In a letter to the senate appropriations committee, the senators said that years of postponed enhancements to bureau services meant that significant funding was needed to modernise effectively.

Changes proposed by the senators for the Census Bureau include increasing the size of the American Community Survey sample, stabilising funding for the Survey of Income and Program Participation, and building on the bureau’s Census Pulse surveys.

The Census Bureau carried out the 2020 census last year and is beginning data collection efforts for the 2022 economic census.

“The Census Bureau is at an important crossroads,” according to the letter. “The agency is still resolving the outcome of the 2020 census, while simultaneously pursuing ground-breaking technical innovations and preparing for the 2030 census.

“The Census Bureau faces many challenges and opportunities during this upcoming fiscal year, and congress has the opportunity to provide robust assistance in the agency’s efforts.”

Mary Jo Hoeksema, co-director of the Census Project, which has called for more funding for the bureau, said: “The Census Project is gratified that our work to broadly educate and inform about the needed transformation efforts at the Census Bureau is being heard and acted upon.

“We have an opportunity to dramatically enhance the official statistics on the nation’s economy and communities, and we hope the appropriations committee acts to seize this moment.”