[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 136 (Friday, October 8, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S12322]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ROCKEFELLER:
  S. 1715. A bill to provide for an interim census of Americans 
residing aboard, and to require that such individuals be included in 
the 2010 decennial census; to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.


                     census of americans abroad act

  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, millions of Americans live and work 
abroad. While living abroad, they continue to pay taxes and vote. They 
are Americans, and they want and deserve to be counted in the decennial 
Census. In order to achieve this important goal, we must plan and 
prepare.
  The legislation introduced today directs the Secretary of Commerce to 
use existing authority to conduct a special census of Americans abroad 
in 2003 to determine how to include this population in the next 
decennial Census in 2010. While we wish that Americans abroad could be 
part of the 2000 Census, there unfortunately not the time or 
opportunity to do so. But it is vital that we act now to ensure that 
plans are in place for the future.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1715

       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 ``Census of Americans Abroad 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) an estimated 3,000,000 to 6,000,000 Americans live and 
     work overseas while continuing to vote and pay taxes in the 
     United States;
       (2) Americans residing abroad help increase exports of 
     American goods because they traditionally buy American, sell 
     American, and create business opportunities for American 
     companies and workers, thereby strengthening the United 
     States economy, creating jobs in the United States, and 
     extending United States influence around the globe;
       (3) Americans residing abroad play a key role in advancing 
     this Nation's interests by serving as economic, political, 
     and cultural ``ambassadors'' of the United States; and
       (4) the major business, civic, and community organizations 
     representing Americans and companies of the United States 
     abroad support the counting of all Americans residing abroad 
     by the Bureau of the Census, and are prepared to assist the 
     Bureau of the Census in this task.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the Bureau of the Census should undertake a census of 
     all Americans residing abroad in a special census, and that 
     the necessary funding should be appropriated for this 
     purpose;
       (2) the Bureau of the Census should, after completing that 
     special census, review the means by which Americans residing 
     abroad may be included in the 2010 decennial census; and
       (3) the Bureau of the Census should take appropriate 
     measures to provide for the inclusion of Americans residing 
     abroad in the 2010 decennial census and decennial censuses 
     thereafter.

     SEC. 3. COUNTING OF AMERICANS RESIDING ABROAD.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Commerce shall--
       (1) using any authorities available to the Secretary under 
     section 182 or any other provision of title 13, United States 
     Code, take a special census of all Americans residing abroad 
     as of April 1, 2003 (in this Act referred to as the ``special 
     census'');
       (2) submit the final tabulations under the special census 
     to the President and Congress within 9 months after the date 
     specified in paragraph (1), broken down into all appropriate 
     categories, including--
       (A) Americans residing abroad affiliated with the Federal 
     Government, and their dependents; and
       (B) Americans residing abroad not affiliated with the 
     Federal Government, and their dependents;
       (3) not later than June 30, 2005, submit to the President 
     and Congress a report containing any recommendations the 
     Secretary may have with respect to the inclusion of Americans 
     residing abroad in future decennial censuses, including--
       (A) counting methodologies;
       (B) the purposes for which any information could or should 
     be used; and
       (C) whether Americans residing abroad can be included in 
     the 2010 decennial census for purposes of the apportionment 
     of Representatives in Congress among the several States and, 
     if so, how that should be done; and
       (4) take appropriate measures--
       (A) to provide for the inclusion of Americans residing 
     abroad in the 2010 decennial census and decennial censuses 
     thereafter; and
       (B) to make use of the information obtained from such 
     censuses for such purposes as, and to the maximum extent 
     that, the Secretary considers feasible and appropriate.
       (b) Interim Report on Special Census.--Not later than June 
     30, 2002, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the 
     committees of Congress having legislative jurisdiction over 
     the census a report which shall include--
       (1) a summary of how the plans and preparations for 
     carrying out the special census are proceeding;
       (2) a brief description or outline of how the tabulations 
     in the special census are to be carried out; and
       (3) information identifying any experts, consultants, 
     interest groups, or other persons outside the Bureau of the 
     Census who were consulted in connection with the special 
     census.
       (c) Confidentiality of Information; Penalties.--The 
     provisions of section 9 and chapter 7 of title 13, United 
     States Code, shall apply with respect to the special census.
       (d) Limited Use of Data.--The data obtained from the 
     special census may not be used for any purpose not 
     specifically provided for under this section.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
     this Act.

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