117 HR 8593 IH: Territories Statistics Collection Equity Act U.S. House of Representatives 2022-07-29 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I117th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 8593IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJuly 29, 2022Mr. Grijalva (for himself, Mr. Sablan, Ms. Plaskett, Mr. San Nicolas, Miss González-Colón, and Mrs. Radewagen) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedA BILLTo 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.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Territories Statistics Collection Equity Act.

2.

Including U.S. Territories in Federal statistical programs

(a)

Assessment

Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the head of the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy shall publish a list and assessment of existing Federal statistical programs that collect and publish data for the U.S. Territories comparable to the several States. The assessment under this subsection shall include the following:(1)For each statistical program where a comparable program for the U.S. Territories does not exist, an explanation as to why the program does not include the U.S. Territories.(2)Impediments to data collection, analysis, and publishing with respect to the U.S. Territories.(3)A detailed description of the level of local government participation required in Federal statistical programs.(b)

Plan

Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the head of the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a plan to collect and publish statistics regarding the U.S. Territories in the same manner as statistics are collected and reported by Federal agencies for the several States. The plan shall include—(1)recommendations for including the U.S. Territories in Federal statistical programs; and(2)cost estimates for Federal and local governments for necessary changes to implement the recommendations under paragraph (1).(c)

Report

Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 12 months thereafter until the plan is fully implemented, the head of the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that includes—(1)a description of the plan developed under subsection (a); and(2)information on the implementation of such plan.(d)

Implementation

Not later than 4 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the head of the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy, in coordination with the heads of appropriate Federal agencies, shall fully implement the plan developed under subsection (a).

3.

U.S. Territories defined

For the purposes of this Act, the term U.S. Territories means American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands of the United States.