Sen. Carper Lauds Census Bureau Announcement to Save Millions in Taxpayer Dollars Through Consolidation and Modernization Efforts

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Subcommittee that oversees the Census, lauded the U.S. Census Bureau’s decision to realign its national field office structure and management reforms. This shift is designed to modernize Census collection methods and reduce Census Bureau costs by an estimated $15 million to $18 million annually beginning in 2014. The changes are the first to the field office structure since 1961 and will result in the permanent closing of six of the Census Bureau’s 12 regional offices, located in Boston, Charlotte, Dallas, Detroit, Kansas City and Seattle. The remaining six regional offices and their new boundaries will be located in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia.

“I want to commend Dr. Groves and his staff for having the courage identify and implement ways to achieve greater efficiencies and significant cost-savings within the programs and operations of the Census Bureau,” said Sen. Carper. “By implementing this ambitious plan to reform the Census Bureau’s structure, we can ensure that the Census fulfills its important Constitutional obligations while saving taxpayers millions of dollars. That’s a win-win in my book and something we need to see more of throughout the federal government. Given the current financial crisis facing our government as we struggle to curb our massive deficit, the federal government has to figure out effective ways to deliver the services the American public needs and expects for less money. I am proud of the Census Bureau’s leadership in this all important effort to save taxpayer dollars and I encourage other federal agencies to swiftly and effectively follow their example.”

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