I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2366
To transfer to the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to conduct the
census of agriculture, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 31, 1997
Mr. STENHOLM (for himself, Mr. SKEEN, Mr. WISE, Mr. COMBEST, Mr.
LUCAS of Oklahoma, Mr. GOODE, Mr. PICKERING, Mr. EWING, Mr.
CANADY of Florida, Mr. ETHERIDGE, Mr. BALDACCI, Mr. FARR of Cali-
fornia, Mr. BERRY, Mr. MORAN of Kansas, and Mr. POMEROY) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Govern-
ment Reform and Oversight, and in addition to the Committee on Agri-
culture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned
A BILL
To transfer to the Secretary of Agriculture the authority
to conduct the census of agriculture, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Census of Agriculture
Act of 1997’’.
SEC. 2. AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE TO
CONDUCT CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE.
(a) CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE REQUIRED.—In 1998
and every fifth year thereafter, the Secretary of Agri-
culture shall take a census of agriculture.
(b) METHODS.—In connection with the census, the
Secretary may conduct any survey or other information
collection, and employ any sampling or other statistical
method, that the Secretary determines is appropriate.
(c) YEAR OF INFORMATION.—The information col-
lected in each census taken under this section shall relate
to the year immediately preceding the year in which the
census is taken.
(d) ENFORCEMENT.—
(1) FRAUD.—A person over 18 years of age
who willfully gives an answer that is false to a ques-
tion, which is authorized by the Secretary to be sub-
mitted to the person in connection with a census
under this section, shall be fined not more than
$500.
(2) REFUSAL OR NEGLECT TO ANSWER QUES-
TIONS.—A person over 18 years of age who refuses
or willfully neglects to answer a question, which is
authorized by the Secretary to be submitted to the
person in connection with a census under this sec-
tion, shall be fined not more than $100.
(3) SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.—The failure or
refusal of a person to disclose the person’s social se-
curity number in response to a request made in con-
nection with any census or other activity under this
section shall not be a violation under this subsection.
(4) RELIGIOUS
INFORMATION.—Notwithstand-
ing any other provision of this section, no person
shall be compelled to disclose information relative to
the religious beliefs of the person or to membership
of the person in a religious body.
(e) GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE.—A census under this
section shall include—
(1) each of the several States of the United
States;
(2) as determined appropriate by the Secretary,
the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, the United States Virgin Islands,
and Guam; and
(3) with the concurrence of the Secretary and
the Secretary of State, any other possession or area
over which the United States exercises jurisdiction,
control, or sovereignty.
(f) COOPERATION
WITH
SECRETARY
OF
COM-
MERCE.—
(1) INFORMATION PROVIDED TO SECRETARY OF
AGRICULTURE.—On a written request by the Sec-
retary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce
may provide to the Secretary of Agriculture any in-
formation collected under title 13, United States
Code, that the Secretary of Agriculture considers
necessary for the taking of a census or survey under
this section.
(2) INFORMATION PROVIDED TO SECRETARY OF
COMMERCE.—On a written request by the Secretary
of Commerce, the Secretary of Agriculture may pro-
vide to the Secretary of Commerce any information
collected in a census taken under this section that
the Secretary of Commerce considers necessary for
the taking of a census or survey under title 13,
United States Code.
(3) CONFIDENTIALITY.—Information obtained
under this subsection may not be used for any pur-
pose other than the statistical purposes for which
the information is supplied. For purposes of sections
9 and 214 of title 13, United States Code, any infor-
mation provided under paragraph (2) shall be con-
sidered information furnished under the provisions
of title 13, United States Code.