July 2021 Stakeholder Report

July 2021 Stakeholder Report

 

COPAFS News

On July 27, 2021, COPAFS signed on to support the Improving Justice through Science Act, which would permanently reestablish the Science Advisory Board (SAB) in the Department of Justice which will be introduced by Senator Schatz.

On July 14, COPAFS signed on to a letter supporting the nomination of Rob Santos as director of the US Census. The letter reads, in part:
“As an active member of the statistical and survey community for more than 40 years, Santos is well known, highly regarded, and deeply respected by the Census stakeholder community. He has held many leadership positions, including president of the ASA, the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR), and the Washington Statistical Society. He has also served on numerous National Academies panels and the National Center for Health Statistics Board of Scientific Counselors. Santos’s leadership experience and skills will also benefit the bureau immediately upon his swearing-in if confirmed. We recommend the US Senate confirm Santos promptly so the bureau can benefit from his leadership as it concludes the 2020 Census, prepares for the 2030 Census, and performs its myriad other activities.”

Upcoming Events

Next COPAFS Quarterly Meeting: Friday September 10, 2021
COPAFS will hold its next Quarterly Meeting on Friday September 10, 2021. The agenda and meeting registration information will be posted in mid-August

2021 Joint Statistical Meetings: August 8-12, 2021
The 2021 Join Statistical Meetings will be held virtually and registration has recently opened. Early bird registration ends on June 15, so register soon! More information is available at: 2021 JSM

2021 FCSM Research and Policy Conference: November 2-4, 2021
The 2021 FCSM Research and Policy Conference has been scheduled for November 2-4, 2021. It will be held at the Washington Convention Center (pandemic conditions permitting and cooperating) and registration will open in the coming months. The Planning Committee is currently accepting abstract submissions through April 19, 2021. To submit an abstract or to find out more about this year’s conference, please visit: FCSM2021

Agency Releases

Bureau of Economic Analysis (DOC)

  • On July 2, US International Trade in Goods and Services (May, 2021) was released. The goods and services deficit was $71.2 billion in May, up $2.2 billion from $69.1 billion in April, revised.
  • On July 1, New Foreign Direct Investment in the US, 2020 was released. Expenditures by foreign direct investors to acquire, establish, or expand U.S. businesses totaled $120.7 billion (preliminary) in 2020. Expenditures were down 45.4 percent from $221.2 billion (revised) in 2019 and below the annual average of $314.4 billion for 2014-2019. As in previous years, acquisitions of existing businesses accounted for a large majority of total expenditures.

Bureau of Justice Statistics (DOJ)

  • On July 16, Probation and Parole in the US, 2019 was released. The total number of adults on probation or parole decreased by an estimated 41,300 offenders (down 0.9%) from 2018 to 2019. An estimated 1 in 59 adults in the U.S. were under community supervision at the end of 2019, down from 1 in 46 in 2000. The adult probation population declined 1.3% from 2018 to 2019, while the adult parole population remained relatively stable (with a 0.1% increase). During 2019, the probation population increased in 22 states and declined in 27 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. federal system.
  • On July 16, Correctional Populations in the US, 2019 – Statistical Tables were released.  In 2019, the number of persons supervised by U.S. adult correctional systems (6,344,000) decreased (down 65,200 persons) for the twelfth consecutive year. The 1.0% decline in the correctional population during 2019 was due to decreases in the community supervision (down 0.9%) and incarcerated (down 1.7%) populations. Since 2009, the correctional population decreased by 12.4% (down 895,200 persons), an average of 1.3% annually. At year-end 2019, about 2,480 per 100,000 adult U.S. residents were under correctional supervision, the lowest rate since 1991.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (DOL)

  • On July 16, State Employment and Unemployment Summary – June 2021 was released. Unemployment rates were lower in June in 7 states and the District of Columbia, higher in 3 states, and stable in 40 states. Forty-nine states and the District had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier. The national unemployment rate, 5.9 percent, was little changed over the month but was 5.2 percentage points lower than in June 2020. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 25 states, decreased in 1 state, and was essentially unchanged in 24 states and the District of Columbia in June 2021.
  • On July 16, Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers – Second Quarter 2021 was released. Median weekly earnings of the nation’s 113.6 million full-time wage and salary workers were $990 in the second quarter of 2021 (not seasonally adjusted). This was 1.2 percent lower than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 4.8 percent in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) over the same period.

Bureau of Transportation Statistics (DOT)

  • On July 27, the National Census of Ferry Operators 2020 Datasets were released. Key findings from the 246 ferry operators that responded to the 2020 National Census of Ferry Operators (NCFO) indicated that 131.6 million passengers were carried on ferries in the U.S. and its territories in 2019. The reporting ferry operators provided service through 760 terminals on 1,106 unique route segments in 40 states, three U.S. territories, and two Canadian Provinces, using a fleet of 839 active vessels. 67% of operators reported passengers using ferries to go to work and 59% of operators transport passengers to recreational destinations.
  • On July 26, US Airline Passengers – May 2021 was released. U.S. airlines carried 607% more scheduled service passengers in May 2021 than in May 2020 (preliminary), according to data filed by 18 airlines that carry more than 90% of the passengers. The large airlines carried 56.6 million passengers in May 2021 (preliminary), compared to 8.0 million passengers in May 2020 and up from 3.0 million in April 2020, which was the lowest monthly total in BTS records dating back to 1974.  The previous low was 14.6 million passengers in February 1975.

Census Bureau (DOC)

  • On July 21, data collection for Phase 3.2 of the Household Pulse Survey This phase includes new questions on the Child Tax Credit, sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), rent/mortgage arrears, utility arrears and restrictions, summer catch-up education activities for grades K-12, and preventative health care for children.,
  • On July 21, a new analysis looking at How the Pandemic Affected Black and White Households was released. Using data from the Household Pulse Survey, a host of indicators were measured among households. For example, Black unemployment rates were higher than White unemployment rates even before the pandemic, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ tabulations of Current Population Survey (CPS). These labor market differences put Black working-age adults at a greater disadvantage when the pandemic began, and the unemployment rate for Black adults remained higher throughout the pandemic.
  • The U.S. Census Bureau by August 16 is set to release in-depth demographic statistics from the 2020 Census that will be used to redraw legislative voting districts. The August data release will provide the first look at the demographic characteristics of the nation by state, county and city (down to the census block level), including: Race and ethnicity; Voting-age population; Occupied and vacant housing units; People living in group quarters like nursing homes, prisons, military barracks and college dorms.

Economic Research Service (USDA)

Energy Information Administration (DOE)

  • On July 21, the Monthly Densified Biomass Fuel Report was released. As of April 2021, the monthly data collection included 80 operating manufacturers of densified biomass fuel. These manufacturers had a total production capacity of 12.95 million tons per year and collectively had an equivalent of 2,358 full-time employees. In April 2021, the monthly respondents purchased 0.81 million tons of raw biomass feedstock, produced 0.77 million tons of densified biomass fuel, and sold 0.69 million tons of densified biomass fuel. Note that feedstock purchases do not directly relate to production in the same reporting period. Domestic sales of densified biomass fuel in April 2021 were 0.11 million tons and averaged $184.19 per ton. Exports in April 2021 were 0.58 million tons and averaged $177.52 per ton
  • On July 21, Prime Supplier Report, with data through May, 2021 was released.

National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA)

  • On July 23, the Cattle Report was released. There were 101 million head of cattle and calves on U.S. farms as of July 1, 2021. Of the 101 million head inventory, all cows and heifers that have calved totaled 40.9 million. There are 31.4 million head of beef cows in the United States as of July 1, 2021, down 2% from last year. To obtain an accurate measurement of the current state of the U.S. cattle industry, NASS surveyed nearly 16,000 operators across the nation during the first half of July. NASS asked these producers to report their cattle inventories as of July 1, 2021, and calf crop for the entire year of 2021 by internet, mail, or telephone.

National Center for Education Statistics (DOEd)

  • On July 27, the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) released 2020-21 data tables. This release contains substantive changes in file structure or file documentation for two components of IPEDS compared to the previous year. Within the Completions component there were 3 notable changes. First, the less-than-1-year certificate award level was divided into two award level categories. Second, the 2020 version of the Classification of Instructional Programs was required when reporting the program of study associated with an award. Finally, the distance education classification for each program was expanded to collect more detail.
  • On July 20, a new analysis which looks at Teacher Preparation in 2017-18 was released. This Data Point looks at preservice coursework taken by public and private school teachers to meet the needs of diverse student populations before the coronavirus pandemic. Preservice coursework, part of teacher preparation, is completed by U.S. private and public school teachers before their first year teaching. This information was reported by public and private school teachers on the 2017–18 National Teacher and Principal Survey.

National Center for Health Statistics (CDC)

  • On July 26, Deaths: Leading Causes for 2019 was released. In 2019, the 10 leading causes of death were, in rank order: Diseases of heart; Malignant neoplasms; Accidents (unintentional injuries); Chronic lower respiratory diseases; Cerebrovascular diseases; Alzheimer disease; Diabetes mellitus; Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis; Influenza and pneumonia; and Intentional self-harm (suicide). They accounted for 73.4% of all deaths occurring in the United States. Differences in the rankings are evident by age, race and Hispanic origin, and sex. Leading causes of infant death for 2019 were, in rank order: Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities.
  • On July 21, Provisional Life Expectancy Estimates for 2020 were released. In 2020, life expectancy at birth for the total U.S. population was 77.3 years, declining by 1.5 years from 78.8 in 2019. Life expectancy at birth for males was 74.5 years in 2020, representing a decline of 1.8 years from 76.3 years in 2019. For females, life expectancy declined to 80.2 years, decreasing 1.2 years from 81.4 years in 2019.
  • On July 7, Urban-Rural Differences in Dental Care Use Among Adults Aged 18-64 was released. In 2019, 65.5% of adults aged 18−64 had a dental visit in the past 12 months. The percentage of adults who had a dental visit was higher among those residing in urban areas (66.7%) than those in rural areas (57.6%). In both urban and rural areas, women were more likely than men to have had a dental visit in the past 12 months.

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NSF)

  • On July 15, an InfoBrief was released indicating that Growth in Federal S&E Support to HBCUs lagged behind increases to all institutions in FY 2019. In FY 2019, federal agency obligations to universities and colleges for science and engineering (S&E) activities increased 8% from FY 2018, to a historical high of $38.1 billion in current dollars. Between FY 2018 and FY 2019, obligations for S&E support to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) increased at a slower rate, up 7% to $341 million.
  • On July 8, the Elementary and Secondary STEM Education Report was released. Average scores for U.S. fourth and eighth graders on a national assessment of mathematics improved from 1990 to 2007, but there was no overall measurable improvement in mathematics scores from 2007 to 2019. Differences persist in U.S. science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) achievement scores by socioeconomic status (SES) and race or ethnicity. Differences in U.S. STEM achievement scores by sex are smaller than those by SES or race or ethnicity but are present; male students slightly outscored female students on some national assessments, although female students substantially outscored male students on a computer information literacy exam.

Statistics of Income Division (IRS)

  • In July, Tax on Base Erosion Payments – Statistical Tables were released.  The Base Erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax (BEAT) of section 59A is generally levied on certain large corporations that have deductions with respect to amounts paid or accrued to foreign related parties that are greater than 3% of their total deductions (2% in the case of certain banks or registered securities dealers), a determination referred to as the base erosion percentage test. Large corporations are those with gross receipts of $500 million or more, as calculated under the regulations of section 59A, a determination referred to as the gross receipts test. The BEAT operates as a minimum tax, so a taxpayer is only subject to additional tax under the BEAT if the BEAT tax rate multiplied by the taxpayer’s modified taxable income exceeds the taxpayer’s regular tax liability adjusted for certain credits.
  • In July, Foreign Recipients of US Partnership Income Statistics were released. Under the Tax Reform Act of 1986, U.S. partnerships are required to withhold income tax on “effectively connected taxable income” deemed allocable to foreign partners. The U.S. partnership must file a Form 8805, Foreign Partner’s Information Statement of Section 1446 Withholding Tax, to show the amount of effectively connected taxable income and the total tax credit allocable to the foreign partner for the partnership’s tax year.

Federal Register Notices

There were 24 federal register notices posted by federal statistical agencies from June 26, 2021 to July 25, 2021. Links to each of these notices are organized by agency below.

Bureau of Economic Analysis (DOC) – No New Notices

Bureau of Justice Statistics (DOJ) – 5 New Notices

Date Notice URL
7/23/2021 Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection Comments Requested; Reinstatement, With Change, of a Previously Approved Collection for Which Approval Has Expired: 2021 Survey of Campus Law Enforcement Agencies (SCLEA) Link
7/13/2021 Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Extension of a Currently Approved Collection: National Corrections Reporting Program Link
7/2/2021 Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Revision of a Currently Approved Collection: 2022 School Crime Supplement (SCS) to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) Link
6/28/2021 Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection Comments Requested; Extension of Currently Approved Collection: Survey of Sexual Victimization (SSV) Link
6/28/2021 Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Extension of a Currently Approved Collection; Comments Requested: National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) Link

 

Bureau of Labor Statistics (DOL) – 1 New Notices

Date Notice URL
7/1/2021 Information Collection Activities; Comment Request Link

 

Bureau of Transportation Statistics (DOT) – No New Notices

Census Bureau (DOC) – 4 New Notices

Date Notice URL
7/23/2021 Request for Nominations of Members To Serve on the National Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic, and Other Populations Link
7/23/2021 Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) Link
6/29/2021 Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Small Business Pulse Survey Link
6/28/2021 Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; 2021 Business Enterprise Research and Development Survey Link

 

Economic Research Service (USDA) – No New Notices

Energy Information Administration (DOE) – 2 New Notices

Date Notice URL
7/20/2021 Agency Information Collection Extension Link
7/20/2021 Agency Information Collection Proposed Extension Link

 

National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA) – 2 New Notices

Date Notice URL
7/20/2021 Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Revise and Extend a Currently Approved Information Collection Link
7/2/2021 Notice of Intent To Request To Conduct a New Information Collection Link

 

National Center for Education Statistics (DOEd) – 6 New Notices

Date Notice URL
7/23/2021 Meeting – NAEP Governing Board Link
7/13/2021 American Rescue Plan Act Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools Program Link
7/12/2021 Final Priorities and Requirement-Innovative Approaches to Literacy Link
7/12/2021 Applications for New Awards; Innovative Approaches to Literacy Program Link
7/2/2021 Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS 2023) Field Test Data Collection and Main Study Sampling, Recruitment, and Data Collection Link
6/30/2021 Proposed Priorities and Definitions-Secretary’s Supplemental Priorities and Definitions
for Discretionary Grants Programs		 Link

 

National Center for Health Statistics (HHS) – 2 New Notices

Date Notice URL
7/19/2021 Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations Link
7/6/2021 Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority Link

 

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NSF) – No New Notices

Office of Research, Evaluation & Statistics (SSA) – 1 New Notices

Date Notice URL
7/23/2021 Flexibility in Evaluating “Close Proximity of Time” Due to COVID-19 Related Barriers to Healthcare Link

 

Statistics of Income Division (IRS) – 1 New Notices

Date Notice URL
7/23/2021 Requirements Related to Surprise Billing; Part I Link

Of Interest

Mr. John Finamore has recently been appointed Chief Statistician, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES). His appointment is effective August 1, 2021. Mr. Finamore has most recently served as the Supervisory Program Director of NCSES’s Human Resources Statistics (HRS) Program. In this position, he oversees the suite of NCSES surveys that collect education and workforce data related to the science and engineering enterprise. In this critical position, John has guided multiple efforts to enhance HRS surveys and expand access to HRS data including championing NCSES’s efforts to establish the Skilled Technical Workforce Initiative and develop the National Training, Education, and Workforce Survey. This work includes leading an interagency effort to establish a standard application process for accessing restricted-use data across the federal statistical agencies, and serving as an OMB-appointed member of the Federal Committee on Statistical Methodology (FCSM) to aid the development of authoritative best practice guidance on issues relevant to the federal statistical community.

On July 2, the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Federal Register Notice for Comment was published in the Federal Register. It is open until August 12 for public comment.

Go back to the 2021 Stakeholder Reports