What This Bill Does
This bill tells the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy (a group that coordinates how government agencies collect data) to create a plan for collecting statistics about U.S. Territories the same way they collect statistics about the states. The territories included are American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
Who It Affects
The Interagency Council on Statistical Policy and the federal agencies that collect statistics will be directly affected. Local governments in U.S. Territories may also be impacted because they could be asked to participate in federal statistical programs.
Key Provisions
• The head of the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy must publish a list and assessment of current federal statistical programs within 6 months after the law passes, including why certain programs do not collect territory data and what obstacles exist to collecting this data (Sec. 2(a)).
• The head of the Council must submit a detailed plan within 12 months that explains how to collect territory statistics the same way as state statistics, and must include cost estimates for the federal government and local governments (Sec. 2(b)).
• The head of the Council must submit progress reports every year for 2 years after the law passes, and then yearly after that, describing the plan and how it is being implemented (Sec. 2(c)).
• The head of the Council must fully implement the plan within 4 years after the law passes, working with other federal agencies (Sec. 2(d)).
What Changes
If this becomes law, the federal government will work toward collecting and publishing the same types of statistics about U.S. Territories that it currently collects about the states. How this will be done and what it will cost are to be determined by the Council's plan.
Important Definitions
"U.S. Territories" means American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands of the United States (Sec. 3).
Effective Date
Not specified in bill text
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 1400
To direct the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy to develop a plan
to collect and publish statistics regarding the Territories of the United
States in the same manner as statistics are collected and reported by
Federal agencies for the several States, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 7, 2023
Mr. GRIJALVA (for himself, Mr. SABLAN, Ms. PLASKETT, Mr. MOYLAN, Mrs.
GONZA´LEZ-COLO´N, and Mrs. RADEWAGEN) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addi-
tion to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, for a period to
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
A BILL
To direct the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy to
develop a plan to collect and publish statistics regarding
the Territories of the United States in the same manner
as statistics are collected and reported by Federal agen-
cies for the several States, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Territories Statistics
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Collection Equity Act’’.
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•HR 1400 IH
SEC. 2. INCLUDING U.S. TERRITORIES IN FEDERAL STATIS-
1
TICAL PROGRAMS.
2
(a) ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 6 months after the
3
date of the enactment of this Act, the head of the Inter-
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agency Council on Statistical Policy shall publish a list
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and assessment of existing Federal statistical programs
6
that collect and publish data for the U.S. Territories com-
7
parable to the several States. The assessment under this
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subsection shall include the following:
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(1) For each statistical program where a com-
10
parable program for the U.S. Territories does not
11
exist, an explanation as to why the program does not
12
include the U.S. Territories.
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(2) Impediments to data collection, analysis,
14
and publishing with respect to the U.S. Territories.
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(3) A detailed description of the level of local
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government participation required in Federal statis-
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tical programs.
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(b) PLAN.—Not later than 12 months after the date
19
of the enactment of this Act, the head of the Interagency
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Council on Statistical Policy shall submit to the Com-
21
mittee on Natural Resources of the House of Representa-
22
tives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
23
sources of the Senate a plan to collect and publish statis-
24
tics regarding the U.S. Territories in the same manner
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•HR 1400 IH
as statistics are collected and reported by Federal agencies
1
for the several States. The plan shall include—
2
(1) recommendations for including the U.S.
3
Territories in Federal statistical programs; and
4
(2) cost estimates for Federal and local govern-
5
ments for necessary changes to implement the rec-
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ommendations under paragraph (1).
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(c) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date
8
of the enactment of this Act, and every 12 months there-
9
after until the plan is fully implemented, the head of the
10
Interagency Council on Statistical Policy shall submit to
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the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Rep-
12
resentatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural
13
Resources of the Senate a report that includes—
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(1) a description of the plan developed under
15
subsection (a); and
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(2) information on the implementation of such
17
plan.
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(d) IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 4 years after
19
the date of the enactment of this Act, the head of the
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Interagency Council on Statistical Policy, in coordination
21
with the heads of appropriate Federal agencies, shall fully
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implement the plan developed under subsection (a).
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•HR 1400 IH
SEC. 3. U.S. TERRITORIES DEFINED.
1
For the purposes of this Act, the term ‘‘U.S. Terri-
2
tories’’ means American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the
3
Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the
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Virgin Islands of the United States.
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Æ
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