Bill Clinton: “Exactly one year from today, America will commence the first census of the 21st century. The responsibility to conduct…”

“Exactly one year from today, America will commence the first census of the 21st century. The responsibility to conduct the census is nearly as old as our Nation. Beginning in 1790, and every 10 years since, America has counted its people, charted its growth, and by doing so, prepared for its future. The census is a vital statistical snapshot that tells us who we are and where we are going as a nation. And though it is taken only once a decade, it is important to our everyday lives. The census helps communities determine where to build everything from schools to supermarkets and from homes to hospitals. It helps the Government decide how to distribute funds and assistance to States and localities. It is used to draw the lines of legislative districts and reapportion the seats each State holds in Congress. The Census Bureau estimates it will count about 275 million people next year across our Nation. But America must be accurate--and more so than we have been in the past. The previous census, in 1990, missed 8.4 million people and counted more than 4 million twice. Children, minorities, and low income Americans have been often overlooked. We must do better. Every person in America counts--so every American must be counted. I am committed to ensuring that Census 2000 is as accurate, complete, and fair as possible.…”