On May 9, 2024, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report highlighting significant gaps in federal data concerning the five U.S. territories: American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The report indicates that these territories are frequently excluded from federal statistical products, which hampers effective policy planning and implementation.

The GAO's findings underscore the critical role of accurate data in various sectors, including economic development and national security. The decentralized nature of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, which comprises over 100 agencies, complicates the collection and dissemination of reliable data, particularly for the territories that often rely on federal assistance. The absence of timely and accurate data not only increases the risk of government waste but also restricts local communities' access to essential federal programs.

During the meeting, officials and experts discussed the implications of these data gaps, emphasizing that they hinder the territories' ability to recover from severe weather disasters and manage economic challenges. Many territorial governments lack the infrastructure to collect their own data, making them dependent on outdated federal statistics.

The GAO report includes specific recommendations for the chief statistician of the United States to enhance coordination among federal agencies to address these data deficiencies. However, the absence of the chief statistician at the hearing raised concerns among committee members about the Office of Management and Budget's commitment to resolving these issues.

Ranking minority member Raul Grijalva highlighted the long-standing challenges faced by the territories due to insufficient data, which leads to underfunding and underrepresentation in federal programs. He noted that various territories experience unique data-related obstacles, such as American Samoa's farmers being ineligible for certain support programs due to inadequate address lists, and Puerto Rico's exclusion from critical labor force information.

To tackle these challenges, Grijalva and the five territorial delegates have introduced the bipartisan Territorial Statistics Collection Equity Act (HR 1400), aimed at improving data collection and ensuring that the territories receive the necessary resources and representation in federal programs. The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue discussions on closing the data gaps that affect the U.S. territories.