I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 732 
To amend title 13, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Commerce 
to provide advance notice to Congress before changing any questions 
on the decennial census, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 23, 2019 
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York (for herself, Mr. SERRANO, Ms. 
MENG, Mr. SOTO, Mr. CLAY, Ms. TLAIB, Mrs. KIRKPATRICK, Ms. WILD, 
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. SIRES, Mr. VELA, Mr. 
ESPAILLAT, Ms. NORTON, Mr. COOPER, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. PASCRELL, 
and Ms. JUDY CHU of California) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform 
A BILL 
To amend title 13, United States Code, to require the Sec-
retary of Commerce to provide advance notice to Con-
gress before changing any questions on the decennial 
census, 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; FINDINGS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘2020 Census Improving Data and Enhanced Accuracy 
Act’’ or the ‘‘2020 Census IDEA Act’’. 
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(b) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) The decennial census was embedded in arti-
cle I of the Constitution of the United States by the 
founders of the United States for the purpose of ap-
portionment of seats among the States in the U.S. 
House of Representatives. 
(2) The founders believed that a census was es-
sential in measuring the progress of the country and 
helping to chart its future. 
(3) The 2020 decennial census will, for the dec-
ade to follow, shape the reapportionment of the 
House of Representatives and the drawing of thou-
sands of State and local political districts. 
(4) Over $800,000,000,000 in Federal assist-
ance to State and local communities every year is in-
formed by the results of the decennial census. 
(5) Congress seeks to make the 2020 decennial 
census the most complete, accurate, and fair decen-
nial census in the history of the United States. 
(6) The decennial census is the largest peace-
time mobilization undertaken by the Federal Gov-
ernment. 
(7) Any late, untested changes to the oper-
ational design of the decennial census will jeopardize 
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public cooperation with the census and, therefore, 
the success and accuracy of the decennial census. 
SEC. 2. LIMITATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DE-
CENNIAL CENSUS. 
Section 141 of title 13, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (f)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by adding ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 
and inserting a period; and 
(C) by striking paragraph (3); 
(2) by redesignating subsection (g) as sub-
section (h); 
(3) by inserting after subsection (f) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(g) LIMITATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) NOTICE TO CONGRESS OF OPERATIONAL 
DESIGN, SUBJECTS, TYPES OF INFORMATION, AND 
QUESTIONS.—In the 2020 decennial census of popu-
lation and each decennial census thereafter, the Sec-
retary may not— 
‘‘(A) with respect to the census or any sur-
vey conducted in connection with the census, 
implement any major operational design feature 
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that has not been researched, studied, and test-
ed for a period of not less than 3 years before 
the date on which the applicable census occurs; 
or 
‘‘(B) include on the questionnaire for the 
census any subject, type of information, or 
question that was not submitted to Congress in 
accordance with subsection (f). 
‘‘(2) REPORTS.— 
‘‘(A) SUBMISSION
TO
CONGRESS.—Not 
later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this subsection, and not later than the date 
that is 4 years before the date of a decennial 
census (beginning with the decennial census for 
2030), the Secretary shall submit to Congress 
a report that— 
‘‘(i) describes each component of the 
operational plan for the subsequent decen-
nial census of population; and 
‘‘(ii) includes a detailed statement on 
the status of all research, testing, and op-
erations that are part of the Bureau’s com-
prehensive plan for the decennial census. 
‘‘(B) INTERNET
PUBLICATION.—On the 
date on which the Secretary submits a report 
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under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall 
publish the report on the public internet website 
of the Bureau. 
‘‘(C) GAO ANALYSIS.—Before the date on 
which a decennial census occurs, the Comp-
troller General of the United States shall certify 
to Congress that the subjects, types of informa-
tion, and questions to be included in the census 
have been adequately researched, studied, and 
tested to the same degree as in previous decen-
nial censuses.’’; and 
(4) in subsection (h), as so redesignated, by in-
serting ‘‘DEFINITION.—’’ before ‘‘As used in’’. 
Æ 
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