The Redistricting Data Program (RDP)
is one of many voluntary geographic partnership programs that
collects boundaries and attributes to update the U.S. Census
Bureau’s geographic database of addresses, streets, and boundaries.
The Census Bureau uses its geographic database, i.e., the Master
Address File/Topologically Integrated Geographic and Encoding and
Referencing (MAF/TIGER) System, to link demographic data from
surveys and the decennial census to locations and areas, such as
cities, congressional and legislative districts, and counties. To
tabulate statistics by localities, the Census Bureau must have
accurate addresses, streets, boundaries, and attributes. The RDP is
executed under the provisions of Title 13, Section 141(c) of the
United States Code (U.S.C.). Under the provisions of Public Law
94-171, as amended (Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section
141(c)), “[t]he officers or public bodies having initial
responsibility for the legislative apportionment or districting of
each State may, not later than 3 years before the decennial census
date, submit to the Secretary a plan identifying the geographic
areas for which specific tabulations of population are desired.”
The Census Bureau is requesting a clearance to continue activities
included in the RDP. As the current OMB Control Number 0607-0988
clearance will expire in November 2024, the new clearance will
allow the Census Bureau to provide RDP-specific materials and
procedures to participants during the fiscal years (FY) 2025, 2026,
and 2027. These activities include the solicitation of non-partisan
liaisons, the collection of Post-2020 Census Congressional and
State Legislative District Plans, and the Block Boundary Suggestion
Project.
Phase 4 Certification Form (PR), Phase 4 Certification Form
(District of Columbia), Phase 4 Certification Form (States with 1
CD), Phase 4 Certification Form (States Multiple CDs), Phase 4
Verification Form (Congressional Districts, Phase 4 Verification
Form (State Legislative Dist)
The RDP spans 10-years. The
five phases of RDP do not occur in each of the three-year approval
periods. The currently approved burden hours (520) are for phases 4
and 5 and do not align with the components for this OMB approval
request. Refer to Table 3 in the SSA for details included in this
request. The 10,452 hours above is the cumulative total for all
five components of this three-year approval request. It is
important to mention the Census Bureau added a feedback component
which adds 52 hours to the total annual burden hours.
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.