119th Congress (2025-2026)

HR 2947

Deafblind DATA Act

Introduced

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Official source

Chamber

House

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Bill overview

This bill requires the Bureau of the Census to collect and analyze data on individuals who are deafblind in the United States. It aims to improve the understanding of this population by cross-referencing existing data on hearing and vision loss within the American Community Survey. The goal is to establish a more accurate estimate of the number of deafblind Americans and to provide data on their economic and demographic characteristics.

Key provisions

Requires the Bureau of the Census to collect data on individuals with combined hearing and vision loss.
Directs the Bureau to cross-reference existing data on hearing and vision loss in the American Community Survey.
Mandates the publication of a table summarizing deafblind respondents in the American Community Survey, starting in 2026.
The table will include demographic information such as sex, race, age, and economic characteristics.
Protects personally identifiable information of respondents.
Requests a report from the Census Director on the feasibility of expanding data collection.
Establishes a target date of 180 days for the Census Director to submit the report to Congress.

Who is affected

Deafblind individuals and their families
The Bureau of the Census
Researchers and policymakers interested in data on disability
The broader disability community

Notable changes

Positions across the country

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Legislative history

2025-04-17House

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

2025-04-17

Introduced in House

2025-04-17

Introduced in House

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Apr 17, 2025XMLView source

119th CONGRESS — 1st Session

H. R. 2947

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

A BILL

To require the Bureau of the Census to collect information on deafblind individuals, and for other purposes.

1.Short title; findings

(a)Short titleThis Act may be cited as the

Deafblind Disabled Americans Table Approximation Act

or the

Deafblind DATA Act

(b)Findings

Congress finds the following:

(1)Individuals who are deafblind experience concomitant hearing and vision loss that may prevent access to information, cause severe communication challenges, and interfere with social and emotional well-being. In children, deafblindness may impact development and educational attainment, while in adults, deafblindness may interfere with employment and other areas. The National Center on Deafblindness estimates 10,000 children and 40,000 adults are deafblind, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners estimates 70,000–100,000 people are deafblind, and the Helen Keller National Center for Deafblind Youths and Adults estimates 2.47 million Americans have combined hearing and vision loss.

(2)It is difficult to determine the precise number of individuals who experience combined hearing and vision loss, and estimates from various national counts offer radically different estimates.

(3)An accurate, centralized count of all individuals who are deafblind in the United States is necessary to effectively serve the unique needs of this population. Without a comprehensive national picture of this population, individuals who are deafblind may not receive the support necessary to access information, communicate effectively, and better their social and emotional well-being.

(4)The Bureau of the Census currently does not count individuals who experience combined hearing and vision loss. Through the American Community Survey, the Bureau does collect data on those who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing and those who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses. However, this data is not cross referenced to provide information about those who have both limitations.

(5)Some people who experience combined hearing and vision loss identify as deafblind or as a part of the deafblind community.

(6)

By cross-referencing this existing data to establish a count of all respondents to the American Community Survey who experience concomitant hearing and vision loss, an estimate of the United States deafblind population may be calculated.

2.Report and publication on deafblind individuals

(a)ReportNot later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Bureau of the Census shall submit to Congress a report on the feasibility of publishing the table described in subsection (b) and the feasibility of expanding data collection on individuals who experience combined hearing and vision loss in the American Community Survey (or any successor survey).

(b)Publication of table

(1) In generalBeginning in 2026 and each year thereafter, the Director of the Bureau of the Census shall publish, on the public website of the Bureau, a table summarizing respondents to the American Community Survey (or any successor survey) who answered Yes in such Survey to being both deaf and blind. The table shall include the following information, sorted by the State in which such respondent resides:

(A)

The sex, race, and age of any such respondent.

(B)Economic characteristics of any such respondent, including employment status, educational attainment, earnings, and poverty status.

(2)Limitation

The Director shall ensure that no personally identifiable information of any individual is published under paragraph (1).

HR 2947

Bill overview

Key provisions

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Bill text

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