HR 4085 IH

To amend title 13, United States Code, to provide that decennial census questionnaires be limited to requesting only the information required by the Constitution.

March 23, 2000

Mr. PAUL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform

To amend title 13, United States Code, to provide that decennial census questionnaires be limited to requesting only the information required by the Constitution.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. LIMITATION ON INFORMATION THAT MAY BE REQUESTED ON CENSUS QUESTIONNAIRES.

(a) In General - Section 141(a) of title 13, United States Code, is amended by striking the last sentence and inserting the following: "In connection with any such census, the Secretary is authorized to request no information aside from the number of individuals residing in or staying at a particular address or location, and the names of those individuals.".

(b) Conforming Amendment - Section 141(f) of title 13, United States Code, is amended by striking the matter following "census -" and inserting the following:

"(1) not later than 2 years before the appopriate census date, a report containing the Secretary's determination of the questions proposed to be included in such census; and

"(2) after submission of a report under paragraph (1) and before the appropriate census date, if the Secretary finds new circumstances exist which necessitate that the questions contained in a report so submitted be modified, a report containing the Secretary's determination of the questions as proposed to be modified.".

END