Census
As the former ranking member of the Subcommittee on Federalism and the Census, I fought to ensure that the 2000 and 2010 Census would be fair and accurate. The importance of accurate data cannot be minimized. Decennial census data is used to ensure fair representation and the fair distribution of federal funds.
I’m working to defend the American Community Survey and Economic Census from efforts to eliminate their funding. These surveys are among the most detailed and useful to the public and private sectors. In the midst of economic times like these, it’s self-defeating for government to eliminate tools for job creators.
I have worked hard to preserve the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) and its funding when it was threatened by the Bush Administration. The SIPP was created by the Census Bureau in 1984 to gather more detailed information about the impact of government aid on people’s lives and how people move in and out of government programs. The SIPP also provides more in-depth information than other government surveys on work-family issues, such as maternity leave, child care usage and costs, and the work schedules of couples.I have worked successfully with my colleagues to secure full funding for the SIPP and keep this vital program intact.
The Founding Fathers’ recognition of the need for fully representative government which put power in the hands of the people was unprecedented at the time of the Constitution’s adoption. The modern decennial census is a uniquely American invention. It is indispensable to the basic principles of democratic representation that the decennial census is seen by the American public to be completely independent and nonpartisan.
Legislation
08/02/2012 - H.Con.Res. 136, Expressing the sense of Congress that the census surveys and the information derived from thosse surveys are crucial to the national welfare [112th Congress]
03/25/10 – H.R. 4945, Census Oversight Efficiency and Management Reform Act
02/09/10 – H.R. 4621, Prevent Deceptive Census Look Alike Mailings Act
03/03/09 – H.R. 1254, Restoring the Integrity of American Statistics Act
09/25/08 – H.R. 7069, Restoring the Integrity of American Statistics Act
03/12/08 – H.R. 5599, Legislation to designate the new Census Bureau Headquarters for Thomas Jefferson
02/02/05 - H.R.564, Just Apportionment of Representatives in Congress
Documents/Reports
04/10/12 – Letter from NYC Representatives to Census Director Groves responding to 2010 Census CQR decision
03/19/12 – Letter from Census Director Groves to NYC Mayor Bloomberg on 2010 Census CQR review
10/27/11 - Six former Census Directors write to House Appropriators concerned with budget cuts to Census Bureau and Economic Survey
07/13/11 – Letter to House Appropriators expressing concern over Fiscal Year 2012 Census Bureau budget cuts
07/13/2011 - Letter to Appropriations leadership opposing Census Bureau cuts in FY 2012 CJS Appropriations
03/27/09 - CRS Memo, "Undercount of Racial and Ethnic Minorities in the Decennial Census"
10/15/07 - Response Letter from Department of Commerce Regarding Funding
10/15/07 - Enclosure of Response Letter from Department of Commerce Regarding Funding
10/11/07 - Letter to Department of Commerce Regarding Funding
10/10/07 - Response Letter from Office of Management and Budget Regarding Continuing Resolution
Links
Links
Joint Economic Committee hearing, “The Economic Impact of Ending or Reducing Funding for the American Community Survey and other Government Statistics” (June 19, 2012)
Census Director Groves blog post, “A Future Without Key Social and Economic Statistics for the Country” (May 11, 2012)
Making Sense of the Census: A Document on Where the Census Stands: archived information on the 2000 Census from Representative Maloney's old website
