United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2000-10-24 monographic deposited born digital 9 p. GA 1.13:GAO-01-124R https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-124R P0b002ee180388bc5 f:d01124r DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-124R machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-124R GAO-01-124R Blacks Population statistics Federal/state relations Community development Data collection Census Los Angeles (CA) Correspondence

The Bureau of the Census' participation in a Los Angeles symposium on the challenges facing the African American community has drawn some criticism. Concerns have been raised about whether the event was being held for political purposes and whether federal funding was inappropriately used. GAO concluded that the Bureau's participation in the symposium complied with federal regulations prohibiting agencies from using appropriated funds for the purposes of publicity and propaganda. According to the Bureau, its presence at the symposium was strictly for informational purposes and did not involve the promotion of the agency. There was also no evidence to suggest that the event had any political connections; the Democratic National Convention, which was held two days later, was not connected to the symposium. The Bureau's decision to partner with the organizers of the event was consistent with its policy to work with any organization that can reach traditionally hard-to-count populations, such as African Americans. The Bureau saw the symposium as an opportunity to further the goals of its outreach program. According to Bureau officials, the cost of participating in the symposium was nominal. Posters, costing about $117, promotional items from its Los Angeles office's inventory, and compensatory time for two employees were the extent of the Bureau's expenditures. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-124R/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-124R.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-124R/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-124R.pdf GAO-01-124R https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-124R Correspondence GAO-01-124R; Census Bureau Participation in Los Angeles Symposium,; Blacks Population statistics Federal/state relations Community development Data collection Census Los Angeles (CA) Title 5 Section 7321 5 U.S.C. 7321 Public Law 106-58