Statement of Gratitude for Additional BLS Funding in the 2025 Full-Year CR

The Friends of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) very much appreciates the Congressional support of BLS with increased funding in the proposed Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025. BLS could have an additional $6 million in the Full-Year CR which can be used to sustain data quality and the sample size necessary for publication of important granular statistics.

This increase in funding is a positive step towards restoring BLS’s capacity to meet consequential national data needs, particularly by shoring up resources for the Current Population Survey. The requested allocation for the Full-Year CR represents an increase that is necessary to fund critical initiatives at BLS and to strengthen ongoing data collection efforts. Without these funds, BLS will be forced to curtail spending on the Current Population Survey, which will delay modernization of this vital source for labor force statistics and could endanger data quality or continuity.

Thank you, once again, for your continued support of BLS and its mission.

Sincerely,

Co-Chairs of The Friends of BLS

William Beach, D. Phil., 15th Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2019-2023

Erica L. Groshen, Ph.D., 14th Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2013-2017

Paul Schroeder, Executive Director of the Council of Federal Associations on Federal Statistics