[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1839 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1839

 To improve Federal population surveys by requiring the collection of 
  voluntary, self-disclosed information on sexual orientation, gender 
identity, and variations in sex characteristics in certain surveys, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 7, 2023

  Ms. Baldwin (for herself, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Booker, Ms. Warren, Mr. 
 Blumenthal, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Fetterman, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. 
  Murray, Mr. Markey, Mr. Whitehouse, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Brown, Mr. 
Menendez, and Mr. Cardin) introduced the following bill; which was read 
     twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
                          Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To improve Federal population surveys by requiring the collection of 
  voluntary, self-disclosed information on sexual orientation, gender 
identity, and variations in sex characteristics in certain surveys, and 
                          for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) In its 2023 Federal Evidence Agenda on LGBTQI+ Equity, 
        the Subcommittee on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and 
        Variations in Sex Characteristics (in this section referred to 
        as ``SOGI'') Data that operates as part of the Subcommittee on 
        Equitable Data of the National Science and Technology Council 
        found that--
                    (A) SOGI data collection can and should become part 
                of standard demographic data collection throughout 
                Federal agencies; and
                    (B) the collection of quality data on LGBTQI+ 
                populations is essential for evidence-based 
                policymaking and programmatic decision making.
            (2) The National Academies on Sciences, Engineering, and 
        Medicine (in this section referred to as ``NASEM''), in their 
        2022 report, found that complete and accurate demographic 
        information on the LGBTQI+ community should be standardized and 
        collected.
            (3) Comprehensive statistics are needed to inform public 
        policy and Federal programs.
            (4) The availability of data also has a critical role in 
        ensuring that any disparities in areas like health outcomes, 
        housing, and employment can be addressed.
            (5) As of the March release of the NASEM report, limited 
        Federal surveys collect data on sexual orientation and gender, 
        with none currently measuring intersex populations.
            (6) The integrity of the Federal statistical system relies 
        on the ability of agencies to determine the content of their 
        statistical surveys based on considerations of relevance, 
        timeliness, accuracy, objectivity, and ability to maintain 
        confidentiality.

SEC. 3. REQUIREMENT TO COLLECT DATA ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER 
              IDENTITY, AND VARIATIONS IN SEX CHARACTERISTICS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
            (2) Covered survey.--The term ``covered survey'' means a 
        survey that includes demographic data in which--
                    (A) a subject self-reports information; or
                    (B) a knowledgeable proxy (including a proxy of a 
                deceased individual, if applicable) provides 
                information about the subject or responds for all 
                individuals in a household.
            (3) Demographic data.--The term ``demographic data'' means 
        information about the race or ethnicity, sex, and age of a 
        survey participant or population.
            (4) Gender identity.--The term ``gender identity'' means 
        the gender-related identity, appearance, mannerism, or other 
        gender-related characteristic of an individual, regardless of 
        the designated sex at birth of the individual.
            (5) Sexual orientation.--The term ``sexual orientation'' 
        means how a person identifies in terms of their emotional, 
        romantic, or sexual attraction, and includes identification as 
        straight, heterosexual, gay, lesbian, or bisexual, among other 
        terms.
            (6) Survey.--The term ``survey''--
                    (A) means a data collection activity involving a 
                questionnaire for a sample of a population; and
                    (B) includes the decennial census.
            (7) Variations in sex characteristics.--The term 
        ``variations in sex characteristics''--
                    (A) means a physical trait present at birth or 
                naturally occurring at a later time, including 
                genitals, gonads, hormone function, and chromosome 
                patterns, that differs from normative expectations for 
                male or female bodies regarding the development, 
                appearance, or function of sex-related characteristics; 
                and
                    (B) is sometimes referred to as intersex traits.
    (b) Survey Requirement.--Not later than 360 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the head of any agency that collects information 
through a covered survey for statistical purposes shall establish data 
standards that require, with regard to the survey, the following:
            (1) Review.--The review of covered surveys to determine in 
        which surveys information about sexual orientation, gender 
        identity, and variations in sex characteristics is not 
        included.
            (2) Methods.--An identification of appropriate methods to 
        include questions on sexual orientation, gender identity, and 
        variations in sex characteristics in covered surveys that 
        facilitate categorization and voluntary participation and 
        preserve privacy and confidentiality, including protocols for 
        anonymizing data collected and destroying personally 
        identifiable information at the appropriate time and not later 
        than 3 years after the date on which the information is 
        collected.
            (3) Data collection.--The use of the appropriate methods 
        identified in paragraph (2) to gather data on sexual 
        orientation, gender identity, and variations in sex 
        characteristics for any survey identified in paragraph (1).
            (4) Assessment.--The implementation of a process to 
        routinely assess needed changes in covered survey methods 
        related to asking questions on sexual orientation, gender 
        identity, and variations in sex characteristics.
    (c) Data Reports; Waiver.--
            (1) Data reports.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, any report published by an agency that 
        relies on covered survey demographic data shall include 
        information on sexual orientation, gender identity, and 
        variations in sex characteristics.
            (2) Waiver.--The statistical official (as described in 
        section 314 of title 5, United States Code) of each agency, or 
        the head of the agency, for any agency that does not have a 
        statistical official, may waive the requirement under paragraph 
        (1), on a case-by-case basis, if--
                    (A) the laws, policies, and standards described in 
                subsection (d) cannot be met; or
                    (B) adding such information to the survey would 
                impair the ability of the agency to preserve the 
                utility, accuracy, or objectivity of the survey while 
                also generating relevant evidence about the LGBTQI+ 
                community.
    (d) Confidentiality.--Any information collected relating to the 
sexual orientation, gender identity, or variations in sex 
characteristics of a covered survey participant shall be maintained in 
accordance with applicable confidentiality and privacy laws, policies, 
and standards.
    (e) Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to 
require an individual to disclose their sexual orientation, gender 
identity, or variations in sex characteristics to an agency.
    (f) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to 
Congress a report on the implementation of the requirements of this Act 
by agencies, including how the implementation of those requirements by 
agencies affected the provision of services to persons according to the 
gender identity, sexual orientation, and variations in sex 
characteristics of the persons.
    (g) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to permit the use of information collected under this section 
in a manner that--
            (1) would adversely affect any individual; or
            (2) is inconsistent with disclosure limitations established 
        in any other law.
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