Peters Applauds New Federal Standards for Gathering Data on Race and Ethnicity, Including Creation of MENA Category

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement applauding an announcement from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that it has adopted revisions to the federal standards for collecting data on race and ethnicity, including a separate response category for people of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) descent. The revised standards will help agencies collect more accurate data on the U.S. population to ensure federal programs respond to their needs, including housing, education, health care, and more. Peters has long pushed for the creation of a distinct classification for MENA communities in federal data collection standards:

“I have been proud to lead the push for more accurate federal data standards – including a category for people of Middle Eastern and North African descent – to help the government better serve Michigan’s unique populations and collect accurate data. I applaud the Office of Management and Budget for revising the standards, based on a rigorous and scientific process. The new standards will help finally count Arab Americans as a distinct community, so that the government can ensure this community receives the resources and support they need. I look forward to working with federal agencies and the public on the implementation of these standards to best serve communities in Michigan and across the country.” 

Peters has long pressed for the creation of a distinct classification for MENA communities in federal data collection standards. In 2022, he urged OMB to revise race and ethnicity standards and include a separate category for people of MENA descent. Following Peters’ efforts, the Administration announced it would begin a formal review to revise the federal data standards. 

Since being sworn in as a Senator in 2015, he has asked nominees for OMB and the U.S. Census Bureau about their plans to include a separate category for the MENA community in government-wide data standards, including in the U.S. Census. Previous guidance for federal data collection, which must be used by all government agencies including the U.S. Census Bureau, was last updated by OMB in 1997 and did not contain a separate category for MENA populations. Michigan is home to the one of the largest Arab American communities in the country. Peters will continue leading efforts to ensure MENA populations are accurately represented in federal data collection processes so the government can more effectively distribute resources to tackle unique challenges faced by this community. 

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