Census IDEA Act
Bill: S.1701 | Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian (D-HI)
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
Census Improving Data and Enhanced Accuracy Act or the Census IDEA Act
This bill prohibits the Department of Commerce, in the 2030 decennial census of population and each decennial census thereafter, from (1) implementing any major operational design element that has not been researched, studied, and tested for a period of at least three years before the decennial census date; or (2) including on the questionnaire for the census any subject, type of information, or question that was not submitted to Congress.
The Government Accountability Office shall determine and report to Congress on whether the subjects, types of information, and questions to be included in that decennial census have been adequately researched, studied, and tested to the same degree as in previous decennial censuses.

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.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Census Improving 
Data and Enhanced Accuracy Act'' or the ``Census IDEA Act''.
    (b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The decennial census was embedded in article I of the 
        Constitution of the United States by the founders of the United 
        States.
            (2) The decennial census measures the progress of the 
        country and helps chart our future.
            (3) The decennial census, for the decade to follow, shapes 
        the reapportionment of the House of Representatives and the 
        drawing of hundreds of congressional political districts and 
        thousands of State and local political districts.
            (4) More than $1,500,000,000,000 in Federal assistance to 
        States and local communities every year is informed by the 
        results of the decennial census.
            (5) The decennial census is the largest peacetime 
        mobilization undertaken by the Federal Government.
            (6) Congress must ensure that every decennial census is a 
        complete, accurate, and fair decennial enumeration of all 
        individuals in the United States.
            (7) Any late, untested changes to the operational design of 
        the decennial census will jeopardize public cooperation with 
        the census and, therefore, the success and accuracy of the 
        census.

SEC. 2. LIMITATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DECENNIAL 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 subsection (h);
            (3) by inserting after subsection (f) the following:
    ``(g) Limitations and Requirements.--
            ``(1) Notice to congress of operational design, subjects, 
        types of information, and questions.--In the 2030 decennial 
        census of population and each decennial census thereafter, the 
        Secretary may not--
                    ``(A) with respect to the census, implement any 
                major operational design element that has not been 
                researched, studied, and tested for a period of not 
                less than 3 years before the decennial census date; 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) Biannual reports.--
                    ``(A) Submission to congress.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Not later than 90 days 
                        after the date of enactment of this subsection 
                        and biannually thereafter, the Secretary shall 
                        submit to each committee of Congress having 
                        legislative jurisdiction over the census, the 
                        Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and 
                        the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
                        Representatives a report that includes a 
                        detailed statement on the status, at the time 
                        of submission, of all research, testing, and 
                        operations that are or will be part of the 
                        Bureau's comprehensive plan for the next 
                        decennial census.
                            ``(ii) Operational plan components.--Not 
                        later than 5 years before the decennial census 
                        date, the Secretary shall include in a report 
                        under clause (i) a description of each 
                        component of the operational plan for that 
                        decennial census.
                    ``(B) Internet publication.--On the date on which 
                the Secretary submits a report under subparagraph (A), 
                the Secretary shall publish the report on the public 
                Internet website of the Bureau.
            ``(3) GAO analysis.--Before the decennial census date, the 
        Comptroller General of the United States shall determine and 
        report to Congress on whether the subjects, types of 
        information, and questions to be included in that decennial 
        census have been adequately researched, studied, and tested to 
        the same degree as in previous decennial censuses.
            ``(4) Applicability.--Nothing in this subsection shall be 
        construed to affect--
                    ``(A) the mid-decade census conducted under 
                subsection (d); or
                    ``(B) the survey conducted by the Secretary that is 
                commonly referred to as the `American Community 
                Survey'.''; and
            (4) in subsection (h), as so redesignated, by inserting 
        ``Definition.--'' before ``As used in''.
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