I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2444
To provide for an interim census of Americans abroad, the data from which
shall be used in deciding whether to count such individuals in future
decennial censuses.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 1, 1999
Mrs. MALONEY of New York (for herself, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. UNDERWOOD, Mr.
FILNER, Mr. OLVER, Mr. GREEN of Texas, Mr. RUSH, Mrs. CLAYTON,
Mr. SHOWS, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. MEEKS of
New York, Mr. BROWN
of California, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Ms.
SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. BENTSEN, and Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Govern-
ment Reform
A BILL
To provide for an interim census of Americans abroad, the
data from which shall be used in deciding whether to
count such individuals in future decennial censuses.
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 Americans
Abroad Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
(1) between 3,000,000 and 6,000,000 Ameri-
cans live and work overseas while continuing to vote
and pay taxes in the United States;
(2) Americans living abroad help increase ex-
ports of American goods because they traditionally
buy American, sell American, and create business
opportunities for American companies and workers,
thereby strengthening the United States economy,
creating jobs in the United States, and extending
United States influence around the globe;
(3) Americans abroad play a key role in advanc-
ing this Nation’s interests by serving as economic,
political, and cultural ‘‘ambassadors’’ of the United
States; and
(4) the major business, civic, and community
organizations representing Americans and companies
of the United States abroad support the counting of
all Americans abroad by the Bureau of the Census,
and are prepared to assist the Bureau of the Census
in this task.
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that—
(1) the Bureau of the Census should undertake
a census of all Americans residing abroad in a spe-
cial census, and the necessary funding should be ap-
propriated for this purpose; and
(2) the Bureau of the Census should, after com-
pleting a special census of all Americans residing
abroad, review the means by which Americans resid-
ing abroad could be included in the 2010 decennial
census.
SEC. 3. COUNTING OF AMERICANS ABROAD.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Commerce
shall—
(1) using any authorities available to the Sec-
retary under section 182 or any other provision of
title 13, United States Code, take a census of all
Americans residing abroad as of April 1, 2003;
(2) submit the final tabulations under this sub-
section to the President and the Congress within 9
months after the date specified in paragraph (1),
broken 
down 
into 
all 
appropriate 
categories,
including—
(A) Americans abroad affiliated with the
Federal Government and their dependents; and
(B) Americans abroad not affiliated with
the Federal Government and their dependents;
and
(3) not later than June 30, 2005, submit to the
President and the Congress a report containing—
(A) the Secretary’s findings as to the feasi-
bility of counting Americans abroad in future
decennial censuses of population; and
(B) any recommendations which the Sec-
retary may have regarding the counting of
Americans abroad, including—
(i) 
whether 
and 
how 
Americans
abroad could be counted in the 2010 de-
cennial census;
(ii) for what purposes the information
could and should be used; and
(iii) whether Americans abroad should
be included in the 2010 decennial census
for purposes of the apportionment of Rep-
resentatives in Congress among the several
States and, if so, how that should be done.
(b) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than June 30,
2002, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the com-
mittees of Congress having legislative jurisdiction over the
census a report which shall include—
(1) a summary of how the plans and prepara-
tions for carrying out this section are proceeding;
(2) a brief description or outline of how the tab-
ulations referred to in subsection (a) are to be car-
ried out; and
(3) information identifying any experts, consult-
ants, interest groups, or other persons outside the
Bureau of the Census who were consulted under this
section.
(c) CONFIDENTIALITY
OF
INFORMATION; PEN-
ALTIES.—The provisions of section 9 and chapter 7 of title
13, United States Code, shall apply to the census carried
out under this Act.
(d) LIMITED USE
OF DATA.—The data obtained
from the census taken under this Act may not be used
for any purpose not specifically provided for under this
section.
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this Act.
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