On March 23, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) Committee held a hearing, “The 2020 Census and Current Activities of the U.S. Census Bureau.” Acting Census Bureau Director Ron Jarmin and officials from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Christopher Mihm, Managing Director, Strategic Issues, and Nick Marinos, Director, Information Technology & Cybersecurity, testified.
The purpose of the hearing was to review the conduct and outcome, to date, of the 2020 Census. The hearing began on a positive note with HSGAC Chairman Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) stating, “There is no question that as the Census Bureau continues to process the data they have collected, and conduct robust data quality checks, their hardworking and dedicated employees not only deserve our gratitude, but the resources and time required to get it right.”
Acting Director Jarmin received numerous questions about the status of the Bureau’s current plans for releasing redistricting data. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and James Lankford (R-OK) expressed concerns about the implications of the delayed redistricting data release for their states. Acting Director Jarmin assured senators, “We’re trying to get the data to the states as quickly as we can.”
GAO officials noted that the Bureau has made significant progress, but still faces two challenges in completing the count—assessing concerns about data quality and finalizing plans to protect the data.
A video recording of the hearing and all written testimony are posted at: Hearings | Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee (senate.gov).
Several media outlets covered the hearing as well.
Roll Call magazine
Census Bureau defends delays in data delivery before Senate panel
Associated Press
Lawmakers frustrated over delay in Census redistricting data
The Census Project 