With DC subsumed in big picture battles over federal spending and the debt ceiling, the Insights Association recently joined a coalition letter in support of Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) funding for the decennial census and American Community Survey (ACS).
Since accurate data from the decennial and ACS underpin the reliability of statistical sampling for the insights industry, IA joined with dozens of other Census Project stakeholders in requesting from Congress, "$2 billion in funding for the Census Bureau, which represents a $394 million increase above the President’s request, and a $521 million increase from the agency’s FY 2023 enacted level."
Our April 21, 2023 letter recognized the Biden White House "for proposing a slight increase in funding for the Census Bureau," but lamented that "it does not include sufficient additional funding to fully support other priorities identified by the census stakeholder community," such as enhancing the ACS and investing "early and fully in 2030 Census preparations."
IA's continued support for overall funding of the decennial census and ACS does not obviate our ongoing campaign for transparency and competition in the Census Household Panel.
While we admitted in the coalition letter our awareness "of the fiscal challenges facing the FY 2024 CJS appropriations bill and" the many "competing priorities" faced by Congressional appropriators, we highlighted "the consequential role census data play in directing the allocation of federal funding," including "the distribution of over $1.5 trillion in federal funds annually."
As of today, federal leaders have not settled on a deal to raise the federal debt ceiling or approved an overall budget. Without that topline budget number, Congress can't determine how to divvy up appropriations allowances for the various legislative sub-areas, including the Commerce Justice Science (CJS) Appropriations bill, which funds the Census Bureau. So, we don't yet know when House and Senate Appropriations Committees will mark up their legislation, or what it may look like.
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.