From: Benjamin Taylor FED) [benjamin.k.taylor@census.gov]

Sent: 12/28/2017 3:25:58 PM
To: Ron 5 Jarmin FED) [Ron.S.Jarmin@census.gov]
Subject: Re: quick question

Attachments: FINAL - Section - Census 2020 Policy updatedocx; Census -- Vitter 13 and 1Year.doc

Ron,
I was not able to locate or remember documents from that time period. I also searched public SAPS on appropriations and
other bills from the time period, as that is likely where a statement would have been made. I did locate a couple items,
which could be of use.

0 Transition Paper for the 2020 Census that I authored while here at Census from September 2016 to February
2017, which was heavily reviewed by John/Nancy/DOC/OMB/Landing Teams, and was technically considered public.
Relevant text below, full document attached:

Hot Topic - Content offhe 2020 Census. Topics due to Congress March 31, 2017; questions due March 31, 2018.

As we prepare for the 2020 Census, we have been conducting research on several key dimensions of race and ethnicity
questions and other demographic characteristics. Our current questions do not satisfy concerns from an increasingly
diverse population that their population group will be accurately counted. These include new or modi?ed questions
about:

 

. middle-eastern and North-African populations
. sexual orientation and gender identity

. American Indian and Alaska Native

. native Hawaiian and Asian populations

. Hispanic populations.

Additionally, requests to add citizenship and legal status could become a larger issue later in the decade. While
citizenship is already covered on the ACS, we do not ask about legal status in any of our collections. Asking such a
question will likely provide poor results and lead to claims that we are deliberately attempting to undercount populations
and areas that contain undocumented immigrants.

The Census Bureau has a rigid schedule in content ?nalization, forms design, and printing, which can bring about large
unanticipated costs if disrupted late in the decade. Additionally, the inclusion or exclusion of various topics or their
questions could be controversial with the public and with Congress. For these reasons, the Census Bureau will require
ESA, DOC, and Administration support on the ?nal topics and questions, including active communications and legislative
outreach strategies.

. Also attached a somewhat interesting document I found in my OMB papers that was the response in 2009 to a
late push to change the form for the 2010 Census. It focused much more on operational costs due to how late it was,
and only hinted at hits to response rate and data quality, but it was pretty thorough and worth a quick look.

Let me know if you have any questions on these artifacts, and if I can find anything else to help.

Ben

 

0008617

Ben Taylor

Chief

Decennial Budget Of?ce
US. Census Bureau 2H085

301-763-4032 (0) 

From: Ron Jarmin FED)
Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2017 9:25 AM
To: Benjamin Taylor FED)
Subject: quick question

Ben,
If you have a minute, could you give me a quick call?

Thanks

Ron Jarmin, 

Associate Director for Economic Programs, and

Performing the Non-Exclusive Functions and Duties of the Director
US. Census Bureau

Office 301.763.1858, Ron.S.Jarmin@census.gov

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