Ensuring a Fair and Accurate Census Act

Bill: 117-hr-8326
Sponsor: Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12]
Introduced: 2022-07-11 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Budget process
Census and government statistics
Congressional oversight
Department of Commerce
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Racial and ethnic relations

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-11
text: 

Ensuring a Fair and Accurate Census Act

 
This bill addresses the operations of the Bureau of the Census.
 
Specifically, the bill (1) permits removal of the Director of the bureau only for cause, and (2) provides statutory authority for specified advisory committees.
 
The bureau may not include in the census any subject, type of information, or question that was not submitted to Congress.
 
The bureau must submit to Congress a report biannually that (1) describes each component of the operational plan for the subsequent decennial census of population; and (2) includes a detailed statement on the status of all research, testing, and operations that are part of the bureau's comprehensive plan for the decennial census.
 
The bureau must submit to Congress a certification stating that any question that has not appeared on the previous two decennial censuses has been researched, studied, and tested according to established statistical policies and procedures. 
 
The Government Accountability Office must review such certification and report to Congress on whether the questions to be included have been researched, studied, and tested according to such policies and procedures.

action_date: 2022-09-09
text: 

Ensuring a Fair and Accurate Census Act

 
This bill addresses the operations of the Bureau of the Census.
 
Specifically, the bill (1) permits removal of the Director of the bureau only for cause, and (2) provides statutory authority for specified advisory committees.
 
The bureau may not include in the census any subject, type of information, or question that was not submitted to Congress.
 
The bureau must submit to Congress a report biannually that (1) describes each component of the operational plan for the subsequent decennial census of population; and (2) includes a detailed statement on the status of all research, testing, and operations that are part of the bureau's comprehensive plan for the decennial census.
 
The bureau must submit to Congress a certification stating that any question that has not appeared on the previous two decennial censuses has been researched, studied, and tested according to established statistical policies and procedures. 
 
The Government Accountability Office must review such certification and report to Congress on whether the questions to be included have been researched, studied, and tested according to such policies and procedures.
 
The bureau, by January 1, 2026, and every 10 years thereafter, must transmit to Congress a lifecycle cost estimate for the decennial census of population first occurring after the date of transmittal. Such estimate shall include
 
 
an estimate of costs by each fiscal year; 
 
estimates of capital versus operating expenses;
 
staffing projections for each year; and
 
assumptions about response rates, wages, and other economic variables.
 

action_date: 2022-09-15
text: 

Ensuring a Fair and Accurate Census Act

 
This bill addresses the operations of the Bureau of the Census.
 
Specifically, the bill (1) requires the Deputy Director of the bureau to appoint an employee responsible for optimizing racial and ethnic equity in the decennial census of population; and (2) provides statutory authority for specified advisory committees.
 
The bureau may not include in the census any subject, type of information, or question that was not submitted to Congress.
 
The bureau must submit to Congress a report biannually that (1) describes each component of the operational plan for the subsequent decennial census of population; and (2) includes a detailed statement on the status of all research, testing, and operations that are part of the bureau's comprehensive plan for the decennial census.
 
The bureau must submit to Congress a certification stating that any question that has not appeared on the previous two decennial censuses has been researched, studied, and tested according to established statistical policies and procedures. 
 
The Government Accountability Office must review such certification and report to Congress on whether the questions to be included have been researched, studied, and tested according to such policies and procedures.
 
The bureau, by January 1, 2026, and every 10 years thereafter, must transmit to Congress a lifecycle cost estimate for the decennial census of population first occurring after the date of transmittal. 
 
The bureau must submit to Congress a report on local-level data and local field operations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-09-19
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2022-09-15
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2022-09-15
text: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 220 - 208 (Roll no. 435).
action_date: 2022-09-15
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 220 - 208 (Roll no. 435).
action_date: 2022-09-15
text: The House adopted the amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
action_date: 2022-09-15
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
action_date: 2022-09-15
text: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 8326.
action_date: 2022-09-15
text: UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on agreeing to amendments, which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
action_date: 2022-09-15
text: The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
action_date: 2022-09-15
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7858-7860)
action_date: 2022-09-14
text: Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 8326 as unfinished business.
action_date: 2022-09-14
text: On motion that the committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
action_date: 2022-09-14
text: Mr. Davis, Danny K. moved that the committee rise.
action_date: 2022-09-14
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Hice (GA) amendment, the Chair put the question on the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Hice (GA) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2022-09-14
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1339, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hice (GA) amendment No. 2.
action_date: 2022-09-14
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Danny K. Davis en bloc amendment, the Chair put the question on the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Comer demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2022-09-14
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1339, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Danny K. Davis en bloc amendment.
action_date: 2022-09-14
text: GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 8326.
action_date: 2022-09-14
text: The Speaker designated the Honorable Earl Blumenauer to act as Chairman of the Committee.
action_date: 2022-09-14
text: House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 1339 and Rule XVIII.
action_date: 2022-09-14
text: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 302, H.R. 2988 and H.R. 8326. Rule provides for one hour of general debate each for H.R. 302, H.R. 2988, and H.R. 8326. Rule also provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.
action_date: 2022-09-14
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1339. (consideration: CR H7833-7840; text: CR H7837-7838)
action_date: 2022-09-14
text: Rule H. Res. 1339 passed House.
action_date: 2022-09-13
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1339 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 302, H.R. 2988 and H.R. 8326. Rule provides for one hour of general debate each for H.R. 302, H.R. 2988, and H.R. 8326. Rule also provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.
action_date: 2022-09-09
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 353.
action_date: 2022-09-09
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Reform. H. Rept. 117-456.
action_date: 2022-09-09
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Reform. H. Rept. 117-456.
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 17.
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2022-07-14
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2022-07-11
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
action_date: 2022-07-11
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2022-07-11
text: Introduced in House