While the Insights Association was unable to get legislation passed before the end of 2020 to extend the reporting deadlines for 2020 Census data, to ensure enough time to finish processing, review and analysis after the chaos and delays driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Census Bureau could not deliver the Trump Administration useful data in the demanded timeframe (i.e., before the President had to leave office).
Along the lines of the legislation we had advocated last year to give the Census Bureau more time, the Bureau announced recently that it would not be able to report 2020 Census state-level results for purposes of apportionment until approximately April 30.
The more useful data release – detailed redistricting data – won’t be ready until the end of September. "The redistricting data includes counts of population by race, ethnicity (Hispanic or Latino origin), voting age, housing occupancy status, and group quarters population, all at the census block level. This is the information that states need to redraw or “redistrict” their legislative boundaries."
Allowing the Bureau this necessary time was a key recommendation IA made to the incoming Biden Administration back in December. Gina Raimondo, nominee to run the Commerce Department, appears to support these moves as well.
While the process has been messy, the end result sought by the Insights Association and our Census Project coalition seems to have been achieved: the Bureau will have the opportunity to produce the most accurate and complete decennial census results.
About the Author
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.