Date: 1999-04-14
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise against House Resolution 472 unless we adopt the Maloney amendment. This amendment is a logical and effective means to include local governments. produce an accurate count in the 2000 census. and it gives the Census Bureau ability to use statistical sampling to validate traditional census data without unnecessary interference. We need to do everything we can to make sure that everyone is counted in this censusby using all the technology and tactics that we have available to us. Undercounting in the 1990 census cost the State of Texas a total of $1 billion from a variety of Federal programs for which we would otherwise have qualified. According to the Census Bureau. nearly half a million Texans were missed in the last census. most of whom were inner city minorities and most especially children. So we are not talking about voters here. While this country is using science and technology to find a cure for many diseases. to expand opportunities in education and employment. and even to build better buildings and bridges. the Republican majority refuses to allow the use of science and technology to help us count the people. Why should not our government be allowed to use this technology. Why must we retreat back a century rather than forward. I rise in support of the Maloney amendment to H.R. 472. This amendment is a logical and effective means to include local governments to produce an accurate count in the 2000 census. Further. it gives the Census Bureau the ability to use statistical sampling to validate traditional census data without. unnecessary interference. We need to do everything we can to make sure that everyone is counted in this census by using all the technology and tactics we have at our disposal. Undercounting in the 1990 census cost the State of Texas a total of $1 billion from a variety of federal programs for which we would otherwise have qualified. According to the Census Bureau. nearly half a million Texans were missed in the last census. most of whom were innercity minorities and most especially children. While this country is using science and .technology to find a cure for many diseases. to expand opportunities in education and employment and even to build better buildings and bridges. the Republican majority refuses to allow the use of science and technology to help us count those who need to be counted the most. Why shouldnt our government be allowed to use this technology? Why must we retreat in the 20th century on this important issue? Unfortunately. the antiquated and inaccurate means we use to count our citizens will con-: tinue to be used. Not only will our constituents lose out on federal funds they deserve. but we are quietly eroding the principle of one person--one vote. The recent Supreme Court decision on statistical sampling ties the hands of state legislatures who depend on census data to draw fair and competitive congressional districts. This decision and the Republican majoritys embrace of its effects on voting rights will greatly reduce the electoral opportunity for minority and women candidates to win office and represent their concerned constituents. Further. this decision acts to disenfranchise poor and minority citizens. those who are traditionally missed using traditional census data. It is time to stop ignoring the facts! Traditional headcounts do not work. How many times does it need to be proven? Mayors know this. So many aire in support of using statistical sampling. Congress knows this. Otherwise. how can you explain the utter fear of the Republican majority to the use of sampling? Let me give it a try. Sampling will work. It will work well. It will work too well for them. Undercounts in the nations inner cities consistently help Republicans stay in and gain new entry to elected office. Be fair to the citizens of the United States and let the Census Bureau do their jobs the best way they can--through traditional methods supported by statistical sampling. Vote yes" to the Maloney amendment. IMPORTANT NoTicE To ALL STATE CHAIRMEN From: Jim Nicholson. Chairman. Republican National Committee. Re: The Clinton Census. I am contacting you to recruit your assistance In addressing an issue of unusual importance to the future of Republican Party. At the heart of the matter is one of the federal governments most fundamental Constitutional functions: the United States census. At stake is our GOP majority in the House of Representatives. as well as partisan control of state legislatures nationwide. The Clinton Administration is implementing a radical new way of taking the next census that effectively will add nearly four and onehalf million Democrats to the nations population. This is the political outcome of a controversial Executive decision to use a complex mathematical. formula to estimate and "adjust" the 2000 census. Using this process Democrats gain a critical advantage in the next redistricting that will undermine GOP efforts to elect Republicans to both federal and state offices. A reliable -analysis done for the RNC by Polidata Political Analysis reveals that a statistically altered census will have a sweeping political impact that clearly imperils the Partys present congressional majority. The GOP would suffer a negative effect in the partisan makeup of 24 Congressional seats. 113 State Senate seats and 297 State House seats nationwide (a statebystate summary is attached for your reference). Many of these legislative districts are in states where majorities are held by only the narrowest of margins. An adjusted census could provide Democrats the crucial edge needed to prevail in close contests to control several state legislative chambers. The census does have problems and improvements are needed to insure a successful effort. but an adjusted census ignores the Constitutions call for an "actual enumeration". Republican leaders are committed to providing the needed resources for a complete count as directed by the founders. Census adjustment raises many legal. ethical. and technical concerns. yet Democrats faithfully promote it as the solution. Dont be fooled. An adjusted census is part of a longterm Democrat strategy to regain control of Congress and elect more candidates at all levels. I regard it my duty as Party Chairman to alert you to the consequences on this front. and to request your assistance in stopping a census adjustment. Congress has the ultimate Constitutional authority to decide how the census is conducted. and federal appropriators have moved to halt -funding for an adjusted census. Conference review of this issue is scheduled to begin today as part of a Supplemental Appropriations bill (H.R. 1469 fiscal year 1997 Supplemental Appropriations Act). We anticipate an attempt to strip this legislation of language that prevents the use of estimates and sampling in taking the census. Despite the concerns outlined here. adjustment proponents have been successful in exploiting Members local concerns related to federal funding and legislative representation. A census adjustment could shift some federal funding levels. but it should be stressed that the language coming out of conference is planned to be specific for apportionment. and not funding distribution purposes. It is vital that Republicans be united in opposing an adjusted census. Therefore. I am calling on each state chairman to urge your congressional delegation to support legislative restrictions. and to vote against any amendment that removes such language from the Supplemental Appropriations bill. Thank you. and please do not hesitate to contact me should you need further information regaiding this matter.