Territories Statistics Collection Equity Act
Bill: H.R.8593 | Sponsor: Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. (D-AZ)
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
Territories Statistics Collection Equity Act
This bill requires implementation of a plan for federal agencies to collect and publish statistics regarding the U.S. territories in the same manner as statistics are collected and reported for the states.
Specifically, the bill directs the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy to publish a list and assessment of existing federal statistical programs that collect and publish data for the U.S. territories comparable to the states.
The council must submit to Congress a plan to collect and publish statistics regarding the territories in the same manner as statistics are collected and reported by federal agencies for the states.
The council, in coordination with agencies, must implement the plan no later than four years after enactment of this bill.

To direct the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy to develop a 
plan to collect and publish statistics regarding the Territories of the 
   United States in the same manner as statistics are collected and 
  reported by Federal agencies for the several States, 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.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Territories Statistics Collection 
Equity Act''.

SEC. 2. INCLUDING U.S. TERRITORIES IN FEDERAL STATISTICAL PROGRAMS.

    (a) Assessment.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the head of the Interagency Council on 
Statistical Policy shall publish a list and assessment of existing 
Federal statistical programs that collect and publish data for the U.S. 
Territories comparable to the several States. The assessment under this 
subsection shall include the following:
            (1) For each statistical program where a comparable program 
        for the U.S. Territories does not exist, an explanation as to 
        why the program does not include the U.S. Territories.
            (2) Impediments to data collection, analysis, and 
        publishing with respect to the U.S. Territories.
            (3) A detailed description of the level of local government 
        participation required in Federal statistical programs.
    (b) Plan.--Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the head of the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy 
shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of 
the Senate a plan to collect and publish statistics regarding the U.S. 
Territories in the same manner as statistics are collected and reported 
by Federal agencies for the several States. The plan shall include--
            (1) recommendations for including the U.S. Territories in 
        Federal statistical programs; and
            (2) cost estimates for Federal and local governments for 
        necessary changes to implement the recommendations under 
        paragraph (1).
    (c) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, and every 12 months thereafter until the plan is fully 
implemented, the head of the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy 
shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of 
the Senate a report that includes--
            (1) a description of the plan developed under subsection 
        (a); and
            (2) information on the implementation of such plan.
    (d) Implementation.--Not later than 4 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the head of the Interagency Council on 
Statistical Policy, in coordination with the heads of appropriate 
Federal agencies, shall fully implement the plan developed under 
subsection (a).

SEC. 3. U.S. TERRITORIES DEFINED.

    For the purposes of this Act, the term ``U.S. Territories'' means 
American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, 
Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands of the United States.
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