Political Quotes

“the emergency supplemental appropriations bill contains language that prohibits the Census Bureau from preparing to use any funds in the current fiscal year to ``plan or otherwise prepare for the use of sampling in taking the 2000 decennial census.'' I opposed this provision in the committee mark-up because the National Academy of Sciences [NAS], at the request of Congress, found sampling resulted in a more accurate census and that without sampling, the national effects have long-standing negative ramifications. I support Senator Hollings' amendment. A statistical sampling study was done by the National Academy of Sciences at the request of Congress. Others continue to question if sampling produces accurate data. I welcome that debate, but I believe this is not an issue to be decided in the emergency supplemental appropriations bill. There have been several congressional hearings on this subject, and I support that those committees should be given the opportunity to finish their work. I believe it would be unwise for Congress to stop further work on this issue in an emergency supplemental. Other supporters of using statistical sampling include the American Statistical Association, the Population Association of America, and the National Conference of Mayors. Sampling results in a more accurate census.”