This article addresses the process through which the federal statistical system may be restored to its appropriate place for providing high-quality data and information, in response to the damage caused by the budgetary woes that agencies have suffered in recent years. The article describes how this work will facilitate moving the country forward, both on its path to economic recovery and to a position of leadership internationally. Four crucial topics are examined: independence, integrity, integration, and innovation. In combination these characteristics will ensure the availability of statistical data of high quality and integrity for informed policy decisions and legislative action.
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