Freedom from Government Surveys Act

HR 4820, the Freedom from Government Surveys Act, makes participation in the American Community Survey (ACS) voluntary by removing penalties for non-response and requiring a clear statement on the survey itself. It directly affects all households receiving the ACS, which collects detailed demographic and housing data used for federal funding and planning. The bill amends two sections of U.S. Code: it deletes penalties for refusing to answer (Section 221) and mandates that the survey include a notice stating participation is voluntary (Section 193). These changes aim to shift the ACS from a mandatory to a voluntary data collection tool without altering the survey’s content or purpose.