[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 39 (Monday, April 3, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H1661-H1669]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               THE CENSUS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 6, 1999, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, this is Census Day plus 
three. My message to the American people is that if they have not 
already filled out and returned their census questionnaire, do it 
today. Do it this very minute. It is everyone's civic responsibility. I 
am very pleased that the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller), the Chair 
of the Subcommittee on Census, joins me in this message.

                              {time}  1900

  As of today, over 53 percent of Americans have responded to the 
census, with 47 percent to go. To the remaining 47 percent, I say 
please do their civic responsibility and fill out the form.
  This was going to be our main message tonight here on the floor. But 
instead, regretfully, and with some disbelief, we must also stand here 
and ask what is going through the minds of some of our colleagues both 
here in the House of Representatives, in the Senate, and on the 
campaign trail.
  With 47 percent of the American people still not being heard from, 2 
days before census day, we have Members of Congress, who should all 
know better, standing up, holding press conferences and telling the 
American people that the census is optional.
  Is it that some in the majority are undercount-aholics, they cannot 
help themselves but they want an inaccurate census? We have Members of 
Congress saying that they ``believe in voluntarily cooperating'' with 
the Government; but, beyond that, they will not follow the law. Since 
when did following the law in this country become a voluntary thing? Do 
they want participation, or do they want to make participation in the 
census optional?
  What is really disingenuous is the fact that most of the questions on 
the long form have been around for decades. What is really amazing with 
this newfound concern about the census is that, over 2 years ago, 
really 3 years ago also, the content of the long and short forms and 
while it was being finalized, every single Member of the House of 
Representatives and the United States Senate received a detailed list 
of the questions to be asked, including a description of the need for 
asking it, along with the specific legal requirement supporting it.
  Notification of Congress is required by Title 13, for a very good 
reason. That is to prevent the very situation that we face today, major 
leaders in our country literally telling the American people that the 
census is optional.
  Members of Congress, every single Member of Congress, received this 
book ``Preparing for the Census: Questions Planned for Census 2000, 
Federal Legislative and Program Uses.'' They received this book in 
1997, and they received it in 1998. I know that all of the Members who 
are complaining about this census received it. Do they not read their 
mail?
  The time for input and to ask questions was when we were formulating 
the census, not now, not during the census, not days before census day. 
The questions asked by the census represent a balance between the needs 
of our Nation's communities and the needs to keep the time and effort 
required to complete the form to a minimum.
  Only information required by Congress, not the Census Bureau, but 
required by Congress to manage and evaluate Federal programs is 
collected by the census. Federal and State funds for schools, 
employment services, housing assistance, road construction, day-care, 
hospitals, emergency services, programs for seniors, and much more are 
distributed based on these census figures. We must all work to make 
them as correct as possible.
  We should remember that the Census Bureau has gone to great effort to 
make both the short and long forms as brief as possible. The 2000 
Census short form contains eight questions, down from nine in 1990, and 
it takes about 10 minutes to fill it out. Ten minutes every 10 years to 
perform our civic duty on the needs in our community, is that too much 
to ask? It is shorter than 1990.
  Also, the 2000 Census long-term contains 53 questions, down from 57 
in 1990. We have the shortest long form in decades. It is four 
questions less than the 1990 Census.

  The only new questions in the census were added to really evaluate 
welfare reform, and the question that was added is asking grandparents 
how many of them are caregivers. Does the Senator from Mississippi 
think that this question should be optional?
  I am a little bit confused, because the same people who today are 
making such a fuss over the long form just 6 months ago literally tried 
to add a question to the short form, which everyone has to complete. 
Some of the Senators raising questions also cosponsored an amendment 
offered by Senator Helms which would have asked every American what 
their marriage status was and add it to the short form.
  Come on Senator, the head of the Senate, he cannot have it both ways. 
He cannot be lobbying for additional questions and then turn around and 
say that it is too long, that answering them should be optional.
  Some of my friends who have been with me fighting for an accurate 
census, and many of them are on the floor with me tonight, they know 
because they were there when opponents of an accurate census threatened 
to shut down the Government twice over the census and the budget and a 
flood relief bill was held hostage, and we had to have the anti-modern 
count language removed.
  Listen, believe me, these people who have fought to get the census 
forward to this point, they believe that the actions that are taking 
place now are intentional sabotage, the equivalent of a statistical 
shutdown of the Government by a small fraction of the GOP.
  I really do not believe that, and I do not want to believe it. I 
think the answer is much simpler. I think the people criticizing the 
long form either do not know or maybe do not care how essential this 
information is to solving the problems of the people of our country. If 
they do not know what the problems are, then they do not have to spend 
the resources and the time and effort to correct the problems.
  Let us look at the plumbing question that some of the Senators have 
raised. Well, it may shock some Senators but there are places in this 
country where Americans do not have plumbing, in the Colonias in Texas, 
on Indian reservations. And I really do say that in rural communities, 
even in Mississippi, what some elected officials are essentially saying 
is that they do not care

[[Page H1662]]

and that they do not want to know about the problems. If they do not 
know about the substandard housing in America, then we will not direct 
the resources to correct it.
  But maybe some of these Members who have raised questions should talk 
to some of the Alaskan representatives and hear what Alaskans have to 
say or had to say when the census removed a question on sanitation from 
the long form. They want it added again because they have plumbing 
problems and a lack of adequate plumbing in many places in Alaska.
  Or let us look at question 17 concerning a person's physical, mental, 
or emotional condition in the last 6 months. Are some Members saying 
they do not want to know how big a problem it is, how many disabled 
Americans there are in this country?
  I would like to remind the House that these questions are essentially 
the same questions approved by Ronald Reagan and former President Bush 
except that there are fewer questions than the questions in 1990.
  In the information age, we need reliable information in order to make 
good decisions for this Nation. Some Members of Congress must be stuck 
in the 18th century. They do not seem to want to know how America is 
doing. Without good data, we cannot administer the laws of this country 
fairly. Their comments are rash, appropriate, and just plain wrong.
  I want to take the time to read excerpts from some of the editorials 
that have appeared since Governor Bush joined with some of his 
colleagues and declared the census optional.
  From the Sacramento Bee on April 1: ``Trashing the Census. 
Irresponsible Bush Comments Could Sabotage the Count.'' That was the 
headline. From the New York Times, April 1, and I quote from the 
headlines: ``Civic Duty and the Census. Some Congressional Republicans 
are Seriously Undermining the 2000 Census.'' From today's Atlanta 
Constitution: ``Keep the Census From Becoming Political Fodder and 
Participate'' is the headline.
  I further quote: ``Participation in the census may also be harmed by 
political grandstanding. Presidential candidate George W. Bush and 
Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott have criticized the long form. The 
alternative as urged by Bush, Lott, and company would be to operate the 
government informally . . .''


                Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Sherwood). The Chair will remind all 
Members that it is not in order in debate to refer to individual 
Members of the Senate.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I was reading from an 
editorial headline.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The same rule applies whether it is the 
Members' own words or quotations from another person.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Same rule from an editorial headline.
  I thank the Chair for making that point.
  Mr. Speaker, from Friday's Journal Sentennial in Milwaukee, ``Census 
too Important to Ignore'' is the headline, ``There are also plenty of 
members of Congress who are now in a huff, saying they sympathize with 
citizens threatening to fill out their forms. One wonders what these 
guardians of the public good were doing when they reviewed and 
apparently approved of the same questions they are now complaining 
about.''
  A certain Senator from the other body who ran for President and lost 
said and did yesterday what a lot of Members of Congress should do. 
This particular Senator urged all Americans to fill out the entire 
census form and to follow the law. I agree with him. And he was a 
Republican. He says, please fill it out.
  The good news is that the Census Bureau will follow the law. It will 
try to get the long form questions answered, because the professionals 
at the bureau do what the law says, the law Congress passes. They will 
go out and try to get an accurate photo of this country and report back 
to Congress.
  I guess we now know why the 2000 Census was designated an emergency 
in last year's budget. We just did not know that some Members of 
Congress were the ones who would be creating the emergency.
  On average, the long form takes a little over half an hour to 
complete. Only information needed to manage or evaluate government 
programs is collected by the census. $180 billion a year in Federal 
money depends on census data. That is close to $2 trillion over the 
decade. Clearly, that is reason enough to fill out the form.
  I urge every American, every resident in America, to fill out the 
form. Do not leave it blank. Do not leave their future and their 
community be blank. Be part of the civic responsibility of this 
country. Please fill out the form.
  I have with me many members of the Census Task Force who have 
diligently worked for an active census, one that includes all of the 
residents of America.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez), who 
has been a great leader on this issue.
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York 
(Mrs. Maloney) for yielding. I want to congratulate her on her efforts, 
and I want to thank her for allowing me to say a few words on this 
important topic.
  First of all, I want to commend all Americans who have already taken 
the initiative and sent their census forms in. Congratulations. I thank 
them for their efforts. They have shown that people across this country 
know the value of the census and know their obligation and 
responsibility. I thank them for doing their part in making everyone 
count in this country.
  The last update shows, as of tonight, that 53 percent nationally has 
been the response. While that is more than half that have responded, we 
are hoping and we will continue to work at a 70 percent response rate. 
So we still have a long way to go.
  In Texas, we had a 48 percent response. We are hoping for 66 percent. 
We still have a long way to go.
  I represent 13 counties in South Texas. My district's response rate 
per county has been as low as 29 percent in Zapata County and as high 
as 52 and 53 percent in both Bexar County and Comal and Guadalupe 
counties.
  Especially where the initial rate is low, we must work hard to make 
sure that everyone gets counted. This week I spent the Census Day on 
Saturday at a particular restaurant in San Antonio at the Pico de Gallo 
Restaurant. The business community came forward providing both a little 
coffee and pastry for individuals to help fill out those forms.
  We are going to continue to work on the communities. I am going to 
ask the leaderships throughout the 13 counties that I represent to 
reach out and do everything they can to make sure that everyone gets 
counted. This was a great example on some of our activities that we 
have had the private sector participating as well as the public sector.
  I want to take also this opportunity to congratulate the gentlewoman 
from New York (Mrs. Maloney) and indicate in terms of the difficulty 
that we are having especially with elected officials of all people that 
should be responsible and not be making irresponsible comments.
  I want to highlight the fact that there has been some criticism about 
the report and about the census this year, when, in actuality, as 
indicated by the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) the 2000 
Census form is virtually the same census form as 1990, with the 
exception that it has got fewer questions.

                              {time}  1915

  So when we look in terms of the criticism, especially from a lot of 
the Republicans, you need to acknowledge the fact that under Bush and 
in the previous decade we had even more questions. The 2000 census 
short form contains eight questions. In 1990, it had nine questions. In 
the year 2000 census form, the large form has 53 questions, down from 
57 questions. So it is important that we bring those questions down.
  Once again I want to also highlight as the gentlewoman from New York 
did a beautiful job of pinpointing the importance of those questions 
and the long form that goes to one out of every six individuals. That 
long form allows us an opportunity to be able to identify a lot of the 
things that are critical in our country.
  For one, in terms of family needs and community needs. I head the 
task force

[[Page H1663]]

on health care for the Hispanic Caucus. One of the things that we are 
real conscious about is community health centers. This data will help 
identify the need for and/or the lack of services in community mental 
health.
  And so it becomes real critical that these questionnaires are sent 
back. When we talk about veterans and the disabled, those individuals 
that receive SSI, those individuals that are elderly, that are looking 
forward in terms of Social Security, that data is extremely helpful for 
this country to be able to identify how many expected over 65 are we 
going to be having, how many people are disabled, how many veterans we 
have out there in the country that are in need and disabled, in need of 
services.
  All those types of questions that are there are there for a purpose. 
The question that sometimes comes to light is the question regarding 
plumbing. We all assume that we all have plumbing, but I am here to 
tell you that that is not the case in every community. We still have 
colonias, I have them in Bexar County, in South Bexar County, in the 
metropolitan areas and I have them in Starr and a lot of the other 
counties in the rural areas.
  Those types of questions are critical to make sure we identify those 
areas that are in need and especially when it comes to zeroing in on 
identifying resources that are needed. In fact, some of the counties 
that have not responded are some of the counties that are most in need, 
that need to be worked on; and we need to look at a little more 
closely. I am going to encourage you once again to please look at your 
form right now, and I would ask that you seriously look at filling that 
out as quickly as possible so that we do not have to send people out 
there to make sure that we help.
  If you need help, I would also ask that you call my congressional 
offices, both in Roma in Starr County in Texas and San Diego in Duval 
County in Texas and San Antonio. I would ask you to call our offices if 
you need any help and assistance in doing those forms.
  In closing, I just want to thank the gentlewoman from New York for 
allowing us the opportunity to mention how critical this is. I also 
want to submit for the Record a letter that we will be sending to one 
of the governors in our State that has made some comments that we feel 
are very irresponsible.

                                Congress of the United States,

                                    Washington, DC, April 4, 2000.
     Hon. George W. Bush,
     Governor, State of Texas, State Capitol, Austin, TX.
       Dear Governor Bush: We are writing to express our deep 
     concern over recent statements you reportedly made regarding 
     the conduct of the 2000 census. As you know, the Republican 
     leadership in the Congress has criticized the information 
     sought in the census forms and has even encouraged Americans 
     to leave some of the information blank if they find the 
     questions objectionable. You joined congressional Republicans 
     in that criticism last week by agreeing that if Americans are 
     uncomfortable with the information they requested, they 
     should leave those questions blank. Collectively, these 
     statements have the effect, intended or not, of depressing 
     the census count.
       We believe your criticism of the information sought in the 
     census forms is seriously misinformed. The 2000 census forms 
     are virtually the same as the census forms used in 1990, with 
     one exception: They ask fewer questions. The 2000 census 
     short form contains 8 questions, down from 9 in 1990. The 
     2000 census long form contains fifty-three questions, down 
     from fifty-seven in 1990. The 2000 long form is the shortest 
     long form in decades. Moreover, the Census Bureau sent the 
     forms to the Republican-controlled Congress for approval in 
     both 1997 and 1998, and not a single privacy concern was 
     raised.
       You have opposed the Census Bureau's plan to use modern 
     statistical methods to correct the 2000 census. Those methods 
     were developed by the Census Bureau professionals at the 
     direction of Congress in conjunction with the National 
     Academy of Sciences, and have been found to be the best way 
     to correct the undercount and overcount of the population 
     that has plagued prior censuses. The correction to the census 
     is about fairness. The 1990 census undercounted a 
     disproportionate percentage of minority populations (e.g., 
     Hispanics, African Americans, Native Americans, Asian 
     Americans), resulting in Texas being short-changed $1 billion 
     in federal funds that went elsewhere. Despite the best 
     efforts of the Census Bureau, it is projected that even a 
     greater number of Americans will be missed in the 2000 
     census.
       Tenuous support of the census will hurt our home State of 
     Texas. A recent study showed that Texas stands to lose around 
     $2 billion over the next decade if the correction to the 
     census is not made. Those funds go to the very heart of 
     family values: schools, employment services, housing 
     assistance, road construction, day care facilities, 
     hospitals, emergency services, programs for seniors, and much 
     more.
       In opposing the use of modern statistical methods to 
     correct the census, you have consistently said that you favor 
     a full and accurate count. However, a full and accurate count 
     has proven unachievable under the best circumstances, and 
     becomes impossible when leading public officials denigrate 
     the census itself. Your recent statements suggesting that 
     Americans need not complete the census are counterproductive. 
     Thus far, the State of Texas has the fourth lowest response 
     rate to the census of any State. We still have a chance to 
     urge Texans (and all Americans) to fill out their forms.
       We strongly urge you to clarify your position regarding the 
     census and stop encouraging Americans to leave census forms 
     blank. Furthermore, given the numerous public statements 
     questioning the need to complete census forms, in the event 
     of an undercount, we urge you to reconsider your opposition 
     to a statistical correction to the census so that all 
     Americans are counted.
           Sincerely,
     Carolyn B. Maloney,
     Eddie Bernice Johnson,
     Gene Green,
     Silvestre Reyes,
     Max Sandlin,
     Ciro D. Rodriguez,
     Ruben Hinojosa.

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. I thank the gentleman for his comments and 
his hard work.
  Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) represents a 
great State which unfortunately was undercounted in 1990. He has worked 
hard over the past several years with many innovative programs and 
ideas to make people aware of the census and to improve the count in 
his State and in the country. I thank him for his leadership.
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I am here not to point fingers; rather, to 
encourage all Americans to complete and return their census forms. When 
I hear people saying, ``Don't bother to fill out your long form,'' and 
we seem to be hearing a lot of that lately, I am incredulous. What am I 
missing here? To not do so would be like driving down the road and 
throwing $100 bills out the window. I just cannot afford to do this, 
and I have yet to meet anybody in the circles I travel in who can.
  If I want to talk in broad strokes, I can say that nationwide the 
Commerce Department estimates that 4 million people were overlooked in 
the 1990 count. This figure represents a shocking disempowerment of 1.6 
percent of the American population and the figures for minorities were 
significantly worse. A full 5 percent of Hispanics were simply 
overlooked, 4.4 percent of blacks were never counted, and 4.5 percent 
of Native Americans were ignored.
  Quite clearly far too many minority Americans were denied the 
representation that is their birthright. If I want to talk about the 
State of Texas, the 1990 census resulted in the second highest 
undercount of any State. Not only in 1990 but for a full 20 years, 
almost half a million Texans were inadequately represented in their 
government and received only a fraction of the Federal funds that they 
were due.
  The undercount meant that Texas alone was deprived of $1 billion of 
Federal funds. An equally inaccurate census in the year 2000 could 
result in a loss of $2 billion to our great State of Texas. If I were 
to narrow my focus even more to the area that I represent, South Texas 
and the Rio Grande Valley communities stand to lose far more this go-
around than the last. The 15th Congressional District was the 23rd most 
undercounted district in the Nation. The miscount in 1990 meant that 25 
schools in my district were not built, and over 850 teachers were not 
hired through the course of that decade. Over the course of the past 10 
years, our school districts have lost well over $78 billion in Federal 
funding that would have otherwise been allocated to educate our 
children in South Texas.
  Mr. Speaker, the 1990 undercount also resulted in missed 
opportunities for health care and senior programs as each individual in 
my district lost $2,037, or a total of $46 million over the course of 
the decade in Federal resources. In short, what we do not receive as 
our fair share has real implications for our congressional district. My 
constituents lose too much if they are not counted.
  Why would we choose to do that? I think we have learned from the past

[[Page H1664]]

about why we need an accurate census count. Again, let me ask, what am 
I missing when I hear people essentially saying, Don't bother to ask 
for what is yours? If a bank misallocated someone's hard-earned funds, 
I am certain no one would act so passively.
  Representation in American government cannot be contingent on the 
affluence of your neighborhood or the color of your skin. This is a 
sanctioned disempowerment of American minorities and cannot be allowed 
to continue. We must have a census that not only attempts to count 
Americans but one that makes the people count.
  In closing, I want to say, Mr. Speaker, by not completing the form 
thoroughly and completely, we are allowing ourselves to become third-
class citizens without a voice in our government. The census is in our 
hands. It is simple. Abide by the law, fill out the form, and make 
yourself count.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. I thank the gentleman for his remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record an editorial from the Atlanta 
Journal Constitution that says, ``To find fault with those queries at 
this late date is a cheap shot. The alternative would be to operate 
government uninformed of its people's needs.''

         [From the Atlanta Journal Constitution, April 3, 2000]

   Constitution: Keep the Census From Becoming Political Fodder and 
                              Participate

       Roughly half of America's households did their civic duty 
     and answered the U.S. Census Bureau's Year 2000 postal survey 
     by its April 1 deadline. That level of participation is not 
     nearly good enough if America is to get the accurate picture 
     of itself essential to governing fairly and efficiently at 
     local, state and federal levels.
       Fortunately, the bureau still has a ``final, final 
     deadline'' for mail and e-mail replies. It's April 11, the 
     day it will send out its enumerators to count Americans who 
     didn't respond. So if you have yet to fill out your census 
     form, please do so and mail it this week.
       Participation in the census may also be harmed by the 
     political grandstanding it continues to inspire. Presidential 
     candidate George W. Bush and Senate Majority Leader Trent 
     Lott (R-Miss.) have criticized the long census--sent to one 
     in six American households--as some sort of government 
     intrusion on privacy.
       However, the Census Bureau takes very seriously its 
     responsibility to keep individual census responses 
     confidential. Leakers inside will be sought out and 
     prosecuted, as will hackers on the outside. In fact, the 
     bureau is working with leading computer-security experts to 
     make sure its data remain untapped.
       Is this year's census survey exceptionally burdensome or 
     intrusive, as its critics suggest? No, the questions on the 
     long form are almost all similar to those asked in previous 
     censuses, including the 1990 census conducted when Bush's 
     father was president. And every question on this year's long 
     form was presented to members of Congress for their comments 
     two years ago. To find fault with those queries at this late 
     date is a cheap shot.
       The information being gathered will be used to redraw 
     political districts, calculate how government benefits like 
     Medicare are to be shared equitably, and predict public needs 
     such as mass transit, roads, libraries, schools, fire and 
     police protection. Census figures from 1990 helped federal 
     emergency officials determine quickly where shelters were 
     most needed after Hurricane Andrew smashed south Florida in 
     1993.
       The alternative, as urged by Bush, Lott & Co., would be to 
     operate government uninformed of its people's needs.

  Mr. Speaker, I would now like to call upon a great leader on the 
census and many other areas, the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek). 
She helped organize a bipartisan hearing on the census and has worked 
very hard for an accurate count.
  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. I want to thank the gentlewoman from New York 
who has unselfishly led our initiatives here in the Congress along with 
the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) on the census, and while she 
has, she has kept up with it, she has monitored it.
  Mr. Speaker, all Americans should have their eyes focused on us here 
tonight. We are here begging the American public to return their census 
forms. I say begging, Mr. Speaker, because it is the most important 
thing that we will work on in 10 years' time. This is our opportunity 
to be counted. If we miss this opportunity, then we should not complain 
about the status of things in these good old United States.
  I want to thank all those people who have taken the time to return 
their forms and to say to them, Good for you. You have come forward to 
be counted.
  Those who did not, I want to say to you, continue to work on it, fill 
them out and return it. Do not let anyone discourage you from returning 
your census forms. Do not let anyone convince you that you need not 
fill out the forms completely. They are underestimating your 
intelligence when someone tells you, Fill out what you want to, it is 
not important, or it is invasive, or it is invading your privacy.
  Do not let anyone underestimate your intellectual ability and say 
that to you. The ball is in your court. Each one of you, one by one. 
One by one you must make a difference in your community, and you must 
make a difference in this Nation by setting us on a new path for the 
new century.
  Our message to the American people is if you have not already filled 
it out and returned it, do it today. Do not wait any longer. Another 
minute might be too late. So do it today.
  As of last night, I am told that over 53 percent of Americans had 
completed and sent in their census form. This is pretty good news, Mr. 
Speaker, but it is not good enough. We have to continue until we get as 
much as 100 percent would not be too much. We want everyone to be 
counted. The Constitution says that anyone who is in this country 
should be counted.
  Now, there are people in this country, Mr. Speaker, that should think 
of it historically. They were not counted as a full person. African 
Americans like myself were not counted as a full person. They were 
counted as three-fifths of a man. Now they must go forward with all 
deliberate speed, with all urgency to be sure that they are counted, so 
that we will not leave anyone behind.
  If they have not completed their questionnaire, if they need help, 
they should get it right away. There is too much at stake, Mr. Speaker. 
Too much at stake. For example, in my district, we have a need for 
housing. So many people in my district are without adequate housing. So 
many people in my district, Mr. Speaker, are without adequate 
transportation. So many people in my district need better health care. 
The mortality rate is high in certain segments of my community. The 
morbidity rate is very high in certain areas of my community. They 
should understand that unless they stand up and be counted, it will 
continue.
  So many people complain, we do not have good marketing here, we do 
not have anywhere to go and purchase our products, we have to go all 
the way out of our district to find a store. We have to go all the way 
to another county to find a good place to shop. I am saying they must 
take the bull by the horns, because all of these market studies, Mr. 
Speaker, are made from census numbers. Population does count. It is so 
important.
  Last week, we had people to say just before census day, April 1, I 
think they utilized, Mr. Speaker, they thought everybody was a fool, 
that it was almost April Fool's Day.

                              {time}  1930

  They figured that people should not return their forms. It was 
foolhardy, and they are unwise, Mr. Speaker, for anyone in government 
or out of government, especially people with high status in our 
government, to say, do not fill out all of the census. After all, this 
very Congress allocated millions of dollars to be spent for the census. 
They thought it was important. They were not just doing this for show, 
but to be sure that everyone is counted. Now they come back and say, do 
not take the time to fill out these forms. It is unconscionable, Mr. 
Speaker, for any of us who represent government or who represent the 
people to say to the people, do not fill out the form. Shame on those 
who say it. It should not be repeated. They should go back and say to 
people, I am ashamed to have taken a constitutional oath and to say, do 
not follow the Constitution of this country. The Constitution of this 
country says everyone should be counted. They even made it against the 
law not to be counted. They even made it against the law for people to 
take confidential information that is on the census form and betray the 
public trust by giving it away. It cannot be done.
  So Congress has worked very hard on this. The gentlewoman from New 
York (Mrs. Maloney) has spent a great deal of her time, and we have all 
spent a great deal of time in all of the caucuses

[[Page H1665]]

to ask the people to fill out the form. The Census Bureau has worked 
very, very hard. They have done so much.
  I have been following the census, Mr. Speaker, for many years. I have 
seen the census in its good times and in its bad times. I have seen it 
when the Government was sued because of an inaccurate account. We do 
not want that to happen anymore. The 2000 Census is not a hard form to 
fill out. It only has 8 questions; there were 9 in 1990. My colleagues 
have heard us talk about it this evening. We are just saying to anyone, 
to anyone who is a governor, who is a legislator, who is a Senator or 
Congress person, shut up, if you are telling the American public the 
census should not be filled out. Anyone's position should be to support 
the census.
  So let us encourage everyone, because there is so much at stake with 
the census.
  So we say, well, why should we advise the American public again? We 
are constantly advising them. They are going to come to the gentlewoman 
from New York (Mrs. Maloney). Her people are going to come and knock on 
her door and say look, we did not get what we needed this year. We lost 
money that the Federal Government should be sending us. They will be 
going to her. My constituents are coming to me; my colleagues' 
constituents are coming to them.
  They want to know, why is it that some other city, why is it that the 
State of New York received another representative? Why? Why did we not 
receive one here in Georgia or Alabama or Florida? Do my colleagues 
know why? Because people were not counted, because the census count 
tells us whether or not we will have another representative in 
Congress. It will even say to the Government, maybe we will not have 
another representative from Florida, or we might have another one, or 
maybe New York will lose another one. Why? Because the people were not 
there to be counted.
  Then look at the State legislature. We look to see that we have a 
good State representative in the State legislature. We turn around and 
look, they are not there. Why are they not there? Because people did 
not come out and be counted. The Government cannot just go around and 
make people. We have to be counted and we must return the forms; and if 
we return the forms, we can get the numbers that we want.
  We cannot ask too many personal questions. There are not any personal 
questions when it comes down to the expending of Federal money, because 
they just cannot give money on a whim. That money comes from population 
counts; it comes from need. So if one's district in one's community, in 
one's neighborhood does not get what it is supposed to get, then it is 
all our fault. The ball is in our court; it is in our court. So we may 
as well get out there and hastily return the forms.

  We are so very glad to be here tonight, I say to my colleague from 
New York (Mrs. Maloney), to say to the people back home, if we keep 
talking about good schools, we need better schools, we need more 
teachers; then if that is the case, education is the key, if we need 
that, then we must return our census forms. How can they count children 
who were missed in the last census? The Subcommittee on the Census has 
worked very hard to be sure that children are counted. So many people 
neglect to list the children in their homes, so when it is time to 
build schools, they are left out. Then the next thing they do is they 
call the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney). Look, our schools 
are crowded, we do not have enough teachers, we do not have enough 
supplies.
  I want to end this by saying that if we return our census forms, we 
will be better served by our government, because there is an old saying 
which is that whatever we do, we should stand up and be counted, 
because as an individual or as a community, we will benefit from that 
count.
  I want to thank the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) for this 
Special Order tonight so that we can help America understand the 
importance of the census. Those of us who did not return our forms, do 
it now, and we say, good for you.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I would like to place in the 
Record an editorial from March 29 from the Seattle Times Company, and 
they write:

       The questions provide a telling snapshot of America and 
     help determine how large pots of tax dollars are spent on 
     social programs.

  Further, they say,

       Smile. A big family portrait is being painted with census 
     numbers. Nothing scary about that.

  They go on to encourage everyone to fill out their form.

                [From the Seattle Times, Mar. 29, 2000]

                Overly Overwrought About the 2000 Census

       On any given day, citizens are bombarded with dozens of 
     legitimate, stress-producing worries. The U.S. Census Bureau, 
     even its much-maligned long-form questionnaire, ought not be 
     one of them.
       Census questionnaires have been mailed to 120 million 
     American households. The seven-question short form was sent 
     to most households; a longer, more-detailed, 52-question form 
     was delivered to one in six households.
       Then the yowling began--The Snoops! The invasion of 
     privacy!
       The complaints are nine parts hype, one part hooey.
       Two important developments have occurred since the last 
     census was taken in 1990. The long form got shorter by four 
     questions, and talk radio got louder.
       In fairness to those with census jitters, more people 
     nowadays are concerned about personal privacy. Frequent calls 
     by solicitors and marketing companies wear down a person's 
     patience and goodwill.
       Remember, though, the census is the head count prescribed 
     by the Constitution.
       The people who make money by whipping up fear--and those 
     who buy into it--substitute paranoia for logic.
       The loudest concerns focus on question 31 on the long form, 
     which asks people to report wages, salaries, commissions, 
     bonuses or tips from jobs. This is not a scary question. The 
     federal government, the Internal Revenue Service, already 
     knows the answer for individuals. The Census Bureau is 
     looking for data to report in the aggregate.
       Before people allow themselves to be whipped into an 
     unnecessary froth, remember the manner in which the data is 
     reported. It is much like a series of USA Today headlines, 
     ``We're older,'' ``We're more mobile, more diverse'' and so 
     on. The census doesn't announce that Joe Dokes at 123 Pine 
     Street does or says anything. Nor does the Census Bureau 
     share personal information with other agencies.
       The questions provide a telling snapshot of America and 
     help determine how large pots of tax dollars are spent on 
     social programs, highways and mass transit, and how 
     congressional seats are distributed among the states.
       Smile. A big family portrait is being painted with numbers. 
     Nothing scary about that.

  Mr. Speaker, my next speaker is a very diligent and outstanding 
member of the Subcommittee on the Census, the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Davis), who has been a great leader on getting an accurate count.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as I begin, let me just first of 
all indicate how delightful it has been to work under the leadership of 
two dynamic ladies on this issue, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. 
Maloney), who is the ranking member on the Subcommittee on the Census, 
and the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek), who is the chairperson of 
the Congressional Black Caucus's Task Force on the Census.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join with my colleagues in urging the 
America people to fill out their census forms. Do something very 
simple: fill the forms out and send them in. Nothing more, nothing 
less.
  Now, I know that the governor of Texas and others have suggested in 
recent days that if you have the long form, then maybe you should not 
answer all of the questions. Now, there are some people who might hear 
these comments and decide that they should not bother to fill out the 
long form. My response to those individuals is that there is too much 
at stake for you not to fill them out.
  The census, as we all know, is about determining what communities 
will revenue schools, new nursing homes, job training centers, help 
with transportation infrastructure, and much more. It is about 
determining representation and whether or not a State will even gain or 
perhaps lose a congressional seat, a seat in the State legislature, 
city council, or on the county board. There is simply too much at stake 
to risk not filling out the form. Those who would suggest that the 
questions are too intrusive already know that this information cannot 
be sold or shared with INS or any other investigatory agency.
  For example, the question regarding in-home plumbing is asked to 
determine how many homes actually have modern plumbing, yet there are 
those

[[Page H1666]]

who would suggest that it is too intrusive. Well, it is not too 
intrusive if one lives in a community where there are no sewer lines, 
where there is no running water, where there is no in-home plumbing. 
Plus, they already know that the responses are protected by law.
  I would also suggest to people that perhaps the slogan often used by 
the Panthers several years ago would be appropriate when they said that 
you are either part of the solution or you are part of the problem. If 
you do not fill out the form, then I can assure you that you are part 
of the problem.
  We can ill afford to allow forces opposed to an accurate census count 
to suppress the number of people returning their forms. In my own city, 
the city of Chicago, we lost millions of dollars in Federal funds as a 
result of the 1990 undercount. According to the Census Bureau, at least 
10 million people, including at least 113,831, were undercounted in the 
State of Illinois, 81,000 in Cook County alone; and 68,000 in the City 
of Chicago were not counted. Many of those missed were women and 
children who live in minority communities. Because of the undercount, 
every Chicago and Cook County citizen was shortchanged, shortchanged on 
money to prepare roads, fix bridges; for schools, parks, and job 
training. Perhaps the most egregious shortchanging would be that of 
political representation.
  So when people in powerful positions encourage people to give up 
their most basic of all rights, then all of America loses.
  So again, I commend the gentlewoman from New York for arranging for 
this Special Order. I also want to thank all of my neighbors who are 
volunteers, people who are taking it upon themselves to go to the 
streets and encourage their neighbors and other people in their 
community, to simply fill out the form, send them in, because the 
reality is if you are not counted, then you really do not count.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to be with my colleagues this evening 
on this Special Order.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman.
  I would like to put into the Record the editorial from the Sacramento 
Bee in California. They are very critical of leaders who have come out 
against filling out the long census. They state, and I quote: ``How 
harmful to this important civic exercise. How irresponsible and 
unpatriotic.'' They go on to say, ``With their thoughtless comments, 
they feed mindless anti-government sentiment. Do they really think they 
can govern better by knowing less about America? They have done a 
disservice to the census and to the country.'' I would include that in 
the Record at this time.

                [From the Sacramento Bee, April 1, 2000]

 Trashing the Census: Irresponsible Bush Comments Could Sabotage Count

       Just two days ago before Census Day, as U.S. Census Bureau 
     officials were urging Americans to cooperate in the crucial 
     once-in-a-decade national count, Texas Gov. George Bush made 
     their job harder. If he had the long census form, Bush told a 
     campaign crowd, he's not sure he'd want to fill it out 
     either. How harmful to this important civic exercise; how 
     irresponsible and unpatriotic.
       Bush's remarks come on the heels of Senate Majority Leader 
     Trent Lott's advice to his fellow Americans not to answer any 
     questions on the census long form that they believe invade 
     their privacy. Taken together, those remarks by the leading 
     Republican in Congress and the likely Republican presidential 
     nominee can easily be interpreted as a deliberate attempt to 
     sabotage the 2000 census. They raise questions about the 
     integrity of the census that are unwarranted, unfair and 
     irresponsible.
       One in six households receives the census long form. Beyond 
     the basic eight questions about the number, age, gender and 
     race or ethnicity of people living in the household, the long 
     form asks other questions designed to measure the well-being 
     of Americans, to help government agencies to plan where to 
     put schools or highways or health funding. Included in the 
     long forms are 53 questions such as: How many bedrooms in the 
     house? Has anyone been disabled by health problems in the 
     last six months? Is there a telephone? What is the income of 
     the household? Is there indoor plumbing?
       By law the responses are strictly confidential. The U.S. 
     Census cannot share individual household answers with the 
     IRS, FBI, INS or any other government agency or private 
     entity.
       Moreover, every single question on the long and short forms 
     is there because of a specific statutory requirement. Most of 
     these questions have been on the form for decades. The only 
     new question added since 1990 was put there at the behest of 
     Republicans in Congress, including Lott. It asks grandparents 
     whether they are caregivers for their grandchildren. The 
     wording of each question was reviewed by Congress in 1997 and 
     1998. Lott, who now raises objections, pushed a resolution 
     urging the Census Bureau to return to the short form a 
     question about marital status that it had moved to the long 
     form.
       The census is the law of the land, enacted by the first 
     Congress. When Bush says he wouldn't fill out the form, he's 
     saying he's prepared to break the law. When Lott advises 
     Americans not to answer questions they don't want to answer, 
     he's telling them to break the law. And although both Lott 
     and Bush limit their specific objections to the long form, 
     the impact will inevitably reverberate more widely--to those 
     who only receive the short form.
       In Sacramento, census officials report that the response to 
     the census is already lagging. Only 39 percent of Sacramento 
     households have returned the form so far. Every man, woman or 
     child not counted costs $1,600 in lost federal funds. That's 
     money that would go to our schools and highways and mental 
     health and police protection.
       Participating in the census is a civic duty, like voting, 
     serving on juries and defending the country. As duties go, 
     it's not burdensome; for most people, filing out the long 
     form is a once-in-a-lifetime chore. With their thoughtless 
     comments that feed mindless anti-government sentiment--do 
     they really think they can govern better by knowing less 
     about America?--Bush and Lott have done a disservice to the 
     census and the country.

  Mr. Speaker, our next speaker is the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Baca), who is a new Member, but already a great leader on the census 
and other issues.
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) for the outstanding job she 
has done in leading us, in leading the Nation on what is so important 
to all of us and the effect it is going to have on this Nation over the 
next decade. It is important for someone to take that leadership role, 
and she has taken that role. She has gone out to the various States 
telling all of us of the importance of the count. I commend her for her 
efforts.
  Now, the responsibility is up to us. The responsibility is up to all 
Americans. This is not about political wedges, this is about improving 
the quality of life.
  Some of us like myself who are veterans have to remember that we 
serve this country; and veterans have fought so we would enjoy those 
freedoms, those freedoms that we have today; and those freedoms meant 
the ability to participate in a process. We have a responsibility to 
participate in that process. It is our American duty, it is our 
American responsibility, it is our civic duty to participate in this 
process.
  Right now, Mr. Speaker, 53 percent to 56 percent have responded. That 
is not enough. I ask the rest of the American people to please respond 
to what is important, what will guide this Nation not only now, but in 
the future. It is the responsibility of churches, our community 
organizations; it is a partnership between business and ourselves to 
make sure that everyone counts. If we hear anyone that states not to 
turn in the form, not to fill it out, then they are being 
irresponsible. They are not doing their civic duties.
  We have heard that from former governors that have indicated that, 
from other Members that have indicated that. We have to remember what 
the real responsibility is. I know, because in California alone, we 
have 52 Members that represent us. I have heard most of the 
constituents in California talk about the lack of money going back to 
the State of California.

                              {time}  1945

  We are all going to fight for monies coming back to the State of 
California, and this is another vehicle of getting monies back to 
California by ensuring that an accurate count is done, that the Federal 
dollars are returned appropriately. If we do an accurate count, then 
the monies will be returned back to California.
  We lost or have the potential of losing $2.2 billion if we do not get 
an accurate count. In my district alone, we lost $50 million over the 
last 10 years because an accurate count did not occur.
  What does that mean to us? That means that we did not do good data-
gathering, we did not participate in the process. We should have 
participated in the process. What does that mean? We did not get the 
educational services that we needed, we did not get the health care 
that was needed, we did not

[[Page H1667]]

get the special ed that everybody talks about getting, and monies for 
construction and education, for our seniors and health centers that is 
so important to a lot of us.
  It is important that we do that count to make sure that we take care 
of every aspect, including transportation and monies in the 
infrastructure. If we do not get monies in, what do we look at in 
California and the Inland Empire, which has the largest growth in the 
area? If we do not do an accurate count, how are we going to get the 
money back to our area?
  We are asking for funds now. I am fighting and advocating for funds 
in that area. If we do an accurate count, at least there will be a pool 
of money so we can go back and put it into our area. It is important 
that we do that. It is important that we count everyone.
  If we look at statistics that were done, African-Americans were 
undercounted in our communities. Latinos were undercounted. Asians, 
American Indians were undercounted. We have the responsibility that 
every American is counted. If we do not, California and the Nation 
loses.
  I ask everyone to please complete that form. I know that it is easy 
to talk about the form being long and extensive, and the questions that 
are there. I had the long form. I completed the long form. It is 
important for others to do that.
  For those who feel they do not know how to fill it out, please call 
the Census. Call your congressional office. We know what it means to 
the State of California and what it means to the rest of the Nation 
when it comes to not only the congressional seats, State senate seats, 
assembly seats, local elected positions in our area.
  It is not just about that, but it is about what is our civic 
responsibility. I want to remind all Americans, and I want Americans to 
remember those veterans who have fought for this country to assure that 
we enjoy those freedoms; who said, I fought for you to enjoy the 
freedoms that you have today. Exercise those rights. If we fail to 
exercise those rights, we fail to serve America.
  I commend our leader, who has done an excellent job in this endeavor, 
to make sure that everybody in the Nation knows how important it is to 
all of us. It does not matter whether we are white, whether we are 
black, Asian, Native American Indians or Latinos, it is about Americans 
and our civic responsibility. It is about this Nation and what we stand 
to gain as a whole.
  United we will conquer and do what is important for all of us. It is 
not about political wedges, it is about inclusion. This is about 
including everybody in that process. This is what we stand for, 
inclusion of everyone. I ask everyone to be included in this process 
and to participate.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I refer Members to an 
editorial from the New York Times on April 1. In it they criticize the 
congressional Republicans for undermining an accurate 2000 Census.
  They state, and I quote, ``These comments are irresponsible. 
Completing the Census form fully and accurately is not optional; it is 
a civic duty that is required by law.''
  I include this article for the Record.
  The article referred to is as follows:

                [From the New York Times, Apr. 1, 2000]

                       Civic Duty and The Census

       Some Congressional Republicans are seriously undermining 
     the 200 census by suggesting that the national head count, 
     which officially takes place today, is an invasion of 
     privacy. That bizarre complaint could discourage the public 
     from participating in a project that is crucial to the 
     functioning of state and federal government. The question's 
     on this year's long census form--including questions on 
     household income, plumbing facilities and physical 
     disabilities--have been part of the census for decades. The 
     only new question asks for information on grandparents who 
     are caregivers for children. In fact, this year's long form 
     is the shortest one in 60 years. All answers on census forms 
     are kept confidential. Yet Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska 
     has suggested in recent days that people can simply ignore 
     questions on the long form--which goes to one out of six 
     American households--that they find intrusive. A spokesman 
     for Senator Trent Lott, the majority leader, has made 
     similarly inappropriate suggestions. Gov. George W. Bush of 
     Texas has said that people should fill out the forms, but 
     that if he received a long form, he was not sure he would 
     want to fill it out either. These comments are irresponsible. 
     Completing the census form fully and accurately is not 
     optional; it is a civic duty that is required by law. Senator 
     Hagel now says that he does not want to encourage people to 
     break the law, but will introduce legislation to make most of 
     the questions on the long form voluntary.
       The federal government has spent billions of dollars trying 
     to produce an accurate count as response rates have continued 
     to decline with each decennial count. Accuracy is critical 
     because the census is used to apportion seats in Congress, 
     draw legislative districts within the states and distribute 
     more than $185 billion in federal funds. The government uses 
     information from the long form of the census to allocate 
     money to communities for housing, school aid, transportation, 
     services for the elderly and the disabled and scores of other 
     programs. The data are also necessary to calculate the 
     consumer price index and cost of living increases in 
     government benefits.
       When individuals fail to give complete information about 
     their households, they risk shortchanging their communities 
     of government aid that they may be entitled to. That is why 
     many state and local government officials are working hard to 
     increase census response rates in their communities. The 
     mindless complaints of some politicians could well sabotage 
     those efforts.

  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood), who 
is here representing the Asian Pacific American Caucus. Asians were 
terribly undercounted in the 1990 Census. The gentleman has been a 
leader on this issue.
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York for 
yielding to me. I also take the time to honor her and recognize her 
tireless efforts on the Census. She has been a force for accurate 
counting. She has been a force for inclusion in the most basic American 
sense when Americans, all Americans, are counted.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my thanks to all Americans who 
have completed their forms so far. All who have performed their civic 
duty have been making a difference for their community and setting our 
Nation on the the best path for this new century.
  For those who have not returned the form and returned the Census 
questionnaires, I urge that they do so today.
  As reported yesterday, more than 53 percent of all Americans have 
completed and sent in their Census forms. This is exciting news, and we 
must continue to work together with the Census Bureau, all elected 
officials working closely with the Census Bureau, and all elected 
officials at all levels of government working closely with the Census 
Bureau and with communities and neighborhoods across the Nation to 
reach out to the 47 percent of Americans who have yet to complete their 
Census questionnaire.
  As reported, I represent the Asian Pacific American Caucus. I am 
chair of the Caucus for this Congress, and we have certainly been 
interested in this issue because we recognize that Asian Americans and 
Pacific Islanders were undercounted.
  I am pleased to report that in my own home area of Guam, in the 1990 
Census, Guam's response rate was over 70 percent in the initial 
outreach, and I would have to say that it was one of the highest 
response rates in the Nation.
  Regrettably, just last week, just days before Census day, we had 
Members of Congress and prominent leaders of the Republican party, 
people who ought to know better, tell the American public that somehow 
or other the Census or parts of the Census were optional. Over 2 years 
ago, every Member of Congress received a detailed list of the questions 
to be asked on the long form, including a description of the need for 
asking these questions and specific legal requirements supporting it, 
which Congress itself had passed supporting these questions.
  The time for input on the questions was then. The time to achieve an 
accurate count is now. The Census Bureau has gone to great effort 
within the mandates of Congress to make the forms as brief as possible. 
The 2000 Census form, as has already been reported, contains eight 
questions, down from nine in 1990. The long form contains 53 questions, 
down from 57 in 1990, and is the shortest long form in history.
  In this, the Information Age, we need reliable information in order 
to make good decisions for this Nation. Without good data, we cannot 
administer the laws of this country fairly. Yet, the Governor of Texas, 
along with prominent members of the other body, seems to imply that the 
Census is optional; that somehow or other people should not have to 
answer all of the questions,

[[Page H1668]]

that people only have to obey those parts of the law which requires all 
Americans to fill out the Census which they are comfortable with.
  Mr. Speaker, that a member of the other body said that he advised 
people not to answer questions they do not like, while the Governor of 
Texas said that he was not sure that he would fill out the entire 
Census form if he had received the long form, these actions are 
entirely irresponsible. Instead, Mr. Speaker, we should encourage all 
Americans to fill out their forms and to participate in the Census. It 
is important to have complete and accurate information about all 
Americans.
  Even the question on plumbing has been derisively referred to in a 
number of media reports, but I want to tell the Members that if they 
come from a home without plumbing, it is no joke. We want government 
officials to know that there is a pattern of plumbing in our area, and 
when we are not hooked to the sewer line, or if we use an outhouse 
quite regularly, we want people to know that so government policy-
makers will respond to that reality in a responsible way.
  I also want to take the time to thank the Census for the language 
assistance, particularly in communities where English is not the normal 
language of some people.
  Some people say that we do not need to know everything, but I do 
think that demographic data is the raw material for making public 
policy, and I would rather that we craft a policy based upon knowledge 
of our population, rather than one that is based on incomplete 
knowledge.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I would mention to Members a 
Washington Post March 31 editorial.
  In this editorial, they call upon all Americans to fill out their 
Census form. I quote, ``All kinds of harm will be done if the count is 
defective. A politician not seeking to score cheap political points at 
public expense might resist the temptation to demagogue, and instead 
urge citizens to turn in their forms. But in an election year such as 
this, that apparently is too high a standard for some.''
  So they are critical of all elected officials that are urging people 
not to fill out their forms, that doing so is optional.
  Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record this editorial from the 
Washington Post:
  The editorial referred to is as follows:

               [From the Washington Post, Mar. 31, 2000]

                             Census Bashing

       THE CENSUS always produces complaints that an intrusive 
     government is asking for more information than it has a right 
     to know. Usually the complaints are scattered and come from 
     the fringe. But this year some radio talk show hosts have 
     taken up the issue, and now some national politicians who 
     otherwise yield to none in insisting on law and order are 
     telling constituents not to answer questions they feel invade 
     their privacy.
       The Senate majority leader, Trent Lott, is one such. He 
     believes that people ought to provide ``the basic census 
     information'' but that if they ``feel their privacy is being 
     invaded by [some] questions, they can choose not to answer,'' 
     his spokesman says. Likewise Sen. Chuck Hagel, whose ``advice 
     to everybody is just fill out what you need to fill out, and 
     [not] anything you don't feel comfortable with.'' Yesterday, 
     George W. Bush said that, if sent the so-called long form, he 
     isn't sure he would fill it out, either.
       And which are the questions that offend these statesmen? 
     One that has been mocked seeks to determine how many people 
     are disabled as defined by law, in part by asking whether any 
     have ``difficulty . . . dressing, bathing, or getting around 
     inside the home.'' when it mailed the proposed census 
     questions to members of Congress for comment two years ago--
     and got almost no response--the bureau explained that this 
     one would be used in part to distribute housing funds for the 
     disabled, funds to the disabled elderly and funds to help 
     retrain disabled veterans. Are those sinister enterprises? A 
     much-derided question about plumbing facilities is used in 
     part ``to locate areas in danger of ground water 
     contamination and waterborne diseases''; one about how people 
     get to work is used in transportation planning. All have been 
     asked for years.
       Earlier this year, Mr. Lott's Senate complained 94 to 0 
     that a question about marital status had been removed from 
     the basic census form. That was said to be a sign of 
     disrespect for marriage. Come on. This is a critical period 
     for the census. All kinds of harm will be done if the count 
     is defective. A politician not seeking to score cheap 
     political points at public expense might resist the 
     temptation to demagogue and instead urge citizens to turn in 
     their forms. But in an election year such as this, that's 
     apparently too high a standard for some.

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman 
from District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), who has been a great leader on 
this issue.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, the gentlewoman from New York has devoted 
tireless energy well beyond the call of duty to this extraordinarily 
important issue, and every American is indebted to her.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to devote the few minutes I have to clarifying 
some issues.
  April 1 has caused some confusion. It was not the deadline for 
getting people's form in, of course, it was the target date. The Census 
Bureau is still receiving mail. It costs twice as much to send people 
out to get the forms, and that is about to happen on April 15.
  I had a Census job fair that drew thousands of people here last week, 
just so we could get a fair count. The way to save the government 
money, however, is, of course, to send it in so it will not cost us the 
tremendously extra money it does to send people out.
  Irresponsible comments from the Republican majority or members of 
that majority may already have cost taxpayers more because it 
undermines millions of dollars that have been spent in advertisements 
and staff work to get people, to raise the count.
  I include for the Record from the Washington Post the chart which 
informs people of why the questions are asked and why answering those 
questions is so important.
  The chart referred to is as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Questions on              Federal uses          Local impact
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income:
    Regarding wages and any   Provides a measure    Identifies local
     other forms of income,    of general economic   areas eligible for
     including through         health..              grants for job
     public assistance                               training and other
     programs..                                      employment
                                                     programs.
                              Used to determine     Guides funding for
                               poverty status..      social services
                                                     distributed to
                                                     local agencies.
                              Used to assess the
                               need for various
                               types of public
                               assistance.
Mortgage costs:
    Regarding mortgage        Used by the           Needed to evaluate
     costs, taxes and other    Department of         an area's
     expenses covered (fire,   Health and Human      qualification for
     hazard and flood          Services to assess    federal housing
     insurance), and amount    housing assistance    assistance.
     of monthly payments..     for elderly,
                               disabled and low-
                               income homeowners..
                              Needed by Department  Used as one of the
                               of Energy to help     selection criteria
                               study energy supply   for local urban
                               and use..             development grants.
Plumbing facilities:
    Regarding plumbing        Needed by federal     Used to allocate
     facilities, including     agencies to           Section 8 and other
     hot and cold piped        identify areas        federal housing
     water, flush toilets      eligible for public   subsidies to local
     and a bathtub or          assistance            governments.
     shower..                  programs..
                              Used by public        Used by state and
                               health officials to   local agencies to
                               locate areas in       identify poor-
                               danger of ground      quality housing.
                               water
                               contamination,
                               waterborne
                               diseases..
Disabilities:
    Regarding long-lasting    Used to distribute    Required under
     conditions such as        funds and develop     Housing and Urban
     blindness or a hearing    programs for people   Development Act to
     impairment;               with disabilities     distribute funds
     difficulties with         and the elderly..     for people with
     routine activities such                         disabilities.
     as dressing or bathing;
     memory loss..
                              Needed under the      Used by state and
                               Americans With        county agencies to
                               Disabilities Act to   determine eligible
                               ensure comparable     recipients under
                               public                Medicare and
                               transportation        Medicaid programs.
                               services..
------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Mr. Speaker, public officials must perform as public officials, not 
as right-wing talk show hosts engaging in disinformation and conspiracy 
theories. Our job is to get an accurate Census. That is our 
constitutional duty.
  I am pleased that Senator Lott seemed to back off from his spokesman, 
who appeared to indicate that people should not have to answer the 
forms. He was a responsible thing for a leader for the majority in the 
Senate to do.
  Where is Governor Bush, who said he is not sure people should fill 
out their forms? Does he know what side his bread is buttered on? Is he 
saying the residents are not entitled to all the services and funds 
entitled to them?

[[Page H1669]]

What about the large Hispanic population, the highest undercount? What 
about his talk about children? Is that just talk, or does he not 
recognize that the greatest undercount was among children?
  We should be advising the people that it is a violation of law. We 
have made it a felony, $5,000 or 5 years, or both. It has never been 
used, but it should be reserved for people who knowingly use their high 
positions to advocate violation of the law through selective response. 
It should be used for people who themselves have confused the American 
public, as some public officials have done. It should be used for those 
who sabotage the constitutional requirement of an accurate Census.

                              {time}  2000

  Our job is to help people understand why there is a long form; that 
they are not being asked these questions as individuals. It does not 
matter whether you yourself have indoor plumbing. It is being asked of 
you as a representative sample. Nobody can attach that answer to your 
name. If you are worried about people divulging information, do not 
worry about the census. Worry about the private sector. Worry about 
people on the Internet. It is no felony for them to give your name and 
address to everybody.
  Nobody has ever heard of anybody giving your name, address or 
anything else from the census form.
  It is cruel, it is cruel, to advise people not to fill in every 
answer in the long form. Sure, the government should not know your 
business, but your business is not by your name. It allows us to find 
essentially what the statistical basis is for the answers you provide. 
These answers are worth approximately $700 per person. That is not to 
be sneezed at.
  A lot of folks have spent a lot of time and more than $6 billion 
trying to get an accurate census. It ill behooves Members of this body 
to undercut that very important constitutional effort.

                          ____________________