On Thursday, July 25, the Senate Appropriations Committee, by a vote of 26-3, approved its version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) appropriations bill, which funds, among other Federal agencies, the U.S. Census Bureau. The bill recommends the Census Bureau receive $1,577,691,000, which, in an accompanying report, the Committee notes is $195.2 million above the agency�s FY 2024 enacted level and equal to the President�s budget request. The Committee�s recommended level is substantially higher than the level approved by the House Appropriations Committee, $1.354 billion, which is $28.5 million below the agency�s FY 2024 funding level.
The Senate report included language suggested by The Census Project regarding the American Community Survey:
American Community Survey [ACS]–The census stakeholder and data user communities are interested in ensuring the integrity, utility, and reliability of data from the ACS. Given that the Census Bureau did not fully release one-year ACS estimates in 2021, the Committee requests an update on steps the Census Bureau has taken and intends to take to modernize the ACS, especially increasing the survey�s sample size, expanding nonresponse follow up operations, and reducing respondent burden. The Committee seeks specific feedback estimating the cost of these and any other ACS 24 enhancements that the Census Bureau is considering. The Committee also directs the Census Bureau to report on how improvements to the ACS relate to the Bureau�s broader operational transformation efforts. The Committee directs the Census Bureau to provide the Committee with a report addressing these matters within 180 days of enactment of this act.
And the report also had language referencing the role of libraries and community technology centers in promoting participation in census surveys and tests:
Utilizing Libraries and Community Partners for Census Surveys�The Committee directs the Census Bureau to continue to conduct outreach to public libraries and other community technology centers to ensure that they are fully informed about and equipped to support residents� participation in Census Bureau surveys. The Bureau should work with libraries, in coordination with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, as part of the overall strategy to maximize response to the ACS, other surveys, and the Decennial Census. Such outreach should include coordinating with library organizations, providing libraries with informational materials, and offering webinars or conference presentations to library audiences, as appropriate for Census surveys and tests.
Despite passage by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, it is not likely either chamber will consider the CJS bill on the floor of their respective chambers. On July 25, the House adjourned, postponing floor action until after the Labor Day holiday. When the House and Senate return, they will have only a few weeks to approve final passage of Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations bills or pass a continuing a resolution to keep the Federal government functioning beyond September 30, when the current fiscal year ends. Informal negotiations on a final FY 2025 CJS funding measure are possible now that the Appropriations Committees in both chambers have passed their own versions of the bill.
