Jay Rockefeller: “today I rise to introduce a resolution on the importance of quality data from the Census Bureau, including the American…”

“today I rise to introduce a resolution on the importance of quality data from the Census Bureau, including the American Community Survey. I am proud to introduce this resolution as a companion to the similar House legislation by my distinguished colleague, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney. The Congresswoman has shown real leadership on this issue and I am eager to work with her to highlight the importance and significance of quality data for good government oversight and management, as well as helping American businesses. Each year, more than $400 billion Federal dollars are distributed to local communities based on the data from the American Community Survey. This survey is the largest data set of its kind, and helps strategically target federal funding for a broad range of programs for health care, transportation and education. The American Community Survey has improves data for the Child Health Insurance Program, CHIP, that means so much to vulnerable children. Another specific and compelling example is how law enforcement uses the data to predict criminal activities like methamphetamine production. Local communities use the survey to choose locations for new schools, hospitals, and fire stations. The survey is also important to American business. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Retail Federation, and the National Association of Home Builders support investments in this survey.…”