[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 11, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1565-E1566]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            THE 2000 CENSUS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LEE H. HAMILTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 11, 1996

  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to insert my Washington 
Report for Wednesday, August 21, 1996 into the Congressional Record.

                            The 2000 Census

       The results of the year 2000 census will provide a snapshot 
     of America. The census--which collects information not only 
     on population, but on race, income, housing and family size--
     will affect all Americans. The changing nature of America, as 
     reflected in the 2000 census, will alter the political and 
     economic realities of the United States for decades to come.
       The Constitution requires that the population be counted 
     every ten years. Census results determine the number of seats 
     each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. 
     Boundaries of congressional and state legislative districts, 
     as well as school boards and city council districts, are 
     redrawn based on census data. Federal aid to states is based 
     on population figures. The census also benefits the private 
     sector by providing businesses with information about 
     consumers.


                     problems with the 1990 census

       The Census Bureau is exploring new approaches to gathering 
     information for the 2000 census. Previously, the Census has 
     counted the number of Americans by, first, sending 
     questionnaires to every known address in the country and, 
     second, by sending ``enumerators'' door-to-door to try to get 
     responses from people who did not respond to their 
     questionnaires.
       There is general agreement that this approach had its 
     drawbacks in the last census. It proved very costly, and 
     missed many people, 4 million citizens by one estimate. 
     Undercounting was a particular problem in rural and inner 
     city areas where people tend to be harder to reach. In 
     addition, fewer people responded to the questionnaire. The 
     number of responses dropped from a 1970 level of 85% to 63%. 
     The Census had to hire additional enumerators to count those 
     who didn't respond, adding significantly to the cost of the 
     census. All told, the 1990 census

[[Page E1566]]

     cost $2.6 billion, and if the census were conducted in the 
     same manner in the year 2000, the cost could rise to about 
     $4.8 billion.


                   new approaches for the 2000 census

       The Census is proposing to take a different approach for 
     the 2000 questionnaires, but plans to distribute them more 
     broadly. Forms will not only be sent in the mail, as before, 
     but be made available at grocery stores, churches, schools 
     and community centers. The agency is also investigating 
     whether the public could respond by telephone or via the 
     Internet.
       Furthermore, the Census hopes to encourage greater response 
     by redesigning the form to make it easier to distinguish from 
     junk mail and make it less intimidating. The number of 
     questions on the short form will be cut from 17 to 8, and on 
     the long form (which is sent to 1 in 6 households) from 59 to 
     55. The questionnaire will also explain why the government 
     needs the information. A form being tested, for example, 
     explains the data will help the government and communities 
     plan education and health care services and distribute 
     highway funds.
       The most controversial aspect of the Census plan is its 
     proposed use of ``sampling'' to count the population in 2000. 
     In previous censuses the bureau made an actual head count of 
     citizens using mail-in forms and enumerators, but this 
     approach was missing an increasing number of people. For the 
     2000 census the agency plans to use mail-in forms and 
     enumerators until 90% of households in a given county have 
     been counted. Then a statistical sample of 10% of the 
     remaining households will be selected, and enumerators will 
     be sent, repeatedly if necessary, to count them. The results 
     will be used to estimate the total number of those who were 
     originally missed.
       The Census says that this approach will improve the 
     accuracy of its population count and reduce costs, as there 
     will be less reliance on using enumerators. Critics respond 
     that use of sampling is unconstitutional because the 
     Constitution calls for an ``actual enumeration.'' Decisions 
     in lower federal courts, however, have upheld the use of 
     sampling so long as it supplements, and does not replace, an 
     actual count, but the Supreme Court has not yet ruled on the 
     matter. Congress also continues to debate the issue.


                        jeffersonville facility

       Jeffersonville is home to the second largest Census 
     facility in the country. The Data Preparation Division 
     supports about 175 Census Bureau projects, including the 
     decennial and agriculture-economic censuses. The division 
     assists in the assembly and mailing of questionnaires; the 
     reproduction of working and training materials; receiving, 
     editing, coding and problem resolution of data; data entry 
     and microfilming; and the management of Census records.
       The Jeffersonville facility will play an important role in 
     the collection of data for the 2000 census. It currently 
     employs over 1370 workers, but that number will rise to 
     handle the increased workload for the census. In addition to 
     its normal data-gathering activities, Jeffersonville will be 
     responsible for high-tech processing of census information.
       I opposed a funding bill for Census and other activities in 
     the Commerce Department because it provided inadequate 
     resources for the agency as it prepares for the 2000 census. 
     The House bill would force delay in education and out-reach 
     efforts aimed at increasing the number of households which 
     respond to the census. It would also deny much needed 
     increases for current economic statistics. I will work to 
     increase the funding level for the Census Bureau as 
     congressional debate continues on this appropriations bill.


                               conclusion

       I appreciate the outstanding work done by Census employees 
     in Jeffersonville and around the country. The decennial 
     census is an important event, and its outcome has profound 
     consequences on planning for the future, on the distribution 
     of federal aid, and on the make-up of congressional districts 
     in the next decade.
       The Census Bureau is working to respond to new challenges. 
     Most would acknowledge that the 1990 census had its 
     shortcomings. The decennial census will always be an enormous 
     and complex undertaking, but changes must be made to make it 
     more accurate and cost-effective, particularly in an era of 
     severe budget constraints.
       I strongly support efforts to simplify the census 
     questionnaire and improve distribution. We must also work to 
     educate a new generation of Americans about the importance of 
     responding to the census so that mail-in rates improve. I 
     agree that steps must be taken to address the problem of 
     undercounting. My preference is to improve the actual count 
     rather than rely on statistical sampling, but recognize that 
     Census may have to consider new approaches to produce a more 
     accurate count.

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