By Larry Jones
July 13, 2009

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version of the Fiscal Year 2010 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill on June 25, which includes $7.324 billion for the Census Bureau. Before approving the measure, the panel reduced the census account by $50 million, which members believe reflects an inflated assumption about the cost of mileage reimbursement for census field workers. The Administration’s budget called for reimbursing field workers 62.5 cents per mile, which is 7.5 cents more than the reimbursement rate allowed for federal workers. Except for the $50 million reduction for the inflated mileage reimbursement, the Senate panel approved the full amount requested by President Barack Obama for the 2010 Census. The committee’s action is in line with resolutions adopted in the past by the Conference of Mayors, which urge support for full funding of the 2010 census to ensure a complete and accurate count of all people residing in local communities.

The amount approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee is $206 million more than the amount approved by the House for the 2010 census. Officials at the Census Bureau have notified members of Congress that the reduction called for in the House bill would force them to dip into a $573 million contingency fund rather than risk the consequences of cutting back on 2010 census operations and programs. However in its report, the Senate Appropriations Committee said without the safety net provided by the $573 million contingency fund, “The census could run the risk of not fulfilling its constitutional mandate.” Sources familiar with the $206 million cut in the House version believe that it may have resulted from a misunderstanding about the status of Fiscal Year 2009 funds that appeared to be available for carry-over to the following year, but in fact were committed to paid advertising under the extensive 2010 census communications campaign.

Senate floor action is expected on the 2010 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill before the Senate adjourns for the August recess.