the potential for increased data sharing to reduce costs with concerns about privacy and 

confidentiality? 

My most recent experience in this area was over 10 years ago during my tenure at the 

Census Bureau, and there have been changes in both the ways in which Federal Agencies 

can shart information and the emergence of new issues and concerns associated with 

privacy and confidentiality. As I have discussed above, I believe that there is great 

promise in finding efficiencies through data sharing across agencies, while respecting 

individud/ privacy. If confirmed, I will work towards this goal, and will be prepared to 

discuss these issues with the Committee and other stakeholders. 

V. Relations with Congress 

37. Do you agree without reservation to respond to any reasonable request or summons to 

appear and testify before any duly constituted committee of the Congress, if confirmed? 

Yes 

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee 19 of 20 
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38. Do you agree without reservation to reply to any reasonable request for infonnation from 

any duly constituted committee of the Congress, if confinned? 

Yes 

VI. Assistance 

39. Do you agree without reservation to reply to any reasonable request for infonnation from 

any duly constituted committee of the Congress, if confinned? 

Yes 

I, [0% t+,Tl-t,O\!tl(J04 , hereby state that I have read the foregoing Pre-hearing 

Questions and ~ the infonnation provided therein is, to the best of my knowledge, current, 

accurate, and complete: 

(Signa~'\ Illj/l .... .c-:---

This day of 'i)vlt~ ,2013 

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee 20 of 20 
66 

-:.'t"T£S ()~ 

~ c ~ """"'S.~ Office of Government Ethics <> ,t 1201 New York Avenue, NW., Suite 500 ~:. .. , ~~ Washington, DC 20005-3917 "'4'l\fftN'ti< 

The Honorable Thomas R. Carper 

Chainnan 

Committee on Homeland Security 

and Governmental Affairs 

United States Senate 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Mr. Chairman: 

JUN 102&13 

In accordance with the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, I enclose a copy of the 

financial disclosure report filed by JOM H. Thompson, who has been nominated by President 

Obama for the position of Director, Bureau of tbe Census, Department of Connneroe. 

We have reviewed the report and have obtained advice fi'om the agency concerning any 

possible conflict in light of its functions and the nominee's proposed duties. Also enclosed is an 

ethics agreement outlining the actions that the nominee will undertake to avoid conflicts of 

interest. Unle.~s a date for compliance is indicated in the ethics agreement, the nominee must 

fully comply withln three montbs of confirmation with any action specified in the ethics 

agreement. 

Based thereon, we believe that this nominee is in compliance with applicable laws and 

regulations governing conflicts of interest 

dJ~IY1r DonW.Fox 

Principal Deputy Director 

Enclosures - '~e.OACI;;l> 
67 

Ms. Barbara S. Fredericks 

Assistant General Counsel for Adminlstration 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W. 

Washll'!$lton. D.C. 20230 

Dear Ms. Fredericks: 

MAY 1 } 2013 

The purpose of this agreement is to describe the steps that I will take 10 avoid any actual or 

apparent conflict of interest in the event that I am COnfirmed for and appointed to the 

position of DIrector, U.S. Census Bureau at the U.S. Department of Commerce. 

As required by 18 U.S.C. § 208(a), I wHl not participate personally and substantially In any 

particular matter that has a direct and p~lctable effect on my financial interests or those 

of any person whose interests are imputed to me, unless I first obtain a written waiver, 

pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 208(b)(1}, or qualify for a regulatory exemption, pursuant to 

18 U.S,C. § 208(b)(2). I understand that the interests of the fOllowing parsons are 

imputed to me: any spouse or minor child of mine; any general partner of a partnership in 

which I am a limited or general partner; any organization in which I serve as officer, 

director, trustee, general partner or employee; and any person or organiZation with which 

I am negotiating or have an arrangement conceming prospective employment. 

Upon confirmation, t will r~go from my positions as a member of the National Academy of 

Sciences. Committee on Nattonal Statistics and the Nattonal Academy of Sciences panel 

to advise 00 the 2020 Census. 

Also upon confirmation, I will resign from my position as President and CEO of National 

Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago. For a period of one year 

after my resignation, I will not participate personally and substantially in any particular 

matter involving specific parties in which NORC at the University of Chicago is a party or 

represents a party, unless I am first authorized to participate. pursuant to 5 C.F,R, 

§ 2635.502{d). 

I understand that as an appointee I am required to sign the Ethics Pledge (Exec. Order No. 

13490) and that I will be bound by the requirements and restrictions therein in addition to 

the commitments I have made in this and any other ethics agreement. 

I have been advised that this ethics agreement will be posted publicly. consistent with 

5 U.S. C. § 552, on the website of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics with other ethics 

agreements of Presidential nominees who fila public financial disclosure reports. 

Sincerely, 
68 

Post-Hearing Questions for the Record 

Submitted to the Honorable John Thompson 

From Senator Heidi Heitkamp 

Nomination of the Honorable John Thompson to be Director, U.S. Census Bureau 

July 9,2013 

1. Our nation's decennial census plays a critical role in detennining how federal and state 

funds are allocated. If the Census Bureau can't get an accurate count, or if sudden 

population shifts occur, then towns, counties and states can find themselves with 

insufficient funds to meet the basic infrastructure needs of their population. Such a shift 

has occurred in North Dakota, where the oil and gas boom in the west has led to large 

population increases - all of which have occurred since the last census. 

Thank you for these questions. 1 understand your concerns about ensuring that the 

decennial census provides accurate counts that reflect the current status of the North 

Dakota population. 1 will answer each of your questions below, 

• Under your leadership, what actions will the Census Bureau take to help states 

and communities facing sudden-growth situations, such as what has occurred in 

North Dakota? 

The Census Bureau has the Population Estimates Program. which is designed to 

produce annual estimates of the current population for states, counties, cities, and 

towns (incorporated places and minor civil divisions). Each year, the Census 

Bureau's Population Estimates Program utilizes current data on births, deaths, 

and migration to calculate population change since the most recent decennial 

census and produce a time series of estimates of population, demographic 

components of change, and housing units, 

1 should note that the current estimates on the Census Bureau website, which 

were published in June of this year, show that North Dakota is the fastest growing 

state since the 2010 census. If 1 am confirmed, 1 would welcome the opportunity to 

discuss this program with you and how it could best be used to understand the 

dynamic changes that are underway in North Dakota, 

• What further legislative authority does the Census Bureau need in order to deal 

with such population shifts? 

If 1 am confirmed, 1 will review the program and inform you if 1 believe that 

additional authority is needed. These estimates are used to support a broad array 

of programmatic requirements, If confirmed, 1 would be pleased to discuss these 

data with you with respect to the particular needs that you see for North Dakota. 

• A challenge with the Special Census program is that communities have to pay for 

it themselves. In fact, as I understand it, communities have to pay their application 
69 

fee to even find out how much a special census would cost and how long it would 

take. Do you feel there needs to be any updates to the Special Census program? If 

so, what updates? 

Having been away from the Census Bureau since 2002, 1 am not knowledgeable 

about the current practices and requirements of the Special Census program that 

the Census Bureau offers to local communities. 1 do believe that it is important for 

all communities to have easy access to the services that the Census Bureau 

provides. If 1 am confirmed, 1 will look into this program, and would then be 

prepared to discuss it with you in light of the specific needs of North Dakota. 

• Western North Dakota faces a unique situation with a large number of workers 

who live and work there but maintain residency in other states. This puts extreme 

pressure on community resources and infrastructure, since these individuals may 

seek to be counted as residents elsewhere but still consume resources in North 

Dakota. What actions can the Census Bureau take to ensure these individuals are 

accurately counted? 

This is a timely question. The Census Bureau develops a series of "residence 

rules" in advance of each decennial census aimed at counting people where they 

usually live as of Census Day. They review these rules with their stakeholders as 

an important step in accurately counting our diverse population. The Census 

Bureau will be conducting an extensive review of these residence rules as part of 

developing the plans jor the 2020 Census. If confirmed, 1 will seek input and an 

open dialogue with you, the Committee and other stakeholders in developing the 

rules for the 2020 Census. 

2. How challenging is it to get accurate counts on Native American reservations? What sort 

of technology can be used to ensure such localities are accurately counted and get access 

to a fair amount of resources? 

The Census Bureau evaluations have shown a systematic undercount for Native 

Americans living on reservations. 1 believe that the greatest challenge to 

accurately counting all population groups and areas is to gain trust and 

cooperation to respond to the census, coupled with provision of a means of 

response that best adapts to respondents' needs. The Native American 

reservations are very diverse with respect to the specific needs for both building 

trust and in development of options that facilitate response. While there are many 

innovative ways in which technology and geographic information systems could 

be used, it is important to establish an ongoing dialogue with the Native American 

communities so that methods can be tailored to the specific needl' of each diverse 

reservation. 

3. At our meeting in my office, you mentioned mapping and geographic products as an area 

you were interested in seeking improvement and increased efficiency. As I understand it, 

the Census spent approximately $1 billion on maps to conduct the 2010 census. 
70 

• How can private sector mapping solutions help reduce the costs of the Census for 

2020? 

I have experience with some of the private sector mapping solutions through my 

work at NORC. They offer great potential to reduce the requirement to physically 

canvass the large portions of the United States in advance of the 2020 census in 

order to prepare an accurate address list. 

• What steps will the Bureau take under your leadership to reach out to the private 

sector and determine if there is a cheaper mapping strategy that combines existing 

private-sector products with Census-specific needs? 

I strongly believe in public-private sector partnerships in conducting large 

technology-dependent operations such as the 2020 Census. This is particularly 

the case with the geographic processes and products that will be required to 

support this effort. If I am confirmed, I plan to examine the current status of the 

Census Bureau relationships with the private sector, and to ensure that the 2020 

geographic products will build on this resource and not duplicate existing 

resources. This will require development of a research program to understand the 

gaps that exist between the Census Bureau and private sector geographic 

resources, and how they can be resolved, I would also be pleased to share and 

discuss this plan with you and the Committee. 
71 

July 8,2013 

Hon. Thomas Carper 

Chairman 

Committee on Homeland Security 

& Governmental Affairs 

340 Dirksen Senate Office Building 

Building 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Carper and Senator Coburn: 

Hon. Tom Coburn 

Ranking Minority Member 

Committee on Homeland Security 

& Governmental Affairs 

340 Dirksen Senate Office 

Washington, DC 20510 

Asian Americans Advancing Justice I AAJC (Advancing Justice I AAJC) writes in 

support of John Thompson, President Obama's nominee for Census Director, 

and to urge that his nomination be approved as quickly as possible at this 

important and critical juncture in the decennial census cycle. 

Founded in 1991, Advancing Justice I AAJC sees census data as critical to its 

work to advance the human and civil rights of Asian Americans, and build and 

promote a fair and equitable society for all. To that end, Advancing Justice I 

AAJC maintains a permanent census program that focuses on monitoring census 

policy, educating policy makers, particularly around the need for adequate 

funding, and conducting community outreach and education to continue 

encouraging participation in the surveys conducted by the Census Bureau, such 

as the decennial census and the American Community Survey (ACS). In the 

critical ramp-up years to the decennial census, we engage in a comprehensive 

community outreach and education program. 

We believe that Mr. Thompson is well suited for the position of Director of the 

Census Bureau. His management experience includes senior level positions at 

the Census Bureau, where he had primary responsibility for the 2000 Census, 

and the presidency of the National Opinion Research Center, one of the nation's 

premier survey organizations. Mr. Thompson's extensive scientific background 

includes work with surveys, administrative records, and systems development for 

census-taking. 

Mr. Thompson is well situated to lead the U.S. Census Bureau as it faces 

significant challenges in 2013 and beyond. Fiscal constraints are putting 

thorough evaluation of promising reforms, such as multi-mode response options 

1140 Connecticut Ave., N.W., $te. 1200, Washington, DC 20036 T 202~296-2300 F 202·296·2318 www.advancingjustice-aajc.org 
72 

(including an Internet response option) and use of administrative records, at risk. 

Census surveys are under attack with some lawmakers questioning their very 

need, while others advocate a voluntary ACS, which recent Canadian experience 

and the Census Bureau's own testing have shown could leave large areas of the 

country without reliable data on their socio-economic characteristics. We believe 

that Mr. Thompson's experience leading Census 2000 and his knowledge of 

modern survey techniques at NORC make him uniquely qualified to pursue 

efficiencies that the Bureau is developing to implement a cost effective Census 

2020. Again, we encourage you to act quickly to confirm Mr. Thompson as the 

next Census Director. 

Sincerely, 

Mee Moua 

President and Executive Director 

Asian Americans Advancing Justice I AAJC 

www.advancingjustice-aajc.org 
73 

AMERICAN 

SOCIOLOGICAL 

ASSOCIATION 

1430 K Street NW 

Suite 600 

Washington, DC 20005 

Phone: (202) 383-9005 

Fax: (202) 638-0882 

TDD: (202) 638-0981 

executive.office@asanetorg 

www.asanet.org 

July 3, 2013 

The Honorable Thomas Carper 

Chairman 

Committee on Homeland Security Committee on Homeland Security 

& Governmental Affairs 

340 Dirksen Senate Office Building 

Washington, DC 20510 

The Honorable Tom Coburn 

Ranking Minority Member 

Committee on Homeland Security Committee on Homeland Security 

& Governmental Affairs 

340 Dirksen Senate Office Building 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Carper and Senator Coburn: 

I write to offer the American Sociological Association's (ASA) support of Mr. John Thompson 

for Census Director, and to urge your committee's confirmation for this important position. 

The American Sociological Association is a professional scientific association with nearly 

14,000 members. We are dedicated to advancing sociology as a scientific disCipline and 

profession that serves the public good. OUf members have a strong interest in an accurate 

census and a robust American Community Survey (ACS) and many rely on Census' highquality, comparable, timely, small*area data as they research sociological questions. 

The Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act 0[20 II sets forth several 

qualifications for future Census Directors. The ASA believes that Mr, Thompson more than 

meets these requirements. His management experience includes senior level positions at the 

Census Bureau, where he had primal}' responsibility for the 2000 Census, and the presidency 

of the National Opinion Research Center, one of the nation's premier survey organizations. 

Mr. Thompson's extensive scientific background includes work with surveys, administrative 

records, and systems development for census-taking. We are personally familiar with his 

distinguished service at the Census Bureau and support his nomination without reservation. 

The U.S. Census Bureau faces significant challenges in 2013. The research and testing phase 

of the 2020 Census will culminate next year in selection ora design framework, but fiscal 

constraints are putting thorough evaluation of promising reforms, such as multi·mode response 

options and use of administrative records, at risk. The Census Bureau needs a knowledgeable, 

experienced leader to ensure it can continue to meet the nation's vast information needs in 

fiscally prudent and technologically savvy manner. Mr. Thompson's experience leading 

Census 2000 and his knowledge of modern survey techniques at NORC makes him uniquely 

qualified to pursue efficiencies that the Bureau is developing to implement a cost effective 

Cens 020. 

SA encourages you to act quickly to confirm Mr. Thompson as the next Census 

Sally T. Hillsman, PhD 

Executive Officer 
74 

C2ER TilE (OUNCll fOIT COMMUNITY 

AID £COIO_IC RISEAleN 

PO Box 100127 

Arlington, VA 22210 

Promoting excellence in community and economic research since 1961 

July 2, 2013 

Hon. Thomas Carper 

Chairman 

Committee on Homeland Security 

& Governmental Affairs 

340 Dirksen Senate Office Building 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Carper and Senator Coburn: 

Hon. Tom Coburn 

Ranking Minority Member 

Committee on Homeland Security 

& Governmental Affairs 

340 Dirksen Senate Office Building 

Washington, DC 20510 

I write to offer my unqualified support of Mr. John Thompson, President 

Obama's nominee for Census Director, and to urge your committee's prompt 

confirmation for this important position at a critical juncture in the decennial 

census cycle. 

As Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Council for Community and 

Economic Research, a national membership organization of economic and 

community development researchers my colleagues and I depend on data 

involving almost every facet of the nation's economic and social fabric, spanning 

the transportation and housing sectors, business and industry, labor, educators, 

researchers and academic institutions, municipal and rural planners, and the 

philanthropic community. To continue our work we rely on high-quality, timely, 

small-area data to further our research work. Our members share a vital 

concern about the availability of public data to enhance and foster regional 

economic analytic methods. 

The Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011 sets forth 

several qualifications for future Census Directors. Mr. Thompson more than 

meets these requirements. His management experience includes senior level 

positions at the Census Bureau, where he had primary responsibility for the 

2000 Census, and the presidency of the National Opinion Research Center, one 

of the nation's premier survey organizations. Mr. Thompson's extensive 

scientific background includes work with surveys, administrative records, and 

systems development for census-taking. We are personally familiar with his 
75 

distinguished service at the Census Bureau and support his nomination without 

reservation. 

The U.S. Census Bureau faces significant challenges in 2013. The research and 

testing phase of the 2020 Census will culminate next year in selection of a 

design framework, but fiscal constraints are putting thorough evaluation of 

promising reforms, such as multi-mode response options and use of 

administrative records, at risk. Some lawmakers question the very need for the 

ACS and other core surveys and censuses, while others advocate a voluntary 

ACS, which recent Canadian experience and the Census Bureau's own testing 

have shown could leave large areas of the country without reliable data on their 

socio-economic characteristics. 

The Census Bureau needs a knowledgeable, experienced leader to ensure it can 

continue to meet the nation's vast information needs in fiscally prudent and 

technologically savvy manner. Mr. Thompson's experience leading Census 2000 

and his knowledge of modern survey techniques at NORC make him uniquely 

qualified to pursue effiCiencies that the Bureau is developing to implement a 

cost effective Census 2020. Again, we encourage you to act quickly to confirm 

Mr. Thompson as the next Census Director. 

Sincerely, 

Jim Futrell, CCR 

Vice President Market Research, 

Allegheny Conference on Community Development 

Pittsburgh, PA 

Chair, Board of Directors 

Council of Community and Economic Research 
76 

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION 

FOR PuSLIC OPINION 

RESEARCH 

Ai'lf"RICAI\o ECONOMIC 

ASSOCIATION 

AMERICAN EDUCATIOI\oAL. 

RESEARCH ASSOCIATION 

AMERICAN HISTORICAL 

ASSOCIATION 

AMERICAN POLITICAl 

SCIENCE ASSOCIATION 

AME.RICAN 

PSYCHOLOGICAL 

ASSOCIATIO".J 

AMER!CAN SOCIFfY 

OF CRiMINOL.OGY 

AMERICA" SOCIOLOGICAL 

ASSOCIATION 

AMERICAN SrATl5TICAL 

ASSOCIATION 

ASSOCIAnON OF 

AMERICAN GEOGRAPHER:;; 

ASSOCIA110N OF 

AMERICAN LAW ScHOOLS 

LAw AND SociETY 

AsSOCIATION 

U-.GUISTIC SOCIETY 

OF AMERICA 

MIDWEST POLITICAL 

SC'ENCE ASSOCIATION 

NATIONALCOMMl.3NICATION 

ASSOCI/l.TIOl-. 

POPUIATIO"l A5.SOCIATlO:\ 

OF AMERICA 

SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH 

'N CHILD DEVELOPMENT 

HOWARD J. SILVER, 

PH.D. 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

JAMES $, JACKSON, 

PH,D. 

PRESiDENT 

HGIWrable 10m Cil pel 

Chairman 

C011lmitt<;c on Homeland Sceurit~ & 

Gnvernlrltnl Affairs 

l: S, Senat(" 

Wn~hingwn. DC 20510 

D~ar Chuinn31l Carpt:r' 

J.S the 1'l31iorts 

w",nnnatIOt, SD filet lle can q,llckly ladle 

ilg\:fsCy. 

He dearly kno'>\.." lhe Bmeau and bo\\ to ()cgJni7e and nm it deccnr,lal censUs., His 

27 years there and hl::< for the operation.., ofth~ 

:-;tand him in gucKi I;tt!ad as the \\ ith plsw. for 

111t! :-:0:'0 d('cennial 

i'hcmps(lu'.; servjet;' a~, th? kader of NORL' iLlS kept 111m I;!.t ;he forcfrQnl oft!v: 

SUf\d,'y research fidd in m,~ny governmcm. and non~ 

1!ovemrnenl research 

and el1ci~ur,ag:e IVspOilSel." At 1'\ORl', Thomp5\)fl 

nan) of~h.:: is,u(;~ 

\\oilll.:onfror1t the it ml';\'I;)';; forv..';]uL is tr1C J\mt"ric.an 

Comrrlllnit) Sur\c~, the Economic Census. rh.~ Census ufGovernmcms. the S.Uf\~y 

oflnl;.:mH: <lnd ?rcgram Participat;{)n. or rnan) sur\"eys the Rut'cau 

manages, Thomp'iorl is .vt:'H vt'l"st;d in how 10 mal.,~ lbCji 

a m:>mber ()f'the ~010 C~nsus 

the jecenmai C{';!1SUS flcc::.", l\\;~r~i:t:h:,~~:~:':,i;'i;1~~;l;:~:0~~; \""ith the nerd tD n.:ach the 1'1' \\'~ ne"l::-d an l'xpcric~l~ed pr(lfes~;::-H1.;J.! to pbn 

15 that perM'" 

1701 K STREET N.W .. SUITE 1 1 SO/WASHINGTON, oc 20006 

PHONE: 202-842-3525 FAX' 202·842·2788 

EMAIL. COSSA@COSSA.ORG WEB: WWW.COSSA.ORG 
77 

COSSA is the advocacy group for the social and behavioral sciences. Its support 

comes from of over 110 scientific societies, professional associations, universities, 

and research centers and institutes (a membership list is attached). COSSA acts as a 

bridge between the academic research community and the Washington policymaking 

community. 

Writing as one Buckeye to another, I hope that you can move this nomination quickly 

through the Senate. 

Thank you for your time and attention. 

/Z;pt/ /Jt!d~ Howard J. Silver. Ph.D. 

Executive Director 
78 

CENTER FOR 

REGIONAL ECONOMIC 

COMPETITIVENESS 

1700 N. Moore Street, Suite 2225 

PO Box 100127 

Arlington, VA 22210 

July 5, 2013 

Hon. Thomas Carper 

Chairman 

Committee on Homeland Security 

& Governmental Affairs 

340 Dirksen Senate Office Building 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Carper and Senator Coburn: 

Hon. Tom Coburn 

Ranking Minority Member 

Committee on Homeland Security 

& Governmental Affairs 

340 Dirksen Senate Office Building 

Washington, DC 20510 

I write to offer my unqualified support of Mr. John Thompson, President 

Obama's nominee for Census Director, and to urge your committee's prompt 

confirmation for this important position to ensure that our most visible 

statistical agency has the kind of leadership required during this critical juncture 

in the business cycle. 

As CEO and President of the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness 

(CREC), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping regions compete 

economically, we rely on data involving almost every facet of the nation's 

economic and social fabric, spanning the transportation and housing sectors, 

business and industry, labor, educators, researchers and academic institutions, 

municipal and rural planners, and the philanthropic community. CREC and the 

regional public and private sector leaders we work so closely with, rely on highquality, comparable, timely, small-area data to guide prudent deciSion-making 

and investment. 

The Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011 sets forth 

several qualifications for future Census Directors, and we believe that Mr. 

Thompson exceeds these requirements. His management experience includes 

senior level positions at the Census Bureau, where he had primary responsibility 

for the 2000 Census, and the presidency of the National Opinion Research 

Center, one of the nation's premier survey organizations. Mr. Thompson's 

extensive scientific background includes work with surveys, administrative 

records, and systems development for census-taking. We are personally familiar 

with his distinguished service at the Census Bureau and support his nomination 

without reservation. 

The U.S. Census Bureau faces significant challenges in 2013, and planning for 

the 2020 Census is at a critical juncture that requires Mr. Thompson's 
79 

leadership. Fiscal constraints are currently putting at risk the thorough 

evaluation of promising reforms, such as multi-mode response options and use 

of administrative records. Some lawmakers question the very need for the 

American Community Survey, one of the most valuable resources provided by 

Census, and some advocate transitioning ACS to a voluntary response system 

that recent Canadian experience and the Census Bureau's own testing have 

shown could leave large areas of the country without reliable data on their 

socio-economic characteristics. 

The Census Bureau needs a knowledgeable, experienced leader to ensure it can 

continue to meet the nation's vast information needs in fiscally prudent and 

technologically savvy manner. Mr. Thompson's experience leading Census 2000 

and his knowledge of modem survey techniques at NORC make him uniquely 

qualified to pursue efficiencies that the Bureau is developing to implement a 

cost effective Census 2020. Again, we encourage you to act quickly to confirm 

Mr. Thompson as the next Census Director. 

Sincerely, 

CEO/President 

Center 

~t~ for Regional Economic Competitiveness 
80 

ASA ,.,MtlUCAN STATISTICAL ASSociATION 

Promoting the ?raetier and Projmjon ojStfltistics 

The Honorable Thomas Carper 

732 North Washington Street. Alexandria. VA 22314-1943 

(703) 684-1221 

Fax. (703) 68+2037 

Emaih asainfo@amstat.org 

Web: ifu'W,amstar.org 

May 30. 2013 

The Honorable Tom Coburn 

Chair. Committee on Homeland Security and 

Governmental Affairs 

Ranking Member, Committee on Homeland 

Security and Governmental Affairs 

United States Senate United States Senate 

Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Chair Carper and Ranking Member Coburn: 

As president of the American Statistical Association (ASA) with its 18,000 members, I write to 

enthusiastically support the nomination of John H. Thompson as director of the U.S. Census Bureau and 

to urge his swift confirmation. 

Thompson is an excellent nominee for census director. His 27 years at the Census Bureau, including 

executive leadership, means he possesses the requisite skills and extensive experience to immediately and 

effectively lead the bureau. During his Census Bureau service, Thompson was responsible for all aspects 

of the well-executed 2000 Census, including management, operations, and methodology. His effective 

leadership of NORC at the University of Chicago also speaks to his ability to manage and strategically 

lead a large organization. 

Thompson is highly regarded for his expertise and leadership skills by those who work with him and by 

fellow members of the profession. A noted expert in social science research-with a special emphasis on 

censuses and large, complex surveys-he is a member of the National Academies' Committee on 

National Statistics, for which he served on panels to review the preparation and execution of the 2010 

Census. He was named a Fellow of the ASA in 2000 in recognition of his vision, strategic thinking, and 

leadership in planning and executing the 2000 Census. Thompson was awarded the Department of 

Commerce's Gold Medal and the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive for his leadership on 

the 2000 Census. More recently, Thompson was elected the 2011 chair of ASA's Social Statistics 

Section, the mission of which is to advance methods of statistical inquiry and the measurement and use of 

statistical data for economic, demographic, and social science purposes. 

In summary, John Thompson is an outstanding nominee for director of the U.S. Census Bureau. I highly 

recommend that the Senate confirm Thompson and urge it do so quickly so he can assume leadership of 

the bureau during this critical period as the agency prepares for the 2020 Census. 

Sincerely, 

fi(tPUe'~~ 

Marie Davidian, PhD 

President, American Statistical Association 
81 

July 5, 2013 

Hon, Thomas Carper 

Chairman 

Demos 

IDEAS & ACTION 

Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs 

340 Dirksen Senate Office Building 

Washington, DC 20510 

Hon, Tom Coburn 

Ranking Member 

Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs 

340 Dirksen Senate Office Building 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Me, Chairman and Ranking Member Coburn: 

Demos is a public policy organization working for an America where we all have an equal say in 

our democracy and an equal chance in our economy, We write to urge you to act swiftly to 

confirm John Thompson, the president's nominee to direct the U.S. Census Bureau. We believe 

the swift confirmation of Me, Thompson is essential for the Bureau to effectively carry out its 

role in assuring equal representation in our democracy. 

The U.S. Census Bureau faces significant challenges. The research and testing phase of the 2020 

Census will culminate next year in the selection of a design framework, but fiscal constraints are 

putting thorough evaluation of promising refonns, such as multi-mode response options and use 

of administrative records, at risk. Some lawmakers are questioning the need for the American 

Community Survey (ACS) and other core surveys and censuses. Others are advocating that 

responding to the ACS should be voluntary, a reform which recent Canadian experience and the 

Census Bureau's own testing have shown could leave large areas of the United States without 

reliable socio-economic data, which both businesses and government rely on for planning 

purposes. 

The Census Bureau needs a capable director in place as soon as possible to ensure it can meet 

these challenges. Mr. Thompson is that capable leader. The Presidential Appointment 

Efficiency and Streamlining Act of2011 sets forth several qualifications for Census Directors. 

Mr. Thompson more than meets these requirements. His management experience includes senior 

level positions at the Census Bureau, where he had primary responsibility for the 2000 Census, 

and the presidency of the National Opinion Research Center, one of the nation's premier survey 

DEMOS.ORG 

NEW YORK 

220 F,::fl-- AVE. 21'00 F:..OOR 

NEW vQR<, NY '0001 

~.2·2:.533.'4 :'5 

INFOGl)DEMOS.ORG 

WASHINGTON DC 

1710 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW, 12TH FLOOR 

WASHINGTON, DC 20036 

1.202.559.1543 

POL!CYSHOP.NET (THE DEMOS BLDG) 

BOSTON 

358 CHESTNUT HilL AVE, SUITE 303 

BRIGHTON, MA 02135 

1.617.232.5885 
82 

organizations. Mr. Thompson's extensive scientific' bacKground includes work with surVeys, 

administrative records, and systems development for census-taking. 

Mr. Thompson is uniquely qualified to lead the Census as it pursues the reforms that will be 

needed carry out the 2020 Census accurately and efficiently. We urge his timely confirmation. 

Thank you for your consideration. 

Sincerely, 

Brenda Wright 

Vice President Legal Strategies 
83 

rvRhtMARKETING 

RESEARCH A ASSOCIATION 

July 8, 2013 

Hon. Thomas Carper 

Chairman 

Committee on Homeland Security 

& Governmental Affairs 

Hon. Tom Coburn 

Ranking Minority Member 

Committee on Homeland Security 

& Governmental Affairs 

Re: In support of John Thompson's nomination as Census Bureau Director 

Dear Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Coburn, 

The Marketing Research Association (MRA) writes in support ofMr. John H. Thompson, the 

President's nominee for Census Bureau Director. We urge that your committee quickly confirm him 

for this essential position. 

MRA, a non-profit national membership association, promotes, advocates and protects the integrity of 

the survey, opinion and marketing research profession I and strives to improve research participation 

and quality. Aside from the decennial Census being the foremost survey in the country, MRA 

supports the Census because its data provides the baseline for almost all research in the U.S., helping 

to ensure the accuracy and proper weighting of statistical samples. 

Mr. Thompson not only has vast experience in the research profession, but also in the Census Bureau 

itself. Thompson is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Opinion Research 

Center (NaRC) at the University of Chicago. He also previously worked as a career staffer at the 

Census Bureau in a variety of management positions, including as the senior career officer 

responsible for all aspects of the 2000 Census. 

Confirming Mr. Thompson as Census Bureau Director will empower him to provide the stability, 

know-how and leadership the Bureau requires as it works to improve the administration of the 

American Community Survey (ACS) and prepare for the 2020 Census. We encourage you to confirm 

him without delay. 

Howard Fienberg, PLC 

Director of Government Affairs 

Marketing Research Association (MRA) 

1 The research profession is a multi-billion dollar worldwide industry, comprised of pollsters and 

government, public opinion, academic and goods and services researchers, whose members range 

from large multinational corporations and small bUSinesses to academic institutes, non-profit 

organizations and government agencies. 

Marketing Research Association 

115615th St, NW, Suite 302. Washington, DC 20005' Ph: (202) 570-7312' Fax: (888) 512-1050 

Website: http://www.marketingresearch.org • Email: howard.fienberg@marketlngresearch.org 
84 

July 3,2013 

The Honorable Tom Carper 

Chairman 

Senate Committee on Homeland Security 

and Governmental Affairs 

United States Senate 

Washington, DC 20510 

via electronic mail 

A~~n,rIATIr"" FOR TKE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE 

r 

The Honorable Tom Coburn 

Ranking Minority Member 

Senate Committee on Homeland Security 

and Governmental Affairs 

United States Senate 

Washington, DC 20510 

RE: NAACP STRONG SUPPORT FOR JOHN THOMPSON'S NOMINATION TO SERVE AS 

DIRECTOR Of THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

Dear Chairman Carper and Senator Coburn: 

On behalf of the NAACP, our nation's oldest, largest and most widely-recognized grassrootsbased civil rights organization, 1 am writing to express our organization's strong support for the 

nomination of John Thompson to serve as Director of the U.S. Census Bureau. We further urge 

your committee to swiftly approve of this nomination and send it to the full Senate for 

confirmation as we are at a critical point in preparations for the 2020 Census and the Bureau 

needs and deserves clear leadership. 

Mr. Thompson's experience and his tenure with the Census Bureau make him a tremendously 

capable candidate for the position of Director. His management experience includes senior 

level positions at the Census Bureau, where he had primary responsibility for the 2000 Census, 

and the presidency of the National Opinion Research Center, one of the nation's premier survey 

organizations. Mr. Thompson's extensive scientific background includes work with surveys, 

administrative records, and systems development for census-taking. Based on our past 

experiences with Me Thompson and our resulting confidence In his skills and experience, there 

is no question that he wil! prove to be a much-needed leader of the Census Bureau as \t 

prepares for the 2020 census and that he will ensure that the census is conducted in a fiscally 

prudent and technologically savvy manner. 

As I indicated earlier, the Census Bureau is currently at a critical juncture as it prepares for the 

2020 census. The research and testing phase of the 2020 Census will culminate next year in 

selection of a design framework, but fiscal constraints are putting thorough evaluation of 
85 

promising reforms, such as multi-mode response options and use of administrative records, at 

risk. Furthermore, with some Members of Congress questioning the need for a robust 

American Community Survey (ACS), the Census Bureau, and indeed the American public, will 

clearly benefit from an individual with Mr. Thompson's abilities. 

I once again strongly encourage you to support Mr. Thompson's swift confirmation at this 

critical juncture. Thank you in advance for your attention to the NAACP position. Should you 

have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me at my office at (202) 

463-2940. 

Sincerely, 

~tl~ Hilary O. Shelton 

Director, NAACP Washington Bureau & 

Senior Vice President for Policy and Advocacy 

Cc: Members, Senate Committee on Homeland Security 

and Governmental Affairs 
86 

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July 8, 2013 

The Honorable Thomas Carper 

Partnen;hip Council Members 

Chamnan".tCouncdMcmiJer 

State Farm® 

Advance Amenca 

AT&T 

Southwest Anlme5 

Toyota Motor North America, Inc 

U01VlS1on CommUn1cal,ons Inc 

Walmart 

The Walt I)1sney Company 

Chair, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

340 Dirksen Senate Office Building 

Washington, D.C. 20510 

The Honorable Tom Coburn 

Ranking Member, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

340 Dirksen Senate Office Building 

Washington, D.C. 20510 

Dear Senator Carper and Senator Coburn: 

On behalf of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials 

(NALEO) Educational Fund, I write to urge you to advance the nomination of Mr. John 

H. Thompson as Director of the U.S. Census Bureau to a full committee vote. Mr. 

Thompson brings over four decades of experience relevant to the important and 

demanding challenges of leading the Census Bureau, including senior-level Census 

Bureau employment. Mr. Thompson is an able administrator, and his leadership is 

urgently needed to guide the Census Bureau at this critical financial and planning 

juncture. 

The NALEO Educational Fund is one of the nation's leading organizations in the area 

of Census policy development and public education, and we are deeply committed to 

ensuring that the Census Bureau provides our nation with the most accurate count of its 

population. Recently, the NALEO Educational Fund was selected to serve as a member 

of the Bureau's National Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic and Other Populations, 

and previously served on the Secretary of Commerce's 2010 Census Advisory 

Committee, and its predecessor, the Decennial Census Advisory Committee. As a 

member of these Committees, we provided the Bureau with guidance on a broad range 

of issues, including planning for the decennial enumeration and its advertising and 

communications efforts. In addition, the NALEO Educational Fund was actively 

involved in outreach to the Latino community for the decennial enumerations in 1990, 

2000 and 2010. In October 2009, we launched the "ya es hora, jHAGASE CONTAR! 

(Make Yourself Count!)" campaign, which focused on promoting the importance of the 

Census, educating individuals about filling out their Census forms, and encouraging 

households to mail back their responses. 

wwwnalooorg 
87 

The Honorable Thomas Carper and the Honorable Tom Coburn 

NALEO Educational Fund Letter Urging Confirmation of Mr. Thomson as Director of U.S. Census Bureau 

July 8, 2013 

Page 2 

The position of Census Director has been vacant since August 2012, and the Bureau needs strong leadership at a 

time when it is engaged in planning for the 2020 Census, the on-going operation of the American Community 

Survey, and other important activities. In order to carry out these activities in a cost-effective manner, the 

Bureau must start to implement several components of its work strategically during this year. Mr. Thompson is 

well-qualified to serve as the Bureau's Director at this critical time - his more than four decades of experience 

as a statistician and manager, including 27 years at the Commerce Department in positions such as chief of the 

Decennial Management Division before the 2000 Census, exceed the requirements for future Census Directors 

set forth in the Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 20 11. 

In addition, Mr. Thompson is a skilled professional who understands the unique culture and mission of the 

Census Bureau, science and substance of the surveys it produces, and who is fully committed to a process that 

accurately counts everyone. In addition to his Census Bureau expertise, he has been the President of the 

National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago, one of the nation's most prestigious 

private sector survey research organizations. We believe that Mr. Thompson possesses the experience and 

skills needed to lead the Census Bureau at a time when it faces fiscal challenges, and must conduct critical 

testing to save money, increase accuracy, and modernize the Census Bureau's approaches for Census 2020. 

We urge the U.S. Senate to move to confirm Mr. Thompson's appointment expeditiously. If you have any 

questions, please do not hesitate to contact Max Sevillia, Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs, at 

202-546-2536 or msevillia\alnaieo.org. 

Sincerely, 

Arturo Vargas 

Executive Director 
88 

July 3, 2013 

Hon. Thomas Carper 

Chairman 

Committee on Homeland Security 

& Governmental Affairs 

340 Dirksen Senate Office Building 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Carper and Senator Coburn: 

Hon. Tom Coburn 

Ranking Minority Member 

Committee on Homeland Security 

& Governmental Affairs 

340 Dirksen Senate Office Building 

Washington, DC 20510 

I am writing today to offer my unqualified support for the Mr. John 

Thompson, President Obama's nominee for Census Director, and to urge your 

committee's prompt confirmation for this important position. 

I have known John as a professional colleague for more than 20 years. 

got to know John initially while he was directing the 2000 Decennial Census. I 

have continued to have regular interaction with John in his current position at 

the National Opinion Research Center. 

Given his deep involvement in the 2000 U.S. Decennial Census, I believe 

he has the background, understanding, and vision to the lead the Census 

Bureau as we move toward the 2020 Decennial Census. Moreover, given his 

more recent experience working on surveys in the private sector, I believe he 

will bring an important perspective to this aspect of the Census Bureau's work. 

Because of my current experience as a small business owner (O'Hare 

Data and Demographic Services LLC) and previously when I ran the KIDS 

COUNT program at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, I know the importance of 

good statistical data. Given the fact that the Census Bureau is the backbone of 

the federal statistical system, it is critical that the person appointed as the 

Census Bureau Director is a knowledgeable, experienced, respected leader. 

Mr. Thompson provides a relatively rare combination of skills and 

experience which make him an excellent candidate to the lead the Census 

Bureau. John has experience with conducting a decennial census, a keen 

understanding of the survey world, and a wealth of management experience. 

Personally, I do not believe there is anyone more qualified for the job than 

John. 
89 

In summary I think John Thompson is the best person to lead the Census 

Bureau and I encourage you to confirm him quickly. 

Sincerely, 

William P. O'Hare, President 

O'Hare Data and Demographic Services, LLC 
90 

Population Association of America .iC," Association of Population Centers Christine Bachrach, Ph.D., President Pamela Smock, Ph.D .. President 

••••••••••••••••••••••• I'~ ,."'.................... • •••••••••••••••••• ", , ........................ . 

June 27, 2013 

The Honorable Tom Carper 

Chairman 

Committee on Homeland Security & 

Governmental Affairs 

U$, Senate 

Washington, D,C 20510 

Dear Senators Carper and Coburn: 

The Honorable Tom Coburn 

Ranking Member 

Committee on Homeland Security & 

Governmental Affairs 

D,S, Senate 

Washington, D,C 20510 

We are writing on behalf of the membership of the Population Association of America (PAA) and the Association of 

Population Centers (APC) to express our strong support for the nomination of Mr. John Thompson to be the next Director 

of the United States Census Bureau. 

Together, our organizations comprise over 3,000 social and behavioral scientists, including demographers, economists, 

sociologists, and statisticians who conduct research on the implications of population change, and over 40 population 

research centers nationwide. While our members have diverse research interests and expertise, ranging from adolescent 

health to population aging, they share a common need for access to accurate, timely data about the nation's changing 

socio-economic and demographic characteristics. The U.S. Census Bureau provides these invaluable data, which are used 

to not only conduct policy-relevant, scientific, and business research, but also to train the next generation of population 

scientists. Thus. we have a vested interest in who is chosen to lead the Census Bureau. We believe Mr. Thompson is the 

ideal candidate. 

With 27 years of experience at the Census Bureau, Mr. Thompson understands the complexity of the agency's operations. 

During his tenure at the Census Bureau, he held high-level positions, including managing Census 2000---a position that 

makes him uniquely qualified to run Census 2020 and assume responsibility for overseeing its mid-decade preparations. 

After leaving the Bureau to become the President and CEO of the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the 

University of Chicago, Mr. Thompson remained a national leader in the conduct and design of large-scale surveys and in 

the development of new survey methodologies. While at NORC, Mr, Thompson also acquired significant experience 

managing a large organization-an essential requirement that the next director of the U.S. Census Bureau must possess in 

accordance with the recently enacted Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act. 

We are confident that Mr. Thompson possesses the right technical and administrative skills to lead the Census Bureau. He 

is well positioned to keep plans on track to implement innovative technologies, such as Internet response options on the 

American Community Survey and Census 2020, and to institute appropriate, well-informed managerial policies and 

practices. In light of Mr. Thompson's qualifications, we urge the committee to approve his nomination swiftly and to seek 

Senate confinnation as soon as possible. 

Thank you for your consideration of our views. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can provide the committee with 

any additional infonnation. 

Respectfully, 

~~4~ 

Christine A Bachrach, PhD, 

____ ~:~~:---.c~~ 

Pamela J, Smock, PhD, 

Office of Government and Publk Affairs j 1701 K Street, Suite 1150 I Washington, DC 20006 I www.populationassociation.org 

Mary Jo Hoeksema, M.P.A., Director Government and Public Affairs I wWW.popcenters,org I paaapc@crosslink.net I 202341.7283 
91 

PIR.I;SIOIN 

POLICY INITIATIVE 

PETER WAGNER 

Executive Director 

moin: (413) 527.()845 

dired:(413)961~ 

pwagner@prisonpolicy.org 

69 Gomeld Ave Floo,.), 

Easthampton MA 01027 

www.prisonpolicy.org 

www.prisonersofthecensu$.org 

Hon. Thomas Carper 

Chairman 

Committee on Homeland Security & 

Governmental Affairs 

340 Dirksen Senate Office Building 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Carper and Senator Coburn: 

June 13,2013 

Hon. Tom Coburn 

Ranking Minority Member 

Committee on Homcland Security & 

Governmental Affairs 

340 Dirksen Senate Office Building 

Washington, DC 20510 

I write to offer my unqualified support of Mr. John Thompson, President Obama's 

nominee for Census Director, and to urge your committee's prompt confirmation for 

this important position at a critical juncture in the decennial census cycle. 

I am the Executive Director of the Prison Policy Initiative, a non-profit policy 

organization, and we have been researching the intersections of Census Bureau policy 

and the criminal justice system for more than a decade. 

The Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of2011 sets forth 

several qualifications for future Census Directors. Mr. Thompson more than meets 

these requirements. His management experience includes senior level positions at the 

Census Bureau, where hc had primary responsibility for the 2000 Census, and the 

presidency of the National Opinion Research Center, one of the nation's premier 

survey organizations. Mr. Thompson's extensive scientific background includes work 

with surveys, administrative records, and systems development for census~taking. We 

recognize his distinguished service at the Census Bureau and support his nomination 

without reservation. 

The U.S. Census Bureau faces significant challenges in 2013. The research and testing 

phase of the 2020 Census will culminate next ycar in selection of a design framework, 

but fiscal constraints are putting thorough evaluation of promising reforms, such as 

multi-mode response options and use of administrative records, at risk Some 

lawmakers question the very need for the ACS and other core surveys and censuses, 

while others advocate a voluntary ACS, which recent Canadian experience and the 

Census Bureau's own testing have shown could leave large areas of the country 

without reliable data on thcir socio-economic characteristics. 

The Census Bureau needs to be appointed a knowledgeable, experienced leader as 

soon as possible to ensure it can continue to meet the nation's vast information needs 

in fiscally prudent and technologically savvy manner. Mr. Thompson's experience 

leading Census 2000 and his knowledge of modern survey techniques at NORC make 

him uniquely qualified to pursue efficiencies that the Bureau is developing to 
92 

Æ 

Prison Policy Initiative, page 2. 

implement a cost effective Census 2020. Again, I encourage you to act quickly to 

confinn Mr. Thompson as the next Census Director. 

Sincerely, 

ifw 

Peter Wagner 

Executive Director