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H.R. 8326 117th Congress House

Ensuring a Fair and Accurate Census Act

Official title: To amend title 13, United States Code, to improve the operations of the Bureau of the Census, and for other purposes.

Introduced: July 11, 2022 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Advisory bodiesBudget processCensus and government statisticsCongressional oversight
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Department of CommerceExecutive agency funding and structureFederal officialsGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsRacial and ethnic relations
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 30 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 19, 2022
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Sep 15, 2022
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 15, 2022
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 220 - 208 (Roll no. 435).
Sep 15, 2022
The House adopted the amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Sep 15, 2022
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Sep 15, 2022
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 8326.
Sep 15, 2022
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on agreeing to amendments, which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
Sep 15, 2022
The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
Sep 15, 2022
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7858-7860)
Sep 14, 2022
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 8326 as unfinished business.
Sep 14, 2022
On motion that the committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
Sep 14, 2022
Mr. Davis, Danny K. moved that the committee rise.
Sep 14, 2022
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Hice (GA) amendment, the Chair put the question on the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Hice (GA) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
Sep 14, 2022
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1339, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hice (GA) amendment No. 2.
Sep 14, 2022
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Danny K. Davis en bloc amendment, the Chair put the question on the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Comer demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
Sep 14, 2022
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1339, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Danny K. Davis en bloc amendment.
Sep 14, 2022
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 8326.
Sep 14, 2022
The Speaker designated the Honorable Earl Blumenauer to act as Chairman of the Committee.
Sep 14, 2022
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 1339 and Rule XVIII.
Sep 14, 2022
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 302, H.R. 2988 and H.R. 8326. Rule provides for one hour of general debate each for H.R. 302, H.R. 2988, and H.R. 8326. Rule also provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.
Sep 14, 2022
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1339. (consideration: CR H7833-7840; text: CR H7837-7838)
Sep 14, 2022
Rule H. Res. 1339 passed House.
Sep 13, 2022
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1339 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 302, H.R. 2988 and H.R. 8326. Rule provides for one hour of general debate each for H.R. 302, H.R. 2988, and H.R. 8326. Rule also provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.
Sep 9, 2022
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 353.
Sep 9, 2022
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Reform. H. Rept. 117-456.
Jul 20, 2022
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 17.
Jul 20, 2022
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jul 14, 2022
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jul 11, 2022
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
Jul 11, 2022
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Sep 15, 2022 House · vote #435 On Passage Passed 220–208 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 2

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 agreed to 1 failed

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
HAMDT 316 – Amendment sought to eliminate for-cause removal requirements of the Director of the Census Bureau, strike the… Failed Sep 15, 2022
HAMDT 315 Davis, Danny K. Amendments en bloc comprised of amendments numbered 1 and 3, printed in Part E of House Report 117-464. Agreed to Sep 15, 2022
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 Latest action September 19, 2022

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Ensuring a Fair and Accurate Census Act

This bill addresses the operations of the Bureau of the Census.

Specifically, the bill (1) requires the Deputy Director of the bureau to appoint an employee responsible for optimizing racial and ethnic equity in the decennial census of population; and (2) provides statutory authority for specified advisory committees.

The bureau may not include in the census any subject, type of information, or question that was not submitted to Congress.

The bureau must submit to Congress a report biannually that (1) describes each component of the operational plan for the subsequent decennial census of population; and (2) includes a detailed statement on the status of all research, testing, and operations that are part of the bureau's comprehensive plan for the decennial census.

The bureau must submit to Congress a certification stating that any question that has not appeared on the previous two decennial censuses has been researched, studied, and tested according to established statistical policies and procedures.

The Government Accountability Office must review such certification and report to Congress on whether the questions to be included have been researched, studied, and tested according to such policies and procedures.

The bureau, by January 1, 2026, and every 10 years thereafter, must transmit to Congress a lifecycle cost estimate for the decennial census of population first occurring after the date of transmittal.

The bureau must submit to Congress a report on local-level data and local field operations.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • S 5270 Ensuring a Fair and Accurate Census Act
  • HRES 1339 Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 302) to impose limits on excepting competitive service positions from the…
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1
D
Connolly, Gerald E.
Virginia · Jul 13, 2022
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 8326: Ensuring a Fair and Accurate Census Act. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-8326/
MLA
"H.R. 8326: Ensuring a Fair and Accurate Census Act." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-8326/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 8326, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-8326/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 8326: Ensuring a Fair and Accurate Census Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-8326/)
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