From: Census2000(a)ccmc.org&gt; Census Monitoring Board Seeks Common Ground In Second Report In its second report to Congress, the Census Monitoring Board focused on several recommendations that its eight members believe will improve census operations aimed at historically hard-to-count population groups. The report covers key elements of the census plan such as recruitment and hiring temporary enumerators, outreach to people whose primary language is not English, partnerships with local governments and community-based organizations, and special operations to increase response in historically hard-to-count communities. In a cover letter to congressional leaders summarizing its findings and recommendations, the Board urged the Census Bureau to adopt and document standardized procedures and staffing policies in hard-to-count areas, to help the large number of temporary enumerators do a better job following-up with unresponsive households. It also emphasized the need for flexibility in hiring legal non-citizens to help with the count in immigrant neighborhoods. The report includes a series of recommendations to clarify the respective roles of the Bureau's regional census centers, and local and tribal governments, in establishing Complete Count Committees in every community. The Board also emphasized early identification of locations for Questionnaire Assistance Centers and distribution of "Be Counted" forms, and the importance of outreach to households with more than six residents, the disabled community, and neighborhoods where language barriers may be prevalent. The Board was created about 18 months ago, as part of an agreement on census funding between congressional opponents of sampling methods and the Administration, which supports the use of scientific methods to supplement direct counting efforts. The four members appointed by congressional Republican leaders and the four appointed by the President issued separate reports on February 1, and have maintained separate offices at Census Bureau headquarters in Suitland, Maryland. Despite some difference of views, the eight members noted in the new report, "there are areas of significant agreement on many of the operational challenges the Census Bureau is facing as it prepares for the 2000 decennial." The Board's report is available on both the congressional appointees' web site at <http://www.cmbc.gov> and the Presidential appointees' web site at <http://www.cmbp.gov>. Census advisory committee activities: The Commerce Department has renewed the charter of the 2000 Census Advisory Committee for two years. The panel, comprised of a wide range of organizations representing state and local officials, data users, civil rights advocates, and community service providers, will continue to monitor final preparations and the census itself, completing its work in March 2001. The committee's new chairman is Mayor Ron Kirk of Dallas, TX, an attorney and former Texas Secretary of State. The new vice chair is Marisa Demeo, Washington Regional Counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) and a former civil rights attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice. Congressional hearing scheduled: The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will hold a hearing on May 4 to examine plans for the 2000 census in Indian country. The oversight hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. in room 485 Russell Senate Office Building. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO) chairs the committee; Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) is the senior Democratic member. 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 the Census 2000 Initiative at &lt;Census2000(a)ccmc.org&gt; or 202/326-8700. Please feel free to circulate this information to colleagues and other interested individuals.