I just received this from Terriann regarding the current Census omnibus
spending bill.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Census funding news
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 2004 11:53:44 EST
From: Terriann2K(a)aol.com
To: Terriann2K(a)aol.com
Hello, census stakeholders.I have good news to report with regard to
funding for the American Community Survey (ACS) in fiscal year 2005, but
also some cautions with regard to overall funding for the Census
Bureau. In addition, Congress has addressed concerns about proposed
changes in the race question. Please bear in mind that the $388 billion
omnibus spending bill Congress is considering today was printed late
yesterday and is not widely available yet, so we haven't seen all of the
language. (Yes, Congress is voting on a massive spending bill that most
Members have barely seen. It's a little scary!) I will send out any
clarifications in funding levels as they become available in the coming
days. Apparently, all non-defense federal programs will be subject to a
0.75 percent across-the-board cut, and I do not yet know specifically
how that will affect the numbers cited below. The omnibus spending bill
that includes funding for the Commerce Department (and most other
non-defense/non-homeland security federal agencies) allocates $146
million ($146M) for the ACS, the amount provided in the House bill.
That is $19M below the request of $165M, which means that group quarters
(e.g. college dorms, military barracks, nursing homes, etc.) will not be
included in the ACS in 2005. The bill also includes roughly $82M for the
MAF/TIGER enhancements program (part of 2010 census funding), about $3M
less than requested. Funding for Periodic Censuses and Programs is about
$54M below the budget request of $608M. The Periodics account includes
decennial census planning (2010 redesign, the ACS, and MAF/TIGER
improvements), as well as demographic estimates (e.g. intercensal pop
estimates, Demographic Analysis) and the Economic Census and Census of
Governments, among other programs. So 2010 census redesign and/or other
programs in this account will have to bear the brunt of the cut. Funding
for the second main Bureau account, Salaries and Expenses, is reportedly
$22M below the budget request of $220M. This account funds ongoing
statistical programs and surveys that measure social, economic, and
demographic characteristics. Finally, Congress included legislative
language that essentially requires the Census Bureau to include a "Some
Other Race" category in the race question. As many of you know, Census
has been testing a revised race question that drops Some Other Race from
the categories. I really think that the letters of support many of you
sent to Congress in recent weeks, in support of ACS funding, made a
difference. (A big thank you to David McMillen, House Government
Committee minority staff, for coordinating receipt and delivery of those
letters to key appropriators.) The letters let Congress know that a
broad range of stakeholders were very interested in this program. I
leave you with a final thought: We were successful in securing funding
for the ACS this year, but the fight is not over and it is not smooth
sailing from here. Given the tight federal budget situation, the Census
Bureau made out reasonably well. It's overall funding level apparently
is $130M over fiscal year 2004 (it had requested an increase of about
$204M). But the federal budget will continue to get tighter for the
forseeable future, and any whittling of ACS funding from year to year is
likely to affect sample size and the reliability of small area and small
population estimates. Remember that ACS funding barely survived a vote
on the House floor last July, competing in an amendment with a popular
program for community policing. If the House had cut ACS funding, there
would have been nothing to negotiate in conference. The long term
challenge for the Census Bureau, in light of ACS funding, is to contain
the cost of a 2010 census that does not include a long form. I wish you
all a happy and safe Thanksgiving!Terri Ann Terri Ann Lowenthal
Legislative & Policy Consultant
Washington, DC 20024
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