[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 109 (Wednesday, August 5, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H7184]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 CENSUS

  (Mr. MILLER of Florida asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, later this morning we will be 
having a debate over the upcoming decennial census concerning an 
amendment by the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Mollohan). 
Unfortunately this issue has become very politicized, and that is wrong 
because the census should not be part of the political debate here, it 
should be just counting people in this country, not speculating and 
guesstimating by utilizing polling techniques. That is what exactly has 
been proposed by the President.
  What the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), the chairman of the 
committee, has proposed is that the decision be made next spring. That 
is under agreement by the President, by the Census Bureau, the decision 
should be made next spring. That is when we should face the decision.
  Unfortunately the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Mollohan) says, 
``Congress, you're not relevant in this decision. We think only the 
President knows best to decide and we'll let the President decide next 
spring and we're not interested in what Congress has to say on the 
issue.'' What we believe is it should be a bipartisan decision next 
spring when all the facts are in, we can make the decision, not now, 
and we should have an agreement with Congress, the Democrats and the 
Republicans and the Administration. That is what we want to do. I hope 
everybody will vote down the Mollohan amendment.

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