[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 47 (Thursday, April 13, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2776-S2777]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 293--ENCOURAGING ALL RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES 
TO COMPLETE THEIR CENSUS FORMS TO ENSURE THE MOST ACCURATE ENUMERATION 
                       OF THE POPULATION POSSIBLE

  Mr. DASCHLE (for himself, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Bryan, Mr. 
Torricelli, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Moynihan, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. 
Graham, Mr. Cleland, Mr. Reid, Mr. Harkin, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Schumer, 
Mr. Akaka, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Kerrey, Mr. Kohl, 
Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Robb, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. 
Johnson, Mr. Reed, and Mrs. Boxer) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs:

[[Page S2777]]

                              S. Res. 293

       Whereas the Constitution requires an actual enumeration of 
     the population every 10 years;
       Whereas Federal, State, and local governments, as well as 
     charities and other groups serving Americans, use information 
     gathered by the census to distribute hundreds of billions of 
     dollars for programs from education to employment, housing to 
     transportation, and rural development to urban empowerment;
       Whereas inaccurate or incomplete census data would make it 
     impossible for this aid to be distributed appropriately or 
     fairly and would prevent critically needed funding from 
     finding its way to the appropriate recipients;
       Whereas inaccurate or incomplete census data would also 
     throw into doubt the ability to correctly apportion 
     representation in Congress or equitably redraw voting 
     district lines within the States, raising questions about 
     whether the one-person-one-vote rights of Americans are being 
     appropriately guarded;
       Whereas the privacy of all data collected by the Bureau of 
     the Census is guaranteed absolute confidentiality for 72 
     years from the public and all other government agencies; and
       Whereas the Bureau of the Census cannot conduct its 
     constitutional or legal duties and Americans cannot be 
     assured of the integrity of the census results, and therefore 
     the equity of all of the manifold decisions that rely upon 
     census numbers, without the fullest possible participation 
     from the public: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) it is the civic duty of Americans to assist in ensuring 
     the most accurate census possible; and
       (2) all residents of the United States should complete 
     their census forms.

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, today Senator Lieberman and I, along with 
a group of our colleagues, are introducing a resolution emphasizing to 
all Americans the importance of accurately and completely filling out 
their census forms. It is my hope that all members of the Senate will 
cosponsor this important resolution to support the Census Bureau as it 
carries out the role that the Constitution and Congress have directed 
it to take.
  I continue to be concerned with the statements of some elected 
officials urging Americans not to respond to some of the questions on 
their census forms. These statements are reckless and irresponsible.
  First, every question on the census form is required by the 
Constitution or by law. All of these questions were reviewed by 
Congress before the census began, and received virtually no comment at 
that time. Second, an accurate census is absolutely critical to meet 
the needs of the public. Local, state and federal aid programs all 
depend upon an accurate census count to properly distribute funding for 
roads, schools and health care. Disaster response agencies like the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency use census data to prepare for and 
respond to hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters. Finally, 
accurate information about population is absolutely essential to fairly 
distribute congressional seats to ensure that all Americans have equal 
representation in Congress.
  Any effort to encourage Americans not to complete their census 
questionnaire will only hinder our ability to allow every community to 
live up to its potential, and provide its citizens with the roads, 
hospitals and schools they need.
  As you know, last week the Senate approved an amendment stating that 
no American should be prosecuted for failing to fill out his or her 
census form. This resolution was distracting and unnecessary. No 
American is--or for years has been--prosecuted for failing to complete 
a census form.
  The Census Bureau needs to know that it has the full support of the 
Congress as it carries out its vital task. This resolution makes clear 
just how important the bureau's task is, and the need for every 
American to comply with the law and complete the census form. I urge 
all my colleagues to give it their support.

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