H.R. 8326 · 117th Congress · House

Ensuring a Fair and Accurate Census Act

In Congress· Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Introduced
Jul 11, 22
Passed House
Sep 15, 22
Passed Senate
Pending
Sent to President
Pending
Signed into Law
Pending

Executive Summary

Ensuring a Fair and Accurate Census Act

This bill addresses the operations of the Bureau of the Census.

Specifically, the bill (1) requires the Deputy Director of the bureau to appoint an employee responsible for optimizing racial and ethnic equity in the decennial census of population; and (2) provides statutory authority for specified advisory committees.

The bureau may not include in the census any subject, type of information, or question that was not submitted to Congress.

The bureau must submit to Congress a report biannually that (1) describes each component of the operational plan for the subsequent decennial census of population; and (2) includes a detailed statement on the status of all research, testing, and operations that are part of the bureau's comprehensive plan for the decennial census.

The bureau must submit to Congress a certification stating that any question that has not appeared on the previous two decennial censuses has been researched, studied, and tested according to established statistical policies and procedures.

The Government Accountability Office must review such certification and report to Congress on whether the questions to be included have been researched, studied, and tested according to such policies and procedures.

The bureau, by January 1, 2026, and every 10 years thereafter, must transmit to Congress a lifecycle cost estimate for the decennial census of population first occurring after the date of transmittal.

The bureau must submit to Congress a report on local-level data and local field operations.

Previous Versions

07Sep 9, 2022

Ensuring a Fair and Accurate Census Act

This bill addresses the operations of the Bureau of the Census.

Specifically, the bill (1) permits removal of the Director of the bureau only for cause, and (2) provides statutory authority for specified advisory committees.

The bureau may not include in the census any subject, type of information, or question that was not submitted to Congress.

The bureau must submit to Congress a report biannually that (1) describes each component of the operational plan for the subsequent decennial census of population; and (2) includes a detailed statement on the status of all research, testing, and operations that are part of the bureau's comprehensive plan for the decennial census.

The bureau must submit to Congress a certification stating that any question that has not appeared on the previous two decennial censuses has been researched, studied, and tested according to established statistical policies and procedures.

The Government Accountability Office must review such certification and report to Congress on whether the questions to be included have been researched, studied, and tested according to such policies and procedures.

The bureau, by January 1, 2026, and every 10 years thereafter, must transmit to Congress a lifecycle cost estimate for the decennial census of population first occurring after the date of transmittal. Such estimate shall include

  • an estimate of costs by each fiscal year;
  • estimates of capital versus operating expenses;
  • staffing projections for each year; and
  • assumptions about response rates, wages, and other economic variables.
00Jul 11, 2022

Ensuring a Fair and Accurate Census Act

This bill addresses the operations of the Bureau of the Census.

Specifically, the bill (1) permits removal of the Director of the bureau only for cause, and (2) provides statutory authority for specified advisory committees.

The bureau may not include in the census any subject, type of information, or question that was not submitted to Congress.

The bureau must submit to Congress a report biannually that (1) describes each component of the operational plan for the subsequent decennial census of population; and (2) includes a detailed statement on the status of all research, testing, and operations that are part of the bureau's comprehensive plan for the decennial census.

The bureau must submit to Congress a certification stating that any question that has not appeared on the previous two decennial censuses has been researched, studied, and tested according to established statistical policies and procedures.

The Government Accountability Office must review such certification and report to Congress on whether the questions to be included have been researched, studied, and tested according to such policies and procedures.

Action Timeline

33
  1. SEP 19, 2022IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

  2. SEP 15, 2022Floor

    Considered as unfinished business

    (consideration: CR H7858-7860)

    7858Yea
    7860Nay
    0NV
  3. SEP 15, 2022Floor

    The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

  4. SEP 15, 2022Floor

    UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on agreeing to amendments, which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

  5. SEP 15, 2022Floor

    The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 8326.

  6. SEP 15, 2022Floor

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

  7. SEP 15, 2022Floor

    The House adopted the amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

  8. SEP 15, 2022Floor

    Passed/agreed to in House

    Roll Call #435

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 220 - 208 (Roll no. 435).

    220Yea
    208Nay
    0NV
  9. SEP 15, 2022Floor

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays

    Roll Call #435

    220 - 208 (Roll no. 435).

    220Yea
    208Nay
    0NV
  10. SEP 15, 2022Floor

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  11. SEP 14, 2022Floor

    Rule H

    Res. 1339 passed House.

  12. SEP 14, 2022Floor

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1339. (consideration

    CR H7833-7840; text: CR H7837-7838)

    7833Yea
    7840Nay
    0NV
  13. SEP 14, 2022Floor

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R

    302, H.R. 2988 and H.R. 8326. Rule provides for one hour of general debate each for H.R. 302, H.R. 2988, and H.R. 8326. Rule also provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.

  14. SEP 14, 2022Floor

    House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 1339 and Rule XVIII.

  15. SEP 14, 2022Floor

    The Speaker designated the Honorable Earl Blumenauer to act as Chairman of the Committee.

  16. SEP 14, 2022Floor

    GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 8326.

  17. SEP 14, 2022Floor

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H

    Res. 1339, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Danny K. Davis en bloc amendment.

  18. SEP 14, 2022Floor

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Danny K

    Davis en bloc amendment, the Chair put the question on the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Comer demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.

  19. SEP 14, 2022Floor

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H

    Res. 1339, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hice (GA) amendment No. 2.

  20. SEP 14, 2022Floor

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Hice (GA) amendment, the Chair put the question on the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Hice (GA) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.

  21. SEP 14, 2022Floor

    Mr

    Davis, Danny K. moved that the committee rise.

  22. SEP 14, 2022Floor

    On motion that the committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.

  23. SEP 14, 2022Floor

    Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R

    8326 as unfinished business.

  24. SEP 13, 2022Floor

    Rules Committee Resolution H

    Res. 1339 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 302, H.R. 2988 and H.R. 8326. Rule provides for one hour of general debate each for H.R. 302, H.R. 2988, and H.R. 8326. Rule also provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.

  25. SEP 09, 2022Committee

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Reform. H. Rept. 117-456.

    117Yea
    456Nay
    0NV
  26. SEP 09, 2022Committee

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Reform. H. Rept. 117-456.

    117Yea
    456Nay
    0NV
  27. SEP 09, 2022Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 353.

  28. JUL 20, 2022Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  29. JUL 20, 2022Committee

    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 17.

    25Yea
    17Nay
    0NV
  30. JUL 14, 2022Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  31. JUL 11, 2022IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  32. JUL 11, 2022IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  33. JUL 11, 2022IntroReferral

    Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Committees

5

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

ssga00

Referred: Sep 19, 2022

Active

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

hsgo00

Referred: Sep 9, 2022

Active

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

hsgo00

Referred: Jul 20, 2022

Active

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

hsgo00

Referred: Jul 14, 2022

Active

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

hsgo00

Referred: Jul 11, 2022

Active