[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 165 (Tuesday, October 24, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H10696]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      THE NEED FOR AN INDEPENDENT, CONSOLIDATED STATISTICAL AGENCY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Horn] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, today on behalf of myself, Mr. Clinger, Mr. 
Petri, Mrs. Johnson, Mr. Chrysler, Mr. Davis, Mr. Ehlers, Mr. 
Faleomavaega, Mr. Hobson, Mr. Knollenberg, Mr. Leach, and Mr. Rogers, I 
introduced the Statistical Consolidation Act of 1995. It would create a 
Federal Statistical Service which would combine the functions of the 
Bureaus of the Census and Labor Statistics, one in Commerce, one in 
Labor, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
  A core principle of the Republican majority is that government is too 
big and costs too much, and that we should seek economies wherever we 
might. The new Federal Statistical Service would streamline and improve 
the quality and efficiency of key data production, which affects not 
only the apportionment of Congress, the State legislatures, the boards 
of supervisors and city councils, but also business, the allocation of 
Federal and State programs, and many industry functions across the 
country.
  Duplication of effort hampers the collection of statistical data. 
Both the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Bureau of the Census 
collect data on the Nation's small businesses. The results are not only 
a wasted effort, but inconsistent and even contradictory findings. 
Public and private sector planning relies heavily on the accuracy of 
these statistics, which are collected through an assortment of sources.
  The Nation needs better coordination and planning among its 
statistical agencies, to make Federal programs more responsive to the 
needs of our citizens. Lack of coordination has limited the usefulness 
of the data.
  Senator Abraham Ribicoff, Democrat of Connecticut, a number of years 
ago saw the same need for change. He introduced the Statistical Policy 
Act of 1980. This Statistical Consolidation Act of 1995 takes many 
provisions from Senator Ribicoff's very far-reaching legislation. It is 
designed to remove duplication, harness information and technology, and 
streamline the collection and utilization of statistical data.
  Some of you may ask, why not consolidate all statistical agencies, as 
Canada did with its Statistics Canada. After all, if Canada can do it, 
so can the United States. Canada, however, is not an example of 
complete consolidation. In fact, many of Canada's statistics come from 
sources other than Statistics Canada. In addition, the United States 
has nine times as many people and more complex statistical tasks than 
does the Government of Canada.

  The new Federal Statistical Service would be headed by an 
Administrator nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. 
Other officials to be nominated by the President with the advice and 
consent of the Senate are the Deputy Administrator, general counsel, 
and inspector general.
  Also established is a Federal Council on Statistical Policy to advise 
the Administrator and the President. On the Council would be statistics 
and survey professional experts from outside the Government, who would 
make policy recommendations to both the President and the 
Administrator.
  The bill, when enacted, would trigger several events. Not later than 
12 months after enactment, the new Federal Council would report to 
Congress on the consolidation of Census and Bureau of Labor Statistics 
field offices and on the savings possible from the merger. At the same 
time, the Council would provide a report on the feasibility of 
separating the decennial census mission from the rest of the Census 
Bureau. That action is in the bill to help Congress and the Nation 
grasp the cost of the decennial census.
  Finally, within 18 months after enactment, the Council would 
recommend to Congress any changes in the procedure for releasing major 
social and economic indicators.
  A well-informed electorate with access to knowledge of the state of 
the society is the cornerstone of a proper working democracy. Decisions 
based on the output of the Federal statistical system affects every 
citizen. That system is called upon to serve the voters of today and 
tomorrow. It is on their intelligent choices that the success of our 
democracy ultimately depends.
  There must be better coordination and planning among these 
statistical agencies so that programs are more responsive to the needs 
of the Federal Government. It is my hope this bill will be passed as a 
bipartisan effort. The passage of this measure will not only mean 
better coordination, but it will also ensure independence from partisan 
influences, which are more probable when these functions are located in 
a Cabinet department.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to carefully consider this proposal 
and hopefully adopt it during this session.

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