On November 4, the US Senate confirmed 2021 ASA President Robert Santos to be director of the US Census Bureau. Santos is expected to be sworn in to assume the responsibilities in early January.
The ASA has enthusiastically supported Santos’s nomination and urged prompt confirmation by the US Senate, as did 35 other organizations. When Santos was announced as the intended nominee, ASA Executive Director Ron Wasserstein issued the following statement: “I cannot think of a more qualified person and consummate professional to lead the Census Bureau than Rob Santos. He has been a champion for defending the integrity of federal statistics as objective and trustworthy and advocating to bolster the Census Bureau. If he is confirmed, the country will gain one of the foremost experts in survey research, which will be essential for leading the Census Bureau into the next decade.”
Santos testified before the US Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in a July 15 hearing. The committee advanced his nomination August 4. To focus on his work as director, Santos is resigning from the ASA board of directors.
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