The American Community Survey (ACS) is
an ongoing monthly survey that collects detailed housing and
socioeconomic data from a sample of about 3.5 million addresses in
the United States and about 36,000 addresses in Puerto Rico each
year, where it is known as the Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS).
The ACS also collects detailed socioeconomic data from a sample of
residents living in group quarters (GQ) facilities in the United
States and Puerto Rico. Resulting tabulations from this data
collection are provided on a yearly basis. The ACS allows the U.S.
Census Bureau to provide timely and relevant housing and
socioeconomic statistics, even for low levels of geography. The ACS
conducts research, testing, and evaluations, through its Methods
Panel program, aimed at improving the survey. The ACS Methods Panel
is a research program designed to address and respond to survey
issues and needs. The Census Bureau requests authorization from the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to revise the previous
authorization for the ACS Methods Panel to conduct a test of new
content to the survey, called the 2024 ACS Sexual Orientation and
Gender Identity (SOGI) Test. The information collected in the 2024
ACS SOGI test will be used to evaluate the quality of data from
questions on sexual orientation and gender identity. The research
will inform recommendations for potential production ACS
implementation on question wording and response options, whether a
confirmation question is asked of everyone or only of those people
with discrepant responses for sex at birth and current gender
identity, and the style of write-in boxes to use for internet
respondents. Federal agencies have expressed interest in and
identified legal uses for this information, including civil rights
and equal employment enforcement.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.