IV

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 129

Expressing the sense of Congress that the Bureau of the Census should

include in the 2000 decennial census all citizens of the United States

residing abroad.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JUNE 9, 1999

Mr. GILMAN (for himself, Mr. GARY MILLER of California, Mr. SUNUNU, Mr.

HINCHEY, and Mr. LAHOOD) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress that the Bureau of the

Census should include in the 2000 decennial census all

citizens of the United States residing abroad.

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring),

3 SECTION 1. SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT THE BUREAU OF

4 THE CENSUS SHOULD INCLUDE IN THE 2000

5 DECENNIAL CENSUS ALL CITIZENS OF THE

6 UNITED STATES RESIDING ABROAD.

7 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following:

8 (1) The Bureau of the Census has announced

9 its intention to exclude more than 3,000,000 citizens
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1 of the United States living and working overseas

2 from the 2000 decennial census because such citi3 zens are not affiliated with the Federal Government.

4 (2) The Bureau of the Census has stated its de5 sire to make the 2000 decennial census ‘‘the most

6 accurate ever’’.

7 (3) Exports by the United States of goods,

8 services, and expertise play a vital role in strength9 ening the economy of the United States—

10 (A) by creating jobs based in the United

11 States; and

12 (B) by extending the influence of the

13 United States around the globe.

14 (4) Citizens of the United States living and

15 working overseas strengthen the economy of the

16 United States—

17 (A) by purchasing and selling United

18 States exports; and

19 (B) by creating business opportunities for

20 United States companies and workers.

21 (5) Citizens of the United States living and

22 working overseas play a key role in advancing the in23 terests of the United States around the world as

24 highly visible economic, political, and cultural am25 bassadors.
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1 (6) In 1990, as a result of widespread bipar2 tisan support in Congress, the Bureau of the Census

3 enumerated all United States Government officials

4 and other citizens of the United States affiliated

5 with the Federal Government living and working

6 overseas for the apportionment of representatives

7 among the several States and for other purposes.

8 (7) In the 2000 decennial census, the Bureau

9 of the Census again intends to so enumerate all such

10 officials and other citizens of the United States.

11 (8) The Overseas Citizens Voting Rights Act of

12 1975 gave citizens of the United States residing

13 abroad the right to vote by absentee ballot in any

14 Federal election in the State in which the citizen

15 was last domiciled over 2 decades ago.

16 (9) Citizens of the United States who live and

17 work overseas, but who are not affiliated with the

18 Federal Government, vote in elections and pay taxes.

19 (10) Organizations that represent individuals

20 and companies overseas, including both Republicans

21 Abroad and Democrats Abroad, support the inclu22 sion of all citizens of the United States residing

23 abroad in the 2000 decennial census.
4

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1 (11) The Internet facilitates easy maintenance

2 of close contact with all citizens of the United States

3 throughout the world.

4 (12) All citizens of the United States living and

5 working overseas should be included in the 2000 de6 cennial census.

7 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con8 gress that—

9 (1) the Bureau of the Census should enumerate

10 all citizens of the United States residing overseas in

11 the 2000 decennial census; and

12 (2) legislation authorizing and appropriating

13 the funds necessary to carry out such an enumera14 tion should be enacted.

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