Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015

Floor Speech

Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas.

As a longtime supporter of the Census Bureau's work and the American Community Survey, I urge the Committee to keep this survey as current law provides.
The ACS is a vital resource for all of us in Congress, the federal agencies, and private businesses.

The accurate, timely data collected through this survey is the basis for over $415 billion allocated by the federal government to states and localities--over two-thirds of all federal grant funding.

Accurate data ensures that these federal dollars go where they are needed--and where Congress intended. This amendment would undermine the accuracy of the ACS and deprive our agencies of this vital information.

But it's not just government. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its members know the value of census data. The Chamber stated that ``ACS data points are critical for business decision-making and long range planning.''

Businesses from restaurants, to retailers, to developers know that accurate information about our population is critical for their marketing and expansion activity. This amendment would remove a crucial recourse that helps businesses expand and create jobs.

What's more, we know what would happen if this amendment passes.
In 2003, the Census Bureau tested a voluntary ACS to disastrous results. Response rates plummeted by at least 20 percent, and in 2012, the Bureau estimated that a voluntary survey maintaining the current reliability would cost taxpayers an additional $120 million each year.

A voluntary response survey would especially undermine our information about rural areas and low-income households. The Census Project estimates that with the change proposed by this amendment, the Bureau could not publish data for up to 40 percent of all counties in the country.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to look beyond the quick headline or talking point, and truly understand the importance of the American Community Survey.
For policymakers, for researchers, for businesses--this data set helps answer our most pressing questions.

This misguided amendment will undermine the ACS and deprive all Americans of this critically important information.

Source