Title
Authorizing the Committee on Law and Government to hold hearings on the Dicennial 2020 Census.
Body
WHEREAS, Every decade since 1790, as required by the Constitution, the federal government has undertaken a census of its people, the accuracy and fairness of which serves the interests of both political parties and of every citizen. The decennial count is used to apportion seats in the House of Representatives and set the boundaries of congressional districts. It determines how tens of billions of dollars in federal aid are divvied up; and
WHEREAS, the Census provides important data for the analysis and appraisal of the changing patterns of rural/urban movement and concentration, the development of urbanized areas, geographical distribution of the population according to such variables as occupation and education, its socio-economic characteristics and labor force; and
WHEREAS, it also aids in decision making processes of the private sector. Population size and characteristics influence the location of businesses and services that satisfy the needs of the target population. The decennial census constitutes the principal source of records for use as a sampling frame for the household surveys during the years between censuses; and
WHEREAS, The 10-year cycle census requires consistent annual investments in new approaches and technologies, followed a spending ramp up, which includes extensive testing, hiring and publicity in the final few years to implement everything needed for census day and the extensive follow-up of those who haven't answered out the 10-question survey. For the past few years, Congress has appropriated less than the agency had requested, forcing officials to eliminate some exercises and skimp on preparations; and
WHEREAS, Congress passed its spending bill giving the Census Bureau $2.814 billion in the current fiscal year. The appropriation tops, by more than $1 billion, the $987 million Commerce Secretary Ross said the 2020 ...
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