Appropriations Update
FY 2024
On February 29, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a fourth short-term continuing resolution (CR) (H.R. 7463) to keep the federal government open. As with the January CR, this one is also staggered. Some agencies’ funding has been extended until March 8, but the U.S. Census Bureau, which is funded through the Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) appropriations bill, has been extended, along with seven other bills, until March 22. (The prior deadline for CJS was March 8.) Also on February 29, the Senate voted 77-13 to send the short-term spending measure to President Biden who signed the measure into law.
The CJS appropriations bill is one of six expected to be considered as part of a Fiscal Year 2024 (FY 2024) package that House and Senate leadership intend to send to the President before March 8. Text will not be released until the weekend of March 2. The Census Project will keep stakeholders apprised of developments via updated blogs.
FY 2025
Census stakeholders are already looking ahead to the FY 2025 appropriations process.
The Census Project released its FY 2025 funding recommendation for the Census Bureau, underscoring the need for $2 billion in FY 2025.
The Biden Administration’s budget request is scheduled to be released on March 11. The Census Project will summarize the President’s request once details are available.
Policy Update
H.R. 7399 Would Shut Down America’s Most Essential Data
Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ-02) introduced H.R. 7399, legislation that would terminate the American Community Survey (ACS), the continuous annual survey that replaced the old decennial census long form in 2005.
The ACS is the premier source for information about America’s changing population, households, and workforce—and a crucial component of the American democracy. It is the current fulfillment of James Madison’s vision that the 1790 Census should add questions beyond “bare enumeration” so that Congress might “adapt the public measures to the particular circumstances of the community.” ACS data are pervasively used by federal, state, and local decisionmakers to power our economy and plan our communities.
Stakeholders have resoundingly opposed prior attempts to undermine or eliminate the ACS. The bill was referred to the House Oversight and Accountability Committee for consideration.
Federal Parity for CASH Research Act
On February 1, Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC-11) introduced the Federal Parity for Communities with Above Average Seasonal Homeownership Research Act (Federal Parity for CASH Research Act) (H.R. 7196), legislation that would require a study of the impact of seasonal or non-permanent homeownership on the accuracy of census data and the distribution of federal funds.
Department of Commerce Issues Report Evaluating 2020 Census
On February 5, 2024, the Inspector General (IG) of the U.S. Department of Commerce issued a report, “Independent Evaluation of the 2020 Decennial Census Evaluations and Experiments (EAE) Operation.”
In a memo to Census Bureau Director Santos accompanying the report, Arthur L. Scott, Jr. Assistant Inspector General for Audit and Evaluation, states that the report’s “objective was to determine whether the Census Bureau prepared adequate and timely operational assessments (OAs) that included the appropriate metrics to support planning for the 2030 decennial’s research and testing (R&T).” The report centers on six major findings regarding, among other things, the timeliness of 2020 evaluations, management practices, and processes that the agency used to examine scheduling delays.
Event on Proposed Census Bureau Changes to Measuring Disability
On February 22, 2024, the Urban Institute hosted a discussion of how the U.S. Census Bureau has proposed to change the way the agency measures disabled Americans.
Among the panelists was a member of The Census Project’s Advisory Committee: Meeta Anand from the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
The event followed an earlier announcement from Census Bureau Director Robert Santos in which he said that in response to public feedback on proposed changes to the ACS disability question, the Bureau plans to “retain the current ACS disability questions for collection year 2025.”
Redistricting Transparency and Accountability Act
Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC-02) introduced the Redistricting Transparency and Accountability Act of 2024 (H.R. 7095), legislation that would, according to the sponsor, “establish extensive opportunities for public input in redistricting decisions, require disclosures regarding individuals and groups that participate in the map-drawing process, and designate criteria to ensure transparency in mapmaking—including the publication of criteria used to draw maps and analysis of how any proposed map would impact certain diverse populations.” The bill is awaiting further action by the House Judiciary Committee.
State Administrative Records Data
The Census Bureau intends to request clearance for acquiring State administrative records data to improve the efficiency and accuracy in data collections and measurement. According to the Federal Register Notice, “The Census Bureau has undertaken research projects to integrate and link Census Bureau data from current surveys and censuses with State administrative records data.”
“The Census Bureau encourages the District of Columbia and all 50 states to share administrative records data generally associated with, but not limited to: nutrition and food assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC); and welfare programs, including child care subsidy; household self-sufficiency programs, including low income energy assistance programs and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Data sharing and analysis of linked files are solely for statistical purposes, not for program enforcement. All State administrative records data are and will remain confidential under title 13, United States Code, section 9, whether in their original form or when comingled or linked.”
The FRN is open for comment until April 16.
State Legislative Districts with the Most Incarcerated
A new report from the Prison Policy Initiative “examined the ten state legislative districts where, according to Census data, people held at correctional facilities account for the largest percentage of the district population.” The group claimed that these details suggests that this “increasingly” harms “residents of rural states” and defies “some of the preconceived notions about partisan impacts.”
Census Bureau News
Census Director Santos blogged on “Next Steps on the American Community Survey Disability Questions.”
He also blogged about “our collective journey to excellence.”
Deputy Director Ron Jarmin blogged about his reflections “on the last year, on our staff and, of course, on our agency.”
The U.S. Census Bureau will offer a two-day embargo period for qualified media to view the Vintage 2023 estimates of total population and components of change for U.S. counties and total population for metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas, and Puerto Rico municipios. These estimates reflect population changes between July 1, 2020, and July 1, 2023.
The Bureau held a webinar on Feb. 22 at 11:30 a.m. ET to show attendees how to use the new “My Community Explorer (MCE) for Puerto Rico 1.0” tool.
The U.S. Census Bureau’s Census Open Innovation Labs announced the launch of Phase 1 of the Address Geolocation Challenge, a new StatVentures competition.
Census Bureau Data Releases
The U.S. Census Bureau released the final, full set of errata tables for the 2020 Census Count Question Resolution (CQR) program.
U.S. nonfarm employer businesses invested $1,899.9 billion in new and used structures and equipment in 2022, up 12.9% from $1,682.1 billion in 2021, according to estimates from the Annual Capital Expenditures Survey (ACES) released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The U.S. Census Bureau released 2020 Island Areas Censuses Detailed Cross Tabulations for Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.
The Bureau released the Grandparents and Their Coresident Grandchildren: 2021 report that provides characteristics of grandparents living with their grandchildren who are under the age of 18.
Women owned 41.1% (11.2 million) and minorities owned 36.7% (10 million) of the nation’s nonemployer businesses (those without paid employees) and had $307.9 billion and $345.1 billion, respectively, in receipts in 2020, according to the new Nonemployer Statistics by Demographics (NES-D) released by the U.S. Census Bureau. There were a total of 27.2 million nonemployer businesses with $1.3 trillion in receipts in 2020.
The U.S. Census Bureau released new data from phase 4.0 of the experimental Household Pulse Survey (HPS) on February 22.
The U.S. Census Bureau released new data products from the Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS), a survey that measures business conditions and projections on an ongoing basis, on February 1, February 15 and February 29.
The U.S. Census Bureau released new Business Formation Statistics (BFS) for January 2024. The BFS provide timely and high frequency information on new business applications and formations in the United States.
News You Can Use
Below are several articles posted on The Census Project home page in February 2024. For a complete listing, go to: https://thecensusproject.org/recent-media/.
Asians and Latinos lead gains in Texas homeownership, according to new report
The Dallas Morning News
February 27, 2024
A New Attempt To Count Americans Of MENA Descent In California
LAist
February 26, 2024
Rep. Fischbach and Sen. Klobuchar Urge U.S. Census Bureau to Resolve Undercounted 2020 Census Numbers
Marshall Radio
February 26, 2024
Map Reveals States With the Most High School Dropouts
Newsweek
February 22, 2024
Census Bureau Makes It Easy to Access State Legislative District Data
National Conference of State Legislatures
February 21, 2024
Proposed Questions on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity for the Census Bureau’s Biggest Survey
Associated Press
February 16, 2024
10 US cities that added the most high-income households
The Kansas City Star
February 13, 2024
Who Are You? The Art and Science of Measuring Identity
Pew Research Center
February 12, 2024
U.S. Census Bureau scraps proposed changes to disability questions
Science
February 7, 2024
Midwest ‘brain drain’ persists. And job opportunity is the main driver
Harvest Public Media
February 2, 2024