[CTPP] Census 2000 News Alert

Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 17:17:02 -0400 From: Census2000(a)ccmc.org&gt; BUDGET WRAP-UP: Congress Puts Off Resolution of Sampling Dispute, Confirms Census Director, Before Heading Home Congress has approved and sent to the President for signature a $487 billion omnibus spending package that gives the Census Bureau more money for 2000 census preparations but sets up another confrontation next spring over the use of sampling to count the population. The spending measure allocates $1.027 billion for 2000 census activities, $179 million more than the Bureau's request of $848 million for fiscal year 1999. Congress provided an additional $104 million to improve compilation of the address lists. Of the additional $75 million provided by the budget negotiators, $23 million is for opening and staffing all local census offices in 1999, some earlier than planned; $17 million is for increased promotion, outreach, and marketing activities; and $35 million is for modifying census forms so that six, instead of five, people in each household can report information directly without a follow-up visit from a census taker. The Bureau will incur additional printing costs ($25 million) and must modify the scanners that "read" the questionnaires electronically ($10 million) to accommodate revisions to the forms. Households may list up to 12 residents on the forms and fill in demographic information for up to six of those residents. Census takers will telephone or visit households with more than six residents to collect data on the remaining people. The catch-all spending bill funds the Departments of Commerce, State and Justice, and the Federal judiciary, only through June 15, 1999. Failure to reach an agreement on census methods by that date could stop the flow of funds not only for census activities but also for American embassies overseas, the FBI, the National Weather Service, and other activities in that entire budget account. The Administration and congressional Republicans, who are at odds over the Bureau's plan to use sampling, hope the prospect of a large-scale shut-down will pressure both sides in the dispute to settle their differences quickly. All other government functions covered under the omnibus bill are funded through September 30, 1999, the end of the fiscal year. Congress allocated $20 million for the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) program, substantially less than the $38.5 million requested by the Administration. The Census Bureau is developing the ACS to produce more timely demographic and economic data throughout the decade, eliminating the need for the traditional census long form in 2010. The Census Monitoring Board received $4 million for its work in fiscal year 1999. Census director confirmed: The Senate today confirmed Dr. Kenneth Prewitt to be director of the Census Bureau. The nomination was approved by a consent request with no vote, since many Senators have left Washington to campaign in their home states. Dr. Prewitt most recently headed the Social Science Research Council in New York City. He stepped down from that position after it became clear the Senate would confirm his appointment. Executive Branch activities: The Commerce Department's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has just released a series of detailed reports on this year's census Dress Rehearsal. The OIG evaluated census operations in Sacramento (two reports), Columbia, S.C. (two reports), and the Menominee Indian Reservation, WI (one report). There also are reports on the address list development program and the Bureau's plans for a quality-check survey to measure and correct undercounts and overcounts (known as Integrated Coverage Measurement). The reports are available on the Internet at <http://www.oig.doc.gov/reports/>. The Census 2000 Initiative also is reviewing the reports and will provide a summary of key findings and recommendations in a future News Alert. Stakeholder activities: The Population Resource Center (PRC) will hold a briefing on Wednesday, October 28, entitled, "Americans on the Move: How Population Shifts are Changing the Political and Socioeconomic Landscape." Two well-known and highly-regarded academics, Dr. William Frey (University of Michigan) and Dr. Ronald Walters (University of Maryland), will discuss the consequences of population growth and change from political, economic and social perspectives. The briefing will take place in 1216 Longworth House Office Building, from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon. RSVP to PRC at 202/467-5030. Civic and advocacy organizations have continued to focus attention at their conferences on the importance of an accurate census. The National Urban League signed a partnership agreement with the Census Bureau at the League's annual meeting in Philadelphia. The League of United Latin American Citizens joined with other Hispanic advocacy groups in Texas to discuss census outreach and promotional activities in the communities they serve. The National Association of Counties and the National Association of Towns and Townships sponsored panel discussions on the census at their annual conferences this summer in Portland and Phoenix, respectively. Questions about the information contained in this News Alert may be directed to TerriAnn Lowenthal at (202) 484-2270 or, by e-mail at &lt;terriann2k(a)aol.com&gt;om>. Please direct all requests to receive News Alerts, and all changes in address/phone/fax/e-mail, to Census 2000 at &lt;census2000(a)ccmc.org&gt; or 202/326-8700. Please feel free to circulate this information to colleagues and other interested individuals.