Freedom from Government Surveys Act

The Freedom from Government Surveys Act would make participation in the American Community Survey (ACS) voluntary. It would add a new provision clarifying that there are no penalties for individuals who refuse or neglect to answer ACS questions, effectively removing any legal requirement to participate. The bill also requires the Census Bureau (the Secretary) to include a clear statement on the ACS indicating that participation is voluntary. In short, it shifts ACS participation from a mandatory obligation to a voluntary activity and mandates explicit disclosure of that voluntary nature on the survey. If enacted, this could reduce the assurances of participation currently embedded in ACS data collection, potentially lowering response rates and increasing nonresponse bias. That, in turn, could affect the accuracy and usefulness of ACS data for federal programs, funding decisions, planning, redistricting, and other uses that rely on up-to-date demographic and housing information.