Articles

09Sep

IA Again Asks Congress for More Census Bureau Resources in FY23

The Insights Association, in concert with Census Project coalition allies, is urging Congress to help address "the many challenges and opportunities facing the U.S. Census Bureau" by providing at least $1.505 billion in funding in Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23).

Per the September 8, 2022 letter, the coalition asked the House and Senate "that the final FY 2023 CJS appropriations bill provide the Census Bureau with at least $1.505 billion—an amount approved by the House Appropriations Committee. This funding (which includes $336,176,000 for Current Surveys and Programs and $1,169,294,000 for Periodic Census and Programs) represents a modest $151.5 million increase from the FY 2022 enacted level, as the President proposed in his request. The draft Senate CJS bill recommends $20 million less than the House funding level, a reduction we believe will prevent the Bureau from pursuing important cost-saving methodologies for future statistics in a timely way."

The House Appropriations Committee approved their CJS appropriations bill on June 28, 2022 by a 31-24 vote. The Senate Appropriations Committee skipped regular order, with committee Democrats releasing their CJS bill at the end of July (including language we've been seeking on transparency for the Ask U.S. Panel).

While the Insights Association supports a lot more funding - $2 billion was our ask earlier this year -- the House of Representatives seems to have set the ceiling for FY23 census funding.

About the Author

Howard Fienberg

Based in Washington, DC, Howard is the Insights Association's lobbyist for the marketing research and data analytics industry, focusing primarily on consumer privacy and data security, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), tort reform, and the funding and integrity of the decennial Census and the American Community Survey (ACS). Howard has more than two decades of public policy experience. Before the Insights Association, he worked in Congress as senior legislative staffer for then-Representatives Christopher Cox (CA-48) and Cliff Stearns (FL-06). He also served more than four years with a science policy think tank, working to improve the understanding of scientific and social research and methodology among journalists and policymakers. Howard is also co-director of The Census Project, a 900+ member coalition in support of a fair and accurate Census and ACS. He has also served previously on the Board of Directors for the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics and and the Association of Government Relations Professionals. Howard has an MA International Relations from the University of Essex in England and a BA Honors Political Studies from Trent University in Canada, and has obtained the Certified Association Executive (CAE), Professional Lobbying Certificate (PLC) and the Public Policy Certificate (PPC). When not running advocacy for the Insights Association, Howard enjoys hockey, NFL football, sci-fi and horror movies, playing with his dog, and spending time with family and friends.