[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1619 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1619
To provide for a test census of Americans residing abroad, and to
require that such individuals be included in the 2010 decennial census.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 3, 2003
Mrs. Maloney (for herself, Mr. Petri, and Mr. McNulty) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Government
Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for a test census of Americans residing abroad, and to
require that such individuals be included in the 2010 decennial census.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Census of Americans Abroad Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) an estimated 3,000,000 to 6,000,000 Americans live and
work overseas while continuing to vote and pay taxes in the
United States;
(2) Americans residing abroad help increase exports of
American goods because they traditionally buy American, sell
American, and create business opportunities for American
companies and workers, thereby strengthening the United States
economy, creating jobs in the United States, and extending
United States influence around the globe;
(3) with the growing threat of terrorism against Americans
who live around the world, the need to account for the number
of Americans residing in different countries is even more
important;
(4) Americans residing abroad play a key role in advancing
this Nation's interests by serving as economic, political, and
cultural ``ambassadors'' of the United States; and
(5) the major business, civic, and community organizations
representing Americans and companies of the United States
abroad support the counting of all Americans residing abroad by
the Bureau of the Census, and are prepared to assist the Bureau
of the Census in this task.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the Bureau of the Census should undertake a test census
of Americans residing in selected countries abroad, and that
the necessary funding should be appropriated for this purpose;
(2) the Bureau of the Census should, after completing that
test census, review the means by which Americans residing
abroad may be included in the 2010 decennial census;
(3) based on its review (described in paragraph (2)), the
Bureau of the Census should again test methodologies that would
provide for the counting of Americans residing abroad; and
(4) the Bureau of the Census should take appropriate
measures to provide for the inclusion of Americans residing
abroad in the 2010 decennial census and decennial censuses
thereafter.
SEC. 3. COUNTING OF AMERICANS RESIDING ABROAD.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Commerce shall--
(1) using any authorities available to the Secretary under
section 182 or any other provision of title 13, United States
Code, take a test census of Americans residing abroad by
September 30, 2004;
(2) submit the final tabulations of the test census to the
President and Congress within 9 months after the date specified
in paragraph (1), broken down into appropriate categories,
including--
(A) Americans residing abroad affiliated with the
Federal Government, and their dependents; and
(B) Americans residing abroad not affiliated with
the Federal Government, and their dependents;
(3) not later than June 30, 2005, submit to the President
and Congress a report containing any recommendations the
Secretary may have with respect to the inclusion of Americans
residing abroad in future decennial censuses, including--
(A) counting methodologies;
(B) the purposes for which any information could or
should be used; and
(C) whether Americans residing abroad can be
included in the 2010 decennial census for purposes of
the apportionment of Representatives in Congress among
the several States and, if so, how that should be done;
(4) after submitting the report required by paragraph (3),
but before the end of 2006, again test methodologies for
counting Americans residing abroad; and
(5) take appropriate measures--
(A) to provide for the inclusion of Americans
residing abroad in the 2010 decennial census and
decennial censuses thereafter; and
(B) to make use of the information obtained from
such censuses for such purposes as, and to the maximum
extent that, the Secretary considers feasible and
appropriate.
(b) Confidentiality of Information; Penalties.--The provisions of
section 9 and chapter 7 of title 13, United States Code, shall apply
with respect to the test census.
(c) Limited Use of Data.--The data obtained from the test census
may not be used for any purpose not specifically provided for under
this section.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
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