Census of Agriculture Act of 1997

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jun 5, 1997

Census of Agriculture Act of 1997 - Amends Federal law to transfer authority to conduct the census of agriculture from the Secretary of Commerce to the Secretary (Secretary) of Agriculture. Requires the Secretary to take a census every five years beginning in 1998. Sets forth enforcement and confidentiality provisions.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Lugar, Richard G. [R-IN] · R–IN

Committees

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

16 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Sep 10, 1998
See also H.R. 2366.
Sep 10, 1998
Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S10221)
Nov 7, 1997
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 277.
Nov 7, 1997
Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported to Senate by Senator Thompson without amendment. Without written report.
Nov 7, 1997
Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported to Senate by Senator Thompson without amendment. Without written report.
Nov 5, 1997
Committee on Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Jun 5, 1997
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
Jun 5, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5360-5362)
Jun 5, 1997
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Reported to Senate · Nov 7, 1997 Formatted Text PDF
Introduced in Senate · Jun 5, 1997 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 2366 · Census of Agriculture Act of 1997

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.845 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.845, 105th Congress: Census of Agriculture Act of 1997

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/845

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 1997-11-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s845/BILLS-105s845rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:32:01Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.845 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.845 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.845, 105th Congress: Census of Agriculture Act of 1997

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/845

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 1997-11-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s845/BILLS-105s845rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:32:01Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.845 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.845 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.845, 105th Congress: Census of Agriculture Act of 1997

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/845

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 1997-11-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s845/BILLS-105s845rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:32:01Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.845 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.845 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.845, 105th Congress: Census of Agriculture Act of 1997

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/845

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 1997-11-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s845/BILLS-105s845rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:32:01Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.845 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.